No abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between scores on the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) and success in Peace Corps training programs in Micronesia. The POI was administered to 92 Peace Corps trainees prior to the beginning of training and the results correlated with the final selection board ratings upon the completion of training. Significant relationships were found for the total group with considerable sex differences for several scales.Attempts to predict trainee success in Peace Corps training programs and subsequent volunteer assignments have produced mixed results. Psychiatric interviews have been found to be ineffective (Fisher, Epstein, & Harris, 1967) as have "sickness"-oriented tests (Smith, 1965) and measures of intellectual ability (Dicken, 1969). Assuming that the crucial variables for Peace Corps trainee success could be best described in terms of positive mental health, Smith (1966) and Ezekiel (1968) found significant correlation coefficients (r = .41 and .34, respectively) between estimates of psychological effectiveness and volunteer success.In recent years, Maslow (1962) has advanced the idea of the self-actualizing person as one who is developing and using all of his unique capabilities and potentialities. The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) was developed by Shostrom (1966) to provide a measure of values and behavior seen to be of importance in self-actualization and positive mental health as opposed to psychopathology. These values and behaviors are similar to those described elsewhere as providing a coherent core of psychological attributes necessary for competent, effective Peace Corps functioning (Guthrie & McKendry, 1963;Smith, 1966).The present note investigated the relationship between scores on the POI and trainee success in Peace Corps training programs in Micronesia.Method. The 5s for this study were 92 Peace Corps trainees (S3 males, 39 females) participating in an in-country training program in Micronesia. The mean age of the sample was 22.2 yr. All but four of the trainees were college graduates. Each trainee had been screened for physical and psychiatric symptomatology prior to arriving at his respective training site.The POI consists of ISO two-choice, comparative value and behavior judgments. The items were 1 The data of this study were obtained with the assistance of the Peace Corps. This study, however, is the responsibiliy of the authors and should not be construed as an official Peace Corps document.•2 Now at the Center for Cross-Cultural Training and

The response of common but disturbing gastric complaints to psychological intervention has not been studied despite evidence that clinical levels of gastrointestinal disorders respond to treatment. The present study examines the effect of a behaviorally oriented stress reduction program on such self-reported gastrointestinal complaints among a group of 179 subjects. Pre-and post-treatment measures were obtained on the frequency of indigestion, nausea, ulcer attacks, colitis, diarrhea and constipation complaints. Significant decreases were found from pre to post for indigestion, nausea, colitis, diarrhea, and constipation and significant decreases were maintained at follow-up for indigestion, nausea and constipation complaints. These results suggest that relief from common gastric complaints may be obtained from a behaviorally oriented treatment program, and that such a program may also affect the potential development of maladaptive learned gastric response habits.

On the basis of previous research it was hypothesized that Ss undergoing an encounter group experience would show a decrease in covert expression of hostility and a corresponding increase in overt expression of hostility as measured by Bendig's scales of hostility. An experimental group ( N = 24) participated in 10 encounter group exercises while a control group ( N = 24) similar in terms of age, sex, and educational background, did not undergo the exercises. No significant difference was found between experimental and control groups' scores on the Bendig scales prior to, or upon completion of the series of encounter exercises for personal growth.

was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between the number of stimuli identified by Ss as reinforcing (together with the reinforcing value of the identified stimuli) and self-labeled depression-elation. 81 Ss were administered the Reinforcement Survey Schedule and a depression-