Lab support for strong reciprocity is weak: punishing for reputation rather than cooperation

Strong reciprocity is not the only account that can explain costly punishment in the lab; it can also be explained by reputation-based accounts. We discuss these two accounts and suggest what kinds of evidence would support the two different alternatives. We conclude that the current evidence favors a reputation-based account of costly punishment.     

Effectiveness of therapeutic and behavioral interventions for parents of low‐birth‐weight premature infants: A review

Premature birth has been associated with a number of adverse maternal psychological outcomes that include depression, anxiety, and trauma as well as adverse effects on maternal coping ability and parenting style. Infants and children who were premature are more likely to have poorer cognitive and developmental functioning and, thus, may be harder to parent. In response to these findings, a number of educational and behavioral interventions have been developed that target maternal psychological functioning, parenting, and aspects of the parent–infant relationship. Since the last comprehensive review of this topic in 2002, there have been a significant number of developments in the quality of the studies conducted and the theoretical models that address the experience of parents of premature infants. In the current review, 18 new interventions were identified and grouped into four categories based on treatment length and the target of the intervention. Findings suggest a trend toward early, brief interventions that are theoretically based, specifically target parent trauma, and utilize cognitive behavioral techniques. Although it is difficult to generalize study findings, conclusions from the review suggest that targeted interventions may have positive effects on both maternal and infant outcomes.     

Parenting Young Children (PARYC): Validation of a Self-Report Parenting Measure

The measurement of parenting behaviors is important to the field of psychology and the goal of remediating problematic parenting as a means of reducing child problem behaviors. The Parenting Young Children (PARYC) is a self-report measure designed to address parenting behaviors relevant for the caregivers of young children, and was assessed in sample of 579 high risk families. The measure assesses the frequency of several parenting behaviors, the perception of the parenting behaviors as problematic, and the degree to which the caregiver would like to make changes in specific parenting skills. An examination of the validity of the parenting behavior items revealed three parenting scales: (1) Supporting Positive Behavior (2) Setting Limits, and (3) Proactive Parenting. Confirmatory factor analysis results corroborate the findings of the exploratory factor analysis, supporting the measurement structure of these parenting scales. Tests of convergent validity indicate the PARYC scale is a suitable measure of parenting behaviors. In addition, the self-perception of parenting behaviors as problematic predicted concurrent levels of service utilization while controlling for simultaneous child behavior problems.     

DBT-Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Trichotillomania: An Adolescent Case Study

Results and a case study for a DBT-enhanced habit reversal treatment (HRT) for adult trichotillomania (TTM) (Keuthen & Sprich, 2012) is adapted for use with adolescents. Trichotillomania in adolescence is a very important but understudied problem. Onset often occurs in adolescence, and yet very little treatment research exists. DBT-enhanced habit reversal has shown promise in adult samples (Keuthen et al., 2008) and may prove useful as a model for further study in adolescents. Here, we provide a case study using DBT-enhanced HRT with an adolescent girl. The treatment emphasizes traditional CBT for TTM and also includes a focus on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance to help manage both focused and automatic pulling.     

Gender invariance and correlates of the Drive for Leanness Scale

We examined the Drive for Leanness Scale's gender invariance and its relationships with health-related behavior and body image-related drives. Men (N = 342) and women (N = 309) attending British universities completed the Drive for Leanness Scale, Drive for Thinness Scale, Drive for Muscularity Scale, and a demographic inventory. Support for configural and metric, but not scalar, invariance emerged. Drive for leanness was positively correlated with weight training frequency, supplement use, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity in both genders. Results provide guidance on comparing Drive for Leanness Scale scores across gender and contribute to a coherent understanding of the drive for leanness and its correlates.     

Team approach in mental health services: generalists or specialists?

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers were compared on their assessments of pathology, treatment techniques, and theoretical orientation for a typical hospitalized psychiatric patient. The purpose was to determine the relationship between treatment-team members' professional discipline and their clinical approach to a patient. Clinical discipline was significantly related to assessment, treatment, and theory. Psychiatrists favored medication, hospitalization, support, and brief, infrequent structured treatment focused on the present and external factors with an aim of social adaptation. Social workers were similar, but added types of treatment and longer, more frequent treatment. Psychologists were unique with an emphasis on psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy aimed at personality change.     

Hartmann on adaptation: an incomparable or incomprehensible legacy?

Hartmann's essay sets forth ideas of incomparable value as well as incomprehensible density. While he developed many important concepts which have far-ranging clinical utility even today, his attempt to extend psychoanalysis into a general psychology back-fired because it separated psychoanalytic concepts from analytic data. Because of his lack of clinical material or anecdotal illustration, Hartmann's theoretical scaffolding has been frequently misunderstood and misapplied. This paper re-examines Hartmann's essay in light of current clinical and metapsychological issues, and illustrates some of his more important ideas.