Reply to Lynne Segal's Commentary

The author explains why her work differs from the feminist uses of psychoanalysis that Segal admires. The key to the disagreement with Segal here is understanding what is meant by unconscious processes. The author maintains that these are always transformations. Unlike conscious fantasies, they are often bizarre, as in delusions, hallucinations, primitive fantasies, and the like. So far only a psychoanalytic method can access them. The work Segal prefers charts accessible preconscious identifications in an untransformed way, which by definition reflects “social reality.” The political/feminist use of the latter is likely to be easier, but it is working on different ground from that which interests the author.     

Conversing about aging and practice

Using four open-ended questions, individual conversations were conducted with 20 professionals from 10 fields of practice in aging. Professionals were over 60 years of age, had worked in the field at least 10 years, and personally considered themselves elders. This project found that they were aware of their personal aging process, were knowledgeable about resources, had considered their values, beliefs, and interests, and had developed an “aging plan” that would optimize a meaningful and enjoyable quality of life. They generally viewed themselves positively, had a strong sense of identity, accepted the changes that come with aging, and maintained an active and engaged lifestyle. They understood the commonalities of aging, but also respected and valued the uniqueness of each individual’s experiences. Aging had significantly affected their professional practice as well, primarily by increasing empathy, sensitivity, understanding, and patience, as well as through greater awareness and special attention to meaningful communication with clients and patients. Their personal aging awareness had a generally positive effect on professional practice. Practitioners’ thoughts and experiences with their own aging can both serve as a model for the general public and be utilized to programs to assist seniors in remaining vital members of society     

The Gauss—Markov Theorem and Random Regressors

In the standard linear regression model with independent, homoscedastic errors, the Gauss—Markov theorem asserts that = (X'X)^-1(X'y) is the best linear unbiased estimator of β and, furthermore, that is the best linear unbiased estimator of c'β for all p × 1 vectors c. In the corresponding random regressor model, X is a random sample of size n from a p-variate distribution. If attention is restricted to linear estimators of c'β that are conditionally unbiased, given X, the Gauss—Markov theorem applies. If, however, the estimator is required only to be unconditionally unbiased, the Gauss—Markov theorem may or may not hold, depending on what is known about the distribution of X. The results generalize to the case in which X is a random sample without replacement from a finite population.     

Demographic Predictors of Consistency and Change in Heterosexuals' Attitudes toward Homosexual Behavior over a Two-Year Period

This study investigated demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexual people's attitudes toward homosexual behavior. A nationally representative sample of Australian men and women were recruited via random digit dialling in 2004 through 2005. Participants completed annual computer-assisted telephone interviews over the next five years. Questions about attitudes toward male and female homosexual behavior were assessed at Wave 1 (2004–2005) and Wave 3 (2006–2007) of the study. The majority of the sample reported tolerance of both male and female homosexual behavior (with women slightly more tolerant than men). Multivariate analyses showed that those who regularly attended religious services were more likely to consistently disapprove of homosexual behavior and more likely to change from tolerant to disapproving. Among those who were initially tolerant, younger respondents and those with higher educations were less likely to become homophobic. The results of this study show that individual attitudes toward homosexual behavior are open to change, particularly toward a more tolerant position. Religiosity appears to be consistently associated with the development and reinforcement of homophobic tendencies.     

From Secrecy to Surrogacy: Attitudes Toward Adoption in Australian Womens Journals 1947–1987

This study of social attitudes to adoption as reflected in Australian women's journals over a forty year period indicates that secrecy has given way to more open acknowledgement of adoptive status and access to original birth records at 18 years in all Australian states. However, while there have been changes in official social welfare policies, the notion of entitlement to a child by a couple still prevails. Despite a more liberal approach towards single parenthood, there remains a strong underlying feeling that the single pregnant female should give up her child so as to allow an infertile couple to create a family.     

Provincial and cosmopolitan: floristic composition of a dryland urban river

High rates of intercontinental exchange of plant species have caused scientists to ask whether floristic areas with similar environments are undergoing global homogenization. We focused on riparian forests of the urban Salt River (Sonoran Desert, USA) to ask: (1) Is the forest dominated by cosmopolitan or provincial elements? (2) Which trees planted in the irrigated cityscape have established along the river? (3) Which types of restoration interventions have favored provincial species? We surveyed tree abundance, size and vigor in belt transects among five reaches that differed in degree of restoration, and obtained data on tree species composition of the urban landscape and pre-development riparian zone. Our results reveal the urban riparian forest to have many cosmopolitan elements, owing in part to spillover of trees from the cultivated cityscape (e.g., Acacia stenophylla, Vitex agnus-castus). Global spread of some regional (Neotropical) riparian taxa (e.g., Parkinsonia aculeata, Prosopis) also has contributed to the cosmopolitan status. Yet, the forests retain a distinct regional signature. Unintentional restoration of winter floods has allowed for regeneration of Salix gooddingii, a vernally-adapted provincial pioneer, although its long-term survivorship is restricted to limited micro-sites (storm drain outfalls). Urbanization-related changes in stream hydrogeomorphology explain increases in some regional species (e.g., Washingtonia spp.) that historically were excluded from the river.

Reaches restored by planting, weeding, watering, and geocountouring had the greatest abundance of provincial species and greatest floristic similarity to historic conditions.