Relational closeness: Comparing undergraduate college students' geographically close and long‐distance friendships

Abstract As interpersonal relationships change with the advent of new technology, researchers need to reexamine their theoretical constructs ( R. G. Adams, 1998 ). This study uses survey methodology to examine college undergraduates from the United States. It explores the concept of relational closeness by comparing how geographically close and long‐distance friends define closeness in their relationships. It assesses prior methods of defining and measuring closeness in interpersonal relationships for the impact of physical distance between the friends. Differences illustrate factors that are important in understanding relational closeness in general and in long‐distance relationships in particular.     

I Don't Know It But I Like You The Influence of Non-conscious Affect on Person Perception

A model of non-conscious affect is proposed and an experiment tests predictions about the influence of non-conscious affect on evaluations made of conversational interact ants. Participants engaged in a subliminal priming task to induce a positive non-conscious affective response toward one of two target persons. Participants then watched two videotaped interactions (one featured the subliminally primed target person) and rated a target person from each interaction. A3 × 2 × 2 mixed experimental design crossed Target Primed (Target A, B, or No Prime) and Order of Evaluation (A vs. B first), whereas the third factor (Target Evaluated) was within subjects. The primed target was rated as more likable and attractive yet not more competent. The non-conscious affect was target specific (affecting judgments of the primed target) and diffuse (affecting judgments of a non-primed target).     

Alzheimer's Disease: The Death of the Disease

Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia, affects middle-age and older adults. The disease is becoming more evident because of growing numbers of older people and better diagnosis and detection methods. The author describes the behavioral and physical symptoms of the disease as well as specific suggestions for care of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Counselors can use this article to provide family members and other persons dealing with Alzheimer's disease with information and practical advice about dealing with the changes occurring in the patient.     

Constructing Realities: An Art of Lenses

In this essay I attempt to map the dimensions of my own move away from a cybernetic-biologic analogy for "family-systems" therapy. Central to this shift has been social construction theory augmented by two other lenses: a second-order view, and a sensitivity to gender. These conceptual tools have helped me to distance myself from my previous therapeutic stance and to envision a very different model, one that is less strategic and instrumental, and more collaborative and unconcealed.     

The Genetic and Psychophysiological Basis of Antisocial Behavior: Implications for Counseling and Therapy

The notion that crime may have a genetic and biological basis has been resisted due to the assumption that this view necessitates a deterministic attitude to crime. This article argues that this assumption is unwarranted, and that an understanding of the genetic and psychophysiological basis of crime and antisocial behavior has important implications for counselors dealing with antisocial individuals. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors suggests that environmental changes may reduce the expression of any genetic predisposition. Psychophysiological factors interact with social factors in producing antisocial behavior, and recent psychophysiological studies have identified enhanced attentional ability in antisocial individuals that can be capitalized on by counselors in diverting clients from an antisocial way of life.     

Is empathy ear-to-ear or face-to-face?

If counselor and counselee cannot see each other, is the quality of their relationship affected? This study compares the empathy ratings of trained and untrained counselors in three different situations: counseling by telephone, in a confessional-type arrangement, and face-to-face. Although trained counselors scored significantly higher empathic understanding ratings than untrained counselors, there was little difference among the ratings for the three methods used.     

The Importance of Client Religious Beliefs and Practices in the Education of Counselors in CACREP-Accredited Programs

Responses by heads of CACREP-accredited programs to a survey indicate that client religious beliefs are considered to be important curricular components in just over half of the programs.