Digital Commons Network^™

A Research Agenda In India For Political Psychologists: Fanning The Flames Of Political Violence Or Dousing Them?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychological Issues about the incitement of political violence in India that merits further attention by political psychologists.

Religion As Opium, Religion As Vitamin: Comments On Pope John Paul Ii's Papacy And Political Power, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article considers the interface between institutionalized and organized religion on the one hand and formally constituted and secular governmental authority on the other, in the context of Pope John Paul II's papacy.

Trends. The Devil's In The Details: The Vatican And Exorcism, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the recent revision to the Roman Catholic ritual of exorcism.

Control Of The Personal As A Means Of Political Control And Power: Thoughts For A New Millennium, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores the utility of significantly controlling the governed's personal sphere of life as a means of maintaining and further increasing political control and power by political authorities in the new millennium.

Trends. The Senate Trial Of President Clinton: There's More Than One Way To Wag The Dog, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses "wagging the dog" as it relates to the current presidential scandal.

Aviation Security: The Human Element In Human Factors, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes aspects of social and political human functioning that are germane to security violations discovered by representatives of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in tests at various United States (U.S.) airports. FAA reports on the violations were obtained by The New York Times through the U.S. Freedom of Information Act and discussed in the Times' January 11th Issue.

Privatization And The Private Psychology Of Social Security, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes a crucial psychological nexus that mitigates against governmental attempts to privatize social security programs.

Terrorists' Delight: The Soft Psychological Underbelly Of A Superpower In The Post-Cold War Era, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychological vulnerabilities of the one remaining superpower that are being exploited by terrorist organizations--those that are state-sponsored and abetted and those sponsored and abetted by other political actors.

Trends. The Mother Of All Warnings To North Korea, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the problematic logic of the UN ordering the North Korean government to allow a nuclear weapons development site to be inspected.

Dynamics Of Hiv Risk Behavior In Hiv-Infected Injection, Jeffrey D. Fisher, Stephen Misovich, Diane L. Kimble, Beth Weinstein

CHIP Documents

Forty-six HIV-positive individuals with a history of injection drug use participated in a questionnaire and interview study assessing their HIV risk behaviors, and their HIV risk and prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills related to injection drug use and sexual behavior. High levels of past and current risky injection drug use and sexual behavior were reported. HIV risk reduction information was generally high, and many participants reported proprevention attitudes and supportive perceived norms toward HIV risk reduction behaviors. However, many did not intend to engage in these preventive behaviors, and some reported deficits in prevcntion behavioral skills. Interview data revealed …

Perception Of The Horizontal And Vertical In Tangible Displays: Minimal Gender Differences, Morton A. Heller, Jeffrey A. Calcaterra, Shavonda L. Green, Stevette L. Barnette

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

A study is reported of gender differences in a haptic version of three Piagetian tests that assess understanding of Euclidian space. A raised-line drawing kit was used both for subject responses and for production of stimuli. To test understanding of the horizontal, subjects felt pictures of a jar at four tilts and were asked to draw the water line. Two methods were used to examine understanding of the vertical. First, subjects drew a hanging electrical cord and light bulb, attached to the ceiling of a bus, parked on hills of four different angles. Subsequently, subjects drew telephone poles (represented by …

Subjective Culture In Health Interventions, Gerardo Marín

Psychology

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Mental Health Services, Kevin M. Chun, P D. Akutsu

Psychology

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Social Physique Anxiety In Adolescent Swimmers With Physical Disabilities, Jeffrey J. Martin

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

The purpose was to examine predictors of social physique anxiety (SPA) in adolescent swimmers with physical disabilities. Participants were 57 swimmers (27 females, 30 males, ages 16-19, M = 16.2) with various physical disabilities. A three-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in SPA between countries and among disabilities but not gender. Stepwise multiple regression results indicated that self-esteem and the self-identity subscale of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) were the best predictors of SPA but that gender, country, and type of disability were not significant.

Effects Of Perceived Verbal Aggressiveness And Proxemic Violations On Attributions Of Source Blameworthiness For Sexual Harassment, Evelyn René Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

As society moves into the 21st century, sexual harassment remains a major problem in organizations (Buttny, 1993; Cockburn, 1991; Kreps, 1993; Langelan, 1993; Simons & Weissman, 1990; Taylor & Daly, 1995; Wolfson,1997). The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, made it illegal to discriminate against employees regarding race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, but at that point in time, the phrase "sexual harassment” had no meaning. Although women were aware of their daily struggles with gender discrimination in the workplace, no one had coined the phrase, and this pervasive problem was not yet an established part of the …

The Effects Of Color Contrast On Performance Of The Wais-R Digit Symbol Subtest, Wendell S. Francke

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Color contrast has been shown to aid in visual search tasks using electronic displays, while the research regarding the usefulness of color contrast in aiding visual search using a paper medium is mixed. The present study questions whether subjects’ performance will improve on a paper task where the search target is in high color contrast when compared with a task where the target color does not differ from the rest of the search field.

Thirty-nine adults with normal vision were administered two forms of the WAIS-R digit symbol subtest, one with low chromatic contrast and one with high chromatic contrast, …

Treatment For The Homeless Mentally Ill, Joyel Harless

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The effect of treatment on the homeless mentally ill was explored. Seventeen homeless individuals were screened with questionnaires to determine anxiety and depression (Krug, Laughlin, Scheiner, & Catell, 1976). One group included diagnosed mentally ill subjects, the other were non-diagnosed individuals. Both groups were tested upon admittance to either a treatment facility for homeless mentally ill persons or a community homeless shelter, respectively. They were again screened prior to discharge of either facility. Statistically, a rather significant difference was noted in the decrease of the diagnosed group’s anxiety level upon discharge. A similar, but less significant, statistical difference was also …

Perception Of Marital Satisfaction And Adjustment Between Males And Females In Rural Appalachia, Gina Ingram

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With the divorce rates having doubled since 1960, numerous researchers have attempted to identify some of the relevant factors associated with successful marriages. This research attempted to identify those factors associated with marital satisfaction and adjustment among Appalachian males and females. Subjects were selected from southern West Virginia. Marital satisfaction and adjustment were evaluated using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The DAS consisted of four subscales: Consensus, Cohension, Affectional Expression, and Satisfaction. The data were analyzed using Pearson Coefficient Product Correlation and t-tests. There were no significant differences among the descriptive variables and the subscale variables were identified. There was …

Comparing Aggression Between Young-Adult And General Admission Patients In A State-Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital, Jill Kridle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Because of the inherent danger surrounding violence, aggression studies are particularly important for those working in a health care setting. A constant variable in aggression studies that poses many risk factors is age. This study examined characteristics of aggressors contained on state psychiatric hospital, located in West Virginia. Included on the unit was the neo-adult program and some general admission patients. The study evaluated all aggressors on the unit between September 1997 and August 1998. Comparisons were made to distinguish any possible differences or similarities between the two groups. The results indicated some differences relating to age of aggressor. Young-adult …

The Effect Of Music On Visuospatial Memory, James L. Mccracken

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Music was utilized in an attempt to enhance visuospatial memory. Twenty-eight individuals, who attended a United Methodist Church in southern West Virginia, were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. The experimental group was exposed to new age and classical compositions, counterbalanced for order effects. The new age and classical selections were of similar tempo and complexity. The control group received two relaxation periods, of a comparable length to the music presented to the experimental group. The 7/24 Spatial Recall Test was used to measure visuospatial memory. The measure was administered to each participant immediately after exposure to the music …

Using Selective Mmpl-2 Clinical Scales To Predict The Severity Of Prison Infractions For First Degree Murderers In A Maximum Security Prison, Margarita Lynn Pauley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The MMPI-2 was administered to 56 adult male offenders in a maximum-security prison serving a life sentence for first degree murder. This study evaluated the predictive ability of the MMPI-2 scales 4, 6 and 9 to distinguish among groups of inmates with high and low infraction rates. Results indicated that as the weighted infraction rate (WRI) increased above 9, the T score on scale 4 sharply decreased at the same rate of the increase for 0-9 WRI. Results also supported a relationship where as the T score on scale 9 increased the WIR also increased. Inmates who refused to comply …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Reducing Depression Among The Hospitalized Elderly Diagnosed With Dementia, Alan J. Blosser

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Music therapy was implemented as an affordable and accesible intervention for the hospitalized elderly diagnosed with dementia to reduce depression. Thirty hospitalized, elderly individuals diagnosed with dementia were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. The experimental group were involved in six one-half hour music therapy sessions over a three week period. Music was selected according to group preference. No intervention was provided to the control group. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to measure depression. The instrument was administered orally to both groups one week prior to treatment, within two days after treatment had been completed, and two …

The Conners' Continuous Performance Test Compared With The Attention Problems Scale Of The Child Behavior Checklist In Adhd Children, Krista J. Burdette

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the relationship between errors of omission and commission on Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and parental report of behavior ratings as demonstrated by the Attention Problems scale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The study was conducted using 33 children who were clinic-referred for assessment of behavioral and/or learning problems. The CPT was administered individually to the child via computer while the parent completed the CBCL. CPT inter-item reliability was found to be borderline (.7960) for Omission Errors and unacceptable (.7748) for Commission Errors. A Pearson correlation matrix revealed significant correlations among Age and Attention Problems Scale, …

Expert And Lay Mental Models Of Ecosystems: Inferences For Risk Communication, Jeffrey K. Lazo, Jason Kinnell, Toby Bussa, Ann Fisher, Nathan Collamer

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The authors evaluate a mental modeling approach to studying differences between lay and expert comprehension of ecosystems.

Paranoid Personality Disorder., Nancy S. Thurston

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Excerpt: "The core feature of a paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a longstanding, pervasive pattern of mistrust in the motives of others. Persons with this disorder assume that others have malevolent intentions to harm, exploit, or deceive them, even when no objective evidence exists. They ruminate over unfounded suspicions that their family and friends are disloyal and will scrutinize these relationships for evidence of untrustworthiness. In particular they are prone to pathological jealousy of their spouse or lover. They are often reluctant to confide in others out of fear that anything they say will be used against them. This makes …

The Dance Of Affinity, Robert Aitken

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

No abstract provided.

Are Adaptations Necessarily Genetic?, Steven Scher

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Spiritual And Religious Issues In Psychotherapy - In Benner & Hill's "Baker's Encyclopedia Of Psychology & Counseling", Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Covert Modeling, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Excerpt: "A cognitive process in which individuals change response patterns through imagining themselves engaging in the desired responses rather than by observing another person model the responses. Since these new responses are weak, even at the imaginal level, it is essential that they be reinforced in order to strengthen and maintain them. This reinforcement normally is self-administered. Covert modeling thus involves a combination of modeling and self-control procedures, all conducted internally in the form of thought and fantasy."

Models Of Mental Illness, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Excerpt: "Although the concept of mental illness is central to the field of mental health and the practice of counseling, there is continuing disagreement about its definition. Several views are widely held. Each has important implications for understanding mental illness, determining which conditions are disorders and who has them, and choosing appropriate approaches to treatment. This controversy involves several important issues."