The Initial Interview with Diverse Populations: An Introduction to the Special Issue

Every initial clinical interview is a unique encounter between psychotherapist and client. This unique encounter typically includes interactions designed to build the therapeutic relationship, collect assessment data, develop a case formulation, and initiate psychotherapy. As the United States population has become more diverse, conducting an effective initial interview has become more complex and challenging. To meet this challenge, it is recommended that psychotherapists make cultural adaptations by seeking self-awareness, acquiring knowledge, and learning culture-specific techniques. This special issue includes six articles designed to stretch the way psychotherapists think about the initial interview and infuse greater multicultural sensitivity and humility into psychotherapy practice.     

Automatic identification of familiar faces

Much research has suggested that facial identification has some characteristics of automaticity, in that it is rapid, nonconscious, and mandatory. However, little research has tested whether it can occur even if attention is already devoted to the demanding central processes of another task. In the present study, we addressed this type of automaticity using the psychological refractory period paradigm. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants successfully identified familiar faces, even while they were engaged with another task, indicating the automaticity of familiar-face identification. In Experiments 3 and 4, however, participants could not identify unfamiliar faces as automatically as they could identify the familiar faces. We concluded that automatic face identification is possible, but dependent on prior familiarity.     

On the status of “things in themselves” in Kant

Conclusion For Kant, the concept of things in themselves or noumena isnot a door through which we are able to exit from the phenomenal realm into the sphere of mind-independent reality. Rather, it is an epistemic, mind-imposed contrivance through which alone we are able to operate our conceptual scheme — a scheme in which objectivity and externality play a crucial role.     

Perceptual and acoustic evidence for species-level differences in meow vocalizations by domestic cats (Felis catus) and African wild cats (Felis silvestris lybica)

To test for possible anthropogenic selection effects on meows in domestic felids, vocalizations by domestic cats (Felis catus) were compared with cries by their closest wild relative, the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica). Comparisons included analysis of acoustic characteristics and perceptual studies with human (Homo sapiens) listeners. The perceptual studies obtained human listener ratings of call pleasantness. Both the acoustic and perceptual comparisons revealed clear species-level differences: The domestic cat meows were significantly shorter in mean duration than the wild cat meows, showed higher mean formant frequencies, and exhibited higher mean fundamental frequencies. Human listeners at all levels of experience and affinity for cats rated domestic cat meows as far more pleasant sounding than wild cat vocalizations. These results are consistent with a model of cat domestication that posits selective pressure on meows based on human perceptual biases.     

Is detecting prospective cues the same as selecting targets? An ERP study

Prospective memory represents our ability to realize intentions that must be delayed for some period of time. In this study, we examined modulations of the event-related brain potentials (ERPs) associated with target selection in visual working memory and prospective-cue detection in prospective memory. Targets and prospective cues elicited an N2pc, indicating that a common neural mechanism supports selection in working memory and prospective memory. Partial least squares analysis revealed that the N300 and prospective positivity were associated with a latent variable that contrasted the ERPs elicited by prospective-cue trials with those elicited by target-present and target-absent trials, in agreement with the idea that these modulations of the ERPs are uniquely related to prospective memory     

The body schema and multisensory representation(s) of peripersonal space

To guide the movement of the body through space, the brain must constantly monitor the position and movement of the body in relation to nearby objects. The effective piloting of the body to avoid or manipulate objects in pursuit of behavioural goals requires an integrated neural representation of the body (the body schema) and of the space around the body (peripersonal space). In the review that follows, we describe and evaluate recent results from neurophysiology, neuropsychology, and psychophysics in both human and non-human primates that support the existence of an integrated representation of visual, somatosensory, and auditory peripersonal space. Such a representation involves primarily visual, somatosensory, and proprioceptive modalities, operates in body-part-centred reference frames, and demonstrates significant plasticity. Recent research shows that the use of tools, the viewing of ones body or body parts in mirrors, and in video monitors, may also modulate the visuotactile representation of peripersonal space.

Dimensions of school climate: teachers' or principals' power styles and subjects' propensities to be climate vigilant as related to students' perceptions of satisfaction and of peers' abusive behavior

Two studies investigated teachers' and principals' power styles as related to college students' retrospective ratings of satisfaction and peers' abusive behavior. One study also investigated retrospective self-perception as related to students' sensitivity to the occurrence of physical and psychological abuse in the school environment. Among the findings were positive correlations between subjects' perceptions that their typical elementary school teacher used referent, legitimate, or expert power styles and subjects' reported satisfaction with their elementary school experience. Small but statistically significant correlations were found suggesting that principals' power style was weakly associated with ratings of psychological abuse in elementary school and physical abuse in middle school. Also, students who rated themselves as intelligent, sensitive, attractive, and depressive had higher ratings of perceived psychological and physical abuse at school. It was concluded that parameters of leaders' power styles and subjects' vigilance might be useful for understanding school climates. Experimentally designed studies are required.     

The factor structure underlying three self-report multicultural counseling competence scales

This study examined the extent to which 3 self-report multicultural scales were measuring the predominant 3-factor conceptualization of multicultural counseling competence as consisting of multicultural attitudes/beliefs, knowledge, and skills. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 3-factor model was not fully supported. An exploratory factor analysis identified a 2-factor structure (i.e., self-perceived multicultural counseling skills and multicultural counseling attitudes/beliefs) underlying these instruments. Implications of the findings for clinical practice, training, and research are discussed.