The Personality of R’ Nahman of Bratslav: Comparing Dream Content Analysis and Biography

The technique of dream content analysis as a source for gaining a clear personality picture of the dreamer was first formalized by Calvin S. Hall. It has been used in this paper to gain a better understanding of a historical, renowned personage—R Nahman of Bratslav, who established a distinct sect within the Jewish-Hasidic circles in Eastern Europe about two hundred years ago. He was a very controversial figure, and remains so to this day. Following a detailed analysis of 17 of his dreams, a personality picture of R Nahman has been derived. A comparison of this picture with what is known from his biography, showed many correspondences, as well as some non correspondences. The dream analysis discloses basic, psychological motivation, while the biography points to relatively more specific behavioral traits, even though both relate to the highly complex personality of R Nahman.     

Conditioning history and human fixed-interval performance

The effects of two different conditioning histories upon human operant behavior under a FI 10-sec schedule of point reinforcements were investigated. Relatively high rates of continuous inter-reinforcement responding characterized the FI 10-sec performance of subjects with an FR 40 conditioning history. Low response rates with little or no inter-reinforcement responding were emitted by Ss with a DRL 20-sec conditioning history.     

Modification of escape responding in humans by increasing the magnitude of an aversive event

Escape responding of humans on an avoidance-escape schedule was replaced by avoidance responding by increasing the magnitude of the aversive stimulus. The aversive stimulus consisted of a point loss period. The shift from escape to avoidance responding was effected under a condition of response cost.     

Explanatory priority monism

Philosophical Studies - Explanations are backed by many different relations: causation, grounding, and arguably others too. But why are these different relations capable of backing explanations? In...     

A replication of preference displacement research in children with autism spectrum disorder

The purpose of this paper was to replicate previous research on preference displacement with edible and leisure stimuli. In the present study, the experimenters evaluated preference displacement in 25 children with autism spectrum disorder using combined multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments that consisted of highly preferred edible and leisure stimuli. In addition, the experimenters used a block randomization procedure to evaluate if assessment order influenced displacement outcomes. The experimenters observed patterns of complete displacement by edible stimuli for four participants and complete displacement by leisure stimuli for two participants; assessment order did not influence outcomes. The results and implications are discussed.     

A methodological review of preference displacement research

The purpose of this review was to identify and compare methodological components of preference displacement research and outcomes. We coded, categorized, and defined patterns of preference displacement for a total of 133 participants across 10 studies. We found that patterns of displacement differed within and across studies, and over 46% of participants did not engage in patterns of displacement. Therefore, the commonly held notion that edible stimuli are more likely to displace tangible stimuli is not as ubiquitous as once thought. However, due to considerable variation in methodology and reporting across reviewed studies, it is difficult to determine what variables may be responsible for obtained study outcomes. We conclude that future researchers consider the importance of each methodological variable coded in our review, and make methodological decisions in the context of the research question they are looking to answer. We also provide additional suggestions for future research and clinical practice.     

Prospects for timbre physicalism

Timbre is that property of a sound that distinguishes it other than pitch and loudness, for instance the distinctive sound quality of a violin or flute. While the term is obscure, the concept has played an important, implicit role in recent philosophy of sound. Philosophers have debated whether to identify sounds with properties of waves, events, or objects. Many of the intuitive considerations in this debate apply most clearly to timbre qualities. Two prominent forms of timbre physicalism have emerged: one identifying timbre with the spectral composition of proximal waves; the second identifying timbre with the mechanical vibrations at a sound source. I demonstrate that the first possibility is conceptually unsatisfying, while the second fails to meet the standards of rigor established by the color physicalism literature. One response to these worries might be to adopt a more modest, non-reductive realism about timbre, such as the ecological view of J. J. Gibson.     

Imagining the Truth. Discussion of Prince's “The Self in Pain: The Paradox of Memory. The Paradox of Testimony”

The discussion highlights the significant role played by imagination in representing the horrors that resist representation. It is Dr. Tylim's position that imagination assists patient and analyst in overcoming the limitations of memory. Imagination is the gateway to truth. In working with survivors, the therapeutic encounter may become a stage where unspeakable experiences attain presence in their absence. The silence or the gaps are then the victim's testimony.     

Relationships Between Trauma,Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms,Dissociative Symptoms,and Lifetime Heroin Use Among Individuals Who Abuse Substances in Residential Treatment

This study explored the relationships between trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, dissociation, and lifetime heroin use among inpatient clients who abused substances. Results indicate important implications for practice and directions for future research.