ANIMALS AS KIN: THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF MARC BEKOFF'S WORK

Abstract. Although the disciplines of religion and science often may seem to be at cross purposes with each other, some individuals are attempting to bridge the gap, particularly with regard to animals. Cognitive ethologist Marc Bekoff, who studies animals in their natural habitat, has addressed in his work the implications of the findings of animal study for religion and ethics. I provide here an overview of some of his most important ideas for the study of religion and animals. Bekoff argues that the differences between humans and animals are primarily ones of degree rather than kind and that our similarities are greater than our differences‐and that this reality should influence our actions. I explore three issues in particular. First, Bekoff's work, with his view of evolution, challenges the traditional Christian hierarchy of beings. Second, this evolutionary connection needs to move us in the direction of modifying our treatment of animals to make it more ethical. Third, our understanding of and relationship with animals can deepen our own spirituality. Applying some of Bekoff's findings to our religious and ethical understandings of and treatment of animals can move us closer to the peaceable kingdom toward which we all strive.     

The impact of individualist and collectivist group norms on evaluations of dissenting group members

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of individualist and collectivist norms on evaluations of dissenting group members. In the first experiment (N = 113), group norms prescribing individualism or collectivism were manipulated and participants were asked to evaluate a group member who expressed an attitude dissenting from or concordant with the group. In line with predictions, group members with concordant attitudes were evaluated more positively than group members with dissenting attitudes when norms prescribed collectivism. However, for high identifiers, we found an attenuation of the preference for concordant over dissenting attitudes when norms prescribed individualism. These findings were replicated in a second experiment (N = 87), where dissent was operationalized in a way that did not reveal the content of the attitude. The discussion focused on the importance of individualist norms for broadening latitudes of acceptable group member behavior.     

Reconceptualizing difficult groups and difficult members

Group leaders can expect to encounter group and member behaviors and attitudes that are usually termed as difficult. This article presents a different perspective that focuses on how the group leader can better understand and make visible what the troubling behavior is communicating about unspoken or unconscious needs, fantasies and desires. Suggestions for more effective interventions are proposed.     

NEO-FFI scores in college men and women: A view from McDonald’s unified treatment of test theory

There is a need for more detailed psychometric data in describing and evaluating the NEO-FFI (Costa & McCrae, 1992), especially in samples of men and women enrolled in Introductory Psychology classes. This article meets that need and in so doing introduces to a new and wide audience procedures recently advocated by McDonald (1999) in his unified treatment of test theory. Results reveal a wide range of strengths and weaknesses in the NEO-FFI at both the item and sum-score levels, as well as sources of concordance and discordance between men and women at both levels.     

The Political Color Line in America: Many “Peoples of Color” or Black Exceptionalism?

Despite the successes of the civil rights movement, a largely impermeable color line continues to restrict African Americans from assimilation into the broader American society. In the meantime high rates of immigration have produced an increasingly culturally diverse population. A "people of color" hypothesis suggests that the color line the new immigrants face resembles that imposed on African Americans. A "black exceptionalism" hypothesis suggests instead that the color line will be more porous for them, allowing for greater assimilation over successive generations, including a gradual weakening of politicized racial and ethnic group consciousness. Using data from Los Angeles County Social Surveys, we find that the largest new immigrant group, Latinos, like blacks, show strongly group-interested policy preferences and strong group consciousness. However, both effects are stronger for recent Latino immigrants than for the U.S.-born. We conclude that the new immigrant groups are increasingly likely to assimilate politically into the broader society in future generations, whereas a rather strict color line will continue to restrict blacks and maintain their distinctiveness.     

Assessing Couple Therapy as a Treatment for Individual Distress: When is Referral to Couple Therapy Contraindicated?

In order to better understand the effects of initial level of psychological disturbance on treatment outcome, a retrospective case control study of 95 couples who received couple therapy was conducted by sorting couples into one of four groups based on the degree of distress reported by individuals at intake: Neither distressed; both distressed; male distressed, female not distressed; female distressed, male not distressed. When partners started treatment with similar levels of disturbance both responded well in couple therapy. However, if the female reported clinical levels of disturbance at intake but her partner did not, outcome for the female was especially poor in contrast to outcomes for females receiving individual therapy. Clinically disturbed males showed significant gains in treatment even when their partners were not disturbed. These suggestive results argue for the possible value of conducting controlled studies of treatment assignment decisions that maximize positive outcomes.     

骨巨细胞瘤外科治疗几个问题的思考

骨巨细胞瘤是临床上常见的骨肿瘤,其治疗方式由以前的截肢术发展到保肢术,一直到现在的多种局部切除与功能重建方式,透过其治疗理念的更新,以及手术技术的转变,不难看出临床医生应重视循证医学实践,不断更新观念,坚持个体化治疗,明确切除范围、切除方式与重建方法及肢体功能之间的关系,不断改善患者的生活质量。     

抗感染治疗新靶点——细菌生物膜

自然条件下,微生物以浮游和生物膜两种生长状态存在,不同生长状态细菌的生物学特征存在显著差异。研究认为细菌生物膜是细菌耐药性形成的重要机制之一,是许多慢性感染性疾病反复发作和难以控制的主要原因。细菌生物膜主要经定植、释放和影响宿主免疫系统而致病,临床常见生物膜相关感染包括生物医学材料相关感染和慢性感染。细菌生物膜及其相关感染,日益成为临床医疗工作的重点和难点。以细菌生物膜为对象,从细菌生物膜及其细菌的生物学特征出发,寻找其特异性药物作用靶点,进行定向药物研发,是解决细菌耐药性和细菌生物膜相关感染的有力措施。     

从指南看冠心病降脂治疗的现状及分析

层出不穷的试验研究和不断更新的指南使人们对冠心病防治的认识不断加深,但指南的实施和普及却不理想,大多数冠心病患者并未真正受益于降脂治疗。现就NCEP-ATP指南的更新和目前冠心病患者降脂治疗的现状、主要影响因素(患者的依从性、医务工作者的医疗质量、药物有效性以及效价比与经济条件)及可能的改善措施做一综述。     

冠心病诊治中的过度医疗

近年来,过度医疗问题引起了医学伦理学界的普遍关注。过度医疗是一个经济现象,同时也是一个伦理问题．确切的说是一个医学一社会问题。结合冠心病过度医疗的特点,从医学伦理学角度剖析冠心病过度医疗的原因,并提出了医者、患者、医疗机构和社会针对冠心病过度医疗应采取的措施。