Biomedical subjects

J J Plaud

Publications and source records attributed to J J Plaud.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

The conditioning of human sexual arousal.

Although most theories of human sexual behavior claim that much normal sexual behavior is learned, and theories of the etiology and modification of paraphilic and dysfunctional sexual behavior also claim that abnormal sexual behavior is learned and can be counterconditioned, there is no systematic review examining the relationship between conditioning and human sexual behavior. We review research addressing whether habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning processes are involved in human sexual behavior. We conclude that, due to the methodological problems of extant studies, the basis for asserting the existence of relationships between habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and sexual behavior is tenuous.

Arousal↗

PubMed1993

From behavior theory to behavior therapy: the contributions of behavioral theories and research to the advancement of behavior therapy.

As we approach the latter years of the twentieth century, a century that witnessed the birth of the behavior therapy movement, it becomes increasingly important to understand the forces that shaped the development, advancement, and success of behavior therapy. This paper is an introduction to a series of articles analyzing how major behavioral theories and research have contributed to the advancement of behavior therapy. In view of the fact that many behavior therapists have lost touch with the relation between behavior theory and behavior therapy and the challenges of the "cognitive revolution", we argue that the field would benefit conceptually and practically from integrating and utilizing the resources provided by recent advances in basic behavioral theory and research. The articles in this symposium attempt to build conceptual, methodological, and practical bridges to help behavior therapists recognize and utilize basic behavioral research and concepts.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMed1993

Behavior therapy and the experimental analysis of behavior: contributions of the science of human behavior and radical behavioral philosophy.

It has been argued that clinical psychologists, including clinical behavior therapists, are not aware of or knowledgeable about advances being made in basic behavioral research (Marks, Behavioral Psychotherapy, 9, 137-154, 1981). The present paper addresses the arguments advanced by clinical and experimental psychologists that behavior therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy are moving away from their respective ties to the experimental operant laboratory. It is argued that there are many areas of mutual interest between basic behavioral and clinical research and application. Several major research programs of operant psychology are analyzed in order to demonstrate conclusively that advances in basic behavioral studies have relevance for application by clinical psychologists. Progress in the experimental fields of the quantitative law of effect (the matching law), operant/classical interactions, including behavioral momentum, modeling and verbal and rule-governed behavior are analyzed. Applications of these basic behavioral principles to clinical settings are also illustrated. It is concluded that the experimental analysis of behavior can add much to the continuing development of a scientifically-based clinical psychology, and that mutual interest research in both sub-disciplines of psychology will lead to a greater understanding of the causes and conditions of human behavior, as well as direct the ability of clinical psychologists to effect meaningful behavioral change.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

The prediction and control of behavior revisited: a review of the matching law.

Experimental research conducted over the past 3 decades in relation to behavioral allocation and choice, collectively known as matching law research, is analyzed in this paper. The importance of the matching law for areas ranging from experimental to clinical psychology and psychiatry is discussed in relation to empirical findings that bear upon the validity and utility of the matching law for both the prediction and control of human behavior as well as for psychological and scientific inquiry in general.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

The possible function of positive reinforcement in home-bound agoraphobia: a case study.

We conducted an uncontrolled case study (ABA design) based upon the hypothesis that the behavior of a home-bound agoraphobic is at least partially maintained by positive reinforcement in the home and that a disruption of access to home-based reinforcement would lead to an increased frequency of out-of-the-home behavior. Data concerning the types and amounts of behavior engaged in by the subject within the confines of her home and yard were gathered during a 30-day base line period. In addition, potential reinforcers in the home were identified by a survey schedule and by self-report of time allocation. During an 18-day intervention period the subject agreed only to engage in certain reinforcing activities outside her home (e.g., only watching television at a neighbor's house). Postintervention results indicated that for the first time in over 7 years the subject began engaging in out-of-home activities, including walking to other parts of the street, visiting several neighbors' homes, and attending parties at neighbors' homes. Moreover, data suggested a positive trend in time spent outside the yard during both 2 and 18 month follow-up periods. However, significant restrictions in the range of mobility were still observed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1991

The long-term habituation of sexual arousal in the human male.

Long-term habituation of male sexual arousal occurs when (a) short-term (intrasession) habituation occurs; (b) habituated arousal spontaneously recovers; (c) the magnitude of spontaneous remission decreases across habituation sessions; and (d) the number of trials to habituation decreases across sessions. Five undergraduate volunteers each had six sessions at one week intervals of 15 presentations of erotic audiotapes. For three weeks, the same audiotape was presented, and for each of the other three sessions a different audiotape was presented at every stimulus trial. As indicated by penile plethysmography and self-report, in the constant stimulus conditions the criteria for long-term habituation generally were met. By contrast, responses to variable stimuli remained consistently high. Theoretical and clinical implications of the habituation process are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of the "eveningness-morningness" dimension in "depressive" college students.

BACKGROUND: Circadian variability in depression has not been well characterized with respect to the "eveningness-morningness" dimension. METHODS: The "eveningness-morningness" dimension, as measured by the Home and Ostberg questionnaire, was examined among a student population (n = 1617) that was named as "depressive". Three depression scales (BDI, GDS-SF, and CESD) were used to determine "depressiveness". The Horne and Ostberg questionnaire was used to measure the degree of "eveningness-morningness". It was hypothesized that there would be negative and significant correlations between the scores on the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire and the depression scales. Consequently, it was expected that there would be a significantly higher number of evening types than the morning types among the participants identified as "depressives". RESULTS: There were significant, negative correlations between the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire scores and the responses on the 3 depression scales (for BDI r= -.174, GDS-SF r= -.182, CESD r = -.176, all p < .001). Also, a significantly higher incidence of evening types than of the morning types among the "depressive" students was found (chi2 = 11.18, p < .01). LIMITATIONS: It is uncertain to what extent these data generalize to clinical populations. CONCLUSIONS: "Depressive" college students are more likely to be evening types.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gender differences in the sexual rating of words.

The present study investigated whether gender-based differences in the rating of sexual words still exist in the late 1990s. Men and women evaluated 400 English-language words on the characteristics of sexual charge and sexual ambiguity. Data gathered from these ratings were compared with other factors such as religious involvement, sexual experience, sex guilt, and social desirability. Men and women did not differ in their sexual ratings of the list. However, because the list contained a large number of words that had no sexual content at all, gender differences were examined for ratings of a sample of 30 sexually ambiguous words. As hypothesized, men rated these words as significantly more sexual than women. Significant gender differences were found on a number of sexuality and personality measures. Women were more religious than men, and religiosity was significantly correlated with most of the other measures. Women also had higher social desirability scores, which implies that they may have been responding in a socially desirable manner and were not completely honest. Overall, gender differences followed gender-oriented stereotypes: (a) Women have greater sexual guilt than men, (b) women are less sexually arousable or more "erotophobic," and (c) women are less comfortable answering questions about their sexuality and rating words.

Adolescent↗