An Examination of the Attitudes Underlying Sexual Coercion Among Acquaintances

Summary

Analyses of rape-supportive attitudes, with few exceptions, have not included conceptual or operational definitions of attitudes, and analysts have not explicitly examined the affective, cognitive, and behavioral components of attitudes toward rape. The purposes of the present article are to (a) use a social psychological framework for the analysis of attitudes toward rape and (b) examine the usefulness of distinguishing between the affective and cognitive components of attitudes toward rape. Three studies are presented. In Study 1, items from 14 published attitudes-toward-rape scales were categorized as affective, cognitive, or behavioral. Results revealed that 1.1% of the items were identified as behavioral; 52.2% of the items were categorized as cognitive and 46.7% as affective. Secondary analyes of published data revealed the respondents reported more disagreement with affectively-based rape attitude items than cogintively-based rape attitude items. In study 2, we further examined the distinction between affective and cognitive components of attitudes using Burt'S (1980) Rape Myth Acceptance Scale. Data collected from college men confirmed the affective-cognitive distinction. Furthermore, affectively-based attitudes, but not cognitively-based attitudes, were correlated with level of self-reported sexual coercion. In Study 3, we compared affective and cognitive components using a factor-analytically derived attitude measure. These analyses replicated the findings from Study 2. Together, these results support the importance of attending to the separate components of attitudes. In particular, the affective component of attitudes toward rape may have more predictive utility than the cognitive component.     

Adult-child activities and child development outcomes in developing countries: an empirical investigation in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Is doing activities with young children important for their development? This study aims to examine the effects of adult-child activities on cognitive and non-cognitive development in pre-school children in developing countries by using Thailand as a case study. The adult-child activities of interest are reading, storytelling, singing, outings, and playing. Using national representative secondary data on children aged 3–4 years from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS4) of Thailand, our results show that while the level of children‘s participation in these activities is relatively high compared to other developing countries, the proportion of children with “normal” cognitive and non-cognitive development is still low. We find that only singing, outings, and playing have positive statistical effects for children who live with both parents (with playing having the highest positive effect), but for children who do not live with both parents or live with others, the positive effect remains only for singing. On the other hand, storytelling, singing, and outings seems to have statistically significant positive effects for non-cognitive outcomes among children who live with both parents (with outings having the highest positive effect). No activities have statistically significant effects on non-cognitive development of children who do not live with both parents. The recommendations call for greater attention on advocating adult-child activities in the context of developing countries.     

Quality Assessment Study of Brief Psychotherapy at a University HMO Setting

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a short-term psychotherapy (four to fifteen sessions) quality assessment study conducted at the University of Massachusetts Mental Health Service. The outcome measures devised and the process of their administration are described. The positive outcome results of this study are encouraging and supportive of the impression that high quality brief psychotherapy can be provided at university counseling services. Student and health maintenance organization (HMO) member consumer evaluation opinions were positive and their utilization of services was found to be psychologically sophisticated and appropriate. A frequency table lists the most common presenting problems of this population. Practical modifications are suggested for future quality assessment research of brief psychotherapy.     

“Try to make it seem like we're regular kids”: Youth perceptions of restrictiveness in out-of-home care

While there are several measures of living environment restrictiveness, none has used the youth perspective in conceptualizing and operationalizing restrictiveness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain the perspectives of child welfare involved youth who have lived in out-of-home care. Using focus group methodology, 40 youth were asked to define restriction and give examples of how it is operationalized in practice. Youth defined restriction as “rules”. The rules were about what youth can do, where they can go, who they can be with and how and with whom they can communicate. These rules were primarily characterized as inconsistent, arbitrary, non-individualized and developmentally inappropriate, although some characterized them as beneficial in the long term. Rules were mostly attributed to adult need for power and avoidance of legal responsibility for the youths. Typical feelings about the rules were anger, resentment, feeling labeled, isolated and stigmatized. Relationships influenced perceptions: within a positive relationship, youth understood and tolerated the rules that limited independence. The perception of what were normal restrictions for other youth not in out-of-home care was another influencing factor. These findings are examined in light of cognitive and affective development in adolescence. Recommendations for improving the measurement of living environment restrictiveness as well as enhancing child welfare services are proposed.     

The impact of para-professional social workers and community health care workers in Côte d'Ivoire: Contributions to the protection and social support of vulnerable children in a resource poor country

BackgroundResearch indicates a disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan African countries, leading to many vulnerable families and children. Many of these communities have limited resources to support these vulnerable families, especially orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).Study aims and objectiveThis study set out to investigate how para-professional social workers and community health workers (PSWCHW) impact the provision of services and the psychosocial wellbeing and protection of vulnerable children in the community.MethodsThis quasi-experimental research study used data from an independent Save the Children program evaluation study in Côte d'Ivoire. We compared the health and psychosocial wellbeing of identified vulnerable children supported by para-professionals (n = 334) and children not receiving para-professional support (n = 213).FindingsSupport services and activities provided by PSWCHW included encouraging the children to be part of psychosocial support groups. Many of the children reported legal issues that ranged from getting a birth certificate issued to fighting or quarrelling with adults, disputes, public insults, beatings, and refusing to go to school. We found that the engagement of PSWCHW helped three out of four children go to school (compared to only one in four of the children without PSWCHW). PSWCHW also helped the children improve access to health care services.ConclusionsCommunities in sub-Saharan Africa should continue to consider the integrated utilization of para-professional social workers and community health care workers to support and improve psychosocial wellbeing of orphaned and vulnerable children which, in turn, enhances child protection services and access to healthcare.     

Investigating feasibility and fidelity of the Parenting Young Children program in Sweden

Specific aimsThis study explored feasibility and fidelity of an education program for parents with intellectual disability. The Australian Parenting Young Children intervention was translated and adapted for support workers in the Swedish social services.MethodFidelity was examined using implementation diaries tracking frequency of implementation of program activities and teaching approaches ((over 14 months, completed by 27 support workers from 15 municipalities). Eighteen of these support workers and their managers (n = 12) completed questionnaires examining feasibility using Roger’s concepts of program compatibility and complexity.FindingsResults showed that implementation of Parenting Young Children was feasible, with overall positive attitudes to Evidence Based Practice, good program compatibility, low perceived program complexity, and high satisfaction with implementation support. The fidelity measures suggest problems in how the program is used by some support workers: parents received less than the recommended number of sessions and activities such as observation of parents and follow up, were infrequently used by support workers.DiscussionThe findings raise questions about how program support and education should be provided. Difficulties in defining fidelity within the flexibility of the Parenting Young Children program are also discussed.     

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The impact of Christmas rituals on subjective well-being and family's emotional climate

Abstract

This study assessed subjective well-being before and after Christmas and New Year holidays. In contradiction to lay beliefs about these holidays, stress and conflict caused by its experience was weak, while participation in rituals was high and satisfactory, and positive emotions were dominant. High frequency of participation in ritualised family celebrations increased positive well-being: satisfaction with life, perceived social well-being, and the balance of affective well-being. Satisfaction with rituals had an impact on positive affect, satisfaction with life and positive family climate, while participation frequency was more relevant for social support and lower loneliness level. Conflict experienced during Christmas increased negative affect and negative emotional family climate, while it undermined positive affect, satisfaction with life and social well-being.     

Political Literacy or a ‘Sentimental Education'?—Programmes for coexistence in Israeli Schools

This article describes the provision of activities to promote co‐existence between Arabs and Jews in Israel, specifically in the secondary school sector. In examining patterns of change in this area it becomes clear that student and teacher participation in the activities has been determined by several main variables, including the level of political violence in the society, with which there is a negative correlation, the peace process which has had a similarly strong positive influence on the uptake of coexistence activities; and the changing roles of government and non‐governmental organisations in this field. The article also examines the theories and ‘purposes’ underpinning the activities, as perceived by Israeli educationalists. The former can be located on a broad spectrum ranging from a ‘human relations’ approach, stressing the affective capacities of students, to a more explicitly political, cognitive approach. There are significantly fewer differences among the ‘purposes’: the specific skills which educationalists hope students will develop. Many skills considered central to co‐existence activities were common to both the ‘human relations’ and ‘political’ approaches. This indicated either a lack of communication between representatives of NGOs from whom the theories are developed and articulated and the teachers and schools who implement the programmes, or an ultimate mutual dependence between the affective and cognitive modes of conflict resolution.     

上海中心城区“十字轴”“申字型”商务区体系构架研究

近年来,随着上海大力推动现代服务业集聚区和生产性服务业功能区建设,中心城区的服务经济意识不断增强,借势发展各种商业商务集聚区的热情高涨,中心城区商务区出现了多元化发展布局态势。然而,由于各区县仍按“摊大饼”的传统理念对区域内商务区进行外延拓展,导致整个中心城区商务区体系缺乏层次性,相互间缺乏有效互动,并出现了形态相似、功能雷同和同质竞争等问题。因此,急需对中心城区的商务区体系构架进行深化研究和重新梳理。     

Chapter 12: Wells Fargo's Employee Assistance Consulting Model

Abstract

Wells Fargo and Company's Employee Assistance Consulting (EAC) is an established and successful internal corporate-based EAP that delivers organizationally congruent services to a diversified financial services company with 80+ businesses and over 146,000 team members. While some elements of traditional EAPs are evident in the services provided by this entity, EAC also provides highly specialized and customized consultations to its corporate partners, business group customers and employees. Using a highly integrated service model that aligns closely with the specific strategy and operations of each Wells Fargo business, EAC is an invited guest at many of the company's most influential tables. EAC collaboratively partners with senior and line management, Human Resources, the Employment Law Department, Disability Management (called WorkAbility at Wells Fargo) and Risk Management, Corporate Benefits, Corporate Security, Learning and Development, and others to provide leadership and organizational influence on such wide ranging issues as threat assessment and management, business incident management, workplace trauma, health and productivity, and organizational and employee effectiveness. This article describes proven methods and strategies for maximizing organizational influence and positioning EAP consultants as effective business partners.     

Trends in the occupations of eminent black entrepreneurs in the United States

This study analyzes the occupations of black Americans who have been nationally recognized for their business achievements. Data from renowned encyclopedic sources of biographical information show that occupational niches that arose because of racial segregation and limited opportunities for blacks to participate in the economic mainstream, such as personal services and undertaking, are no longer important routes into the “black business elite.” Yet, these data also suggest that, during the 20th century, entertainment, beauty products, and advertising became major pathways into this elite because of an opportunity structure that promoted blacks’ participation in these occupational niches yet restricted it in others, notably, in construction and manufacturing.     

Consumers as targets: Autonomy,accountability, and anticipation of the influence process

Given their limited financial resources, shoppers generally appreciate the practical necessities of resisting sales pitches and other promotional activities destined to entice them into inopportune purchases. At the same time, ventures into the marketplace represent practical necessities for nearly everyone as well as significant forms of entertainment (Prus and Dawson, 1991; Prus, 1993) for a great many people. This generates a series of interactional dilemmas for almost everyone in western society as they attempt to pursue their interests in conjunction with the salespeople they encounter. Building on data from a larger study of consumer practices, this paper considers the ways in which buyers attempt to maintain control over the lines of action they develop in potential purchasing contexts. In particular, attention is given to the ways in which people manage intimacy and distancing in shopping contexts by focusing on (a) people’s preferences for self-serve versus service settings and (b) shoppers anticipations as targets of the influence process.     

Activity Engagement in Residential Care Settings: Findings from the National Survey of Residential Care Facilities

Assisted living and similar residential care is an important source of care for elders, including those with dementia. Meaningful activities may help residents maintain function, improve self-esteem, and enhance quality of life. Using data from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities, this study identifies the extent of resident engagement in different types of activities; examines the extent to which cognitive status, other resident characteristics, and residential care community characteristics relate to activity engagement; and, among cognitively impaired residents, assesses whether being in dementia-specific settings is associated with activity engagement. Compared with persons without cognitive impairment, those with severe cognitive impairment are less likely to go on outings (79% versus 36%) and talk with family and friends (85% versus 72%). Residents with mild to severe cognitive impairment have higher participation in leisure activities than other residents if they live in dementia-specific settings (73% higher) than those who do not.     

What inhibits the mere-exposure effect: Recollection or familiarity?

The mere-exposure effect is the formation of a positive affective reaction (PAR) to repeated or single exposure to a stimulus, even in the absence of awareness. The mere-exposure effect indicates that communication effects go beyond “explicit memory”, measured with the traditional measures of (aided) recall and recognition. “Implicit memory” indicates latent communication effects, e.g., liking, for persons exposed to particular stimuli. The mere-exposure effect in the absence of awareness represents implicit memory. In this study, the mere-exposure effect is observed by using a new type of divided-attention method with Chinese participants responding to Chinese characters. The prediction by the two-factor model of mere-exposure effect is confirmed. Recognition (“explicit memory”) may inhibit the mere-exposure effect. Recognition memory is a dual process with two aspects: recollection and familiarity. Employing the process dissociation procedure (PDP) (Jacoby, L.L., 1991. Journal of Memory and Language 30, 513–541), it is found that familiarity of above-chance recognition is greater than that of chance recognition. It is the high level of familiarity and not recollection of abovechance recognition that inhibits the mere-exposure effect. The implications of these findings are that a high level of familiarity inhibits the primary affective reaction and “replaces” this reaction with a more conscious and cognitive evaluation. With the two-factor model, with wear-in (habituation) and wear-out (satiation) factors, the optimal level of exposure may be determined in order to increase the affective reaction. The study shows the robustness of the mere-exposure effect, also for familiar stimuli.     

Does performance management affect nurses’ well-being?

AimThis article focuses on employee performance-management practices in the healthcare sector. We specifically aim to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of employee performance-management practices on affective well-being of nurses in hospitals. Theory suggests that the features of employee-performance management (planning and evaluation of individual performances) predict affective well-being (in this study: job satisfaction and affective commitment).MethodsPerformance-management planning and evaluation and affective well-being were drawn from a survey of nurses at a Flemish hospital. Separate estimations were performed for different aspects of affective well-being.ResultsPerformance planning has a negative effect on job satisfaction of nurses. Both vertical alignment and satisfaction with the employee performance-management system increase the affective well-being of nurses; however, the impact of vertical alignment differs for different aspects of affective well-being (i.e. job satisfaction and affective commitment).ConclusionPerformance-management planning and evaluation of nurses are associated with attitudinal outcomes. The results indicate that employee performance-management features have different impacts on different aspects of well-being.     

Women's Perceptions of Alcohol-Related Sexual Disinhibition: Personality and Sexually-Related Alcohol Expectancies

ABSTRACT

Scales assessing attitude toward condoms typically focus on their use for a specific context or outcome (sexually transmitted diseases/HIV prevention or pregnancy prevention) and not the characteristics of a condom itself. To assess the psychometrics of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale, data from 1,832 U.S. men were analyzed. Internal consistency was acceptable (α= .816) with three factors accounting for 61.44% of the variance (affective, perceived effectiveness, and manageability). Additional validity assessments demonstrated construct validity for this new attitude toward condoms scale that focuses on the properties of the condom and not a specific behavioral or outcome-focused context.     

The social control of big business

Viewed from a conflict perspective, governmental agencies are tools of power and privilege. Subservient to powerful economic interest groups, regulatory agencies are claimed to exercise little, if any, effective control over the activities of big business.

Four hypotheses derived from a conflict perspective on the social control of big business are set forth: (1) less social control is exercised over big business than small business; (2) since the onset of the consumer movement, big business has been more frequently sanctioned; (3) over time big business “captures” regulatory agencies which results in a general decrease in the percentage of social control efforts directed toward big business; and (4) when big business is sanctioned, the smaller, less powerful of those businesses are sanctioned.

In this study the pattern of sanctioning of big business by a major federal regulatory agency is examined. Specifically, data on the issuance of cease and desist orders to business enterprises by the Federal Trade Commission over a twenty‐three year span of time are analyzed. The implications of the findings for each of the four hypotheses and for conflict theory in general are discussed.     

Experiential Exercises for the Development of Computer Literacy Among Social Work Undergraduates

Summary

This paper describes exercises and assignments used to promote computer literacy among social work undergraduates. These exercises were used as course assignments in an elective course for seniors, “Information Technology and Human Services.” Exercises met four criteria: (1) they assume no previous computer experience or knowledge, (2) they are directly related to human services practice, (3) they promote mutual support, (4) they are experiential. Exercises include use of word processing, database, spreadsheet, electronic mail, privacy invasion, shopping for a computer system, and impact of information technology on the larger society.

The potential placement of computer literacy exercises in the social work curriculum is discussed. It is suggested that a single experiential course best meets the need for promoting computer literacy among social work students.     

Entertainment-education of altruistic behaviors: an empirical study of the effects of the narrative persuasion of a nature conservation film

Research on entertainment and education has shown positive results in testing the persuasive effects of entertainment programs on a variety of prosocial issues. However, as an altruism-centric, prosocial topic, nature conservation has been largely ignored and little investigated. This study empirically tested the persuasive effects of Fly Away Home (dir. Ballard, 1996), a feature film with a nature conservation theme, on attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the environment. The results of the experiment indicated that altruistic behavior could be promoted through narrative entertainment. Regarding the persuasive mechanisms of transportation and identification, that is, the involvement with narratives and characters, this study found that transportation was significantly associated with identification, which was then significantly associated with attitudes to conservation and subsequent behavioral intentions. Although this research is somewhat inconsistent with the extended elaboration likelihood model on which it is based, a possible, direct influence of narrative transportation was fully mediated by the results, which showed identification with the main character. Nevertheless, future entertainment-education research should investigate an expanded range of applications and include pro-environmental behaviors as a topic for public education.     

The elementary-school functioning of children with maltreatment histories and mild cognitive or behavioral disabilities: A mixed methods inquiry

This mixed methods inquiry examined the school functioning of elementary school-aged children with maltreatment histories and mild cognitive or behavioral disabilities. Quantitative analyses of linked social service and education administrative data bases of 10,394 children in Minnesota with maltreatment histories indicated that 32% were eligible for special education services. Of those children with maltreatment histories and identified disabilities, 73% had mild cognitive or behavioral disabilities. The most frequent primary disabilities categories were specific learning disabilities (33%) and emotional/behavioral disabilities (27%). Children with maltreatment histories and mild cognitive or behavioral disabilities scored significantly below children with maltreatment histories and no identified disabilities on standardized assessments of math and reading, and this gap increased with grade level for math. Qualitative interviews with 22 child welfare professionals and 15 educators suggested why some children with maltreatment histories, especially those with mild cognitive or behavioral disabilities, struggle in school. Risks to school functioning included children's and families' multiple unmet basic and mental health needs which can mask or overshadow children's mild disabilities; poor cross systems collaboration between child welfare, education and mental health systems; and inadequate funding, especially for mental health services. Protective factors included child engagement in school, parent engagement with child welfare services and a professional culture of cross-systems collaboration. Implications are discussed for holistic child, family and system-level interventions.