Psychological characteristics of males with secondary erectile failure.

This study was designed to obtain objective data on the personality profiles of two groups of males with a primary complaint of erectile failure and compare them to a group of psychiatric patients unselected for sexual dysfunction and to a sexually "normal" control group. Utilizing the Eysenck Personality Inventory, the Institute of Personality and Ability Testing Anxiety Scale, Symptom Checklist, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, it was determined that males applying to a university/county hospital sex-dysfunction clinic appeared similar to patients seen in the same clinic who were unselected for sex dysfunction and more psychologically disturbed than patients with the same complaint applying for treatment at a private clinic. All three groups showed more psychopathology than sexually normal males. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Change in general and specific perceived locus of control in alcoholics as a function of treatment exposure.

Fifty alcoholics successfully completing a 2-month rehabilitation program were administered the I-E Scale and a drinking locus of control scale during their first week in treatment and again the week prior to discharge from treatment. A test--retest non-alcoholic control group was administered the I-E Scale at a 7-week interval. Alcoholics were significantly more internal with regard to their behavior in general and their drinking behavior in particular at the close of treatment than at the onset. The control group evidenced no change. It was suggested that the alcoholics perceived internality was a function of exposure to treatment rather than a predisposing personality dimension.

Resistance in the behavioral treatment of sexual dysfunctions.

Although there has been a rapid burgeoning of interest in the treatment of sexual problems in recent years, particularly in treatments that include or rely heavily upon learning-based behavioral intervention strategies, little has been written about the patient "resistances" during this form of treatment. This report describes five categories of resistance: Type I resistance results from the patient not understanding what he is supposed to do, Type II resistance from a deficit in the patient's skills, Type III resistance from lack of motivation or expectation of success, Type IV resistance from anxiety or gulit elicited or mobilized by the treatment situation, and Type V resistance from positive reinforcement (secondary gain). Treatment strategies differ depending on the type of resistance.

Homosexuality: behaviours and attitudes.

To assess the incidence of homosexual experiences, heterosexual experiences, associated attitudes, and related demographic characteristics, a sexual behaviour and attitudes questionaire was administered to 4251 university students. The rate of homosexual experiences was found to be appreciably lower than that commonly reported in the literature and was not significantly related to race, religion, or region of residence. Individuals with homosexual experiences, compared to those without, tended to be more liberal in their views toward socially deviant sexual behavior in general, did not demonstrate fewer heterosexual contacts, and did not report significantly more guilt or anxiety about their sexual behavior.

Control orientation in alcoholics related to extent of treatment.

The self-perceived locus of control of three groups of alcoholics who had had varying amounts of exposure to treatment was measured on the Internal-External (I-E) scale. Alcoholics who had had more treatment perceived themselves in greater control of their behavior in general and of their drinking in particualar than those who had had less treatment.