Effect of chronic ethanol administration on intermale aggression in rats

An experiment was performed to study the effect of chronic ethanol administration on intermale aggression in rats using a 24-hour resident-intruder test. During the resident-intruder test residents displayed virtually all of the agonistic behaviors, and intruders displayed virtually all of the defensive behaviors. Intruders treated with ethanol displayed more defensive behavior and elicited more agonistic behavior than control intruders. Twenty minutes into the resident-intruder test intruders showed the greatest increase in corticosterone (338% vs. 129%), while residents showed the greatest increase in testosterone (103% vs. 18%). On the 2nd day of the resident-intruder test intruders lost more weight than residents (21.5 g vs. 10.2 g). Plasma corticosterone levels remained elevated for the intruders, and in particular for those intruders displaying defensive behaviors regardless of the resident's behavior. Plasma testosterone levels remained elevated for those residents that were paired with intruders that displayed defensive behaviors regardless of the resident's behavior. The frequency and severity of biting attacks by ethanol residents was significantly greater than that of control residents. In addition, the locus of biting attack shifted from the upper back of intruders paired with control residents to the flanks, tail, lower feet, and ventral surface on intruders paired with ethanol residents.     

THE SECOND SPHERE AND THE STORY OF NO STORY

The author discusses Roy Schafer's ideas of the second self and second reality, as well as his consistent theme of storyteller and story. The latter theme is also explored in the context of more recent psychoanalytic influences, such as Bionian thought, trauma theory, the French approach, and the interpersonal perspective. To illustrate the idea of the nonstory in today's clinical encounters, the author presents two clinical vignettes.     

Counselor Competency in the Courtroom

This article outlines general courtroom procedures and offers systematic practical advice for the counselor testifying as an expert witness. Major topics include the counselor role in court, preparing for testimony, answering questions, and dealing with the cross-examination.     

The effect of ethanol treatment on social behavior in male rats

The effect of 0.50 g/kg of EtOH in male rats interacting with a stimulus male juvenile in a newly developed test of social interaction was examined. The adult male rats were treated with EtOH (8.0 to 12.0 g/kg/day) or equicaloric dextrin maltose for 2 weeks (studies 1 and 2) or 8 weeks (study 3) and social interaction was assessed both before and after chronic drug treatment was ended in study 1 and after chronic drug treatment was ended in studies 2 and 3. It was found that prior to chronic drug treatment, in study 1, 0.50 g/kg of EtOH increased both aggressive behavior and time spent interacting with the stimulus juvenile male from the first presentation of the juvenile to the second presentation (20 min apart) while saline injection decreased it. After chronic drug treatment was ended, in study 1 animals treated chronically with EtOH were more aggressive when they were not intoxicated than when they had been treated with 0.50 g/kg of EtOH. In studies 2 and 3, after chronic drug treatment was ended, aggressive behavior and time spent interacting with the juvenile were greater in the animals treated chronically with EtOH, regardless of whether they were injected with saline or 0.50 g/kg of EtOH. The results of these studies showed that chronic EtOH treatment can produce long-lasting changes in social behavior after drug treatment is over and can alter the animal's normal response to EtOH in a social setting.     

The role of sincere amends and perceived partner responsiveness in forgiveness

In a sample of 188 people currently in a romantic relationship, the authors examined the extent to which perceiving a partner as responsive and sincere in making amends relates to participants' forgiveness of a partner after a real‐life hurtful event. Specifically, it was predicted that sincere amends would be associated with greater forgiveness because it conveys that one's partner has understood and validated one's experience of the hurtful event. Results supported this mediational model. Further, exploratory analyses suggested that this meditational model is moderated by event severity and relationship satisfaction. Discussion focuses on understanding how this work might help to inform the dynamic process of forgiveness in couples.