Skin-conductance orienting deficits and increased alcoholism in schizotypal criminals.

This study tested the interaction hypothesis that a subgroup of criminals with schizotypal personality would show skin-conductance orienting deficits and increased alcoholism. In a prospective, longitudinal study of alcoholism in 134 males, schizotypy was assessed during adolescence, skin-conductance orienting was assessed at ages 18-20 years, and criminal offending and alcohol abuse were assessed at ages 30-33 years. A significant interaction between schizotypy and criminality indicated that schizotypal criminals were characterized by autonomic orienting deficits. Furthermore, the rate of alcoholism in schizotypal criminals (54.8%) was significantly higher than in criminals (23.8%), schizotypal noncriminals (13.9%), and comparisons (21.7%). It is argued that schizotypal criminals are a relatively distinct group and that prefrontal dysfunction may underlie both orienting deficits and alcoholism in this group.     

Setting up inpatient behavioral treatment programs: The staff needs assessment

Despite the success that behavior therapy has demonstrated in treating severely mentally ill adults, widespread impact of behavioral treatments on this population has been limited because the staff of many inpatient settings do not routinely utilize these strategies. Surveying staff regarding their perception of programatic and organizational needs is proposed as a valuable first step for selecting behavioral strategies to be introduced in these settings. Goldfried and D'Zurilla (1969) developed a behavioral assessment survey that is especially useful for identifying staff needs vis-à-vis behavioral rehabilitation. Using these strategies, survey questions addressed five problem areas: Administrative, Staff, Patient, Resource, and Programatic. Results using this survey with 40 clinicians on the extended care unit of a state hospital showed that staff members had greatest concern with the Patient Problem Area (i.e., aversive patient behaviors that are not sufficiently addressed by treatment plans). Further analyses showed staff members were interested in addressing Patient concerns using incentive procedures. The needs assessment in this study not only provided useful information that might be generalized to other treatment settings, but also showcased a reliable survey approach that program developers might implement prior to designing training curricula for behaviorally naive staff in inpatient settings.     

Acuity for orientation measured with a sequential recognition task and signal detection methods

An orientation recognition task with two stimuli was employed as the basis of a psychophysical method for measuring sensitivity to orientation. Essentially, this method depends on a subject’s ability to discriminate between two stimuli differing in orientation and presented to the same retinal area in random succession from trial to trial. Advantages of this sequential method over traditional simultaneous matching methods are discussed. Its feasibility is demonstrated in a signal detection analysis of acuity for the orientation of short luminous slits presented foveally on a dark field at seven reference orientations varying between 0° and 90°. In both subjects employed, sensitivity was greater for horizontal and vertical orientations than for other slopes (the oblique effect).     

Masculinities, plural

Masculinity cannot be regarded as a single entity. Both within Western culture and across cultures, a wide variety of masculinities are easily observable. Yet masculinity is so often contrasted with femininity that the many differences among men are at times obscured. To in part correct this deficiency, various "psychologies" of men are explored, as well as the cultural components that shape a society's ideas of what constitutes masculinity. Male heterosexuality and homosexuality are also examined, as are a number of the fantasies and fears that men typically experience. What cannot be left out of any exploration of male psychology are those sources of strength that permit so many men to fiercely protect their families and, when called upon, to fight their country's wars. Nonetheless, the differences between individual men are significant and can even be said to be vast.     

The psychological process of reintegration following a nine month/260 day solo sailboat circumnavigation of the globe

The focus of this case report is on the psychological reintegration process following the achievement of a highly challenging long‐duration and solitary endeavor. The participant was a 29 year old male who successfully circumnavigated the globe during a 260 day solo sailing expedition. We assessed the psychological aftermath in terms of stability and change in personality characteristics and personal beliefs prior to, and at 180 and 360 days after the completion of the journey. Overall, the personality configuration reflected adaptive personality functioning. A belief in an internal locus of control was consistent throughout, as were perceptions of personal growth as a result of the circumnavigation experience. NEO PI‐R Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, and Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (Tri‐PM) Boldness scores remained stable. Positive personality change was reflected by an elevation in Conscientiousness; negative change by a decline in Agreeableness and an increase in Tri‐PM Disinhibition. While overall the participant exhibited positive change as a result of his journey, there were also some negative aspects of the reintegration phase in regard to interactions with other persons. This latter change may be related to the effects of isolation from usual social contacts over an extended period.     

Personality,Personal Values and Growth in Military Special Unit Patrol Teams Operating in a Polar Environment

This longitudinal study assessed personality traits, personal values and personal growth of six two-man Danish military Sirius Patrol teams. The NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R) findings indicated a psychologically adapted group, consistent with the elevation on the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) Boldness factor. Self-direction, Universalism, and Stimulation were the highest rated and stable values on the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ); the Power value showed a significant linear increase over time. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) findings indicated perceptions of considerable growth through participating in the Sirius Patrol. Assessment of the combination of personality traits and value hierarchies of other military groups in relation to types of operations engaged in is considered.     

Detrimental Effects of Discrimination on Mental Health in Asian Americans: Counteracting Roles of Religious Involvement

Few studies have examined the role of religious involvement as a potential protective factor in the mental health of Asian Americans. Using the first national sample from the National Latino and Asian American Study (2002–2003), this study explored the direct effect of religious attendance on the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and self-rated mental health in Asian Americans (n = 2,095), above and beyond that of discrimination and acculturation factors. Hierarchical regression models associated (a) gender and discrimination with generalized anxiety disorder, and (b) gender, employment status, English proficiency, and discrimination with self-rated mental health. Including religious attendance added explanatory power to both models, indicating its influence on mental health. There was no interaction between religious attendance and discrimination, suggesting a suppressing rather than stress-buffering effect of religious attendance. These patterns suggest future investigation in the relationship between religious involvement and mental health in relation to subcultural differences among Asian Americans.     

The development of skin conductance fear conditioning in children from ages 3 to 8 years

Although fear conditioning is an important psychological construct implicated in behavioral and emotional problems, little is known about how it develops in early childhood. Using a differential, partial reinforcement conditioning paradigm, this longitudinal study assessed skin conductance conditioned responses in 200 children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 years. Results demonstrated that in both boys and girls: (1) fear conditioning increased across age, particularly from ages 5 to 6 years, (2) the three components of skin conductance fear conditioning that reflect different degrees of automatic and controlled cognitive processes exhibited different developmental profiles, and (3) individual differences in arousal, orienting, and the unconditioned response were associated with individual differences in conditioning, with the influence of orienting increasing at later ages. This first longitudinal study of the development of skin conductance fear conditioning in children both demonstrates that children as young as age 3 years evidence fear conditioning in a difficult acquisition paradigm, and that different sub-components of skin conductance conditioning have different developmental trajectories.