Changing Interpretation and Judgmental Bias in Social Phobia: A Pilot Study of a Short, Highly Structured Cognitive Treatment

Interpretation and judgmental biases concerning negative evaluation are considered important maintaining factors in social phobia. Cognitive models imply that solely changing these core cognitions reduces social anxiety. Standardizing such an intervention in these core biases may simplify and shorten treatment and therefore increase its accessibility. We present pilot data (n =13) of a short (9 sessions), standardized cognitive therapy developed to intervene directly and solely in interpretation and judgmental biases in social phobia. Described are the design of this therapy and the cognitive techniques. This short therapy was effective in reducing social phobic complaints (effect size of 1.4) and interpretation and judgmental biases. In addition, we have indications that this treatment has high accessibility because of its short duration and standardization.

Arms Control and the First Reagan Administration: Belief-Systems and Policy Choices

More than a thousand radio addresses drafted by Ronald Reagan in the 1970s, between his terms as governor of California and president of the United States, were recently published. These addresses, along with related writings from 1951 to 1985, reveal longstanding, consistent beliefs about a wide variety of topics in international relations and foreign policy. In particular, the writings presage specific arms control policies that were implemented in Reagan's first term as president. This article reassesses some of these policies in light of the newly released addresses. The article draws on experimental psychology to discuss a specific judgmental bias, availability, which makes particular beliefs more accessible, and then examines the five specific beliefs that influenced Reagan in his approach to arms control negotiations. In each case the article shows how these beliefs affected policy outcomes and choices.