Punishment,reward and the fortunes of states

Existing theories explain the rise and fall of states either by random factors specific to each state or by a life cycle to which any state eventually succumbs. However, neither approach is able to explain systematic patterns such as the tendency toward smaller political units during the millennium from 400 to 1400 A.D. and the movement in the opposite direction over the last six centuries. Here it is argued that such changes are due to innovations in the technology of information processing and military control that alter the cost of generating rewards and imposing punishment.I would like to thank Jean Tirole, Gordon Tullock and Mancur Olson for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper.     

NONCUSTODIAL FATHERS SPEAK ABOUT THEIR PARENTAL ROLE

This article reviews the findings of five recent qualitative studies on noncustodial fathers' views that could be found in the literature. Several common topics and themes were identified, including the following: These fathers experienced considerable divorce-related emotional distress; they were dissatisfied with their custody, visitation, and child support arrangements; they perceived the divorce proceedings to be unfair; and they had ongoing conflicts with their former spouses. Although these findings are not altogether new, collectively they increase one's awareness and understanding of the perceived circumstances of numerous noncustodial fathers. Based on these findings, the author challenges professionals to give renewed attention to helping noncustodial fathers overcome some of the major obstacles to their parenting.     

An analysis of contributors to the journal of criminal justice

An analysis of the contributors of publications to the Journal of Criminal Justice was undertaken to evaluate if the initial objectives of the editorial board had, in fact, been achieved. Analysis was based upon authorship, academic discipline of author(s), general topic area, source of article, and specific component area of article.     

The MMPI and adolescent patients in a state hospital

Because of the increasing number of adolescents being admitted to state hospitals and because of the lack of sufficient information regarding the use of the MMPI with these patients, this study was undertaken in order to provide normative data for the MMPI with this particular clinical population. The subjects were 113 male and 97 female psychiatric patients from the Adolescent Unit (AU) at Rusk State Hospital (RSH). As each patient was admitted to the AU, he was scheduled for psychological testing, with the MMPI being a part of this testing. The results indicate that, with this particular psychiatric population, background variables had no significant relationship to MMPI performance. The validity scales were characterized by an extremely elevated F scale for males and females, while male and female performance on the clinical scales showed elevation (above T score of 70) on the Pd and Sc scales. In conclusion, it seems that the most outstanding characteristic of young state hospital patients on the MMPI is extreme elevation on the Pd and Sc scales and the F scale. In interpreting the MMPI, it would seem necessary then to reevaluate the meaning being associated with these scales, especially the F scale, when dealing with this particular psychiatric population.Received B.S. and M.S. in Psychology at North Texas State University in 1967 and 1968. Interests are personality characteristics of psychiatric in-patient adolescents and personality characteristics of drug users, drug experimenters, and non-drug users. In general, most of his interests are confined to describing the characteristics of psychiatric in-patients in our state hospitals.Received A.S. in Data Processing at Miami-State Junior College in 1966; received B.S. in Mathematics at the University of South Florida in 1968; received M.S. in Statistics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1970. Major interest is in statistical methodologies in the field of mental health and mental retardation.Received B.S. and M.S. in Psychology at North Texas State University in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Major interest is in personality characteristics of adolescent patients in our state hospitals.