As a test of rational-emotive theory, the idea that our beliefs influence our emotions and subsequent overt behavior, 36 undergraduate women were presented rational, irrational, or neutral statements prior to and regarding their performance of a perceptual-motor task. Palmar skin resistance responses (SRRs) and forearm extensor muscle-action potentials (MAPs) were recorded to assess the relationship of covert self-verbalizations (generated by rehearsed statements), emotional or physiological arousal, and behavioral efficiency in task performance. Ellis hypothesized that rational self-verbalizations lead to optimal arousal and superior performance while irrational self-verbalizations lead to over-arousal and subsequent poor performance. Subjects given rational statements reduced mirror-star tracing errors more quickly than did subjects given neutral and irrational statements. Self-verbalization groups were not distinguished by electrodermal measures. MAP measures were in the direction predicted by rational-emotive theory. Results provided information about the form of the relationship of self-verbalizations, physiological arousal, and performance.

Proponents of new medical technology and pharmacology have succeeded in convincing ever-growing numbers of individuals of the necessity of treating men with sexual dysfunction from a purely medical perspective. This article presents arguments for the deleterious effects of this medicalization of male sexuality. It is asserted that endorsement of what the author has labeled the sexual performance perfection industry paradigm obscures the more insidious and pervasive social and psychological causes of sexual distress.

This article presents an alternative approach to informed consent that addresses unique concerns regarding confidentiality in marital and relationship counseling. Professional ethics codes rarely provide therapists with specific guidance on how to respond to clients who wish to keep secrets from their spouse or partner. Moreover, scholars writing about confidentiality frequently offer contradictory advice on how to ethically treat those couples presenting with secrets. This article suggests that regardless of one's viewpoint on the issue of secret keeping in counseling, therapists best serve couples by advising them at the onset of treatment of the counselor's policies regarding confidential communication. In addition to discussing issues regarding privacy and confidentiality in couples counseling, this article presents one example of an informed consent document designed to address this important concern.

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