The cardiac orienting response and its relationship to the cardiac conditional response in dogs

Orienting tones of two durations (11 seconds and 42 seconds) were presented to two groups of dogs, and the heart rate-orienting responses (HR-OR) were measured. With the brief tone (11 seconds) the initial HR-OR was usually a bradycardia. With the longer tone (42 seconds) the HR-OR was a biphasic response, an initial bradycardia followed by a tachycardia. The bradycardia component extinguished more rapidly than the tachycardia component of this response. The bradycardia also extinguished more rapidly to the long tone than to the brief tone. With the brief tone the degree of HR-OR was not highly correlated with the degree of HR conditional response given by the same dog after the tone had been reinforced by shock.     

The frequency principle for comparative judgments)

This experiment supplements a recetlf study of the effects of an interpolated weight upon memory for a standard (Parducci, Marshall, & Degner, 1966). The earlier data suggested that the stimulus-averaging approach as represented by the theory of adaptation level should be modified to incorporate the principle that Ss use alternative categories with equal frequency. The present data support this modification by demonstrating that even when the stimulus mean is held constant, judgments are affected by the relative frequencies of the comparison stimuli.     

Systematic observation methods in the study of small groups

A comparison was made between the Bales and the Carter-Haythorn-Meirowitz-Lanzetta methods of systematic observation. The comparison was limited to the categorizing of verbal behaviour. It was found that there are several deficiencies in the latter method with respect to the classes used, and that satisfactory observer reliability could not be obtained. By using the Bales method, on the other hand, fairly high total observer reliabilities were achieved, and even the category reliabilities in various classes turned out to be satisfactory, provided the category frequencies were large enough.     

Combating Foster Care Drift: An Ecosystemic Treatment Model For Neglect Cases

The neglect of children may take many forms, but always represents the diminished capacity of the entire system of which the children are a living part. Child, parent, family, neighborhood, and community variables mutually influence one another. Once children are removed from a home, these same individual, relational, and contextual factors may result in foster placements of indefinite term and goals. Families are not reunited nor are the children legally freed to be placed in permanent homes. Because of the multiplicity of transacting influences there needs to be a stage-wise, systemic approach to remediation. This begins with crisis intervention and life stabilization. Later it includes more traditional family therapy work. However, the marital and family therapist contributes substantially at each stage.     

The Sacred Dance of the Sexes

Problems inherent in the patriarchal system have led to the universal problem of the so-called battle of the sexes. The last two hundred years of liberation movements lead to the conclusion that for any such movement finally to succeed, the patriarchal system must be outgrown. Six methods of dealing with the problem are reviewed and all are found variously wanting, though some offer promise. A solution is offered. The differences between men and women must be honored and true partnership developed. A method by which this can be achieved is described.     

Two Principles of Functioning of the Affects

The American Journal of Psychoanalysis -     

Narcissistic Processes: Optimistic Expectations, Favorable Self-Evaluations, and Self-Enhancing Attributions

Three studies investigated the relationship between narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; Raskin & Hall, 1979) and three forms of self-enhancement. In Study 1, narcissism positively correlated with predictions of own final course grades, but not with actual grades received. In Study 2, narcissism positively correlated with estimated current course grades; high narcissists tended to overestimate their grades, while low narcissists tended to underestimate them. In Study 3, narcissism was associated with optimistic expectations for own performance on a laboratory interdependence task and with attributions of a successful task outcome to own ability and effort, but it did not correlate with attributions to a partner's ability or effort, suggesting self-aggrandizement but not other-derogation. Narcissism was also associated with weaker gratitude and liking. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the origins and generality of self-enhancement and for the relationship between narcissism and self-functioning in the social domain.