News Media and International Negotiation

It is widely recognized that leaks can hamper internationalnegotiations, but the ability of publicity to promote agreementamong nations has received less attention. This article arguesthat the press contributes to international agreement insofaras it illuminates the issues under negotiation, helps to ensureintra-governmental coordination, links governments with interestedpublics, and provides supplementary communication channels fordiplomacy.     

Routine comprehensive inquiry for abuse: A justifiable clinical assessment procedure?

Routine inquiry regarding histories of sexual and physical abuse among psychiatric patients is not yet a commonly accepted practice for most mental health practitioners. While there is greater awareness regarding such trauma, the prevalence of abusive experiences in this patient population has not received adequate documentation in the literature. This study was conducted to determine the relevance of systematic inquiry for abuse. It examined the nature and magnitude of victimization in psychiatric in-patients. Findings revealed that approximately one-half of all patients experienced abuse while one-quarter encountered severe abuse. Victimization of males was substantiated at higher levels than previously documented. This research supports the position that systematic and extensive inquiry for all forms of abuse is a sound clinical assessment procedure.     

Statistical morphology

This paper first introduces a parametric model for the generation of stationary random correlated binary sequences. The parameters of the model include the probability that a pixel is a binary one pixel and the length of the structuring element which dilates the initially spatially uncorrelated sequence. The spatial statistics of such eroded, dilated, opened and closed correlated binary sequences are derived in terms of the spatial statistics of the input binary sequence. Understanding of such one-dimensional processing is a precondition for understanding what happens in the more interesting two- dimensional case.     

Mirroring and autonomy: The dual tasks of mothers

Theexperience of being a mother, of being the developmental partner for the pre-oedipal child, is complex and demanding. A woman must learn to balance her own needs and identity as a person with the child's need for appropriate merging and distancing. The child's own developmental push requires a constant shifting in the mother's balance between herself and the child. This article explores some of the factors involved in the mother's experience of her dual task, and some of the ways in which the mother's development as a person is reciprocally related to her child's developmental demands.She is in private practice and also a research consultant. Ms. Walter is in private practice and a consultant, Family Service of Montgomery County.