A resolution to the interpretive dilemmas created by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2)? A reply to Ben-Porath and Graham

In my original article (Strassberg, 1991) I described (1)some of the changes introduced by the MMPI-2, (2) possible interpretive dilemmas created by these changes, and (3) strategies for dealing with these dilemmas. In their reply to my paper, Ben-Porath and Graham (preceding paper) suggest that the differences between the MMPI-2 and the MMPI (1) are to be expected, (2) are less important than I imply, and (3) when they do occur, will almost always reveal the superiority of the MMPI-2. In this reply to Ben-Porath and Graham, I explain why, despite their reassurances, I continue to contend that interpretive dilemmas can exist when using the MMPI-2, but these should not deter us from using this instrument.     

Interpretive dilemmas created by the minnesota multiphasic personality inventory 2 (MMPI-2)

While the new MMPI-2 has the potential to provide more and better clinically relevant information than its predecessor, its introduction also creates several important problems for clinicians and researchers. In particular, the new norms and the use of uniform (rather than linear) T-scores result in the same raw scores on the two tests yielding clinical profiles that can be quite different, both qualitatively and quantitatively. These differences can result in difficulty in MMPI-2 profile interpretation when the user is relying on MMPI interpretive strategies. This paper addresses these concerns and offers some temporary remedial strategies.     

Confirmation of linear system theory prediction: Changes in Herrnstein's k as a function of changes in reinforcer magnitude

Eight human subjects pressed a lever on a range of variable-interval schedules for 0.25¢ to 35.0¢ per reinforcement. Herrnstein's hyperbola described seven of the eight subjects' response-rate data well. For all subjects, the y-asymptote of the hyperbola increased with increasing reinforcer magnitude and its reciprocal was a linear function of the reciprocal of reinforcer magnitude. These results confirm predictions made by linear system theory; they contradict formal properties of Herrnstein's account and of six other mathematical accounts of single-alternative responding.     

Changes in Hungarian academic psychology after the end of “people's democracy”

The paper surveys the last 30 years of Hungarian academic psychology. Around 1989–1990, the time of the great social changes Hungarian psychology was rather Westernized, but still a relatively small scientific field and applied profession. The opening and liberalization of politics made psychology in Hungary a booming profession and a rich research field. Education of psychologists was spreading, and becoming more Westernized in textbook usage and reading materials. Entrance numbers at two universities with 80 students were replaced by 2010 by 6 university programs and about 8000 incoming students. The training system is a Bologna type BA + MA + PhD system, The educational booming has its own problems. As all university subjects, psychology training is also underfinanced, with high teaching loads and a move by university management towards applied areas, neglecting basic research. The research activity is characterized by a fivefold increase of English language publications coming from Hungary over a 20 years period. University research was strengthened, and competitive grant systems were introduced, whth good success aretes by psychologists. Here again, managerial thinking questions many aspects of basic research and liberalized science management. These factors are peculiar to psychology, but they do have an impact on it. The paper gives some details about one chapter of academic psychology, cognitive psychology. Institutionally, support by the Soros foundation in the 90s for the university cognitive programs had as one consequence that three departments of cognition are active in Budapest today. Another aspect of insitutional development was the series of multidisciplinary conferences in Hungary (MAKOG), and Hungarian involvement in international graduate training programs in cognitive science. The most successful cognitive group, at Central European University (5 ERC grants, publications in leading journals) is recently chased out of Hungary by anti-Western and antiliberal legal moves. This would certainly have a detrimental effect on Hungarian cognitive psychology for quite a time.     

Newborn behavioral observations system in rural Pakistan: A feasibility and acceptability study

The Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system is a relationship-based tool that helps parents recognize their infant's competencies and learn their behavioral cues, with the goals of enhancing parental responsiveness and satisfaction in the infant-parent relationship. In our study, a pediatrician integrated the NBO into 44 pediatric health care visits of infants in rural Pakistan villages, under the remote guidance of two U.S.-based child psychiatrists. A clinician then gave the mothers a survey about their experience of the NBO and found that the mothers were highly satisfied, reporting greater appreciation of their infant's strengths, greater understanding of their infant's behavioral cues, stronger attachment to their infant, and greater self-confidence as a mother. In their consideration of these results, the authors explore cultural reasons for the mothers’ responses and generate hypotheses to inform an outcome study of a similar intervention. This was a feasibility and acceptability study and was not randomized, had no control group, and did not use objective measures of outcome.     

COMPLEX IDENTITY: GENES TO GOD

Unraveling the complex notion of “self” and “other” necessitates a layered approach that explores biology, namely genetics; philosophy, namely event phenomenology; and culture, namely religion. This essay examines (1) the latest paradigm shift occurring in the genetic sciences due to the increased knowledge of epigenetic effects on gene expression and how our DNA functions in concert with the cellular apparatus, the body, and the environment; (2) the incorporation of relationality into a philosophical understanding of self; and (3) finally, what religion adds to this exploration of self. Thus, providing a glimpse at how these different approaches to identity help us understand the “self.”     

FAITH,SCIENCE, AND NONRELIGIOUS IDENTITY FORMATION AMONG MALE KENYAN YOUTH

The faith and science dialogue has received scholarly attention in the recent past. Within the African landscape at large, the underlying assumption has been that Africans are religious. However, there has been a rising cohort of Africans who are increasingly identified as nonreligious or atheist or agnostic. This research presents a qualitative analysis of the sociocultural factors that affect or influence these minority identities within a pluralistic African context, exploring their emergence and diversities within the African context, with a specific focus on 20 male Kenyan youth who are identified as nonreligious. This research utilized purposive sampling within nonreligious groups and networks. Second, this research aims at exploring how nonreligious identities are constructed, particularly given the concomitant issues surrounding emerging adulthood and new media. This builds up on the theories around youth and identity formation, while foregrounding science and belief as a central theme of study.     

Videoconference to supervise early intensive behavioral intervention: A preliminary evaluation of acceptability

At present, early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for children with autism spectrum disorders is the intervention that has the strongest empirical support. EIBI requires frequent supervision by qualified professionals. Norway, like many other countries, has a shortage of qualified supervisors, particularly in rural regions. This study used a reversal design to investigate how supervisors and supervisees perceive the quality of EIBI supervision and the local team's preparedness when supervision was provided either on-site or via videoconference. Calculations were made on how much time could be saved on travel when part of the supervision was provided via videoconference. There were no significant differences in the supervisors' and supervisees' ratings of on-site and videoconference supervision. Moreover, the supervisors found the local EIBI teams to be better prepared when supervision was provided via videoconference, and the videoconference supervision meetings were shorter. The study discusses the implications of these findings for the accessibility of EIBI and case capacity and proposes some areas for further research.     

A Brief History of Metacognitive Therapy: From Cognitive Science to Clinical Practice

Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is proving to be an effective treatment for anxiety and depression with effects that may exceed CBT. It has been described as a paradigm shift in psychotherapy in its theory-driven cognitive science approach and systematic development and evaluation. MCT was developed by Adrian Wells based on an information processing theory, the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model by Wells and Matthews. MCT theory formulates psychological disorders as sharing common causal factors under the influence of metacognition, representing a particular top-down model of biases in cognitive regulation. A key clinical implication was that a core set of interventions could be developed to impact a wide range of symptoms and disorders. In this paper, we trace the historical development of MCT and the major studies that informed theory and practice with the aim of introducing clinicians and researchers to this area and to understand why the metacognitive approach has developed into a treatment that is proving to be potentially more effective than current gold-standard treatments. In doing so, we will draw out the distinctive features of the approach and explore how this might offer a blueprint for scientific advancement in clinical psychology and psychotherapy.     

Un éclairage de la transition de retraite par l’analyse interprétative phénoménologique (IPA)

IntroductionInterpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is a method of qualitative discourse analysis that aims to understand lived experience and the meaning that individuals attribute to it.ObjectivesAfter describing its theoretical foundations and its methodology, this paper applies this method on a research on the experience of retirement transition which collected 28 interviews. It thus aims to show the interest of this method in understanding the psychological and reflexive processes inherent in periods of life marked by transformations.MethodCentred on the way in which people imagine their own transformation of identity at retirement age and on the meaning they give to it, the analysis takes into account the adjustments made to daily life, to the relationship with time, and to social relations. This analysis is based on the detailed study of a case, and then compared to five other cases.ResultsThe need to make a break, manifested by the extent and form of the transformations given on a daily basis, varies according to the subjects, meaning being attributed not only to the break but also to continuity. A temporal experience marked by a present to be reconfigured and interpersonal relationships deemed meaningful, is, on the other hand, very shared.ConclusionBy bringing to light the psychological and reflexive processes of the experience of retirement, this study carried out with reference to the IPA can contribute to nourishing the practices of support for retirement, which are tending to develop.