Scared selfish: a culture of fear’s values in the age of terrorism

In the Age of Terrorism fear becomes a constant companion. This is particularly true in a society already beset by a culture of fear. We explore some cognitive effects of fear induced by victimization to explain America’s reaction to the events of 9/11. Using reliable measures of value orientations we find that exposure to violence produces a shift in value orientations toward values that are more self-enhancing. America’s seemingly fractured state may be explained in part by this effect.     

301 Research topics from Skinner’s book Verbal Behavior

The Analysis of Verbal Behavior - Skinner’s (1957) analysis of verbal behavior addresses some of the most important issues in human behavior. However, relatively few of the analyses presented...     

Adolescent Problem Behavior in China and the United States: A Cross‐National Study of Psychosocial Protective Factors

An explanatory model of adolescent problem behavior (problem drinking, cigarette smoking, and general delinquency) based on protective and risk factors in the individual and in 4 social contexts (family, peer group, school, and neighborhood) is employed in school‐based samples from the People's Republic of China (N=1,739) and the United States (N=1,596). Despite lower prevalence of the problem behaviors in the Chinese sample, especially for girls, a substantial account of problem behavior is provided by the same protective and risk factors in both countries and for both genders. Protection is generally higher in the Chinese sample than in the U.S. sample, but in both samples protection also moderates the impact of risk. Despite mean differences in psychosocial protective and risk factors, as well as in problem behavior, in the 2 samples—differences that may reflect societal variation—the explanatory model has, to a large extent, cross‐national generality.     

A longitudinal study of newcomer role adjustment in US organizations

This paper examines the socialization and adjustment experiences of newcomers to organizations from a role stress perspective. A longitudinal field study is reported which tested a three-stage socialization model using physiological and psychological distress symptoms, general satisfaction, and intention to leave the organization as indicators of newcomer adjustment. Data were collected from newcomers (the focal role) (N = 91) at three times during me study and also from their supervisors (the role senders) (N = 41). While the data confirmed the general utility of the model, it also suggested some revisions by way of new and altered pathways between some of the variables.     

Prevalence studies and the development of services for problem gamblers and their families

Where funded by government, prevalence studies have typically led to the development of services for problem gamblers and their families. Such assessments of the need for services have been seen as the appropriate political response to growing expressions of concern about problem gambling that often follow moves to legislate for an increasing range of gambling products. This theme is apparent for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. In this paper, initiatives in these different jurisdictions are briefly summarized and tabulated.     

Problem behaviors,substance abuse and sexual abuse in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents with bulimia nervosa

Twenty-eight adolescent bulimics were compared to 201 psychiatrically hospitalized non-eating disordered patients. Non-eating disordered patients were found to be reliably more aggressive, delinquent, and under-controlled than patients with bulimia nervosa. Sexual abuse was found to be less prevalent among bulimic adolescents than comparison adolescents. No significant between group differences were achieved on any measure of alcohol/drug abuse. The behavioral profiles of substance abusing bulimics were highly similar to those of non-eating disordered patients. Three months follow-up of bulimic patients found that they were less depressed, had less somatization, and were less overcontrolled; however, they showed no reliable improvements in eating attitudes/behaviours or drug/alcohol use.     

Strategy,Technology, and Social Processes With in Professional Cultures: A Negotiated Order,Ethnographic Perspective

As an element of formal organizational structure, strategy has arisen as an icon of an increasingly organization-based society, while the application of technology to perform organizational functions has become an accepted aspect of contemporary life. Combined, strategy and technology suggest organizational orderliness, rationality, and efficiency. A variety of literatures has recognized the symbolic role of strategy and technology, as well as professional endeavor, in legitimating organizational functioning and change, wherein the vested political interests of an organization's strategic apex may be veiled by a rhetoric of objectivity and professionalism. However, this literature has remained largely theoretical in nature. An ethnographic field study of the Big 6 public accounting firms examined the interpenetration of strategy, technology, and internal social processes. It found, for example, that audit technologies were developed and unilaterally implemented by the strategic apex of the firms to achieve such stated objectives as enhancing auditor “efficiency.” However, the implemented technologies were frequently resisted, transformed, and redirected to serve the ends of the operating core, or practitioner subculture, of the firms. Thus, strategy, technology, and social process are seen as interpenetrated within the active political-social milieu that is public accounting.