Clinical Assessment of Child Victims and Adult Survivors of Child Maltreatment

In the last 2 decades, various forms of child maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect, have gained the increased attention of the general public and mental health professionals. In this article, the authors review relevant literature to assist counselors in conducting quality clinical assessments of child victims and adult survivors of child maltreatment. Guidelines are discussed, and specific measures and procedures are recommended.     

Counselor Trainee Perceptions of Hispanic,Black, and White Teenage Expectant Mothers and Fathers

This study investigated the perceptions of counselors-in-training of Black, Hispanic, and White male and female adolescents in a teen pregnancy situation. Findings and implications for counselor training are discussed.     

Approval versus achievement motives in seventh-grade girls

Eighty seventh graders played a computer-programmed two-choice probability game in one of four conditions: with reinforcement for choosing the more probable response, with reinforcement for choosing the less probable response, with a silent experimenter, or alone. Children receiving reinforcement for the less probable response experienced a conflict between approval and achievement since choices which increased approval in this condition decreased success in the task. Across all conditions, girls chose the more probable response significantly more often than boys, indicating that girls did not sacrifice achievement for the sake of approval. Finally, girls did not reduce their efforts to achieve when working alone even though there was no opportunity for social approval, and did not express lower success expectancies than the boys even though these were measured anonymously.The authors wish to extend their appreciation to the teachers at Emerson School, Oak Park, Illinois, and to Ms. Glada O. Vaughn, principal, and Ms. Sandra Northrup Nowak, assistant principal, for their cooperation in carrying out this research.     

Suicide attempts among juvenile delinquents; the contribution of mental health factors.

This study examined which, if any, of four variables (depression, hopelessness, conduct problems, substance abuse) differentiated suicide attemptors from nonattemptors among incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Fifty-one male youth served as subjects. The predictor variables were collected by either a standardized interview or an orally administered questionnaire. Youth self-report data regarding suicide attempts were collected. The results indicated that depression served as a predictor of suicide attempts but only in white, not black, youth. Suicide attempts also were reported three times more often in white than black participants. Implication, as well as limitations, of the findings are discussed.     

The Intersections of Dominant Discourses Across Race,Gender, and Other Identities

A discussion of dominant discourses across race, gender, and other identities is provided, especially in terms of consequences. Distinctions are made between consequences of social constructions and identity. An example of a counselor working with a client is provided to illustrate several points made by the author.     

Eschatological perspectives on aging

Focus is on the reality of aging as the concrete expression of our common human experience of ourselves as temporal beings. The analysis appeals to resources from a philosophical interpretation of temporality and a Christian theological interpretation of the central symbols of eschatology. Both resources provide positive approaches and clarifications of that aging process. Three eschatological symbol systems are noted: the traditional (past-orientation); the prophetic (present-orientation) and the apocalyptic (future-orientation). Each is analyzed as articulating a distinct authentic possibility for a person or a culture involved in the aging process. Symbols help orientate us in a positive way toward the process of aging.     

A Viable Alternative to Suspension From junior High School

In an effort to make better use of suspension procedures to modify student behavior, increase academic success of students experiencing suspension, and bring family and school together in behalf of any child whose behavior evidences social needs, a junior high school counselor-administrator-teacher team developed an Alternative to Suspension program that seems to work. Viable components of the program are thought to be in-school suspension time, no distracting activities, regular teacher academic involvement, counseling, and a high degree of parent involvement. The program is felt to be of great benefit in the solution of many negative aspects of a regular suspension procedure.     

Appraisal antecedents of shame and guilt: support for a theoretical model

Four studies used experimental and correlational methods to test predictions about the antecedents of shame and guilt derived from an appraisal-based model of self-conscious emotions (Tracy & Robins, 2004). Results were consistent with the predicted relations between appraisals (i.e., causal attributions) and emotions. Specifically, (a) internal attributions were positively related to both shame and guilt; (b) the chronic tendency to make external attributions was positively related to the tendency to experience shame; and (c) internal, stable, uncontrollable attributions for failure were positively related to shame, whereas internal, unstable, controllable attributions for failure were positively related to guilt. Emotions and attributions were assessed using a variety of methods, so converging results across studies indicate the robustness of the findings and provide support for the theoretical model.     

Neural substrates for verbal working memory in deaf signers: fMRI study and lesion case report

The nature of the representations maintained in verbal working memory is a topic of debate. Some authors argue for a modality-dependent code, tied to particular sensory or motor systems. Others argue for a modality-neutral code. Sign language affords a unique perspective because it factors out the effects of modality. In an fMRI experiment, deaf participants viewed and covertly rehearsed strings of non-sense signs; analyses focused on regions responsive in both sensory and rehearsal phases. Compared with previous findings in hearing subjects, deaf subjects showed a significantly increased involvement of parietal regions. A lesion case study indicates that this network is left-dominant. The findings support the hypothesis that linguistic working memory is supported by modality-specific neural systems, but some modality-neutral systems may also be involved.