Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.653pmid: N/A

Analyzes the limitations inherent in 5 empirical research models (pure environmental, pure individual differences, discrete parallel, nonparallel typological, and parallel typological models) that have been used to study suicidal behavior. These extant models are shown to have specific limitations in terms of their ability to reflect an interactional perspective on suicidal behavior. A more adequate research model was then developed and used to test 2 hypotheses derived from a general interactional thesis; approximately 510,400 Ss were studied. Findings support both hypotheses, thus providing considerable support for the general thesis, i.e., that such real-life behaviors cannot adequately be understood by recourse to either individual difference variables alone or environmental variables alone. The implications of these findings and the empirical research model that revealed them are discussed in terms of heuristic value and relevance to students of other forms of human behavior. (76 ref)

Braucht, G. Nicholas

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.653pmid: N/A

Analyzes the limitations inherent in 5 empirical research models (pure environmental, pure individual differences, discrete parallel, nonparallel typological, and parallel typological models) that have been used to study suicidal behavior. These extant models are shown to have specific limitations in terms of their ability to reflect an interactional perspective on suicidal behavior. A more adequate research model was then developed and used to test 2 hypotheses derived from a general interactional thesis; approximately 510,400 Ss were studied. Findings support both hypotheses, thus providing considerable support for the general thesis, i.e., that such real-life behaviors cannot adequately be understood by recourse to either individual difference variables alone or environmental variables alone. The implications of these findings and the empirical research model that revealed them are discussed in terms of heuristic value and relevance to students of other forms of human behavior. (76 ref)

Bellack, Alan S.; Hersen, Michel; Turner, Samuel M.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.670pmid: N/A

Role-play tests have become one of the standard ways to assess interpersonal behavior, yet their validity has not been demonstrated. A study compared behavior in a series of role-play situations with behavior in identical in vivo encounters. 28 psychiatric patients (mean age 32.3 yrs) were recruited as Ss. Each was assessed in a series of in vivo situations, in a role-play test, and in a structured interview during which they were asked what someone "should" do in a variety of interpersonal interactions. Results do not support the validity of the role-play procedure. Behavior in the role-play test was not highly related to behavior in the parallel in vivo situations. There also was a greater correspondence between interview responses and in vivo behavior than between interview responses and role play. Alternative hypotheses about this pattern of results are discussed, and it is suggested that the process of role playing might be associated with unique response demands that produce an idiosyncratic response pattern. (36 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.670pmid: N/A

Role-play tests have become one of the standard ways to assess interpersonal behavior, yet their validity has not been demonstrated. A study compared behavior in a series of role-play situations with behavior in identical in vivo encounters. 28 psychiatric patients (mean age 32.3 yrs) were recruited as Ss. Each was assessed in a series of in vivo situations, in a role-play test, and in a structured interview during which they were asked what someone "should" do in a variety of interpersonal interactions. Results do not support the validity of the role-play procedure. Behavior in the role-play test was not highly related to behavior in the parallel in vivo situations. There also was a greater correspondence between interview responses and in vivo behavior than between interview responses and role play. Alternative hypotheses about this pattern of results are discussed, and it is suggested that the process of role playing might be associated with unique response demands that produce an idiosyncratic response pattern. (36 ref)

Kelley, Crystal K.; King, Glen D.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.679pmid: N/A

Behavioral correlates were determined for 39 male and 21 female college students who requested psychological treatment at a university mental health clinic and who obtained their 3 highest elevations on Scales 2, 7, and 8 of the MMPI. Single sample and split sample replication techniques were applied to compare commonly employed statistical validation procedures. Males demonstrated a mixture of neurotic and psychotic characteristics and were similar to previously described "2-7-8" interpretive descriptions. The females, however, appeared more neurotic and were not typical of the previously identified 2-7-8 type, which suggests possible sex differences in interpretation. The split sample statistical procedure resulted in fewer and, in some cases, different descriptors than did the single sample method. (11 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.679pmid: N/A

Behavioral correlates were determined for 39 male and 21 female college students who requested psychological treatment at a university mental health clinic and who obtained their 3 highest elevations on Scales 2, 7, and 8 of the MMPI. Single sample and split sample replication techniques were applied to compare commonly employed statistical validation procedures. Males demonstrated a mixture of neurotic and psychotic characteristics and were similar to previously described "2-7-8" interpretive descriptions. The females, however, appeared more neurotic and were not typical of the previously identified 2-7-8 type, which suggests possible sex differences in interpretation. The split sample statistical procedure resulted in fewer and, in some cases, different descriptors than did the single sample method. (11 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.686pmid: N/A

72 low-assertive (Conflict Resolution Inventory) college students, classified as either internal or external in locus of control (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale), participated in an analog therapy outcome study that assessed whether Ss' locus of control orientations would differentially affect their reactions to an automated assertiveness training procedure. Results indicate that as a group, treatment Ss improved more on all self-report and behavioral measures than either placebo or no-treatment control Ss. As predicted, however, externals in the treatment condition showed significantly greater generalization of the treatment effects to untrained social-skills assessment items than did their internal counterparts. Internals in the treatment condition actually failed to improve on these items relative to the performance of internals in the placebo and no-treatment control conditions. Data also support the predictions that internals in the treatment condition would perceive treatment as taking too much control away from them and would feel more uncomfortable in treatment sessions than externals. Data are interpreted as generally confirming the importance of accounting for the role of patient variables in therapy outcome research. (28 ref)

Schwartz, Richard D.; Higgins, Raymond L.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.686pmid: N/A

72 low-assertive (Conflict Resolution Inventory) college students, classified as either internal or external in locus of control (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale), participated in an analog therapy outcome study that assessed whether Ss' locus of control orientations would differentially affect their reactions to an automated assertiveness training procedure. Results indicate that as a group, treatment Ss improved more on all self-report and behavioral measures than either placebo or no-treatment control Ss. As predicted, however, externals in the treatment condition showed significantly greater generalization of the treatment effects to untrained social-skills assessment items than did their internal counterparts. Internals in the treatment condition actually failed to improve on these items relative to the performance of internals in the placebo and no-treatment control conditions. Data also support the predictions that internals in the treatment condition would perceive treatment as taking too much control away from them and would feel more uncomfortable in treatment sessions than externals. Data are interpreted as generally confirming the importance of accounting for the role of patient variables in therapy outcome research. (28 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.695pmid: N/A

Investigated the possible role of sensory reinforcement in the motivation of certain rituals. The authors introduced a treatment procedure, sensory extinction, in which certain sensory consequences are masked or removed to examine whether some rituals are operant behaviors maintained by sensory reinforcement. The effect of sensory extinction was assessed using a within-S reversal design for each of 2 8-yr-olds. Results show the following: (a) Light-switching rituals decreased substantially when a certain sensory consequence was removed, then increased when that consequence was reintroduced. This effect was replicable within and across children. (b) Different sensory consequences were found to be functional for the 2 Ss, despite the topographical similarity of the target behaviors. This analysis suggests that one must assess the motivational determinants of ritualistic behavior in each individual case to diagnose properly whether it is compulsive (avoidance) or operant behavior and to determine what should be the treatment of choice (anxiety reduction or sensory extinction). The possible usefulness of sensory extinction in assessing and treating behavior disorders is discussed. (29 ref)

Rincover, Arnold; Newsom, Crighton D.; Carr, Edward G.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.47.4.695pmid: N/A

Investigated the possible role of sensory reinforcement in the motivation of certain rituals. The authors introduced a treatment procedure, sensory extinction, in which certain sensory consequences are masked or removed to examine whether some rituals are operant behaviors maintained by sensory reinforcement. The effect of sensory extinction was assessed using a within-S reversal design for each of 2 8-yr-olds. Results show the following: (a) Light-switching rituals decreased substantially when a certain sensory consequence was removed, then increased when that consequence was reintroduced. This effect was replicable within and across children. (b) Different sensory consequences were found to be functional for the 2 Ss, despite the topographical similarity of the target behaviors. This analysis suggests that one must assess the motivational determinants of ritualistic behavior in each individual case to diagnose properly whether it is compulsive (avoidance) or operant behavior and to determine what should be the treatment of choice (anxiety reduction or sensory extinction). The possible usefulness of sensory extinction in assessing and treating behavior disorders is discussed. (29 ref)