Safari to masking land: A hunt for the elusive U

Due to the theoretical interest in whether U-shaped visual masking functions are obtained when discrimination responses are required of the Ss, an attempt was made to replicate the Weisstein and Haber (1965) experiment. The attempt was unsuccessful. The results indicated that masking was uniform over a temporal range of approximately 50 msec. The possibility of individual differences in the shape of masking functions was investigated in two subsequent experiments with negative results. Overall, the results of the three experiments supported a temporal integration account of masking when assessed by detection or discrimination criteria. Some possible reasons for discrepancies with the Weisstein and Haber (1965) experiment were considered.     

“Subliminal cues” and the Müller-type illusion

Using the viewing box from a 2-field tachistoscope, feathers-arrows fr an 1 field were superimposed upon line-pairs from the other field to construct the Muller-Lyer illusion. 6 as were tested for the illusory effects under 4 conditions of feather-arrow detectability: (a) d′=O, (no luminance); (b) d′=.42; (c) d′=l.00; and (d) ′’=3.7. The length differences of lines of any given pair were 0 in., 1/64 in., 2/64 in., or 6/64 in. The illusion effect was observed when the featherarrow d’ equaled 3.7. No significant nor suggestive illusion effects were found for the other feather-arrow detectability conditions.     

Multiple-feature discrimination faster than single feature discrimination within the same object?

In the present study, we investigated whether judging the presence of multiple features within an object would be superior to judging the presence of only one feature. Feature discriminability and the number of features to discriminate within an object were varied. Specific features were judged as present or absent. Results showed that judging the presence of two or three features was faster than judging the presence of the less discriminable of these two or three features alone (multiple-feature benefits). These findings suggest that relevant features within an object activate (prime) a decision or response in a parallel, asynchronous fashion based on discriminability (Miller, 1982a). The ability of a response priming model, a response mapping model, and a template model to account for multiple feature benefits is discussed.     

Relational diagnosis: An essay review

A review ofHandbook of relational diagnosis and dysfunctional family patterns. Florence W. Kaslow, Ed. 566 pages. $55. Cloth. ISBN # 0471-08078-0. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.     

Brief therapy in the Israeli kibbutz

Analysis of results of therapy in an unselected sample of 211 kibbutz patients seen over a three year period by the author in his capacity as kibbutz member and psychiatrist indicated that over 70% of the identified patients responded very satisfactorily to brief therapy. About one-third of the clients did not need more than a single comprehensive therapy session to achieve continuous improvement. In a minority of the cases more than 10 sessions were required. The results were significantly better in cases treated by brief therapy than in the sample treated by long-term therapy, where the pre-treatment severity was determined to be greater. The paper describes the unique aspects of brief therapy in the kibbutz setting, giving an outline of the author's model of intervention, using all components of the individual, family, and community ecosystem.     

N-channel tachistoscopes

Two 10-channel tachistoscopes are described. In one the optical system is based upon fiber optic light guides; channel and interchannel time control is provided by Tektronix pulse and waveform generators. In the other the optical system uses 10 8-mm variable power projector lens systems. Timing control is obtained from an Iconix timebase generator and preset counters. Two methods of programming the equipment are described and some experimental applications are considered.     

Divorce in the Kibbutz: Determinants of emotional adjustment

About two-thirds of a representative sample of kibbutz divorced subjects reached a satisfactory emotional and functioning level of adjustment with a high degree of cooperation between the exspouses by the second postseparation year. This outcome appears to be positively influenced both by a process of habituation and desensitization determined by the continuous physical proximity of the former spouses and by the neutralization of parenting and economic issues as subjects for dispute and litigation.