Psychopathy as an Emergent Interpersonal Syndrome: Further Reflections and Future Directions.

In our article (Lilienfeld et al., 2019), we hypothesized that psychopathy and some other personality disorders are emergent interpersonal syndromes (EISs): interpersonally malignant configurations of distinct personality subdimensions. We respond to three commentaries by distinguished scholars who raise provocative challenges to our arguments and intriguing suggestions for future research. We clarify the role of folk concepts in our understanding of psychopathy, offer further suggestions for testing our interactional hypotheses, consider the role of boldness in motivational accounts of psychopathy, and discuss future directions for incorporating developmental considerations and the role of victims in our EIS account. We are optimistic that this account will prove to be of heuristic value, and should encourage researchers and theoreticians to explore alternative models of psychopathy and other personality disorders.

Actitudes hacia las mujeres de los esquemáticos frente a los no esquemáticos de género / Attitude towards women of gender schematic vs aschematic individuals

Tras la cuádruple tipología de género (década de los setenta), un nuevo modelo dual surgió en los ochenta: personas con esquema de género frente a las no esquemáticas. En el presente trabajo se examina la relación entre estas categorías y las actitudes hacia las mujeres, utilizando el Bem Sex Role Inventory y Attitudes Towards Women Scale. Se llevaron a cabo dos estudios con adolescentes (chicos y chicas) de 12 a 14 años: el primero (2001) con 359 participantes y el de réplica (2009) con 224. Se realizaron análisis factoriales y ANOVAS. Los resultados, de ambos estudios, apoyan la hipótesis de que las adolescentes muestran una actitud más favorable que los adolescentes hacia las mujeres. Las personas femeninas o andróginas respondieron de forma semejante, pero de modo diferente al resto. Los varones masculinos y las mujeres femeninas no mostraron diferencias en las actitudes hacia las mujeres frente a las personas sin esquema de género o de género cruzado. Respecto a las posibles diferencias entre los esquemáticos típicos frente a los atípicos y las de los esquemáticos frente a los indiferenciados, los resultados son discrepantes. Se establecen las implicaciones tanto para los instrumentos utilizados como para las teorías subyacentes (AU)

After the fourfold gender typology (1970s), a dual model -gender schematic versus aschematic individuals- emerged in the 1980s. In this research, the relationship between gender schemas and attitudes towards women’s rights were tested. Two studies were carried out (2001 and 2009) with adolescents (boys and girls) from 12 to 14 years old, with 359 participants in 2001 and 224 in 2009, using two instruments: the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Attitudes Towards Women Scale. Factor analysis and ANOVAs were carried out. The results of both studies supported the hypothesis that girls maintain more favourable attitudes about themselves than boys do. Both studies supported the hypothesis that feminine and androgynous individuals display similar attitudes towards women, but they differ from the other gender categories. Masculine boys and feminine girls did not show differences in attitudes towards women in comparison to aschematic or cross-gendered adolescents. Inconsistent results were found between studies regarding the hypothesized differences between typical and atypical schematics in attitudes towards women, as well as between undifferentiated and gender schematic individuals. The implications of these results for the instruments used, as well as for theories, are considered (AU)

Incremental validity of mindfulness skills in relation to emotional dysregulation among a young adult community sample.

The present investigation examined the incremental predictive validity of mindfulness skills, as measured by the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS), in relation to multiple facets of emotional dysregulation, as indexed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), above and beyond variance explained by negative affectivity, anxiety sensitivity, and distress tolerance. Participants were a nonclinical community sample of 193 young adults (106 women, 87 men; M(age) = 23.91 years). The KIMS Accepting without Judgment subscale was incrementally negatively predictive of all facets of emotional dysregulation, as measured by the DERS. Furthermore, KIMS Acting with Awareness was incrementally negatively related to difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior. Additionally, both observing and describing mindfulness skills were incrementally negatively related to lack of emotional awareness, and describing skills also were incrementally negatively related to lack of emotional clarity. Findings are discussed in relation to advancing scientific understanding of emotional dysregulation from a mindfulness skills-based framework.

Development and validation of a concise emotional inventory.

This study investigated the initial development and validation of a concise emotional inventory. The scale was developed as a very expedient device that can be used with young adults in order to access a person's emotional state across a wide variety of defined life content areas. The version of the scale used in this study was specifically developed and validated for use with college-aged students modeling experimental procedures developed by Nowicki (2000). Studies dealing with emotional differences among young student music populations were not found in the literature. Effective use of this scale for music therapists requires some form of "validation" with college-aged students in order to investigate how music therapists may use such a scale to assist their assessment of a person within this particular population. It is noted, however that these comparisons may inform potential use of this scale, but should not provide "normative" data for music life assessments. It must be remembered this inventory is designed only to give information specific to each person. Therefore, group comparisons are made solely to demonstrate reliability across various geographical areas and college populations. Thus, "reliability" measures presented are intended only to demonstrate that the inventory can be administered easily and used to identify potential areas, issues, situations or persons who are capable of eliciting negative or positive related ideations.

Cross-cultural validity and reliability testing of a standard psychiatric assessment instrument without a gold standard.

The objective of this study was to assess the cross-culture validity and reliability of a standard psychiatric assessment instrument without the usual "gold standards." Normally criterion validity testing requires comparison with such a standard--usually another instrument or a professional diagnosis. Instead local informants identified persons with and without "agahinda gakabije" (a locally described grief syndrome) who were then asked if they thought they had this syndrome and also interviewed using the depression section of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (DHSCL). To assess criterion validity, interviews where respondent and informant agreed on the presence or absence of agahinda gakabije were compared with depression diagnosis using the DHSCL. We also assessed construct validity (using factor analysis), internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha), and test-retest reliability using results from a subsequent community-based survey employing the DHSCL. We found a similar relationship between depression and agahinda gakabije as between depression and grief in western countries, which supports criterion validity. Construct validity and internal reliability were good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). Test-retest reliability of a DHSCL-based scale was less adequate (0.67). Although not replacing the usual gold standards for testing criterion validity, this approach may prove useful where these standards are unavailable. As this includes much of the developing world, this could result in more accurate mental health assessments among populations for whom this has hitherto not been possible.

The use of Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) as a predictor for success or failure on part I of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Test.

INTRODUCTION: The need for each chiropractic student to pass the National Chiropractic Board of Examiners (NCBE) exams is of great importance in their educational process. To date, no literature has evaluated the effectiveness of any outcome in predicting the success or failure on the NCBE exams. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) was developed to assess students' learning and studying strategies. In this study, the LASSI and NCBE Part 1 scores and entering and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) were used to assess any correlations related to NCBE scores. METHODS: The LASSI was administered to a group of trimester-6 students at Texas Chiropractic College after their completion of Part 1 of NCBE exams. The scores were analyzed by computer and appropriate statistical procedures were performed. RESULTS: Moderately high correlations were found with NCBE scores and each component of the LASSI. There were also moderately high correlations found with the NCBE scores and cumulative GPAs. Low correlations were found with NCBE scores and entering GPAs. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the high correlation of NCBE scores and the LASSI scores, it is recommended that this test be introduced to first-trimester students and that follow-up correlations be performed with NCBE scores, GPAs and LASSI scores. An elective course for students that perform poorly on LASSI could be developed to aid students weak in study skills and strategies. The need for further studies includes the evaluation of students put through the LASSI and preparation course as it relates to their NCBE scores.

The abortion decision: fantasy processes.

This paper considers that features intrinsic to pregnancy and to an unwanted pregnancy/abortion decision heighten the likelihood of the occurrence, and the importance, of fantasy in the decision-maker's thinking. In addition, investigation of fantasy or non-rational processes in an abortion decision emphasizes the complexity of decision-making in a way which may challenge ideas of decision-making in general. The results of a pilot study using a short fantasy inventory with 20 women facing an abortion decision are presented to highlight fantasy, not as irrational or pathological, but as legitimately coexisting with logical, reasoning, non-fantasy thought in the abortion decision. The clinical value of the fantasy inventory is explored.

The Relaxation Inventory: self-report scales of relaxation training effects.

The development of a self-report measure to assess the effects of relaxation training was examined. A rigorous statistical method of scale construction consisting of a modification of the scale discrimination technique was employed, resulting in a 45-item questionnaire representing three orthogonally derived scales. The three scales, Physiological Tension, Physical Assessment, and Cognitive Tension, demonstrated adequate internal consistency with KR20 reliability coefficients of .89, .95, and .81, respectively. In a second study of predictive validity, 40 individuals were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: relaxation training, tension inducement, pre-postcontrol, or postcontrol. Univariate analysis of variance indicated significant findings for each of the three dimensions of the inventory. The Physiological Tension Scale detected significant increases in tension following tension inducement, whereas the Physical Assessment Scale and Cognitive Tension Scale detected increases in relaxation following relaxation training. Recommendations were made for future research on the inventory.