Physiological Responses in Initial Psychological Interviews

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological responses of subjects to an initial psychological interview, and to study the effect of physical proximity and touch on these responses. Heart rate and total skin conductance variability were the responses monitored. To assess the subjects\u27 like or dislike of the psychologist interviewer, a measure of interpersonal attraction, the Interpersonal Judgment Scale, was employed. The California Psychological Inventory was utilized to investigate possible personality correlates with the physiological responses. Sixty females, between the ages of 18 and 28, responded to the California Psychological Inventory and were then connected to the physiological monitoring devices. The subjects\u27 physiological responses were recorded for a 10-minute period in an empty office and then they randomly received one of the following treatments: In treatment I the psychologist entered the counseling office, introduced himself, and sat one foot from the subject while orally administering the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank--Adult Form. When the psychologist reached item 15 he stated, Very good, now let\u27s go on to page 2. After the test, the psychologist said, That\u27s all for today, thank you for your help. If you will wait here, the experimenter will be right in. The psychologist then left the office, and the subject responded to the Interpersonal Judgment Scale. Treatment II was identical to treatment I, except the subject was touched three times during the interview, once on the shoulder and twice on the arm. In treatment III the psychologist entered the office, sat behind a desk and followed the procedure outlined in treatment I. The results indicated that a subject\u27s reaction to an initial psychological interview is a mild to moderate defensive response manifested by an increase in physiological stress levels. Total skin conductance variability increased significantly during the period when the psychologist was in the office. Heart rate increased in 54 out of 60 cases, but did not increase sufficiently enough in magnitude to justify significance. There were no significant differences between the three treatment groups on heart rate, skin conductance, or interpersonal attraction, and there were no personality correlates which were great enough to be of practical value. The data collected in the experiment supported the conclusion that a subject\u27s reaction to an initial psychological interview is a mild to moderate stress response manifested by increments in physiological stress levels. Touch and physical proximity do not appear to alter the stress response or the subject\u27s like--dislike attitude toward the psychologist

America the Unfree: How the Politics of Race and Region Built a Prison Nation

This essay argues that criminal justice is vital to understanding the paradoxical state of American race relations at the start of a new century. Although the election of Barack Obama represents, in one sense, the culmination of the nations long black freedom struggle and seems to portend the emergence of an age of colorblindness, by some criminal justice measures, the United States is dispensing less equal justice now than at the height of Jim Crow segregation. By investigating the breathtaking expansion of imprisonment in the late twentieth century and by tracing its roots to a white conservative backlash against youth rebellion and racial integration, this essay argues that what sociologists are calling mass imprisonment is rolling back key gains of the civil rights movement and that President Obama will have to address the countrys prison crisis if he wants to be a transformational leader

Gemin4: A Novel Component of the Smn Complex That Is Found in Both Gems and Nucleoli

The survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein, the product of the neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) gene, is localized both in the cytoplasm and in discrete nuclear bodies called gems. In both compartments SMN is part of a large complex that contains several proteins including Gemin2 (formerly SIP1) and the DEAD box protein Gemin3. In the cytoplasm, the SMN complex is associated with snRNP Sm core proteins and plays a critical role in spliceosomal snRNP assembly. In the nucleus, SMN is required for pre-mRNA splicing by serving in the regeneration of spliceosomes. These functions are likely impaired in cells of SMA patients because they have reduced levels of functional SMN. Here, we report the identification by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry of a novel component of the SMN complex that we name Gemin4. Gemin4 is associated in vivo with the SMN complex through a direct interaction with Gemin3. The tight interaction of Gemin4 with Gemin3 suggests that it could serve as a cofactor of this DEAD box protein. Gemin4 also interacts directly with several of the Sm core proteins. Monoclonal antibodies against Gemin4 efficiently immunoprecipitate the spliceosomal U snRNAs U1 and U5 from Xenopus oocytes cytoplasm. Immunolocalization experiments show that Gemin4 is colocalized with SMN in the cytoplasm and in gems. Interestingly, Gemin4 is also detected in the nucleoli, suggesting that the SMN complex may also function in preribosomal RNA processing or ribosome assembly

Mars oxygen production system design

The design and construction phase is summarized of the Mars oxygen demonstration project. The basic hardware required to produce oxygen from simulated Mars atmosphere was assembled and tested. Some design problems still remain with the sample collection and storage system. In addition, design and development of computer compatible data acquisition and control instrumentation is ongoing

Discerning Shakespeare Through the Succession Crisis

This thesis attempts to understand the works of William Shakespeare through the lens of succession, a crisis of uncertain government transition which is prominently featured as an underlying theme in several of Shakespeare’s poems and most recognized plays. This thesis also emphasizes the importance of understanding the context from which a work of art emerges as a prerequisite for analysis. As such, this thesis will use the life of the author as a key to comprehending embedded themes that lie within the work itself. This thesis also begins with the assumption that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, is the author behind the pseudonym of William Shakespeare, and does not attempt to prove it

Discerning Shakespeare Through the Succession Crisis

This thesis attempts to understand the works of William Shakespeare through the lens of succession, a crisis of uncertain government transition which is prominently featured as an underlying theme in several of Shakespeare’s poems and most recognized plays. This thesis also emphasizes the importance of understanding the context from which a work of art emerges as a prerequisite for analysis. As such, this thesis will use the life of the author as a key to comprehending embedded themes that lie within the work itself. This thesis also begins with the assumption that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, is the author behind the pseudonym of William Shakespeare, and does not attempt to prove it

The Alcoholism and drugs abuse patient workbook/ Perkinson

ix, 10 hal.; 28 cm