Cultural Variability in the Manifestation of Expressed Emotion

We examined the distribution of expressed emotion (EE) and its indices in a sample of 224 family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia pooled from 5 studies, 3 reflecting a contemporary sample of Mexican Americans (MA 2000, N =126), 1 of an earlier study of Mexican Americans (MA 1980, N =44), and the other of an earlier study of Anglo Americans (AA, N =54). Chi-square and path analyses revealed no significant differences between the 2 MA samples in rates of high EE, critical comments, hostility, and emotional over-involvement (EOI). Only caregiver warmth differed for the 2 MA samples; MA 1980 had higher warmth than MA 2000. Significant differences were consistently found between the combined MA samples and the AA sample; AAs had higher rates of high EE, more critical comments, less warmth, less EOI, and a high EE profile comprised more of criticism/hostility. We also examined the relationship of proxy measures of acculturation among the MA 2000 sample. The findings support and extend Jenkins' earlier observations regarding the cultural variability of EE for Mexican Americans. Implications are discussed regarding the cross-cultural measurement of EE and the focus of family interventions.     

A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF UPWARD FEEDBACK

This study followed 92 managers during four administrations of an upward feedback program over 2.5 years. Managers' whose initial level of performance (defined as the average rating from subordinates) was low improved between Administrations 1 and 2, and sustained this improvement 2 years later. Most of the performance improvement occurred between the first and second administrations of the program. The observed performance improvement could not be attributed solely to regression to the mean and was unrelated to the number of times, or when, the managers received feedback. Our results suggest that the continued administration of an upward feedback program can result in sustained change over a fairly long period of time and that actually receiving feedback may be less important than the exposure to the valued behaviors. We use control theory and goal setting theory as frameworks for explaining the results and suggesting directions for future research.     

Career Counseling and Reality Therapy: A Conceptual Flowchart

Reality therapy is a cognitive behavioral approach but has not been developed for, nor associated with, career counseling. This article discusses the role of reality therapy in career counseling, with the aid of a flowchart model to present the particulars of the system.     

Results and Possible Implications of the National Board for Certified Counselors Examination

The National Board for Certified Counselors' (NBCC) National Counselor Examination (NCE) has become important in the counseling profession because of its critical role in NBCC's counselor certification process and its increasing use as a state counselor licensure examination. This importance exists in part because implications about and for the counseling profession can be drawn from results of NCE administrations. Data from the six previously administered minimum-criterion score forms of the NCE and some possible implications of those data are presented in this article.