Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Berzins, Juris I.; Ross, Wesley F.; Cohen, Daniel I.

doi: 10.1037/h0029347pmid: 5523433

In a study of interpersonal and situational determinants of self-disclosure in "resistive" patients, psychiatric aides conducted brief interviews with hospitalized narcotics addicts. Participants' A-B status and patients' preinterview sets to "trust" (TFH) or "distrust" (DHH) the aide comprised the manipulated factors in a 2 * 2 * 2 design (N = 40 male dyads). As expected, A-type aides with DHH Ss and B-type aides with TFH Ss obtained better patient self-disclosure in "personal" vs. neutral topical areas than oppositely paired dyads (p < .0005). DHH Ss were also more disclosing than TFH Ss (p < .005). Results partially confirm prior therapy analogue studies involving the A-B variable. An expectancy-disconfirmation explanation of the DHH-TFH effects was advanced. (24 ref.)

Holmes, George R.; Heckel, Robert V.

doi: 10.1037/h0029364pmid: 4399752

Describes the incidents, attitudes, and problems confronting the 1st Negro male since Reconstruction to attend a southern university. Of particular importance in producing stress were pressures from both white and Negro groups. White students produced stress through their hostility, while militant Negro groups created difficulty by their attempts at capitalizing his role.

Vogler, Roger E.; Lunde, Stanley E.; Johnson, George R.; Martin, Patrick L.

doi: 10.1037/h0029353pmid: 5523434

Previous studies suggest the utility of electrical aversion conditioning, but fail to include adequate controls. Pseudoconditioning (random shock delivery), sham conditioning (no shock), and ward controls (routine hospital treatment) were compared with 2 conditioning groups. Conditioning-only (contingent shock) and booster Ss (additional conditioning sessions after release from hospital) were shocked for drinking and reinforced by shock termination for spitting out the alcohol. Sessions were run in a simulated bar setting. 51 of 73 chronic male alcoholics completed treatment and were available for follow-up. The technique significantly increased time to relapse when compared with control groups, among which no significant differences were found. Results suggest the possible usefulness of booster sessions and the potential long-term effectiveness of the technique for some Ss.

Toban, Eileen

doi: 10.1037/h0029340pmid: 5523435

31 professionals (pros) and 47 nonprofessionals (nonpros) compared each others' performance of 11 social work functions. Questionnaire responses indicated that both groups believed the pros to be superior at helping patients with long-term problems, and the nonpros, at showing the patient someone cares. Pros and nonpros differed in assessing their relative skills in 9 functions; each group rated itself better at 6 functions. Differences between praised and criticized nonpros' attitudes were related to D. F. Ausubel's model of the development of self-critical ability.

Obler, Martin; Terwilliger, Robert F.

doi: 10.1037/h0029367pmid: 5523436

A modified version of J. Wolpe's systematic desensitization therapy involving direct confrontation with the fear-inducing stimulus was attempted with 30 neurologically impaired children with phobic symptoms. 2 hypotheses were tested: (a) a nonverbal therapeutic technique not requiring motivation will produce successful symptom reduction for these Ss, and (b) awareness of therapeutic procedure is not necessary for successful results. Both hypotheses were confirmed. (23 ref.)

Irwin, Floyd S.; Johnson, Marie L.

doi: 10.1037/h0029334pmid: N/A

Studied the effects of 4 different instructional sets on Sentence Completion Test (SCT) responses. 4 groups of 25 16-18 yr. old males received different instructions to similar SCT items: (a) stressing the expression of real feeling, (b) asking for immediate response, (c) encouraging both immediate response and real feeling, and (d) neutral instructions. Results suggest that differential instructional set has no significant overall effect on sentence-completion responses, although some item clusters were more susceptible than others to variations in instructional set. While findings demonstrate no difference in mean scores by the authors' method of scoring various types of SCT instructions, the possibility cannot be ruled out that there may be differences in validity.

Bednar, Richard L.; Shapiro, Jeffrey G.

doi: 10.1037/h0029339pmid: 5523437

A survey of 16,000 psychologists and psychiatrists invited to participate in a large scale investigation of psychotherapy revealed that less than 1% of those contacted wished to participate. Additional data were collected to help isolate the reasons for such limited participation. Comparisons between those who agreed and those who declined participation revealed that the type of practice, orientation of the practitioner, age, and weekly hr. of therapy were not significant variables for differentiating participators from nonparticipators. The reason most frequently given by those who refused participation was lack of time. Data are discussed in the context of the research status of professional psychology and implications for research and clinical practice.

Hoffnung, Robert J.; Stein, Leonard S.

doi: 10.1037/h0029328pmid: 5523438

Investigated the initial reactions of 20 A and 20 B undergraduates to "encounter situations" in which they were asked for help by 4 hypothetical patients communicating in normal, neurotic, schizophrenic, or ambiguous styles. For each patient communication, Ss responded to the following questions: (a) "What might he mean?" (b) "What might he be feeling?" (c) "How would you feel in this situation?" (d) "What do you think you would do?" Results indicate that (a) A's more frequently interpreted patient communications symbolically than did B's; and (b) A's exhibited greater congruence than B's, as indicated by their greater use of feeling words in describing their reactions to the hypothetical patients. Results were related to previous A-B findings.

Hodges, William F.; Felling, James P.

doi: 10.1037/h0029270pmid: 5523439

Based on C. D. Spielberger's (see 40:11) proposal that trait anxiety scores reflect a predisposition to respond with heightened state anxiety to situations involving the possibility of failure or loss of self-esteem, it was predicted that Ss who indicated that they were high in A-trait would report anticipating greater fears in these situations and not in situations involving physical pain or danger. 228 undergraduates rated 40 situations according to the degree of apprehension that they thought they might feel if in that situation. The 40 items were intercorrelated and factor analyzed. Of the 4 factors obtained, the 3 factors associated with failure correlated significantly with a measure of trait anxiety, while the 4th factor, involving pain and danger, did not, supporting Spielberger's hypothesis. Sex differences were found only for the pain-danger factor. (25 ref.)

Gynther, Malcolm D.; Gray, Bernadette G.; Strauss, Milton E.

doi: 10.1037/h0029337pmid: N/A

Because efforts to account for individual differences in social desirability responding have been largely unsuccessful, an investigation was undertaken to determine whether meaningful relationships can be found if S characteristics relevant to the items being rated are selected. Religion items from the MMPI were rated by 90 Ss classified by religious affiliation, degree of religious participation, and sex. The 1st 2 factors and item content markedly influenced Ss' perception of the statements, attesting to the effectiveness of this more precise approach. (15 ref.)