Individual gustatory reaction times to various groups of chemicals that provoke basic taste qualities

Reaction times (RTs) to four groups of substances that provoke different taste qualities were measured. Measurements for all substances with the same taste, equalized in perceived intensity and provoking a very strong taste, were made concurrently for each subject. The comparisons were made on the individual level. No significant differences in RTs to substances with the same taste quality were found. When the factor of perceived intensity is kept constant, no effect of the stimulus chemical composition on RTs seems to be present. RTs to stimuli with different tastes differ significantly, the shortest being to salt and the longest to bitter. The difference in RTs for sour and sweet substances is small, and the subjects were not all alike in terms of the order of RTs with respect to these stimuli.     

Combining psychodynamic and behavioral treatment approaches in the treatment of hospitalized adolescents

This article describes a treatment approach for hospitalized adolescents which attempts to address the "response generalization" problem encountered with behaviorally based treatment milieus. The program is described and preliminary data is given to support its techniques. The treatment program attempts to combine behavioral/objective techniques that are so effective in program management, with subjective/clinical strategies.     

Target Groups for Preventing AIDS Among Intravenous Drug Users

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has rapidly become the most serious medical consequence of injecting illicit drugs. Its potential impact on intravenous (IV) drug use is enormous. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, also known as HTLV-III and LAV), the virus that causes AIDS, appears, usually, to lead to lifelong infection. At present there is no effective treatment, and the treatments under development may require lifelong antiviral therapy. Since most of the antibody produced in response to HIV infection does not neutralize the virus, and since there is substantial genetic variation in the virus, it will be difficult to develop a vaccine. Even after vaccines are developed, testing their safety and efficacy will be formidable problems. Until either effective treatment or vaccines are developed, control of the epidemic among IV drug users must be attempted through behavior change/prevention efforts. In this paper we will review the epidemiology of AIDS among IV drug users and characteristics of the IV drug-use subculture relevant to prevention efforts. We will then identify different target groups for these prevention efforts, present available evidence about behavior change in these groups, and then briefly discuss how to prevent transmission of HIV to heterosexual partners who are not themselves IV drug users and to the children of IV drug users.     

The relationship of affiliative arousal to dopamine release

Higher levels of affiliation motivation after exposure to affiliative films are significantly related to higher dopamine concentrations in saliva in one study of 61 college students of both sexes, and in plasma in another study of 47 adults of both sexes. Individuals high in dispositionaln Affiliation, if they also reported high life stress, showed high gains in dopamine concentration in plasma after exposure to an affiliative film significantly more often than other individuals. Since aroused affiliation motivation was not associated with higher concentrations of norepinephrine, epinephrine, or cortisol in either study, it appears likely that dopamine is especially associated with arousal of affiliation motivation, just as norepinephrine has been found to be associated with arousal of power motivation. Thus, different motives may be subserved by different hormones, making it unlikely that all motives lead to the same state of physiological arousal.This research was carried out when all the authors were connected with the Department of Psychology and Social Relations at Harvard University. We acknowledge with thanks the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation through a grant to the senior author.     

Deprivation in the early mother-daughter relationship: A factor in the development of the narcissistic personality

Depriving mother-child relationships at an early age lay the foundation for narcissistic disturbances. Here, the specific focus is on mother-daughter relationships and the lack of appropriate maternal recognition and admiration of the infant. The particular treatment modality combines individual psychotherapy with a female therapist and group therapy in an all-women's group. The transferential phenomena to the various women found in this treatment situation are instrumental in helping the female patient achieve a significant change in her narcissistic personality.