The Tyranny of Taxonomy Sexuality and Anomaly

Human sexuality is not binary: this, although counter-intuitive initially, is a medical fact. Homo-sexuality was an anomaly under a M/F taxonomy, and so ‘unnatural’ and ‘an abomination’. It is a mere statistical anomaly: it is a fact of Nature, nevertheless. Doctrines of Natural Law must recognize that even if Nature is stable, the notion/word ‘Nature’ is a shifter. As medical and other sciences amend our understanding of Nature, the idea of ‘Nature’ shifts. Natural Law theory is – and must continue to be – based on Nature: the contents of the idea of ‘Nature’ change progressively. So must cultural attitudes.     

Reliability of 16 balance tests in individuals with Down syndrome

To assess test-retest reliability scores on 16 balance tests of 21 individuals with Down syndrome whose ages ranged from 5 to 31 yr., participants performed a standing test on firm and soft surfaces with the eyes open and closed, the balance subset of the Bruininks-Oseretsky test, full turn, timed-up-and-go test, forward reach, and sit-to-stand. Each participant completed all 16 tests twice in one day and then again on a subsequent day for a total of 4 sessions. The interclass reliability correlation coefficients (ICC) value for each measure of balance varied considerably by age and sex. Based on having an ICC > .50, only 3 tests were reliable in young males and young females, whereas 5 tests could reliably be used in adult females and 9 tests could reliably be used in adult males. The results of this study raise suspicions as to the reliability of tests commonly used to assess balance and differences in reliability due to age and sex. Results of balance tests should be interpreted with caution in males and females with Down syndrome across the age span.     

Rape impact: Immediately and two months later

This paper analyzes assault victims’ reactions over the course of two months. Specifically, reaction types are analyzed across four dimensions: behavioral changes, interpersonal difficulties, physical symptoms, and emotional responses. Initially, most rape victims report fairly high levels of disruption across three of the four reaction types, with some signs of recovery two months later. Patterns of reactions are also exhibited. At the two month follow‐up, behavioral changes, physical symptoms, and emotional responses have declined, while interpersonal difficulties have increased slightly. These data suggest that the present service delivery system of the rape crisis center may be problematic in that they offer only short‐term intervention. Some victims of rape may require a different type of service from such centers.     

Development of views of life scale

Abstract

The Views of Life Scale (VOLS) was designed to measure perception of well-being in three areas: inherent value of life, effective life management, and sense of health. Items were placed in these three categories by a team of advanced doctoral students; their overall agreement on item placement was 91.8%. These three categories became Subscales I, II and III of the total instrument. Seven hundred and thirty-two participants responded to the 42 item VOLS; subsamples of this group also took various other instruments with which the VOLS was being compared. Reliability assessment yielded very strong test-retest stability (I=0.80, II=0.87, III=0.76, Total=0.86) and high internal consistency (I=0.76, II=0.83, III=0.81, Total=0.91) for the VOLS measures. Relationships between the VOLS and other inventories provided consistent support for the convergent and divergent validity of the VOLS. An oblique rotation factor analysis produced five major quantitative clusters in the VOLS. There was considerable overlap between these factors and the original subscales.     

Dual realities – The search for meaning: Psychodynamic therapy with physically ill people

Abstract

We summarize Kohut's (1971) bi-polar self which enables counsellors to understand and treat narcissistic behaviours and narcissistic personality disorders in a psychoanalytic framework. After Patton and Meara (1992), we describe Kohut's formulations regarding self-development and disorders of self and how such formulations inform critical components of psychoanalytic counselling with particular emphasis on the explicit and implicit strategies and characteristics the counsellor brings to the process. Finally, we suggest that a promising arena for future theorizing and applications of Kohut's ideas is consultation with parents, teachers and other community leaders to help prevent or remedy psychological self-injuries with systemic interventions outside short-term counselling or long-term therapy.

We have suggested that Kohut's self psychology is a good vehicle for understanding what brings a client to counselling: namely, disorders of the self or self-injury. We review strategies and ‘ways of being’ a counsellor must bring to and offer in the counselling encounter if the work is to succeed. We also examine implicit qualities (beyond the achievement of a mature bipolar self) we believe a counsellor or any facilitator must have if counselling or other helping relationships are to be effective. We purpose further conversations and empirical analyses which specifically and conceptually link critical components of psychoanalytic counselling to self psychology and to essential counsellor traits or virtues that seem intrinsic to good counselling practice.