The moral construction of the self.

Social constructionist theory has been criticized as being relativistic. This article addresses this criticism and draws out conclusions for the theory and for psychotherapy. It is suggested that a nonrelativistic basis for the self is its moral constitution and that people need to trust, make promises, and follow through on obligations in order to be in the society that is constructing them. These moral and ethical constituents of the socially constructed self are historically necessary without being universal. One important praxis affected by this conclusion is psychotherapy which, because its articulation of the constituents of self also constitutes them, becomes a moral and political praxis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Specific developmental disorders. The language-learning continuum

The goal of this article is to inform and educate those who work with children who present with language-learning disorders about phonologic processing deficits, because this area has been shown to have a significant impact on children and adults who exhibit reading disabilities. Mental health professionals who work with children with reading problems need to be aware of what is known about this source of reading disorders and the implications of this knowledge for prevention and treatment. Advocating for appropriate instruction for children with reading problems is an important role mental health professionals can play in working with this population.     

The role of differentiation of self in marital adjustment.

In the present investigation, Murray Bowen's (1978) theoretical propositions about the relationship between differentiation of self and quality of marital relationships were tested. Couples' levels of differentiation explained substantial variance in marital adjustment: 74% of variance in husband marital adjustment scores and 61 % of variance in wife marital adjustment scores were accounted for by couple differentiation of self-scores. Greater husband emotional cutoff uniquely accounted for husband and wife marital discord. Contrary to family systems theory, actual couples were no more similar on differentiation than were randomly matched couples. Finally, greater complementarity among couples along the specific dimensions of emotional cutoff and emotional reactivity predicted greater marital distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The self as a mnemonic device: The role of internal cues.

Two studies with 48 undergraduates examined the contention that the self-reference effect occurs because the self provides a set of organized internal cues in the form of personal experiences that can mediate recall. The 2 properties—constructibility and associability of internal cues—are also important to the self-reference effect. S-generated cues composed of personal experiences representing the internal self were compared with cues composed of names of body parts representing the external self (Exp I). The body-part cues were more easily reconstructed by Ss at recall than were personal-experience cues. Nevertheless, trait words were better recalled after being related to personal experiences, because trait words and personal experiences were easily associated. In Exp II, concrete nouns were presented rather than trait words, and no difference in recall using the 2 types of cues was found. This occurred because concrete nouns can be easily associated with either personal experiences or body parts. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of research in criteria construction.

The implementation of a quality assessment program on a large scale requires the construction of explicit, objective criteria for review. Optimally, the source of criteria should be established research findings. Given the current state of the art, experimental data will only provide a limited amount of information. The present paper examines empirical activities that can support criteria construction. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of language in the development of the self I: Language acquisition.

The present essay discusses the aspects of the process of language acquisition in relation to the development of the self. Methodological issues are discussed; particularly the integration of maturational and environmental factors in the development of language. Theories of the development of transformational generative grammars point toward maturational aspects, but must be complemented by and integrated with the experience of evolving communication between child and caregivers. Progressive steps in the acquisition of language are discussed with specific reference to the influence of such developments on the concept of the self. Rudiments of a functional self are extant even from within the womb, and develop a conceptual and communicative capacity well before the onset of language. The functional and developmental gains acquired through the emergence of language are indicated in expanding and elaborating the scope and depth of preexistent capacities, and adding new and powerful dimensions to the experiential and expressive capacity of the self, especially in relation to self-awareness and a sense of identity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of construal processes in overconfident predictions about the self and others.

Overconfident behavioral predictions and trait inferences may occur because people make inadequate allowance for the uncertainties of situational construal. In Studies 1–3, Ss estimated how much time or money they would spend in various hypothetical, incompletely specified situations. Ss then offered associated "confidence limits" under different "construal conditions." In Study 4, Ss made trait inferences about someone they believed had responded "deviantly," again with situational details unspecified and construal conditions manipulated. In all 4 studies, Ss who made predictions or trait inferences without being able to assume the accuracy of their situational construals offered confidence limits no broader than those of Ss who made their responses contingent on such accuracy. Only in conditions where Ss were obliged to offer alternative construals did they appropriately broaden their confidence limits or weaken their trait inferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of language in the development of the self III: The significance of pronouns.

The present essay traces the development of personal pronouns, especially the first person pronouns, as an important aspect of the acquisition of language (discussed in Part I) and its implication for the understanding of the nature and functioning of the self. The use of pronouns is analyzed as a special case of the complex relationship of thought and word. The antecedent preverbal development of the capacity for thinking in relation to the acquisition of the capacity to express thoughts in suitable words (in Part II) comes into play with specific reference to the self in the use of first person pronouns. Thus the thought content of the self concept precedes the emergence of the pronoun that specifies, concretizes, and names the subjective self. This perspective opposes concepts of thought-word connection that admit the existence of the self only in the process of naming or as a byproduct of interlocutary exchange. The self is able not only to name itself as an autonomous and independent entity, but can synonymously identify itself as participant in dialogue with other I's who are named you. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychotherapy of the disorders of the self: The Masterson approach.

Reviews the book, Psychotherapy of the disorders of the self: The Masterson approach, edited by James F. Masterson and Ralph Klein (see record 1988-98808-000). The senior editor of this text reminds us that the DSM-IIIR is an insufficient guide to appropriate diagnosis of personality disorders. As Masterson indicates, it is highly questionable that the borderline disorders can be distilled to a single "borderline personality disorder" rather than a range of conditions emerging from separation-individuation developmental crises and maternal libidinal unavailability. Masterson assists us in integrating borderline conditions by enabling an understanding of the defenses against abandonment depression that manifest in these patients. Klein, in turn, adds an invaluable dimension to differential diagnosis in his reminder that a diagnostic picture is incomplete when it fails to integrate the current ego functions and impairments and the nuances of the family, along with their developmental and medical history. This volume is well suited not only for the seasoned clinician who has experienced the full impact of character pathology in clinical practice but also for the student whose understanding of personality disorders is often restricted to the limited role provided by our current diagnostic manual. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The developmental role of intuitive principles in choosing mathematical strategies.

This study investigated the relation between the development of understanding principles that govern a problem and the development of mathematical strategies used to solve it. College students and 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th graders predicted the resulting temperature when 2 containers of water were combined. Students first estimated answers to the problems and then solved the problems using math. The pattern of estimated answers provided a measure of the intuitive understanding of task principles. Developmental differences in intuitive understanding were related to the type of math strategy students used. Analysis of individual data patterns showed that understanding an intuitive principle was necessary but not sufficient to generate a math strategy consistent with that principle. Implications for the development of problem solving are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of language in the development of the self II: Thoughts and words.

The present essay is intended to complement and extend the previous discussion of the acquisition of language (Part I). The further question arises of the relation between thought and language. The argument is presented that the capacity for thought arises developmentally before the emergence of the capacity for linguistic expression. Also functionally, on the mature and adult level, thought is regarded as independent of and antecedent to verbal expression. The word, in this sense, is a partial and incomplete expression of the fullness and complexity of the thought behind it. The relation of thought and word is traced developmentally in terms of Vygotsky's analysis of concept development, in which thought and language follow different paths of development and achieve final integration and synthesis in adolescence. The development of thinking capacity and the evolution of inner speech points to the autonomy and independent synthetic capacity of the subjective self even before the development of linguistic competence. Beyond the reach and comprehension of the word, the thought remains active and alive nonetheless in the private inner world of the subjective self. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) disorders in experimental and human carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) levels on the clearance of total tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen, we studied the clearance of active TPA and TPA/PAI-1 complex in subjects with low (181+/-109 pmol/L; n=7) and high (1166+/-322 pmol/L; n=4) baseline active PAI-1. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 5-microg/kg bolus of TPA was infused over a 15-second period followed by measurement of TPA activity, TPA antigen, TPA/PAI-1, TPA/C1 inhibitor, PAI-1 activity, and PAI-1 antigen over a 4-hour period. alpha-Phase clearance of total TPA antigen was faster in subjects with low PAI-1 (t(1/2) of 3.5+/-0.7 minutes) versus high PAI-1 (t(1/2) of 5.3+/-0.9 minutes) (P=.006). Clearance of all factors was best fit by a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model based on a computer-simulated human circulatory system. The average hepatic clearance fraction in the two-compartment model was greater for active TPA (89+/-10%, t(1/2) of 2.4+/-0.3 minutes) than for TPA/PAI-1 complex (48+/-17%, t(1/2) of 5.0+/-1.8 minutes) (P=.0006). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma clearance of active TPA was faster than clearance of TPA/PAI-1 complex. High levels of active PAI-1 converted more TPA into TPA/PAI-1 complex, effectively slowing the clearance of total TPA antigen and explaining in part why high levels of PAI-1 activity are associated with increases in total TPA antigen.     

Videogames and young people with developmental disorders.

Young people with developmental disorders experience difficulties with many cognitive and perceptual tasks, and often suffer social impairments. Yet, like typical youth, many appear to enjoy playing videogames. This review considers the appeal of videogames to individuals with autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and specific language impairment. It examines how they respond to the various challenges that play entails with particular reference to sensory, cognitive, and social dimensions. It is argued that research into how these young people engage voluntarily with this dynamic and challenging medium offers great potential to extend our empirical and theoretical understanding of the disorders. Many gaps in our current knowledge are identified and several additional themes for possible future research are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nativism versus neuroconstructivism: Rethinking the study of developmental disorders.

This article argues that one dominant position in psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and philosophy about how genetic disorders point to the innate specification of dissociated modules in the human brain should be replaced by a dynamic, neuroconstructivist approach in which genes, brain, cognition, and environment interact multidirectionally. The article challenges current thinking about a series of questions: (a) Do significantly better scores in one domain necessarily indicate an intact module? (b) What do scores in the normal range suggest? (c) What is wrong with mental-age matching? (d) Why is the notion of an intact module unlikely? (e) Do developmental disorders suggest associations rather than dissociations? (f) Is the environment the same for atypically developing individuals? The article concludes by examining the implications of taking a neuroconstructivist approach and by arguing that human intelligence is not a state (i.e., not a collection of static, built-in modules that can be intact or impaired) but a process (i.e., the emergent property over developmental time of dynamic, multidirectional interactions between genes, brain, cognition, behavior, and environment) with domain-specific outcomes impossible without the process of development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analytic psychology and gender role conflict: The development of the fragile masculine self.

There is a need to undertake a comprehensive approach to understanding gender specific challenges and solutions. This includes understanding the gender role related conflicts men experience. It also includes a reexamination of some of the long-held beliefs regarding men and masculinity including a gender identity socialized to conceptualize a sense of self that emphasizes independence to the exclusion of relational strivings. There is also the emphasis in male socialization to avoid the "feminine" in hopes that this will enhance the masculine identity. It is argued here that for many men, following this course of gender socialization has led to the development of a fragile masculine self. The fragile masculine self is conceptualized from an analytic psychology perspective, integrating aspects of intrapsychic development with psychosocial aspects of O'Neil's gender role conflict paradigm. Combining aspects of the intrapsychic with that of psychosocial forces leads to the development of a new model for conceptualizing and working with men in individual and group therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of self-statements as a mediator in treatment for youth with anxiety disorders.

The authors investigated features of self-statements as predictors of anxiety in children with and without anxiety disorder (AD) and as a mediator of treatment of ADs in children. Children (N = 145) between the ages of 9 and 13 years participated (71 AD youth, 84 controls). Self-statements were classified by valence and content. Results indicated that children's anxious, but not positive or depressed, self-statements significantly predicted anxiety in children with and without AD. For children with AD, changes in anxious self-statements mediated treatment gains, replicating a previously reported finding. A states of mind ratio mediated only 1 outcome measure, and positive and depressive cognitions served no mediating role. The impact of anxious self-talk on children's adjustment and implications for cognitive theory of anxiety in children are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissociative disorders of the self: A continuum extending into multiple personality.

This article examines the notion that multiple-personality disorder represents the end of a continuum of a defensive dissociation of the self. Three case illustrations are presented in support of this notion. In one case hidden ego states emerged and displayed some behavioral control in the course of hypnotherapy. In another, dissociated part selves were responsible for much of the presenting symptomatology, but did not qualify for a diagnosis of multiple personality. The author argues for the recognition of a continuum of dissociation of the self that extends into multiple-personality disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The aging self.

Reviews the literature on aging and the self and provides a framework for more effective research and practice. The issue of how, given widespread ageism, most older people are able to maintain a positive self-image is discussed. The theory is considered that age changes in personality and self, coupled with persistence of roles and environments, produce a relatively stable platform from which the aging individual can defend his or her self-image from negative input. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)