Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology

Zawadzki, Bohdan

doi: 10.1037/h0063279pmid: 18861375

The traditional "well-earned reputation" theory explains prejudice entirely from stimulus characteristics of the groups, but is wrong in assuming that reputations are always accurate or well-deserved. The new scapegoat theory of prejudice pays attention only to motivation of the majority group. Frustration generates hostility, which is displaced to a defenseless minority group and rationalized by blaming the minority for misfortunes, by projecting bad traits on them, and by stereotyping all members of the minority. The theory fails to explain why certain minorities are chosen for prejudice while others are admired, and why minorities are also prejudiced. There is need for accurate study of characteristics of each group which antagonize others. In addition to scapegoating it is likely that conscious values and philosophies contribute to prejudice.

Postman, Leo; Bruner, Jerome S.; McGinnies, Elliott

doi: 10.1037/h0059765pmid: 18861376

36 words were chosen to represent the 6 values of the Allport-Vernon Study. Length and familiarity of words were equated in each category. Each word was shown to each of 25 college students at exposures starting at .01 second and increasing until recognition occurred. Average recognition time was .065 sec. for words of the category in which a subject had the highest value score of the Allport-Vernon Study, and .097 sec. for the lowest value category. A chisquare test indicates significant relationship between value orientation and recognition time. Words guessed before correct recognition were classified as Covaluant, Contravaluant, Structurally similar, Nonsense, and Unrelated responses. More covaluant responses were given to high-valued words, and more nonsense or contravaluant responses to low-valued words. It is proposed that value orientation produces selective sensitization, lowering thresholds for acceptable stimuli and raising thresholds for unacceptable stimuli. Guesses are not haphazard. Perceptual defense leads a person to avoid the meaning of low-value words, whereas value resonance keeps a person responding in terms of valued objects even before perception is certain.

Miller, Neal E.

doi: 10.1037/h0056728pmid: 18861377

Pairs of albino rats were trained to strike one another to gain relief from an electric shock. On test trials in the absence of another rat they struck at a celluloid doll. This could be explained as displaced aggression or as generalization from the other rat to the doll. Similar generalization was shown to occur from one motive to another. Thirsty rats learned simple maze habit to obtain water. In test trials, when satiated with water, they ran faster and drank more water when motivated by hunger, pain (from shock), or fear (of repeated shock). The generalized response showed extinction and spontaneous recovery in the absence of either the appropriate drive or the appropriate reward. Displacement is expected only when the gradient of generalization of conflicting response is steeper than that of the inhibited response. Assuming curved gradients, eight deductions are made concerning strength of various displaced responses. Verbal labels affect generalization gradients, consequently unconscious behavior should exhibit more displacement than conscious behavior. 25 references.

Brody, Benjamin; Grey, Alan L.

doi: 10.1037/h0054483pmid: 18861378

Social sciences have made important contributions to clinical therapy and to group therapy in industry and criminology, yet psychiatric research still suffers from an organic bias. Wartime experience and the breakdown of the clinical team approach demonstrate that non-medical persons often make expert psychotherapists. For training, social work has the appropriate interest in people and professional standards, but lacks sound theory and scientific method. Clinical psychology must overcome the inertia of traditional impractical departments and must apply careful methodology to important human problems. Only a minority of psychiatrists are adequately trained for psychotherapy, and there is little hope that medical schools will contribute much to meeting the country's psychotherapeutic need. The burden will fall to psychoclinicians, whose training must be oriented to cultural and personal dynamics, methodology appropriate to clinical studies, practical evaluation of theories, and the minimum essentials of medical understanding. A sample 4-year curriculum is outlined. 26 references.

Mowrer, O. H.; Viek, Peter

doi: 10.1037/h0057165pmid: 18861379

Ability to control a painful stimulus decreases apprehension in human subjects and also, apparently, in rats. Electric shock was applied 10 seconds after introducing a food pellet through the floor of the cage. Inhibition of eating served as an indication of anticipatory fear of shock. This fear was much greater in rats which could not control the shock than in rats which learned to terminate shock by jumping. The amount of shock was equated for matched members of each group. It is postulated that control of the avoidance response gives reassurance and decreases experience of pain. Adequacy in coping with anticipated pain reduces the fear of punishment.

Alper, Thelma G.

doi: 10.1037/h0054024pmid: 18861380

A college graduate suffering from manic depressive psychosis writes his story during a lucid interval. He describes the onset of the trouble, the changes while in the hospital, and his feelings before and after shock treatment. Amnesia after shock cleaned the slate of disturbing memories for a while. Discharged as cured, he took a job for a while, finished college, then had a relapse and again received shock treatment. Electric shock disrupted the cycles, gave him hope, and made it possible for him to return to a job. But in the absence of psychotherapy there was little change in personality. He depends upon others for decisions and accepts "fate." He accepted shock treatment without great fear of death because of his faith in the friendly attendant and the doctor.

Gilbert, G. M.

doi: 10.1037/h0054017pmid: 18861381

With a good deal of new material the author of Nuremberg Diary tells the life history of the number 2 Nazi, showing consistency from early childhood in the development of Goering's peculiar psychopathy. Constitution played its part in his abilities and sadistic, aggressive leadership, but lack of feeling for others was due in part to the cold Prussian home life. Fed on Teutonic legend and Junker militarism, he believed deeply in loyalty to the Kaiser, military chivalry, military aristocracy, and German superiority. Peaceful or democratic people were repulsive to him. Never able to take punishment or to benefit from disapproval, he was completely self-centered. The Nazi party provided opportunity for military power, loyalty to an absolute Führer, sadistic excitement, revenge against enemies, and unlimited financial gain. He was shocked to realize that other Nazis were so unchivalrous as to wipe out populations of women and children. (He overlooked the similar effects of his Luftwaffe raids.) When rebuffed, he early learned to escape in phantasy, illness, or drug addiction. Play acting as an amiable nobleman served his phantasy needs. At Nuremberg he gave a fine performance, but the final indignities spoiled his heroic pose.

Bixler, Ray H.

doi: 10.1037/h0060174pmid: 18861382

A termination interview reveals how a liberal champion of the underdog suddenly resigned, on the grounds that his Negro assistant was given tenure. He really wanted to take a better job in another city, but his wife opposed the move. Although he was still friendly to the Negro, scapegoating seemed the safest excuse for resigning and moving without open family conflict. The mechanism was unconscious, and the danger lies in his future need to overcome guilt feelings by maltreating Negroes to prove his alleged prejudice.

Klein, D. B.

doi: 10.1037/h0063575pmid: 18861383

Present tendencies to deplore the distinction between medical and legal insanity are unjustified. Law has more to teach psychology than to learn from it, and legal insanity is probably a clearer concept than psychosis. psychological tests are providing ever better indicators of types of disorder of thought and emotion, but not all of these are legally dangerous. Both concepts of insanity continue to serve useful purposes.

Dorcus, Roy M.; Kirkner, Frank J.

doi: 10.1037/h0056441pmid: 18861384

Hypnotic suppression of pain circumvents problems of drug tolerance and addiction. If subjects can repeatedly experience voluntary termination of hallucinated pain they should be able to eradicate pain when it starts. 5 of 8 women suffering from chronic menstrual pain were susceptible to this hypnotic suggestion and have been relieved of most of their pain for 2 years. Similar suggestion was not as effective with 5 male veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries. Pain was decreased under hypnosis, but post-hypnotic suggestion worked only for a short time. The difference may be explained by assuming that menstrual pain is expected as a result of conditioning to tissue changes during the period, whereas spinal injuries serve as ever-present sources of primary pain sensations.