Relational Ethics,Depressive Symptoms,and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples in Therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction as problems related to relational ethics in one's family of origin and current partner relationships in a sample of 68 other‐sex couples seeking therapy at a large university clinic. We used the Actor Partner Interdependence Model to analyze dyadic data collected prior to beginning therapy. Specifically, we found significant actor effects between relational ethics in one's family of origin and depressive symptoms, as well as between depressive symptoms and low relationship satisfaction for both male and female partners. We also found significant partner effects for relational ethics in current partner relationship, depressive symptoms, and low relationship satisfaction. Clinical application of contextual therapy theory is discussed.     

Desire for Marriage and Children: A Comparison of Feminist and Non-feminist Women

Research indicates that liberal gender ideologies and feminist beliefs are related to a lower desire for marriage and children, but the importance of feminist self-identification has not been assessed. In Study 1, self-identified feminist and non-feminist women were asked to rate their own and the typical woman’s desire for marriage and children. Non-feminists desired marriage and children more than did feminists. Both groups believed that the typical woman desired these more than they did. In Study 2, feminist and non-feminist women provided information about feminist beliefs as well as their own and the typical feminist’s desire for marriage and children. Consistent with the results from Study 1, non-feminists desired marriage and children more than did feminists. Feminist identity was also found to predict decreased desire for marriage above and beyond feminist beliefs. Our results indicated that stereotypes of feminists, in this context, are somewhat accurate.     

Bioethics, medicine, and the moral ground

"Bioethics" and "biomedical ethics" are new expressions, conveying new ideas and new concerns. They entered the language in the 1960s. "Ethics," of course, is an ancient word meaning the study of applied moral philosophy. Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field of study that considers ethical issues in wellness and illness. Some would strongly argue that it even embraces our entire natural ecology. It certainly concerns the profession of medicine. Bioethics, like ethics itself, seeks to know and understand "goodness."     

Life after retirement. Interview by Barbara J. Linney

Are you thinking about retirement? Here are interviews with four physician executives who have made the transition. Some are recently retired, while others have been retired for many years. The good news is that all of them are productive and exploring interests and hobbies that their careers had taken precedence over. All of them were asked the following: (1) How have you felt about retirement? (2) What are some interesting things you've done? (3) What advice would you give to others who are planning for it?     

BEYOND LAW AND ETHICS: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE IN FAMILY LAW AND FAMILY THERAPY

The professions of family therapy and law share many clients and areas of overlap. Law-related coursework in family therapy programs in typically limited to legal, ethical, and professional issues. However, students can also benefit from understanding other areas of overlap, such as divorce, child custody, and mediation. This article discusses the curriculum for an interdisciplinary course that educates both family therapy and law students. The course provides: (1) a substantive education about similarities and differences between the profession, how they operate as systems, and specific areas of overlap, (2) opportunities to learn clinical skills, and (3) opportunities for personal insight about skills, personality tyes, and negotiations, styles, and how these may differ between the professions.     

Institutional Deterioration in Transition Economies: Playing Follow-the-Leader During the Global Financial Crisis?

Economic transition was a systemic change of institutions from those that facilitated a planned, communist economy to those suitable for a market economy. This paper examines the state of this political and economic institutional development in 28 transition economies, focusing on the global financial crisis years of 2007–2012. According to various metrics of institutions, institutional regression has indeed occurred but has been somewhat localized in the countries of the CIS. However, property rights have regressed in some countries in Central/Southern Europe, while financial sector institutions have uniformly degraded across the entire transition space.