This article presents a theory of how different types of discrepancies between self-state representations are related to different kinds of emotional vulnerabilities. One domain of the self (actual; ideal; ought) and one standpoint on the self (own; significant other) constitute each type of self-state representation. It is proposed that different types of self-discrepancies represent different types of negative psychological situations that are associated with different kinds of discomfort. Discrepancies between the actual/own self-state (i.e., the self-concept) and ideal self-states (i.e., representations of an individual's beliefs about his or her own or a sitmifieant other's hopes, wishes, or aspirations for the individual) signify the absence of positive outcomes, which is associated with dejection-related emotions (e.g., disappointment, dissatisfaction, sadness). In contrast, discrepancies between the actual/own self-state and ought self-states (i.e., representations of an individual's beliefs about his or her own or a significant other's beliefs about the individual's duties, responsibilities, or obligations) signify the presence of negative outcomes, which is associated with agitation-related emotions (e.g., fear, threat, restlessness). Differences in both the relative magnitude and the accessibility of individuals' available types of self-discrepancies are predicted to be related to differences in the kinds of discomfort people are likely to experience. Correlational and experimental evidence supports the predictions of the model. Differences between self-discrepancy theory and (a) other theories of incompatible self-beliefs and (b) actual self negativity (e.g., low self-esteem) are discussed.

http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/hortonr/articles%20for%20class/Higgins.pdf

Self-discrepancy: a theory relating self and affect.

Erik Eriksen is a remarkable individual. He has no college degrees yet is Professor of Human Development at Harvard University. He came to psychology via art, which explains why the reader will find him painting contexts and backgrounds rather than stating dull facts and concepts. He has been a training psychoanalyst for many years as well as a perceptive observer of cultural and social settings and their effect on growing up. This is not just a book on childhood. It is a panorama of our society. Anxiety in young children, apathy in American Indians, confusion in veterans of war, and arrogance in young Nazis are scrutinized under the psychoanalytic magnifying glass. The material is well written and devoid of technical jargon. The theme of the volume is that it is human to have a long childhood which will leave a lifelong residue of emotional immaturity in man. Primitive groups and

Childhood and Society.

PurposeTo systematically review articles reporting on depression, anxiety, and burnout among U.S. and Canadian medical students.MethodMedline and PubMed were searched to identify peer-reviewed English-language studies published between January 1980 and May 2005 reporting on depression, anxie

http://www.medical-mastermind-community.com/uploads/63-Systematic_Review_of_Depression_Anxiety_and.9.pdf

Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students.

The Seasons of a Man’s Life

This study examined the psychometric properties of the "original" seven factored scales derived by Aldwin et al. from Folkman and Lazarus' Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL) versus a revised set of scales. Four psychometric properties were examined including the reproducibility of the factor structure of the original scales, the internal consistency reliabilities and intercorrelations of the original and the revised scales, the construct and concurrent validity of the scales, and their relationships to demographic factors. These properties were studied on three distressed samples: 83 psychiatric outpatients, 62 spouses of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and 425 medical students. The revised scales were consistently shown to be more reliable and to share substantially less variance than the original scales across all samples. In terms of construct validity, depression was positively related to the revised Wishful Thinking Scale and negatively related to the revised Problem-Focused Scale consistently across samples. Anxiety was also related to these scales, and in addition, it was positively related to the Seeks Social Support Scale across samples. The Mixed Scale was the only original scale that was consistently related to depression and anxiety across the three samples. Evidence for concurrent validity was provided by the fact that medical students in group therapy had significantly higher original and revised scale scores than students not participating in such groups. Both sets of scales were shown to be generally free of demographic biases.

The Ways of Coping Checklist: Revision and psychometric properties.

Rape challenges a woman's ability to maintain her defenses and thus arouses feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inadequacy. Women's individual responses are determined by life stage considerations as well as their defensive structures: concerns about separation-individuation may be aroused in the young woman; a divorced or separated woman may find her credibility questioned; older women's fears of sexual inadequacy may be compounded. In counseling, the victim's previous adjustment should be assessed, she should be given support and reassurance, and specific considerations related to her life circumstances should be acknowledged and dealt with.

The rape victim: psychodynamic considerations.

Of 130 women initially seen in a general hospital emergency room after being raped, the authors were able to interview 41 of the women 1-21/2 years after the rape. Half of the women continued to fear being alone and three-quarters reported still being suspicious of others. Many also felt restricted in their daily lives and had self-reported episodes of depression and sexual problems, which they attributed to the rape; none had a history of mental or emotional disturbance. The authors recommend that short-term, issue-oriented therapy be made available for all rape victims, as well as resources for the treatment of long-term symptoms.

A Follow-Up Study of Rape Victims

Our knowledge about personality development, and the interrelationships between personality and psychopathology, has expanded and it has incorporated findings from many fields. There is co...

Personality Development and Psychopathology

There is uncertainty about the future role of psychodynamic psychotherapy in psychiatric practice and education. The Association for Academic Psychiatry and the American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training formed a joint task force to review the issue. It developed a rationale for continued training in expressive psychotherapy and a model curriculum for such training that is both effective and realistic in terms of the diverse demands and structures of modern residencies. A minimum curriculum was also designed for resource-poor programs.

Psychotherapy training for the psychiatrist of the future.

The authors discuss the relevance of a therapist`s pregnancy to the therapeutic interaction, presenting case histories to illustrate the issues that arise. The therapist must deal with increased vulnerability, role integration, and dependency issues with colleagues. In the patient, the pregnancy may evoke infantile feelings, intensified maternal transference, and internal sexual conflicts. The authors recommend that the therapist deal with her pregnancy openly and realistically; they believe that working through the reactions of both therapist and patient may be an effective aspect of therapy.

Malkah T. Notman

Papers

The rape victim: psychodynamic considerations.

A Follow-Up Study of Rape Victims

Personality Development and Psychopathology

Psychotherapy training for the psychiatrist of the future.

The pregnant therapist.