Ilaria Durosini

Exploring Children's Induced Defensiveness to the Tell Me a Story Test (TEMAS)

ABSTRACT This study examined the effect of inducing a defensive attitude (fake good) in children on their responses to the Tell Me a Story test (TEMAS; Costantino, Malgady, & Rogler, 1988). Different story elicitation procedures were employed to explore their efficacy for inducing a defensive response style in children. Eighty-four Italian children aged 8 to 10 years old completed the TEMAS and the L scale of the Behavioral Assessment Scale for Children–2 (BASC–2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004), which were used to detect the adoption of a defensive attitude. Children completed the tests under 1 of 3 conditions: (a) honest condition, (b) fake good with verbal instructions, and (c) fake good with verbal instructions and visual stimuli illustrating what was verbally explained. Using simultaneous verbal instructions and visual stimuli facilitated childrens understanding of the researchers instructions compared to using verbal stimuli alone. Results showed that children instructed to fake good used less time to tell stories and tended to modify the simpler and more face valid aspects of their stories. Still, 29 out of 47 children failed to fake good on the BASC–2 L scale. More complex TEMAS variables showed no significant difference between story elicitation conditions.

Factor structure invariance and discriminant validity of the Self-Curiosity Attitude-Interest scale

This study evaluated the factor structure of the Self-Curiosity Attitude-Interest (SCAI) scale. We conducted analyses of the configural, metric, and scalar factor invariance of the SCAI using data from three groups of participants with varying levels of fluid intelligence. We also explored the relationship between fluid intelligence and self-curiosity. The results provided support for the previously identified two-component factor structure of the SCAI (Aschieri & Durosini, 2015). The factor structure was invariant across the different levels of participant intelligence. Furthermore, as expected, regression analyses did not yield a significant relationship between self-curiosity and fluid intelligence. Limitations of this study and areas for future research are discussed.

Therapeutic Assessment With a Client With Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder: A Single-Case Time-Series Design:

This article presents the results of a study into the effectiveness of therapeutic assessment (TA), a brief form of intervention that incorporates the results of assessment findings into psychological treatment. The history of Anthony, a man who reported symptoms of persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD), associated with major depression disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is presented. After his parents’ deaths, Anthony became detached from reality, lost all pleasure in his everyday life, and found it impossible to overcome the devastating feelings related to the loss. Following TA principles, the assessor created a supportive and empathic relationship with Anthony and helped him attain his goals for the assessment. The assessment was monitored using a single-case quasi-experimental design with time-series analysis. Results of this study revealed a specific trajectory of Anthony’s self-reported symptoms and a statistically significant trend toward improvement in severity at the end of the TA. This case study highlights the utility and efficacy of TA in helping clients process traumatic losses and complicated bereavements.