Morris I. Stein

PERCEPTIONS OF THE OPTIMALLY INTEGRATED PERSON AS A FUNCTION OF THERAPISTS' CHARACTERISTICS

The central focus of this paper was to determine whether there was a consensus for the concept of mental health. Therapists from different professional orientations in a United States sample rank ordered their views of the optimally integrated person using a 20-paragraph personality questionnaire based on Murrays need system. Although Freudians were found to be more “conservative” in certain respects than Neo-Freudians and Sullivanians, greater agreement than disagreement was generally obtained. Variation in rank order as a function of age, length of experience and sex of therapist are discussed as are differences within a Czechoslovakian sample of therapists.

Moral issues facing intermediaries between creators and the public

Abstract: Intermediaries, those persons and organizations that play supportive and gatekeeping roles between the creative individual and the public, are frequently called upon to maintain moral standards. Two real‐life examples are presented. In the first, professional societies still have not taken a stand on the transactions between ethnobotanists and persons in third world countries from whose knowledge they profit. In the second, the moral stand taken by the New England Journal of Medicine in refusing to publish the Nazi hypothermia research is discussed.

Thematic Apperception Test and Related Methods

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) was introduced to the psychological world in 1935 by Morgan and Murray. Its conception and birth, as with those of mythological heroes, were cloaked in mystery (Holt, 1949). Conditions surrounding its infancy are clearer, because it was reared at the Harvard Psychological Clinic, in the little yellow house on Plympton Street, with press congenial environment and press nurturance. Doting parents and dedicated disciples clearly saw the newborn infant’s power to cast light on the darkest recesses of personality dynamics.

Globalization and/or a Globe of Villages

ABSTRACT: The current information revolution provides the opportunity for generating, disseminating, or storing vast amounts of information. Never before has humankind been in such a position to shape its own destiny. To facilitate these efforts, creativity needs to be combined with morality. Three contributing factors that require consideration among those already considered are proaction, diversity, and the role of international creativity trainers. Awareness of the dangers of homogenization needs to be considered. The technology of the information age needs to be mastered and made to serve all of us, for only then shall we be able to take the next major steps in humankinds evolutionary development.

Anabolic and catabolic factors in the creative process

Abstract Simontons thought‐provoking article suggests (a) a need for greater psychological specificity of the multidimensional variables and roles available to creative persons in times of political pathology; (b) a caution with regard to “causality”; and value judgments; (c) a greater concern with anabolic factors together with the catabolic ones already considered and the conditions under which each might occur; and (d) more care in describing relationships between the creative individual and the audience, and between psychopathology and creativity. It would be of special value to extrapolate from Simontons article to contemporary events in Eastern Europe and to alert readers to con‐tricipate—contribute and appreciate—in the creative process whether or not it is endangered by political pathology.

Personality Characteristics of Volunteer Subjects

Two personality types, the Socially Oriented and the Intellectually Oriented, represented among female college undergraduate volunteers, showed differential rates of volunteering in favor of the Intellectually Oriented type. The personality dynamics of these types accord well with findings reported in the literature regarding the characteristics of volunteers and non-volunteers. The need for a systematic consideration of personality bias in sampling was pointed to.

Altering States of Consciousness

This chapter discusses the way of altering states of consciousness. The studies indicate that caffeine has a stimulating effect on certain psychological functions, some of which may be related to creativity. Alcohol, when too much of it is taken, can have a debilitating effect on various psychological functions as well as on creativity. Indirectly, it may have positive effects for creativity in that it may provide the creative individual with relief from tensions and an opportunity for relaxation after time and effort has been spent in the creative process. The evidence relating to the psychedelic or mind-expanding drugs is quite varied. By the subjective reports of individuals who have taken these drugs, it is found that these people believe their creativity has improved and that they attribute this improvement to the drugs. There are studies indicating that certain psychological variables or functions that are related to creativity are sometimes positively affected by the drugs and in some cases negatively.

COMMENTS ON CLAPP AND DE CIANTIS' STUDY OF COGNITIVE STYLE (KIRTON ADAPTION-INNOVATION INVENTORY) IN LARGE ORGANIZATIONS '

Clapp and De Ciantis (1989) do no: provide sufficient data to support their conclusions; their criterion for “modification” is questionable; differences between work groups are not tested for statistical significance but are inferred; reported sex differences are not taken into account in the data analysis; and the citation of Steins work from 1974 and 1975 is erroneous.

The Kurtzman Community Dental Health Ideology Scale with students in a combined degree (AB-DDS) program.

To increase the database and potential usefulness of a Community Dental Health Ideology Scale in the counseling and guidance of dental students, data from East Coast students were compared with those available from West Coast students. Intra-group East Coast data are discussed in terms of age/education and gender differences.

Stimulating Hypothesis Formation

This chapter discusses various procedures for hypothesis formation—a first stage in the creative process. These procedures seem to be best suited to the development of ideas and alternatives to further action in the creative process. These procedures are not to be limited to this stage. On the contrary, the individual should choose and make use of whatever technique he thinks will help him in any stage of the creative process. Moreover, it is also important to keep in mind that the value of a technique depends not only on its specific content but also on the ability, motivation, and curiosity of the person using it. An effective use of these techniques requires in addition a desire to be creative, a high energy level, the ability to persevere and concentrate, and the desire to take chances.