María Xesús Froján Parga

Illness Behavior: Prediction by Symptoms, the Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck Personality Types, Neuroticism, Life Events, Coping, Health Locus of Control, Social Support, and Attribution Style

A study was carried out with 501 persons to analyze the predictive capacity of various psychosocial variables-symptom perception, neuroticism, Personality Types 2 and 4 of Grossarth-Maticek and Eysenck, beliefs about health, social support, or certain coping styles-on two health-related behaviors: the frequency of visits to the doctor and self-medication. The results were analyzed by two structural equation models that revealed that some of the variables have direct effects on the behaviors, whereas other variables, such as attribution style, coping styles, or the impact of the stressors, have indirect effects via the reported symptoms or neuroticism. In addition, self-medication and the frequency of health service visits are independent of each other, which shows that their determinants are different. It is concluded that to address these factors in the two health indicators, it is also necessary to take in account the psychosocial variables considered herein.

Cognitive techniques and language: A return to behavioral origins

Background: the main purpose of this study is to offer an alternative explanatory account of the functioning of cognitive techniques that is based on the principles of associative learning and highlights their verbal nature. The traditional accounts are questioned and analyzed in the light of the situation of psychology in the 1970s. Method: conceptual analysis is employed to revise the concepts of language, cognition and behavior. Several operant‐ and Pavlovian‐based approaches to these phenomena are presented, while particular emphasis is given to Mowrers (1954) approach and Ryle (1949) and Wittgensteins (1953) philosophical contributions to the field. Conclusions: several logical problems are found in regard to the theoretical foundations of cognitive techniques. A combination of both operant and Pavlovian paradigms based on the above‐mentioned approaches is offered as an alternative explanatory account of cognitive techniques. This new approach could overcome the conceptual fragilities of the cognitive standpoint and its dependence upon constructs of dubious logical and scientific validity. Resumen Técnicas cognitivas y lenguaje: un regreso a los orígenes conductuales. Antecedentes: el objetivo de este trabajo es proponer una alternativa explicativa al funcionamiento de las técnicas cognitivas basándonos en los procesos de aprendizaje asociativo y destacando su carácter verbal; se cuestionan las explicaciones tradicionales, que se analizan a la luz de la situación de la psicología en los años 70 del siglo pasado. Método: se emplea el análisis conceptual para revisar los conceptos de lenguaje, cognición y conducta y se presentan las propuestas desarrolladas para su estudio desde planteamientos operantes y pavlovianos, haciendo especial hincapié en las aportaciones de Mowrer (1954) y en los planteamientos filosóficos de Ryle (1949) y Wittgenstein (1953). Conclusiones: se detectan una serie de problemas lógicos en los fundamentos de las terapias cognitivas. La combinación de los paradigmas operante y pavloviano y su soporte filosófico en las propuestas señaladas suponen una superación de dichas flaquezas y permiten una explicación del funcionamiento de las técnicas cognitivas sin necesidad de recurrir a constructos de dudosa validez lógica y científica.

Análisis de la conducta verbal del cliente durante el proceso terapéutico

Parte de este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion en el marco del Plan Nacional de I+D+I 2004-2007 (Proyecto SEJ2007_66537_PSIC) y 2008-2011 (Proyecto PSI2010-15908)