Learning first-pass structural attachment preferences with dynamic grammars and recursive neural networks

One of the central problems in the study of human language processing is ambiguity resolution: how do people resolve the extremely pervasive ambiguity of the language they encounter? One possible answer to this question is suggested by experience-based models, which claim that people typically resolve ambiguities in a way which has been successful in the past. In order to determine the course of action that has been "successful in the past" when faced with some ambiguity, it is necessary to generalize over past experience. In this paper, we will present a computational experience-based model, which learns to generalize over linguistic experience from exposure to syntactic structures in a corpus. The model is a hybrid system, which uses symbolic grammars to build and represent syntactic structures, and neural networks to rank these structures on the basis of its experience. We use a dynamic grammar, which provides a very tight correspondence between grammatical derivations and incremental processing, and recursive neural networks, which are able to deal with the complex hierarchical structures produced by the grammar. We demonstrate that the model reproduces a number of the structural preferences found in the experimental psycholinguistics literature, and also performs well on unrestricted text.     

How Does Change Occur Within the Psychoanalytic Encounter?

On November 6, 2002, Dr. James Fosshage delivered the following talk at a Clinical Training Conference held at the Blanton-Peale Institute. The Clinical Training Conference at Blanton-Peale provides experiential and conceptual resources to support the therapist-in-training in the context of his/her professional identity. The training conference is attended by candidates of all phases of the Psychoanalytic Program, the Pastoral Psychotherapy Program, and the Marriage and Family Program, as well as faculty members, administrators, staff, and interns of the institute. The residents were asked to review three articles written by Dr. Fosshage in preparation for his presentation: Toward Reconceptualising Transference: Theoretical and Clinical Considerations, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis (1994) 75 (2): 265–280; Countertransference as the Analyst's Experience of the Analysand: Influence of Listening Perspectives, Psychoanalytic Psychology (1995) 12 (3): 375–391; and Listening/Experiencing Perspectives and the Quest for a Facilitating Responsiveness, Conversations in Self Psychology: Progress in Self Psychology, (1997) 13: 33–55.     

Incest in Jung's work: the origins of the epistomophilic instinct

In this paper the differences between Jung's and Freud's writings on incest are explored. Jung's view is that the purpose of the child's sexual interest, as expressed also in his incestuous longings, is not purely the satisfaction of the biological instinct but is more importantly seen to be the development of thinking. The importance of the incest taboo for analytic work and the dangers of enactment of the erotic transference-countertransference dynamics are highlighted.     

Playing with Dreams: The Introduction of a Third Party into the Transference Dynamic of the Couple

Dreams in couple therapy are expressions of the multiple discontinuous selves of partners and of interpersonal defenses. Two dreams offered during analytic couple therapy illustrate the use of transference and countertransference to observe disturbances in self-cohesion, communication of self-states, and attempts to affectively influence the partner. Dreams transferentially communicate the state of the realtionship, activate a third formation expressing shared pathology, and facilitate the growth of new aspects of the self seeking a more loving bond.     

Complexities and paradoxes in our organizational life

This paper (a version of which was delivered at the North/South Conference of California Jungians in 1997) delineates some of the effects of the complex relationships that occur within and between analytic institutes, particularly when there are training programmes in the institutes. It notes how confidentiality is handled, discusses the pair structures within the institutes and focuses on developing awareness of organizational relationships and how colleagues treat one another.     

Critical Notice

Book reviewed in this article:
Alister, Ian and Hauke, Christopher (eds.), Contemporary Jungian Analysis. Post-Jungian Perspectives from the Society of Analytical Psychology     

Women and the Art of Peacemaking: Data from Israeli-Palestinian Interactive Problem-Solving Workshops

Are women “natural” peacemakers? If so, is this because of natural inclinations to avoid conflict or to engage in tough discussions? Are there particular skills in which women excel that make them more likely than their male counterparts to be able to build relational bridges, to facilitate negotiations, and to reduce tensions? After a review of the literature on gender differences in such skills, a systematic comparison of interaction quality is made between two Israeli-Palestinian interactive problem-solving workshops that differed only in gender composition. A third Israeli-Palestinian workshop that involved female political elites is also examined for subsequent changes in the conflict relationship or for changes in political activity. The implications of different repertoires of skills for altering political processes are discussed.     

汉语偏正/述宾歧义短语加工初探

操纵短语续接方向及歧义性,采用移动窗口范式,考察了均衡型、偏正型和述宾型三类歧义短语的加工,结果发现,偏正型歧义短语按述宾结构续接以及述宾型歧义短语按偏正结构续按时,在解歧区２上都有明显的加工困难,说明实验所采用的方法是敏感的。实验还发现,均衡型歧义短语按述宾结构续接时,在解歧区２上仍有加工上的困难,述宾型歧义短语按偏正结构续按时,在解歧区３上仍能看到加工上的困难,这表明歧义消解具有相对分散的特点。更重要的是,实验发现,均衡型歧义短语按述宾结构续接时,在解歧区１上就出现了加工困难,表明被试实际上按偏正结构来分析这种短语。该文从句法分析原则、语言分布知识的使用以及动词论题结构与语义完整性等角度对这一发现进行了讨论。