The structuring of interpersonal relations in schizophrenic adolescents: A decentering analysis of Thematic Apperception Test stories

This study tested the hypothesis that schizophrenics employ more developmentally immature levels of decentering in their structuring of interpersonal relations. A 9-point scale of interpersonal decentering, developed originally by Feffer, was applied to Thematic Appercetion Test stories produced by schizophrenic adolescents and a control group of psychiatrically disturbed patients equivalent in age and intellectual functioning. Results provided convincing support for the hypothesis tested and suggest the theoretical utility of viewing interpersonal deficit in schizophrenia from a cognitive-developmental perspective.     

Gender-deviant boys compared with normal and clinical control boys

The physical movement and social characteristics of effeminate behavior-problem, referred boys (N=13)were compared with those of normal boys (N=25)and boys (N=12)referred for nongender problems. Parent reports, observer ratings, and videotapes were collected in a series of structured tasks. As expected, mothers described gender-problem sons as much more feminine than the other two groups in interests, activities, and mannerisms. Gender-problem sons were also seen as relatively inactive and introverted. Further, they were non-significantly lower than the clinical control boys in perceived behavior problems, but both groups had marginally more problems than the normal boys. Gender-problem and clinical control boys both showed more body constriction than normal boys in ratings of a videotaped interview. They also both showed less ideal ball-throw form than normal boys on a set of variables scored with slow-motion video. However, in a set of behaviors directly rated in the various tasks, the gender-problem boys gave a uniquely general impression of uncoordination. The groups did not differ on seven additional variables.The research was supported in part by USPHS Grant MH17072. The authors are indebted to the more than two dozen research staff members who contributed many essential services at various stages of the project, to the families who generously participated, to the clinicians who referred their clients to our project, and to Marion Hee for computational assistance.     

Memory scanning,introversion-extraversion,and levels of processing

Individual differences in information processing were studied in the form of the hypothesis that arousal, as indexed by a personality measure of introversion-extraversion, affects the speed with which certain kinds of processing are completed. The Sternberg paradigm was used, and the results suggested that introverts and extraverts scanned for physical features equally rapidly, but that introverts were slower than extraverts at scanning for the semantic features of category membership. There was limited support for the hypothesis that introverts, thought to be more aroused than extraverts, are less able to engage in shared or parallel processing. It was concluded that information processing in introverts and extraverts may differ qualitatively as well as quantitatively.     

Reinforcement as positive or negative meaning-extension: An empirical demonstration

According to logical learning theory, a reinforcement involves the extension of meanings predicated by subjects who are asked to perform in a learning task. Based on this theoretical position, it is predicted that subjects who are administered a reinforcement following their successful anticipation of the second member of a paired-associates unit will acquire their liked trigrams more readily than their disliked trigrams (mixed lists). Conversely, it is predicted that subjects who are reinforced following their incorrect anticipations of the second paired-associates member will acquire their disliked trigrams more readily than their liked. College students (divided equally by sex) were exposed to one of three reinforcement conditions: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and no reinforcement (control). Trigrams reliably rated for likability by each subject were used as learnable materials. Although the control condition did not perform as expected, the remaining experimental conditions support the hypotheses.     

Objections to personal counselling in schools

This paper seeks to identify some of the more compelling arguments put forward by those who oppose or criticise personal counselling in schools. These arguments cannot be dismissed lightly, and counsellors will have to give them serious consideration if a satisfactory resolution of the issues is to be achieved.     

Construction and complexity of tactual maps for the blind

Summary In this investigation, the effectiveness of tactual maps for the blind was tested. Four different pseudomaps were constructed; they differ on the one hand in type of construction (channel vs. track construction) and on the other hand in degree of complexity (low vs. high complexity).Depending on the experimental condition, blindfolded sighted Ss had to learn one of the four maps (10 Ss for each type). Afterwards they had to reproduce the maps by drawing them. The accuracy of their performance was measured in two different ways (free reproduction and reproduction with correction). In addition, the memory and spatial imagery of the Ss were measured by two psychological tests.The overall result of the study was that reproduction is better for tactual maps with channels than with tracks. This result is valid for maps with low as well as high complexity. Furthermore, maps with channels are more widely usable, since with this type of map, good memory and spatial imagery are not prerequisites.     

Brainwashing in Small Groups,China or America: A Counselor's View

Brainwashing in small groups is an issue of both past and current concern. Some claim that brainwashing is a workable method of mind control, others say it is an impossibility. Harrigan offers the view that brainwashing, as a technique to implant a particular belief system, does work, but that the success of the technique is dependent on the development of intense relationships among the people involved. The article points up similarities between Chinese brainwashing and American religious cultism.