To mark the fortieth anniversary of the tragic death of Catherine Kitty Genovese on March 13, 1... more To mark the fortieth anniversary of the tragic death of Catherine Kitty Genovese on March 13, 1964 in New York City, a public forum hosted by Fordham University brought together an interdisciplinary group of experts to look back on this sad event. What follows is a ...
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 2009
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between psychological mindedness and client... more The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between psychological mindedness and clients' expectations about counselling. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess correlations among study variables. Participants were 104 counselling-centre clients at a mid-size, Southwestern US university. Participant volunteers filled out the Psychological Mindedness Scale, life orientation test-revised (LOT-R), and the expectations-about-counselling questionnaire. Clients who reported higher levels of psychological mindedness (PM) reported greater expectations of self-involvement in counselling and greater expectations of positive outcome. In contrast, PM was not significantly related to clients' expectations about their counsellors' in-session behaviour or to expectations about their counsellors' general personality style. Dispositional optimism (LOT-R) did not play a major role in the relationship between PM and expectations about counselling. High PM clients do seem to expect more from counselling than low PM clients, particularly in terms of self-involvement in the process and with respect to positive outcome. Consequently, therapists should consider assessing clients' PM, expectations, and the relationship between PM and expectations.
In a sample of 99 undergraduates, religiosity and psychoticism scores were negatively associated ... more In a sample of 99 undergraduates, religiosity and psychoticism scores were negatively associated (r = -.34).
Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 2013
The primary aim of this study was to promote an empirically-based dialogue between Western psycho... more The primary aim of this study was to promote an empirically-based dialogue between Western psychology and Buddhism. To this end, we explored one type of Western psychology (Humanistic Psychology, based on Rogers and Maslow) and one type of Buddhist tradition (a Westernized interpretation of Theravada). Even more specifically, we explored the empirical relationship between mindfulness and self-actualization (SA), exemplars of each discipline. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess correlations among study variables. Participants were 204 students attending midsize Eastern (Fordham) or Western (Boise State) US universities. Participants completed general measures of mindfulness (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)) and SA (Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA)). They also filled out multifaceted measures of each construct: the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) and the Brief Index of Self-Actualization – Revised (BISA-R). A demographic form was also administered. While mindfulness and SA were not associated with the demographic variables of age, gender, or ethnicity/race, they were associated with one another in various ways. The findings indicate similarities and differences between the two constructs. This study provides evidence for empirical links between mindfulness and SA, suggesting points of contact between Buddhist and humanistic psychologies more generally. Specifically, these findings provide an empirical starting point for increased cross-fertilization between these two traditions.
Three hundred seventy inpatient and outpatient substance abusers were divided according to presen... more Three hundred seventy inpatient and outpatient substance abusers were divided according to presence and subtype of antisocial personality disorder (APD) into groups comparing: a) adult antisocial behavior (AAB) versus full APD; b) APD with low versus high sociopathy; c) APD with versus without lifetime depression; and d) APD with versus without other axis II disorders. Multivariate regression was used to predict the unique contribution to the variance in baseline and 12-month follow-up measures of substance use, psychiatric severity, and personality. The presence of comorbid axis II pathology was the strongest predictor of baseline severity in all three domains. APD substance abusers with lifetime depression exhibited greater baseline to follow-up reductions in psychiatric severity than those APD substance abusers without a history of depression. All APD subtypes improved over time with treatment, suggesting that this diagnosis does not necessarily indicate poor prognosis.
... Miedema says that the goal of James's philosophy is to redeem religion from unwholes... more ... Miedema says that the goal of James's philosophy is to redeem religion from unwholesome privacy and to give it ... Critics of both Kohlberg and James, such as Jurgen Habermas (1982a) and CharlesTaylor (2002), argue that a social basis is necessary for moral action. ...
The relationship between the nonspecific factors of therapeutic alliance and motivation with outc... more The relationship between the nonspecific factors of therapeutic alliance and motivation with outcome has been demonstrated across treatment modalities, and specifically in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The present study was designed to evaluate the association of these factors with treatment outcome in a preliminary sample of problem drinking men-who-have-sex-with-men and engage in unsafe sex. It hypothesized a positive association between therapeutic alliance and percentage of session attendance; and positive associations between three self reported motivational statements for alcohol, unsafe sex, and session attendance. Fifty-five participants enrolled in a clinical trial to reduce alcohol intake and unsafe sex were included in the study. Contrary to expectations, a positive association was not found between alliance and outcome. Among the motivational statements, only the readiness to change for alcohol was correlated with outcome. The stability of self efficacy and risk a...
The Journal of psychotherapy practice and research, 2001
The predictive validity of instruments commonly used to measure the therapeutic alliance was eval... more The predictive validity of instruments commonly used to measure the therapeutic alliance was evaluated, using 46 sessions drawn from a clinical trial comparing manual-guided therapies for substance use. The California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale, Penn Helping Alliance Rating Scale, Vanderbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale, and Working Alliance Inventory (Observer, Therapist, and Client versions) were rated for participants receiving either cognitive-behavioral therapy or twelve-step facilitation. All observer-rated instruments were significantly correlated with outcome; however, therapist-rated and client-rated instruments did not predict outcome. Findings suggest that the different observer-rated instruments are minimally different with respect to predictive validity, whereas patient- and therapist-rated measures may have a weaker relationship to outcome when highly objective outcome measures are used.
To mark the fortieth anniversary of the tragic death of Catherine Kitty Genovese on March 13, 1... more To mark the fortieth anniversary of the tragic death of Catherine Kitty Genovese on March 13, 1964 in New York City, a public forum hosted by Fordham University brought together an interdisciplinary group of experts to look back on this sad event. What follows is a ...
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 2009
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between psychological mindedness and client... more The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between psychological mindedness and clients' expectations about counselling. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess correlations among study variables. Participants were 104 counselling-centre clients at a mid-size, Southwestern US university. Participant volunteers filled out the Psychological Mindedness Scale, life orientation test-revised (LOT-R), and the expectations-about-counselling questionnaire. Clients who reported higher levels of psychological mindedness (PM) reported greater expectations of self-involvement in counselling and greater expectations of positive outcome. In contrast, PM was not significantly related to clients' expectations about their counsellors' in-session behaviour or to expectations about their counsellors' general personality style. Dispositional optimism (LOT-R) did not play a major role in the relationship between PM and expectations about counselling. High PM clients do seem to expect more from counselling than low PM clients, particularly in terms of self-involvement in the process and with respect to positive outcome. Consequently, therapists should consider assessing clients' PM, expectations, and the relationship between PM and expectations.
In a sample of 99 undergraduates, religiosity and psychoticism scores were negatively associated ... more In a sample of 99 undergraduates, religiosity and psychoticism scores were negatively associated (r = -.34).
Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 2013
The primary aim of this study was to promote an empirically-based dialogue between Western psycho... more The primary aim of this study was to promote an empirically-based dialogue between Western psychology and Buddhism. To this end, we explored one type of Western psychology (Humanistic Psychology, based on Rogers and Maslow) and one type of Buddhist tradition (a Westernized interpretation of Theravada). Even more specifically, we explored the empirical relationship between mindfulness and self-actualization (SA), exemplars of each discipline. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess correlations among study variables. Participants were 204 students attending midsize Eastern (Fordham) or Western (Boise State) US universities. Participants completed general measures of mindfulness (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)) and SA (Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA)). They also filled out multifaceted measures of each construct: the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) and the Brief Index of Self-Actualization – Revised (BISA-R). A demographic form was also administered. While mindfulness and SA were not associated with the demographic variables of age, gender, or ethnicity/race, they were associated with one another in various ways. The findings indicate similarities and differences between the two constructs. This study provides evidence for empirical links between mindfulness and SA, suggesting points of contact between Buddhist and humanistic psychologies more generally. Specifically, these findings provide an empirical starting point for increased cross-fertilization between these two traditions.
Three hundred seventy inpatient and outpatient substance abusers were divided according to presen... more Three hundred seventy inpatient and outpatient substance abusers were divided according to presence and subtype of antisocial personality disorder (APD) into groups comparing: a) adult antisocial behavior (AAB) versus full APD; b) APD with low versus high sociopathy; c) APD with versus without lifetime depression; and d) APD with versus without other axis II disorders. Multivariate regression was used to predict the unique contribution to the variance in baseline and 12-month follow-up measures of substance use, psychiatric severity, and personality. The presence of comorbid axis II pathology was the strongest predictor of baseline severity in all three domains. APD substance abusers with lifetime depression exhibited greater baseline to follow-up reductions in psychiatric severity than those APD substance abusers without a history of depression. All APD subtypes improved over time with treatment, suggesting that this diagnosis does not necessarily indicate poor prognosis.
... Miedema says that the goal of James's philosophy is to redeem religion from unwholes... more ... Miedema says that the goal of James's philosophy is to redeem religion from unwholesome privacy and to give it ... Critics of both Kohlberg and James, such as Jurgen Habermas (1982a) and CharlesTaylor (2002), argue that a social basis is necessary for moral action. ...
The relationship between the nonspecific factors of therapeutic alliance and motivation with outc... more The relationship between the nonspecific factors of therapeutic alliance and motivation with outcome has been demonstrated across treatment modalities, and specifically in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The present study was designed to evaluate the association of these factors with treatment outcome in a preliminary sample of problem drinking men-who-have-sex-with-men and engage in unsafe sex. It hypothesized a positive association between therapeutic alliance and percentage of session attendance; and positive associations between three self reported motivational statements for alcohol, unsafe sex, and session attendance. Fifty-five participants enrolled in a clinical trial to reduce alcohol intake and unsafe sex were included in the study. Contrary to expectations, a positive association was not found between alliance and outcome. Among the motivational statements, only the readiness to change for alcohol was correlated with outcome. The stability of self efficacy and risk a...
The Journal of psychotherapy practice and research, 2001
The predictive validity of instruments commonly used to measure the therapeutic alliance was eval... more The predictive validity of instruments commonly used to measure the therapeutic alliance was evaluated, using 46 sessions drawn from a clinical trial comparing manual-guided therapies for substance use. The California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale, Penn Helping Alliance Rating Scale, Vanderbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale, and Working Alliance Inventory (Observer, Therapist, and Client versions) were rated for participants receiving either cognitive-behavioral therapy or twelve-step facilitation. All observer-rated instruments were significantly correlated with outcome; however, therapist-rated and client-rated instruments did not predict outcome. Findings suggest that the different observer-rated instruments are minimally different with respect to predictive validity, whereas patient- and therapist-rated measures may have a weaker relationship to outcome when highly objective outcome measures are used.
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