Book reviews

ROBINSON, J. O. The psychology of Visual Illusion. London: Hutchinson University Library. 1972. Pp. 285. £ 3.00.

CARROLL, JOHN B. and FREEDLE, Roy O. (Eds). Language Comprehension and the Acquisition of Knowledge. New York: John Wiley. 1972.

PEARSON, R. The Avian Brain. London: Academic Press. 1972. Pp 624. £ 10.00.

KORNBLUM, S. (Ed.). Attention and Perfomance IV. New York and London: Academic Press. 1973. Pp. xxx+771. $ 18.50.

WASON, P. C. and JOHNSON-LAIRD, P. N. Psychology of Reasoming: Reasosming: Structure and Content. London: B. T. Batsford Limited. 1972. Pp 26.4. £ 3.50.

GILBERT, R. M. and MILLENSON, J. R. (Eds). Reinforcement: Behavioural Analysis. New York: Academic Press. 1972. Pp. xiii+288. £ 6.35.

STRONGMAN, K. T. The Psychology of Emotion. London: Wiley. 1973. Pp. 191. £ 3.50.

MYERS, R. D. (Ed.). Methods in psychobiology. Vol. 2. London and New York: Academic Press. 1972. Pp. xii+398. £ 6.50.

NILSSON, N. J. Problem-Solving Methods in Artificial Intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1971. Pp. 255. POund 5.40.

SHEEHAN, P. W. (Ed.). The function and Nature of Imagery. New York: Acadmic Press. 1972. Pp. $ 22.50.

CLARKE, E. and DEWHURST, K. An Illustrated of Brain Furction. Oxford: Sandford Publication. 1972. Pp. 154. £ 5.50.

SCHACHTER, S. Emotion, Obesity and Crime. New York: Academic Press. 1971. Pp. 195. £ 3.50.

MCGUIGAN, F. J. and LUMSDEN, D.B. (Eds). Contemporary Appraches to Conditioning and Learning. Washingotn, D. C.: v. H. Winston and Sons. 1973. Pp. xii+231. £ 6.50.

BECK, J. Surface Colour Perception. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. 1972.Pp. £ 11.50.     

Maternal age and male behavior in relation to successful reproduction by female rats (Rattus norvegicus)

This research demonstrated that multiple ejaculatory series may be critically important for successful reproduction by multiparous old females near the end of their active reproductive lives. Multiple series were essential for successful pregnancy, apparently because more than one series was necessary to induce functional luteal activity. Thus, (a) females receiving just one series failed to show the cessation of regular estrous cycles which characteristically follows induction of a functional luteal phase; (b) direct measurement of plasma progestins by radioimmunoassay revealed that only those females receiving more than one series had circulating levels significantly higher than unmated, normally cycling controls; and (c) administration of exogenous progesterone increased significantly the incidence of successful pregnancy among females allowed to mate through only one series. In addition to facilitating the occurrence of pregnancy, multiple series also increased both the number of eggs released at ovulation and the number of embryos present and developing 12 days later. It is concluded that multiple series may function as a behavioral mechanism for prolonging the female's active reproductive life.     

Differential influence of stereoisomers of estradiol on sexual behavior of female hamsters

Morphological and behavioral responses to estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) and estradiol-17 alpha (E2-17 alpha) were examined in a series of three experiments. The E2-17 beta augmented uterine growth in hamsters to a greater extent than did E2-17 alpha. Lordosis in ovariectomized adults was elicited by treatment with E2-17 beta but not with E2-17 alpha (each tested in combination with progesterone). When administered neonatally only E2-17 beta disrupted estrous cyclicity in the intact female and induced the ability to mount in ovariectomized, androgen-treated adults. These results suggest the existence of a stereospecific response to estrogenic stimulation in neural tissue comparable with that occurring in the uterus.     

Agoraphobia: a critical review of methodology in behavioural treatment research

This review focuses on the methodological status of the literature on behavioural treatment of agoraphobia. Thirty-three studies published between 1963 and 1979 are analysed using a methodological rating scale by which each study is assessed on the extent to which it meets eight basic criteria for outcome research. It is concluded that methodological weaknesses in these reports make questionable any general conclusions about the value of the behavioural treatment of agoraphobia, and recommendations are made concerning possible changes in the future direction of research in this area.     

Aspects of counsellor vulnerability

Vulnerability is an aspect of being which is conducive to the growth of individuals through openness to experience of self and others. This article reviews the counsellor's vulnerability to others, including transpersonal vulnerability, and examines vulnerability to self in relation to effective counselling.     

Effects of medial and lateral septal lesions on the partial reinforcement extinction effect at one trial a day

Rats sustained electrolytic lesions of either the medial septal (MS) area (of a kind known to eliminate the hippocampal theta rhythm) or the dorso-lateral septal (LS) area (of a kind known to spare theta) or both (a “total septal”, TS, lesion). They were compared to sham-operated controls in three experiments in the straight alley with food reward on continuous (CRF) or partial (PRF) reinforcement at one trial a day. MS lesions either left the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) unchanged or enhanced it; LS lesions substantially reduced the PREE. The latter effect was due to a fall in resistance to extinction in PRF animals with no change in CRF animals. MS lesions greatly increased resistance to extinction in both CRF and PRF animals in one experiment but increased resistance to extinction only marginally and only in PRF animals in a second experiment. The TS lesion acted like the LS lesion. These results demonstrate a clear double dissociation between the effects of MS and LS lesions, especially in the PRF condition (LS lesions reduce resistance to extinction, MS lesions increase it).     

Sex Differences in the Relationship of Anger and Depression: An Empirical Study

A comparison of mean scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales revealed that women scored significantly higher than men on depression, whereas there were no significant differences on any of the 6 anger scales. Separate multiple regression analyses revealed that there were statistically significant relationships between the linear combination of anger scales and depression for both groups. A comparison of zero-order correlations of depression with the anger scales revealed that Anger-In correlated significantly more highly with depression among women than men. Finally Anger-In correlated significantly with 4 of the 5 other anger scales for women, but only with one for men.