Biomedical subjects

L Berkowitz

Publications and source records attributed to L Berkowitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Some factors influencing abusers' justification of their child abuse.

The interviews of abusive caretakers originally carried out by Kadushin and Martin (1981) were coded and subjected to statistical analyses to determine what aspects of the caretakers' situation and of their interaction with the abused child had contributed to their belief that their treatment of the youngster was justified or not. A multiple regression analysis employing scores on the various indices obtained from the sample of 73 interviews indicated that the abusers tended to believe their behavior was justified if they thought the child had been defiant and they themselves had been under considerable environmental stress. On the other hand, they generally regarded their action as less justified if they had lost their temper and had been experiencing emotional distress. The latter finding suggests, in accord with Berkowitz's analysis of emotional aggression, that some instances of child battering were impulsive reactions to a provocative event. Although major emphasis is given to the meaning of these findings for the theoretical analysis of aggression, implications for protective service practice are also indicated.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

On the formation and regulation of anger and aggression. A cognitive-neoassociationistic analysis.

Noting that a wide variety of unpleasant feelings, including sadness and depression, apparently can give rise to anger and aggression, I propose a cognitive-neoassociationistic model to account for the effects of negative affect on the development of angry feelings and the display of emotional aggression. Negative affect tends to activate ideas, memories, and expressive-motor reactions associated with anger and aggression as well as rudimentary angry feelings. Subsequent thought involving attributions, appraisals, and schematic conceptions can then intensify, suppress, enrich, or differentiate the initial reactions. Bodily reactions as well as emotion-relevant thoughts can activate the other components of the particular emotion network to which they are linked. Research findings consistent with the model are summarized. Experimental findings are also reported indicating that attention to one's negative feelings can lead to a regulation of the overt effects of the negative affect, I argue that the model can integrate the core aspect of the James-Lange theory with the newer cognitive theories of emotion.

Aggression↗

PubMed1989

Frustration-aggression hypothesis: examination and reformulation.

Examines the Dollard et al. (1939) frustration-aggression hypothesis. The original formulation's main proposition is limited to interference with an expected attainment of a desired goal on hostile (emotional) aggression. Although some studies have yielded negative results, others support the core proposition. Frustrations can create aggressive inclinations even when they are not arbitrary or aimed at the subject personally. Interpretations and attributions can be understood partly in terms of the original analysis but they can also influence the unpleasantness of the thwarting. A proposed revision of the 1939 model holds that frustrations generate aggressive inclinations to the degree that they arouse negative affect. Evidence regarding the aggressive consequences of aversive events is reviewed, and Berkowitz's cognitive-neoassociationistic model is summarized.

Aggression↗

PubMed1989

Treatment of tracheobronchial granular cell myoblastomas with endoscopic bipolar cautery.

Granular cell myoblastomas of the trachea and right upper lobe bronchus were discovered incidentally during therapeutic bronchoscopy. Because of their propensity to cause airway compromise and distal atelectasis, ablation of both lesions was undertaken. This is the first reported case of bipolar cautery of GCM through a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. Small tumor size and lack of atelectasis permitted utilization of this technique. Long-term follow-up is necessary to compare this therapy with other nonresectional therapies.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗

PubMed1987

Analysis of mammalian cell growth factor receptor dynamics.

We have proposed a mathematical model for the events following binding of EGF to cell surface receptors with the aim of elucidating possible mechanisms associated with a lack of responsiveness to EGF mitogenic stimulation. Comparison of our model calculations with the experiments of Schaudies et al. suggests at least two possible mechanisms: an increase in the rate of receptor synthesis, or an increase in the fraction of internalized receptors that are recycled to the cell surface. Discrimination between these alternatives requires experimental measurement of cell receptor quantities, such as the number of surface complexes or the amount of degraded receptor. At the present time, we speculate that an increase in the fraction of receptors recycled seems to be the more likely explanation.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Dolichol kinase activity in the developing rat testis.

Dolichyl phosphate concentrations, a primary factor in regulating the rate of N-glycosidically linked glycoprotein synthesis, are dependent upon a cytidine triphosphate (CTP)-dependent dolichol kinase. This study examines dolichol kinase in rat testicular microsomes and defines assay conditions. As with dolichol kinases from other tissues, addition of 2-mercaptoethanol increased activity 60%. Inclusion of NaF, an inhibitor of testicular dolichyl phosphate phosphatase activity, also resulted in a 38% increase in activity. Triton X-100 was necessary for phosphorylation of both endogenous and exogenous dolichol; however, concentrations of detergent in excess of 0.25-0.35% were inhibitory. A 2- to 5-fold stimulation of kinase activity was obtained by addition of 50-100 microM exogenous dolichol. The high level of nucleoside triphosphatase activity in testicular microsomes mandated the inclusion of high levels of uridine triphosphate (UTP) to protect the [gamma-32 P] CTP. Increasing UTP concentrations up to 50 mM resulted in increased product formation. A clear requirement for divalent cations was observed; 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) abolished activity. The following order of cation effectiveness was observed: Mn greater than or equal to Ca greater than Cd greater than Zn much greater than Mg. Ten mM optima were established for Ca2+ and Mn2+; the presence of UTP, however, results in significantly reduced concentrations of free Ca2+. Ion combination studies demonstrated interactive inhibitory effects between Ca2+ and other stimulatory divalent cations. Addition of 2 microM brain calmodulin, in the presence of 10 mM Ca2+, resulted in a 75-100% stimulation of activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMed1984

Audience effects when viewing aggressive movies.

In order to examine audience effects when viewing filmed violence, male subjects watched an aggressive or a neutral movie either alone, accompanied by a passive confederate (i.e. mere presence of a co-spectator), or an active one (i.e. reacting to the movie). The subsequent behavioural measures of subjects' aggression were collected via a modified aggression apparatus. The usual instigation effect of filmed violence was found. Furthermore, the type of audience also influenced aggression: subjects accompanied by an active confederate during the violent movie displayed their aggressive behaviour most. These findings stress the importance of the social context when filmed violence is viewed. The results are discussed in terms of social facilitation and disinhibition effects. It is suggested that an active audience may promote a reduction of restraints against aggressing by showing the subject that aggression is permissible.

Adult↗

PubMed1984