The Animal House effect: How university-themed comedy films affect students’ attitudes

Drawing from learning and attitude theories, the current investigation explores the effect of media on students’ attitudes. Study 1 was a content analysis of 34 films classified as university-themed comedies and showed that such films highlighted risk-taking (e.g., alcohol consumption) and minimized the importance of academics (e.g., studying). The purpose of Study 2 was to demonstrate the impact of these films on the attitudes university students hold. One hundred and twenty-four undergraduates viewed a segment of either Animal House or a neutral film and results showed that viewing Animal House brought about positive attitudes towards substance use and negative attitudes towards academics even when controlling for past substance use and movie viewing frequency. The discussion focuses on future directions.     

Tolerant macaque species are less impulsive and reactive

Animal Cognition - Inhibitory control, the inhibition of impulsive behaviours, is believed to be key in navigating a complex social environment. Species characterised by higher social tolerance,...     

Comparative Psychopathology of Suicide Attempts and Assaults

ABSTRACT: Using the Katz Adjustment Scales to measure psycho-pathology, systematic samples of 108 suicide attempters and 42 persons arrested for assault were tested in Baltimore, Maryland. The subjects' scores were compared with ratings by third-party respondents, who knew the subjects well, and with scores of 450 controls. Both suicide attempters and assaulters displayed significantly more psychopathology than the controls. The suicide attempters were differentiated from the assaulters on six Katz items: Helplessness, Anxiety, Nervousness, Depression, Stability, and General Psychopathology. An attempt was made to refine prediction and control of these two different life-threatening behaviors by interpreting the data in terms of Henry and Short's concept of “internal restraint.”     

Development of a Culturally Responsive Group Counseling Model for Mexican American Adolescents

This article discusses a group counseling model specifically targeted for Mexican American adolescents with behavior problems including substance abuse. An integrated model is proposed, with the model assumptions clearly articulated and specific therapeutic goals addressed in a culturally responsive manner. Foci of the model are ethnic identity, affective expression, and life choices. Preliminary findings indicate that the youths are retained in the groups at a higher rate than predicted. To live in the Borderlands means you are neither hispana India negra espanola ni gabacha, eres mestiza, mulata, half-breed caught in the crossfire between camps while carrying all five races on your back not knowing which side to turn to, run from; To survive the Borderlands you must live sin fronteras be a crossroads. —Gloria Anzaldua (1987)     

The problematic case of gender-neutral pronouns: A response to "A Modest Proposal"

ABSTRACT

A response to Moser and Devereux (2017 Moser, C. A., & Devereux, M. T. (2016). A modest proposal. International Journal of Transgenderism, Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/15532739.2016.1217446</bib[Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]), “A Modest Proposal.”