Psychoticism and visual recognition thresholds

This paper presents data which are of relevance in assessing the validity of the P scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ; Eysenck and Eysenck. 1975). Frith (1979) suggested that a defect in inhibitory selective mechanisms constitutes the cognitive disorder underlying the positive symptomatology of schizophrenia: hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder. A priming paradigm was used to measure the operation of inhibitory mechanisms. It was predicted that, if psychosis is conceptualized as a pathological exaggeration of the features characterizing the trait of psychoticism then high P scorers should show a reduced inhibition effect. This prediction was confirmed, a negative correlation was found between P and the size of the inhibition effect. No correlation with IQ or other personality variables from the EPQ was found.     

Personality factors in the taking of criminal risks

The present study investigated the relationship between personality and Expectancy of Gain (Egn) and Likelihood of Action (L/A) in criminal situations. The latter variables were assessed by means of an inventory of hypothetical criminal-risk situations. Groups of offenders and non-offenders were tested; personality measures included the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and Zuckerman's Sensation-Seeking Scale. Theoretical reasons for expecting these dimensions to be related to criminal risk-taking are presented. A clear relationship was found between P and Egn, high scorers viewing situations as less risky. In contrast, N was associated with increased risk perception. The results for L/A were less clear, although generally in the predicted direction. SS was unrelated to either risk variable.     

‘Cognitive inhibition’ and schizotypy as measured by the Oxford-Liverpool inventory of feelings and experiences

Previous studies have reliably shown a reduced level of the negative priming effect in both schizophrenics and high schizotypes. Measurement of symptom orientated aspects of schizotypy has previously utilised lengthy questionnaires such as the CSTQ, or individual use of several different questionnaires. We attempted to replicate previous findings with use of the OLIFE, a relatively short schizotypy questionnaire derived from the CSTQ. Consistent with recent research, reduced negative priming was significantly linked with subjects scoring high on scales related to positive, and not negative, aspects of schizophrenic symptomatology, whilst the Stroop effect was found to be independent of all measures of schizotypy. The OLIFE served as a useful tool, allowing examination of specific aspects of schizotypy within the time pressures of a laboratory environment.     

The relationship between cognitive inhibition and psychotic symptoms

Cognitive models of schizophrenia have highlighted deficits of inhibitory attentional processes as central to the disorder. This has been investigated using "negative priming" (S. P. Tipper, 1985), with schizophrenia patients showing a reduction of negative priming in a number of studies. This study attempted to replicate these findings, but studied psychotic symptoms rather than the broad diagnostic category of schizophrenia. Psychotic individuals exhibiting positive symptoms were compared with asymptomatic psychiatric patients and with a normal control group. As predicted, the symptomatic group failed to show the usual negative priming effect, which was present in the asymptomatic and normal groups. A modest but significant correlation was found between negative priming and delusions. Neither diagnosis, nor affective or negative symptoms, nor chronicity, nor medication, was related to negative priming. These data replicate previous findings that positive symptoms are related to a reduction in cognitive inhibition, although considerable variability was observed among the psychotic patients.     

Withdrawal From Coparenting Interactions During Early Infancy

This study examines early withdrawal in the coparenting system, and the utility of a brief problem‐solving discussion about coparenting responsibilities as a means for evaluating such withdrawal. One hundred and fifteen couples were evaluated both prenatally and at 3 months postpartum. During prenatal assessments, parents rated their personalities and completed marital assessments. After the baby arrived, they completed a negotiation task in which they discussed disputes about parenting roles and responsibilities, and interacted together with the baby in a triadic play assessment. Fathers' but not mothers' withdrawal during coparenting negotiations was associated with greater disengagement and less warmth during triadic play and with fathers' feelings that mothers did not respect their parenting. Fathers' but not mothers' withdrawal during coparenting negotiations was also forecast by low ego resilience and by an increase in depressive symptomatology during the postpartum. As the negotiation task appeared to be an effective provocateur of withdrawal when confronting coparenting disagreement, it may prove useful for eliciting this aspect of coparental process in work with couples.     

Individual differences in reaction to the abuse of LSD

The present report is of individual differences in reaction to the abuse of LSD in a sample of hospitalized polydrug abusers. Reports of flashback phenomena were clearly related to the frequency of ‘bad trips’, the occurence of visual hallucinations during intoxication and the extent of LSD use. An examination of the relationship between scores on the EPQ and drug-related phenomena indicated that N was significantly correlated with both the frequency of ‘bad trips’ and the extent of flashbacks.