Philippine Journal of Psychology

June 2001, Vol. 34, No. 1

Theoretical Developments in Psychology

Contents

Deconstruction and Psychology: Understanding the Context of Power, Ambiguity, and Impermanence of Knowledge and its Pedagogical Implications
Joseph Anthony Narciso Z. Tiangco

Critical emancipatory reflection leads to a suspicion on the use of metanarratives in mainstream psychological discourse. Metanarratives have breed marginalization in the context of power struggles by the status quo to maintain their priviledged position within society and the scientific community of psychology. And thus, accounts of politicized ideological enmity have characterized the economics of psychological research dissemination. Following Lyotard's notion of incredulity towards metanarratives, the paper explicates the necessitated deconstructibility of knowledge in the psychological sciences. By doing so, the author presents the limits of knowledge in psychological discourse given the language games that permeate both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In effect, hermeneutical difficulties render the epistemic foundations of psychology towards ambiguity and impermanence. Correlatively, though the postmodern condition may have been characterized as a nihilistic demise, the author argues that the use of a dogma concurs the assimilation of polaristic extremes such as pluralism and dogmatism amongst psychological texts. Understanding the context of power, ambiguity, and impermanence of knowledge rightfully situates the interrelationship between deconstruction and psychology. Quintessentially therefore, pedagogical implications in the transmittance of knowledge in psychology should not be left unturned. Imparting knowledge in the psychological sciences should be re-evaluated vis-à-vis the postmodern condition. The author proposes that the end goal of present pedagogies should work towards achieving a joyful psychology wherein scholars sojourn in joyful confusion. And perhaps someday, contribute to the emergence of a new generation of psychologists that espouse open-mindedness and tolerance for varying ideologies.
Towards a Psychological Theory of Altered States of Consciousness
Dominik Guss

Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) or trance states are often a topic in esoteric, but seldom in scientific psychological literature. The goal of this article then is to develop a theoretical model that can explain the processes in Altered States of Consciousness. Examples discussed are on hypnosis, meditation, and possession. This theoretical model includes perceptive, motivational, cognitive, and psycho-physiological aspects. The discussion of the model consists of (1) the induction of ASCs, (2) dealing with the states themselves and (3) an explanation when and why ASCs end. At the end of the article, a definition of trance is presented, as derived from the theoretical analysis.
Development of a Tool to Assess Suicide Potential Among Filipino Youth
Susan A. Estanislao

This report details the development of the Suicide Potential Inventory for Filipinos (SPIF). It is based on the assumption that self-destructive tendencies are manifested in identifiable and quantifiable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with suicide. The study involved six steps: Content validation, Face validation, First trial run, Final test administration, Item analysis, and Evaluation of test. Two hundred twenty-two test items were initially written based on the perceived suicide-related psychological conditions reported by seven clinicians and counseling psychologists, five suicidal individuals, and 16 significant others. This figure was reduced to 150, which were subjected to item inspection, revision, language translation, and categorization of items by 11 experts. The preliminary form of the SPIF was then administered to 18 significant others, one suicidal and nine non-suicidal individuals. Items were reviewed and further reduced to 140 for the final test administration to 42 significant others, 58 suicidal, and 50 non-suicidal individuals. Its psychometric properties were eventually established after analysis, leaving 87 items. Results revealed high factor scale intercorrelations between the SPIF sub-scales and total scale scores, with correlation values ranging from .71 to .96. Its internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's Reliability Coefficient Alpha, with values ranging from .87 to .98. A further analysis of the construct validity of the SPIF was established using the contrasted groups method. It significantly differentiated between those suicidal and non-suicidal, with a t-value of 10.75. The final procedure examined the evidence of convergence between the SPIF and the Suicide Probability Scale sub-scales and total scale scores, with coefficients ranging from .51 to .77. The five sub-scales (Hopelessness, Negative Self-Evaluation, Suicide Ideation, Helplessness, and Hostility) were then confirmed to measure suicide potential among Filipino youth.
Translation of the Stress Pictorial Test to Hiligaynon and Establishing its Construct Validity
Rina Grace Baterna-Daluz

The study aimed to translate the Stress Pictorial Test (SPT) to Hiligaynon and to determine its construct validity by employing the test correlation method using the instrument Anxiety Scale for Filipino Children (ASFC) as criterion. The SPT is a local instrument measuring anxiety state of children. In translating the instrument, back translation technique was utilized and the faithfulness of the translation was determined through consensual meaning error. The new version was named Stress Pictorial Test-Hiligaynon (SPT-H). Children ages seven to ten served as respondents. The correlation between ASFC and SPT-H revealed an equivalent version of SPT and a valid measure of anxiety with a correlation coefficient of .472. Norms are also available based on the three hundred fifteen (315) respondents.
Coping Styles and Personality Type of Filipino Women with Intact and Broken Marriages
Lucia Jemima O. Munez

This study aims to compare the respondents' coping with the decision to either continue striving for marital commitment or file a civil case brought about by the circumstances in marriage. Respondents' personality type is also considered in this study. Forty women in intact marriages and thirty-five in broken marriages in Quezon City were interviewed.

Coping styles and personality types of women in both marriages were obtained from the ENRICH and MBTI scores. Significant differences revealed that: (1) Conflict resolution and religious orientation were affected by age. (2) Depending on profession, psychological types of judging/perceiving varied. Under coping styles, marital adaptability differed between two respondents. (3) Whether intact or broken marriages, coping styles differed depending on length of marriage.

In the context of increasing number of petitioners for nullity of marriage and legal separation this study responds to the growing need of strengthening the meaningfulness of Filipino marriages.