Frank Patalano

Personality Dimensions of Drug Abusers Who Enter a Drug-Free Therapeutic Community

The MMPI was administered to 160 drug abusers (40 white males, 40 white females, 40 black males, and 40 black females) who entered a residential drug-free therapeutic community. Results indicated that (1) the composite three-point MMPI code for the total sample was 489, (2) the males scored higher than the females on the K, D, Hy, Pt, Do, and Re scales, and lower on the Si scale, (3) the white subjects scored higher than the black subjects on the D, Hy, Pt, and Si scales, and lower on the L scale, and (4) there was no interaction between sex and race in the MMPI scores of the subjects. These data were discussed with respect to previous research and the background characteristics of the subjects.

Developing the Working Alliance in Marital Therapy; A Psychodynamic Perspective

A good working alliance in marital therapy is one in which the partners are actively collaborating with their therapist to work through conflicts. The therapist begins to develop the alliance by setting the frame of therapy and helping the couple understand the guidelines of treatment. The partners gradually identify with and emulate the therapists working style and use of self as a reflective instrument. The working alliance can be weakened by empathic failures and strengthened by increased feelings of trust in the therapist and the process of treatment This paper looks at the development of the working alliance in marital therapy from a psychodynamic perspective. A clinical illustration is included.

Effects of Familiar Proctor on Fifth and Sixth Grade Students' Test Anxiety

The effect of the proctors familiarity on four groups of students in Grades 5 and 6 was investigated. The 137 children took a reading examination, half of which was administered by a familiar proctor, the other half by an unfamiliar one. Order of conditions was controlled. Analysis showed that students had significantly lower reading scores with the unfamiliar proctor. Students with midrange IQs had significantly lower reading scores than those in the low or high ranges. A significant relationship between test anxiety and effects of the unfamiliar proctor on test performance was shown. Test anxiety contributed significantly to the relationship between self-esteem and performance.

MMPI Two-Point Code-Type Frequencies of Drug Abusers in a Therapeutic Community:

Two-point MMPI code-types of drug abusers in a psychiatric, residential, drug-free therapeutic community were obtained to identify the most frequent two-point codes of drug abusers and see if a large proportion of the protocols could be classified into a small number of two-point codes. Responses indicated that the 48/84 and 49/94 codes were most frequent, and 80.6% of the MMPI protocols could be classified into only seven two-point codes, 48/84, 49/94, 24/42, 89/98, 46/64, 78/87 and 28/82.

EFFECTS OF SERIAL POSITION ON BENDER-GESTALT ERRORS USING KOPPITZ'S CRITERIA '"

The validity of the Koppitz Developmental scoring system in identifying organic impairment among functionally impaired adolescents was challenged in the current study. It was proposed that there are two distinct subtypes of errors in this system: those that are valid indicators of organic impairment (Category A) and those which are not but occur as a function of specific emotional factors (Category B). 46 male adolescents with a primary diagnosis of Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder were administered the Bender-Gestalt once using the standard order of administration and once in reverse order. It was hypothesized that more errors would be committed on cards presented later than those presented earlier in sequence for Category B but not Category A errors. Analysis provided partial support for this hypothesis.

NARCISSISM AND HOSTILITY

The recent work of Hart and Joubert (1996) who reported correlations between scores on narcissism and hostility is commented upon with respect to expressions of hostility in narcissistic persons. Characteristics of the narcissistic personality observed in psychotherapy are noted, and suggestions are made regarding Hart and Jouberts call for research comparing the personality dimensions of hostile and nonhostile narcissistic persons.

MMPI diagnostic classification of substance abusers of the 1970s.

Retrospective analysis of the MMPI profiles of 160 substance abusers tested in the 1970s showed that 54% were classified as showing signs of characterological disorder, 32% thinking disturbance, and 9% emotional disturbance. Four percent of the profiles were asymptomatic. These findings are presented both to confirm the wider variety of psychopathology in substance abusers of the 1970s than earlier and to provide current researchers with comparative data.

HEIGHT ON THE DRAW-A-PERSON: COMPARISON OF FIGURE DRAWINGS OF BLACK AND WHITE MALE DRUG ABUSERS

The Draw-A-Person Test was administered to 30 black and 30 white male drug abusers, in a residential therapeutic community. Mean height and mean area of the female figures drawn by the black subjects were greater than the mean height and mean area of the female figures drawn by the white subjects. More black subjects drew the female figure taller than the male figure. Data were discussed in regard to family background and socio-cultural considerations.

From Projective Identification to Empathic Connection: The Transformation of a Marriage from the Inside Out

SUMMARY This article examines the challenging journey of successful coupling by understanding the marital relationship within a developmental framework. The process of Projective Identification is viewed as a useful concept found at the confluence of family systems and psycho-dynamic streams of thought, bridging the interpersonal and intrapsychic experience of couples whose individuative strivings are stalled. A map is offered for the transformation of a marriage from the stages of Idealization and Disillusionment toward the stage of Acceptance and empathic connection.