Psychological assessment is a hybrid, both art and science. The empirical foundations of testing are indispensable in providing reliable and valid data. At the level of the integrated assessment, however, science gives way to art. Standards of reliability and validity account for the individual instrument; they do not account for the integration of data into a comprehensive assessment. This article examines the current climate of psychological assessment, selectively reviewing the literature of the past decade. Ethics, expertise, and validity are the components under discussion. Psychologists can and do take precautions to ensure that the "art" of their work holds as much merit as the science.
Adolescents experiencing same-sex attraction are increasingly comfortable identifying themselves as gay/lesbian/bisexual. For at least a minority of these youth, that identification conflicts with their spiritual values, and they or their families seek conversion therapy. The efficacy of conversion and ethics of conversion therapy for same-sex orientation stirs significant debate. The complexities of an approach to same-sex issues with adults multiply when the client is an adolescent. This article uses three adolescent case studies to examine issues of identity, ethics, confidentiality, social expectations, and therapist role.
The authors developed a psychoeducational alcohol and drug program for Old Order Amish youth. Participants ranged in age from 16 to 20 years old. All were referred following arrest for a variety of predominantly alcohol-related offenses. The model was designed with input from the Old Order Amish community in response to concerns about existing programs that integrated Amish and non-Amish youth. Increased awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs and the ability to resist social encouragement to use these substances were goals for the intervention. Preliminary results with 185 participants indicated that Amish youth increased factual knowledge about substances they considered culturally acceptable with moderate increases in comfort with choices. The article discusses the clinical and cultural implications of these findings.
Old Order Amish experience a theologically and culturally defined period of exploration in mid-adolescence that may include experimentation with alcohol and drugs. The trajectory into this period of identity exploration and its purpose are vastly different from those of non-Amish peers. As a result, interventions to address a behavior which appears superficially similar (substance abuse) must be tailored to their specific needs. This article describes a psychoeducational program designed to meet the unique challenges of a culturally respectful interface with this "peculiar people." In particular, it describes a model that creates an interface between Amish and non-Amish culture, respects their spiritual beliefs, and maximizes learning and motivation to change behaviors.
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