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How do social structures and group behaviors arise from the interaction of individuals? Growing Artificial Societies approaches this question with cutting-edge computer simulation techniques. Fundamental collective behaviors such as group formation, cultural transmission, combat, and trade are seen to "emerge" from the interaction of individual agents following a few simple rules. In their program, named Sugarscape, Epstein and Axtell begin the development of a "bottom up" social science that is capturing the attention of researchers and commentators alike. The study is part of the 2050 Project, a joint venture of the Santa Fe Institute, the World Resources Institute, and the Brookings Institution. The project is an international effort to identify conditions for a sustainable global system in the next century and to design policies to help achieve such a system. Growing Artificial Societies is also available on CD-ROM, which includes about 50 animations that develop the scenarios described in the text. Copublished with the Brookings Institution.

A total of 28 Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) and 30 Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis) nests were found in Cache Valley. Utah, during the summers of 1992 and 1993. All nests were in trees, but only Red-tailed Hawks nested in dead trees (30%). In the intensive study area, nesting densities were 0.10 nests/km2 for Swainson's Hawk and 0.08 nests/km2 for Red-tailed Hawk. Nearest-neighbor nest distances were significantly shorter among Swainson's Hawks (1.74 km) than among Red-tailed Hawks (2.83 km). Congeneric nearest- neighbor distances were significantly shorter than conspecific distances for Red-tailed Hawks (1.59 vs. 2.83 km) but not for Swainson's Hawks (1.52 vs. 1.74 km). GIS analysis of habitat types was made for 2-km radii around nest sites. Cropland was the dominant land cover type of nest sites of both species and no significant difference was found between species. Swainson's Hawk nest sites contained significantly more pasture, whereas Red-tailed nest sites contained significantly more juniper, maple, and sagebrush. Only Red- tailed Hawk nests (n=8; 27%) were found on the periphery of the valley at the base of foothills of the Cache Mountains. This preference resulted in a significantly higher elevation for Red-tailed Hawk nest sites. Swainson's Hawk nests occurred only on the valley floor on level terrain. Distance to the nearest paved road and building was very similar for both species, implying that little difference exists in tolerance levels for human activities. Overall, multivariate niche overlap for habitat was high (0.89), indicating a lack of habitat partitioning between these 2 Buteos in Cache Valley.

The social interactions of a wintering population of Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus) were studied in the Hackensack Meadowlands tidal marshes in New Jersey. Juvenile harriers were numerically dominant in the population and participated in hunting groups significantly more often than adult males or females. Group sizes varied from 2-4 birds (total groups observed = 66 duets, five trios and two quartets). The occasional inclusion of adults in a foraging group was usually the result of juveniles following the adult, presumably for the parasitic benefits of grabbing flushed prey or exploiting high yield foraging patches. Our observations suggested a non-territorial wintering harrier population documented by observations of 3-6 different individuals frequently hunting the same 12-ha area each day as well as random use of our study quadrats (3-ha) by individuals of all sexes and ages. Territorial defense was observed in only one adult female, which infrequently attempted to defend a territory. Overall, the prevalence of group-foraging behavior is consistent with the general lack of winter territory in this population.

This study breaks from traditional adult-centered models of interpersonal conflict by privileging children’s experiences. As part of an assessment for establishing a school-based peer mediation program, focus group interviews were conducted with second graders through high school students. Analysis focuses on the sites (causes), signs, and aftermath (or responses) of conflict. Children’s impressions regarding fairness and gender differences are also addressed. With respect to the sites and signs of conflict, the main themes that were found include conflict as a product of the spoken word and conflict as a dirty look. Additionally, a symbolic representation of these intrusions emerged in the metaphor of conflict as an explosion. Analysis of the children's discussions concerning the aftermath of conflicts revealed four general themes: confronting, seeking involvement of third parties, ignoring others, and treating others with kindness. Differences in the children’s perceptions of gender-based differences are explored as are their perceptions of the construct of “fairness” and its associated dictates in favor of equality of treatment, struggles with inferiority/superiority, and expression of conflict as a betrayal. © 1996, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Five types of depersonalization experiences based on scales developed by Jacobs and Bovasso (1992) were used to cluster subjects into six groups. Four relatively small groups which had regular depersonalization experiences were identified: the Derealized, the Self-negating, the Body-detached, and the Profoundly Depersonalized. The fifth group, the Fleetingly Depersonalized, and the sixth group, the Non-depersonalized, constituted 25% and 50% of the population, respectively. A profile analysis indicated qualitative differences between the six groups in their pathological traits, which fell along a continuum of pathological severity. The results support the validity of a multidimensional depersonalization construct which may clarify some of the contradictions and inconsistencies in the literature on depersonalization. Further, the results may facilitate clinicians' differentiation of their patients along a continuum of pathological severity based on the type and frequency of depersonalization experiences which they report.

Athletic trainers have assumed several roles and responsibilities over the years, but perhaps there is no more important role than that of a counselor. Are they prepared to do so? One hundred and thirty-two modified Revised Wylie Inventories were mailed to college/university athletic trainers to examine their educational preparation and experiences with counseling in various areas. Most athletic trainers surveyed reported that they were predominantly counseling in the areas of injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, and nutrition, and felt academically prepared to do so. However, it was reported that preparation to counsel in other less common areas (eg, family matters, financial matters, etc) was not adequately addressed in academic programs. The athletic trainers surveyed sought continuing education in order to meet the other counseling needs of student-athletes. Although they used several psychological referral services, it was apparent that most athletic trainers frequently served as counselors on many nonorthopedic topics. We suggest that athletic training educators consider incorporating both academic knowledge and clinical experience in a wider variety of counseling areas into their curricula.

The increasing prevalence of multiprocessor and distributed systems in modern society is making it imperative to introduce the underlying principles of parallel/distributed computing to students at the undergraduate level. In order to meet the needs of our students for training in this critical area, the Computer Science Department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is currently in the process of implementing a curricular and laboratory development project that integrates key concepts and practical experiences in parallel computing throughout the undergraduate curriculum. The goal of this project is to build a strong foundation in parallel computing which would optionally culminate in advanced, senior-level specialized courses in parallel computing and/or senior research projects. This paper describes the laboratory facility we developed to support instruction in parallel and distributed computing and the parallel computing modules which were incorporated into three of our core undergraduate courses: data structures, operating systems, and programming languages. The laboratory facility enables us to provide our students with "hands-on" experiences in shared memory, distributed memory, and network parallelism. The modules and laboratory exercises give students the opportunity to experiment with a wide array of software and hardware environments and to gain a systematic exposure to the principles and techniques of parallel programming.

The studies reviewed here reflect many important aspects of the onset, course, and outcome of schizophrenia; that is, premorbid factors, childhood and late-life onset, the positive-negative syndrome dichotomy, co-occurring substance abuse, outcome research, and theoretical issues. Unsurprisingly, heterogeneity of course and outcome emerges as a major theme., (C) Lippincott-Raven Publishers.

Autorías: Louise Spear-Swerling, Robert J. Sternberg. Año de publicación: 1996. Libro en Dialnet.

Through presentation of ethnographic research findings on court-appointed defense attorneys, this article examines plea bargaining as a component of a recursive process for deciding whether a case should be settled immediately or proceed further. The decisionmaking process has three types of activities: assessing the offer for a guilty plea, negotiating the terms of a plea bargain, and counseling the defendant and deciding on a course of action. Until a criminal case is actually settled either through a final plea agreement or a jury trial, this decisionmaking process occurs over and over again. Viewed as a component of this recursive process, plea bargaining encompasses multiple episodes of negotiating behavior as well as a wide range of formal litigation proceedings. Perhaps more important, plea bargaining and trial procedures can actually be seen to converge. I conclude that this mode of plea bargaining is not merely an effective method for representing defendants but perhaps equally or more effective than trial. Some important limitations of the findings are also discussed.

The numbers of children at risk who are referred to child treatment programs are on the rise. This article explores the therapeutic relationship as it develops with such a child, and questions the impact managed care will have on that treatment. Concepts of a holding environment, personalization (the development of self-love, a necessary precursor to object love), the good-enough mother and Else of the therapist as a real person. who furthers development, are highlighted via case material.