Our Reflections on the Reactions to “Theories in the Field of Community Psychology”

We recognize that our article (Jason, Stevens, Ram, Miller, Beasley, & Gleason, 2016) will be controversial, and we are delighted that it has sparked some lively discussions. Our thesis is that research in our field could benefit from being evaluated on how it contributes to theory (including the development of one’s own). We believe that this recommendation represents a significant and constructive step forward. Our reflections on a number of the issues raised by those who wrote reactions to our article are below

Our Reflections on the Reactions to “Theories in the Field of Community Psychology”

We recognize that our article (Jason, Stevens, Ram, Miller, Beasley, & Gleason, 2016) will be controversial, and we are delighted that it has sparked some lively discussions. Our thesis is that research in our field could benefit from being evaluated on how it contributes to theory (including the development of one’s own). We believe that this recommendation represents a significant and constructive step forward. Our reflections on a number of the issues raised by those who wrote reactions to our article are below

The Use Of The Former Partner As A Secure Base: The Effects Of Perception Of Permanence And Attachment Style

Though much research explores the use of a romantic partner as an attachment figure during the course of a romantic relationship, there is little research assessing whether individuals use their former partners as attachment figures following relationship breakup. The three studies specifically examined whether individuals use their former partners to fulfill the attachment function of secure base, as measured by willingness to explore and feelings of felt security, and which factors may affect the ability to use the former partner as a secure base. The first study examined whether individuals used their former partners to fulfill the attachment function of secure base, compared to close friends or acquaintances. The second study examined whether perception of permanence of the breakup influenced the ability for individuals to use the former partner as a secure base. Finally, the third study examined whether individual differences in attachment style underlie an individual's perception of permanence of the breakup. Findings indicated that older individuals experiencing high levels of negative affect do indeed use the former partner as a secure base compared to an acquaintance and close friend and younger individuals experiencing lower levels of negative affect. Individuals primed to feel high perception of permanence with regard to the former relationship used the former partner as a secure base compared to individuals who were primed to feel low perception of permanence, who experienced lower levels of felt security. Finally, individual differences in attachment style did not predict differences in perception of permanence, though insecure attachment styles were associated with changes in partner perception, which has implications for secure base use. Results are discussed in the terms of adaptiveness of maintaining a tie to the former partner following loss, and the implications of this tie with regard to an individual's changing attachment hierarchy following relationship breakup

Investigating Social Support and Network Relationships in Substance Use Disorder Recovery

Alineació de l'equip 'casats' en el partit celebrat a Piscines i Esports entre socis del Centre, casats contra solters. Jordi Perpiñà, Joan Carles Casadevall, Jordi Solé, Joan Fernández, Nicolau Casas, Salvador Mercader, Miquel Casadevall, Josep Cases, Correa, Antonio Jaureguizar

Theories in the Field of Community Psychology

In this article, we review some of the key attributes of useful theories and assess whether these attributes are present in several prominent Community Psychology theories. The field of Community Psychology often deals with complex systems and attempts to create change through the use of multiple mechanisms.  It has provided researchers new ways of thinking about contextual factors and how participants could be more involved in research efforts.  However, this field has encountered significant challenges in testing and evaluating theories that involve system-level environmental change. It has struggled to establish consensus when operationally defining criteria and when creating reliable instruments for measuring theoretical constructs.  We conclude that Community Psychology theories have tended to function as frameworks, which indicate important elements to examine, but do not specify relationships that can be used for explanation and are, therefore, too broad to make the types of predictions characteristic of science. Because Community Psychology theories have often served as orienting frameworks, there needs to be more discussion about their usefulness, and whether community psychologists can develop more rigorous and specific theories. This has implications for formulating various practices and for discussions about how future research can better inform theory

Fine-Resolution Mapping of TF Binding and Chromatin Interactions

Summary: Transcription factor (TF) binding to DNA is crucial for transcriptional regulation. There are multiple methods for mapping such binding. These methods balance between input requirements, spatial resolution, and compatibility with high-throughput automation. Here, we describe SLIM-ChIP (short-fragment-enriched, low-input, indexed MNase ChIP), which combines enzymatic fragmentation of chromatin and on-bead indexing to address these desiderata. SLIM-ChIP reproduces a high-resolution binding map of yeast Reb1 comparable with existing methods, yet with less input material and full compatibility with high-throughput procedures. We demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of SLIM-ChIP by probing additional factors in yeast and mouse. Finally, we show that SLIM-ChIP provides information on the chromatin landscape surrounding the bound transcription factor. We identify a class of Reb1 sites where the proximal −1 nucleosome tightly interacts with Reb1 and maintains unidirectional transcription. SLIM-ChIP is an attractive solution for mapping DNA binding proteins and charting the surrounding chromatin occupancy landscape at a single-cell level. : Mapping transcription factors binding to DNA by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing is a key step in studying transcriptional programs. Gutin et al. introduce SLIM-ChIP, a simple, automation compatible protocol, that provides insights about the chromatin landscape at the bound sites. Using this protocol, they discover promoter architectures that enforce unidirectional transcription. Keywords: Reb1, CTCF, ChIP-seq, chromatin, transcription factor, DNA-binding, promoter directionality, nucleosome

Fine-Resolution Mapping of TF Binding and Chromatin Interactions

Summary: Transcription factor (TF) binding to DNA is crucial for transcriptional regulation. There are multiple methods for mapping such binding. These methods balance between input requirements, spatial resolution, and compatibility with high-throughput automation. Here, we describe SLIM-ChIP (short-fragment-enriched, low-input, indexed MNase ChIP), which combines enzymatic fragmentation of chromatin and on-bead indexing to address these desiderata. SLIM-ChIP reproduces a high-resolution binding map of yeast Reb1 comparable with existing methods, yet with less input material and full compatibility with high-throughput procedures. We demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of SLIM-ChIP by probing additional factors in yeast and mouse. Finally, we show that SLIM-ChIP provides information on the chromatin landscape surrounding the bound transcription factor. We identify a class of Reb1 sites where the proximal −1 nucleosome tightly interacts with Reb1 and maintains unidirectional transcription. SLIM-ChIP is an attractive solution for mapping DNA binding proteins and charting the surrounding chromatin occupancy landscape at a single-cell level. : Mapping transcription factors binding to DNA by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing is a key step in studying transcriptional programs. Gutin et al. introduce SLIM-ChIP, a simple, automation compatible protocol, that provides insights about the chromatin landscape at the bound sites. Using this protocol, they discover promoter architectures that enforce unidirectional transcription. Keywords: Reb1, CTCF, ChIP-seq, chromatin, transcription factor, DNA-binding, promoter directionality, nucleosome