The Assessment of Individual Personality by Projective Tests: Current Problems

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) has been recently developed as an alternative to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and shares some of its psychometric advantages and disadvantages with the MMPI-168, a short form of the MMPI. The current study compared the structure and utility of the MCMI and MMPI-168 for a general hospital inpatient psychiatric population. Overall, the two instruments were highly correlated and found to have conceptually similar factor structures. Empirical comparison of the factor structures indicated that construct validity is greatest for neurotic traits. Both instruments demonstrated a similar utility in predicting discharge diagnosis.     

The Hydraulic Principles Governing the Function of the Cochlea

General equation. Rejecting all fantastic “anatomical” data, that is, not making any anatomical assumptions but those of facts which are clearly visible under the microscope, but, on the other hand, taking conscientiously into account everything that can thus be seen, we derive a general equation describing the hydraulic functions of the mammalian cochlea.

Statement of the chief aim of the theory. Whenever anything occurs on the outside which deserves to be called a sound in the sense of the physicist, and which varies more or less periodically with the time, we want to know first, what length or lengths of the phragma will be involved, because this determines the number of sensitive cells stimulated and thereby the magnitude of the nervous flux (or “the sensation intensity,” loudness); and we want to know second, how frequently per time unit these various lengths of the phragma are shaken, because this determines the nature of the stimulation and accordingly the quality of the chemical process resulting in each of those sensitive cells (or “the sensation quality,” pitch). Thus, our most important aim must be the establishment of a relation between l and t.

Solution of the equation. The equation is solved in special cases for two-fold verificaton: (1) by auditory observation; (2) by experimentation on a large, transparent, hydraulic model.

Thirty years without adverse criticism. The hydraulic theory during its life of thirty years has received some praise by the few who were willing to read it, has been viciously misrepresented by some who would not or could not comprehend it, has been innumerable times dogmatically rejected by those who did not even know what it consists in. We invite serious criticism of its basic assumptions, its mathematical analysis and, last but not least, its agreement with the facts of hearing.

The concept of a “traveling” bulge is not a part of the hydraulic theory. The author requests textbook and magazine writers to cease misquoting him. He has never either enounced or supported any “traveling” bulge theory.     

The Utility of the MAPI in the Assessment of Depression

The relationships between the Millon Adolescent Personality inventory (MAPI; Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982) and depression, as assessed by the Multiscore Depression Inventory (MDI; Berndt, 1968) were examined. Elevations on the MDI subscales were positively related to elevations on MAPI personality style Scale 2 (Inhibited) and Scale 8 (Sensitive) and on six of the eight MAPI expressed concerns scales. MAPI personality style Scale 4 (Sociable) and Scale 5 (Confident) were negatively correlated with the MDI. MAPI code types containing either Scale 2 or 8 were associated with a high MDI full-scale score. The subjects who received a MAPI computer-generated diagnosis of borderline personality disorder also had elevated MDI full-scale scores. The findings of this study appear consistent with the existing body of MAPI research, and the data suggest that the MAPI personality style scales may have both state and trait qualities.     

Studies in the Principles of Judgments and Attitudes: I. Two Basic Principles of Judgment

The psychological test performance of 10 seven-year-old boys from an isolated, rural Guatemalan village was compared with ratings of their intelligence made by 42 adult village members. The adults' judgments were found to correlate strongly with the children's performance on the Embedded Figures, Verbal Analogies, and Memory-for-Designs Tests.     

Mental health,religion & culture

It has been found that the Muslim population in the UK seek spiritual advice from traditional faith healers for psychiatric and related problems. The important role that religious beliefs may have on perceptions of mental illness and substance misuse warrants further investigation. The aims were to examine the views of Muslims faith healers on symptoms and changes in behaviour commonly described as “psychosis” and “substance misuse”. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with Muslim faith healers from various backgrounds. Data were analysed according to the conventions of qualitative research using grounded theory methods. Religious conceptualisations played a key role in the understanding of both the disorders and consequently the guidance given. There were similarities and differences in the narratives given for psychosis and substance misuse. Healers expressed doubt towards other faith healers and the methods utilised by scientific means. The findings suggest a need for close collaboration between faith healers and mental health workers in order to achieve a culturally sensitive health care system.     

Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt. II

Ohne Zusammenfassung