Men and Women in Indian Magazine Advertisements: A Preliminary Report

Studies from developed nations indicate that women are generally portrayed in advertisements as homemakers, dependent on men, and sex objects while men are portrayed as dominant, authoritative figures. However, very few researchers have examined role portrayals in ads from developing countries. This study examined the portrayal of women and men in Indian magazine ads. Over 1,100 magazine ads from a wide range of magazines in 1987, 1990, and 1994 were examined. Results indicate that although the portrayals of women and men in Indian magazine ads have changed over the period, they are still portrayed in stereotypical ways. Role portrayals in Indian magazine ads seem to be influenced by the nature of the product being advertised. Similarities and differences between role portrayals in Indian magazine ads and those from other nations are also discussed.

     

Editorial

Journal of Academic Ethics -     

Effect of local chemistry,structure and length scale of heterogeneities on the mechanical properties of a Ti45Cu40Ni7.5Zr5Sn2.5 bulk metallic glass

We report on distinct variations in local chemistry, structure and length scale of heterogeneous regions in Ti₄₅Cu₄₀Ni_7.5Zr₅Sn_2.5 fully glass rods of different diameters, i.e. rods subjected to different cooling rates. The present investigations indicate that the mechanical properties of the Ti₄₅Cu₄₀Ni_7.5Zr₅Sn_2.5 bulk metallic glass can be modified within a wide range of strength and plastic deformability by controlling the scale of the heterogeneous regions in the glass through appropriate variation of the cooling rate applied for solidification.     

Anomalous agglomeration characteristics observed in iron oxide nanoclusters

Iron oxide nanoclusters, exhibiting unusual and interesting particle characteristics on thermal treatment, have been synthesized and studied. In all samples, a sharp size distribution has been obtained. Initially, the clusters exhibit agglomerated fractal morphology with low compactness but these disintegrate into smaller fragments and then grow in size as a function of the holding time of thermal treatment. The structure becomes more compact at higher holding times. The monodispersed agglomerates are basically clusters consisting of a large number of smaller grains of a few nanometres in size. The fractions of interfacial and bulk components in all samples have been estimated.     

Remediating Reading Comprehension Difficulties: A Cognitive Processing Approach

The efficacy of a cognitive-based remediation program was investigated with 14 English-as-a-second-language (ESL) poor readers in Grade 4 who had significant difficulty in comprehension and 14 normal ESL readers in Grade 4 who received no remediation. Both groups were selected from 2 English-medium schools in India. We examined pretest-to-posttest changes in word reading, comprehension, and planning–attention–simultaneous–successive cognitive processes. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) showed marked improvement in comprehension and some improvement in simultaneous processing for the treated group. The results indicate that the cognitive-based remediation program has potential for substantially improving comprehension and its underlying cognitive process among ESL children.     

Predictive validity of the Dutch PCL:YV for institutional disruptive behavior: findings from two samples of male adolescents in a juvenile justice treatment institution

The present prospective study examined the predictive validity of the Dutch version of the Psychopathy Check List: Youth Version for disruptive behavior in male adolescents during treatment. The study comprised two samples admitted to different secure treatment institutions in The Netherlands, Jongerenhuis Harreveld (n = 81) and Rentray (n = 66). Overall, the results demonstrate that psychopathy is a significant predictor of institutional disruptive behavior, and physical violence in particular. Furthermore, Hare's traditional Factor 2 was more strongly related to disruptive incidents than Factor 1. By using the recently proposed three- and four-factor models of psychopathy, insight into the pattern of associations between psychopathy dimensions and different types of disruptive behavior was obtained. The antisocial dimension of psychopathy appeared to be more strongly related to severe incidents than the lifestyle dimension. Regression analyses identified significant contributions of the antisocial and lifestyle dimensions to the prediction of incidents. The relatively small degree of variance explained underlines the importance of other risk factors to identify adolescents at risk of disruptive behavior during institutional treatment.     

Maternal substance use and mother–infant feeding interactions

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of maternal polydrug cocaine use during pregnancy and associated risk factors such as maternal psychopathology and negative infant temperament on the quality of mother–infant feeding interactions at 2 months of infant age. Participants were 45 mother–infant dyads (19 cocaine‐exposed and 26 nonexposed) who were recruited at birth and assessed again 2 months of infant age. Mother–infant interactions during feeding were videotaped and coded with regard to dyadic reciprocity, maternal noncontingency, and dyadic conflict. Results indicated that maternal cocaine use was associated with higher dyadic conflict. Moreover, cocaine‐using mothers were also more likely to use marijuana and alcohol, and use of such substances was associated with lower dyadic reciprocity and higher maternal noncontingency during interactions. Results also suggested that one pathway to higher dyadic conflict during interactions among cocaine‐using mothers was through the impact of cocaine on infant risk conditions like lower gestational age and negative temperament (e.g., higher distress to novelty). Interventions focusing on promoting the quality of mother–infant interactions in combination with substance abuse treatment may be especially promising for this population. ©2001 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.