Is Self‐enhancement Related to Modesty or to Individualism‐collectivism? A Test with Four Israeli Groups

The main assertion of this study was that degree of self-enhancement is determined by the modesty requirements prevailing in a culture rather than by its level of collectivism. Four Israeli subgroups (323 11th-grade students) were compared in a two-by-two design: type of living (kibbutz versus city) and level of religious observance (religious versus secular). The two kibbutz groups were found to be more collectivist than the urban groups, and the religious groups were found to be more modest than the secular groups. Results show that self-enhancement was related to level of religious observance and not to type of living. When modesty was statistically controlled for, the effect of level of religious observance was removed. It was also found that self-enhancement measures were predicted by modesty and not by collectivism facets. Thus, the data supported the study's main claim.     

Efficacy of booster sessions after training in assertiveness

28 subjects participated in a 6-wk. assertion training program. Of these, 22 remained in the study for a 6-mo. follow-up period, during which half received monthly booster sessions and half did not. Assignment to the booster and no-booster groups was random, with the qualification that subjects were equated on trait anxiety before training in assertiveness. Subjects filled out the Gambrill-Richey Assertion Inventory, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale before the 6-wk. assertion training, after this program, at a 3-mo. follow-up, and at a 6-mo. follow-up. It was hypothesized that the booster group would exhibit significant superiority on these measures at the 3-mo. and 6-mo. follow-ups. On all measures both groups significantly improved from before to after the training program with good maintenance throughout the follow-ups. There were no differences between the booster and no-booster groups on the measures of assertiveness and anxiety. However, there was a significant interaction for the depression scores when the booster and no-booster groups were compared from posttreatment to 6-mo. follow-up. The depression scores of subjects in the booster group were lower than the depression scores of subjects in the no-booster group at the 6-mo. follow-up. These results were discussed with suggestions for further research.     

Paediatric liaison research: problems at the clinical—research interface

The implications of the quest for scientific credibility in relation to clinically based paediatric liaison research are considered. Some of the problems arising from particular research strategies and their relationship to clinical issues are discussed. In particular, both recognition that ambivalence about research may occur in patients and their families, clinicians and researchers, and awareness that the research process may mirror the clinical process, may be helpful in facilitating both the continuation of research and increased cohesion in the multidisciplinary team.     

The Phenomenology of Near-Death Consciousness in Past-Life Regression Therapy: A Pilot Study

Although past-life regression therapy has not been shown to be the re-experiencing of a verifiable previous biological existence, therapists have noted similarities between the phenomenology of post-death awareness reported by regressed subjects and the phenomenology of near-death experiences (NDEs). This paper reports the results of a pilot study exploring those similarities as far as the therapeutic modality normally accommodates post-death phenomena. Similarities and differences between NDEs and post-death regression phenomena suggest new avenues of research.     

An epidemiological study on work and family stress among Chinese in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, with a population of over six million in a modern city, has been shown to be a very stressful place to live in. However, epidemiological data from a big-scale study in this regard are lacking. The present territory-wide survey, from a sample representative of the general population, was aimed to investigate the work and family stress of Chinese adults in the community with respect to the impact on their psychological well-being. The psychosocial context was considered as an important source of stress. The results showed that coping with work demands and rearing children were reported as the highest stress responses. Moreover, workers in Hong Kong took an instrumental attitude, i.e., one emphasizing material rewards, in order to reduce the job stress arising from interpersonal conflicts in the workplace.     

Inflammation Causes a Long-Term Hyperexcitability in the Nociceptive Sensory Neurons of Aplysia

Nerve injury, tissue damage, and inflammation all cause hyperalgesia. A factor contributing to this increased sensitivity is a long-term (>24 hr) hyperexcitability (LTH) in the sensory neurons that mediate the responses. Using the cluster of nociceptive sensory neurons in Aplysia californica as a model, we are examining how inflammation induces LTH. A general inflammatory response was induced by inserting a gauze pad into the animal. Within 4 days, the gauze is enmeshed in an amorphous material that contains hemocytes, which comprise a cellular immune system. Concurrently, LTH appears in both ipsilateral and contralateral sensory neurons. The LTH is manifest as increased action potential discharge to a normalized stimulus. Immunocytochemistry revealed that hemocytes have antigens recognized by antibodies to TGFβ1, IL-6, and 5HT. When a localized inflammation was elicited on a nerve, hemocytes containing the TGFβ1 antigen were present near axons within the nerve and those containing the IL-6 were on the surface. Western blots of hemocytes, or of gauze that had induced a foreign body response, contained a 28-kD polypeptide recognized by the anti-TGFβ1 antibody. Exposure of the nervous system to recombinant human TGFβ1 elicited increased firing of the nociceptive neurons and a decrease in threshold. The TGFβ1 also caused an activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in axons but did not affect a kinase that is activated in axons after injury. Our findings, in conjunction with previous results, indicate that a TGFβ1-homolog can modulate the activity of neurons that respond to noxious stimuli. This system could also contribute to interactions between the immune and nervous systems via regulation of PKC.     

Supervision in careers guidance: Empowerment or control?

Like many other professions, careers guidance is currently undergoing rapid and radical change. But the Careers Service is still operating to nationally agreed 'core training objectives' which determine both initial training (Diploma in Careers Guidance Part I) and supervisory training (Diploma in Careers Guidance Part II). Recent changes influencing guidance practice and training are outlined, and the predominant mode of current supervision within the Careers Service is identified as 'managerial' in character. This is explained in terms of both the historical development of the service and its funding mechanisms. A model for supervisory practice for the future is presented, identifying three essential elements: organisational commitment, contractual agreement and an explicit framework.     

Gender and illness: implications for family therapy

This paper outlines the importance of considering gender when working with professionals and families dealing with a life-threatening or chronic illness. Clinical vignettes are used to demonstrate the importance of addressing gender to avoid attributing pathology to behaviour that could otherwise be viewed as normal. The particular contribution of the family therapist is highlighted, including suggestions about how systemic interventions can be introduced to enhance the capacity of those involved to deal with the transitions demanded by such illnesses.     

Infants' coordination of auditory and visual depth information.

Using the preferential-looking procedure infants 5, 7, and 9 months of age were presented two videoimages side by side on separate monitors accompanied by a soundtrack that matched one of the images. Each infant was presented: (1) a stationary drum-beating toy paired with the same toy approaching and receding in depth, to assess infants' recognition both that changing sound amplitude is a property of an object that is moving in space and that constancy in amplitude is a property of a stationary object; (2) a drum-beating toy moving horizontally paired with one approaching and receding in depth, to assess infants' recognition that systematic increases and decreases in amplitude accompany object movement in a particular dimension, namely depth; and (3) two identical toys alternately approaching and receding in depth but out of phase (i.e., one approaching while the other is receding), to assess infants' recognition that increases and decreases in amplitude accompany a particular type of object movement in depth. Measures of mean duration of looking time indicated that the 5-month-olds looked reliably to the correct videoimage only for the stationary toy paired with the constant amplitude sound. The 7-month-olds recognized that changes in amplitude accompany object movement in depth but did not coordinate auditory with visual depth information as well as older infants. The 9-month-olds looked reliably to the correct videoimages in all conditions. Possible contributing factors to these developmental trends in performance are discussed.     

Outcomes in clients transitioning from in-person counselling to telehealth counselling with trainees

The onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition of mental health services from in-person to telehealth counselling. Despite the far-reaching impact of this transition, we know little about the impact of this transition on outcomes for clients working with counsellor trainees. The present study utilised longitudinal data collected from a counselling training centre at a major U.S. university to compare client ratings of depression, anxiety and working alliance across 1) in-person services delivered (i.e. pre-pandemic) and 2) telehealth services delivered after the pandemic began (i.e. intra-pandemic) among the same group of clients. Results support our hypothesis that changes in clients' self-reports would be generally equivalent across in-person and telehealth services. Depression and anxiety symptoms decreased, and working alliance tended to increase during both in-person and telehealth care; however, these trends were only statistically significant during telehealth services. Limitations related to sample size (N = 15 clients; up to 17 sessions per client) and low statistical power are discussed. Nonetheless, this study supports the growing body of literature supporting the efficacy of telehealth counselling services. We provide suggestions for future telehealth research and discuss implications for counsellor training.