A Canonical-Correlation Analysis of 16 Fear Factors and the MMPI

To determine clinical correlates of 16 fear factors of the Wolpe-Lang Fear Survey Schedule, the fear factor and MMPI scores of 92 psychiatric inpatients were subjected to a canonical-correlation analysis. The results produced three combinations of scores which yielded statistically reliable canonical-correlation coefficients: three fear factors related to psychotic levels of personality disorganization; two related to fairly directly experienced neurotic anxiety; and five related to neurotic levels of anxiety “bound” by somatic complaints. The results suggest different treatment approaches for different patterns of expressed fears. The interpretation of several of the factors (previously related to clinical status) awaits further research.     

Perceived Church-Based Needs and Assets for HIV/AIDS Prevention in an Urban Nigerian Community

Health intervention programs have the potential to use church-based assets to address a wide range of health issues. This study examined the assets Nigerian church members believed their churches needed, including the assets they thought they had to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention activities. Eight hundred and thirty members from 83 churches completed a questionnaire designed from forum focus group data. Respondents were males and females aged 18 years old and above, with primary, secondary, university, or vocational education, and were more likely to be married than single (never married), separated, divorced, widowed or remarried. The data revealed that church members needed access to health promotion assets, including the expertise of members who are health professionals to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention activities. We recommend an intensive HIV/AIDS prevention reorientation-training workshop for church leaders to ensure a sustainable plan to address HIV/AIDS prevention needs.     

Zoo Visitors' Affective Responses to Observing Animal Behaviors

ABSTRACT

The opportunity to observe or interact with animals in a zoo is often vital in influencing visitors' positive feelings towards animals and ultimately their conservation behavior. This study explores the relationship between observed animal behavior and zoo visitors' responses. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 717 visitors across four exhibits (giraffe, lion, cheetah, and red panda) at three zoos (Brookfield Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Central Park Zoo). The questionnaire measured observed animal behaviors and visitors' predispositions, affective responses, and meaning-making at animal exhibits. Multivariate path analyses indicated that up-close encounters with zoo animals, along with observable active animal behaviors, predicted visitors' reported positive affective responses which, in turn, predicted their meaning-making. These findings lend support to the role of positive affect as a mediator between observable animal behaviors and visitor meaning-making. Implications are discussed in relation to achieving both conservation education and animal welfare outcomes.     

Application of the MMPI in Differentiating A.W.O.L. Recidivists from Non-Recidivists

Forty Ss were required to learn two lists of paired associates (an “easy” list and a “difficult” list). A modified anticipation method allowed measures of short-term and long-term retention to be taken. Item difficulty had no effect on STR, but had a large effect upon LTR. The data were interpreted to indicate that two distinct memory mechanisms are involved in the two retention durations.     

A Developmental Explanation For Children’s Motor behavior

Two experiments were conducted to test the application of Pascual-Leone’s (1970) neo-Piagetian theory for explaining children’s acquisition of skill in a curvilinear positioning task. Two groups of children (late pre-operational 6 yr olds and early concrete 8 yr olds) were identified and from each group 10 low M-processors and 10 high M-processors were selected (total n=40) through use of the Children’s Embedded Figures Test. The 6 yr olds were administered 2-and 3-scheme curvilinear positioning tasks while the 8 yr olds performed 3-and 4-scheme tasks. The difference between the two experiments was the nature of the positioning tasks, i.e., one task allowed visual processing of information, while the other did not. Both experiments supported the neo-Piagetian predictions of structural mental space as explaining the developmental nature of motor skill acquisition, and functional mental space as explaining individual differences within stages in children’s performance.     

Book reviews

Livesey, P. J. (1986). Learning and emotion: A biological synthesis. Volume 1: Evolutionary processes. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Pp. 312. ISBN 0-89859-552-5. £17.95

Fletcher, D. J. C. & Michener, C. D. (Eds.). Kin recognition in animals. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. 1987. Pp. 465. ISBN 0-471-91199-2. £37.50.

Horn, G. Memory, imprinting, and the brain: An inquiry into mechanisms. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1985. Pp. xiv + 315. Hardback, ISBN 0-19-8521 57-X, £25 ($45). Paperpack, 0-19-8521 56-1, £15 ($24.95).     

Retrospective dream components and musical preferences

Retrospective dream components endorsed on the KJP Dream Inventory were correlated with those on the Short Test of Musical Preference for 68 graduate students in counseling psychology (11 men). Among 40 correlations, 6 were significant between preferences for Heavy Metal and Dissociative avoidance dreams (.32), Dreaming that you are dreaming (.40), Dreaming that you have fallen unconscious or asleep (.41), Recurring pleasantness (.31), and Awakening abruptly from a dream (-.31); between preferences for Rap/Hip-Hop and Sexual dreams (.27); and between preferences for Jazz and Recurring pleasantness in dreams (.33). Subjects preferring Classical music reported a higher incidence of Dreams of flying (.33) and rated higher Discontentedness in dreams (-.26). The meaning of these low values awaits research based on personality inventories and full dream reports.