Conceptualizing Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury as a Process Addiction: Review of Research and Implications for Counselor Training and Practice

Nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) may be characterized as a process addiction for some individuals who self‐injure. The authors review findings on the addictive features of NSSI, including compulsivity, loss of control, continued use despite negative consequences, and tolerance.     

A Comprehensive Literature Review of the Rank Reversal Phenomenon in the Analytic Hierarchy Process

During the last few decades, several multi‐criteria decision analysis methods have been proposed to help in selecting the best compromise alternatives. Among them, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and its applications have attracted much attention from academics and practitioners. However, since the early 1980s, critics have raised questions regarding its proper use. One of them concerns the unacceptable changes in the ranks of the alternatives, called rank reversal, upon changing the structure of the decision. Several modifications were suggested to preserve ranks. In this paper, a classification scheme and a comprehensive literature review are presented in order to uncover, classify and interpret the current research on AHP methodologies and rank reversals. On the basis of the scheme, 61 scholarly papers from 18 journals are categorized into specific areas. The specific areas include the papers on the topics of adding/deleting alternatives and the papers published in adding/deleting criteria. The scholarly papers are also classified by (1) year of publication, (2) journal of publication, (3) authors' geographic location and (4) using the AHP in association with other methods. It is hoped that the paper can meet the needs of researchers and practitioners for convenient references of AHP methodologies and rank reversals and hence promote the future of rank reversal research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Perceived Relative Strength of the Therapeutic Alliance

ABSTRACT

The association between the perceived relative strength of the therapeutic alliance in couples therapy and psychotherapeutic outcome was investigated. The perceived relative strength of the couples therapeutic alliance was classified into three categories: a balancedalliance (an individual perceives his/her own alliance and the partner's alliance as approximately equal in strength), a positively biasedor blessedalliance (an individual perceives his/her alliance as stronger than the perception of the partner's alliance) and a negatively biasedor just biasedalliance (an individual perceives his/her alliance as weaker than the perception of the partner's alliance). The impact of a consensus or non-consensus within each partner about the perceived relative strength of the alliance on outcome was also investigated. The Alliance Inventory for Couples was used as a measure of the alliance and outcome was assessed with the Family Environment Scale and the Marital Satisfaction Scale. No statistically reliable relation was found between perceived relative strength of the alliance and improved outcome. Consensus was also not predictive of outcome. These findings failed to confirm previous theoretical propositions and empirical research. Possible reasons for discrepancies between the current findings and previous research are provided. The distinction between perceived strength and strength based upon independent self-report measures; and the designation of biased, blessed and balanced alliances merit future research.     

A QBF-based formalization of abstract argumentation semantics

We introduce a unified logical theory, based on signed theories and Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBFs) that can serve as the basis for representing and computing various argumentation-based decision problems. It is shown that within our framework we are able to model, in a simple and modular way, a wide range of semantics for abstract argumentation theory. This includes complete, grounded, preferred, stable, semi-stable, stage, ideal and eager semantics. Furthermore, our approach is purely logical, making for instance decision problems like skeptical and credulous acceptance of arguments simply a matter of entailment and satisfiability checking. The latter may be verified by off-the-shelf QBF-solvers.     

On Alice in Wonderland,Statistics, and Whether CBT Should Take the Prize

This article reports the development of a protocol for the therapeutic application of “attention control” for chronic pain. Attention control is the limitation of the impact of pain by switching or retuning attention. An expert systems approach was used to develop the protocol. In the first stage an extensive literature search retrieved published and unpublished accounts of attention control strategies and a draft treatment manual was prepared. In the second stage 6 experts were recruited and they independently read and reviewed the draft manual. They were interviewed using a semi‐structured protocol to elicit their views on the draft manual. The manual was then revised to accommodate the information and expertise. In addition to providing expert opinion on the manual the experts also raised issues about the process of change in psychological treatment for chronic pain. These issues were organized into a process model of change in chronic pain.     

Hierarchical Structure of Dysfunctional Beliefs in Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder

The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire was developed as a comprehensive measure of dysfunctional beliefs, which cognitive models consider to be etiologically related to obsessive‐compulsive disorder. Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire subscales tend to be highly correlated, which raises the question of whether obsessive‐compulsive‐related beliefs are hierarchically structured, consisting of lower‐order factors loading on 1 or more higher‐order factors. To investigate the nature and relative importance of these factors, a hierarchical factor analysis was conducted (n = 202 obsessive‐compulsive disorder patients), using a Schmid‐Leiman transformation. Results indicated a higher‐order (general factor) and 3 lower‐order factors: (i) responsibility and overestimation of threat, (ii) perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty and (iii) importance and control of thoughts. The high‐order factor accounted for more variance in Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire scores (22%) than did the lower‐order factors (6–7%), thereby underscoring the importance of the higher‐order factor. Despite the importance of the higher‐order factor, the lower‐order factors significantly predicted unique variance in measures of obsessive‐compulsive symptoms, including severity ratings of compulsions. These finding suggest that cognitive models of obsessive‐compulsive disorder should take into consideration the hierarchic structure of obsessive‐compulsive‐related beliefs.     

代数应用题项目生成中的认知过程与任务特征分析

认知项目设计起源于理论驱动的测量模式,要求在详尽阐述测量建构理论的基础上,鉴别测验项目类型的任务特征,建立和标定与测量建构认知变量之间的对应关系,从而通过系统变换任务特征生成项目.本文以Greeno (1994)提出的代理者-情境交互作用(agent-situation interaction)的问题解决观为基础,对代数应用题解决的认知过程和任务蕴含性(affordance)进行了系统分析.具体而言,代数应用题被视为以文本形式呈现的,嵌套在现实情境中的某种量化结构.在代数应用题解决的转译、整合、计划、执行的认知过程中需要形成三种不同的表征,即文本基、情境模型和问题模型.其形成及解决过程受到个体问题图式知识的深刻影响.对应于不同表征方式,对代数应用题语法/语义结构、量化元素及结构、问题情境特征进行了系统分析和综合.该分析表明,为了保证代数应用题项目生成的科学性,当前研究的关键在于建立任务特征与问题解决认知变量之间的经验关系,并在问题领域整体水平上检验这种关系的可推广性.     

Emotion Beliefs and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Despite strong support for the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD), little is known about mechanisms of change in treatment. Within the context of a randomized controlled trial of CBT, this study examined patients' beliefs about the fixed versus malleable nature of anxiety—their ‘implicit theories’—as a key variable in CBT for SAD. Compared to waitlist (n = 29; 58% female), CBT (n = 24; 52% female) led to significantly lower levels of fixed beliefs about anxiety (M_baseline = 11.70 vs. M_Post = 7.08, d = 1.27). These implicit beliefs indirectly explained CBT-related changes in social anxiety symptoms (κ² = .28, [95% CI = 0.12, 0.46]). Implicit beliefs also uniquely predicted treatment outcomes when controlling for baseline social anxiety and other kinds of maladaptive beliefs (perceived social costs, perceived social self-efficacy, and maladaptive interpersonal beliefs). Finally, implicit beliefs continued to predict social anxiety symptoms at 12 months post-treatment. These findings suggest that changes in patients' beliefs about their emotions may play an important role in CBT for SAD.     

The benefits and risks of strategic genealogy and dichotomy

This contribution to a symposium on Manuel A. Vásquez’ More Than Belief: A Materialist Theory of Religion (2011) looks at the role of genealogy in the book. Vásquez reviews a range of authors (from Plato to Tweed) to contextualize his view that the study of religion should place greater emphasis on embodiment, practices, and emplacement. The resulting sequence of paraphrases is highly dichotomized; some illustrate the 'dominant canon' that he critiques and some the view that he champions. This is used to illustrate two very broad 'epistemologies.' (In this light, the book champions a very general meta-theoretical stance, not a specific theory.) I suggest that this approach does not offer an argument, i.e., independent rational support, for Vásquez' view. However, it does tell a story that could be very persuasive in the study of religion, given that the use of theory in the discipline tends to be a matter of applying precedents and concepts from an accepted body of literature.