ASSESSMENT OF VOICE STRESS IN CHILDREN

• NCJ Number: 52639
• Journal: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease Volume: 160 Issue: 6 Dated: (1975) Pages: 402-408
• Author(s): S L WIGGINS; M L MCCRANIE; P BAILEY
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

VOICE STRESS IN TWO CHILDREN PRESENTED FOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT WAS ASSESSED USING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS EVALUATOR (PSE-1).

Abstract

THE SUBJECTS WERE TWO 6-YEAR-OLD FEMALE CHILDREN UNDERGOING PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AT THE EUGENE TALMADGE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN GEORGIA. THE THERAPIST HAD SEEN EACH CHILD FOR SEVERAL INTERVIEWS SO THAT THE STRESS OF A NEW SITUATION WAS NO LONGER OPERATIVE, AND THE BASIS OF THERAPY HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. PARENTS AND CHILDREN GAVE VERBAL CONSENT TO PERMIT AUDIOTAPING OF THE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVIEW ANALYZED USING THE PSE-1. INITIAL SPONTANEOUS VERBALIZATION, PLAY, OR EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS FROM THE CHILDREN WERE THE BASIS FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING, ACTION, OR INTERACTION ON THE PART OF THE THERAPIST AFTER THE INTERVIEW. INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THE THERAPIST AND EACH CHILD PROVIDED A NARRATIVE SPEECH THAT LASTED FOR 1 HOUR. VOICE PATTERNS WERE RATED ON A THREE-POINT SCALE (NO STRESS, TRACE STRESS, AND STRESS). STRESS WAS OBSERVED THROUGHOUT INTERVIEWS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND THE THERAPIST, BUT NO HARD STRESS WAS FOUND. HIGH PERCENTAGES OF TRACE STRESS OCCURRED. DATA FROM THE INTERVIEW WERE ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES: CONTENT OF COMMUNICATION, RESPONSES TO THERAPIST-POSED QUESTIONS, AND MISCELLANEOUS RESPONSES NOT INCLUDED IN THE OTHER TWO CATEGORIES. CONTENT RESPONSE ANALYSIS YIELDED MORE STRESSFUL RESPONSES IN THE CATEGORIES OF IDEAS AND ACTIONS THAN IN PEOPLE OR OBJECTS. RESPONSES TO THERAPIST-POSED QUESTIONS SHOWED SOME STRESS IN THE CHILDREN. MISCELLANEOUS RESPONSES PRODUCED NO STRESSFUL PATTERN IN ONE CHILD, BUT THE OTHER CHILD SHOWED STRESS IN 15 PERCENT OF THE REALITY ITEMS. THE PSE-1 IS A VERSATILE INSTRUMENT FOR USE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF LIE DETECTION AND IN A VARIETY OF PSYCHIATRIC SETTINGS. OPERATIONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE PSE-1 PRESENTED, AND REFERENCES ARE CITED. AN APPENDIX PRESENTS EXAMPLES OF RESPONSES MADE BY THE TWO CHILDREN.