Comparing autistic and normal children along the dimensions of reinforcement maximization, stimulus sampling, and responsiveness to extinction

The purpose of this study was to assess autistic children's ability to maximize reinforcement, sample among available stimuli, and respond to extinction. Responding to five concurrent reinforcement schedules (CRF, FR 2, FR 4, FR 7, and FR 11) was monitored and compared to groups of mental age-matched and chronological age-matched normal children. When a given child consistently selected a given schedule of reinforcement, it was then put on extinction, and both perseveration and responding to the remaining (intact) schedules of reinforcement were monitored. The results showed, first, that while normal children selected the richest schedule of reinforcement, autistics did not maximize reinforcement, typically selecting one of the thinner schedules available. Second, the autistic children sampled less, and less efficiently, than the normal children. Third, the autistic children proved to be much less responsive to extinction, perseverating longer than the normal children before switching to a new reinforcement schedule. Fourth, whenever extinction proved to be a problem in the autistics, it was quickly achieved by a simple change in the stimulus conditions. These results are discussed as possible "keystone" deficits, which may be causally related to many of the behavioral deficits of autism and which might be important target behaviors for treatment.     

Children's perception of melodies: the role of contour, frequency, and rate of presentation

Children 4 to 6 years of age were exposed to repetitions of a six-tone melody, then tested for their detection of transformations that either preserved or changed the contour of the standard melody. Discrimination performance was examined as a function of contour condition, magnitude of contour change, rate of presentation, and the presence of novel frequencies. Performance was superior for transformations that changed contour compared to those that did not, for greater changes in contour, and for faster presentation rates. Melodies transformed by a reordering of component tones were no less discriminable than those transformed by the addition of novel frequencies.     

Development of speech and language following bilateral frontal lesions

Language and speech were studied in a young child with perinatally acquired bifrontal lesions. Bilateral frontal pathology seriously interfered with the development of intelligible speech and resulted in a persistent expressive aphasia. Analysis of the neuropsychological profile indicated impairments in intelligence and language comprehension. These deficits, however, were considered secondary to the profound speech programming disorder. The findings indicate that, despite the plasticity of the immature central nervous system, bilateral frontal injury sustained at an early age precludes the development of intelligible speech. Furthermore, structurally intact cortical regions outside the territories of the speech zones fail to mediate normal speech and language development.     

More than just a pretty face and a hot body: multiple cues in mate-choice

Mate preferences have been well studied in social and evolutionary psychology. In two studies (N = 490), using two different measurement techniques, we examined mate preferences for the body and the face in the context of other traits. Results replicated prior research on mate preferences across the sex of the participant and mating duration but clarified the nature of preferences for physical attractiveness. Generally, physical attractiveness was a necessity in short-term mating and for men and traits like kindness were a necessity in long-term mating and for women. Men wanted a short-term mate who had a good body, likely because that body advertises fertility whereas both sexes wanted a mate with a nice face for a long-term mate, which is likely because the face is a cue based on structural properties related to health. Sex and mating-duration differences on preferences for attractive faces and bodies were robust to differences in measurement technique.     

Is Religious Attendance Bottoming Out? An Examination of Current Trends Across Europe

The purpose of this research note is to summarize the available data on trends in religious attendance across 24 European countries to determine whether a base level has been reached in some countries. We focus on the changes observed in the period 1990–2012. After critically assessing the data quality of the recent European Social Survey (ESS) and European Values Study (EVS), we present four different methods of assessing current trends. First, we assess intercohort differentials, an indicator previously used extensively. We then look at trends in young people's rates of attendance, followed by trends of the postwar cohorts born in 1950–1981. We proceed to an appraisal of individual life‐course variations by looking at attendance as a child and young adult. A compilation of these indicators shows that they often do not fully agree on whether there is growth, decline, or stability. To generalize, the high‐attending Catholic countries are more likely to exhibit religious decline, whilst a few ex‐communist countries are seeing sustained growth. The most secular countries seem to be generally stabilizing in the 5–20 percent range for attendance rates of the postwar generations.     

Imams in Flanders: A Research Note

This paper presents the results of an exploratory, mixed-method study on imams in Flanders. The research question was mainly who are they?, in an attempt to draw the first picture of their socio-demographic background, ethnicity, functions, and expectations with respect to their position in Flanders, or in Belgium more broadly speaking. The first three sections give context information about Muslims, Islam, and mosques in Belgium and Flanders. In the next sections, the research design and the results are presented. This presentation focuses on four issues: imams as immigrants; their tasks and workload; their job situation and attitude towards official recognition and payment; and finally their ambiguous attitudes towards government initiatives. We give also some reflections in dialogue with research on imams in other Western European countries. The conclusion discusses the challenges for imams and the government to become real partners within the further integration process of the Muslim community in Flanders and Belgium.     

The development and dissemination of Council of Europe policy on education about religions and non-religious convictions

This article, written from an insider perspective, and in a personal capacity (the author has been involved with the Council of Europe’s work on religion and education since its inception in 2002), gives an account of the developing interest in the study of religions (and latterly non-religious convictions) in publicly funded schools by the Council of Europe, one of several international institutions to have focused on the place of religions and beliefs in public education in recent years. Particular attention is given to the 2008 Recommendation from the Committee of Ministers (the Foreign Ministers of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe) on teaching about religions and non-religious convictions in schools, and to current work on its dissemination. In 2011, the Council of Europe and the European Wergeland Centre set up a joint committee to produce a document (Policy and Practice for Teaching about Religions and Non-Religious Worldviews in Intercultural Education) to assist policymakers, schools and teacher trainers in implementing the Recommendation, adapted to different contexts across Europe. The present author has written the text on behalf of the joint committee. Signposts was published by Council of Europe Publishing in September 2014 (Jackson, R. 2014. Signposts: Policy and practice for teaching about religions and non-religious worldviews in intercultural education. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.). The article details the Council of Europe’s approach, includes an explanation of the process of consultation with various stakeholders, and summarises key issues to be addressed in the document. The general approach covered enables member states to increase competence of students to engage in the field of religions and beliefs, in ways that potentially contribute to various aspects of their personal and social development. It is hoped that the document will stimulate and contribute to constructive discussion, policymaking, teacher training, classroom practice and community links in different parts of Europe, and perhaps beyond.     

Marriage,religion and human flourishing: how sustainable is the classic Durkheim thesis in contemporary Europe?

This paper draws on the three waves of the European Values Survey across five countries (Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Spain and Sweden) to investigate the relationship between indicators of positive psychology (conceptualised as feelings of happiness and satisfaction with life), religiosity (conceptualised as self-assigned religious affiliation and self-reported religious attendance) and marital status. The results demonstrate that religiosity is, in general, positively correlated with both indicators of positive psychology. Further, across all waves and all countries, the pattern emerges that those respondents who are married are likely to report higher levels of happiness and greater satisfaction in life. These data provide contemporary support for the classic Durkheim thesis linking the two institutions of marriage and religion with human flourishing.     

Holding in mind: Theory and practice of seeing children in groups

ABSTRACT The authors will describe their therapy group for children in a Child and Family Consultation Centre. They will discuss the rationale for this treatment. An account will be given of the group processes with special reference to different feelings as they emerge in the transference relationships. Issues concerning the dynamics of co-therapy will be addressed. The work on the ‘reflective function’ by Fonagy and Target, which the authors think is an important contribution to understanding the therapeutic process in the group, will be discussed.

What literature there is on group therapy for children suggests that it is an effective form of treatment. This article describes the way in which the children's issues come alive in group therapy and in this way can be addressed quickly, in comparison with individual therapy where the process is sometimes slower. It will be emphasized that structure and boundaries are essential for containment of children so that psychoanalytic reflectiveness can take place. This reflectiveness includes understanding of the group process as well as the inner world of the child.     

The French model at work: indication and the Jean Favreau Centre for Consultation and Treatment

The goal of this paper is to present the way in which an analyst trained in the French Model at the Paris Psychoanalytical Society and working at its policlinic, the Jean Favreau Centre for Consultation and Treatment (CCTP), approaches the question of indication. After a brief examination of Freud ’s 1905 text on indication I will discuss certain concepts, such as representation and tertiary processes, which form the basis of our listening to today’s patients. After presenting certain elements of the French Model I will then discuss a period which was a turning point in French psychoanalysis. Psychodrama, a psychoanalytically inspired treatment modality developed in France, which is useful when the capacity to represent is limited will be introduced. Two clinical illustrations of consultations at the CCTP will then follow.