A developmental account of early childhood amnesia

This study was an attempt to demonstrate the utility of a developmental approach to the study of early childhood amnesia. Working from a model of early childhood memory development proposed by Nelson and Ross (1980), I hypothesized that children would show early childhood amnesia and that this could be tested by comparing obtained estimates of memory strength to values predicted by a standard retention function. The data confirm this hypothesis for 6- and 10-year-old children, and suggest that the early childhood amnesia period extends from birth to a point between the third and fourth birthdays. The data also support a prediction, derived from the aforementioned model, that children would report a disproportionate number of general memories from the amnesia period. Thus, the developmental model provides a useful vehicle for examining early childhood amnesia and helps to frame further questions such as why some specific memories from this period are retained even though most are lost.     

The effectiveness of a computerized guidance system in promoting career decision making

The effectiveness of CHOICES in improving the career decision making of university students through the utilization of the two instruments, (a) the Career Decision Scale and (b) the Occupational Scale of the Assessment of Career Decision Making, is examined. This experimental research involved 136 university students who were assigned to either an experimental or control group. Results indicated that CHOICES improved career decision making as measured by both instruments. No differences were found between its effectiveness with males and females.     

Use of family systems in preparation for ministry

Understanding the systematic dynamics of one's family of origin is necessary in preparation for ministry and can be most powerfully effected by engaging students in one of several family therapy techniques. Moreover, a family systems orientation is useful for theological explorations regarding family and Church as family, as well as enhancing skills for ministering to the contemporary family in all its diversity.Dr. Anderson is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Waterburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa 52001. Dr. Fitzgerald is Chaplain Supervisor, Medical Center at Princeton, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. This article stemmed from a presentation made by the authors on November 11, 1977, at the annual Conference of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.     

“Partial Deaths”: A Buried Resource

This article addresses the reluctance that many professional counselors and other caregivers feel when faced with the task of working with dying patients or others facing losses and grief. Although working with the dying is not an easy task, many caregivers inappropriately label themselves unqualified. They tend to play down the variety of losses they themselves have experienced. These caregivers can get in touch with their own encounters with grief and loss and benefit personally and professionally by exploring these partial deaths.     

RAPE MYTHS. In Review

Theories of sexual aggression and victimization have increasingly emphasized the role of rape myths in the perpetuation of sexual assault. Rape myths are attitudes and generally false beliefs about rape that are widely and persistently held, and that serve to deny and justify male sexual aggression against women. Acceptance of such myths has been assessed with a number of measures, and investigators have examined its relationship with numerous variables and interventions. Although there has been extensive research in this area, definitions, terminology, and measures of rape myth acceptance (RMA) continue to lack adequate theoretical and psychometric precision. Despite such criticisms, we emphasize that the significance of this type of research cannot be overstated because it has immense potential for the understanding of sexual assault. The present article offers a theory-based definition of rape myths, reviews and critiques the literature on rape myth acceptance, and suggests directions for future research. In particular we argue that such work must include the development and application of improved measures, with more concern for the theoretical and methodological issues unique to this field.     

Semantic Profiles and Psychosexual Interests as Indicators of Identification

Identification patterns of male and female children (110 boys and 114 girls) in grades one through five were studied by two methods that have been used in “identification research”; identification inferred from sex-appropriate and sex-inappropriate games, preferences and identification inferred from profile congruence between “self,” “mother,” and “father” concepts on a semantic differential (SD). Results showed that the two measures are meaningfully related as “self” rating scales; however, there was no apparent association between the Games and Activities Inventory (GAI) (games preferences) and the SD as indicators of identification. The patterns of identification found using the SD were generally consistent with the theoretical formulation of identification proposed by Lynn (1959.)     

When to offer cognitive behavioural or psychoanalytic psychotherapy in an integrated psychotherapy service: Are everyday allocation decisions theoretically congruent?

Different modes of psychotherapy can be an effective form of treatment for a range of mental health problems. Psychotherapy provision in the NHS is organised in a variety of ways, with patient entry to various modes of therapy determined by a range of factors including evidence‐based guidelines and patient or referrer preference. The methods by which patients arrive at a particular mode of psychotherapy are largely unreported. This paper aims to describe this process in one UK NHS psychotherapy service offering cognitive behavioural and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and provides data to inform a discussion on the theoretical congruence of these allocation decisions.     

Edgar Heim (Hrsg) (2009) Die Welt der Psychotherapie Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 252?S., ISBN: 978-3-608-94549-2, EUR?24,90

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Edgar Heim (Hrsg) (2009) Die Welt der Psychotherapie Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 252 S., ISBN: 978-3-608-94549-2, EUR 24,90