Harman D. Burck

Career development of men at mid-life

Abstract It is proposed that the career development theory of Super (The psychology of careers. New York: Harper & Row, 1957 .) should be revised to include an additional developmental stage which occurs at midlife. To justify this proposal, a definition of a developmental stage is offered and findings from recent studies of male middlescence are examined for indications of the presence of such a stage. The implications for career development theory and counseling practice arising from the acceptance of this stage are discussed. Finally, suggestions are made as to how practitioners may assist those entering their middle years to negotiate the mid-life stage and to avoid the crisis it may contain.

The Effectiveness of a Generic Computer Program for Systematic Desensitization.

Abstract Further evaluation of a computer program designed to provide systematic desensitization is presented along with a brief description of the program. The five subjects are followed for over eight months after successful completion of the program. Clinically significant gains were maintained.

A generic computer program for systematic desensitization: Description, construction and case study

A computer program designed to provide systematic desensitization for phobias is described. Clients are taught by computer-aided instruction to develop their own personalized phobic hierarchy which is then used by the computer as the phobic stimulus in desensitization proper. The results of a pilot trial with an agoraphobic client indicate that the computer program was successful.

The Failure to Construct an MMPI-2-Based Self-Mutilative Behavior Scale:

Thirty identified self-mutilating patients in a large state mental hospital were compared with 30 patients at the same facility who were matched on the basis of gender, race, and diagnosis, but were not identified as self-mutilators. A Multivariate Analysis of Covariance and a two group chi-square analysis were employed to determine if a selected set of variables from the MMPI-2 (Anger, Anxiety, and Depression content scales, and Psychasthenia, Social Introversion, Psychopathic Deviance, Schizophrenia, and Hypomania) could effectively discriminate between the two groups. Neither procedure produced results of statistical significance. The results of the study are discussed in terms of individual differences and the difficulty of establishing a profile with the MMPI-2 predictive of self-mutilative behavior.