R. Glynn Owens

Psychological and social characteristics of attenders for breast screening

Abstract Demographic characteristics, health behaviour and knowledge of breast cancer were assessed in 183 women from a regional breast screening unit and compared with those of 182 women from a breast clinic and 41 control subjects. A questionnaire yielded information on (i) demographic characteristics and cancer-related behaviours including breast self-examination (BSE), use of screening and promptness of presentation of breast symptoms in the clinic group, (ii) the extent and effects of knowledge about breast cancer and (iii) the role of Health Belief Model dimensions. Results showed the screening unit attenders to be significantly older and to be significantly more likely to be from higher social classes. Differences between the groups in health beliefs and knowledge did not remain once the effects of age and social class were partialled out. While attitudes towards BSE and its practice related to health beliefs. only a minority of the women indicated that they practised BSE with any regularity. The r...

Rapists' Versus Non-Rapists' Attitudes Toward Women: A British Study

Three groups (incarcerated rapists, incarcerated non-rapists and nonincarcerated controls) were administered and completed Parrys (1983) Anglicized version of Spence, Helmreich and Stapps (1973) Attitudes Towards Women Scale. Results of the seventy-one subjects showed that the incarcerated non-rapist group held the most traditional/conservative attitudes towards women. The present findings are discussed in terms of feminist viewpoint, current sociopolitical issues and cross-Atlantic research differences in relation to rape.

Women's responses to detection of breast lumps: a British study

THE ROLE of breast self examination (BSE) and knowledge about breast cancer in reducing delay in reporting breast abnormalities was assessed in 50 pre-menopausal women, using structured interview and questionnaire. No significant relationship was found between BSE and promptness of reporting, but one third believed they would have reported more promptly had they known about lumpectomy - a less drastic form of treatment for early stage breast cancer. This suggests that detection and presenta tion should be regarded as independent targets for health educators.

First Steps in the Functional Analysis of Aggression

Over recent years an immense amount of literature has been produced concerned with aggressive behavior, with even a journal devoted solely to this topic. This wealth of information perhaps reflects our concern about the incidence of aggression in society, but also our ambivalence about its value.

Outline of the Study

One of the findings of the previous work is that the average user of benzodiazepines is not a person who is constantly demanding the attention of the general practitioners. Rather, the long-term user tends to be comparatively unknown to the doctor and merely attends the practice to pick up the next prescription.

Aims of the Research

The present research was designed to address a number of questions about the long-term use of benzodiazepines and the potential for stopping medication with minimal effort. The literature on withdrawal from benzodiazepine medication tends to focus on the symptoms that patients experience, giving the impression that withdrawal is difficult. Only a few studies indicate that a proportion of patients can withdraw with comparative ease. The present study was devised to test the hypothesis that many long-term users of benzodiazepines could reduce or stop medication simply on the instruction of their GPs.

Comments on the Work

It was noted that there were missing data for many of the questions posed at interview and that just over half of the subjects attended the interview. Often these omissions may have been unavoidable, for example, most studies suffer some subject attrition. Nonetheless, a different style of introduction of the psychologist and a firmer procedure for ensuring that invitations to interview had been sent might have resulted in more interviews being achieved.

New Developments in Psychology and the Law

At first glance the inclusion of a symposium on forensic issues in the present conference program might seem a trifle anomalous. On the one hand it may be seen as a somewhat specialist, almost exotic branch of psychology, with little in the way of general interest. Even if a certain breadth of appeal were acknowledged, to hold such a symposium within three years of one on ‘Forensic Issues in Psychology’ might seem a trifle premature. Overall, then, the convening of the present symposium might seem open to criticism on the grounds of specialism and prematurity.

Computer Applications and Biofeedback in Clinical Psychology — An Introduction

There can be little doubt that one of the most outstanding characteristics of life in western countries over the past two decades has been the growth of the influence of micro-electronic technology. This influence, in the home, the work place, and elsewhere will undoubtedly continue to grow at a rapidly accelerating rate. It is particularly in the hardware field that the rapid development is taking place. Computers, for example are becoming smaller and more powerful whilst at the same time becoming cheaper. There is now a computer available, the size of a desktop calculator, which, in equivalent hardware power terms would have filled a medium sized office fifteen years ago; all this for less than £100. Perhaps of particular interest, to those in the biological field, is the potential for use of the so-called “biochip”, still in very early stages of development but holding out the potential of an organically- based computer technology.

Legal and Forensic Issues in Psychology — An Introduction

The involvement of clinical psychologists in forensic issues is not new, as indeed is unsurprising given the reliance of the law upon psychological concepts (e.g. “intent”). In recent years, however, there has been an increasing scope for the psychologist concerned with the workings of the law. Such an increase has, in the United Kingdom, been reflected in such things as the establishment by the British Psychological Society of a Division specifically concerned with such issues, the Division of Criminological and Legal Psychology, established in 1977.