Attachment and coparenting representations in men during the transition to parenthood

Coparenting is based on parents’ representations of themselves as coparents. Attachment theory can be a useful framework to understand the way that different coparenting representations are developed during the transition to parenthood. This study aimed to analyze the association between men's attachment and coparenting representations at the first trimester of pregnancy and from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months’ postpartum. A sample of 86 men was recruited and completed self-report measures of attachment and coparenting representations at the first and third trimester of pregnancy and at 1 and 6 months’ postpartum. At the first trimester of pregnancy, higher attachment avoidance was associated with higher lack of coparenting support. From the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months’ postpartum, higher attachment avoidance was associated with (a) a steeper increase on lack of coparenting support, (b) an increase on coparenting conflict (while low attachment avoidance was associated with a decrease), and (c) a lower decrease on coparenting disagreement. This study may contribute to coparenting research by showing new evidence on attachment theory as a useful framework to understand how different coparenting representations are developed in men during the transition to parenthood.     

Le travail collectif à l’épreuve des restructurations organisationnelles

The ergonomic analysis of work (Daniellou, 1996; Wisner, 1996) and especially the psychological analysis of real working activity (Leplat, 2000) allow investigating the main factors of work situations. The objective is to show the influence on the nursing representations of psychiatric services that are restructured, of the initial working situations, the projects, the restructuring models. The analyses assess the nursing representations of psychiatric services that are restructured, the projects, the restructuring models, the real working activity. The data show impacts of collective work and restructuring models, especially the damaging consequences of fusions. The results enable the authors to discuss from the points of views of theory, methodology and interventions.     

La perspectiva cualitativa y cuantitativa en las investigaciones sociales

RESUMEN

El debate sobre la utilización de métodos y paradigmas cualitativos versus cuantitativos afecta al programa general de la psicología y está planteado desde la constitución de la ciencia Psicológica. En este artículo se presenta el debate, y se cuestiona el planteamiento tradicional consistente en vincular conjuntos definidos y cerrados de prescripciones teóricas a uno y otro tipo de métodos, presentándolas como alternativas irreconciliables. Este planteamiento es rechazado y sustituido por uno en el que; 1) Es de un claro reconocimiento al carácter científico de la perspectiva cualitativa, 2) Haga una primera aproximación a las posibilidades de la utilización conjunta de ambas perspectivas, 3) Haga una clara distinción entre dos niveles diferentes; nivel paradigmático/epistemológico y nivel metodológico/técnico.     

Autocategorización,identidad nacional y contexto lingüístico

Resumen

Los mecanismos psicológicos implicados en la construcción de la identidad social han sido estudiados sobre todo desde la Psicología Social. Sin embargo, prácticamente no existen estudios evolutivos que muestren dicho proceso de construcción. El artículo expone una investigación sobre el proceso de categorización social con 495 niñas y niños de la ciudad de Girona de 6 a 15 años de diferentes lenguas propias—catalán, castellano y bilingüe—. Los resultados muestran que algunas de las predicciones provenientes de la teoría de la identidad social no se cumplen y que, probablemente, el proceso de construcción de la identidad se explique mejor en el marco de la teoría de las representaciones sociales.     

La substitution dans les études de représentations sociales : quel processus impliqué ?

This study of social representations aims at identifying the process involved in the responses produced with a substitution technique. Two alternative hypotheses are discussed: one that considers that substitution induces social comparison (Chokier and Moliner, 2006), the other suggesting that this technique leads to a reduction of normative pressures (Guimelli, 1998). In the research presented here, we studied the social representations of Drug addicts (in the tolerance towards the use of cannabis) and of Unemployed people, in order to compare the results with those obtained by Chokier and Moliner (2006) about security. With a specific population of students, these objects allowed us to manipulate two levels of distance to the object of representation. Concerning the technique of substitution, three levels of distance to the reference group (French people in general, Young people, Students) were combined into questionnaires with four types of instructions: standard, substitution, pro- and counter-normative. The PCA highlights a Guttman effect, which indicating that the responses produced with standard instruction are less normative than the responses produced with the substitution instruction to Young people. These results invalidate an explanation in terms of effect Primus Inter Pares. Globally, the results mainly show that the more the distance to the object is low and the distance to the reference group is high, the more the responses produce in substitution are seen as pro-normative and near from those produced with standard instruction. More specifically, we identified a number of inconsistencies with regard to what one could expect from an explanation of the phenomena in terms of personal versus social identity. As regards the representation of Unemployed people, the more the participants are closed to the reference group, the more the responses produced with an instruction of auto-valorization (pro-normative) are closed to those produced in substitution. However, on one hand, this result is observed only with the representation of Unemployed people, and, on the other hand, a social comparison explanation would suppose that the participants perceived the group of French people in general as homogeneous and identified themselves to this group at the same level than to the two other reference groups, which is unlikely. Finally, these results lead us to conclude that the substitution does not induce social comparison (Chokier and Moliner, 2006), but more probably reduction of normative pressures (Guimelli, 1998). It thus suggests that the study of masking effects through a substitution technique should take into account two parameters: distance to the object and distance to the reference group.     

Mid‐ and Long‐Term Effects of Family Constellation Seminars in a General Population Sample: 8‐ and 12‐Month Follow‐Up

In a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT), short‐term efficacy of family constellation seminars (FCSs) in a general population sample was demonstrated. In this article, we examined mid‐ and long‐term stability of these effects. Participants were 104 adults (M = 47 years; SD = 9; 84% female) who were part of the intervention group in the original RCT (3‐day FCS; 64 active participants and 40 observing participants). FCSs were carried out according to manuals. It was predicted that FCSs would improve psychological functioning (Outcome Questionnaire OQ‐45.2) at 8‐ and 12‐month follow‐up. Additionally, we assessed the effects of FCSs on psychological distress, motivational incongruence, individuals’ experience in their personal social systems, and overall goal attainment. Participants yielded significant improvement in psychological functioning (d = 0.41 at 8‐month follow‐up, p = .000; d = 0.40 at 12‐month follow‐up, p = .000). Results were confirmed for psychological distress, motivational incongruence, the participants’ experience in their personal social systems, and overall goal attainment. No adverse events were reported. This study provides first evidence for the mid‐ and long‐term efficacy of FCSs in a nonclinical population. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

Floating worlds and their phantoms in the aftermath of social catastrophes

In this paper the author describes certain kinds of images (phantoms) that appear in the aftermath of social catastrophes. These phantoms come with an underlying narrative structure, which the author describes as phantom narratives. Phantom narratives show how the unconscious, working at the group and individual levels, provides political and social contexts within which the individual may find a different kind of containment for these catastrophes. In this way their suffering may be potentially processed psychologically and related to symbolically.     

Représentations sociales des compétences et processus d'évaluation

In this paper, the results of two sets of studies show the impact that social representations of competences may have on professional assessment processes. People who belong to different occupational categories make different inferences about the competences required by activities submitted to them for analysis. Differences are also found when respondents analyse the activities of their own occupational category vs another category. The assessment of motivation letters to get a job is correlated with the beliefs of the writer that intrinsic or extrinsic motives would be better assessed. These beliefs are supposed to be some kinds of representations of competences. Implications of these results for assessment practices are given.     

Hostile/Helpless maternal representations in pregnancy and later child removal: A pilot study

This article presents the results of a small pilot study examining links between Hostile/Helpless (HH) representations of caregiving in pregnancy and later child removal by child protective services. The sample was drawn from a replication study of the Minding the Baby^® attachment‐based home‐visiting intervention conducted in the United Kingdom, serving young first‐time mothers in under resourced communities. The HH classification system (Lyons‐Ruth et al.) was adapted for use with the Pregnancy Interview (PI) (Slade); 26 PIs were assessed (coders blinded) in a sample that included 13 mothers whose infants were removed from custody due to anticipated or documented maltreatment within 2 years of childbirth, and 13 mothers who did not have their infants removed. Mothers whose infants were removed from their custody had significantly higher HH scores than mothers of infants who were not removed from their care (F(1, 24) = 14.500, p < .001), and the relation between overall HH classification and infant removal status was also significant (χ²(1, N = 26) = 12.462, p < .001). Results suggest that prenatal maternal caregiving representations may predict postnatal relationship disruptions, and indicate the need for larger studies further testing this prenatal approach to maltreatment risk assessment in at‐risk populations.     

COVID-19 Interconnectedness: Health Inequity,the Climate Crisis,and Collective Trauma

The COVID-19 pandemic brings to the forefront the complex interconnected dilemmas of globalization, health equity, economic security, environmental justice, and collective trauma, severely impacting the marginalized and people of color in the United States. This lack of access to and the quality of healthcare, affordable housing, and lack of financial resources also continue to have a more significant impact on documented and undocumented immigrants. This paper aims at examining these critical issues and developing a framework for family therapists to address these challenges by focusing on four interrelated dimensions: cultural values, social determinants of health, collective trauma, and the ethical and moral responsibility of family therapists. Given the fact that family therapists may unwittingly function as the best ally of an economic and political system that perpetuates institutionalized racism and class discrimination, we need to utilize a set of principles, values, and practices that are not just palliative or after the fact but bring forth into the psychotherapeutic and policy work a politics of care. Therefore, a strong call to promote and advocate for the broader continuum of health and critical thinking preparing professionals to meet the challenges of health equity, as well as economic and environmental justice, is needed. The issues discussed in this paper are specific to the United States despite their relevance to family therapy as a field. We are mindful not to generalize the United States' reality to the rest of the world, recognizing that issues discussed in this paper could potentially contribute to international discourse.