Issues in brief counselling with postgraduate research students

In this study it is suggested that for some postgraduate research students, their ability to learn and their coping resources to deal with the emotionally demanding process of undertaking a PhD may derive in part from their attachment style, which in turn derives from early attachment experience. A time-limited counselling intervention resulted in a reduction in the CORE-OM global index of psychological distress from above the clinical cut-off point to below it in 10 out of 12 participants, and a significant reduction in the remaining two cases. All participants presented with concerns over their ability to complete their theses and yet all did so within four years or its part time equivalent. Self-report ratings of the degree of perceived impairment also reduced significantly and these correlated positively with reduction in global distress. It is further proposed that although a direct link between a counselling intervention and outcome of study has not been shown, the correlation shown here between global distress and reported academic impairment coupled with an earlier reported statistical association between difficulties experienced by students and outcome strongly suggests such a link.     

Inhibitory effects on response force in the stop-signal paradigm

The forcefulness of key press responses was measured in stop-all and selective stopping versions of the stop-signal paradigm. When stop signals were presented too late for participants to succeed in stopping their responses, response force was nonetheless reduced relative to trials in which no stop signal was presented. This effect shows that peripheral motor aspects of primary task responses can still be influenced by inhibition even when the stop signal arrives too late to prevent the response. It thus requires modification of race models in which responses in the presence of stop signals are either stopped completely or produced normally, depending on whether the responding or stopping process finishes first.     

Instrumental Values – Strong and Weak

What does it mean that an object has instrumental value? While some writers seem to think it means that the object bears a value, and that instrumental value accordingly is a kind of value, other writers seem to think that the object is not a value bearer but is only what is conducive to something of value. Contrary to what is the general view among philosophers of value, I argue that if instrumental value is a kind of value, then it is a kind of extrinsic final value.     

Barriers and Bridges to Intimacy and Mutuality: A Critical Review of Sexual Advice Found in Self-Help Bestsellers

Sexuality in a committed relationship is based ideally on both intimacy and mutuality. Gender socialization may limit women's and men's capacities in these two important areas of sexual relationships. This article describes the results of a content analysis of nine best-selling popular press books on the New York Times Bestseller List between 1988 and 1998 according to their advice related to sexual intimacy and mutuality. Books were analyzed to determine the degree to which they built barriers or bridges to the development of intimacy and mutuality. Results indicate that while most authors offered advice that built bridges to intimacy, several built barriers to the development of mutuality. Implications for therapists are discussed.