Gregory J. Boyle

Aerobic exercise, mood states and menstrual cycle symptoms

This study examined the effects of regular, moderate exercise on mood states and menstrual cycle symptoms. A group of female regular exercisers (N = 97), and a second group of female nonexercisers (N = 159), completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) and the Differential Emotions Scale (DES-IV) premenstrually, menstrually and intermenstrually. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) revealed significant effects for exercise on negative mood states and physical symptoms, and significant effects on all measures across menstrual cycle phase. The regular exercisers obtained significantly lower scores on impaired concentration, negative affect, behaviour change and pain. No differences were found between groups on positive affect and other physical symptoms.

Critical review of state-trait curiosity test development

State-trait research offers good prospects for new insights into human curiosity. It has already generated development of new scales, and several studies have been undertaken independently in Australia and the United States. This paper critically reviews the development of state [C-State] and trait [C-Trait] curiosity scales, pointing out methodological limitations in the existing state-trait curiosity studies. Specific recommendations are made with the aim of enhancing future research in this area.

Measurement and statistical models in the study of personality and intelligence.

Theorizing about personality and intelligence structure initially was limited to prescientific literary and philosophical “insights” (see Howard, 1993). Among these early psychological approaches. Freudian psychoanalytic theory almost certainly has had the major influence on thinking about human personality during the early 20th century, although psychoanalysis itself has now come under critical scrutiny (see H. J. Eysenck, 1985a; Masson, 1990). Another prominent theorist was Murray, who postulated such “needs” as abasement, achievement, aggression, change, cognitive structure, endurance, nurturance, order, sentience, and understanding. Likewise, Jung’s introversion-extraversion theory has been influential. The comparatively subjective models of theorists such as Freud, Adler, Jung, Fromm, Erikson, Homey, Maslow, and Sullivan, however, must now be rejected as scientifically unacceptable. Around 1920, the emphasis changed from clinical premetric speculations to more quantitative and overtly experimental approaches, along with recognition of the ability and personality sphere concepts. The inadequacy of socioenvironmental explanations of personality, though, has been amply demonstrated by Zuckerman (1991). Personality is not solely the outcome of family and social conditioning. H. J. Eysenck (1991) has pointed out that these theories are essentially untestable; they are based on speculative or falsified deductions, and they ignore virtually all the experimental and empirical research conducted this century.

Male circumcision: pain, trauma, and psychosexual sequelae

Infant male circumcision continues despite growing questions about its medical justification. As usually performed without analgesia or anaesthetic, circumcision is observably painful. It is likely that genital cutting has physical, sexual and psychological consequences too. Some studies link involuntary male circumcision with a range of negative emotions and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some circumcised men have described their current feelings in the language of violation, torture, mutilation and sexual assault. In view of the acute as well as long-term risks from circumcision and the legal liabilities that might arise, it is timely for health professionals and scientists to re-examine the evidence on this issue and participate in the debate about the advisability of this surgical procedure on unconsenting minors.

Re-examination of the major personality-type factors in the Cattell, Comrey and Eysenck scales: Were the factor solutions by Noller et al. optimal?

Abstract A recent higher-order factor analysis of the Cattell, Comrey and Eysenck personality scales by Noller, Law and Comrey (1987) in the J. Person. Soc. Psychol. 53, 775–782 provided a useful account of the number and nature of normal personality-type dimensions measured within the questionnaire, self-report domain. The analyses reported were based on an exemplary sample of Australian adults, matched carefully across sex, age, and social class, thereby providing a sound basis for investigating personality structure. Noller et al. extracted and rotated seven separate factors using procedures suggested by Comrey ( A First Course in Factor Analysis . Academic Press, New York, 1973), thereby attaining moderate approximation of the final rotated solution to maximum simple structure. In an attempt to improve on the approximation to simple structure criteria, the present study reanalysed the Noller et al. data set and presents the results of a 6-factor oblique solution derived from the intercorrelations of all 33 variables included in the Noller et al. study, as well as a 5-factor solution based on the intercorrelations of the 25 personality scales alone. The present findings agree strongly with the conclusions of Noller et al. that there are indeed five major personality-type dimensions within the normal trait sphere, but suggest a slightly different interpretation of these structural dimensions.

Examination of the reliability and validity of the Personality Assessment Inventory

The reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) — a multidimensional self-report measure of abnormal personality traits — were examined within the Australian context. Subjects included 151 normals, 30 alcoholics, and 30 schizophrenic patients. A subsample of 70 nonpsychiatric adults responded to the PAI items twice over a test-retest interval of 28 days. The resulting median retest coefficient was 0.7, indicating less than optimal stability. The median alpha (KR21) coefficient was 0.8, suggesting somewhat narrow measurement scales. A significant multivariate main effect was obtained across groups after the effects of age and gender were removed. Multiple comparisons for each of the PAI scales revealed significant differences between the respective groups, as discussed. A higher-order scale factoring did not strongly support the purported PAI structure. In reanalyses of the correlation matrices included in the Professional Manual, the purported PAI factor structure was unable to be replicated for the standardization clinical sample (N=1246), and a confirmatory factor analysis using the normative (validation) correlational data (N=1000) revealed poor fit indices, raising further concerns about construct validity.

Interaction of psychosocial and physical risk factors in the causation of mammary cancer, and its prevention through psychological methods of treatment

Some 8059 healthy women (mean age 58 years) were studied in 1973 with the aim of establishing the presence or absence of a variety of physical and psychological risk factors for mammary cancer. Mortality was established in 1988. factor predictors were highly significant. Physical risk factors were more predictive than psychological ones, but both interacted synergistically to predict mortality. Alone, psychological (stress) factors had little effect, while-physical factors did. However, psychological factors seemed to potentiate the effect of physical factors, particularly in the middle range. The causal relevance of psychological factors was established in a special intervention study using autonomy training as a method of prophylactic therapy and comparing outcome with the effects of no therapy (control).

A reanalysis of the higher-order factor structure of the motivation analysis test and the eight state questionnaire

Abstract In an exploratory study of the higher-order factor structure of the Motivation Analysis Test (MAT) and the Eight State Questionnaire (8SQ), Boyle (1983c) obtained an 11-factor solution comprising 9 second-order MAT factors and 2 higher-order 8SQ factors. However, application of more conservative criteria regarding the size of significant factor pattern loadings, significance of derived factors, together with reinterpretation of the appropriate Scree ‘break’, suggest that in Boyles earlier analysis 2 factors too many were extracted. Recalculation of the factor pattern for the MAT (using 8SQ data as ‘hyperplane stuff’) supports the view that 7 rather than 9 second-order MAT factors were appropriate. A separate dR-factoring of the intercorrelations of the subscale difference scores indicated 3 higher-order 8SQ factors, indicative of change dimensions, and not 2 factors as found in the static single-occasion combined factoring of both the MAT and 8SQ data.

Elucidation of motivation structure by dynamic calculus

Early attempts to understand motivation were limited to literary and philosophical theories. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, subjective speculation about human motive structures resulted in nothing less than confusion. The major theorists, including Freud (1958), Jung (1923), Adler (1930), Bleuler (1950), McDougall (1932), Murray (1962), and Maslow (1954), left the question of motivation structure largely unresolved. Freud (1933) obviously postulated too few motives. According to his two-motive theory, homo sapiens is impelled by life and death instincts (Eros and Thanatos). The notion of instincts came under heavy criticism during the 20th century due to its inherent circularity and lack of relevance to human behavior. Murray’s (1962) speculations took the opposite extreme with his postulation of 20 needs. While Murray at least recognized the multiplicity of human motives, his ad hoc methodology was inadequate. Murray’s 20 proposed needs were nevertheless incorporated into measurement instruments by Jackson (1967) and Edwards (1959). Unfortunately, these measures were based naively on face validity, which resulted in their being transparent and superficial. The construct validity of the several needs offered by Murray was never established. To achieve this, it would have been necessary to employ appropriate multivariate statistical procedures such as factor analysis. However, it was not until 1947 that Thurstone published his revolutionary book titled Multiple Factor Analysis, and accordingly early motivation theorists such as Murray had little but clinical hunches to go on. Regrettably, despite the publication of Thurstone’s book, motivational theorists have been reticent to invoke mathematical, quantitatively testable theories.

Relationship of humour to health: A psychometric investigation

The effects of humour on health were investigated using a sample of 504 individuals comprising three groups (community group, university students, and respondents with a medical condition). Hypotheses were: (1). that after controlling for other variables, humour would be significantly associated with health: (2). that individuals with a greater sense of humour would report significantly higher levels of good health as compared with those with less humour; and (3). that the assessment of the factor structure of the Multidimensional Sense of Humour Scale (MSHS) would support its construct validity in the Australian context. The present findings supported the view that a sense of humour is associated with health, and also provided support for the validity and reliability of the MSHS instrument.