Enriching Research on Marital Enrichment Programs

The existing empirical literature on the outcomes of marital and pre-marital enrichment programs is critically reviewed. While the majority of studies have used untreated control groups and appear to offer very striking evidence of meaningful change as a result of these enrichment experiences, several important methodological deficiencies are common to these investigations and, therefore, require a cautious optimism about the efficacy of these programs. Six specific issues are addressed in an effort to improve the quality and utility of further research and practice in this area.     

Control of population by economic means]

Education alone cannot effectively control population growth. Benefit to the individual must be coordinated with the benefit to the community and the country. It is absolutely necessary and possible to control population by economic means. The economic policy in Tienjing includes: 1) give preference to single child families in child care, health benefits, education, and employment, and financially punish families with more than two children; 2) establish a better rationing policy, one not based on a per capita ration, and give preference to single child families; 3) establish retirement benefits and guarantee higher living standards for retirees who have either no children or only 1 or 2 children, and give paid sick leave to people experiencing complications following sterilization operations; 4) establish equal inheritance rights for both male and female offspring; and 5) give bonuses to units with excellent family planning results and to medical personnel with fewer complications during sterilization operations, and financially punish groups with poor family planning results. In order to effectively implement the economic means, coordinate bonuses with punishment, and coordinate local policies with those of the entire society. The key is strong leadership, but the voluntary and active involvement of the public insures success.     

WHY ARE BETTER SEATS “UNDERPRICED”?

Faced with competition, one's behavior often depends on that of his competitors. The determination of price is one response to competition, and an important one indeed. But it is not the only one. All contracting parties may gain, if price can be reduced to encourage restraints on behavior. This paper shows that "behavior which restrains behavior" may be effectively induced by the simple expedient of a reduction in price.     

EXAMINATION OF REGRESSION RESIDUALS

This article briefly reviews current literature on techniques for the examination of residuals in linear and nonlinear (including Time Series) models. Concentration is on graphical techniques and statistical test procedures (references involving a "routine" examination, computational aspects and discussion of model adequacy having not been included).     

Body time and social time: Mood patterns by menstrual cycle phase and day of the week

Multiple regression analysis traces the effects of two time dimensions (body time as indexed by the female menstrual cycle, and social time as indexed by the calendar week) upon moods, in a prospective study of daily moods over a 40-day period. Positive moods peaked in the ovulatory phase and on weekends, while negative moods peaked in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. An individual difference analysis showed that women whose moods are responsive to the menstrual cycle are physically active, socially assertive, sexually orgasmic women for whom the maternal role is important.     

Sensitivity to bodily nonverbal communication as a factor in practitioner-patient rapport

The relationship between physicians' nonverbal sensitivity and the satisfaction of their patients was tested in two field studies. In the first study, 40 physicians were given a film test of nonverbal sensitivity (the PONS test) and were evaluated by their patients. The second study was a replication using 31 additional physicians. Most noteworthy for research in therapeutic interaction, the present studies contained three methodological advances: (1) the use of actual patients' ratings of satisfaction with treatment, (2) the extension of research from psychological to medical settings, and (3) the use of a standardized test of nonverbal decoding skill. Physicians' skill at reading the emotion conveyed through the nonverbal channel of body movement was found to be significantly correlated with their interpersonal success with patients in the clinical setting.The authors would like to thank Donald Dickson, M.D., Mary Ann Spadaro, M.D., Louise M. Prince, John L. Helmuth, Jr., Helene M. Murphy, and the physicians and patients who participated in the research. Study I was supported by a Peter B. Livingston Fellowship from the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and Study II by a W. K. Kellogg Fellowship from the Hospital Research and Educational Trust, both to the senior author.     

PERSONAL AUTHORITY IN FAMILY EXPERIENCE VIA TERMINATION OF THE INTERGENERATIONAL HIERARCHICAL BOUNDARY: PART III—PERSONAL AUTHORITY DEFINED, AND THE POWER OF PLAY IN THE CHANGE PROCESS

Present transgenerational family therapy theory is analyzed, and it is suggested that individuation is on a continuum with fusion-triangulation (family systems theory), that relational ethics are on a continuum with invisible loyalties (contextual family therapy), and that there is in fact but one continuum, so that these terms are well-nigh interchangeable. Individuation-relational ethics is presented in a (Hegelian) dialectic with intimacy; and personal authority in family experience is offered as the synthesizing construct in this dialectic. The change process in transgenerational family therapy is briefly noted. It is suggested that playfulness, including paradox and absurdity, is an effective intervention into the intense emotionality of inter generational work. A framework for and sequence of playful interventions are described.