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Demonstrated that through brief demythologizing, college students' (N = 32) attitudes toward mental illness could be changed significantly in a non-medical model or psychosocial direction and that this attitude change apparently induced students to report a significantly reduced fear of contracting mental illness. Pretest-follow-up data comparisons confirmed the validity of these findings.
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OBJECTIVE: Mandated warnings are among the few steps Congress has taken to influence the use of legal substances such as alcohol. The usefulness of such warnings in discouraging abuse of alcohol is, however, controversial. This study examines the impact of televised warnings on probable antecedents of belief change not examined in previous research: confidence in beliefs about beer risks or benefits, and cognitive responses to the advertisements. METHOD: The present study (N = 75 male and female college students) tests four of the warnings recommended in Senate Bill 674 (1993--the "Thurmond bill") edited into randomly sampled television beer advertisements, using a between-subjects treatment-and-control experimental design. The four advertisements or advertisement/warning pairs were counterbalanced and analyzed as a repeated measures factor. RESULTS: The study indicated, as hypothesized, that subjects exposed to warnings tended to have less confidence in their generally skeptical assessments of beer risks--a likely precursor to belief change in resistant populations. Repeated exposure to the advertisements alone also appeared to lead to increased confidence in generally positive assessments of beer benefits, whereas repeated exposure to warnings led to decreased confidence in such assessments. Repeated exposure to warnings also may have primed negative reactions to subsequent beer advertisements. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest mechanisms by which alcohol warnings may over time influence beliefs. Measures used here may serve as useful criterion variables in future studies on warnings. Further attention to optimizing warning content and presentation is recommended.
Derived two predictions from Tesser's (1978) work on thought-induced polarization. First, the longer individuals thought in a constrained manner about a phobic object, the more strongly they would believe that they were able to cope with the object. Second, the longer individuals thought in an unconstrained manner about a phobic object, the more strongly they would believe that they were unable to cope with the object. It was also predicted that, in both cases, the relationship between thought and belief change would be monotonic. These hypotheses were tested by randomly assigning phobic individuals (N = 20) to one of two treatment conditions: Constrained thought or unconstrained thought. Beliefs about extra-laboratory behavior were used to assess the effects of treatment, and results supported all predictions.
This two-part article examines the competition between the clonal selection theory and the instructive theory of the immune response from 1957-1967. In Part I the concept of a temporally 'extended theory' is introduced, which requires attention to the hitherto largely ignored issue of theory individuation. Factors which influence the acceptability of such an extended theory at different temporal points are also embedded in a Bayesian framework, which is shown to provide a rational account of belief change in science. In Part II these factors, as elaborated in the Bayesian framework, are applied to the case of the success of the clonal selection theory and the failure of the instructive theory.
This two-part article examines the competition between the clonal selection theory and the instructive theory of the immune response from 1957-1967. In Part I the concept of a temporally 'extended theory' is introduced, which requires attention to the hitherto largely ignored issue of theory individuation. Factors which influence the acceptability of such an extended theory at different temporal points are also embedded in a Bayesian framework, which is shown to provide a rational account of belief change in science. In Part II these factors, as elaborated in the Bayesian framework, are applied to the case of the success of the clonal selection theory and the failure of the instructive theory.
There is growing agreement that at least certain kinds of delusions defend against negative self-evaluation, and in consequence that cognitive therapy for delusions needs to address issues of self-evaluation more explicitly. However, in practice it can be difficult to enable clients to see the connection between delusions and self-esteem. The present single-case study exemplifies the conceptual and practical application of cognitive therapy for individuals who are both paranoid and have strong negative self-evaluative beliefs. A multiple-baseline approach is used, whereby one man's negative self-evaluative belief and two paranoid delusions are challenged sequentially. Conviction in two of the three beliefs changes at the point of intervention; conviction in the third changes prior to intervention. We discuss the details of the case, as well as the wider implications for cognitive approaches to delusions.
Ss read either affirmations or denials of target propositions that ostensibly came from either newspapers or reference volumes. Denials of the validity of a proposition that was already assumed to be false increased Ss' beliefs in this proposition. The effect generalized to beliefs in related propositions that could be used to support the target's validity. When denials came from a newspaper, their "boomerang effect" was nearly equal in magnitude to the direct effect of affirming the target proposition's validity. When Ss were asked explicitly to consider the implications of the assertions, however, the impact of denials was eliminated. Affirmations of a target proposition that was already assumed to be true also had a boomerang effect. Results have implications for the effects of both semantic and pragmatic processing of assertions on belief change.
Do locus of control beliefs change in later life? Is locus of control related to aging-relevant outcomes involving intelligence and health? In past research on these topics, the use of unidimensional and generalized measures of locus of control has led to a set of inconsistent findings. Three studies were conducted to examine the usefulness of multidimensional and domain-specific measures of locus of control for examining age differences and correlates. College students and elderly adults were compared on Levenson's multidimensional and generalized (internal, chance, and powerful others) locus of control scales and two domain-specific versions related to intelligence and health. As predicted, no age differences were found with generalized measures, but the elderly were more external on intelligence- and health-specific locus of control dimensions. Age differences were found most often on the chance and powerful others control dimensions, suggesting that the elderly acknowledge the importance of external sources of control and at the same time preserve their sense of internal control. In addition, the domain-specific scales were better predictors of behavioral outcomes within their respective domains for the elderly but not for the young. The findings suggest that multidimensional and domain-specific conceptions of control are advantageous for aging research.
Belief and attitudinal change are important to the promotion of safer sexual behaviour. However, the individual decision-making psychology implicit in belief-change models provides only a partial picture of the determinants of sexual behaviour. A broader psychological understanding emphasizing the complex social skills involved in regulating sexual interaction is advocated. A discourse analysis critique of the viability of characterizing individuals' psychology on the basis of verbal responses is discussed and it is noted that psychological models linking such responses to underlying beliefs and cognitions must be based on measures which accurately predict health behaviour. It is concluded that an interactive model incorporating personal, interpersonal and situational constraints on sexual behaviour could be used to design effective programmes addressing barriers to HIV protection. Such interventions would promote communication and sexual negotiating skills and could be included in school curricula. This would have radical implications for sex education, shifting its theoretical basis from biology to social psychology and its methods from information-giving to participation and practice.
BACKGROUND: New health warnings and contents labelling on tobacco products were introduced in Australia in 1995. OBJECTIVE: To assess awareness of the new warnings at a time when a mix of packs with old and new warnings were being sold and on changes in relevant knowledge and attitudes from shortly before the implementation of the new warnings. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Approximately 500 smokers and 500 non-smokers were surveyed in December 1994, before implementation of the new warnings. Similar numbers were also surveyed in May 1995, part-way through implementation. Respondents were selected by random-digit dialling of telephone numbers in Australia. Smokers were oversampled. In addition, 243 smokers from the initial survey were re-surveyed in May 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Awareness of change to health warnings, knowledge of health warnings and tobacco smoke constituents, beliefs about the health effects of smoking, and perceived impact of the warnings. RESULTS: There was high awareness of the new warnings, particularly among smokers, with the increased size of the new warnings being the most salient feature. More than a third of smokers reported being affected by the warnings, with reductions in consumption and talking about warnings being the most common effects. Among smokers, there was an increase in knowledge about the main constituents of tobacco smoke. The number of types of health effects mentioned also increased as did the number of warnings correctly recalled. Overall beliefs about the six warning statements became stronger. Few changes were found for non-smokers. The knowledge and recall effects were replicated in the re-contact subsample, but the belief changes were not. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the new health warnings are resulting in better informed smokers and thus suggest that informative health warnings can play an important role in better informing consumers.
Clearly established policies can guide our actions and activities and focus our attention. As our beliefs change so do our policies. It is the right as well as the responsibility of each of us as members of the American Occupational Therapy Association to watch for changes in our environment that might affect our thinking or our beliefs regarding our profession's role. Ideas for changes should be brought to the attention of the Representative Assembly, who will then be able to take action on possible policy changes. Our active involvement in this process will ensure that our policies are not just rigid, constraining dictums but are alive and changing with the times and truly reflect our footprints in the past and serve as our signposts for the future.
Occupational therapy programs seek to integrate classroom theory and clinical reality. Early introduction of clinical contacts, concurrency of theory and practice, and coordinated program planning is directed to orderly growth and change in the occupational therapy student. It was hypothesized that, with complete integration of theory and practice, no sharp belief changes would occur during the first full-time field experience. Data from responses to social psychological instruments by one group of 28 occupational therapy seniors supported the hypothesis. There were no statistically significant changes in authoritarianism, dogmatism, or Machiavellianism during the first full-time field experience.
Healthcare can be considered in terms of three components: technical care, management of the interpersonal relationship, and the amenities of care. Evaluation of these parameters allows an assessment of the quality of care, but only if the specific characteristics of the country involved are taken into account. Standards, resource availability, customs, and beliefs change from one society to another. Care assessment criteria must change accordingly. Similarly, quality assurance depends on the design of a system appropriate to the particular conditions of each place, and on the efficient monitoring of the system's performance.
This study made use of concepts from the health belief model to test the influence of educational intervention on patient attitude and subsequent sick-role behavior. The hypothesis tested was as follows: Mothers of pediatric patients in an experimental group (N-29) receiving specially designed education about otitis media, would consequently acquire greater awareness of their children's susceptibility to the disease, the possibility of its serious effects, and the benefits of treatment than a comparable control group (N-30) not receiving the educational intervention. It was further hypothesized that patient compliance would be higher in the experimental group. Experimental group health beliefs changed in a significant, positive direction with respect to illness susceptibility and severity, the benefits of treatment, and patient modifying factors. Control group attitudes did not significantly change. Compliance rates for both groups were very high; 91.8% compliance was noted for experimental subjects and 85.6% for controls. This may reflect the additional time and attention given all those participating in the study.
This article argues that the case study design is a research method capable of providing valuable data and insight into alternative therapies. The background and roots of the case study in medicine and clinical practice are covered, and the status of the case study as a scientific method is examined. The highly regarded randomized controlled clinical trial--though often powerful and useful--is neither feasible nor ideal for understanding the effects of many unconventional treatment approaches. Given the complexity of the factors involved in unconventional therapeutic applications--health beliefs, changing health paradigms, patient/practitioner interactions, multiple treatment modalities, multiple symptom profiles--the case study approach offers an alternative methodological route for investigating and generating findings in this arena. Reliability and validity of data collection, data reduction, and interpretation can be enhanced through steps discussed in this article. As it continues to work with evidence that is currently unorganized, the field of alternative medicine can benefit both in clinical prowess and scientific stature from additional, carefully conducted case studies.
Education of nonscientists by scientists is assumed to be beneficial for enhancing public understanding of the research process and increasing public excitement about science. However, evaluation of audience response to receiving such information has rarely been performed. In particular, the effectiveness of communicating new research on alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence has never been evaluated. Evaluation data in the present study show significant knowledge transfer, belief changes, and participant reports of possible behavioral changes in targeted audiences. These occur when alcohol researchers present basic neuropharmacological concepts and new neurobiological research to audiences consisting primarily of chemical dependency counselors, social workers, criminal justice workers, physicians, nurses, family, clergy, and others interested in alcohol-related problems (defined as "clinicians" and the "reachable public"). Together, these results suggest that it is possible to change the beliefs, knowledge, and behavior of chemical dependency clinicians and the reachable public about alcoholism, its causes, and its treatment.
Maternal beliefs and practices related to acute diarrhea were evaluated in 69 villages of a district in Haryana. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) programme was introduced in 47 villages; in 25 by health workers and in 22 by health volunteers. Twenty two villages served as control. Impact was assessed by interviewing 200 mothers initially and 210 each, one and two year after initiating the programme. Dehydration as a complication of diarrhea was perceived by 67.2% mothers in health worker and 71.4% in volunteer villages of Intervention area as compared to only 32.8% in control area (P less than 0.01). In Intervention area, 88.6% mothers had tried ORT as compared to 22.8% in control area and 85% of the mothers found it to be useful. The restriction of breast feeding during acute diarrheal episode was favoured by only 15.7% mothers in intervention area and by 47.1% in control area (P less than 0.01). The knowledge regarding use of home available fluids in increased amounts did not show an impressive change. There was no change as regards understanding of cause of diarrhea. Favourable change in beliefs and practices is possible by instituting ORT with culturally relevant health education.