Dr. Stephen Kane, University of Guam associate professor of counseling, was selected in December to present two of his papers at the upcoming 6^th Asian Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Science conference in Kobe, Japan. 

The Conference will be held from March 30 to April 1^st. This is the second time Kane was selected to present at the conference.

“It is an honor,” he said. “It’s a part of what we do at the University—to engage in research that reflects our training and expertise”.

In terms of his two papers, the first, titled An examination of relational ethics and cognitive distortions: Introducing a Contextual approach for the practice of marital therapy, focuses on how various influencers during childhood affect our self-perceptions, leading to possibly unhealthy relationships in adulthood. Kane’s intent behind writing the paper was to help couples understand where their negative perceptions about themselves originated so that they can continue on in healthy relationships with their partners.

“I wanted to put therapy back into marital therapy,” Kane said. “When you enter into marital therapy, you should be able to exit with a higher level of insight that helps individuals understand those cognitive distortions that need to be corrected. Those things we think about ourselves may sabotage us from fulfilling a loving relationship.”

The other paper, titled Anniversary slaughter: A contextual examination of symbiotic spree killing in the unsolved Lizzie Borden family murders (1892), examines from a modern day perspective how the first two years of alleged axe murderer Lizzie Borden’s life had a direct correlation to her motivation to allegedly commit murder and her feelings of liberation after the deaths of her father and step mother.

“Lizzie’s mother died two years after she was born due to a pelvic inflammatory disease,” Kane said. “She was sick and declining toward death, and had fits of rage. Her behavior had a tremendous impact on Lizzie so much so that the first two years of Lizzie’s life were probably marked by intense negative experiences resulting in her odd demeanor later as an adult.  

Kane’s papers will also be published in the Conference’s corresponding journal.

Kane, who has taught at the University of Guam for 11 years, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Merrimack College, a Master of Education in counseling from Springfield College, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Syracuse University.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Kane at kane.stephen91@yahoo.com.