Testing Kohn's self-reliance hypothesis among high school adolescents

Melvin Kohn and his associates have established that self-reliance promotes a sense of well-being (lower levels of fatalism) among adults. The present study attempts to test this proposition among adolescents. Instead of the usual job-related activities, however, it incorporates an alternative measure of self-reliance--high school curriculum assignment. Consistent with previous findings among adults, the results of this study show that self-reliance among adolescents also promotes a sense of well-being: students enrolled in tracks where close supervision is kept to a minimum and the exercise of initiative is emphasized tended to exhibit lower levels of fatalism. The implications of this finding for adolescents are discussed.     

Body-image disturbances and bulimia nervosa: An empirical analysis of recent revisions of the DSM-III

In the recent revision of the DSM-III, the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa includes the criterion of persistent overconcern with body shape and weight, which may be conceptualized as a form of body-image disturbance. The new diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa include only those who exhibit a binge-purge eating patern, excluding binge-eaters who, in the older DSM-III, receive a diagnosis of bulimia. This study was conducted to investigate body-image disturbances in bulimia nervosa and simple bulimia (i.e., binge-eating without purging). The experimental design included two control groups, obese and normal subjects, in order to determine whether the binge-eater had body-image disturbances different form those of normal and overweight samples. The study evaluated 596 subjects (417 normals, 109 bulimia nervosa subjects, 50 binge-eaters, and 30 obese subjects) in terms of perception of current body size and selection of ideal body size. Results indicated that the bulimia nervosa group selected a current body size larger than that selected by normals and an ideal body size smaller than that chosen by normals. However, bingeeaters did not differ from the obese control group on either current or ideal body size. These results are discussed in terms of the recent debate regarding the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa and sociocultural influences upon body-image disturbances.     

The case against mental duality

The arguments for and against Puccetti’s (1981a) notion of “mental duality” are reviewed. This model of mind asserts that not only do commissurotomy patients have two independent spheres of consciousness but so do normal intact brains. The role of the corpus callosum is viewed as being purely duplicative, not integrative. Following a detailed discussion of conceptual and terminological issues, neuropsychological and neuroanatomical considerations, and various clinical implications of the model, it is concluded that the available empirical evidence refutes the model and that the model is conceptually inadequate.     

The case against mental duality

The arguments for and against Puccetti’s (1981a) notion of “mental duality” are reviewed. This model of mind asserts that not only do commissurotomy patients have two independent spheres of consciousness but so do normal intact brains. The role of the corpus callosum is viewed as being purely duplicative, not integrative. Following a detailed discussion of conceptual and terminological issues, neuropsychological and neuroanatomical considerations, and various clinical implications of the model, it is concluded that the available empirical evidence refutes the model and that the model is conceptually inadequate.     

Family criticism and self-starvation: a study of expressed emotion

The measure Expressed Emotion (EE) has been established as an exceptionally useful indicator of relapse in people with schizophrenia and depression. EE is now also being applied more broadly for the investigation of other disorders. EE is usually rated by conducting the Camberwell Family Interview, i.e. in the course of separate individual interviews with the relatives of the symptomatic individuals. This paper reports the rating of EE in adolescents with eating disorders within a semi-structured family schedule - the Standardized Clinical Family Interview. Consecutive referrals for eating disorders were assessed prior to family therapy and again at regular intervals during therapy. EE ratings for this sample, the prognostic value of EE, and the changes in EE that took place during the course of therapy are presented and their clinical implications discussed. The findings suggest that even low levels of Critical Comments from the parents to the anorexic adolescent are associated with continuing symptoms.     

An adventure in scholarship and faith: Reflections on the study centre 1975–1992

CSIC has now had 15 years' experience of Muslim/Christian partnership in an adventure of faith and scholarship. How honest have the partners been able to be with each other, and with the rest of the world? CSIC was a Christian initiative, yet quickly became a co‐operative venture. One of its emergent problems was how to present Christianity intelligibly to Muslims; another the perennial issue of dialogue and mission. Faith and reason clashed predictably among the students, but many outside the institution valued its expertise in their professional responsibilities, and CSIC acquired the credibility to contribute to wide‐ranging socio‐political debates. May the adventure continue, at the expense of academic safety, if necessary.