The effect of training on visual alignment discrimination and grating resolution.

The effect of training on an observer's ability to detect the misalignment of three points, a hyperacuity, and to resolve a six-line grating was studied in a transfer-of-training design with observers (4 in each of two experiments) who were experienced in making psychophysical judgments of other visual stimuli. The transfer-of-training design enabled us to look for any training-based improvement. Long periods of training produced no statistically significant improvement in performance under any condition. There were small practice-based improvements, but the primary patterns indicated threshold fluctuation rather than improvement. We interpret the results to indicate that the neural mechanisms underlying three-point alignment and grating discrimination, like those for gap bisection (Klein & Levi, 1985), are not malleable to any significant extent.     

Coping with a major stressor: differences between habitual short- and longer-sleepers.

We compared the coping strategies of 39 short-sleepers and 33 longer-sleepers to the stresses associated with the October 17, 1989 San Francisco Bay Area earthquake using their responses to the eight scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Over-all, the short-sleepers scored significantly higher on this questionnaire and in general, the pattern of their responses was consistent with inferences that could be drawn from a 1972 paper by Hartmann, Baekeland, and Zwilling.     

Reliability generalization: a viable key for establishing validity generalization

Even with radical restriction of range, reliability coefficients from 10 studies gave an average interstudy value of .74, suggesting constancy of reliability over diverse experiments. A value from a new test can help index reliability of tests not previously studied.     

Biobehavioral factors in sudden cardiac death

The authors examine the recent literature on psychological factors and sudden cardiac death and explore the mediating psychophysiological processes by which these variables may be associated. Direct evidence that psychosocial stressors and their correlates may be causally linked with sudden cardiac death in humans is not conclusive, but there is abundant convergent evidence that several physiological precursors of sudden death may be promoted by psychological challenge, especially in persons with coronary heart disease. The authors call for increased attention to the acute effects of psychological events on cardiovascular health.     

Developmental change in speed of processing during childhood and adolescence

Throughout childhood and adolescence, there are consistent age differences in speed of processing. Here 72 published studies yielded 1,826 pairs of response times (RTs) in which each pair consisted of adults' mean RT for a condition and the corresponding mean RT for a younger group. The primary results were that (a) children's and adolescents' RTs increase linearly as a function of adult RTs in corresponding conditions and (b) the amount of increase becomes smaller with age in a manner that is well described by an exponential function. These results are consistent with the view that age differences in processing speed reflect some general (i.e., nontask specific) component that changes rapidly during childhood and more slowly during adolescence. Possible candidates for the general component are discussed.     

Human Aggressive and Escape Responding: Effects of Provocation Frequency

The Psychological Record - The effect of point loss frequency on aggressive and escape responding was investigated in two experiments. Subjects could respond on levers marked “A,”...     

Have early disorders increased?]

The author rejects the proposition, encountered in some parts of the psychoanalytic and social-science literature, that certain types of disturbances correspond to certain epochs or forms of society. Instead he reminds us of the core of the psychoanalytic theory of representation according to which every formation of inner structure is an individual creative innovation that eludes normative interpretation.     

Effects of Eltoprazine Hydrochloride on Predatory Behavior in Rats

Treatment of rats with the potent antiaggressive compound eltoprazine hydrochloride (1.0 & 2.0 mg/kg) slowed both predatory attack and killing of frogs. These results demonstrate a specific predation-inhibiting action of the drug which is not obscured by the elements of conspecific aggression seen during muricide. Unlike the closely related compound fluprazine, eltoprazine increased both attack and kill latencies implying that the effects of the two drugs on predation are mediated by at least somewhat distinct drug actions. It is further suggested that eltoprazine may be more specifically antiaggressive in its actions than related phenylpiperazine compounds.

     

Managing countertransference: what the experts think

The present study attempted to assess the importance of five factors theorized to play a central role in managing countertransference: Self-integration, Anxiety Management, Conceptualizing Skills, Empathy, and Self-insight. 33 experts provided ratings of 50 characteristics of therapists as to the importance of each in managing countertransference. Analysis indicated that each factor is at least somewhat important to management of countertransference, with two of the factors, Self-integration and Self-insight, rated as playing a particularly important role. Clinical implications are discussed.