Book Reviews

Abstract

Kleinbeck, U., Quast, H.-H., Thierry, H., & Hacker, H. (1990). Work Motivation. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Pp. 283.

Ketchum, L.D., & Trist, E.L. (1992). All teams are not created equal. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-8039-4652-X (cloth). 318 pp.     

One-year longitudinal investigation of eyeblink classical conditioning and cognitive and behavioral tests in adults with down's syndrome

Thirty-three adults with Down's syndrome (DS) originally tested by Woodruff-Pak, Papka, and Simon (1994) were retested approximately one year after initial testing as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. Subjects were tested in eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) and other neuropsychological tests. Adults with DS improved in EBCC over a 13-month period, but showed stability on other cognitive and behavioral tests. Age differences were found in EBCC but not other measures. Adults with DS aged 19-30 years performed significantly better in EBCC than adults with DS aged 46-65 years. Adults with DS aged 31-45 years did not show significantly different EBCC performance than subjects in older and younger age groups. the impaired EBCC performance of older adults with DS may be due to the presumed disruption of the hippocampal cholinergic system, which is an aspect of the Alzheimer-like neuropathology developing in adults with DS after the age of 35. the results further support the sensitivity of EBCC to Alzheimer-like neuropathology in older adults with DS.     

Transnational Governance Arrangements: Legitimate Alternatives to Regulating Nanotechnologies?

In recent years, the development and the use of engineered nanomaterials have generated many debates on whether these materials should be part of the new or existing regulatory frameworks. The uncertainty, lack of scientific knowledge and rapid expansion of products containing nanomaterials have added even more to the regulatory dilemma with policy makers and public/private actors contenting periods of both under and over regulation. Responding to these regulatory challenges, as well as to the global reach of nanotechnology research and industrial needs, governance arrangements beyond the state have addressed the challenge head-on. This article focuses on the governance arrangements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which has led to the development of numerous “horizontal anticipatory standards” with an important role in setting the foundation for science, technology and market development. During the course of its operation ISO has broadened its scope to address not only technical issues related to the concept and the size of nanomaterials but also broader aspects of the technology, including health, environment and safety issues. The increasing relevance of the ISO to regulate economic relations and achieve certain public policy goals has given rise to many concerns about its legitimacy. The important questions are whether these governance arrangements may be deemed as being legitimate and where this legitimacy is derived from? What are the main sources of legitimacy at the transnational level and how we can apply them to analyse nanotechnology standardization? This article provides concise answers to these questions. It focuses at the normative concepts of democratic and scientific legitimacy and explores the institutional structures and processes by which nanotechnology standards are established.     

Pilot study of the effects of a workplace smoking ban on indices of smoking,cigarette craving,stress and other health behaviours

Abstract

Worksite smoking bans provide an ideal opportunity to examine the effects of enforced smoking restrictions on not only smoking behaviour, but also other health behaviours. This pilot study examines the short term effects of a such a ban on self-reported smoking behaviour, carbon monoxide and plasma cotinine levels and a number of other appetitive behaviours. The total number of cigarettes smoked on a working day and the number smoked just during working hours both declined following the introduction of a ban. Although the carbon monoxide levels of smokers during working hours demonstrated a similar trend to self-reported smoking, smokers' cotinine levels tended to increase, following an initial decrease following the ban. These data are suggestive of a compensatory process and a change in smoking topography, probably outside working hours. Measures of stress and craving also appeared to be affected by the introduction of smoking restrictions.     

Introduction

The author argues that Gediman's assertion that self-disclosure does not require a new paradigm fails to recognize some of the fundamental tenets of Relational theory. The author stresses two main points. The first is that our self-disclosures derive their meaning from the relational context(s) in which they occur, meanings which we may not be able to know, discern, or understand. The second point is that analysts are disclosing unintentionally all the time, in a variety of ways of which we are mostly unaware.     

Addressing Mental Health Disparities With Asian American Clients: Examining the Generalizability of the Common Factors Model

Although mental health disparities for Asian Americans are known, reasons for the disparities are not well understood within the counseling process. This study coded Asian American and White clients' reports of helpful counselor actions into empirically supported common factors to determine which within‐session processes might reduce mental health disparities for Asian American clients. Asian American clients' reports of helpful therapist actions did not differ from those of White clients, suggesting that disparities do not originate in differences in the foundational aspects of counseling. Implications for addressing disparities are discussed.     

Evaluation of a Parent‐Based Intervention for At‐Risk Adolescents

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent‐based intervention, the Parent Project, among 84 parents of at‐risk youth. Results indicated improvements in child management, family involvement, parent–child affective quality, substance use rules communication, and parental self‐efficacy at a 10‐week follow‐up.