Scopolamine interacts with reactions to cat and genotypic emotional reactivity in rat.

In the presence or absence of a cat the effects of scopolamine hydrobromide were investigated on approach, freezing and defecation behaviors of the bidirectionally selectively bred rat strains for emotional reactivity. Compared to the baseline behavior (absence of cat and scopolamine), both the genetic lines showed decrease in approach and increase in freezing in the presence of cat. Scopolamine in the absence of cat did not affect any of the behaviors of the nonreactive strain but increased approach and decreased freezing in the reactive strain. The presence of both cat and scopolamine affected both the strains but differently, i.e., showing no significantly change in the nonreactive, but increase in freezing and decrease in approach in the reactive strain, as compared to the respective baselines.

Personality and injury in competitive runners.

6 injured and 15 non-injured male runners were approached following competitive road races. They were requested to complete Form A of the Sixteen Personality Factor Inventory (16 PF) as well as a questionnaire specifically designed to obtain responses concerning physical and training measures. The injured runners appeared less toughminded and less forthright than the non-injured runners. Injured runners were also heavier, taller, and ran more miles per week than non-injured runners.

Exercise and its effects on cognition and physiology in older adults.

A total of 114 adults between the ages of 50 and 80 yr. were recruited for a study of fitness. The participants were divided into Structured, Self-imposed, Social, and Nonexercise groups to reflect their levels of physical activity and then were compared on cognitive and physiological variables. Significant differences were noted for fear, assertiveness, depression, and percentage of body fat. Multiple discriminant analyses suggested that group membership could be predicted with 100% success for Structured exercisers compared to Social and Nonexercisers. However, predictability decreased when examining Structured and Self-imposed exercisers. One may infer that people who are more fearful, more assertive, and more depressed participated in exercise. Involvement in a 12-wk. exercise program significantly reduced depression and body-fat concentration.

Occupational stress and behavioral change.

For 25 secretaries employed at Laurentian University, scores on the MMPI Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire, Self-esteem Inventory, Jenkins Activity Survey, and Occupational Stress Questionnaires showed no significant change in behavior associated with occupational stress. Characteristics 'hard-driving' and 'speed-impatience' were predictors of Type A behavior.

Temporal lobe signs and reports of subjective paranormal experiences in a normal population: a replication.

Correlations (r = 0.50) were found between the numbers of different psi (paranormal) experiences and the numbers of temporal lobe signs within a population of university students (n = 99). The strongest correlation of 0.60 occurred with a cluster of signs that are similar to symptoms reported by patients who show chronic foci in the mesiobasal temporal lobe. However, there were no significant correlations between numbers of different psi experiences and clusters of control items or a lie scale. Specific analyses of the 140 items of the inventory indicated only 23 reached statistical criterion (p less than .001). Of these 17 were direct temporal lobe signs that implied deepened affect, auditory-vestibular experiences (vibrations, hearing one's name called), olfactory auras, perseveration ("forced" thinking), depersonalization, and sense of the personal. Five items involved beliefs about exotic phenomena or philosophical ideas. Only one item was from a control cluster. These results support the hypothesis that mystical or paranormal experiences are associated with transient electrical foci within the temporal lobe of the human brain. The repeated occurrence of these experiences within normal individuals may be embedded within a more complex symptomatology of temporal lobe signs.

Personality dynamics of adolescent boys where the father was absent.

The effects of substitute adult male role-models were examined for 60 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years. Significant mean differences were found on Depression, Hypochondriasis, and Suspiciousness scales of the MMPI and Guilt and Assaultiveness of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Interpretation of scores showed that fatherless boys who had substitute male role-models were similar in personality to boys with fathers. Adolescent boys without fathers and from lower socioeconomic families were significantly more similar in personality to young offenders.

Physical training and personality factors as predictors of marathon time and training injury.

On the basis of surveys completed by 105 male participants in a popular marathon, a multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables contributing significantly to the prediction of final time. Overall prediction was successful, with R = .896, and training pace was the most important factor in the equation, speedier workouts being associated with faster marathon times. Final time was also related positively to best 10-km race time in the previous 12 mo. and repression-sensitization (faster runners being more sensitized), and negatively to maximum number of training miles in a single week, number of previous marathons completed, and number of days of training lost through illness or injury. Contrary to expectations, locus of control was not related to final time. Only 27% of the runners had lost training time through injury, but a discriminant analysis showed that, compared to those who had avoided this problem, the injured were younger, rested less, ran less in the week prior to the marathon, ran a slightly longer long run but ran it earlier before the race, and ran fewer runs of 20 miles or more. It is suggested that researchers should study the repression-sensitization variable and investigate injury in runners preparing for a marathon.

Personality, peer influence, and use of alcohol and drugs by first-year university students.

A comparison of 42 male and 42 female first-year university students showed significant personality differences between the populations. Also, males were more influenced by their peers to drink alcohol than were females.

Personality differences of sex offenders referred for treatment.

Personalities of 64 sex offenders (rapists, molesters, and incestuous types) referred for treatment were compared. No significant differences on MMPI scores or IQ were noted among subgroups of molesters. Significant trait anxiety indicated that molesters of both males and females had higher anxiety than incestuous offenders. Also, a significant difference was noted on state anxiety; all groups decreased scores over treatment. A significant effect of brief therapy also occurred for trait anxiety. All groups but incestuous offenders decreased on trait anxiety over 5-wk. therapy. Male and female molester groups decreased in self-esteem whereas incestuous types and rapists increased in self-esteem. Implications are provided for these results.

Cognitive behaviour therapy and social skills training improves personality and cognition in incarcerated offenders.

Cognitive behavioural therapy was given to incarcerated offenders at a maximum security jail. Weekly sessions of 2 hr. were provided over a 5-wk. program for 34 general offenders and 19 sex offenders. The sessions were designed to teach inmates ways of restructuring faulty thinking and improving social skills. Analysis showed improvement in self-esteem and reduction in anxiety and aggressive traits.

Personality and criminal profile of adolescent sexual offenders, general offenders in comparison to nonoffenders.

16 adolescent male sex offenders and 13 general offenders were compared with 13 nonoffenders on psychometric tests to investigate differences in their general intelligence, personality, and criminal attitudes. There were no significant differences in general intelligence amongst the groups. Examination of personality scores and criminal attitudes showed that the sex offenders were more socially isolated, more assaultive, and more resentful than the general offenders. Present results, if replicated with larger samples, suggest treatment of adolescent sex offenders in a manner similar to that used in the treatment of adult sex offenders.

Management of anger and its effect on incarcerated assaultive and nonassaultive offenders.

Scores of inmates who had been incarcerated for assaultive offenses, property offenses, or a combination of offenses were compared on personality and intelligence inventories. Anger-management programming was given to 57 male offenders two hours per week over five weeks. Self-esteem, anxiety, and aggression, measured before and after the program, showed significant differences.

Type of housing and emotional health of senior citizens.

The present study examined the correlations among three housing conditions (detached unit, multiunit, institution) and scores for depression, self-esteem, and anxiety for 85 male and female senior citizens 50 years of age and older. Analyses indicated that men residing within an institution were significantly more depressed than those residing within detached homes and significantly more depressed than women in both situations. There were no significant differences associated with type of residence and measures of anxiety or self-esteem. Women in general showed more anxiety than men. Women residing within detached homes scored higher on guilt than men.

Brief cognitive behavioural therapy with male adolescent offenders in open custody or on probation: an evaluation of management of anger.

A 6-wk. cognitive behavioural program administered to 24 adolescent male offenders assigned to open custody and 5 to probation showed no mean differences on the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Significant correlations were found for the personality measures with pretreatment and posttreatment scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory.

Moral reasoning, interpersonal skills, and cognition of rapists, child molesters, and incest offenders.

54 inmates were subdivided into four groups and classified according to their index offense. The groups included Rapists (n = 14), Incest Offenders (n = 9), Child Molesters (n = 11), General Offenders (n = 20). Nonoffenders (n = 20) were included as a control group. Psychometric tests including the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, the Defining Issues Test, Survey of Interpersonal Values, Porteus Maze, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were administered to all inmate and control groups. Analysis showed the rapists and child molesters scored higher on moral reasoning on the Defining Issues Test; also rapists' scores were more elevated on the Psychopathic Deviate and Paranoia scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory than those of other offender and control groups. These results imply that rapists and child molesters have the ability to understand moral issues; however, given their personality orientation, they ignore these interpersonal social values.

Comparison of psychopathic and general offenders in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Short-term behavioral therapy was provided 28 psychopathic and 29 general offenders. Significant personality differences were found between groups of offenders and minimal changes in aggressiveness variables were observed over the course of treatment.

Risk factors in violent and nonviolent offenders.

Factors leading to risk for violence were evaluated in an offender population of 36 male offenders including 18 Violent, e.g., assault, threatening and 17 nonviolent (break and enter, theft), and 17 nonoffenders. Their scores on the Psychopathy Checklist Revised, Violence Risk Scale-Experimental Version 1, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168, and the Porteus Maze tests showed scores for the inmates with violent offenses were elevated on Psychopathic Deviate, Paranoia, Schizophrenia scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, violence risk of the Violence Risk Scale, showed psychopathic orientation on the Psychopathy Checklist Revised, and had a lower test age quotient score on the Porteus Maze test.