Absolute identification by relative judgment

In unidimensional absolute identification tasks, participants identify stimuli that vary along a single dimension. Performance is surprisingly poor compared with discrimination of the same stimuli. Existing models assume that identification is achieved using long-term representations of absolute magnitudes. The authors propose an alternative relative judgment model (RJM) in which the elemental perceptual units are representations of the differences between current and previous stimuli. These differences are used, together with the previous feedback, to respond. Without using long-term representations of absolute magnitudes, the RJM accounts for (a) information transmission limits, (b) bowed serial position effects, and (c) sequential effects, where responses are biased toward immediately preceding stimuli but away from more distant stimuli (assimilation and contrast).     

Deontic Reasoning With Emotional Content: Evolutionary Psychology or Decision Theory?

Three experiments investigated the contrasting predictions of the evolutionary and decision-theoretic approaches to deontic reasoning. Two experiments embedded a hazard management (HM) rule in a social contract scenario that should lead to competition between innate modules. A 3rd experiment used a pure HM task. Threatening material was also introduced into the antecedent, p, of a deontic rule, if p then must q. According to the evolutionary approach, more HM responses (Cosmides & Tooby, 2000) are predicted when p is threatening, whereas decision theory predicts fewer. All 3 experiments were consistent with decision theory. Other theories are discussed, and it is concluded that they cannot account for the behavior observed in these experiments.     

Process and Content in a Therapy Group for Bipolar Outpatients

Although the literature suggests that homogeneous therapy groups are useful for bipolar outpatients, little is known about the process in such groups. Using the GCQ-S and a content analysis of discussion topics, we evaluated group process during the first 31 sessions of an outpatient bipolar group. Compared with normative samples, our group scored significantly higher in the Engaged dimension and significantly lower in the Avoiding and Conflict dimensions and in the anxiety/tension scale. Furthermore, 81% of the discussion topics were related to the three group goals, and an additional 18% dealt with general group issues such as orienting new members and attendance. The results from this pilot study suggest that bipolar patients can discuss relevant issues in a homogeneous group environment that is cohesive, open, and safe.     

The politics of the gaze: Between Foucault and Merleau-Ponty

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Theory and Society seminars, University of Sheffield, England, on 7th February 1992. Thanks are due to all participants for their helpful comments, especially Nick Stevenson. Thanks also to Maurice Roche and Michele Davies for their help and comments.     

Group process in short-term outpatient therapy groups for schizophrenics

The short form of the group climate questionnaire (GCQ-S) was used to evaluate process in three 12-session therapy groups for outpatient schizophrenics. Results showed no difference on the Engaged dimension between the short-term schizophrenic groups and either a normative sample of outpatient neurotic groups or the first 26 sessions of a long-term outpatient schizophrenic group. However, the short-term groups scored significantly lower (p<.001) on the Avoiding and Conflict dimensions as compared with either long-term sample. The session-to-session GCQ-S dimension pattern did not support the presence of sequential group stages, but there was a tendency for the Engaged scores to increase and the Avoiding and Conflict scores to decrease as time went on.The authors gratefully acknowledge K. Roy MacKenzie, M.D., and Don Brown, M.D., for their helpful comments regarding this paper. Parts of this paper were presented in a poster session at the American Group Psychotherapy Association Annual Meeting in New York, February 8–12, 1988.