Applying Skill-Based Curriculum to Teach Feedback in Groups: An Evaluation Study

Group counseling theory and empirical research indicate that interpersonal feedback is an important element that can lead to insight and change in group members. Yet, managing interpersonal feedback is a difficult skill for novice group leaders to learn. This article examines (a) the role of feedback in counseling groups; (b) the implementation of a skill-based training program to teach novice group counselors how to give, receive, and facilitate interpersonal feedback; and (c) students' evaluation of such a program in which they participated. Recommendations are made to practitioners for incorporating feedback into counseling, and for counselor educators regarding the teaching of the intervention.     

Book reviews

Religion and Gender Ursula King, ed., 1995 Oxford, UK & Cambridge, USA: Blackwell 324 pp., £13.99/US$21.95 (pb); £40.00/US$54.95 (hb) ISBN 0–631–19377–4 (pb); 0–631–19376–7 (hb)

Zur Erleuchtung unterwegs. Neo‐Sannyasin in Deutschland und ihre Religion Joachim Süss, 1994 Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag 321 pp., DM 48.00 ISBN 3–496–02531‐X

The Odyssey of a New Religion: The Holy Order of MANS from New Age to Orthodoxy Phillip Charles Lucas, 1995 Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press; Ballmoor, Buckingham: Open University Press 312 pp., £35.00 (hb) ISBN 0–253–33612–0

The Church, Medicine and the New Age James Watt, ed., 1995 London: The Churches’ Council for Health and Healing 148 pp., £9.95 ISBN 9–780950–699028

Visions of Creation Eileen Conn & James Stewart, 1995 Alresford: Godfield Press 160 pp., £9.99 ISBN 1–899434–60–7

Ultimate Vision: Reflections on the Religions We Choose Martin Forward, ed., 1995 Oxford: Oneworld Publications £9.95, 288 pp. ISBN 1–85168–100–0

True to this Earth: Global Challenges and Transforming Faith Alan Race & Roger Williamson, 1995 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 204pp., UK £9.95 US$ 14.95 Can. $ 19.99 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–099–3

The Universe Within: An Exploration of the Human Spirit Anjam Khursheed, 1995 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 192 pp., £7.95, US$ 11.95 ISBN 1–85168–075–6

Ecology & Liberation: A New Paradigm Leonardo Boff, 1995 Maryknoll: Orbis Books 187 pp., US$ 14.95 ISBN 0–88344–978–1

Promised Land: Base Christian Communities and the Struggle for the Amazon Madeleine Cousineau Adriance, 1995 Albany: State University of New York 202 pp., US$ 19.95 ISBN 0–7914–2650–5 (pb)

The Sense of God: Sociological, Psychological and Anthropological Approaches to the Origin of the Sense of God John Bowker, 1995 Oxford: Oneworld 237 pp. (including index), £9.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–093–4

Le Dieu Distribué: une anthropologie compareé des monothéismes Jean Lambert, 1995 Paris: Les Editions du Cerf 405 pp., FF 240 ISBN 2–204–04950–6

The Rise and Fall of Catholic Religious Orders: A Social Movement Perspective Patricia Wittberg, 1994 New York: The State University of New York Press xii + 423 pp., £54.50 (hb), £18.25 (pb) ISBN 0–7914–2229–1 (hb); ISBN 0–7914–2230–5 (pb)

Beyond Death: Theological and Philosophical Reflections on Life after Death Dan Cohn‐Sherbok & Christopher Lewis, eds., 1995 Basingstoke: Macmillan 219 pp., £14.99 ISBN 0–333–63074–2

Mahdism in West Africa. The Ijebu Mahdiyya Movement Peter B. Clarke, 1995 London: Luzoc Oriental 225 pp., £30.00 ISBN 1–898942–06–4

African American Islam Aminah Beverly McCloud, 1995 New York: Routledge viii + 213 pp., £37.30 (hb); £12.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–90785–3 (hb)

Religious Freedom and the Position of Islam in Western Europe: Opportunities and Obstacles in the Acquisition of Equal Rights (with an Extensive Bibliography) W. A. R. Shadid & P. S. van Koningsveld, 1995 Kampen: Kok Pharos Publishing House 229 pp., Dfl. 64,90 ISBN 90–393–0065–4

Religious Liberty: Principles for Judicial Interpretation of the Religious Clauses Jesse H. Choper, 1995 Chicago: University of Chicago Press xiii +198 pp., £19.95 ISBN 0–226–10445102

Schools of Reconciliation: Issues in Joint Roman Catholic‐Anglican Education Priscilla Chadwick, 1994 London: Cassell 229 pp., £35.00 (hb); £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–304–33142–2     

Auditory motion aftereffects

Observers were adapted to simulated auditory movement produced by dynamically varying the interaural time and intensity differences of tones (500 or 2,000 Hz) presented through headphones. At lO-sec intervals during adaptation, various probe tones were presented for 1 sec (the frequency of the probe was always the same as that of the adaptation stimulus). Observers judged the direction of apparent movement (“left” or “right”) of each probe tone. At 500 Hz, with a 200-deg/sec adaptation velocity, “stationary” probe tones were consistently judged to move in the direction opposite to that of the adaptation stimulus. We call this result an auditory motion aftereffect. In slower velocity adaptation conditions, progressively less aftereffect was demonstrated. In the higher frequency condition (2,000 Hz, 200-deg/sec adaptation velocity), we found no evidence of motion aftereffect. The data are discussed in relation to the well-known visual analog-the “waterfall effect.” Although the auditory aftereffect is weaker than the visual analog, the data suggest that auditory motion perception might be mediated, as is generally believed for the visual system, by direction-specific movement analyzers.     

Traumatic Stress Among Seriously Delinquent Youth: Considering the Consequences of Neighborhood Circumstance

Myriad factors have been found to have an impact on delinquent behavior and traumatic stress. This study proposes a model that tests the relationship between common predictors of delinquency (neighborhood condition, antisocial peer socialization, and exposure to violence) with traumatic stress. Serial mediation was used to test the relationships between these predictors and traumatic stress. Results indicate the mediation effect between neighborhood conditions and traumatic stress significantly reduces the total effect. Implications for traumatic stress in the context of delinquent behavior are discussed.     

Ethnic differences in BMI, weight concerns, and eating behaviors: comparison of Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents

Evidence suggests that substantial proportions of adolescents, regardless of ethnicity or gender, are engaged in excessive weight control behaviors. Crago and Shisslak (2003), however, have noted that small samples and poorly validated instruments have limited the value of previous ethnic difference studies. Using the McKnight Risk Factor Survey, we compared Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents. Native students were divided into groups with one (NA-mixed) or two (NA) Native American biological parents. Surveys were completed by 5th through 10th grade students. BMI z-scores were significantly higher for boys and girls in the NA group, and boys in this group were significantly more engaged in weight control behaviors, including purging. A higher percentage of Native and Hispanic girls preferred a larger body size. BMI was positively correlated with weight and shape concerns and with weight control behaviors, regardless of ethnicity or gender. Overweight among Native adolescents may put them at greater risk for eating problems than their White peers.     

Aggression and psychopathology in adolescents with a preference for violent electronic games

Associations between a preference for violent electronic games and adolescents’ self‐perceptions of problem behaviors and emotions were examined. It was predicted that a preference for violent games would be associated with negative externalizing characteristics, in particular aggressive emotions and behaviors, on the Youth Self‐Report (YSR), a standardized self‐report measure of adolescent problem behaviors. Thirty‐two 11‐ through 15‐year‐olds (17 girls) listed and categorized favorite electronic games into one of six predetermined categories and completed the YSR. MANOVA revealed significant relationships between a preference for violent games and the Thought Problems subscale (P < .01) and YSR Total Score (P < .05), with trends noted for the Internalizing (P < .06) and Anxious‐Depressed (P < .08) subscales. Expected relationships with externalizing behaviors, including aggression, were not found. However, across all YSR subscales, children with higher preference for violent games had more clinically significant elevations than those with low preference for violent games. On the Total Problems subscale, of the eight children receiving scores in the clinically significant range, six were in the High preference group (three boys and three girls). The failure to find the expected relationships between a preference for violent games and aggressive, externalizing behaviors is puzzling. It is possible that individuals with a preference for violent games may have high exposure to all forms of media violence. Their perceptions of their own behavior, in comparison, may not seem sufficiently aggressive to justify endorsement of problems in this area. Or, playing violent electronic games may promote a disconnection between the emotions normally associated with violence and violent acts. These explanations are consistent with a desensitization model where exposure to media violence decreases sensitivity to aggression. Aggr. Behav. 28:134–144, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Interfaith Dialogue

The modern ecumenical movement initially sprang from the missionary movement. This led to considerable struggle within the ecumenical movement over embracing interfaith dialogue as a main focus of its ministry. This focus was eventually accepted, and since then the ecumenical movement has done much to promote interfaith relations at the local, national, and global level; to struggle with the theological issues such dialogue presents for the Christian faith; and to collaborate with other religions to reflect on common issues faced by the global community. Current Dialogue has played a major role in promoting the dialogue concern.     

Dreams: Everyone’s Guide to Inner Space

This broad discussion of dreams and dreaming begins with a consideration of “outer” as opposed to “inner” psychological space—rational outer life in the world contrasted with the inner life of dreams, fantasies, and creativity. Dream theories and many examples of actual present-day dreams follow, often showing the dream’s relationship to the dreamer’s outer life.