The Personhood Wars

Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics -     

AEROBICS AS POLITICAL MODEL AND SCHOOLING

Among the theses promulgated by the Frankfort School theorists during the forties and fifties was the decline of the individual under contemporary capitalism. The chief agent of this decline was identified as the culture industry, which served the reigning system by integrating people into its particular regime of production, reproduction, and consumption. By dominating minds, homogenizing behaviors, and normalizing tastes, this industry prepared people for capitalist toil. In so doing, it also obstructed the flowering of individuality. Individuality, if it were possible any longer, could henceforth be found only among the "captains" of capitalism in charge of the system. In fact, however, these captains were equally captive. The future of the individual thus seemed sealed.     

MODIFICATION OF ACTIVITY LEVEL THROUGH BIOFEEDBACK AND OPERANT CONDITIONING1

The biomotometer, an electronic device that simultaneously measures activity and provides auditory feedback to the subject, was used in combination with material reinforcers in two experiments attempting to modify activity level in children. In the first study the activity level of an 11-year-old highly active boy was decreased below mean baseline during conditioning in a classroom setting. His level of activity returned to baseline when feedback was withdrawn. In the second study, activity level of a 10-year-old hypoactive boy was increased over mean baseline level during conditioning in a free-play setting, and returned to slightly below baseline during five extinction trials. Results of these studies indicate that the biomotometer is a useful instrument for modification of activity level.     

Activity level: A comparison between actometer scores and observer ratings

Activity level of 13 boys (aged 9–13) from a day hospital program was measured using actometers in classroom, gym, woodshop, and group therapy settings. Ratings of Ss' activity were obtained from mothers using the Werry scale, and from six clinical staff familiar with the Ss using the Davids scale. It was predicted that activity ratings would have situationally specific relationships with actometermeasured activity level according to the rater's opportunities for observation. Comparisons between measures indicated that all clinical staff ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in the classroom (r=.49 to r=.73), while mothers' ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in gym (r=.67), and woodshop (r=.77), and with overall activity (r=.65), a combined measure derived from actometer scores in the four conditions tested. Five of six clinical staff raters showed significant interrater reliability (r=.58 to r=.83). Results are discussed in terms of their implications for solution of current problems in assessment of activity level and hyperactivity.     

The Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory

The theoretical grounds, purposes, and features of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI; Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982) and its forthcoming replacement the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; Millon, in press) are reviewed. The rationale and procedure for the construction of the component scales are briefly explained, and the logic of configural or profile interpretation is examined and recommended. Uses and limitations of the MAPI and MAC1 are considered. Evaluative research, although limited in scope, points to the general utility of the MAPI and MACI as clinical tools, and to areas where further study may enhance their applicability in a counseling context.     

Small and unfilled psychotherapy groups: Understanding and using them effectively

Many open-ended psychotherapy groups have fewer than five members, and fewer than the number the therapist considers necessary for the group to be filled. This paper discusses the rationale for starting such groups and the special dynamics of running them. It then suggests strategies for the therapist to use in maximizing their therapeutic effectiveness. Suggestions are made for further research into the demographic and dynamic aspects of such groups.     

Nature of relations between the physical and social microenvironment of the two-year-old child

Previous research has demonstrated that high levels of noise, crowing or person traffic pattern in infants' homes are associated with less involved and less responsive caregiving by parents. Based on these previous findings two questions were investigated in the present research. First, does the same pattern of relations appear with older toddlers; second, are these patterns unique to the specific dimensions of noise, crowding and traffic pattern? Subjects were 56 2-year-old toddlers. Based upon repeated home observations the physical and social environments fo the toddlers' homes were assessed using codes from the Purdue Home Stimulation Inventory. Analysis of the interrelation between the phychology and social microenvironments of these toddlers was based upon canonical correlation. Congruent with preovious research, interpretation of the canonical structure revealed that high levels of noise, crowding or traffic pattern in the home were associated with lower caregiver attentiveness and responsivity. Results also indicated that this pattern was unique to the specific physical environment dimensions of noise, crowding and traffic pattern. Implications of these results for alternate care settings are discussed.     

Reaction time indices of attention deficits in boys with disruptive behavior disorders

Boys with diagnoses in the disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) spectrum and normal controls were tested in two reaction time (RT) experiments. In Experiment I simple warned RT was measured and the length and regularity of the preparatory intervals were varied in order to study sustained attention in the sense of preparation. With age and IQ controlled, DBD boys had slower and more variable RT overall than controls and showed generally more pronounced effects of variations in the length and sequence of the preparatory intervals. The results suggest that DBD boys are subject to lapses of attention which are increased by a relatively long preparatory interval, and that they have a particular problem with temporal uncertainty. In Experiment II some aspects of selective attention were studied in a paradigm in which stimulus modality uncertainty and response selection were varied. DBD boys showed greater effects of modality uncertainty but not response selection than controls. No differences between subdiagnoses within the DBD spectrum could be demonstrated.