Is Autism a Preventable Disorder of Verbal Behavior? A Response to Five Commentaries

The Analysis of Verbal Behavior - This paper presents a response to five commentaries on our article An Analysis of Autism as a Contingency-Shaped Disorder of Verbal Behavior (Drash &...     

Incarceration and the Formation and Stability of Marital Unions

Rising imprisonment rates and declining marriage rates among low‐education African Americans motivate an analysis of the effects of incarceration on marriage. An event history analysis of 2,041 unmarried men from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth suggests that men are unlikely to marry in the years they serve in prison. A separate analysis of 2,762 married men shows that incarceration during marriage significantly increases the risk of divorce or separation. We simulate aggregate marriage rates using estimates from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and find that the prevalence of marriage would change little if incarceration rates were reduced.     

Fertility and economic activity of women in Guatemala city, 1964

Data from a five percent census sample reveal that in Guatemala City in 1964 economically active women, especially domestic servants, had lower cumulative fertility than inactive women, partly because larger proportions of them had never married and were childless. However, even among ever married mothers there was a substantial differential, which was not due to differences in age at first birth. With respect to all women, cross tabulation and regression analysis show that age, marital status and educational attainment were more strongly associated with fertility than was activity status, but the latter also had a significant net association. Selection for sterility was not likely. Being contrary to expectations expressed in the literature, the very low fertility of the domestics received further attention. Live-in domestics had considerably lower fertility than those who lived out, which was also the case in the United States in 1960. These data and other evidence strongly suggest that this differential is due to a widespread employer preference for single or childless women. The concept of role incompatibility is therefore inapplicable to domestic servants. These findings add to the considerable evidence showing lower fertility among economically active women in large urban places in Latin America.     

The impact of urbanization on construction minerals

Construction minerals (sand, gravel and crushed stone used in the production of concrete) are among our most plentiful mineral resources by volume. Increasing quantities of these materials are required for construction within urban areas. However, continuing and accelerating suburbanization is rapidly making unusable deposits of these minerals due to zoning and other restrictions. In addition, the low intrinsic value of mineral aggregates and their bulkiness make the economics of the industry extremely sensitive to location. Mathematical programming is used to investigate the economic impact of urbanization on the production and distribution of construction minerals.     

Health: A cross-cultural examination of gender and marital status

An examination of the literature implies that being single is not a healthy situation. However, there appears to be disagreement as to whether this finding holds for both males and females. A probability-proportionate-to-size cluster sample of 400 households was drawn from the Dayton Metropolitan area, and a questionnaire about health and civil status was administered. The study was replicated in Australia and New Zealand. A summary of 12 stress-related items reveals that a divorced person is more likely to note feelings of worry, worthlessness, guilt, despondency, and loneliness than a married person. This held true cross-culturally. It is the divorced who are most likely to be involved in suicide thoughts and attempts. Getting drunk once per week or more is largely a singles (as well as a male) prerogative; however, it is more likely to be a never married rather than the divorced person. Overall, the findings indicate that marriage is good for both sexes but seemingly more so for males.     

A test of Wheeler’s closed-offer arbitration system: An experimental study

This study investigates the impact of two alternative forms of arbitration — conventional arbitration and final-offer arbitration — and whether or not prearbitration bargaining information is available to the arbitrator on negotiation behavior and outcomes. Contrary to Wheeler’s prediction, participants anticipating closed-offer arbitration neither conceded more nor reached more settlements than did participants anticipating open-offer arbitration. Participants anticipating final-offer arbitration made a greater final concession than did participants anticipating conventional arbitration.     

Countertransference issues for the consultant when a colleague is critically ill (or dying)

This report illustrates how countertransference issues emerged for a consultant therapist whose guidance about practice was sought by an ill and dying colleague. The detechment necessary for consultation was difficult to maintain. Denial, avoidance, and isolation operated for both. Ambivalence about directive behavior developed. Unexpressed grief, shock, feelings of inadequacy, and identification with the colleague intruted but were managed. The occurrence of such countertransference phenomena can be anticipated and understood in a consultation process that represents one valuable, underutilized, and important means of encouraging quality clinical practice under extremely painful circumstances.