Relative benefits of assertion or cognitive self-control treatment for depression as a function of proficiency in each domain.

Compared responses to an assertion training and a cognitive self-control treatment as a function of 28 depressed females' (mean age 40 yrs) initial assertion and cognitive self-control skills. 16 other Ss served as waiting list controls. All Ss were assessed on measures including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Beck Depression Inventory, and Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. It was predicted that (a) reductions in depression would be greater for treated as compared to waiting-list control conditions and (b) Ss low in a skill (cognitive or assertion) would benefit most from treatment addressing that skill. Only the 1st prediction was supported; treated Ss obtained greater depression reduction than controls. Neither cognitive nor assertion skill level significantly predicted response to the treatments. Effects of the treatments were not specific to targeted skills, and treatment had a significant impact only on cognitive self-control skill. Implications for skills-deficit models of depression therapy are discussed. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Significant predictors of problem-solving appraisal.

Multiple regression was used to determine the unique predictive contributions of several variables to problem-solving appraisal in 2 samples comprising 443 Ss, total. Problem-solving appraisal was the dependent variable, and the following variables were possible predictors: level of problem-solving skill; negative and positive coping strategies; internal-external locus of control; and a composite sum score of depression, trait anxiety, and self-concept. The combined multiple regression (SPSSX) results accounted for 50% and 41% of the variance for Samples 1 and 2, respectively, in problem-solving appraisal. The results revealed 2 consistent significant predictors: (1) positive coping strategies that seem to represent the process of doing something positively to solve problems through cognitive restructuring, focusing on the problem, and effecting interpersonal actions; and (2) global problem-solving self-efficacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A field study of job applicants' reactions to personality and cognitive ability testing.

Eighty job applicants were screened through 1 of 3 job-selection conditions depending on the job for which they were applying: interviews only; interviews plus a personality inventory (the NEO Personality Inventory); or interviews, personality inventory, and cognitive ability testing. Applicants' reactions were generally favorable in all conditions but were significantly less positive in the interview plus personality test condition. The condition of a battery of both personality and ability tests (in addition to the interview) was perceived as positively as the no-test control condition. These results suggest that personality inventories can be included in employee-selection procedures without creating adverse reactions among job applicants as long as they are used in conjunction with ability tests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early stimulus processing in dysthymia and anhedonia.

Previous event-related brain potential (ERP) research has found that dysthymic Ss differ from control Ss during later stages of information processing. An important issue that emerges from this literature is whether differences found in these ERP components, typically associated with cognitive processing, can be attributed to earlier differences in basic perceptual processing. This study was undertaken to determine whether early processing deficits are apparent in dysthymic persons. Responses of dysthymics (n?=?23) were compared with those of anhedonic (n?=?15) and normal control (n?=?17) Ss. ERPs were recorded while Ss heard tones at 55, 65, 75, 85, and 95 dB. Overall, N1-P1 and N1-P2 components of the ERP increased in a strong linear fashion as stimulus intensity increased. Dysthymics did exhibit a smaller N1-P2 response than normal Ss, which suggests the presence of difficulties in initial perceptual processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality and substance use disorders: A prospective study.

The personality systems of Cloninger (as measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire [TPQ]) and Eysenck (as measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire [EPQ]) both have been linked to substance use and abuse. The current study examined the predictive utility of both systems for substance use disorder (SUD) diagnoses, both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Participants (N?=?489 at baseline) completed the EPQ and TPQ and were assessed via structured diagnostic interview at baseline and 6 years later (N?=?457 at follow-up). Both the EPQ and TPQ scales demonstrated bivariate cross-sectional and prospective associations with SUDs. Within each system, those dimensions marking a broad impulsive sensation-seeking or behavioral disinhibition trait were the best predictors prospectively, although the 2 systems were differentially sensitive to specific diagnoses. These relations remained significant even with autoregressivity, other concurrent SUD diagnoses, and multiple personality dimensions statistically controlled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social deficits in hypothetically psychosis-prone college women.

Identified hypothetically psychosis-prone female college students (aged 17–20 yrs) by scales of Physical Anhedonia (n?=?25), Perceptual Aberration (n?=?32), and Nonconformity (n?=?26) and compared them with 27 controls on a role-playing task calling for social skill in interpersonal situations. All 3 groups of experimental Ss exceeded controls on social inappropriateness of response. The anhedonic Ss were significantly more avoidant and more odd than were controls. The perceptual aberration Ss were more odd and more hostile, and the nonconformity Ss were more hostile than were controls. Nevertheless, the experimental Ss were not inferior to controls on overall skill level. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Putatively psychosis-prone subjects 10 years later.

The predictive validities of several indicators of psychosis proneness were evaluated in a 10-yr longitudinal study (N?=?508). As hypothesized, high scorers on the Perceptual Aberration Scale, Magical Ideation Scale, or both (n?=?182), especially those who initially reported psychoticlike experiences of at least moderate deviance, exceeded control Ss (n?=?153) on psychoses (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III—Revised [DSM-III-R]), psychotic relatives, schizotypal symptoms, and psychoticlike experiences at follow-up. Ss who initially scored high on the Magical Ideation Scale and above the mean on the Social Anhedonia Scale were especially deviant. The Physical Anhedonia Scale and the Impulsive Nonconformity Scale were not effective predictors of psychosis proneness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An initial evaluation of a clinical psychology practicum training program.

Assessed 2 groups of clinical psychology graduate student trainees (N?=?26) either 3 or 4 times over the 1st 2 yrs of training. Skills measured included the ability to both communicate and discriminate empathic responses. Faculty supervisory ratings of Ss and internship supervisory ratings were obtained. For comparison purposes, data were gathered from 9 graduate trainees who did not undergo systematic skills training. Results indicate that both experimental training groups (receiving skill training) improved in their ability to produce empathic responses as compared with the control group. The training group that received the more intense and experiential training showed greater improvement in ability to discriminate facilitative responses. Faculty ratings during practicum did not reveal improvement; however, internship supervisory ratings did reflect trainee improvement. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitude toward invasion of privacy in the personnel selection process and job applicant demographic and personality correlates.

Explored the attitudes of subgroups of the job applicant population toward invasion of privacy in the selection process. Attitude toward privacy invasion and personality correlates was also examined. Ss consisted of 1,392 job applicants. Attitudes were measured by an invasion of privacy questionnaire, a 66-item instrument factor-analyzed into 5 component factors. Although many of the correlations between demographic and invasion of privacy factors were significant, they were not large enough to account for much meaningful variance. Personality correlates suggested a set of variables which might merit further investigation. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal study of the performance of hypertensive and normotensive subjects on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

Performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was followed over 2 5- to 6-year intervals for essential hypertensive Ss (EH; n?=?22) free from medical complications and for normotensive Ss (N; n?=?20). EH were treated with adrenergic beta-blocking drugs, diuretics, or both. Mean age was 46 years (SD?=?12.6 years), initially (Time 1). Results were unaltered by adjustment for initial age. N improved modestly on the Verbal scale, from Time 1 to Time 2 only. EH neither improved nor declined on the Verbal scale. Scores remained unchanged for both EH and N Ss for the Performance scale. Overall, and at Times 2 and 3, Verbal scores were lower for the EH group. It was concluded that neither decline nor improvement in cognitive function over time are necessary outcomes of modest, carefully treated, uncomplicated hypertension in the middle years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term effects of fluid ability training in old-old age.

This study examined the effects of multiple phases of cognitive training on older adults' intellectual performance over a 7-year period as Ss advanced from young-old to old-old age. The study involved a pretest–posttest/no-treatment control-group design. At each of 3 training phases, conducted in 1979, 1981, and 1986, Ss received 5 training sessions on the fluid ability of figural relations. Participants (N?=?38) had a mean age of 69 yrs (range?=?63–80) at the onset of the study. Results showed that (1) significant training effects occurred at each of the 3 study phases, when Ss had mean ages of 69, 71, and 77 yrs; (2) the largest training gains were made in the 1st training phase; and (3) as a function of multiple phases of training, Ss in their 70s and early 80s performed significantly above their baseline level of figural relations performance 7 yrs previously. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting educational attainment, occupational achievement, intellectual skill, and personal adjustment among gifted men and women.

The cognitive potential of many gifted children goes unfulfilled. This study was designed to isolate factors, other than cognitive skill, that might predict adult achievements and personal adjustment among the gifted. Subjects were 1,069 gifted men (n?=?595) and women (n?=?474) who have been followed for 60 years as part of the Terman Genetic Studies of Genius. Childhood personality traits, parental education, and early home environment variables were examined as predictors of educational and occupational achievement among adults. The final model depicted five longitudinal relationships that predicted educational attainment, intellectual skill, and personal adjustment among both men and women. Two additional paths explained occupational achievement. The implications of this final model are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The smile of Asia: Acculturation effects on symptom reporting.

Compared Canadian Asian with Caucasian university students (N?=?292) on symptom reporting and response styles and evaluated acculturation effects on symptom reporting and response styles among the Asian Ss. Asian Ss were subdivided into low, medium, or high levels of acculturation. Measures comprised psychological and somatic symptom report scales, behavioral affect expression, and scales tapping self-deception and impression management as response styles. Asian Ss reported more cognitive anxiety than Caucasian Ss, but did not differ in frequency of somatic symptom reports or in preferred response styles, although a linear acculturation effect was noted on behavioral affect expression. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model of hiring decisions in real employment interviews.

Past research on variables affecting hiring decisions has emphasized the role of applicant and interviewer demographics. However, recent studies have questioned the generalizability of findings from laboratory interviews to real interviews. In this article, a model of demographics and interviewing decisions is proposed and tested with actual employment interviews. Industrial interviewers (N?=?8) provided demographic data concerning themselves and applicants (N?=?71), rated applicants on widely studied attributes, and made two hiring decisions. The data support the model that interview outcomes are directly dependent on the more logically relevant variables, such as skill. Furthermore, the influence of demographics is modest and less important than other variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting adult temperament from minor physical anomalies.

Investigated the relation between minor physical anomalies (MPAs) and temperament in adults. 49 female and 39 male undergraduates completed a battery of personality tests, including the Extraversion scale of Eysenck's Personality Inventory and the Jenkins Activity Survey, and lifestyle questions. Ss were also examined for MPAs. The index of MPAs for each S was simply the total count out of 17 measurable characteristics of the face, hands, and feet. Results show a pattern of correlates parallel to that found in children. Among male Ss correlations with MPAs were significant for the Physical Activity and Clumsiness factors of the lifestyle inventory as well as for measures of emotionality, extraversion, masculinity, femininity, and Type A (coronary prone) personality. The MPA index was also predictive of a behavioral index of temperament in male Ss. No correlations were significant among female Ss. (66 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The missing person in personnel classification: A tale of two models.

Examined 2 multivariate classification models for making personnel selection decisions among military applicants using the Personality Research Form, Form E (PRF-E). The 1st model, based on multiple discriminant analysis, was tested with 2,617 Ss in 14 groups. Four significant discriminant functions were identified: (a) risk taking vs dominance, intellectual curiosity; (b) independence vs social orientation; (c) impulse expression; and (d) aggressive orientation vs dependence. The 2nd model, based on a sequential clustering rationale, sought to identify frequently occurring PRF-E profiles and group individuals into homogeneous classes on the basis of similarity to 1 of the modal profiles. Five PRF-E "modal profiles" were identified which replicated across 15 samples of 1,975 Ss, with an average classification hit rate of 64.48%: (a) work orientation vs impulse expression, (b) dependence vs autonomy, (c) outgoing playfulness vs defendency, (d) dominant leadership vs compliance, and (e) social ascendency vs aesthetic interests. (French summary) (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Saccadic system functioning among schizophrenia patients and their first-degree biological relatives.

In Study 1, 30 schizophrenia Ss and 27 nonpsychiatric comparison Ss were presented with a fixation task, a visually guided reflexive saccade (prosaccade) task, a predictive tracking task (0.4-Hz square wave), and an antisaccade task. The 2 groups did not differ on either the fixation or prosaccade tasks. Schizophrenia Ss had an increased number of errors on the antisaccade task and had decreased rightward visually guided saccade amplitudes during the predictive tracking task. In Study 2, 13 psychiatric comparison Ss and 32 1st-degree biological relatives of the schizophrenia Ss were compared with the schizophrenia Ss and a larger and older sample of nonpsychiatric Ss (n?=?33) on the predictive tracking and antisaccade tasks. The groups did not differ on predictive saccadic tracking. The schizophrenia Ss and their 1st-degree biological relatives made more errors on the antisaccade task than both the nonpsychiatric and psychiatric comparison groups (who did not significantly differ). Results are consistent with the notion that dysfunction of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, or both is related to liability for schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Boys with peer adjustment problems: Social cognitive processes.

30 4th-grade and 30 6th-grade males with positive (P) or negative (N) peer status were asked to generate alternative solutions to hypothetical problems, evaluate possible solutions, describe self-statements, and rate the likelihood of possible self-statements to investigate the hypothesis that maladjusted Ss (N peer status) would lack specific social cognitive skills. Hypothetical problems were presented in interviews that emphasized situations involving acts of aggression. Interviews were conducted in 2 parts, involving knowledge of interpersonal problem-solving strategies and attributional style assessment. Results indicate that N Ss generated fewer alternative solutions, proposed fewer assertive and mature solutions, generated more intense aggressive solutions, showed less adaptive planning, and evaluated physically aggressive responses more positively and positive responses more negatively than did P Ss. Data support the notion that boys with social adjustment problems are deficient in the cognitive problem-solving skill of generating multiple alternative solutions. Findings suggest that differences in knowledge and/or attitudes concerning normative social behavior may contribute to the more negative behavior patterns observed in socially maladjusted boys. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

When similarity is a liability: Effects of sex-based preferential selection on reactions to like-sex and different-sex others.

In 2 laboratory studies, 145 male and female undergraduates were selected for the role of manager either on the basis of merit or preferentially on the basis of their sex. Results of the 1st study indicate that when female Ss had been selected preferentially as compared with on a merit basis, they reacted more negatively to female (but not to male) applicants for an entry-level position in terms of personnel evaluations and competence ratings and they recommended female applicants for hire less frequently and less enthusiastically. No differences in personnel evaluations were found as a result of preferential selection when the Ss were male (Study 1) or when Ss were provided with favorable information about their ability (Study 2). Implications for implementation of affirmative action programs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive ability predicts objectively measured counterproductive work behaviors.

Over the past 2 decades, increasing attention has been directed at the relationship between individual differences and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB). However, most of this research has focused on personality variables as potential predictors of CWB; surprisingly little research has investigated the link between counterproductivity and cognitive ability. This study presents the first focal investigation of the cognitive ability-CWB relationship. The authors measured organizational and interpersonal CWB using organizational records of formally recorded incidents (e.g., destruction of property, physical violence). In a predictive study, for a large sample of law enforcement job applicants, a standardized psychometric test of cognitive ability predicted CWB, whereas educational attainment did not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)