THE SECOND SPHERE AND THE STORY OF NO STORY

The author discusses Roy Schafer's ideas of the second self and second reality, as well as his consistent theme of storyteller and story. The latter theme is also explored in the context of more recent psychoanalytic influences, such as Bionian thought, trauma theory, the French approach, and the interpersonal perspective. To illustrate the idea of the nonstory in today's clinical encounters, the author presents two clinical vignettes.     

Nature reversed: Diminishing intensity of the maternal call affects approach behaviour of chicks

Skinner (1974) suggested that ducklings could be taught to move away from an imprinting object provided the natural consequences of approach behaviour was reversed. We constructed an apparatus in which approach behaviour toward an audio-visual stimulus caused reduced amplitude of a maternal call, whereas movement away caused an increase in amplitude. Chicks (Experiment 1) trained in this apparatus approached the training stimulus, but to a lesser degree than chicks exposed to calls of constant amplitude. Highly active experimental chicks kept a larger distance to the stimulus than passive chicks. Thus the reversal of the natural consequences of approaching influenced filial behaviour. However, a training period of three hours did not influence approach behaviour in the direction predicted by Skinner (1974). A second group of chicks (Experiment 2) which could increase the call amplitude by moving in one direction without being able to localize the sound source was more influenced by the amplitude gradient than Experiment I-chicks.     

A critique of Tversky and Kahneman's distinction between fallacy and misunderstanding

Tversky and Kahneman explain cognitive errors in terms of either misunderstanding or fallacy , but have failed to define these concepts. Therefore, they are unable to derive strict diagnostic criteria for distinguishing between them. The lack of conceptual clarification also has prevented them from recognizing the circular relationship between understanding and logicality. Diagnosis of understanding presupposes logicality, and diagnosis of logicality presupposes understanding. This circularity follows when understanding is defined as grasping what is and is not logically implied by a given expression as intended, and when fallacy is defined as logical error. Alternative definitions are discussed and rejected. Tversky and Kahneman fail to realize that one cannot explain and understand what is genuinely illogical, and that, therefore, errors must always be regarded as failure to understand, that is, as logical inference from erroneous premises.     

Counselor Competency in the Courtroom

This article outlines general courtroom procedures and offers systematic practical advice for the counselor testifying as an expert witness. Major topics include the counselor role in court, preparing for testimony, answering questions, and dealing with the cross-examination.     

Measures of attitudinal polarization

Abstract.— Criteria for measures of attitudinal polarization, i. e., degree of opposition among people on a specific issue, are proposed and some formulas, including the standard deviation, are evaluated in relation to the criteria. The formulas were also tested on empirical data with respect to level, dispersion and agreement of received values. The measures on the whole showed a high degree of agreement. There clearly exist instances where the standard deviation is not an adequate measure of attitudinal polarization. Some guidelines are given for the choice of constant values in one of the formulas.