Sexual Ethics in the Age of Epidemic

In this essay I follow one argument strand from Linda Singer's Erotic Welfare. How can we have a forward-looking and affirmative ideal of sexual freedom when the AIDS panic has altered the sexual landscape and instigated new justifications for oppressive sexual disciplines? How can we be sexual subjects when processes of commodification and disciplinary practices have constrained sexual expression while proliferating sexual fetishes? These are some of the questions this book formulates, without answering.     

Prejudice and peace: Is the Swedish youth neutral in its attitudes?

Two hundred and sixty Swedish students attending grade 9 were given a semantic differential to measure their attitudes towards four countries, Sweden, West Germany, USA, and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union received significantly more unfavourable ratings on nearly all variables than the other countries, which received mainly favourable or neutral ones. Most interesting, the Soviet Union is rated as "enemy", whilst the other countries are rated as "friends". Implications for peace education are discussed.     

Confidant support and maternal distress: Predictors of parenting practices for divorced mothers

Following divorce, mothers may seek support for their parenting efforts. This study investigates confidant support from friends, family, and intimate partners, along with maternal distress, as predictors of parenting practices for divorced women. In a multimethod study of 138 mothers and their support confidants, we employed a measure of observed support that included emotional support, supportive behaviors, and likability of the support provider. These qualities were scored from dyadic problem-solving discussions of the mother's personal and parenting problems. Our main hypothesis was supported: Controlling for maternal distress and confidant negativity, observed confidant support predicted higher levels of effective parenting practices. Confidant negativity was associated with maternal distress, and we found a marginal relationship between maternal distress and parenting. Confidant negativity had an indirect association with parenting by predicting lower levels of observed support. Overall, 36% of the variance in parenting practices and 24% of the variance in observed support was explained in a multimethod structural equation model specified with minimal overlap.     

Behavior Therapy in a Family Context: Treating Elective Mutism

This paper discusses the necessity of using both behavioral and family approaches in combination, while working with electively mute children. The symptom and its significance within the family system is presented along with a rationale for avoiding the pitfalls of individual approaches with such children. A case history outlining specific behavioral techniques is described in detail with an exploration of the use of reinforcement theory, counter-conditioning, and successive approximations in bringing about change in electively mute children. The need for bringing about changes within the family system so as to maintain the changes that have occurred through use of the behavior techniques is discussed and presented as crucial to the treatment process. The paper takes the position that either approach, by itself, will not be effective in helping electively mute children but that the treatment of choice is a combination of therapeutic techniques.     

Ethical Issues in Gerocounseling

Recently, there has been a tremendous increase in the attention paid to counseling older adults and the importance of maintaining sound ethical practices in professional counseling. Unfortunately, to date there has been little movement to combine the two areas and examine the unique ethical issues faced in gerocounseling practice. To address this void, the authors enumerate some ethical dilemmas they have encountered in gerocounseling, examine the American Association for Counseling and Development (formerly American Personnel and Guidance Association) Ethical Standards (1981) that are pertinent, and suggest options for handling the conflicts raised.