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This study was designed to examine hypothesized differences between sex offending and nonoffending Roman Catholic clergy on cognitive mediation abilities as measured by the Rorschach Inkblot Test (H. Rorschach, 1921/1942). This study compared 78 priest pedophiles and 77 priest ephebophiles with 80 nonoffending priest controls on the Inkblot test using J. E. Exner's (2003) Comprehensive System. The three groups were compared on seven variables that constitute Exner's Cognitive Mediation cluster. Additionally, the groups' coping styles were compared to examine the interaction of coping style and cognitive mediational abilities. We found interactions between coping style and offending status across most of the cognitive variables indicating impairment in the mild to pathological ranges. Moreover, significantly higher unusual thinking styles (Xu%) and significantly lower conventional thinking styles (X+%) in offenders compared to nonoffenders. Those with an Extratensive style (n= 31) showed significantly higher distorted thinking when compared to the Introversive (n = 81), Ambitent (n = 73), and Avoidant (n = 50) coping styles. This study suggests that offenders display significantly higher distorted thinking styles than do nonoffenders. Possible reasons for these discrepancies and the role of coping styles in abusive behaviors were discussed. Keywords: pedophilia; ephebophilia; Roman Catholic clergy; Rorschach; coping style

Cognitive psychology attempts to understand the nature of the human mind by using the information-processing approach. In this article, the fundamentals of the cognitive approach will be presented. It will be argued that the human mind can be described at three levels--computational, algorithmic-representational, and implementational--and that the cognitive approach has both important theoretical and practical/clinical implications. Finally, it will be suggested that the study of cognitive psychology can provide a foundation for other fields of social science, including the field of clinical psychology. Keywords: cognitive psychology; information-processing approach; human mind

Integrating the criticisms of the cognitive psychology approach offered by behavioral oriented professionals, as well as the information offered in this special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology, the article presents an overview of the theoretical and practical implications of the cognitive revolution on the clinical field and discusses the unique contribution of this approach beyond the contribution of the behavioral approach. Keywords: evidence-based psychology and psychotherapy; conclusions

Cognitive psychology has made numerous contributions to clinical psychology, and these contributions are considered especially with reference to the anxiety disorders. It is argued that there are four major contributions that can be identified. First, the cognitive approach has led to the development of complex models showing the main cognitive processes and structures of relevance to an understanding of anxiety disorders. Second, controlled laboratory studies permit a more detailed investigation of cognitive biases in anxious patients than generally is feasible in more naturalistic settings. Third, the cognitive approach provides relevant evidence with respect to the issue of whether cognitive biases play a role in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Fourth, the enhanced understanding of the anxiety disorders that has arisen from the cognitive approach has had beneficial effects on therapeutic practice in a number of significant ways. In sum, it is claimed that clinical psychology has benefited considerably from cognitive theory and research. Keywords: anxiety disorders; safety-seeking behaviors; social phobia; cognitive biases

Individuals scoring either High, Medium, or Low on the Homosexism Short-Form scale (Hansen, 1982) made speeded decisions to neutral (N), mildly provocative (MP), or very provocative (VP) statements regarding issues relating to homophobia. These three groups did not differ on age, education, reading rate, or vocabulary ability. It was predicted that individuals High in homophobia would produce faster reaction times to the VP sentences than those individuals scoring Medium or Low in homophobia. Results indicated the opposite pattern. Individuals scoring High in homophobia actually had slower reaction times to VP sentences than did either the Medium or Low homophobia individuals. Results are discussed within an inhibitory framework related to the High homophobia individuals' overall homophobia schema.

Content analysis of verbal behavior measures cognitive and intellectual impairment due to age, psychoactive drugs, alcohol or insanity. The availability of an artificial intelligence computer program facilitates objective measurement of psychological disorders such as cognitive dysfunction by rapidly scoring speech samples on Gottschalk-Gleser scales. A further development in the software can make it responsive to spoken language.

This study examined the validity of PTSD by comparing the dysfunctional cognitions found in a PTSD group, a clinical group (anxiety or depression), and a nonclinical group. Subjects completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II, the Impact of Event Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Cognitive Error Questionnaire, and the Survey of Personal Beliefs. Results revealed that PTSD and clinical groups were significantly more depressed and anxious than nonclinical subjects. Unlike the PTSD group, only the clinical group endorsed more dysfunctional cognitions than the nonclinical group, which supports the uniqueness of the PTSD group as differing cognitively from clinical groups.