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Assessing Risk Of Reoffending In Adolescents Who Have Committed A Sexual Offense: The Accuracy Of Clinical Judgments After Completion Of Risk Assessment Instruments, Natasha Elkovitch, Jodi L. Viljoen, Mario J. Scalora, Daniel Ullman Jan 2008

Assessing Risk Of Reoffending In Adolescents Who Have Committed A Sexual Offense: The Accuracy Of Clinical Judgments After Completion Of Risk Assessment Instruments, Natasha Elkovitch, Jodi L. Viljoen, Mario J. Scalora, Daniel Ullman

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

As courts often rely on clinicians when differentiating between sexually abusive youth at a low versus high risk of reoffense, understanding factors that contribute to accuracy in assessment of risk is imperative. The present study built on existing research by examining (1) the accuracy of clinical judgments of risk made after completing risk assessment instruments, (2) whether instrument- informed clinical judgments made with a high degree of confidence are associated with greater accuracy, and (3) the risk assessment instruments and subscales most predictive of clinical judgments. Raters assessed each youth’s (n = 166) risk of reoffending after completing the SAVRY …


Juries And Eyewitnesses, Cindy Laub, Brian H. Bornstein Jan 2008

Juries And Eyewitnesses, Cindy Laub, Brian H. Bornstein

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The role of an eyewitness can be extremely important in the legal system, as eyewitness testimony and eyewitness identifications play a major role in the prosecution of a criminal defendant. Often the courts are left to rely solely on an eyewitness because there is no other physical evidence. This leaves the jury to rely on a witness’s testimony. Jurors are asked to determine the credibility of an eyewitness at trial when rendering a verdict, and jurors have been found to place more emphasis on eyewitness testimony than on any other kind of evidence. However, there are numerous documented cases of …


A Review Of The Tripartite Model For Understanding The Link Between Anxiety And Depression In Youth, Emily R. Anderson, Debra A. Hope Jan 2008

A Review Of The Tripartite Model For Understanding The Link Between Anxiety And Depression In Youth, Emily R. Anderson, Debra A. Hope

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although research from numerous investigations indicates that there is substantial overlap in anxiety and depressive symptoms and comorbid diagnoses in youth, these constructs can be adequately differentiated. Clark and Watson [Clark, L. A. & Watson, D., (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100: 316-336] proposed a tripartite model to account for the symptom overlap and diagnostic comorbidity between anxiety and depression. This tripartite model posits that anxiety and depression share a common component of negative affect, but can be differentiated by low positive affect associated with depression and high …


Electroconvulsive Therapy : A Brief Overview, Adam A. Sauceda Jan 2008

Electroconvulsive Therapy : A Brief Overview, Adam A. Sauceda

Graduate Research Papers

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been increasing in popularity for treating various types of mental health disorders. Although a notably controversial medical procedure, ECT continues to be an option when intense therapy and psychopharmacology fails. This research project will review the recent literature on ECT and provide useful information specific to mental health professionals. A definition, administration procedures, effectiveness, side effects, and specific disorders that have been targeted and most and least receptive for ECT treatment will be the focus of attention


Amphetamine Selectively Enhances Avoidance Responding To A Less Salient Stimulus In Rats, Ming Li, Wei He, Rebecca Munro Jan 2008

Amphetamine Selectively Enhances Avoidance Responding To A Less Salient Stimulus In Rats, Ming Li, Wei He, Rebecca Munro

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

This preclinical study examined the psychological processes affected by amphetamine that contribute to human psychosis. Using a novel avoidance conditioning paradigm involving two conditioned stimuli (CS) with varied salience, we found that acute amphetamine (1.5 mg/ kg, i.p.) selectively enhanced avoidance responding to a less salient stimulus, but not to a salient one. These findings suggest that elevated dopaminergic activity selectively enhances the attributions of motivational salience to a less salient stimulus, a process that may bear relevance to the development of human delusional thoughts.


Rigid Thinking About Deformables: Do Children Sometimes Overgeneralize The Shape Bias?, Larissa K. Samuelson, Jessica S. Horst, Anne R. Schutte, Brandi N. Dobbertin Jan 2008

Rigid Thinking About Deformables: Do Children Sometimes Overgeneralize The Shape Bias?, Larissa K. Samuelson, Jessica S. Horst, Anne R. Schutte, Brandi N. Dobbertin

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Young children learning English are biased to attend to the shape of solid rigid objects when learning novel names. This study seeks further understanding of the processes that support this behavior by examining a previous finding that three-year-old children are also biased to generalize novel names for objects made from deformable materials by shape, even after the materials are made salient. In two experiments, we examined the noun generalizations of 72 two-, three- and four-year- old children with rigid and deformable stimuli. Data reveal that three-year-old, but not two- or four-year-old, children generalize names for deformable things by shape, and …


Response, Remission & Recovery: Need To Review Outcome Measures For Schizophrenia, Amresh Shrivastava, Nilesh Shah Jan 2008

Response, Remission & Recovery: Need To Review Outcome Measures For Schizophrenia, Amresh Shrivastava, Nilesh Shah

Psychiatry Publications

Schizophrenia is a complex neurobehavioral disorder known to be associated with poor outcome. It causes significant disability in patients and burden of care amongst relatives. Outcome in developing countries has been reported to be far better than western world, which has come into scientific scanner recently. Wide gap exists between expectations of outcome amongst patients, relatives, caregivers and professionals, which is possibly because of limitations in measurements tools. Significant number of patients remain marginalized without improvement in social & occupational functioning preventing their integration into mainstream of society despite 'clinically reported good outcome' and significant advancement in treatments. The contemporary …


Predicting Content Preference: Applying Lessons Learned From The Commercial Web To Therapeutic Software, Daniel Z. Lieberman Md, Suena H. Massey Md, Vilmaris Quiñones Cardona, Kenneth P. Williams Md Jan 2008

Predicting Content Preference: Applying Lessons Learned From The Commercial Web To Therapeutic Software, Daniel Z. Lieberman Md, Suena H. Massey Md, Vilmaris Quiñones Cardona, Kenneth P. Williams Md

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: An automated web-based program was developed to deliver a form of motivational enhancement therapy to individuals with drinking problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate its ability to predict user preferences for specific psychoeducational modules based on responses to questionnaire items from the evaluation portion of the program.
Methods: Nine items from three standardized alcohol assessment questionnaires were used to predict viewing of one or more educational modules related to alcohol cessation. The instruments included the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Decisional Balance Questionnaire. …


Intravenous Nicotine Conditions A Place Preference In Rats Using An Unbiased Design, Jamie L. Wilkinson, Rick A. Bevins Jan 2008

Intravenous Nicotine Conditions A Place Preference In Rats Using An Unbiased Design, Jamie L. Wilkinson, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The rewarding effects of nicotine contribute to the chronic use of tobacco products. The place conditioning task, a widely used pre-clinical model to study drug reward, has lead to mixed results in rats when nicotine was administered subcutaneously or intraperitoneally; intravenously administered nicotine has not been examined. Further, much of the research demonstrating a nicotine-conditioned place preference in rats has used a biased design making these results susceptible to nonreward interpretations. The present study assessed whether intravenous (IV) nicotine would condition a place preference in an unbiased design and evaluated important behavioral parameters: nicotine dose, number of conditioning trials, and …


Crisis, What Crisis? Perception And Reality In Civil Justice, Brian H. Bornstein, Timothy R. Robicheaux Jan 2008

Crisis, What Crisis? Perception And Reality In Civil Justice, Brian H. Bornstein, Timothy R. Robicheaux

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

"Excessive litigation has created a crisis in America," according to an article on the Alexandria, Virginia-based Center for Individual Freedom’s website (Marcus, 2004).
This article was the first of 63,100 links retrieved in a February 16, 2007, Google.com search for the words ‘‘litigation crisis,’’ and a search for the word ‘‘tort reform’’ on the same day returned over a million results. Not every linked article was as bold about the current ‘‘litigation crisis’’ in the United States, and not every linked article promoted a need for tort reform, but the search demonstrates the current salience of these issues in the …


Parenting Styles And Youth Well-Being Across Immigrant Generations, Anne Driscoll, Stephen Russell, Lisa J. Crockett Jan 2008

Parenting Styles And Youth Well-Being Across Immigrant Generations, Anne Driscoll, Stephen Russell, Lisa J. Crockett

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

This study examines generational patterns of parenting styles, the relationships between parenting styles and adolescent well-being among youth of Mexican origin, and the role of generational parenting style patterns in explaining generational patterns in youth behavior (delinquency and alcohol problems) and psychological well-being (depression and self-esteem). This study uses two waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The proportion of teens with permissive parents increased with generation; other parenting styles declined. The rate of youth with behavioral problems increased with generation. Self-esteem improved with generation; depression scores did not. Bivariate generational patterns of behavioral …


Cue-Elicited Negative Affect In Impulsive Smokers, Neal Doran, Jessica Werth Cook, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Mark G. Myers, Bonnie Spring Jan 2008

Cue-Elicited Negative Affect In Impulsive Smokers, Neal Doran, Jessica Werth Cook, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Mark G. Myers, Bonnie Spring

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Impulsivity is associated with cigarette smoking, but the nature of this relationship and the mechanisms that maintain it are relatively unknown. The relationship has often been thought to reflect appetitive processes, but research suggests that an affective pathway exists as well. The present study tested the effect of impulsivity on affective responses to an environmental smoking cue. Adult smokers (N = 62) were exposed to a neutral cue and a smoking cue in separate experimental sessions in a repeated measures design. Mixed-effects regression analyses showed that larger postexposure increases in negative affect were associated with high scores on 2 facets …


Forgetting The Once-Seen Face: Estimating The Strength Of An Eyewitness’S Memory Representation, Kenneth A. Deffenbacher, Brian H. Bornstein, E. Kiernan Mcgorty, Steven D. Penrod Jan 2008

Forgetting The Once-Seen Face: Estimating The Strength Of An Eyewitness’S Memory Representation, Kenneth A. Deffenbacher, Brian H. Bornstein, E. Kiernan Mcgorty, Steven D. Penrod

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The fidelity of an eyewitness’s memory representation is an issue of paramount forensic concern. Psychological science has been un¬able to offer more than vague generalities concerning the relation of retention interval to memory trace strength for the once-seen face. A meta-analysis of 53 facial memory studies produced a highly reliable association (r = .18, d = 0.37) between longer retention intervals and positive forgetting of once-seen faces, an effect equally strong for both face recognition and eyewitness identification studies. W. A. Wick¬elgren’s (1974, 1975, 1977) theory of recognition memory provided statistically satisfactory fits to 11 different empirical forgetting func¬tions. Applied …


Role Of Affective Associations In The Planning And Habit Systems Of Decision-Making Related To Addiction, Marc T. Kiviniemi, Rick A. Bevins Jan 2008

Role Of Affective Associations In The Planning And Habit Systems Of Decision-Making Related To Addiction, Marc T. Kiviniemi, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The model proposed by Redish et al. considers vulnerabilities within decision systems based on expectancy-value assumptions. Further understanding of processes leading to addiction can be gained by considering other inputs to decision-making, particularly affective associations with behaviors. This consideration suggests additional decision-making vulnerabilities that might explain addictive behaviors.


Trauma Exposure Influences Cue Elicited Affective Responses Among Smokers With And Without A History Of Major Depression, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Alicia K. Klanecky, Kate Walsh, David Dilillo Jan 2008

Trauma Exposure Influences Cue Elicited Affective Responses Among Smokers With And Without A History Of Major Depression, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Alicia K. Klanecky, Kate Walsh, David Dilillo

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The current study tested the emotional reactivity of smokers with and without histories of major depression (MDD Hx) and trauma exposure (TE). Four counterbalanced conditions nested negative (e.g., dysphoric) or neutral mood inductions with in vivo versus control smoking paraphernalia cues (Neutral+Control; Neutral+Cigarette; Neg+Control; Neg+Cigarette). Mixed model analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tested between and within subjects differences in negative affective symptoms pre- to post-exposure across four groups (TE+MDD Hx; TE only; MDD Hx only; no history). Results produced two notable effects. First, TE only individuals endorsed the greatest increase in depressive symptoms across both negative mood induction conditions (regardless of …


A Longitudinal Examination Of The Bidirectional Links Between Academic Achievement And Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Aryn M. Dotterer, Lesa Hoffman, Ann C, Crouter, Susan M. Mchale Jan 2008

A Longitudinal Examination Of The Bidirectional Links Between Academic Achievement And Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Aryn M. Dotterer, Lesa Hoffman, Ann C, Crouter, Susan M. Mchale

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

We examined reciprocal associations between parent-adolescent conflict and academic achievement over a 2-year period. Participants were mothers, fathers, and adolescents from predominantly White, working and middle class families (N = 168). After accounting for previous academic achievement, parent-adolescent conflict predicted relative declines in academic achievement 2 years later. After controlling for relationship quality at Time 1, lower math grades predicted relative increases in parent-adolescent conflict 2 years later among families with less education.


Stress And Eyewitness Memory, Ani A. Aharonian, Brian H. Bornstein Jan 2008

Stress And Eyewitness Memory, Ani A. Aharonian, Brian H. Bornstein

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Stress exerts complex effects on eyewitness memory. On the whole, it has a negative effect, but this can be quite variable depending on the level of stress and the aspect of the witnessed event that one is trying to remember. Stress operates similarly in affecting person recognition (i.e., lineup performance) and recall of event details.


Generalizing The Dynamic Field Theory Of Spatial Cognition Across Real And Developmental Time Scales, Vanessa R. Simmering, John P. Spencer, Anne R. Schutte Jan 2008

Generalizing The Dynamic Field Theory Of Spatial Cognition Across Real And Developmental Time Scales, Vanessa R. Simmering, John P. Spencer, Anne R. Schutte

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Within cognitive neuroscience, computational models are designed to provide insights into the organization of behavior while adhering to neural principles. These models should provide sufficient specificity to generate novel predictions while maintaining the generality needed to capture behavior across tasks and/or time scales. This paper presents one such model, the Dynamic Field Theory (DFT) of spatial cognition, showing new simulations that provide a demonstration proof that the theory generalizes across developmental changes in performance in four tasks—the Piagetian A-not-B task, a sandbox version of the A-not-B task, a canonical spatial recall task, and a position discrimination task. Model simulations demonstrate …


Getting Ready: Promoting School Readiness Through A Relationship-Based Partnership Model, Susan M. Sheridan, Christine Marvin, Lisa Knoche, Carolyn P. Edwards Jan 2008

Getting Ready: Promoting School Readiness Through A Relationship-Based Partnership Model, Susan M. Sheridan, Christine Marvin, Lisa Knoche, Carolyn P. Edwards

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

School readiness is determined by the life experiences of young children between birth and enrollment in formal education programs. Early intervention and education programs designed to promote school readiness often focus on skills a child fails to demonstrate that are believed to be of importance to social and academic success. The Getting Ready model of early childhood intervention (Sheridan, Edwards, & Knoche, 2003) recognizes the transactional nature of young children’s development and the important role parents play in pre-school readiness and school-age success. In the Getting Ready model, collaborative partnerships between parents and professionals are encouraged to promote parent’s competence …


Predictors Of Goggle Use Among Racquetball Players, Carmen P. Mclean, David K. Dilillo, Brian H. Bornstein, R. V. Bevini Jan 2008

Predictors Of Goggle Use Among Racquetball Players, Carmen P. Mclean, David K. Dilillo, Brian H. Bornstein, R. V. Bevini

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Racquetball is a popular, high-intensity competitive sport that requires quick reflexes and keen spatial awareness. Players may be vulnerable to eye injuries, which could be prevented through use of proper protective eyewear (Feigelman, Sugar, Jednock, Read, & Johnson, 1983). Given the low rates of goggle use among squash players (Eime, Owen, & Finch, 2004), the use of goggles among racquetball players is suspected to be low. However, to date there have been no studies investigating predictors of goggle use in racquetball players. Understanding the rates and predictors of goggle use among racquetball players is an important prerequisite to developing effective …


Letting "Privates" Be Private: Toward A Right Of Gender Selfdetermination, Samuel E. Bartos Jan 2008

Letting "Privates" Be Private: Toward A Right Of Gender Selfdetermination, Samuel E. Bartos

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note examines the contradictory landscape of transgender jurisprudence, particularly focusing on the legal struggles of transgender individuals to achieve recognition of their gender identity. It highlights the Kansas Supreme Court's decision in In the Matter of the Estate of Marshall G. Gardiner, which denied legal recognition of a transgender individual's marriage, contrasted with more progressive rulings in other jurisdictions. The analysis underscores the need for a consistent and inclusive legal framework to address the rights of transgender individuals, emphasizing the potential for future Supreme Court intervention to establish uniform standards.


Procedural Justice In Family Conflict Resolution And Deviant Peer Group Involvement Among Adolescents: The Mediating Influence Of Peer Conflict, Jennifer Stuart, Mark Fondarco, Scott A. Miller, Veda Brown, Eve M. Brank Jan 2008

Procedural Justice In Family Conflict Resolution And Deviant Peer Group Involvement Among Adolescents: The Mediating Influence Of Peer Conflict, Jennifer Stuart, Mark Fondarco, Scott A. Miller, Veda Brown, Eve M. Brank

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The involvement of adolescents with deviant peer groups is one of the strongest proximal correlates to juvenile delinquency and stems from a variety of causes. Past research has linked ineffective parenting with peer variables, including deviant peer group involvement and peer conflict during adolescence. In this study, adolescents’ appraisals of procedural justice within the family (adolescents’ appraisals of how fairly they are treated by parents in the process of resolving family conflict) were examined as one aspect of effective parenting that may relate to deviant peer group involvement in early adolescence. Data from 1660 middle school students (ages 11-14, mean …


Gender And Apologies: Exploring Offended Females' Perceptions Of Apologies From Males And Females, Stacey Bennet Jan 2008

Gender And Apologies: Exploring Offended Females' Perceptions Of Apologies From Males And Females, Stacey Bennet

Theses : Honours

The construct of apology has recently received more attention by researchers (Allan, 2007) and several factors that may influence apologetic responses have been identified. The gender of an offender is one such factor. A review was undertaken to examine the literature pertaining to the influence of the gender of an offender on apologies. As a result of the review, several themes were identified. These included gender differences and similarities in the frequency of apologies, the quantity and complexity of components, and the actual content of those components. Furthermore, contextual factors that may play a role in the influence of gender …


Peer Victimization, Depression, And Suicidality In Adolescents, Anat Brunstein Klomek, Frank Marrocco, Marjorie Kleinman, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Madelyn S. Gould Jan 2008

Peer Victimization, Depression, And Suicidality In Adolescents, Anat Brunstein Klomek, Frank Marrocco, Marjorie Kleinman, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Madelyn S. Gould

Publications and Research

The association between specific types of peer victimization with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents was examined. A self-report survey was completed by 2,342 high-school students. Regression analyses indicated that frequent exposure to all types of peer victimization was related to high risk of depression, ideation, and attempts compared to students not victimized. Infrequent victimization was also related to increased risk, particularly among females. The more types of victimization the higher the risk for depression and suicidality among both genders. Specific types of peer victimization are a potential risk factor for adolescent depression and suicidality. It is important …


Distorted Maternal Mental Representations And Atypical Behavior In A Clinical Sample Of Violence-Exposed Mothers And Their Toddlers, Daniel S. Schector, Susan W. Coates, Tammy Kaminer, Tammy Coots, Charles H. Zeanah, Mark Davies, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Randall D. Marshall, Michael R. Liebowitz, Kimberly A. Trabka, Jaime E. Mccaw, Michael M. Myers Jan 2008

Distorted Maternal Mental Representations And Atypical Behavior In A Clinical Sample Of Violence-Exposed Mothers And Their Toddlers, Daniel S. Schector, Susan W. Coates, Tammy Kaminer, Tammy Coots, Charles H. Zeanah, Mark Davies, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Randall D. Marshall, Michael R. Liebowitz, Kimberly A. Trabka, Jaime E. Mccaw, Michael M. Myers

Publications and Research

Objective: To determine whether maternal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reflective functioning (RF), and/or quality of mental representations of her child predicts maternal behavior within a referred sample of mothers exposed to interpersonal violence and their children (aged 8–50 months). Method: A total of 41 dyads completed 2 videotaped visits including measures of maternal mentalrepresentations and behavior. Results: Negative and distorted maternal mental representations predicted atypical behavior (Cohen’s d > 1.0). Although maternal PTSD and RF impacted mental representations, no significant relationships were found between PTSD, RF, and overall atypical caregiving behavior. Severity of maternal PTSD …


Lifting The Veil: Women And Islamic Law, Christie S. Warren Jan 2008

Lifting The Veil: Women And Islamic Law, Christie S. Warren

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article explores whether Islamic law can reconcile its teachings with the rights of women, highlighting the Prophet Muhammad's respectful treatment of women while examining the current disparities in women's rights in various Muslim-majority countries. It argues that while Islamic law has the potential to support gender equality, historical and cultural interpretations have often led to discrimination against women. The article suggests that reform is possible through reinterpretation of Islamic sources and increased female participation in legal scholarship.


Love-Variant: The Wakin-Vo I. D. R. Model Of Limerence, Albert H. Wakin, Duyen B. Vo Jan 2008

Love-Variant: The Wakin-Vo I. D. R. Model Of Limerence, Albert H. Wakin, Duyen B. Vo

Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of the current paper is to 1) propose the Wakin-Vo I.D.R model of limerence and 2) establish grounds for the scientific query of limerence. Limerence is an involuntary interpersonal state that involves intrusive, obsessive, and compulsive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are contingent on perceived emotional reciprocation from the object of interest. The model that the authors propose holds that although limerence resembles normative love, it is a state that is necessarily negative, problematic, and impairing, with clinical implications. The model frames limerence as consisting of three functional components: initiating force, driving forces, and resultant forces. Parallels between …


Meaning Of Place: Exploring Long-Term Residents Attachment To The Physical Environment In Northern New Hampshire, Laura A. Alexander Jan 2008

Meaning Of Place: Exploring Long-Term Residents Attachment To The Physical Environment In Northern New Hampshire, Laura A. Alexander

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores the meaning of place and the role of the physical setting, relative to sociocultural elements, for long-term, year-round residents of northern New Hampshire for two dimensions of place: attachment and identity. Resident-employed photography was used to prompt research participants to think about how they are attached to place and how it shapes their identity, and their photos served as a way to enter quickly and deeply into a conversation about place meaning. Data was analyzed according to the tradition of grounded theory and five themes of meaning emerged as follows: The physical setting is stable, restorative, where …


The Phenomenon Of Amoralism: An Investigation Of The Cognitive And Emotive Roots, Andrei G. Zavaliy Jan 2008

The Phenomenon Of Amoralism: An Investigation Of The Cognitive And Emotive Roots, Andrei G. Zavaliy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

An amoralist is defined as a person who rejects the claims of moral reasons to special authority, and systematically acts without regard to the generally accepted moral standards. A psychopath can be seen as a paradigm case of an extreme amoralist, although the less severe cases of selective amoralists are considered. The research into the typical behavioral pattern, motivational structure, and the value system of psychopaths can shed light on at least three aspects related to the analysis of the moral agency. First, it can help elucidating the emotive and cognitive conditions necessary for moral performance. Secondly, it can provide …


Competition Between The Conditioned Rewarding Effects Of Cocaine And Novelty, Carmela M. Reichel, Rick A. Bevins Jan 2008

Competition Between The Conditioned Rewarding Effects Of Cocaine And Novelty, Carmela M. Reichel, Rick A. Bevins

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Access to novelty might provide an alternative learning history that competes with conditioned drug reward. We tested this suggestion in rats using a place conditioning procedure with cocaine and novelty. In Experiment 1, rats were conditioned with cocaine to prefer one side of an apparatus. In a subsequent phase, cocaine exposure continued; however, on the unpaired side, separate group of rats had access to novel objects, cocaine injections, or saline with no objects. Pairings with novel objects or cocaine shifted a preference away from the cocaine-paired environment during drug-free and drug-challenge tests. Experiment 2 tested novelty’s impact when cocaine exposure …