Autonomy,free speech and automatic behaviour

One of the strongest defences of free speech holds that autonomy requires the protection of speech. In this paper I examine five conditions that autonomy must satisfy. I survey recent research in social psychology regarding automatic behaviour, and a challenge to autonomy is articulated. I argue that a plausible strategy for neutralising some of the autonomy-threatening automatic responses consists in avoiding the exposure to the environmental features that trigger them. If this is so, we can good autonomy-based pro tanto reasons for controlling exposure to certain forms of speech. Earlier drafts of this paper were presented in the 2005 Warwick Graduate Conference in Political theory, the 2005 ALSP Conference at the University of Strathclyde, and the Discussion Group of Political Theory at Warwick University. I am grateful for the many comments received on those occasions, especially to Peter Jones, Graham Long, Glen Newey, Fabienne Peter, Jonathan Seglow and Will Smith. Two anonymous referees for Res Publica gave me helpful comments that benefited the argument defended here. Especial thanks are due to Matthew Clayton and Susan Hurley who provided me with detailed written comments and fruitful discussion.     

Evaluation of students’ social ability: Greek version of checklists for aggressive behaviour and social insecurity in elementary education

The school environment plays an important role in children’s socialization. The present report was concerned with the study of aggressive behaviour and social insecurity among elementary school students in Greece. For this purpose, Petermann and Petermann’s (2001; 2003) checklists for structured observation of aggressive behaviour (Checklist of Aggressive Behaviour; CAB) and social insecurity (Checklist of Social Insecure Behaviour; CSIB) were used. The primary aim was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Greek versions of CAB and CSIB. Overall, 500 Greek elementary school students (M _age  = 9.46  ±  1.7) participated in the study. Students’ social behaviour was evaluated by their teachers. Confirmatory factor analysis results showed adequate factorial structure for both checklists, the χ² was significant, and absolute and incremental fit indices were at acceptable levels. Internal consistency coefficients were also at satisfactory and acceptable levels. The analysis of correlation provided evidence on the construct validity of the checklists. No gender differences were found in all aspects of aggressive and socially insecure behaviours. The findings of the study provide initial evidence on the validity and reliability of the checklists and imply that they are valuable instruments for the assessment of aggression and social insecurity in the school context.

Clients with borderline personality disorder: Exploring their experiences of dialectical behaviour therapy

This study explores clients’ experiences of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Five participants, all with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, were interviewed following a semi‐structured format about their experiences of an NHS regional DBT programme. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three superordinate themes were identified consisting of a number of sub themes: joining a DBT Programme (external and internal factors); experience of DBT (specific and non specific factors); and evaluation of DBT (change, evaluation and role of the past and future). The study provides an insight into clients’ experiences of DBT. The results are discussed in relation to clinical practice and future research.     

Intergenerational predictors of diurnal cortisol secretion in early childhood

The present study examined potential intergenerational links that may contribute to atypical patterns of diurnal cortisol secretion in early childhood. Salivary cortisol samples were collected across 1 waking day in 36 pre‐school children whose mothers are participants in an ongoing longitudinal project. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) identified statistically significant predictors of individual differences in daily cortisol trajectories. Children displayed relatively low post‐awakening values and flatter cortisol trajectories across the day as a function of unsupportive maternal behaviour, second‐hand smoke and maternal histories of social withdrawal in childhood. These results suggest that individual differences in young children's pattern of diurnal cortisol are associated with a variety of current and historical maternal characteristics and behaviours. The identification of intergenerational predictors of children's diurnal neuroendocrine functioning may provide new insights into the transfer of health and developmental risk from parent to child. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Women's bust size and men's courtship solicitation

Previous studies have found that women with larger breasts than the average were considered to be more physically attractive. In these studies attractiveness was measured with the help of silhouette figures or photographs and the effect of breast size on men's behaviour was not considered. In this study two experiments were carried out in order to test the effect of a woman's breast size on approaches made by males. We hypothesized that an increase in breast size would be associated with an increase in approaches by men. A young female confederate was instructed to wear a bra that permitted her to artificially vary her breast size. In the first experiment the female confederate was instructed to sit in a nightclub for one hour whereas in the second experiment she was instructed to take a seat in a pavement area of a bar. It was found that increasing the breast size of the female confederate was associated with an increasing number of approaches by men.     

Her heart is in the right place: an investigation of the ‘heartbeat hypothesis’ as an explanation of the left side cradling preference in a mother with dextrocardia

A majority of mothers, whether right- or left-handed, exhibit a preference to hold their babies to the left of the body midline. One of the earliest explanations for this finding proposed that babies were being held close to the mother's heart [Salk, L. (1960). World Mental Health, 12 , 168–175]. Salk suggested that the foetus becomes imprinted on the sound of the maternal heartbeat in utero. This paper reports a left holding preference in a mother who has the heart positioned on the right rather than the normal left side of the body. Salk's ‘heartbeat hypothesis’ is not supported by the holding preference of the dextrocardiac mother, nor by the detailed patterns of holding in the control group. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parallel sexual relationships in the Norwegian context

The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse the prevalence of parallel sexual relationships among adult Norwegians in terms of social background variables, possibility factors and motivational factors. Data stem from two cross-sectional, postal questionnaire surveys in 1987 and 1992 on two separate representative samples of 10,000 Norwegians aged between 18 and 60. The results showed that 16% of the respondents reported one or more parallel sexual relationships. The prevalence of parallel sexual relationships increased with possibility factors, such as the number of travelling days and population density. Among motivational factors, parallel sexual relationships increased with the number of years married/cohabiting, except for those married the longest. It decreased with increasing age of first intercourse, and increased with the number of partners before the last partnership. Of those not satisfied with coital frequency with their permanent partner, 22% had parallel sexual relationship experience compared to 12% among those who were satisfied. Furthermore, more men than women reported parallel sexual relationships; respondents with higher levels of education more often reported parallel sexual activity than those with lower level of education; and subjects born between 1937 and 1956 reported more parallel sexual activity than the other cohorts. When controlled for the number of years married/cohabiting, the predicted trend suggests that for the cohorts born up to 1970, men and women with lower and higher levels of education have become more similar as regards parallel sexual behaviour. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-reported Attitude Towards Speeding and Its Possible Consequences in Five Different Road Contexts

Driving above the permitted speed limit is a common violation on the roads of Great Britain. Moreover, speeding is associated with negative consequences in the form of damage, injury and fatal road traffic accidents. The aim of this study was to assess, by means of self-report, the prevalence of this social problem across five different contexts: a residential road, a busy shopping street, a dual carriageway, a winding country road, and a motorway. The extent to which speeding was perceived to be associated with negative consequences was also assessed. Results suggest that most drivers make judgements about the type of road on which they are driving and the degree of speeding that is acceptable, and that their intentions to speed vary accordingly. Some drivers reported a consistent intention to speed, however, and these people were characterized by greater general deviance on the road (e.g. high violation score), rather than by a stronger tendency to underestimate the negative consequences. In general, however, younger people and those with less regard for negative consequences reported stronger intentions to speed. These results are discussed with reference to strategies for addressing the problem of speeding. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.