Toward an integration of ecological psychology and industrial psychology: Undermanning theory,organization size,and job enrichment

The research on the effects of organization size and subunit size on participants' attitudes and behavior is reviewed from industrial psychology and ecological psychology perspectives. It is suggested that conceptualizing organization or subunit size in terms of Barker's undermanning theory is a more heuristic approach than traditional methods employed by industrial researchers. Moreover, undermanning theory is shown to possess similar assumptions as job enrichment strategies in terms of its effects on organizational behavior. A theoretical model integrating these two theories is presented and discussed.     

Framing and Temporality in Political Cartoons: A Critical Analysis of Visual News Discourse*

Les caricatures politiques constituent une forme visuelle du discours des médias. Les sociologues rejettent généralement leur valeur idéologique en raison du fait qu'elles offrent aux lecteurs des exposés absurdes des conditions du « problème » putatif et ne doivent pas être prises au pied de la lettre. Toutefois, c'est par l'humour que les caricatures se sont emparées du bon sens et l'ont renfoncé, et par conséquent ont permis au public de classifier, d'organiser et d'inter‐préter activement ce qu'ils perçoivent ou vivent relativement à l'actu‐alité dans le monde à un moment donné de façon significative. Dans le cadre des théories interactionnistes de Goffman et de Mead, deux caricatures illustrant la dernière « crise » des « vagues d'immigration » déferlant au Canada seront étudiées. Political cartoons are a form of visual news discourse. Sociologists normally dismiss their ideological import on the grounds that cartoons simply offer newsreaders absurd accounts of putative “problem” conditions and are not likely to be taken very seriously. Nevertheless, it is through comedic conventions that cartoons seize upon and reinforce common sense and thus enable the public to actively classify, organize and interpret in meaningful ways what they see or experience about the world at a given moment. Informed by the interactionist theories of Goffman and Mead, two cartoons illustrating the recent “crisis” of “migrant waves” to Canada will be examined.     

“Kids and Fires Are No Match”: Fire and Trauma Prevention for Teen Parents

The purpose of this work was to adapt findings from current research into a clinical intervention. A structured, prevention oriented presentation/discussion was developed along with a brief pre and post test measurement tool. The intervention goal was to help teen parents (N = 124), from high schools and job training centers, focus on the preventive issues of fire safety and trauma prevention for themselves and their children after a difficult life event. Findings included a significant increase (<.001) from pre to post test on intent to make their homes fire safe and to understand the importance of emotional support for themselves and their children at differing developmental ages. Unexpectedly, the comparison group of 81 adults from community programs, though starting with higher scores (p < .01) also showed significant improvement (p < .001) on these measures. It is important for social workers to adapt clinical research findings for dissemination.     

Using Integrated Geospatial Mapping and Conceptual Site Models to Guide Risk-Based Environmental Clean-Up Decisions

Government and private sector organizations are increasingly turning to the use of maps and other visual models to provide a depiction of environmental hazards and the potential risks they represent to humans and ecosystems. Frequently, the graphic presentation is tailored to address a specific contaminant, its location and possible exposure pathways, and potential receptors. Its format is usually driven by the data available, choice of graphics technology, and the audience being served. A format that is effective for displaying one contaminant at one scale at one site, however, may be ineffective in accurately portraying the circumstances surrounding a different contaminant at the same site, or the same contaminant at a different site, because of limitations in available data or the graphics technology being used. This is the daunting challenge facing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is responsible for the nation's legacy wastes from nuclear weapons research, testing, and production at over 100 sites in the United States. In this article, we discuss the development and use of integrated geospatial mapping and conceptual site models to identify hazards and evaluate alternative long-term environmental clean-up strategies at DOE sites located across the United States. While the DOE probably has the greatest need for such information, the Department of Defense and other public and private responsible parties for many large and controversial National Priority List or Superfund sites would benefit from a similar approach.     

A Terror Management Perspective on Ageism

In the present article, we present a theoretical perspective on ageism that is derived from terror management theory. According to the theory, human beings manage deeply-rooted fears about their vulnerability to death through symbolic constructions of meaning and corresponding standards of value. We extend this perspective to suggest that elderly individuals present an existential threat for the non-elderly because they remind us all that: (a) death is inescapable, (b) the body is fallible, and (c) the bases by which we may secure self-esteem (and manage death anxiety) are transitory. We review some recent empirical evidence in support of these ideas and then discuss possible avenues for combating ageism.     

A multitrait-multimethod investigation of interpersonal distance

Prior research has investigated the validity of interpersonal distance measures with respect to only one trait — comfort. This study expanded the previous research by measuring interpersonal distance along the trait dimensions of comfort, control and privacy. In addition, measures were taken along three different measurement techniques: stop distance, silhouette placement, and a paper and pencil measure (CID). The results were interpreted in terms of a multitrait-multimethod matrix. Results indicated that these measures were reliable and valid and the traits did have convergent validity. However, all of these measures were uncorrelated with a disguised distance measure of interpersonal distance.     

The construction of a model of the process of couples' forgiveness in emotion-focused therapy for couples

This study explored how forgiveness unfolds in the context of emotion-focused couples therapy (EFT-C) in eight cases of women betrayed by their partners. Forgiveness was defined as a process involving the reduction in negative feelings and the giving out of undeserved compassion. This was measured by changes in the pre- and posttreatment scores on the Enright Forgiveness Inventory, the Unfinished Business Resolution Scale, and a single item directly asking respondents to indicate their degree of forgiveness. A task analysis was performed to rigorously track the steps leading to forgiveness using videotapes of therapy sessions for eight couples. The performance of the four couples who forgave were compared with each other and then contrasted with the performance of another four couples who did not reach forgiveness at the end of therapy. Based on these observations, a model of the process of forgiveness in EFT-C and a process rating system were developed.     

Broadening the definition of environmental equity: A framework for states and local governments

We propose a framework for evaluating environmental inequity that includes desirable and undesirable characteristics. We also propose that state governments conduct the evaluations and that the local government scale (boroughs, cities, and townships) be the first scale analyzed. This framework recognizes the critical role of the state and local governments in the American federalist system. The 567 local governments of the State of New Jersey are used to illustrate the framework. Results of these analyses should be used to make initial decisions about local governments that warrant investigation at the neighborhood scale and preliminary, though not necessarily, final decisions about local governments and neighborhoods that deserve relief. We identify three important issues that each state will need to confront: selecting and weighting characteristics for analysis; choosing the most appropriate geographical units to use as a basis for decisions; and developing a process that will not be misused by groups seeking to avoid responsibility for their actions.     

Age and gender differences in the well-being of midlife and aging parents with children with mental health or developmental problems: report of a national study

Using data from the Study of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), this article examines: (1) the effect of having children with developmental or mental health problems on parents' mental and physical health, (2) the extent to which this effect varies by parental age and gender and (3) the effects of disability-related factors on the well-being of parents of children with disabilities. Compared to parents of non-disabled children, parents of disabled children experienced significantly higher levels of negative affect, marginally poorer psychological well-being, and significantly more somatic symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic variables. Mothers did not differ from fathers in their well-being. Older parents were significantly less likely to experience the negative effect of having a disabled child than younger parents, suggesting an age-related attenuation of the stress of non-normative parenting.     

Personality and community prevention teams: Dimensions of team leader and member personality predicting team functioning

The predictors and correlates of positive functioning among community prevention teams have been examined in a number of research studies; however, the role of personality has been neglected. In this study, we examined whether team member and leader personality dimensions assessed at the time of team formation predicted local prevention team functioning 2.5–3.5 years later. Participants were 159 prevention team members in 14 communities participating in the PROSPER study of prevention program dissemination. Three aspects of personality, aggregated at the team level, were examined as predictors: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. A series of multivariate regression analyses were performed that accounted for the interdependency of five categories of team functioning. Results showed that average team member Openness was negatively, and Conscientiousness was positively linked to team functioning. The findings have implications for decisions about the level and nature of technical assistance support provided to community prevention teams.