Personality and alcohol dependence

In this study, groups of ‘alcoholic’ subjects were independently rated as to their degree of dependence by a technique previously validated. The two groups of moderately and severely dependent subjects were then given the 101-item EPQ. In keeping with other similar studies, the data suggested that high N, high P and low E in men were related to the Clinical Alcohol Personality. Further analysis of these and other data suggest that whilst raised N scores may be a spurious artefact which is a consequence of heavy alcohol consumption, the E and P findings may reflect stable predispositions. There were no sex differences, but there was a major group difference on P, with both severely dependent men and women scoring significantly higher than their less dependent counterparts.     

Is Age a Good Predictor of Research Productivity?

The research productivity of psychologists holding appointment in Australian universities was established at two times of measurement across groups defined with respect to chronological age and date of birth. The design allowed cross-sectional gradients to be contrasted over times of measurement, and longitudinal gradients to be compared across cohorts. Psychologists aged 26–35 years in 1970 showed no decline in publication rate between 1968–1970 and 1978–1980, while psychologists aged more than 35 years in 1970 showed a drop in research output over the 10-year period. However, a person's publication rate in 1978–1980 was better predicted by their past productivity (publication rate in 1968–1970) than by their age. These results are discussed in the context of factors that affect research productivity, as well as changes that will occur in the age distribution of Australian academics over the next 20 years.     

The missionary syndrome

Early sexual explorations of children that are of a traumatic nature are often labeled by the child as bad or wrong and subsequently repressed. The guilt that results from the labeling may be intensified at a later date by some other similar incident, and at this time the person may make a binding commitment or promise to God to serve Him in some dutiful way. If, at a later date, these plans to serve God cannot be realized, depression, phobias, or conversion symptomatology may occur, which we have referred to as the Missionary Syndrome.Ray O. Sexton, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Memphis, TennesseeWith Dr. Sexton, he maintains a private practice in Memphis, Tennessee.     

ADMINISTRATION EFFECTS ON THE S-329 OF THE GATB USING THREE EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS

Does the administrator of a test have an effect on the results of a group taking a test? If so, does a warm positive administrator have a different effect than a cold aloof examiner? Is there a difference in the effect of a male and female administrator? These are the questions that this study was designed to investigate. One hundred forty females 22 years or over taking the clerical battery of the GATB as part of a civil service examination were randomly assigned to one of three test administrators: (1) a warm, positive administrator, (2) a neutral administrator and (3) a negative, aloof and unhelpful administrator. One male and one female employed each of the experimental treatments resulting in six treatment groups. Findings: (1) Subjects taking the test administered by males did not achieve significantly different scores from those taking the test administered by females; (2) Warm positive administrator behavior produced significantly higher scores than negative administrator behavior; (3) Neutral administrator behavior produced significantly higher scores than negative administrator behavior; (4) Neutral and positive administrator behaviors were on the average equally effective in promoting high scores.     

Selective attention: the effects of combining stimuli which control incompatible behavior

Four rhesus monkeys learned both a color and tilt discrimination. The stimuli were combined to produce incompatible behavior. The behavior controlled by one set of stimuli was reinforced until “errors” virtually disappeared. The stimuli were tested separately again. Sixteen replications of the entire procedure indicated that the stimuli producing “errors” were ignored.     

A combination stereotaxic drill press and electrode carrier

A method of transforming a vertical rack and pinion-type electrode slide into a miniature drill press is described. Advantages of the instrument are noted and several applications suggested. Specifications are included for the aluminum electrode mold for cat cortical electrode casts.     

Test skewness and kurtosis as functions of item parameters

Indexes of skewness and kurtosis for a test-score distribution are expressed in terms of item parameters. Both are shown to depend, in part, on item means, variances, and covariances. The index of skewness depends also on trivariances. A trivariance is a product moment involving first powers of deviation scores for three items. The index of kurtosis depends on quadrivariances, as well as trivariances. A quadrivariance is a product moment involving first powers of deviation scores for four items. Empirical data are presented for responses of groups of subjects to 25 triads and 25 tetrads of items from five tests.Certain parts of this article represent the results of doctoral research conducted by Hundleby and Goldstein under the direction of Ray in the Department of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University. The authors are indebted to Professor Lester Guest and Professor William Lepley for their supervisory assistance in the final stages of the two dissertations during the absence of the senior author.     

The course of acquisition of a line-tilt discrimination by rhesus monkeys

Each of four groups of monkeys were trained on a different simultaneous discrimination procedure involving a vertical line as the correct choice. Each group, after acquiring the discrimination, was tested for generalization along the dimension of line tilt. Monkeys that learned to select the vertical line when the alternative choices were distinguished from the correct choice by two aspects (brightness and absence of line) showed almost complete tilt generalization (flat gradient). Monkeys that learned to select the line when the alternatives were distinguished only by the absence of the line showed poor tilt discrimination (generalization gradient slightly peaked at vertical). Monkeys developed a good tilt discrimination when nonvertical lines were gradually introduced by progressively darkening them on the previously blank alternatives. Monkeys developed a tilt discrimination with the lowest error rate when only horizontal alternatives were gradually introduced and then pairs of alternatives progressively closer to vertical were made available.