Shifting Realities? Changing Concepts of Religion and the Body in Popular Culture and Neopaganism

This article focuses on the analysis of the way in which ideas about religion and the body—in its relationship with technological innovation—are portrayed in some significant science-fiction books and films since the 1980s and on similar ideas in Neopaganism. I aim to show that, while in some cases we can trace a direct influence of popular culture on Neopaganism, it is possible to observe a relation between changes in science-fiction works and changes in Neopaganism: both reflect and express changes in society at large. By examining ideas of the body, technology and religion in Gibson's Neuromancer, David Cronenberg's eXistenZ, and Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, the article shows how new ideas can be used in a counter-cultural way or to strengthen existing power structures. The second part of the article considers whether there is a direct relationship between changes in popular culture and changes in Neopaganism or whether we can talk of a convergence of themes; it does this by examining how Neopagans have used and re-shaped ideas found in science fiction and fantasy. Finally, three key changes in Neopaganism are highlighted, changes that correspond to those found in significant popular culture works.     

Recognition of facial expressions is influenced by emotional scene gist

Recognition of facial expressions has traditionally been investigated by presenting facial expressions without any context information. However, we rarely encounter an isolated facial expression; usually, we perceive a person's facial reaction as part of the surrounding context. In the present study, we addressed the question of whether emotional scenes influence the explicit recognition of facial expressions. In three experiments, participants were required to categorize facial expressions (disgust, fear, happiness) that were shown against backgrounds of natural scenes with either a congruent or an incongruent emotional significance. A significant interaction was found between facial expressions and the emotional content of the scenes, showing a response advantage for facial expressions accompanied by congruent scenes. This advantage was robust against increasing task load. Taken together, the results show that the surrounding scene is an important factor in recognizing facial expressions.     

An assessment of teratology training provided by masters level genetic counseling programs

The increasing demand in the clinical genetics setting for information about teratogen exposures has created a need for genetic counselors to have the capabilities to appropriately address patient concerns. In order to assess how training in teratogen counseling is currently being conducted, the GLaRGG Teratogen Subcommittee surveyed all 17 genetic counseling training programs in North America in September 1993. Information was obtained from training programs about coursework, resources, and clinical training. In addition, each training program was asked to provide information about how their teratogen training needs could better be met. While all programs responded that some information in their coursework applicable to teratogen counseling was provided, there was wide variation in the amount of time devoted to this topic. The programs also greatly differed in the provision of clinical training in teratogen counseling. For both coursework and clinical work, genetic counselors were the main trainers in teratogen counseling. In spite of this, fewer than 25% of training programs have a defined teratogen clinical rotation. Data from the survey are discussed and recommendations presented.     

Adaptation of Nussbaum's Capabilities Framework to Community Mental Health: A Consumer‐Based Capabilities Measure

The capabilities approach provides a rich evaluative framework to guide transformative change in the community mental health system. This study reports the content and construct validity and psychometric properties of a contextualized measure of the extent to which mental health programs foster achieved capabilities. The Achieved Capabilities Questionnaire for Community Mental Health (ACQ‐CMH), adapted from Nussbaum's capabilities framework, was developed previously with consumer collaboration. Content validity was assessed through a collaborative process, involving a panel of eight consumers, staff members, and senior researchers. The resulting shorter version (ACQ‐CMH‐98) was completed by 332 community mental health consumers sampled throughout Portugal. Factor (PCA) analysis, internal consistency reliability, and test–retest reliability over 2 weeks (N = 33) showed good psychometric properties. The resulting six‐factor structure with 48 items explains 48.88% of the total variance (KMO = 0.89; Bartlett p = .00). Internal consistency of the obtained dimensions ranges from .91 to .76. Associations of the measure with recovery, quality of life, and psychological distress scales add further evidence of construct validity. The adaptation of Nussbaum's framework stressed specific components that may enhance understanding and change within the community mental health system.     

The influence of high-risk pregnancies and social support systems on maternal perceptions of the infant

This study examines the effects of high-risk pregnancies on the maternal perception of the full-term healthy infant, as well as the influence of social support systems on these effects. Thirty mothers after high-risk pregnancy and 30 mothers after low-risk pregnancy were interviewed when their infants were 3 months old. Their perceptions of own and average baby were evaluated as well as the amount and availability of and their satisfaction with social support. The obtained results confirm the hypothesis that mothers after high-risk pregnancies tend to perceive their infant as significantly more difficult than mothers after low-risk pregnancies. A main finding of this study is that high-risk pregnancy mothers perceive an average baby in a much more positive way. Social support was not found to affect significantly the maternal negative perception of the infant after a high-risk pregnancy. These findings are discussed in the context of the continuity of the process of maternal affiliation to the infant before and after delivery.     

Ventral and dorsolateral regions of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) control different stages of defensive behavior: Dorsolateral PAG lesions enhance the defensive freezing produced by massed and immediate shock

Rats that receive nociceptive electric shock in an environment normally show the conditional fear-induced defensive response of freezing when returned to that environment. If several electric shocks are given in a massed manner they will condition less freezing than the same shocks given in a distributed manner. If a single shock is given immediately after placement in the chamber it does not support any conditioning, although the same shock given after a brief delay does. Electrolytic lesions of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG), which damaged dorsomedial, dorsolateral, and lateral PAG, enhanced freezing under these conditions. Lesions of the ventral PAG, which caused extensive damage to the central gray below the aqueduct, reduced conditioning under the more optimal parameters (distributed or delayed shock). This was taken to indicate that both of these regions support different modes of defensive behavior and that when activated, the dorsolateral PAG inbits conditional fear-induced defensive behavior. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Age and Assessments of Professional Expertise: The Relationship between Higher Level Employees’ Age and Self‐assessments or Supervisor Ratings of Professional Expertise

In this article the relationship between higher level employees’ age and assessments of professional expertise is described. Hypotheses have been tested with original survey data from 417 higher level employees and 224 direct supervisors. Concerning the analyses of the effects of age, our hypotheses have for the greater part been confirmed. In our study, we have found that age‐related stereotyping is an important phenomenon where assessments concerning professional expertise are made by supervisors. As regards the self‐ratings, there is no relationship between age and professional expertise. Further research is needed to understand the pattern of differences between the two types of ratings. Some speculations concerning improvements of the measurements are discussed.