Richard A. Littman

Who Lives in Utopia? A Brief Report on the Rajneeshpuram Research Project

Initial results are reported from a longitudinal study of Rajneeshpuram, the Oregon community founded by followers of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Demographic results indicate residents were young, predominantly white, well educated, and from middle- and upper-middle-class backgrounds. Psychological data indicate the presence of healthy self-perceptions: low levels of depression, high social support, and general life satisfaction. These data are similar to empirical reports ofpeople involved in other new religious movements, but the differences are also substantial. These data provide a base for pursuing longitudinal work on the readjustment and coping strategies offollowers now that the commune has disbanded. General procedures are outlined for the continued tracking of group members. Some conjectures are provided concerning the issues and resources related to joining the Rajneeshee movement. I

Social class differences in child rearing: A third community for comparison with Chicago and Newton.

mine the exact relationship. Ethnic origin of the parents likewise plays an important role. The weaknesses of our study are many and obvious. As we have pointed out, the sample is not random nor proportional; the postulates underlying the analysis are debatable, etc. Our conclusions must be accepted with all caution and we have raised more problems than we have solved. Although our findings largely confirm previous studies, certain revisions of the literature seem in order. Should our study only stimulate criticism, further research, and a few working hypotheses, we should be highly satisfied.

A negative test of the drive-reduction hypothesis

A major deduction of the drive-reduction hypothesis of reinforcement was tested. A light which follows the termination of a shock coincides with a condition of drive or need reduction. If drive reduction is a sufficient condition for reinforcement, then the light should become a secondary reinforcing agent by virtue of its association with the drive-reduction event. If it becomes a secondary reinforcing agent, it should be able to reinforce an instrumental act. This sequence of deductions was tested by placing rats in a stock, giving them a brief shock upon the termination of which a light was flashed for one second. After sixty such pairings, subjects were then placed in a Skinner box under operant test conditions; when they pressed the bar a light flashed on. Animals subjected to this training programme were compared for rate of bar pressing with animals subjected to a variety of control conditions. No significant differences were found among the groups, and it was concluded that in so far as the deductions from drive-reduction theory were correct, the theory was not substantiated. The paper concludes with a discussion of various problems which might limit the interpretation of the experimental results.

Personality in a religious commune : CPIs in Rajneeshpuram

From 1981 to 1985 in the high desert of Oregon, followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh built a city on a 100-square-mile ranch. They attracted red-clothed Rajneeshees and controversy from around the world. As part of the only largescale program of surveys and systematic research on the ranch, a sample of 67 Rajneeshees (34 women and 33 men with a mean age of 35) took the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). The mean t scores on the 20 profiled scales of Raineeshee men and women were similar to one another and dissimilar to the norm group on several scales. They scored particularly high on In (Independence) and Fx (Flexibility). In general they were high on the interpersonal style sector and mildly low on the sector covering conformity and socialization. A new method for producing a prototypical persons results, the quasi-individualized profile, is illustrated. On the recently developed structural model of the CPI, Rajneeshees were strongly norm doubting (Deltas and Gammas), and about evenly split betwe...

C. M. Louttit and psychological abstracts.

R. A. Littman indicates that L. T. Benjamin and G. R. VandenBoss history of Psychological Abstracts is a fine account of how the American Psychological Association has carried out its responsibility to provide access to psychological research and writing. Littman was pleased to see Mac Louttits work as editor brought out, and he takes this occasion to give a bit more information about this gifted mans career.

The need for accuracy in historiography

Historiographers must be especially accurate in their citations and references. An article by Wettersten contained numerous incorrect references and citations, and factual errors. Corrections are provided.

Reply to the note by J. A. Deutsch

know how far a rat would be able to identify this same light under the conditions of general illumination. However, Littman and Wade, if they can show that the degree of resemblance was sufficient, may claim that they have shown in conjunction with Coppock’s study that any secondary reinforcer acquired in this situation is not “trans-situational” This may very well be the case where fear has been the motivation, but their experiment has not even demonstrated this. To draw this conclusion we should first have to establish t h a t the light has secondary reinforcing properties in the training situation itself and as has been argued above, there is some doubt about this. However, a test of this possibility would make an interesting experiment.