ABSTRACT
Effectiveness of systematic desensitization for fear reduction, using humorous hierarchy scenes without relaxation, was tested. Participants were 40 students highly fearful of spiders. Using a 24-item behavioral approach test with an American tarantula, participants were matched on fear level and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: (a) systematic desensitization, (b) humor desensitization, and (c) untreated controls. Each participant was seen for 6 sessions, including pretest and posttest. Analyses of covariance of posttest scores revealed that the 2 treatment groups showed greater reduction in fear than the controls on 3 measures but did not differ from each other. Therefore, humor in systematic desensitization reduced fear as effectively as more traditional desensitization. This finding may have therapeutic applications; however, it may also be applicable in advertising to desensitize fear of a dangerous product, such as cigarettes.
Subject(s)
Desensitization, Psychologic , Fear , Wit and Humor as Topic , Anxiety , Female , Humans , Male , Random Allocation , Self Efficacy , Social Desirability , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Previous research has shown that exposure to grotesque death has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and higher levels of stress have been associated with mortuary workers who anticipated handling remains than those who did not. Additional research is presented here to further clarify the nature of the anticipated stress of handling the dead. Anticipated stress of handling human remains was rated for 13 different situations by 479 persons (384 men and 95 women) without such experience, but whose job was likely to require it. Factor analysis of their ratings revealed three psychological dimensions: the gruesomeness of the remains, an emotional link between the viewer and the remains, and personal threats to the remains handler. Suggestions for preventive measures, training, and interventions for those who may handle remains are made.
Subject(s)
Forensic Medicine , Military Personnel/psychology , Stress, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Black or African American , Attitude to Death , Burial , Disasters , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/prevention & control , Warfare , White PeopleABSTRACT
In addition to the direct psychological effects of disaster stressors, anticipation of stress can itself be debilitating. We examined the relationship between the anticipated stress of handling the dead and gender and experience. Experienced persons had lower anticipated stress than inexperienced persons. Inexperienced, females had higher anticipated stress than inexperienced males; experienced males and females did not differ. Results provide support for an 'inoculation' theory of stress buffering in disaster workers.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Death , Cadaver , Gender Identity , Relief Work , Stress, Psychological/complications , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Arousal , Disasters , Fear , Female , Humans , Male , Practice, PsychologicalABSTRACT
Previous studies have revealed quantitative differences between delinquents and nondelinquents in the strength of Murray needs. To provide clarification and elaboration of such past findings, need associations derived from the Picture identification Test were analyzed by t test and discriminant analysis for a group of 112 male prisoners and 112 male nonincracerated normals matched with the prisoners for age and education. Greater than chance (.05 level) numbers of association score differences were obtained between the two groups. Differences in need association scores were interpreted in light of past findings. Need association differences were revealed for the Achievement, Affiliation, Sex, and Order needs among others.
