Lawrence Simkins

Attitudes toward AIDS, Herpes II, and Toxic Shock Syndrome

The purposes of this study were to determine by questionnaire current attitudes about AIDS, herpes, and Toxic Shock Syndrome and to what extent concern about these diseases affected behavior of 232 volunteers from classes in a midwestern university. The majority of the respondents expressed relatively little concern about any of these diseases. Except for a few respondents who expressed extreme concern, there were also no changes in current self-reported rates of sexual activity compared to a year ago. Male homosexuals expressed more concern about AIDS than other sexual preference groups. However, this did not appear to affect their level of sexual activity. Female respondents expressed relatively more concern about Toxic Shock Syndrome than either AIDS or herpes but the majority of them were still users of tampons. Previous media reports had indicated there was significant curtailment in sexual activity as a result of herpes and AIDS. It is hypothesized that the media reports were based on surveys of areas that had higher actual incidence rates of these diseases than was observed in this sample. Concern about these diseases and any psychological impact may be a function of the incidence of disease.

The reliability of self-recorded behaviors

The purpose of this paper is to make explicit some of the problems involved in assessing the reliability of self-recorded measures of behavior. An examination of investigations in the area of self-regulation of behavior revealed instances in which there either had been no assessment of the reliability of the self-recordings or else such procedures were not made explicit. In the absence of reliability estimates it is difficult to evaluate the reported successes of behavior-therapy techniques that make use of self-control procedures. At the very least, reliability estimates in terms of interobserver agreement should be reported. The current procedures for recording self-behavior and their relationship to the problems of reliability assessment are discussed.

ATTITUDES TOWARD AIDS, HERPES II, AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME: TWO YEARS LATER

Within the past two years there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of AIDS. There has also been a corresponding increase in attention in the media specifically to AIDS and more generally to sexually transmitted diseases and other health-related issues. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there have now been any corresponding changes in attitudes toward diseases such as AIDS, Herpes II, and toxic shock syndrome and if any of these diseases has affected sexual activity. We were also interested in determining the relationship between homophobia and the extent of concern about these diseases. Our results suggest little change either in attitudes or in sexual behavior for the majority of our respondents. Men, particularly homosexuals, continue to be the most concerned about AIDS. Such concern affected the sexual activity of homosexual men more than that of heterosexual men and women. A low but significant correlation between homophobic attitudes and concern about AIDS and herpes was obtained. Women continue to have more concern about toxic shock syndrome than either AIDS or herpes.

The Multiphasic Sex Inventory: Diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in child sexual abusers

The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) in predicting treatment progress and therapy outcome of child sexual abuse perpetrators and to examine the diagnostic potential of this instrument for differentiating perpetrator characteristics. The MSI was administered to 122 clients prior to their entry into therapy and again at three month intervals for nine months. No significant changes in MSI scales were found during the nine month period. Retest correlations on the initial test and the first three month retest period ranged from .42 to .84 with an average of .71. Using the initial MSI scores as predictors, the MSI was able to predict between 30% and 47% of treatment variance, depending on what measure was used as a criterion. It was able to differentiate between treatment outcome (success vs. failure) with 70.9% accuracy. The Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault, Cognitive Distortion/Immaturity, Lie, and Sex Knowledge Scales were the most salient variables in predicting treatment progress and outcome. A factor analysis of the MSI Scales yielded four factors: Assault, Sexual Fantasy, Denial/Dysfunction, and Normal. The Assault Factor accounted for the largest proportion of variance. Results also indicated that the MSI could 1) differentiate among abusers who molest males, females, and both sexes and 2) among abusers who molest only intrafamilial victims, only extrafamilial victims, and those who molest both kinds of victims. The MSI is also an excellent instrument for differentiating between deniers and non-deniers of abuse. The implications of the MSI as an instrument measuring denial is discussed and an MSI profile of a successful therapy candidate is sketched.

Risk of HIV transmission in sexual behaviors of college students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sexual behaviors of college students and assess the extent to which they were engaging in behaviors that have a risk for contracting AIDS. A total of 132 single sexually active students and 58 married students responded to a survey on their sexual behaviors and attitudes. Risk behaviors such as engaging in unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, practicing anal sex, alcohol use, and infidelity and deceptive communication with partner were examined. Compared with earlier surveys on the same population, there was an increase in concern about contracting AIDS and a significant increase in the percentage of students who took the AIDS antibody test. Although none indicated they would lie to partners about a seropositive AIDS test, a few would not tell their partner unless specifically asked. A small percentage of subjects would have extradyadic relations without informing their steady partners and a small number of respondents indicated they might continue to engage in sexual relations with a seropositive partner or a new partner who recently had a seronegative AIDS test. The risks most predominant in this sample were the practice of unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, and the consumption of alcohol in conjunction with sexual activity. With the exception of unprotected intercourse, the majority of respondents were engaging in behaviors that pose a minimal risk for contracting AIDS.

Male and female sexual vocabulary in different interpersonal contexts

Abstract Previous investigators have demonstrated a wide divergence in a number of linguistic units and patterns of non‐verbal communication between men and women. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the vocabulary usage of men and women when discussing sexual concepts in a variety of interpersonal contexts. Two hundred two subjects at a Midwestern university anonymously reported their preference of sexual terminology for male and female genitalia and the act of copulation when discussing these terms with same sex friends, mixed company, parents, and lovers. The results demonstrate that the interpersonal context and the sex of the speaker often determine both the specific word(s) used and the amount of response variation. Females, more than males, have more stringent limitations on their sexual vocabulary repertoire. The differences between males and females are a function of both the interpersonal context and the specific sexual concept under discussion. The possible relationship between voc...

Update on AIDS and sexual behavior of college students : seven years later

This survey of 54 single, sexually active college students indicated that there has been a significant increase in concern about AIDS compared to a survey on a similar sample in 1985. A majority of this sample have been involved in monogamous relationships during the past year and 35% have had the AIDS test on which no seropositive results were reported. Yet, despite an increase in AIDS in the nations heterosexual population, the majority of students continue to engage in unprotected sexual relations. Nevertheless, the over-all pattern of results suggests that there has been a clear shift toward more conservative sexual practices compared to the casual lifestyles during the pre-AIDS era and the early 1980s.

Biofeedback: Clinically Valid or Oversold?

Despite over 20 years of research, the clinical effectiveness of biofeedback has not been established. Nevertheless the use of biofeedback techniques has been promulgated as a beneficial form of treatment for a wide variety of disorders. Although some biofeedback applications seem to be highly effective, the research underlying many other types of application remains equivocal. This article addresses a number of the more important critical issues, both methodological and conceptual that are in need of resolution before biofeedback can be promoted as a clinically valid treatment procedure on as wide a basis as is presently the case.

REINFORCEMENT OF DURATION OF TALKING IN TRIAD GROUPS

The purpose was to investigate the conditions in which the verbal interactions in a triad of Ss could be manipulated so as to increase the duration of talking by one member of the triad. Ss were placed in individual isolation booths and requested to discuss psychiatric case histories. Five different reinforcement programs were studied. Although all programs were effective with some triads, the program which involved a combination of reinforcement and punishment contingencies produced the most consistent effects.

Characteristics of Sexually Repressed Child Molesters

This was an exploratory investigation the purpose of which was to compare sexually repressed and nonrepressed child abuse offenders on therapy progress and on a battery of personality and research instruments. From information obtained on a psychosexual history interview, 68 child molesters were categorized as either repressed, nonrepressed or exploitive. Results indicated that a significantly larger proportion of therapy failures were offenders who were sexually repressed. There were also significant differences between repressed and nonrepressed offenders on some of the special research scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Burt Rape Myth Scales, some of the Multiphasic Sex Inventory scales and the Moshers Sex Guilt Scale. Differences on these measures are consistent with the characteristics of intrafamilial child molesters reported in the clinical and research literature. The results of this investigation are, however, quite speculative due to the small sample size of the repressed group. It is also conceivable that differences in treatment effectiveness between repressed and nonrepressed groups may be attributable to differences in social skills rather than to sexual repression.