THE IMPACT OF THE FEMINIST CRITIQUE ON TESTS, ASSESSMENT, AND ETHODOLOGY

In this article we discuss the implications of the feminist critique for methodologies related to tests and assessment. Several specific examples of the impact (or lack of impact) of feminist thinking on psychological, vocational, and educational tests are provided. From the point of view of a feminist critique, while the revision of the Strong–Campbell Interest Inventory appears to be a success, the 1990 revision of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI–2) is not. Feminists have inspired methodological improvements such as the use of meta–analysis to evaluate sex difference data and the ability to estimate sampling error to challenge the research on free-response and multiple-choice tests. Recognition of the need to involve women in the development of normative data, introduction of sensitivity reviews, and implementation of differential item functioning analyses have improved tests. However, although testing has improved from the feminist perspective, additional changes can be expected as feminists (female and male) become more involved as scholars and scientists.     

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy with inner city patients

The purpose of this paper is to discuss issues pertaining to the use of psychoanalytic understanding and technique, including the utilization of parameters with inner city patients. Traditionally, inner city patients were not seen as appropriate candidates for psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.     

CRITERIA USED TO DEFINE AND EVALUATE SOCIALLY COMPETENT BEHAVIOR AMONG WOMEN

Criteria used to evaluate socially competent behavier of women are described and critiqued. Many definitions of social competence do not employ a process view of social behavier in which individual goals and values as well as specific verbal and nonverbal behaviers are considered. This may result in the imposition of artificial goals on consumers of assertion and social skills training programs and the neglect of individual goals. The relationship between the definition of competence used and the assessment methods relied on is discussed. The advantages of focusing on specific goals are noted and a checklist that consumers can use to review the content of training programs is provided.     

FEMINIST AND FUNDAMENTALIST ATTITUDES TOWARD PORNOGRAPHY CONTROL

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences among feminists and between feminists and fundamentalists on attitudes toward pornography control. Ciliigan's (1982) model of moral reasoning was used as a basis for examining the division among feminists. An in-depth interview of 44 women was conducted. The feminists who wanted to control pornography, as well as the fundamentalists, focused primarily on responsibility to the welfare of others. Anticontrol feminists gave a higher priority to individual rights and freedom. Other differences, such as their hierarchy of values and experiences with victims of violence were found. All respondents felt extremely negative toward pornography and most believed that pornography is related to violence against women.     

Positive and Negative Expectations of Hopelessness as Longitudinal Predictors of Depression,Suicidal Ideation,and Suicidal Behavior in High‐Risk Adolescents

The relationship between hopelessness and depression in predicting suicide‐related outcomes varies based on the anticipation of positive versus negative events. In this prospective study of adolescents at elevated risk for suicide, we used two Beck Hopelessness Scale subscales to assess the impact of positive and negative expectations in predicting depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior over a 2‐ to 4‐year period. In multivariate regressions controlling for depression, suicidal ideation, and negative‐expectation hopelessness, positive‐expectation hopelessness was the only significant predictor of depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Clinical interventions may benefit from bolstering positive expectations and building optimism.     

Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Older Adults

Now that the baby boomer population has passed middle age and has entered the category of “older adults,” greater attention has been placed on how to adapt evidence-based treatments to the unique needs of an aging segment of the population. This introduction describes the contributions to the special series on cognitive behavioral treatment with adults aged 65 and beyond.     

Attachment, sleep quality, and depressed affect.

This study examined the role of attachment insecurity in sleep problems among married adults (N=78 couples). Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and structural equation modeling, attachment anxiety was associated with higher levels of self-reported sleep difficulties for men and women, whereas attachment avoidance was not. Depressed affect was included as a control variable, and the effect of attachment anxiety remained significant. Men and women did not differ significantly in the magnitude of the effect of attachment anxiety on sleep quality. In addition, there were no cross-partner effects of attachment insecurity on sleep quality or depressed affect. Implications and future directions are discussed.     

Suicide across the Life Span: Pathways to Prevention

As reflected in a recent series of highly visible suicide awareness and prevention activities, the call for a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy has never been stronger, nor more unified. Using the framework provided by the transactional model of human development, the author illustrates the central implications that a developmental perspective has for suicide prevention, emphasizing the need to consider multiple pathways to prevention, to place renewed emphasis on prevention strategies that have their impact earlier in the life course and earlier in the course of mental disorder, and to collaborate with prevention specialists and advocates in related fields.