The Strehler–Mildvan correlation from the perspective of a two-process vitality model

The Strehler and Mildvan (SM) general theory of ageing and mortality provides a mechanism-based explanation of Gompertz's law and predicts a log-linear relationship between the two Gompertz coefficients, known as the SM correlation. While the SM correlation is supported by data from developed countries before the second half of the twentieth century, the recent breakdown of the correlation pattern in these countries has prompted demographers to conclude that SM theory needs to be reassessed. In this paper we use a newly developed two-process vitality model to explain the SM correlation and its breakdown in terms of asynchronous trends in acute (extrinsic) and chronic (intrinsic) mortality factors. We propose that the mortality change in the first half of the twentieth century is largely determined by the elimination of immediate hazards to death, whereas the mortality change in the second half is primarily driven by the slowdown of the deterioration rate of intrinsic survival capacity.     

Bewilderment: Preparing prisoners for 'real' work in the fictional world of prison

This article explores the history of employment training programmes for prisoners and three contemporary examples of practice. It argues that the history and current practice can be seen as a movement between two competing discourses. One that treats prison work as relevant for how it passes time and the other for how it prepares a prisoner for release. These are referred to as a ‘constative’ position‐one where the activity is only related to the here and now‐and the ‘performative’‐where the activity is said to ‘rehearse’ the prisoner for action to be performed at a later date. By examining projects that use drama workshops to examine employment issues with prisoners, the article argues that these positions are limited. It claims that the link between prison activity and performance outside is far more complicated than a simple shift of new competencies from one arena to another. This transition is met more often by the ‘bewilderment’ of the title than by a smooth transition. The article concludes that drama workshops in fact have a potential to offer a more powerful intervention than simple behaviour rehearsal and that they could provide one means for bridging the gap between the fictional arena of prison and the ‘real’ world. Este artículo explora la historia de programas de capacitacioén laboral para presos y de tres ejemplos contemporáneos de práctica. Sostiene que la historia y la práctica actual pueden considerarse como un movimiento entre dos discursos competidores. Los dos consideran relevantes las actividades laborales en la cárcel, el uno porque ayuda a pasar el tiempo, y el otro porque prepara al preso para la puesta en libertad. Se refiere a los dos discursos como (1) la posición ‘constativa’, en la cual la actividad laboral se relaciona únicamente al momento actual y (2) la posición ‘performativa’, en la cual la actividad laboral sirve de ensayo para actividades que desempeñaráel preso en una fecha por venir. Al examinar proyectos que recurren a talleres del drama para examinar temas laborales con los presos, este artículo sostiene que están limitadas estas posiciones. Alega que la conexión entre la actividad en la cárcel y el desempeño fuera de la cárcel supone algo mucho mas complicado que un sencillo cambio de nuevas competencias de una arena a otra. Sostiene que esta transición se caracteriza mas por el desconcierto que provoca que por su suavedad. El artículo concluye que los talleres del drama pueden ofrecer una intervención mas poderosa que los sencillos ensayos de conducta, y que podrían ofrecer un medio de salvar la distancia entre la arena ficticia de la cárcel y el mundo ‘verdadero’.     

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy for Parents Raising a Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

Many couples raising children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often resilient in confronting unique parental demands, while others experience greater risk for relational distress. Research has shown that Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) is efficacious with couples raising chronically ill children and relevant to the relational demands of parents of children diagnosed with an ASD. This pilot study tested the effectiveness of EFT with seven couples presenting with moderate to severe distress, who were also parents of a child diagnosed with an ASD. Results demonstrated significant decreases in marital distress at posttreatment and 6‐month follow‐up. The study also identified several unique themes associated with couple distress and the parenting experiences of this population.     

Defining Moments and Recurring Myths: Comparing Canadians and Americans after the American Revolution*

Dans cet article, nous examinons la célèbre thèse de S.M. Lipset, qui affirme que la révolution américaine a créé des differénces durables entre les valeurs canadiennes et américaines. Nous reconsidérons tout d'abord l'affirmation centrale de la thèse selon laquelle l'exode des loyalistes vers le Canada a ancré de façon permanente des systémes de valeurs distincts dans les deux sociétés. Notre analyse suggère que, au sein de la population générate, les loyalistes n'ont joué qu'un rôle négligeable dans la promotion de différences fondamentales. Nous comparons ensuite les deux sociétés sur le plan historique en utilisant plusieurs indicateurs ‐ classes sociales et structure économique, compositions ethnique et religieuse, modèles d'immigration et d'urbanisation, culture et organisation politiqUes ‐ afin de cerner des divergences importantes dans l'expérience et le milieu dans lequel vivaient les deux peuples, divergences qui auraient pu favoriser ces différences. Nous concluons que les deux populations se ressemblaient étonnamment, ce qui sous‐entend qu'elles partageaient probablement le même quotidien, les mêmes perspectives et valeurs au cours de la période révolutionnaire et pendant plusieurs dizaines d'années par la suite. This paper examines S.M. Lipset's widely known thesis that the American Revolution engendered lasting differences in Canadian and American values. We first reconsider the key claim of the thesis: that the Loyalist exodus to Canada permanently entrenched distinct value systems in the two societies. Our analysis indicates that, within the general population, the Loyalists had a negligible effect in promoting core differences. We then compare the two societies historically on several indicators—class and economic structure, ethnic and religious composition, immigration and urbanization patterns, and political culture and organization—to identify significant divergences in the peoples' backgrounds and experiences that may have promoted major differences. We find that the two populations were strikingly alike, suggesting that their everyday lives, outlooks, and values were probably quite similar during the Revolutionary era and for several decades afterward.     

Latinos and the Skin Color Paradox

For African Americans and Latinos, skin color is a significant predictor of many social and economic stratification variables including income, education, housing, occupational status, spousal status, poverty rates, criminal justice sentencing, and rates of depression. Given these patterns, some scholars have surprisingly found that skin color is not a significant predictor of many political attitudes for African Americans, and called this phenomenon the “skin color paradox.” This article investigates the role of skin color, race, and national origin in predicting political marginality and political commonality among Latinos. The models suggest that skin color is not a significant predictor of political attitudes, consistent with the skin color paradox theory but that national origin does predict some political attitudes.     

Partners in the Spiritual Dance: Learning Clients’ Steps While Minding All Our Toes

We present four case illustrations highlighting the complex interplay of therapists’ and clients’ spirituality in therapy. Complexity, in these cases, results from (a) degrees of similarity and difference, both real and perceived, between clients’ and therapists’ spiritual beliefs and practices; (b) degrees of spiritual disclosure; (c) characteristics of the therapeutic relationship; and (d) geographic and cultural influences. Practicing therapists and therapist training programs can benefit from addressing how therapist and client spirituality intersect and influence therapy, how both similarity and difference present obstacles and opportunities, and how ambiguity and assumptions can contribute to misunderstandings. We believe that both the therapist’s and the client’s spiritualities are key influences in therapy that can contribute to the frustration, and the growth, of clients and therapists alike.     

In search of innovation: A national qualitative analysis of child welfare recruitment and retention efforts

This national qualitative study explores recruitment and retention strategies within state child welfare agencies and the perceived effectiveness of these strategies. The study includes a national review of 50 state child welfare websites, and qualitative interviews with 18 individuals in 13 states. The findings highlight agencies' identification and investment of similar types of recruitment and retention efforts; yet agencies still grapple with elevated turnover rates despite continued efforts. This article comprehensively explored national utilized and underutilized strategies that have been employed to help alleviate child welfare recruitment and retention challenges. Further, mechanisms for overcoming and promoting innovation to understand the effectiveness of child welfare recruitment and retention strategies are addressed.     

Measuring Multidimensional Aspiration Gaps: A Means to Understanding Cultural Aspects of Poverty

This article links primary research into the way subjective well‐being among poor people can be defined and measured to the growing literature on poverty as a failure of capacity to aspire. Data from Bangladesh, Thailand and Peru are used to illustrate a measurement strategy based on defining well‐being as a function of the gap between individuals’ diverse and multiple aspirations, and their satisfaction with achieving them. Such analysis has the potential to illuminate variation in individual and local capacity to respond to different development opportunities. It also warns against the limitations of treating aspirations as a single rather than a multidimensional concept.