Utilizing structural family therapy and systems theory in the business world

The structure of businesses and the structure of families are very similar, considering the fact that so many businesses are owned or operated by families. Structural family therapists who are knowledgeable in systems theory and have an adequate understanding of the underlying concepts of structural family theory (including hierarchy, boundaries, and coalitions) can translate their knowledge to the structure of businesses and organizations. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the similarities between the structures of families and businesses. In doing so, an application of structural family theory to the business world (employee assistance programs, business consultation, and family businesses) will be demonstrated.     

The enduring intellectual legacy of B. F. Skinner: A citation count from 1966-1989

It is frequently claimed that the influence of behaviorism in general and of B. F. Skinner in particular, is declining. Data obtained from the Social Sciences Citation Index for the years 1966-1989 document that in the last twenty-four years the number of citations to the works of Skinner has been reasonably steady. There is no evidence of a decline in the absolute number of such citations, suggesting that claims of the demise of behaviorism may be, once again, premature.     

Perceptions of primary supervisor interpersonal skills: A critical incident analysis

This study surveyed a randomly selected group of Approved Supervisors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (n = 280) and their supervisees (n = 266) on their perceptions of the primary supervisor interpersonal skill used in supervisory incidents that had a positive effect on supervisee development. Supervisor directiveness was the most identified skill by both supervisors and supervisees.This study was funded in part by grants from the Research Committee of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; the Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University; and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Purdue University Calumet.     

Promoting parental compliance with home infant apnea monitor use

OBJECTIVE: To promote greater compliance in using prescribed infant apnea monitors among families with a medically at-risk infant. Eight consecutively referred non-compliant families were treated by a medical social worker who provided educational, behavioral prompting, and case management services. In six families results were evaluated with A-B single case research designs, and in two families A-B-A designs were used. Enhanced compliance followed intervention with all eight families. Clinically satisfactory compliance permitting the pediatrician to safely discontinue monitor use occurred in five of the eight families. Simple behavioral and case management interventions show great promise in promoting caregiver compliance with using home-based infant apnea monitors.     

Clinical behavior analysis and clinical social work: A mutually reinforcing relationship

Clinical behavior analysis (CBA) and clinical social work (CSW) have the potential to gain much from one another. The existing synergistic relation between the fields, however, is largely under-recognized, overwhelmed by the stronger disciplinary and historical associations among behavior analysis and psychology and education. This paper reviews the similarities and differences between CBA and CSW, how they have enriched each other, and the potential for greatly expanded relations between the two fields.     

Parenting Wisely: Parent Training via CD-ROM with an Australian Sample

The effectiveness of a parenting program was examined with an Australian sample regarding improved parent knowledge, parental sense of competence, and child behavior. One hundred and sixteen parents and their children were randomly assigned to three conditions: a two-session group based intervention, a two-session self-administered individual intervention, or to a waitlist control group. Across both treatment modalities results reveal a significant increase in parental satisfaction, efficacy, and a reduction in child problem behavior. Improvements were maintained at 3-months follow-up. Results indicate the individual self-administered format enhanced treatment gains relative to the group format.     

Comparison of Mothers' and Fathers' Opinions of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy

Opinions of parenting programs mostly have been obtained from mothers. Because mothers and fathers' interactions with children differ, gathering data from both parents regarding behavior modification and parenting programs is necessary. This project was part of a larger study and compared mothers and fathers' acceptability of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and its various components. Acceptability data were obtained using the Treatment Evaluation Inventory-Short Form and a modified version of this measure assessing specific PCIT components. The sample consisted of 40 community mother-father pairs of a young male child. Findings suggest gender differences in PCIT treatment acceptability and various PCIT components.     

语言理解中情绪的动态模拟

采用混合实验设计, 句子-图片匹配范式和动态过程再现范式, 以包含静态情绪和动态变化情绪信息的句子为实验材料, 以被试对图片的反应时间为因变量指标, 通过不同时间间隔的设置以及不同的实验程序, 探讨了语言理解中静态情绪和动态情绪的心理模拟及其时间进程。结果表明：(1)被试对情绪的心理模拟与句中的语言描述一致, 情绪语境能够激活被试的经验模拟。(2)被试在句子理解加工的初期就能迅速、即时地模拟静态情绪信息, 且这种模拟具有一定的稳定性和持久性。(3)被试可以对动态变化的情绪进行动态的心理模拟, 不过这种模拟所需的时间要长, 是在句子理解加工的后期完成的。被试对不同情绪变化方向的句子模拟受到原情绪状态的影响, 当阅读由消极情绪向积极情绪变化的句子时, 由于被试固着于原来的消极情绪而发生了模拟积极情绪的困难。