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Biomedical subjects

S B Messer

Publications and source records attributed to S B Messer.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Taking context seriously in psychotherapy research: relating therapist interventions to patient progress in brief psychodynamic therapy.

This study examined the process of brief psychodynamic therapy in a way that preserved the context of the dialogue between therapist and patient. Data were drawn from transcripts of the complete therapies of 2 anxious and depressed women, which lasted 16 to 17 sessions. Patient utterances were rated on a psychodynamically oriented progress-stagnation scale, and all therapist interventions were rated on scales measuring (a) their compatibility with the content of a psychodynamic formulation (Plan) and (b) their quality. Within-session sequential analyses and by session and by phase-of-therapy correlational analyses were performed. Plan compatibility of therapist interventions correlated significantly with patient progress in the early and middle phases, and the quality of therapist interventions correlated significantly with patient progress in the middle phase.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1980

Interaction effects of internal vs. external locus of control and directive vs. nondirective therapy: fact or fiction?

Examined critically studies that claim that internals are more successful in nondirective therapy and externals in directive therapy. Deficiencies in the design, statistical analysis, and outcome measures employed in these studies led to the conclusion that only slim support exists currently for the interaction hypothesis. Rotter's (1975) discussion of common misunderstandings of the locus of control construct and misuses of the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale provided one context within which to explain the equivocal results. Finally, the ingredients of a research design considered adequate to test the interaction hypothesis were presented.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Sex differences in children's expression and control of fantasy and overt aggression.

The present study explored sex differences in children's expression and control of fantasy and overt aggression. Fifth-grade boys and girls were presented a TAT-like projective test to measure fantasy aggression and controls over aggression. Overt peer-oriented aggression was measured by peer and teacher ratings. Results indicated that boys were rated more physically and verbally aggressive than girls but not more indirectly aggressive. Boys also produced more physical aggression in fantasy than girls, although the opposite trend was found for indirect aggression; no sex difference was found for verbal fantasy aggression. Finally, girls had a higher ratio of aggression control per total fantasy aggression than boys. The results support the position that while boys, in contrast to girls, are socialized in a way that encourage direct expression of aggression, girls are just as likely to be aggressive as boys when the aggression is indirect. The results are discussed further from the perspective of social learning theory and Maccoby and Jacklin's biological position.

Aggression↗
PubMed1979

The relation of conceptual tempo to aggression and its control.

The relationship of conceptual tempo to fantasy and overt aggression and its control was examined in order to test the generalizability of this cognitive style to domains of social and personality functioning. Fifth-grade boys and girls were administered the Matching Familiar Figures Test and a projective measure of fantasy aggression and its control and were rated sociometrically by peers and teachers on physical, verbal, and indirect forms of overt aggression. While reflective and impulsive children did not differ in degree of fantasy aggression expressed, impulsive children, especially boys, were found to exercise less control over their aggressive thoughts than the other 3 conceptual tempo groups. Impulsive and slow-inaccurate children were also more overtly aggressive, especially in comparison with fast-accurates. In addition, fantasy aggression predicted overt aggression in impulsives but not in reflectives. This study presents new evidence that conceptual tempo relates to areas beyond problem solving involving the child's social-emotional makeup.

Aggression↗
PubMed1976

Psychotherapy with patients from lower socioeconomic groups.

Patients of lower socioeconomic status are only infrequently considered for individual psychodynamic psychotherapy even where cost is not a factor. Reasons for this bias are examined and suggestions are made for correcting such inadvertent discrimination.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗