The concepts of individual, self, and group in Japanese National, Japanese-American, and European-American samples: a semantic differential analysis

This study empirically investigated variations in the semantic/affective construction of the concepts of “individual”, “self”, and “group” in individualistic and collectivistic cultures. Data were collected on the semantic differential ratings for these concepts among 110 Japanese National (JN), 110 Japanese-American (JA), and 110 European-American (EA) university students. Compared to the other two samples, the JN sample rated the concept of “individual” as weaker and more fast, the concept of “self” as more fast, and the concept of “group” as more strong and more slow. It also was revealed that the JA sample’s ratings of the three concepts tended to fall between the JN and EA samples’ ratings. Altogether, the findings offer further evidence that the individualism-collectivism distinction has psychological implications and predictive power.     

Ante-natal problems and health care in abusing families

This paper will describe the work and observations of a Health Visitor attached to the Manchester Special Unit of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It will indicate areas of work, vulnerability of some parents, personal comments from mothers and suggest ways in which families could be helped in the future.Early in 1976 the Manchester Area Health Authority agreed to second a Health Visitor to the Special Unit for a period of 2 years in order to give intensive health visiting support to Unit families.Having read the very strong evidence which has been produced by various researchers (Hyman, 1976; Lynch, 1975; Rose and colleagues, 1974; Skinner and Castle, 1969) indicating that a poor obstetric and neo-natal history are key factors in child abuse, it was decided at an early stage to concentrate mainly on those of our mothers who were pregnant.Although this has remained the main priority it has been possible to be effective in other fields of work. Bearing in mind the work done by Margaret Lynch, indicating the importance of health problems in the first year of life, each family has been looked at to see if there was an ill-health factor contributing to the stress and where this was the case, advice and help were given to have these problems alleviated. What has also been looked at is whether closer Social Worker/Health Visitor co-operation enhances the quality of care which can be given to Unit families.