Judith Rodin

This important volume presents a definitive review of the origins and implications of developmental psychopathology and what has been learned about the phenomenon of psychosocial resilience in diverse populations at risk. Chapters by distinguished investigators in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and child development, many of whose work led to the new developmental model of psychopathology, provide a unique review of research on vulnerability and resistance to disorder spanning from infancy to adulthood. The volume is a tribute to Professor Norman Garmezy, a pioneer in developmental psychopathology and a renowned researcher of resilience in children at risk. Highlighted throughout the volume is Professor Garmezy's theme that it is as important to understand successful outcomes as it is to study pathology in the search for better treatments and the prevention of developmental behavioural problems.

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice on a group of nursing home residents. It was expected that the debilitated condition of many of the aged residing in institutional settings is, at least in part, a result of living in a virtually decision-free environment and consequently is potentially reversible. Residents who were in the experimental group were given a communication emphasizing their responsibility for themselves, whereas the communication given to a second group stressed the staff's responsibility for them. In addition, to bolster the communication, the former group was given the freedom to make choices and the responsibility of caring for a plant rather than having decisions made and tbe plant taken care of for them by the staff, as was the case for the latter group. Questionnaire ratings and behavioral measures showed a significant improvement for the experimental group over the comparison group on alertness, active participation, and a general sense of well-being. The transition from adulthood to old age is often perceived as a process of loss, physiologically and psychologically (Birren, 1958; (oiild, 1972). However, it is as yet unclear jc,t how much of this change is biologically dt lermined and how much is a function of the et vironment. The ability to sustain a sense of p> rsonal control in old age may be greatly infleenced by societal factors, and this in turn n, ly affect one's physical well-being. Typically the life situation does change in o! I age. There is some loss of roles, norms, ai il reference groups, events that negatively ir luence one's perceived competence and ft ling of responsibility (Bengston, 1973). P> rception of these changes in addition to a> ual physical decrements may enhance a s ( ise of aging and lower self-esteem (Lehr & P schner, Note 1). In response to internal 'i-quests for reprints should be sent to Ellen

Explores why women in general are more prone to develop bulimia than men and which women in particular have a higher risk of becoming bulimic. Risk factors for bulimia are discussed in terms of sociocultural variables, such as the central role of beauty in the female sex-role stereotype; developmental processes; psychological variables; and biological factors, including genetic determinants of weight, the disregulation of body weight and eating through dieting, affective instability, and family variables. The sociocultural and psychological mediators that contribute to the increased risk of bulimia in this era are discussed, including a shift toward an increased emphasis on thinness, the effects of media attention on dieting and bulimia, fitness, and shifting sex roles. Results indicate that female socialization is a major contributing factor in bulimia. Although significantly fewer men than women currently show evidence of bulimia, it is hypothesized that the general pressure on men to become conscious of physical fitness and appearance, together with certain male subcultures that emphasize weight standards, will lead to an increased incidence of bulimia in men. (51⁄2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)