An empirical examination of relative deprivation theory

Relative deprivation theory centers around the proposition that the negative affect associated with judgments of one's own status is not simply a function of one's objective status. Instead, resentment, anger, dissatisfaction and other deprivation-related emotions vary with the subjective assessment of one's status. In the present experiment, subjects read vignettes in which the hypothesized preconditions of felt deprivation were manipulated. They then indicated the degree of perceived resentment and related cognitive-emotional factors attributed to the story characters. Perceptions of deprivation become more prevalent when an individual who lacks a desired outcome (X) (a) compares with another who does possess X, (b) feels entitled to X, (c) feels it was once feasible to attain X, and (d) feels it is not feasible to attain X in the future. The results also suggest that certain preconditions, such as the presence of a comparison other and entitlement, act conjunctively in affecting judgments of felt deprivation. Finally, personal control over desired outcomes appears to be important for relative deprivation theory.     

Guided Recovery: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Service Users’ Experiences of Guided Self-Help for Bulimic and Binge Eating Disorders

The efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–based Guided Self-Help for mild to moderate bulimia and binge eating disorders has been well supported. However, limited research has explored in-depth individual experiences of this treatment approach. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 4 individuals who had completed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–based Guided Self-Help (CBT-GSH) for bulimic or binge eating disorders. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and subsequently analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three superordinate themes emerged: Autonomy and volition; A dynamic relationship: the guided and the guide; and The unwanted friend. The reciprocal nature of the guide/guided relationship was identified as integral to the success of the therapeutic approach. However, participants expressed initial uncertainty towards the therapeutic process, and experienced an uncomfortable dissonance between a lack of volition in therapy seeking and the need to continually self-prescribe CBT-GSH. The findings affirm the central role of the guide in promoting motivation to engage with therapy and highlight the potential benefits of in-session weighing. However, it may be necessary to provide additional support on commencing CBT-GSH to address concerns about the therapeutic approach in this group.     

Conceptions of love in Ghana: An exploration among Ghanaian Christians

We explored conceptions of love from the perspective of Ghanaian Christians. Using an ethnographic approach, we interviewed 61 participants (males = 39; females = 22; age range 20 to 70) on their understanding and experiences of love in the context of family. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed understandings of love expression in meeting material needs (of children, spouse, parents, and close relatives), helping other people in need (including the elderly, friends, and strangers), and affectionate care. Communal and maintenance-oriented love appears to characterise love expression among Ghanaian Christians.     

Culture and diverging views of social events

The authors compared East Asians' and Americans' views of everyday social events. Research suggests that Americans tend to focus more on the self and to have a greater sense of personal agency than East Asians. The authors assessed whether, compared to East Asians, Americans emphasize main characters even when events do not involve the self and whether they see more agency or intentionality in actions, even when the actions are not their own. Whether East Asians would observe more emotions in everyday scenarios than would Americans also was investigated. In Study 1, Chinese and Americans read alleged diary entries of another person. Americans did focus more on main characters and on characters' intentionality. Study 2 replicated these results comparing Taiwanese and Americans on free recall of events concerning the self and of narratives and videos concerning others. Study 2 also found that Taiwanese made more comments about the emotional states of characters.     

Reproductive life events and sexual functioning in women: case reports

Are reproductive life events in women associated with an increased risk of sexual dysfunction? Female sexual dysfunction effects up to 40% of women in the United States between 18 and 59 years of age. Sexual dysfunction may be accompanied by fluctuations in gonadal hormone secretion, making women more vulnerable to sexual symptoms, especially during times of reproductive life events. Reproductive life events, such as the use of birth control pills, various phases of the menstrual cycles, postpartum and lactation states, and perimenopause, are highly correlated with changes in sex steroids. As an understanding of the role of sex steroids on sexual functioning is elucidated, clinicians will be able to offer more specific and effective treatment options for women during various phases of reproductive life. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the unique clinical considerations that a clinician must consider when treating the biologic component of female sexual dysfunction.     

Cybernetics of cybernetics in assessment of marital quality

Quality of marriage is a term or a phrase that still lacks a clear and precise referent. Marital adjustment, success, satisfaction, compatibility, and stability are terms that have been variously employed. Following the lead of Fincham and Bradbury, a case is made for the fact that the best measure for marital quality is the global evaluation of marriage, i.e. the evaluation placed on the relationship as a whole by the marital partners. This is cybernetics of cybernetics wherein the observer becomes part of the observed.     

Racial identity and self-esteem among black Brazilian men: race matters in Brazil too!

The contribution of J. E. Helms's (1990) people of color racial identity model to the collective and individual self-esteem of Black Brazilian men (N = 203) was explored. The relationships between racial identity attitudes and other racial constructs such as skin color, racial group self-designation, and racial mistrust were also examined. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the set of racial identity attitudes (conformity, dissonance, resistance, and internalization) was significant in predicting self-esteem (collective and individual). Results from a multivariate analysis of variance showed an effect for skin color on racial attitudes. In addition, racial identity was significantly related to mistrust of Whites by Black Brazilian men. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of racial relations in Brazil.     

Exposure to suicide: incidence and association with suicidal ideation and behavior: United States, 1994

Exposure to the suicide of another is common, but the magnitude and effects of such exposure are not well quantified. From a national random telephone survey of U.S. adults, we estimated the 12-month incidence of exposure to suicide and its association with suicidal ideation, planning, and behavior. Of 5,238 respondents, 342 (a weighted 7.0% representing 13.2 million persons) reported knowing a suicide decedent from the previous year. Univariate analysis showed persons reporting such exposure were significantly more likely to describe suicidal ideation and behavior than those unexposed; multivariate analysis showed no association. Though the risk related to suicide exposure may be small, given the magnitude of exposure, it may warrant intervention efforts because of its potential societal impact.     

Eating disorder diagnoses: empirical approaches to classification

Decisions about the classification of eating disorders have significant scientific and clinical implications. The eating disorder diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) reflect the collective wisdom of experts in the field but are frequently not supported in empirical studies and do not capture the disorders of eating experienced by most people with an eating disorder. Statistical approaches to classification such as latent class analysis and taxometrics can help to create a classification system with greater scientific validity and clinical utility. The field would benefit from direct empirical comparisons of different classification schemes with various clinical and scientific validators. Such studies would enable the creators of the next DSM eating disorder classification to increase understanding of the advantages and disadvantages associated with choosing various diagnostic criteria sets for the eating disorders.