Dealing with Relational and Social Challenges After Child Soldiering: Perspectives of Formerly Recruited Youth and Their Communities in Northern Uganda

The reintegration of formerly recruited youth typically engenders a range of relational and social challenges, affecting both formerly recruited youth and the communities to which they return. Yet, research rarely studies the perspectives of community members, hampering the design of much‐needed community‐based interventions. This study aimed to understand how communities in northern Uganda experience and deal with relational and social challenges during the reintegration of youths who were formerly recruited into the Lord's resistance army (LRA). The study was undertaken in 2012 in Lira district. Participatory Ranking Methodology (PRM) was conducted with 267 participants, of whom 49 were formerly recruited youths. The results show five themes that give insight into how communities experience and handle relational and social challenges in the reintegration of formerly recruited youth: (i) letting go of fear, (ii) getting used to life after captivity, (iii) resentment and forgiveness, (iv) reducing insults and nicknaming and (v) coping with ongoing relational and social challenges. We discuss how formerly recruited youths and other community members frame relational and social challenges differently, and value similar resources for different reasons. The results of this study suggest that multiple experiences of and perspectives on relational and social challenges following child soldiering should be taken into account to develop interventions that are supported and valued by the community. Furthermore, interventions should draw upon the strategies that communities have already developed in response to relational and social challenges. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stimulus–reinforcer relations established during training determine resistance to extinction and relapse via reinstatement

The baseline rate of a reinforced target response decreases with the availability of response‐independent sources of alternative reinforcement; however, resistance to disruption and relapse increases. Because many behavioral treatments for problem behavior include response‐dependent reinforcement of alternative behavior, the present study assessed whether response‐dependent alternative reinforcement also decreases baseline response rates but increases resistance to extinction and relapse. We reinforced target responding at equal rates across two components of a multiple schedule with pigeons. We compared resistance to extinction and relapse via reinstatement of (1) a target response trained concurrently with a reinforced alternative response in one component with (2) a target response trained either concurrently or in separate components from the alternative response across conditions. Target response rates trained alone in baseline were higher but resistance to extinction and relapse via reinstatement tests were greater after training concurrently with the alternative response. In another assessment, training target and alternative responding together, but separating them during extinction and reinstatement tests, produced equal resistance to extinction and relapse. Together, these findings are consistent with behavioral momentum theory—operant response–reinforcer relations determined baseline response rates but Pavlovian stimulus–reinforcer relations established during training determined resistance to extinction and relapse. These findings imply that reinforcing alternative behavior to treat problem behavior could initially reduce rates but increase persistence.     

The role of response force on the persistence and structure of behavior during extinction

Behavior Momentum Theory has emerged as a prominent account of resistance to change in both basic and applied research. Although laboratory studies often define precise, repeatable responses, application research often deals with response classes that may vary widely along a number of dimensions. In general, Behavior Momentum Theory has not addressed how response dimensions impact resistance to change, providing an opportunity to expand the model in new directions. Four rats pressed a force transducer under a multiple variable interval (VI) 60‐s VI 60‐s schedule of reinforcement. In one component, responses satisfied the schedule only if the response force fell within a “low” force band requirement; responses in the other schedule were required to satisfy a “high” force band. Once responding stabilized, extinction was programmed for three sessions. Then, the procedures were replicated. The results showed that response force came under discriminative control, but force requirements had no impact on resistance to extinction. In a follow‐up condition, the schedule was changed to a multiple VI 30‐s VI 120‐s schedule and the low‐force band operated in both components. The results showed that behavior maintained by the VI 30‐s schedule was generally more resistant to extinction. A secondary analysis showed that force distributions created under baseline maintained during extinction. Overall, the results suggest that differential response force requirements prevailing in steady state do not affect the course of extinction.     

Impetus for a robust science of behavior: A review of Nevin's Behavioral Momentum: A scientific metaphor

Nevin provides a scientific role model, illustrating momentum in his own research and providing impetus through his effects on the scientific behavior of his students and his colleagues. I discuss his book in the context of a review of the history of the concept of extinction, I cite his introduction of signal‐detection analysis into behavior analysis as a contribution not covered in this book, I briefly consider applications, such as the potential extension to fluency procedures in education, and I critique his concept of momentum, relating it to other metaphors for maintained behavior such as the dynamics of sensory systems and robustness in biological accounts of the stability of phenotypes.     

Clients' Experiences of Obstructive Silence: Integrating Conscious Reports and Analytic Theories

The psychodynamic literature has associated clients' silences in psychotherapy sessions with a variety of processes. These processes include wishes to merge with the therapist, to gain control in session, to communicate the unsayable, to express helplessness and, most frequently, the intertwined processes of resistance and regression. Experiences of obstructive silence—that is, moments in which clients detached from the process of therapeutic inquiry—were examined in this study. A grounded theory analysis was used to explore clients' experiences of silences in psychotherapy across psychotherapeutic modalities. Two types of obstructive pausing processes, Disengaged pauses and Interactional pauses, were identified. The implications of delineating conscious aspects of these complex experiences are stressed and techniques are suggested for therapeutic intervention in moments of experienced threat.     

The Continuation of Perpetrator Behaviors that Influence Perceptions of Sexual Harassment

This study was designed to investigate sexual harassment perceptions based on continuation of unwanted sexual attention following victim resistance. Participants were 504 undergraduates who responded to statements regarding a sexual harassment scenario, in which the perpetrator continued or discontinued attention, which varied in severity according to nonphysical, physical, or restraint contact. Results showed that continued attention and any type of physical contact strengthened harassment perceptions, although men’s perceptions were weaker unless restraint was present. No sex differences were observed in the restraint condition. Women had stronger perceptions than men did in the physical condition, but showed a non-significant trend toward stronger perceptions in the nonphysical condition. Findings suggest that continuation following resistance may clarify for observers that harassment is occurring. Conceptualizations of harassment severity are suggested.     

关于复治肺结核若干问题的讨论

通过对复治肺结核相关概念的分析探讨,结合临床实际,认为正确认识复活肺结核的概念是治疗复治肺结核的前提,不同复治肺结核病人应采取不同的化疗方案;并根据人类认识结核病的历史、人体免疫系统特点及免疫治疗的必要性,指出不应忽视免疫在复治肺结核治疗中的作用。只有改善机体的内外环境,提高机体的免疫防御功能,才能从根本上防治结核。     

胰岛素抵抗与非酒精性脂肪性肝病

非酒精性脂肪性肝病是一种以肝细胞脂肪变性和脂肪贮积为病理特征但无过量饮酒史的临床综合征。肥胖、2型糖尿病和高脂血症被认为是非酒精性脂肪性肝病的重要危险因素。有研究表明胰岛素抵抗与非酒精性脂肪性肝病密切相关。脂质代谢异常、氧应激反应、瘦素、脂联素等与胰岛素抵抗的发生有相互作用,也影响着非酒精性脂肪肝病的发生发展。胰岛素抵抗在非酒精性脂肪性肝病发病机制上的作用以及与胰岛素抵抗相关的发病因素值得关注。通过体育锻炼与控制饮食热量逐渐减轻体重,并配合血糖及血脂的控制对非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者十分重要。     

幽门螺杆菌感染治疗新进展

在中国幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,Hp)有非常高的感染率,国人感染率约55%,所以Hp感染处理中的临床问题是目前Hp研究领域中的重点课题,Hp感染治疗中的重要问题主要包括以下几方面:(1)哪些病人应该治疗?(治疗适应证问题);(2)如何治疗?(治疗方案问题);(3)如何避免或克服Hp对抗生素的耐药性问题?Hp对抗生素的耐药是Hp根除失败的主要原因,所以本文还要重点讨论Hp对抗生素的耐药牲,Hp根除失败的补救治疗及其治疗研究进展。     

The Persistence-Strengthening Effects of DRA: An Illustration of Bidirectional Translational Research

We summarize a series of bidirectional research studies that demonstrate the persistence-strengthening effects of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior on problem behavior. We model a possible solution to this problem with rats followed by replication with a human clinical population. The importance of coordinated basic and applied research to stimulate new behavioral technologies is emphasized.