Assessing Sexual Orientation Symptoms in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Development and Validation of the Sexual Orientation Obsessions and Reactions Test (SORT)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes many symptom presentations, which creates unique diagnostic challenges. Fears surrounding one’s sexual orientation are common within OCD (also called SO-OCD), but SO-OCD is consistently misdiagnosed by physicians and psychologists. To address this issue, we describe the development of a self-report measure for assessing SO-OCD to help distinguish OCD from distress caused by a sexual orientation identity crisis. The current paper details two studies that established the psychometric properties and clinical utility of this measure. In Study 1, the factor structure, validity, and reliability were examined for the measure’s 12 items in a sample of 1,673 university students. The results revealed a two-factor solution for the measure (Factor 1: Transformation Fears; Factor 2: Somatic Checking) and preliminary evidence of validity and reliability. In Study 2, the measure was tested with LGBTQ and heterosexual community samples and clinical samples of individuals with SO-OCD and other types of OCD. The two-factor solution and evidence of validity and reliability were supported in these samples. Cut-off points were established to distinguish between community members and SO-OCD sufferers, as well as between those experiencing SO-OCD and other types of OCD. Limitations and future directions are discussed.     

La clarté du concept de soi : validation d’une échelle de mesure en langue française

IntroductionThe self-concept clarity scale (SCC, Campbell et al., 1996) measures the extent to which self-beliefs are perceived as clearly defined, internally consistent and temporally stable.ObjectiveThe study aimed at testing the reliability and validity of a French version of the SCC scale and its relevance to predict the relationship between self-concept and vocational preference.MethodThree studies have been conducted on a total sample of 1114 participants (691 women) aged 15 and 62.ResultsResults revealed that the French version of the SCC had a unidimensional factor structure and high levels of internal consistency and temporal stability (study 1). As predicted, high SCC scores were independently associated with high self-esteem, high conscientiousness, high agreeability, low neuroticism and low social comparison orientation (study 2). Finally, a criterion validity argument was provided by demonstrating that high SCC scores predicted high matching degree between self-concept and occupational preference prototype (study 3).ConclusionThe psychometric properties of the French version of SCC are satisfactory and comparable to those of the English original scale. The use of the SCC scale in academic guidance and career counseling is therefore discussed.     

Be it ever so humble: Proposing a dual-dimension account and measurement of humility

What does it mean to be humble? We argue that humility is an epistemically and ethically aligned state of awareness – the experience of ourselves as a small part of a larger universe and as one among a host of other morally relevant beings. So conceived, humility can be operationalized and measured along the dual dimensions of low self-focus and high other-focus and is distinct from other related constructs (e.g., modesty and open-mindedness). We discuss our newly developed scale (Study 1 and 2), and provide preliminary validation using self-report (Study 3) and behavioral measures (Study 4), showing that humility is related to people’s general ethical orientation (e.g., empathy, universalism/benevolence, and civic responsibility), their well-being (e.g., sense of autonomy, life-purpose, and secure attachment), mature religious beliefs/practices, and reactions to disagreement – specifically, people high in humility sat closer and less angled away from their conversation partner with whom they disagreed. Together, this provides support for our new Dual-Dimension Humility Scale.     

Moving towards Soul – an alchemical journey. Rehabilitation of women suffering from ‘chronic pain’ in a clinical and Jungian context

The aim of this paper is to explore the connection between symptom and symbol in the body of women suffering from chronic pain, diagnosed as fibromyalgia. The working hypothesis has been that the symbol that emerges from the symptom in the body can bridge the gap to a deeper meaning of pain and suffering, thereby becoming the agent of change for healing of the bodymind and the experience of pain in the physical body. To explore this subject I will introduce some recent research from the field of fibromyalgia, and the concepts of agency and affect systems in the body, which are important cornerstones in my work. I will briefly present my clinical concept of ‘Form and Freedom’. From this theoretical base I give some clinical examples of what I see as an alchemical journey towards soul, presented through vignettes, images and the words of three women – Maria, Riba and Ishtar. I conclude with how I see analytical psychology taking its rightful place alongside, informing or in conjunction with, as in my case, other psychotherapeutic modalities, working in creative ways that enhance healing in patients who suffer from chronic pain.     

Children and the Test of Memory Malingering: Is one trial enough?

There is a growing body of research suggesting that the first trial of the TOMM may provide an accurate screener of effort in children. During neuropsychological assessments, some circumstances result in only one completed trial of the TOMM. Research on adults reflects that passing scores on Trial 1 (based on Trial 2 cutoff) are highly predictive of passing scores on Trial 2 and the TOMM overall. Pediatric research found that 100% of children and adolescents who passed Trial 1 of the TOMM also passed Trial 2. Our research hypothesis is that children who pass Trial 1 will also pass Trial 2. Data from 75 clinically diagnosed children (ages 6–18 years) found that 64% performed above the published adult TOMM cutoff on Trial 1. All children who passed Trial 1 also passed Trial 2 suggesting support for the research hypothesis. Sensitivity was 1.0, specificity was 0.72, positive predictive value was .33, and negative predictive value was 1.0. These findings suggest that in this sample, the children who performed above the Trial 2 cutoff on Trial 1 also all passed Trial 2 (so there were no false negatives, thus a perfect sensitivity and negative predictive value). Of the 36% of children who did not pass the Trial 1 cutoff, 67% passed on Trial 2. Data clearly support that children passing Trial 1 have a high likelihood of passing Trial 2, thus drawing conclusions about performance validity after passing Trial 1. Conclusions after failing Trial 1 require further investigation.     

Acoustic correlates of emotional dimensions in laughter: Arousal,dominance, and valence

Although laughter plays an essential part in emotional vocal communication, little is known about the acoustical correlates that encode different emotional dimensions. In this study we examined the acoustical structure of laughter sounds differing along four emotional dimensions: arousal, dominance, sender's valence, and receiver-directed valence. Correlation of 43 acoustic parameters with individual emotional dimensions revealed that each emotional dimension was associated with a number of vocal cues. Common patterns of cues were found with emotional expression in speech, supporting the hypothesis of a common underlying mechanism for the vocal expression of emotions.     

在批判与建构之间--黑格尔历史理念:意义·批判·反思

本文从理性、自由、国家观、理性-非理性动力结构、两个世界的历史理念等方面解读了黑格尔历史哲学的意义或启示;阐述了它自身存在的问题和由此受到的批判或挑战。本文从批判与建构的双重维度出发,重新审视、反思了在批判黑格尔历史哲学的过程中存在的问题和教训。     

小学生人格测评结构的验证性因素分析

该文以自然语言的方式,采用大范围开放式问卷(n=1885)、理论分析等方法编制小学生人格发展教师评定问卷,并通过探索性因素分析(n=628)、验证性因素分析(n=1316)得出小学生人格测评结构包括认真自控、智能特征、情绪性、亲社会性四个维度11个特质。问卷具有较好的信度和效度。     

Simple and multiple P‐splines regression with shape constraints

In many research areas, especially within social and behavioural sciences, the relationship between predictor and criterion variables is often assumed to have a particular shape, such as monotone, single‐peaked or U‐shaped. Such assumptions can be transformed into (local or global) constraints on the sign of the nth‐order derivative of the functional form. To check for such assumptions, we present a non‐parametric regression method, P‐splines regression, with additional asymmetric discrete penalties enforcing the constraints. We show that the corresponding loss function is convex and present a Newton–Raphson algorithm to optimize. Constrained P‐splines are illustrated with an application on monotonicity‐constrained regression with both one and two predictor variables, using data from research on the cognitive development of children.