A Transdisciplinary Perspective Concerning the Origin of the Species: The Migratory Theory of Genetic Fitness

Although the Neo-Darwin Theory of Evolution is one of the most celebrated theories in science, nonetheless it has received many criticisms. These criticisms are documented and a new transdisciplinary theory of origin is introduced. Darwin's original argument was that natural selection, through heritable changes, changed simple organisms over time. These heritable changes are responsible for the complex plethora of life seen around us today. Darwin's original theory, however, was deconstructed after the fact into a mutation-based theory. This mutation-based theory in its current form is an insufficient and indeed unnecessary transdisciplinary explanation. A subsequent statistical comparison between the six extant scientifically based primary theories of origin was undertaken and based on current biological knowledge a statistically significantly (p < .05) best fit phenotypic model emerged.     

Perversion – structure or organization?

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss perversion, its implications in the clinical setting, and some of the key concepts around it. First, the etymology of the words “perversion”, “structure”, and “organization” is analyzed. Next follows a discussion on the sexual organization of instincts – from the Unconscious to the Oedipus complex in Freud and Lacan – setting the ground for a disavowal-based theory of perversion. An instructive approach has been chosen so as better to organize the various points presented.

Laender NR et al. Perversion – Struktur oder Organisation?

Der Aufsatz diskutiert die Perversion, ihre Auswirkungen im klinischen Setting und einige Schlüsselkonzepte. Zuerst wird die Herkunft der Wörter Perversion, Struktur und Organisation analysiert. Dann folgt eine Diskussion über die Organisation der Sexualität bzw. der Instinkte – vom Unbewussten bis zum Ödipuskomplex bei Freud und Lacan – wodurch eine Theorie der Perversion auf der Basis von Ablehnung begründet wird. Ein instruktiver Zugang, bei dem die verschiedenen Punkte von Interesse gut strukturiert sind, wurde gewählt.

Laender NR et al . Perversion – organización o estructura?

Este trabajo intenta discutir la perversión, sus implicaciones en la clínica y algunos de los conceptos clave alrededor de la perversión.

Primero, es analizada la etimología de las palabras Perversión, Estructura y Organización. Despúes sigue una discusión sobre la organización sexual de los instintos- desde lo Inconsciente hasta el complejo de Edipo en Freud y Lacan- planteando las bases para una teoría de la negación-desaprobación de la perversión.

Para organizar mejor los varios aspectos presentados se escogió una aproximación instructiva.     

Editorial: Social Realities and Psychoanalysis

Abstract

This discussion explores Wrye's deconstructive methods of feminist theory-building. Wrye contends that sociocultural factors establish Freud's construct “Anatomy is destiny” as a deforming norm and lead to an unconscious saboteur in women. Shechter applies Wrye's unconscious saboteur to clinical work with men, showing the universal pan-gender nature of Wrye's concept. Shechter proposes that Wrye's clinical ideas tap the essence of developmental theory and thus bridge schools of psychoanalytic thought; whether a psychoanalyst interprets drive, self object, or relational images, gender integration occurs when libido is satisfied in a milieu of accepting subjectivity. Gender meanings become malleable and better describe both feminine and masculine self as personal narratives transform.

Roberta Ann Shechter. Die universelle Natur der Subjektivität der Geschlechter und der unbewussten Saboteure: Diskussion der Arbeit von ….

Diese Diskussion erforscht Wryes Auflösung von feministischer Theoriebildung. Wrye vertritt, dass soziokulturelle Faktoren Freuds Aussage “Anatomie ist Schicksal” zur Geltung bringen und zwar als eine deformierende Norm, die zu einem unbewussten Saboteur in der Psyche der Frau wird. Shechter wendet Wyres Konzept des unbewussten Saboteurs auf die klinische Arbeit mit Männern an und weist nach, dass es sich bei Wyres Konzept um ein universelles über die Geschlechtszugehörigkeit hinausgehendes Phänomen handelt.

Roberta Ann Shechter. La naturaleza universal de la subjetividad de género y los saboteadores inconscientes: Un discusión del trabajo de Harriet Kimble Wyre, “Deconstruyendo el saboteador inconsciente: Componiendo una vida con ambición y deseo”.

La discusión explora el método deconstructivo de la construcción teórica feminista de Wrye. Wrye argumenta que los factores socio-culturales establecen el constructo de Freud “anatomía es destino” como una norma deformativa que conduce a un saboteador inconsciente en las mujeres. Shechter aplica el saboteador inconsciente a su trabajo clínico con hombres, mostrando la naturaleza universal del concepto de Wrye. Shechter propone que las ideas clínicas de Wrye golpean la esencia de la teoría del desarrollo y tienden un puente en las escuelas de pensamiento psicoanalítico; Sea que el analista interprete la pulsión, el objeto del self o las imágenes relationales, la integración del género ocurre cuando la libido es satisfecha en u ambiente de aceptación de la subjetividad. Los significados de género, ambos self masculino y femenino, se vuelven maleables y mejor descritos mientra la narrativas personales se transforman. (143)     

Dysfunctional body investment versus body dissatisfaction: Relations with well-being and controlled motivations for obesity treatment

In this study, we investigated the associations between body image and psychological well-being, exploring the mediating role of controlled regulation for entering obesity treatment. In addition, we analyzed whether investment body image was more strongly associated with controlled regulation (and subsequent well-being) compared to evaluative body image. These analyses were performed controlling for baseline BMI effects. Participants were 139 overweight women (age: 38.0 ± 6.7 year; BMI: 32.0 ± 4.1 kg/m²) entering treatment. Evaluative and investment body image, controlled regulation, and psychological well-being were assessed. Body image investment was positively associated with controlled regulation; evaluative body image was not. Controlled regulation was negatively associated with self-esteem and psychological functioning. Controlled regulation partially mediated the effects of body image investment on self-esteem, but did not mediate its effects on psychological functioning. Results suggest that dysfunctional body image investment might undermine well-being within overweight women, partly by increasing controlled regulation for entering obesity treatment. Discussion focuses on the importance of enhancing body image and autonomy during treatment to improve well-being and weight outcomes.     

Running-wheel activity and avoidance in the mongolian gerbil

In the first of two experiments, running-wheel activity and unsignaled (Sidman) avoidance were studied in gerbils and albino rats. All gerbils ran at higher rates than any of the four rats studied. Under the avoidance procedure, four rats developed effective responding; the other two performed much less successfully. While avoidance developed more slowly in the gerbils, all showed asymptotic performance as effective as the four superior rats. The rats showed a consistent warm-up effect, receiving 60% to 80% of the total shocks in the initial third of the session. The gerbils displayed no warm-up, with shocks being evenly distributed over the session. Warm-up in the rats was not related to either response rate or to how effectively the animal was avoiding. When shock was removed, extinction occurred more rapidly in the rats than the gerbils. In the second experiment, which involved two-way shuttle avoidance, gerbils and albino mice quickly acquired the response. All animals met a criterion of 90% avoidance over 80 trials.     

Personality Correlates of the High School Experiences of Prospective Teachers

Data pertaining to aspects of their high school experiences were provided by 192 female students who had successfully completed the teacher preparation program at the College of Education, University of Texas. This information was used as the basis for defining groups which were then compared on a wide variety of measures of personality and student teaching performance. A number of significant relationships were found. It was concluded that the simple facts regarding students' high school experiences may be relevant to career commitment in teaching.     

Interpersonal styles of Vietnam Era veterans.

The study aims were to identify the interpersonal style characteristics of Vietnam Era veterans by comparison with World War II veterans. The sample included 3,075 veterans in treatment in 47 VA health care facilities. Patients were categorized as medical-surgical, psychiatric, and drug addicted, and divided by age into the 24 or less, and the 45 to 55 age groups. The measuring device was the Interpersonal Style Inventory. Group differences on the 17 scores were tested by discriminant function analyses. The Vietnam Era veterans were found to be more rebellious, mistrustful, adventure-seeking and expedient than the older veterans.     

Temperature self-regulation and relaxation with migraine patients and normals

Ten migraine headache subjects and 10 non-migraine subjects were divided equally into two groups: a progressive relaxation group and a finger temperature biofeedback group. Finger temperature, temporal artery pulse amplitude and forehead blood flow were monitored for all subjects during two baseline and six treatment sessions.

The biofeedback group achieved greater (albeit low magnitude) increases in finger temperature than the relaxation group, but no improvement in headache activity was obtained. However the relaxation group improved significantly in terms of headache intensity.

There was no significant difference in the ability to achieve finger temperature control, nor in stability point temperatures, between the migraine and non-migraine subjects.

No systematic relationship was found between finger temperature, forehead blood volume and temporal artery pulse amplitude. Possible mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of finger temperature training are examined in the light of these results.     

Desensitization for the treatment of fear in the high level adult retardate.

Behavior therapy procedures, particularly desensitization procedures, have not been used with the retarded, perhaps due to the high demand for verbal skill implicit in the techniques. Twenty mildly retarded subjects who met criterion on a Behavior Avoidance Test for fear of heights or rats were randomly assigned to Contact Desensitization, Vicarious Symbolic Densitization. Systematic Desensitization, Placebo-Attention Control and No-Treatment Groups. Subjects were given up to fifteen sessions of treatment. Posttreatment data on the Behavior Avoidance Test, Fear Thermometer and Behavior Checklist showed that generally Contact Desensitization was most effective and most efficient with this population. Results show that the mildly retarded are able to follow slightly simplified desensitization procedures.