Control of the Mind Edited by Seymour M. Farber and Roger H. L. Wilson

Abstract

This article describes an innovative model of couples therapy designed to mitigate marital instability. The authors suggest that combining ongoing couples therapy with a separate relationship-focused group for each partner favorably impacts each person’s neuropsychophysiological regulation and their ability to participate in a stable intimate marriage.

The neurobiology of attachment theory is seen as providing understanding of the affect regulation issues operational in many couple relationships. The safe and secure attachments worked out in the relationship-focused group therapy are seen as improving neuropsychophysiological integration and regulation.     

Small Groups: Studies in Social Interactions Edited by A. Paul Hare,F. Borgatta,and Robert F. Bales

Abstract

A large body of literature has supported the application of attachment theory to the understanding of psychotherapy. In addition, a more recent social psychological literature is exploring the application of attachment theory to the area of group dynamics and group process. The current study is designed to integrate these two distinct bodies of literature. In a preliminary fashion, we examined the relationship between group therapists’ group attachment styles and their assumptions and expectations of their patients’ attitudes about group psychotherapy. Seventy–six therapists completed the Smith, Murphy &; Coats (1999) measure of group attachment style. They also completed the Revised Group Therapy Survey (Carter, Mitchell, &; Krautheim, 2001) from the viewpoint of a typical patient they treat. As hypothesized, therapists with more group attachment anxiety assumed that patients would hold more negative myths and misconceptions about group treatment than therapists with less group attachment anxiety. The utility of a group attachment construct in future research and practice is discussed.     

Self-efficacy Manipulation and State Anxiety Responses to Exercise in Low Active Women

The present study manipulated self-efficacy in an exercise context and examined its effect on the state anxiety of low active women. Participants ( N = 59) were randomly assigned to a low or high efficacy condition, and self-efficacy was manipulated by presentation of computer-generated false feedback after a graded exercise test. Participants returned for a second exercise bout several days later. Efficacy was successfully manipulated and participants in the high efficacy condition reported significantly less anxiety than those in the low efficacy condition both after the graded exercise test and before and after an acute bout of exercise. Results are discussed in terms of the effect of exercise intensity and manipulation condition on anxiety.     

Theoretical developments in decision field theory: comment on Tsetsos, Usher, and Chater (2010)

Tsetsos, Usher, and Chater (2010) presented several criticisms of decision field theory (DFT) involving its distance function, instability under externally controlled stopping times, and lack of robustness to various multialternative choice scenarios. Here, we counter those claims with a specification of a distance function based on the indifference and dominance dimensions. Using this distance function, we show that the instability problems do not arise when using the internally controlled stopping rule. In conclusion, we argue that the predictions of DFT do not conflict with the data presented and that the model yet provides a coherent and accurate account of multialternative choice phenomena.     

False positives in psychiatric diagnosis: implications for human freedom

Current symptom-based DSM and ICD diagnostic criteria for mental disorders are prone to yielding false positives because they ignore the context of symptoms. This is often seen as a benign flaw because problems of living and emotional suffering, even if not true disorders, may benefit from support and treatment. However, diagnosis of a disorder in our society has many ramifications not only for treatment choice but for broader social reactions to the diagnosed individual. In particular, mental disorders impose a sick role on individuals and place a burden upon them to change; thus, disorders decrease the level of respect and acceptance generally accorded to those with even annoying normal variations in traits and features. Thus, minimizing false positives is important to a pluralistic society. The harmful dysfunction analysis of disorder is used to diagnose the sources of likely false positives, and propose potential remedies to the current weaknesses in the validity of diagnostic criteria.     

The physician and the pharmaceutical detail man: An ethical analysis

The relationship between the physician and the pharmaceutical detail man is discussed. Specific emphasis is given to an analysis of the ethical implications that this relationship has for patient care.