Journal of Consulting Psychology

Bordin, Edward S.

doi: 10.1037/h0038508pmid: N/A

With this issue, the Journal of Consulting Psychology has become the responsibility of a new Editor. In this editorial, the new Editor emphasizes the Journal's scope and what is defined by the articles that appear between its covers.

Murstein, Bernard I.

doi: 10.1037/h0045257pmid: 13641483

A number of studies are reviewed to point out the importance of stimulus control and background factors in eliciting responses to TAT-type techniques. The background characteristics of examiner-examinee relationship are significant in determining responses elicited. Many clinicians underestimate the strength of control manifested by Ss in giving responses to projective techniques. Increasing the "psychological" ambiguity of a picture does not result in an increased response to the picture. Most cards eliciting idiosyncratic projective material are those containing easily identified humans whose expressions are capable of multiple interpretation. The question arises as to how can tests be designed so as to circumvent control and obtain meaningful glimpses of the "private world" of the individual. 41 refs.

Ellsworth, Robert B.; Clayton, William H.

doi: 10.1037/h0040201pmid: 13641484

Data is presented on the relationship between behavioral adjustment and psychopathology as related to each other and to the level of posthospital adjustment. The Ss were functional psychotic patients under 60 years of age, without major physical illness, hospitalized no longer than 90 days during a specified period. The lack of significant psychopathology assessment and "external" criteria seems to raise serious doubts as to the usefulness of psychopathology as a socially meaning criterion of improvement.

Nebergall, Nelda S.; Angelino, Henry; Young, Harl H.

doi: 10.1037/h0042391pmid: 13641485

The validity of the Self-Activity Inventory (SAI) was assessed with a mixed sex population. The scores were not related to the major criterion of pooled group rank. No significant differences were found in the magnitudes of the correlations for the sexes. One interesting finding showed a relatively large or small self-ideal discrepancy as significantly associated with disagreement between the group and individual estimates of adjustment. Most people ranked themselves above group evaluation, i.e., more well-adjusted. The study showed the SAI to have limited validity.

Goldberg, Lewis R.

doi: 10.1037/h0048736pmid: 13641486

The study was concerned with diagnosis rather than prediction of later behavior. The diagnostic performance of clinicians currently practicing as diagnosticians (staff or trainees) was compared with that of nonpsychologists (secretaries). An appraisal was made as to the validity of the Bender as a test for organic brain damage. Nonprofessionals displayed more confidence in their judgments than did the other groups. The results suggest chances for misdiagnosis by utilizing the Bender-Gestalt Test.

Lighthall, Frederick; Ruebush, Britton; Sarason, Seymour; Zweibelson, Irving

doi: 10.1037/h0047302pmid: 13641487

2 general trends are shown by the study: mental ability scores tend to change from fifth to seventh grade differentially for high and low test anxiety groups, and this change is related to the type of test used in measuring mental ability. These trends have 2 implications: (a) the earlier the anxiety level of school children can be identified, the earlier they can be provided a therapeutic program to help them recognize the interaction between their anxiety and various types of situations; (b) the interpretation of change in mental ability must take into account variations in type of measuring instrument.

Philbrick, Emily B.

doi: 10.1037/h0048107pmid: 13641488

The presence of 35% false positives discourages the use of the spiral aftereffect test as a clinical instrument for diagnosing organic brain pathology in a general hospital.

Shippee-Blum, Eva Maria

doi: 10.1037/h0041804pmid: 13641489

The Ss were divided into rebellious and cooperative groups according to the severity of the discipline problem. The study was concerned with the rebel group before, rather than after, social intervention branded them as members of a special group. On an adjective check list the rebel group revealed unrealistic self-regard, which differed from the realistic self-appraisal of the cooperators. Rebels regarded themselves more highly than their parents; cooperators admired their parents more than themselves. The results supported the psychoanalytic thesis of ego-weakness in the rebel.

Capell, Martin D.; Wohl, Julian

doi: 10.1037/h0043213pmid: 13641490

The factor structure of clinical judgment was investigated as to the role of evaluative factors in such judgments. Mental hygiene clinical personnel rated a patient on a number of scales derived from commonly used clinical concepts. A factor analysis revealed that evaluation plays a part in clinical judgment.

Fisher, Seymour

doi: 10.1037/h0041361pmid: 13641491

Body image measures failed to confirm the finding regarding the relationship of body image right-left size symmetry and GSR directionality. A significant relationship was established between a figure drawing measure of the individual's concept of the relative size and strength attributes of the male and female roles and GSR reactivity gradients. The findings support the general theory that relates role, body image, and physiological activity.