Bruno M. Kappes

Biofeedback vs. Video Games: Effects on Impulsivity, Locus of Control and Self-Concept with Incarcerated Juveniles.

Research has found hyperactivity, poor impulse control, impaired sustained attention and low self-concept to be behavioral deficits common to juvenile delinquents. Limited opportunities for exercising self-control while incarcerated may encourage helplessness. If biofeedback training enhances self-regulation skills, then perhaps these behaviors can be taught in confinement. A sample of 12 felonious juvenile residents (aged 15-18) from a highly restricted environment were assigned randomly to a biofeedback or video game group and trained for 10 half-hour sessions. Results indicated virtually no significant differences between biofeedback and video game training. However, pre and post differences for both groups combined demonstrated significant gains in impulsivity, EMG, and self-concept. Both groups rated themselves equally on self-control ability, regardless of training. Further comparisons between other institutionalized residents (N = 14) and staff counselors (N = 10) as non-treatment controls were made. On each measure, both training groups improved consistently and became more like their less restricted counterparts.

Sequence effects of relaxation training, EMG, and temperature biofeedback on anxiety, symptom report, and self-concept.

Assessed the effects of particular treatment combinations of relaxation training, temperature, and EMG biofeedback on state-trait anxiety, symptom report, and self-concept. The four groups received one of the following sequences: (a) relaxation training, temperature, and EMG biofeedback; (b) temperature, EMG biofeedback, and relaxation; (c) temperature followed by EMG biofeedback; (d) EMG biofeedback followed by temperature. A sample of 37 volunteers participated in 16 20-minute training sessions over an 11-week period, which totaled 800 appointments. Training was found equally effective for decreasing frontalis EMG and increasing finger skin temperature, regardless of sequence. Most substantial improvement occurred after 8 sessions, whereas little improvement was found after 16 sessions. Each group became increasingly homogeneous over time on all measures.

Effects of neutral posture on muscle tension during computer use.

This study focused on developing a new approach to seated work positions as conducted on 67 office workers who use a Visual Display Terminal (VDT) as a major function of their working day. Muscle tension was measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) while participants were asked to adopt 4 selected working postures. Pain was measured before and after ergonomic intervention on the Nordic scale, which was modified for this study. Adjustable workstations were used to place participants in desired positions during the clinical testing sessions and the extended intervention period. Results indicate the effects of this ergonomic intervention may have positive effects on muscle tension and pain, significant enough to encourage employers to implement training and workstation modifications following these guidelines.

The Personal Attribute Inventory: a Measure of Self-Concepts and Personality Profiles

Parish and Eads (1977) and Parish, Eads, and Adams (1977) reported that the Personal Attribute Inventory (PAI) was significantly correlated with two self-concept measures, i.e., the unfavorable and favorable subscales of Goughs (1952) Adjective Check List. As further evidence that the PAI is a self-concept scale, the present study required 265 college students to respond to it and to the 16 PF. As hypothesized, the PAI was significantly related to the self-concept factor (Q 3) on the 16 PF (males: r = -.47; females: r = -.29; both sexes: r = -.37, all p < .001, respectively). In addition, the PAI was found to be significantly correlated with eleven other personality factors on the 16 PF. Thus, the PAI was actually able to provide personality profiles of those deemed to exhibit high or low standing on 12 of 16 PF scales in directions that were judged to be associated with high and low self-concepts.

Concurrent Validity of the Personal Attribute Inventory as a Self-Concept Scale

The Personal Attribute Inventory has demonstrated promise as a self-concept scale. Scores have been significantly correlated with measures of self-concept and several personality factors on the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. This study examined the responses of 38 volunteers on self-concept, anxiety, and self-reports of symptoms. Significant correlations were .60 with State Anxiety, .75 with Trait Anxiety and .54 with Symptom Check List, which suggest, as a function of negative self-concept, that the Personal Attribute Inventory may reflect various anxiety states and accompanied somatic complaints.

Remembering Neal Miller

Abstract The author describes two encounters with Neal Miller, including a discussion of the pioneering curare/visceral learning experiments and of Millers perspective on the biofeedback training paradigm.