“Wondering” and Beyond: Discussion of Arietta Slade's “Reflective Parenting Programs”

Arietta Slade describes the development of two reflective parenting programs that are based on Fonagy's and his colleagues' construct of reflective functioning. The merits of focusing on a defined theoretical construct are that it enables the conceptualization of the parent and child experiences that should be targeted and outlined in an intervention program. The discussion questions the extent to which parents, and in particular those with difficult histories, can be open to this intervention. The psychoanalytic literature has shown that parent–child interactions are affected by parents' past experiences that might be projected or attributed to their children. It is suggested that the intervention program should also address the parent and his or her past. Helping parents to arrive at a more integrated understanding of their own development could help them to be more open to the experiences of their children.     

The Use of Self-Pleasure: Masturbation and Body Image among African American and European American Women

The current investigation examined the relationship between masturbation and body image among 96 women seeking services at a local family planning clinic in a mid-southern U.S. city. Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed body image and masturbatory practices. Ethnic differences were found with European American women reporting greater masturbation frequencies and higher rates of body dissatisfaction than African American women. Among European American women, there was a positive relationship between women's sexual self-pleasuring and positive body image. For African American participants, body image was not related to masturbation practice or frequency.     

Differential effects of repetition on pre- and postcategorical memory traces

The effect of list repetition on immediate recall for aurally presented nine-letter lists was studied under two conditions. In the first, a redundant stimulus item was presented as the tenth item in each list, while the suffix was not included in a control condition. As in previous research (Crowder & Morton, 1969), the stimulus suffix selectively interfered with recall at the terminal presentation serial positions, indicating the presence of precategorical acoustic storage. Repetition had a nonselective effect on performance. This result and an analysis of acoustic errors support the inference that qualitative differences in the memory code may lead to differences in other functional properties of the memory trace, such as responsiveness to repetition.     

Understanding emerging adulthood from a goal-setting perspective

The chapter first introduces the concept of emerging adulthood as a period of life that is characterized by instabilities and fluctuations. Then, the role of goal setting and aspirations in individual development during this stage of life is discussed. Following this, seven chapters of the present special issue are introduced, and the ways in which goal processes affect individual trajectories and outcomes are discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future perspectives in the field, such as the need to investigate the relationships between goals and goal adjustment, the need to carry out cross-cultural comparisons, as well as the need to develop intervention based on goal and aspiration framework.     

Dynamics of goal pursuit and personality make-up among emerging adults: typology, change over time, and adaptation

In recent years young people's lives have been characterized by postponement of developmental timetables, inconsistencies of transitions, and loss of direction in life. Data from a longitudinal study of Israeli young adults show that the capacity for setting realistic work and love goals reflects inner strengths and is associated with adaptive outcomes. Less-articulated love and work goals are associated with underlying personality difficulties and are predictive of less stable and less adaptive outcomes. The interplay of goal constellations and personality constructs, and its association with adaptive and less adaptive outcomes is presented and discussed.     

Peer Group and Family Relationships in Early Adolescence

This study explored the possible interface between family and peer group systems in early adolescence. Sixth-graders who were identified as group members were interviewed and given questions regarding their attitudes toward the group and group dynamics. Family atmosphere and parent-adolescent relationships were evaluated from the parents' perspective. The results show two different linkages of peer and family processes: On the one hand, family relationships are related to the perception of the peer group as a source of support, especially when individual growth is respected within an atmosphere of acceptance and support in the family. On the other hand, family life characterized by conflict and lack of support for individual development is related to an increased involvement with groups and more conformity to group pressure. Results are discussed in line with theories dealing with the role of the family in adolescent development.