An Evaluation and Test of Birkhoff's Aesthetic Measure Formula

When 15- to 16-year-old subjects were presented with five different problem situations as a writing task, a clear relationship between success on the problems and scores on a test of general intelligence was found among the 32 boys. Among the 41 girls fewer solutions were found, and IQ was not seen to be closely related to problem-solving behavior. Lack of appropriate experience with the (masculine) tools was taken to be the chief explanation of the results of the female subjects.     

Knox Cube Test and Digit Span

Abstract

C. Murchison. [Ed.] A Handbook of General Experimental Psychology. Worcester, Mass: Clark University Press, 1934. Pp. xii+1125.     

Can Religion Promote Virtue?: A More Stringent Test of the Model of Relational Spirituality and Forgiveness

Rather than simply studying whether religious individuals are more forgiving than nonreligious individuals, recent research has focused on how religion may promote a more fluid and efficient forgiveness process. The present studies sought to strengthen evidence for a model of relational spirituality and forgiveness (Davis, Hook, & Worthington, 2008 Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N. and Worthington, E. 2008. Relational spirituality and forgiveness: The roles of attachment to God, religious coping, and viewing the transgression as a desecration. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 27: 293–301.  [Google Scholar]), given the reliance of prior studies on cross-sectional designs that did not control for hurtfulness of the offense. In Study 1, spiritual appraisals predicted unforgiveness, controlling for hurtfulness and other covariates. Furthermore, using structural equation modeling, empathy was found to partially mediate the relationship between spiritual appraisals and unforgiveness. In Study 2, participants (N = 123) completed a survey weekly for 6 weeks that included measures of relational spirituality and forgiveness. Appraisals of relational spirituality predicted subsequent unforgiveness, as well as the rate of decline in unforgiveness. Thus, using a more stringent test, we found additional evidence for the model.     

Is better beautiful or is beautiful better? Exploring the relationship between beauty and category structure

We evaluate two competing accounts of the relationship between beauty and category structure. According to the similarity-based view, beauty arises from category structure such that central items are favored due to their increased fluency. In contrast, the theory-based view holds that people’s theories of beauty shape their perceptions of categories. In the present study, subjects learned to categorize abstract paintings into meaningfully labeled categories and rated the paintings’ beauty, value, and typicality. Inconsistent with the similarity-based view, beauty ratings were highly correlated across conditions despite differences in fluency and assigned category structure. Consistent with the theory-based view, beautiful paintings were treated as central members for categories expected to contain beautiful paintings (e.g., art museum pieces), but not in others (e.g., student show pieces). These results suggest that the beauty of complex, real-world stimuli is not determined by fluency within category structure but, instead, interacts with people’s prior knowledge to structure categories.     

Verbal Sexual Coercion Experiences,Sexual Risk,and Substance Use in Women

Research has linked sexual assault, substance use, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk in women. Sexual assault by means of verbal sexual coercion (VSC) is more common than sexual assault by means of physical tactics, but VSC is rarely assessed independently. In addition, past work has established global connections among substance use, sexual assault history, and STI risk; however, assessing substance use during sexual behavior is less common. This study examined the relations among VSC, STI risk behavior, and substance use and attitudes. We hypothesized that women with larger numbers of VSC experiences would report more frequent sexual risk behaviors and substance use and attitudes. Participants with larger numbers of VSC experiences reported larger numbers of anal sex partners, more frequent penile–vaginal sex and sexual activity after substance use, and stronger sex-related alcohol expectancies. These findings suggest that VSC is associated with higher levels of STI risk in women.     

Cognitive-behavioural Anger Management Training for Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability

Although people with intellectual disabilities often display anger control problems, little research has been conducted on the development and evaluation of cost-effective anger management training programs for this special population. This study evaluated the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural anger management for 11 adults with mild intellectual disabilities in a group therapy format. Improvements were evident on self-report measures of anger and self-esteem. Additionally, caregiver reports indicated general improvements in emotional and behavioural adjustment. Limitations of the study are acknowledged, including the absence of a control condition.     

Morality Work among the Transabled

In the present article, I address the process of moral stigma resistance using an accounts studies framework. Specifically, I delineate and illustrate the concept of morality work. I demonstrate morality work empirically through a qualitative analysis of 17 years (1994–2011) of blog posts, archived content, and links to and from Transabled.org. Transabled.org is a website, blog, support group, and interaction forum for people with body integrity identity disorder (BIID)—a highly stigmatizing condition of incorrectly abled embodiment. Detractors accuse people with BIID of deep moral failings, including sexual perversion, dishonesty, greed, and attention seeking. In turn, persons with BIID neutralize claims of immorality through medicalization and biologization, and locate themselves on a moral high ground with a discourse of authenticity. In deconstructing transabled bloggers’ moral battle, I examine the process underlying deviant accounts.     

Muscle Stiffness in Down Syndrome and Other Mentally Handicapped Subjects

An attempt was made to determine the effects of strength training on elbow flexor stiffness of Down syndrome, non-Down syndrome mentally handicapped, and nonhandicapped subjects. It was hypothesized that stiffness would be affected by the training. Results showed that only half of the individual subjects increased their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) level as a result of the training and that premeasures and postmeasures of MVC were not significantly different for any of the three groups. As expected, for both premeasures and postmeasures, nonhandicapped subjects had a significantly higher MVC than the other groups who were not significantly different. An important finding was that measures of stiffness (slopes of the IEMG × Torque) were not significantly different for the three groups. This finding is consistant with recent studies (Davis & Kelso, 1982; Shumway-Cook & Woollacott, in press) but raises serious doubts about the popularly held opinion that Down syndrome individuals are hypotonic. It was also found that both the Down syndrome and other mentally handicapped subjects produced significantly less torque at the maximum level than the nonhandicapped subjects. These findings suggest that deficits in mentally handicapping conditions result from a decrease in the range of a primary motor control parameter λ (see Feldman, 1986).     

The Factor Structure of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Seventy-seven female and 86 male psychologist practitioners filled out the Bem Sex Rote Inventory to describe either a healthy adult male, healthy adult female, or healthy adult, sex unspecified. Analyzing the data according to Bem's classification of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny produced a significant Scale X Condition interaction with male and female practitioners ascribing significantly more masculine than feminine traits to healthy adult men, yet displaying no comparable differences when rating healthy adult women. Analyzing the data according to Spence's classification of masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated produced a Group X Condition interaction with practitioners ascribing significantly more masculine traits to healthy adult men and significantly more feminine traits to healthy adult women. Reanalyses omitting "masculine" and "feminine" from Bem's fist of sex-typed traits produced nonsignificant results. The relationship of this to recent criticisms of the construct validity of the BSRI and to the validity of earlier results of therapist sex-role bias was discussed.     

An overview of transpersonal psychology

Abstract

An overview of transpersonal psychology is provided with specific focus on a number of its central themes (nonduality, intrinsic health, self‐transcendence, and inclusivity) and practices (meditation, ritual, and inquiry). The relationship of transpersonal psychology to both mainstream psychology and spiritual wisdom traditions is discussed. The field's implications for diversity issues, research, and service applications are also considered.