Moral reasoning and consistency of belief and behavior: decisions about substance abuse

In view of implications of Kohlberg's theory of moral development, two hypotheses were considered in two independent studies: a) individuals who consider the use of potentially harmful substances to be morally wrong will be less likely to use such substances than peers who view such activities as a personal choice; and b) compared to those who are less mature, more mature moral reasoners display more consistency between their expressed beliefs about the morality of drug use and their reports of actual drug use. Two samples of college students, 29 men and 59 women in Study 1 and 46 men and 100 women in Study 2, served as participants. All completed questionnaires about their use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs and their beliefs about the morality of using these substances. Participants in Study 2 also responded to the Defining Issues Test (DIT) to assess their level of moral thinking. Results from Study 1 supported hypothesis (a). Findings from Study 2 supported hypotheses (a) and (b).     

Testing the modernization hypothesis and the socialist ideology hypothesis: a comparative sibling analysis of educational attainment and occupational status

In this study, we present a comparative sibling analysis. This enables us to test two major social mobility hypotheses, i.e. the modernization hypothesis and the socialist ideology hypothesis. We employ survey data on brothers in England, Hungary, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, and the USA, covering a historical period from 1916 till 1990. Results show that the effects of parental social class on educational attainment are smaller in technologically advanced societies, and that the effects of parental social class on occupational status are smaller in social-democratic and communist societies. In addition, the total family impact on occupational status declines with modernization. But overall, we observe that the family of origin has not lost its importance for its sons' educational attainment and occupational status yet.     

Evolution of the professional contingent workforce

The market for professional contingent workers (PCW) has evolved into one of the fastest growing segments of the temporary labor force in the socalled “new economy.” To better understand the evolution and success of the professional contingent market, I utilize a new paradigm. Three dimensions are added: First, supplyside characteristics among PCW are analyzed in aggregation. Second, the role and market contribution of intermediaries, such as staffing groups, are stipulated. Finally, interaction among the parties—PCW, staffing groups, and client firms—is viewed as symbiotic. Within the structural framework established by client firms and staffing groups, PCW create value and scale economies for all parties. Empirical results confirm the hypothesis that PCW professionalism assures the vitality of the market.     

Insulin resistance and management of the menopause: a clinical hypothesis in practice

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with a number of metabolic abnormalities including glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and central obesity (the metabolic syndrome), which predispose to cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and some cancers. The incidence of many of these conditions increases after the menopause, a time when IR also increases. Medical intervention to help alleviate menopausal symptoms, frequently vasomotor in origin, usually involves hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but some women may only experience partial symptom relief. We have hypothesized that this may be due to concurrent IR. Our approach is therefore to manage menopausal symptoms in conjunction with the treatment of any concurrent IR, achieved through a combination of hormone replacement, dietary intervention and, if necessary, an insulin sensitizer. We suggest that this approach may not only improve symptom relief but may also reduce the risk of developing more serious health complaints in the future.     

College Students and Condom Attitude: Validation of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS)

Abstract

Objective: Sexually transmitted infections and the human immunodeficiency virus incidence rates remain high among college-aged individuals. This study examined the validity and reliability of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS). Participants: Participants were recruited from a large midwestern university during February and March 2009. Methods: Data were collected using in-class data collection with a test–retest design from undergraduate courses. A total of 442 surveys were collected during initial testing and 421 during retesting. Results: Reliability assessments indicated a sufficient Cronbach's alpha for the total scale (α = .805) and each subscale: affective (α = .790), perceived effectiveness (α = .795), and manageability (α = .751). Further analyses provide evidence of construct validity. Conclusions: The study reaffirmed the psychometric properties of the MFACS among a sample of college students. The MFACS provides a contemporary way to examine condom attitudes as sexual health research is moving beyond only disease prevention efforts.     

Psychotherapy,Architecture and the Postmodern Attitude. An Essay

For all its faddishness, postmodernism as a set of ideas and as an attitude has much to offer contemporary psychotherapy. These ideas and attitudes are briefly outlined and their application to psychotherapy practice elaborated and illustrated with reference to postmodern design.     

Assaultive behavior: know the risks.

1. Violence in our society is an increasing national concern, and violence in health-care settings reflects this trend. Assaultive episodes continue to increase in health-care settings due to various cultural, sociological, and political factors. 2. Present administrative and educational solutions to the problems of assault have failed to decrease the incidence and, in fact, may contribute to the increasing number of assaultive episodes. 3. Psychiatric staff can reduce incidence of assault by recognizing the risk factors and designing styles and interventions with these factors in mind. 4. Risks most often associated with assault are history of assault, diagnosis of dementia or organic brain disorder, intoxication from drugs or alcohol, and from the characteristics of the milieu and treatment itself.     

Differentiation of capital and international labor migration: constructing a working hypothesis

Various studies on trends in international labor migration are first reviewed. A hypothesis is then constructed to explain international labor migration in terms of the differentiation of capital. An important distinction is made between the oligopoly capital and non-oligopoly capital of industrialized countries (core states): non-oligopoly capital needs migrant workers, whereas oligopoly capital tends to go abroad and employs the labor it needs in less developed countries (peripheral states). The hypothesis is tested using data for European industrialized and semi-industrialized countries. Suggestions for further research projects are given.     

It's All a Matter of Attitude

Abstract

Studies have consistently documented an incidence rate of between 25% and 50% for domestic violence in gay and lesbian relationships. These numbers suggest that the gay and lesbian community is dealing with a significant mental health issue, one that is not being adequately addressed. If mental health professionals can be taught ways to assess for domestic violence in their work with sexual minorities, those persons being abused can learn strategies for ensuring their physical safety.     

With a little help from an anchor: Discussion and evidence of anchoring effects in contingent valuation

Contingent valuation enjoys increasing popularity among transport, environmental and health economists, though the method has often been criticized. We discuss the main points of controversy, with a focus on anchoring effects. Available literature indicates that higher ambiguity, lower familiarity, relevance or involvement with the problem, a more trustworthy source and a more plausible bid tend to be associated with stronger anchoring effects. In two studies among informal caregivers we found that respondents use all sorts of anchors when eliciting their value of time. We end with a discussion of the substantive significance of CV for economics.     

Attitude towards a redistribution of income

This article reports on some data from a pilot study which surveyed the attitude of the active male Flemish population towards a redistribution of income. A simple linear regression model based upon the average ratings of actual and fair incomes of twelve occupations is presented. The model allows to calculate for each subject how much redistribution he favors, the extent to which he wants to alter the income structure, and the reference point he uses to determine which incomes have to moderate and which have not to. Some results are presented and discussed. Subjects tend to favor some degree of income leveling, however without affecting the income structure.