Oedipus and insight

Insight is a core concept in psychoanalytic theory. The Oedipus myth has been a central metaphor in the evolution of psychoanalytic theory, particularly the psychoanalytic theory of development. Similarly, Sophocles' drama, its relation to the myth, and its repeated reinterpretation throughout the ages provide a valuable metaphor for our understanding of the role of insight in psychoanalysis and in development. We may have underestimated the importance of insight in normal development while oversimplifying its significance as an agent of therapeutic change.     

The case history

Case histories report the basic data of psychoanalysis, and yet they are strikingly infrequent in the psychoanalytic literature. This reflects not only the methodological problems in describing psychoanalytic cases, but also the complex intentions of psychoanalysts who want both to present and to conceal aspects of their work. The history of the case history is discussed, as are the nature and purpose of case reports, the differences between oral and written reports, the relation between case reports and psychoanalyses, and case reports as countertransferential enactments. A plea is made for including authorial intention as an explicit part of the report, rather than concealing it behind a scientific facade.     

Measuring the exchange-stiffness constant of nanocrystalline solids by elastic small-angle neutron scattering

In ferromagnets with a non-uniform magnetocrystalline and/or magnetoelastic anisotropy, such as nanocrystalline or cold-worked polycrystalline materials, the static magnetic microstructure gives rise to elastic magnetic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The paper explores a method for determining the exchange-stiffness constant A by analysis of the dependence of the elastic SANS cross-section on the applied magnetic field. Experimental results for A and for the spin-wave stiffness constant D in cold-worked or nanocrystalline Ni and Co are found to agree with literature data obtained by inelastic neutron scattering on single-crystal specimens.     

``Speaking to Moyshe': The early socialist Yiddish press and its readers

The founding of Di arbeter tsaytung marked an important turningpoint in the intertwined histories of the American Jewish labormovement and the Yiddish press. Coinciding with a major strike wave in 1890, Di arbeter tsaytung signaled the entrance of social-democracy into the mainstream of Jewish immigrant life.At the same time, the founding of the newspaper and its subsequentsuccess consolidated a process of ``yiddishization.' This processwas twofold: the newspaper attracted a growing number of Russian-speaking intellectuals to Yiddish and gave institutionalform to their position as leaders in the nascent Jewish labormovement, and in the larger public sphere. By the middle of the 1890s,the press had become the core institution of the Jewish labormovement and the focal point of the socialist Yiddish intelligentsia.     

Inventory responding as a model of people's acceptance of personality interpretations

The hypothesis was tested that inventory responding modeled the acceptance of personality feedback. A barnum group (n=40) was asked to rate the personal accuracies of a list of personality inventory items and then an equivalent list of bogus personality feedback. The two lines of evidence which supported the model were (a) that the correlation between their inventory ratings and their feedback ratings was not only Significant (p < .001) but achieved a ceiling magnitude, as evidenced by a control group's (n = 40) data; and (b) that the variables influencing, inventory responding exerted an equal influence upon feedback acceptance, Contrary to the model, it was found that feedback was accepted more highly than were the inventory items. Conclusions were that inventory responding, as a model of feedback acceptance, is accurate with respect to individual differences but somewhat inaccurate with respect to overall levels of acceptance due to the additional influences of persuasion. It was also concluded that clients' acceptance or rejection of personality feedback is not evidence of the validity or invalidity, respectively, of assessment devices. A reformulated model of personality feedback acceptance was proposed.