Effects of Social Demand on Reports of Self-Monitored Blood Glucose in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that social demand could substantially affect reports of self-monitored blood glucose (BG) in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Of 34 patients initially enrolled in the study, 10 were excluded because they did not bring any BG records with them to an outpatient clinic appointment. The remaining 24 patients were randomly assigned to either a low or high social demand condition that provided instructions for monitoring of BG for the week following the appointment. The subjects' BG records were quantified to provide frequency of measurement and mean reported BG for the week prior to and after the clinic visit. Five subjects did not return their BG records for the week following the intervention. The analyses were therefore based on the 19 subjects from whom complete records were obtained. The 12 subjects in the low social demand group and 7 subjects in the high social demand group were equivalent with regard to age, duration of diabetes, socioeconomic status, and glycosylated hemoglobin. Frequency of BG measurement was similar in both groups during both weeks. The mean BG value reported in the week prior to intervention was similar for the groups. However, analyses of the post-intervention BGs revealed that subjects in the low-demand group reported significantly higher BGs compared to pre-intervention and to subjects in the high-demand group. These findings suggest that self-monitoring and reporting of BG is a social behavior that is affected by the demand characteristics of the interpersonal patient-health provider relationship. Because optimal treatment planning for individuals with diabetes requires accurate BG records, care must be taken to interpret them in light of the social demand characteristics associated with clinical assessment.     

Social categorization and attitude change

Two experiments were carried out investigating the effect of categorization on attitude change. It was predicted that the division of a number of individuals into two subgroups (categorization), in such a way that initial attitudes correlate with subgroup membership, would lead to accentuation of attitudinal differences between subgroups. It was further predicted that an identical distribution of initial attitudes without superimposed categorization would lead to convergence of attitude positions. In experiment 1, the effect of a male-female classification on attitude change was studied. It was indeed found that subjects changed their attitudes in the direction opposite to the position of the outgroup (intergroup attitude differentiation), but only for groups who were initially more extreme than the comparison group. In the control condition (no categorization), conformity effects were observed. In experiment 2, an antagonistic intergroup setting was induced. In this situation, strong intergroup attitude differentiation effects were observed, which were not affected by the magnitude of the initial intergroup discrepancy. In the control condition, subjects did not show conformity to the overall group mean, but maintained their initial noncentral attitude position.     

Intergroup fairness and bias in children

In recent years in research on intergroup relationships, the assumption has increasingly been made that discrimination dominates decisions when individuals allocate resources between (members of) own and other group. Conversely, in empirical studies of interpersonal decision-making, including an extensive literature on the development of children's allocation rules within dyadic relationships, it has been repeatedly observed that in dyadic relationships choices though responsive to various changes in the environment, are more strongly governed by fairness rules. The present research extends the interpersonal fairness paradigm to the intergroup case, and examines the effects of some of those variables, namely, children's age, input and attitudes toward other, that have been observed to influence choice behaviour within interpersonal relationships. The findings indicate that as children are socialized, fairness rules also play an increasing dominant role in intergroup allocation decisions, and that both relative input and the language of the outgroup influence such decisions. At the same time, there is some preliminary evidence to indicate that the relative strength of self-interest may be somewhat stronger in intergroup than in interpersonal relationships. Finally, a number of the issues that must be confronted in comparing the two more important forms of human social choices, interpersonal and intergroup decision-making, are considered.     

Recognition of emotions in music by children and adults

32 children 5 to 6 yr. old, 32 9 to 11 yr. old, and 32 adults linked musical fragments to emotions in a similar manner, older subjects being more accurate. Some emotions were more difficult than others; anger and fear were often confused. Older subjects gave better justifications for their choices.     

Human evaluative conditioning: acquisition trials, presentation schedule, evaluative style and contingency awareness.

Two different processes may be operative in human Pavlovian conditioning: signal learning and evaluative learning. Whereas most studies on evaluative conditioning focused on a mere demonstration of the phenomenon or on a theoretical analysis of the underlying processes, some basic parameters of evaluative learning are still unexplored. Hence, using the standard neutral picture--(dis)liked picture pairing paradigm (Baeyens, Eelen & Van den Bergh, 1990), in this study the effect of two parameters of evaluative conditioning was assessed on a between-subjects base, namely the Number of Acquisition Trials (2/5/10/20) and the Presentation Schedule of the stimulus pairs (blockwise or random). Additionally, the study included an exploratory analysis of the potential effects of the Evaluative Style of subjects (Feelers vs Thinkers, operationalized in terms of speed of emitting evaluations). Finally, the relationship between contingency awareness and evaluative learning was reassessed. Neutral-liked conditioning was found to be quadratically related to the number of acquisition trials (increase in effect up to 10 trials, decrease from 10 to 20 trials), whereas neutral-disliked conditioning linearly increased with increasing numbers of trials. Randomized vs blockwise presentation schedules of the stimulus pairs did differentially affect the overall pattern of conditioning, but in a way which was both unexpected and difficult to account for theoretically. Both the Evaluative Style of subjects and contingency awareness were demonstrated to be generally orthogonal to conditioned shifts in CS valence. Based on these findings, some practical suggestions are provided for the application of evaluating conditioning based therapeutical interventions to affective-behavioral disorders which are centred around inappropriate (dis)likes.     

Book reviews and notes

GENERAL.

READINGS IN THE QUR'AN. Selected and translated by KENNETH CRAGG. London: Collins Liturgical Publications, 1990. 389pp. Pb. £8.95. ISBN 0–00–599087–4.

DER KORAN UND DIE JUDEN: DIE GESCHICHTE EINER TRAGODIE. By Johan Bouman. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buch‐gesellschaft, 1990. 130pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 3–534–80123–7.

ISMAIL HAKKI BURSEVPS TRANSLATION OF AND COMMENTARY ON FUSUS AL‐HKAM. VOLS. 3 and 4. By Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi. Translated by Bulent Rauf with the help of R. Brass and H. Tollemache. Oxford: Muhyiddin ibn ^cArabi Society, 1989, 1991. 254pp, 353pp. Hb. £40.00, £50.00. ISBN 0–9509527–2–9; 0–9509527–4–5.

SCIENCE AND MUSLIM SOCIETIES. By Nasim Butt. London: Grey Seal Books, 1991. 135pp. Pb. £5.95. ISBN 1–85640–023–9.

THE MUSLIMS OF AMERICA. Edited by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. 249pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–19–506728–2.

TURNING POINTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES. By URSULA KING. Edinburgh: T & T Clark Ltd, 1990. 329pp. Hb. £19.95. ISBN 0–567–09564–9.

THE SEPARATED ONES: JESUS, THE PHARISEES AND ISLAM. By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood. London: SCM Press, 1991. 194pp. Pb. £9.95. ISBN 0–334–02498–6.

WHO NEEDS AN ISLAMIC STATE! By Abdelwahab El‐Affendi. London: Grey Seal Books, 1991.115pp. Pb. £5.95. ISBN 1–85640–022–0.

‘MULTI‐FAITH WORSHIP'? QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM THE INTER‐FAITH CONSULTATIVE GROUP. By The. General Synod Board of Mission. London: Church House Publishing, 1992. 66pp. Pb. £3.50. ISBN 0–7151–5530‐X.

WAS SAGT DER KORAN ZUM HEILIGEN KRIEG? By Adel TheodorKhoury. Giitersloh: Gutersloher Verlaghaus Gerd Mohn, 1991. 95pp. Pb. DM12.80. ISBN 3–579–00787–0.

REGIONAL.

Africa.

RELIGION AND CUSTOM IN A MUSLIM SOCIETY: THE BERTI OF SUDAN. By Ladislav Holy. Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 243pp. Hb. £30.00; $49.50. ISBN 0–521–39485–6.

POPULAR ISLAM IN TUNISIA. By Kees Schilder. Research Reports 1991/44. Leiden: African Studies Centre, 1991. 171pp. Pb. DFL.12.50. ISBN 90–70110–85–7.

A POEM CONCERNING THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD UTENDI WA KUTA WAFUNABII. Edited by J.W.T. Allen, Rland Allen, N.Q. King, Jan Knappert Et Al. African Studies, 26. New York/Ontario/Larnpeter: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1991. 161pp. Hb. n.p. ISBN 0–7734–9705–6.

SACRED VOID: SPATIAL IMAGES OF WORK AND RITUAL AMONG THE GIRIAMA OF KENYA. By David Parkin. Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. 259pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–521–40466–5.

PEOPLE AND EMPIRES IN AFRICAN HISTORY: ESSAYS IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL CROWDER. Edited By J.F. Ade Ajayi and J.D.Y. Peel. London and New York: Longman, 1992. 254pp. Hb. £36.00. ISBN 0–582–08997–2.

Asia.

MUSLIMS IN CENTRAL ASIA: EXPRESSIONS OF IDENTITY AND CHANGE. By Jo‐ANN GROSS. Durham: Duke University Press, 1992. 224pp. Pb. $18.95. ISBN 0–8223–1190–9.

Europe.

ISLAM IN DUTCH SOCIETY: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. Edited by W.A.R. Shadid and P.S. Van Koningsveld. Kampen. Kok Pharos Publishing House, 1992. 205pp. Pb. n.p.ISBN 90–242–3047–0.

VAN MAT TOT MINARET. By Nico Landman. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij, 1992. 387pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 90–5383–086–3.

DE ISLAM IN WEST‐EUROPA, IN HET BIJZONDER IN NEDERLAND. By HuUG Van Ooijen, Rinus Penninx, Jan Rath and ThulSunier. Nijmegen: Reeks REcht & Samenleving, 1991. 76pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 90–71478–20–3.

MUSLIMS IN WESTERN EUROPE. By Jorgen S. Nielsen. Islamic Surveys 20. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1992. 186pp. Hb. £25.00. ISBN 0–7486–0309–0.

NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE BALKANS: HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS. Edited by V. Mincheva. Sofia: Arges Publishing House for the Institute of Balkan Studies, 1992.247pp. Pb. LV20,00. No ISBN.

THE BALKANS: MINORITIES AND STATES IN CONFLICT. By Hugh Poulton. London: Minority Rights Publications, 1991. 244pp. Pb. £8.95. ISBN 1–873194–05–6.

THE SATANIC VERSES: BRADFORD RESPONDS. Edited by David G. Bowen. Bradford: D.G. Bowen and Bradford & Ilkley Community College, 1992. 82pp. Pb. .n.p. ISBN 0–947–851–25–9.

THE KINGDOM OF CYPRUS AND THE CRUSADES 1191–1374. By Peter W. Edbury. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.241pp. Hb. £27.50, $44.50. ISBN 0–521–26876–1.

DIE MIGRANTEN AUS SUBAY: TURKEN IN DEUTSCHLAND: EINE ETHNOGRAPHIE. By Werner Schiffauer. Stuttgart: Klett‐Cotta, 1991. 388pp. Hb. n.p. ISBN 3–608–93170–8.

Middle East.

POLITICAL ISLAM: RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE ARAB WORLD. By Nazih N. Ayubi. London and New York: Routledge, 1991. 291pp. Hb. £40.00. ISBN 0–415–05442–7.

THE ARAB CHRISTIAN: A HISTORY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. By Kenneth CRAGG. London: Mowbray, 1992. 336pp. Pb. £9.95. ISBN 0–264–67257–7.

ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM AND THE GULF CRISIS. Edited by JAMES PISCATORI. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1991. 267pp. Pb. £7.95; $11.50. ISBN 0–9629608–0–2.

RACE AND SLAVERY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. By BERNARD LEWIS. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. 184pp. Hb. £22.50. ISBN 0–19–506283–3.

THE IRAQI REVOLUTION OF 1958: THE OLD SOCIAL CLASSES REVISITED. Edited by Robert A. Fernea and Wm. Roger Louis. London: I.B. Tauris, 1991. 232pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 1–85043–318–6.

CULTURE, HISTORY AND IDEOLOGY IN THE FORMATION OF BA'THIST IRAQ, 1968–69. By AMATZIABaram. New York: St Martin's Press, 1991. 196pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 0–312–04805‐X.

THE PALLESTINIAN UPRISING: A WAR BY OTHER MEANS. By F. Robert Hunter. London: I.B. Tauris, 1991.292pp. Hb. £17.95. ISBN 1–85043–325–9.

POLITICS IN AN ARABIAN OASIS: THE RASHIDI TRIBAL DYNASTY. By Madawi AL Rasheed. London: I.B. Tauris, 1991. 300pp. Hb. £35.00. ISBN 1–85043–320–8.

THE LION OF EGYPT: SULTAN BAYBARSI AND THE NEAR EAST IN THE TfflRTEENTH CENTURY. By Peter THORAU. London: London and New York, 1987. 319pp. Pb. £13.50. ISBN 0–582–06823–1.

HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF LIBYA. By RONALD BRUCE ST JOHN. African Historical Dictionaries, 33.2nd Edition. Metuchen, NJ & London: Scarecrow Press, 1991. 192pp. Hb. £18.75. ISBN 0–8108–2451–5.

ACCOMMODATING PROTEST: WORKING WOMEN, THE NEW VEBLING AND CHANGE IN CAIRO. By ARLENE ELOWE MACLEOD. New York: Columbia University Press, 1991. 206pp. Hb. $37.50. ISBN 0–231–07280–5.

FEZ: CITY OF ISLAM. By Titus Burckhardt. Cambridge: Islamic Texts Society, 1992. 175pp. Hb. £24.95; $39.95. ISBN 0–946621–17–9.

CHRISTIAN‐MUSLIM RELA TIONS.

ROBIN LAMBURN — FROM A MISSIONARY'S NOTEBOOK: THE YAO OF TUNDURU AND OTHER ESSAYS. Edited by NOEL Q. KING and Klaus Fiedler with Gavin White. Social Science Studies on International Problems, no. 164. Saarbriicken; Fort Lauderdale: Verlag Breitenbach, 1991. 240pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 0584–603‐X.

MATERIAUX POUR SERVIR A L'ETUDE DE LA CONTROVERSE THEOLOGIQUEISLAMO‐CHRETIENNE DE LANGUE ARABE DU Vffle AUX Xlle SIECLE. By PAUL KHOURY. Religionswissenschaftliche Studien 11/2. Wurzburg: Echter Verlag and Altenberge: Oros Verlag, 1991. 633pp. Pb. $633.00; DM99.80. ISBN 3–429–01410–7 (Echter); 3–89375–039–8 (Oros).

THE CONQUEST OF CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM SPAIN 1031–1157. By Bernard F. Reilly. Oxford: Blackwell, 1992. 284pp. Hb. £40.00. ISBN 0–631–16913‐X.

ISLAM IN A WORLD OF DIVERSE FAITHS. Edited by Dan Cohen‐Sherbok. Library of Philosophy and Religion. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1991. 218pp. Hb. £45.00. ISBN 0–333–52612–0.

LA FOIE EN MARCHE: LES PROBLEMES DE FOND DU DIALOGUE ISLAMO‐CHRETIEN. By PONTIFICIOISTITUTO Dl STUDI Arabie D'islamistica. Collection ‘Studi Arabo‐Islamici del PISAF, no.4. Rome: PISAI, 1990. 235pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 88–85907–05–9.

DIPLOMATARIUM II: DOCUMENTS 1–500: FOUNDATIONS OF CRUSADER VALENCIA: REVOLT AND RECOVERY 1257–1263. By ROBERT I. Burns. Princeton: New Jersey, 1991. 440pp. Hb. $69.50. ISBN 0–691–05435–5.

ANTI‐CHRISTIAN POLEMIC IN EARLY ISLAM: ABU ‘ISA AL‐WARRAQ'S ‘AGAINST THE TRINITY’. By David Thomas. University of Cambridge Oriental Publications 45. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. 218pp. Hb. £40.00; $74.95. ISBN 0–521–41244–7.

INCULTURATION ET LIBERATION EN AFRIQUE AUJOURDHUI: MELANGES EN L'HONNEUR DU PROFESSEUR ABBE MULAGO GWA CKALA. Revue Africaine de Theologie, 27–28, April‐October 1990. 336pp. No ISBN number.

STRIVING TOGETHER: A WAY FORWARD IN CHRISTIAN‐MUSLIM RELATIONS. By Charles Kimball. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1991. 132pp. Pb. n.p. ISBN 0–88344–691‐X.

INTERWINED WORLDS: MEDIEVAL ISLAM AND BIBLE CRITICISM. By Hava Lazarus‐Yafeh. Princeton University Press, 1992. 178pp. Hb. £22.50; $29.95. ISBN 0–691–07398–8.