What are affects?

In an attempt to answer the question, "what is affect?", this paper considers Freud's metapsychological formulation in the light of recent developments in psychoanalysis and neuroscience. It argues that the problem of affect-perhaps more than any other-forces us to acknowledge the intrinsic connexion between mind and body, and to accommodate it in our theoretical formulations. A review of the problem from this point of view leads to the following formulation: affect is a primary sensory modality, analogous to the senses of vision, hearing, somatic sensation, taste, and smell. These modalities are the elementary constituents of the envelope of consciousness, from which it is impossible to free ourselves. Whereas the sensory modalities of vision, hearing, somatic sensation, taste, and smell represent aspects of the external object world ("unknowable" in itself), affect is the primary sensory modality through which we perceive as aspect of the internal world of the subject ("unconscious" in itself).     

How are we doing in soft psychology?

Comments on research in "soft psychology" involving more ephemeral and unreplicable areas of study, focusing on the question of how large an effect must be to be considered important. The binomial effect size display (R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin; see record 1982-22591-001) is viewed as a useful way to display the practical magnitude of an effect size, regardless of whether the dependent variable is dichotomous or continuous. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence into practice, experimentation and quasi experimentation: are the methods up to the task?

PURPOSE: To assess the suitability of the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay as a biological dosimeter following in-vivo radiation using cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: Blood from 4 healthy donors was irradiated in vitro with gamma-rays and the dose response of induced micronuclei in binucleate lymphocytes following cytokinesis block was determined. Micronucleus frequency was ascertained before and at intervals during radiotherapy treatment in 6 patients with various tumors in the pelvic region. Equivalent whole body doses (physical doses) at these times were calculated from radiation treatment plans and cumulative dose volume histograms. RESULTS: Linear dose response relationships were found for induced micronucleus frequency in lymphocytes resulting from both in-vitro and in-vivo irradiation. Doses resulting from in-vivo irradiation (biological doses) were estimated by substitution of micronucleus frequency observed in radiotherapy patients into the dose response curve from in-vitro irradiation of blood. The relationship between the biologically estimated dose (BD) and the calculated equivalent whole body dose (PD) was BD = 0.868 (+/- 0.043)PD + 0.117 (+/- 0.075). CONCLUSION: The micronucleus assay appears to offer a reliable and consistent method for equivalent whole body radiation dose estimation, although our findings should be confirmed using lymphocytes from radiotherapy patients with tumors at anatomical sites other than the pelvis. Except at doses lower than about ).4 Gy, the method yields dose estimates acceptably close to "true" physically determined doses. The assay can be performed relatively rapidly and can be used as a "first line" biological dosimeter in situations where accidental exposure to relatively high radiation doses has occurred.     

Straight talk about assessment and diversity: What do we know?

This article reflects on other articles (T. Z. Keith, J. H. Kranzler et al, J. P. Braden, R. T. Brown et al, and C. L. Frisby; see records 1999-11838-003, 1999-11838-007, 1999-11838-006, 1999-11838-002, and 1999-11838-004 and 199911838-005 respectively,) that deal with assessments of cognitive abilities and academic achievements. It tries to accomplish three objectives: (a) to decide whether assessments create, or merely reflect, between-group differences in cognitive abilities and achievement; (b) to explore why school psychologists resist the conclusion that group differences are real; and (c) to consider the types of research and knowledge needed to move the discussion of assessment bias past its current intellectual logjam. The arguments state that the assessments accurately reflect, but do not create differences between English-speaking groups in North America. However, the author states that though this topic is important, the questions surrounding it are not completely answered by the special issue and more research should be done in this area.. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What is coded into memory in the absence of outcome feedback?

Although people often have to learn from environments with scarce and highly selective outcome feedback, the question of how nonfeedback trials are represented in memory and affect later performance has received little attention in models of learning and decision making. In this article, the authors use the generalized context model (Nosofsky, 1986) as a vehicle to test contrasting hypotheses about the coding of nonfeedback trials. Data across 3 experiments with selective decision-contingent and selective outcome-contingent feedback provide support for the hypothesis of constructivist coding (Elwin, Juslin, Olsson, & Enkvist, 2007), according to which the outcomes on nonfeedback trials are coded with the most likely outcome, as inferred by the individual. The relation to sampling-based approaches to judgment, and the adaptive significance of constructivist coding, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are the shapes of response time distributions in visual search?

Many visual search experiments measure response time (RT) as their primary dependent variable. Analyses typically focus on mean (or median) RT. However, given enough data, the RT distribution can be a rich source of information. For this paper, we collected about 500 trials per cell per observer for both target-present and target-absent displays in each of three classic search tasks: feature search, with the target defined by color; conjunction search, with the target defined by both color and orientation; and spatial configuration search for a 2 among distractor 5s. This large data set allows us to characterize the RT distributions in detail. We present the raw RT distributions and fit several psychologically motivated functions (ex-Gaussian, ex-Wald, Gamma, and Weibull) to the data. We analyze and interpret parameter trends from these four functions within the context of theories of visual search. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How do animals actually solve the T maze?

Rats were trained on a reinforced, delayed alternation T-maze task in the presence (cue group) or absence (no-cue group) of salient extramaze landmarks. A surprising finding was that the acquisition and memory performance of the 2 groups did not differ. Manipulations of the extramaze landmarks for the cue group suggested that, although landmarks were used to guide behavior, other sources of information were also used normally. The no-cue group was able to perform the task at above-chance levels even when extramaze, intramaze, and inertial sources of orientation were manipulated. These results suggest that memory performance on the T maze does not rely exclusively on the processing of allocentric spatial relationships in the maze environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Where are the generators?

Organizational creativity is presented as four distinctly different sequential stages of a dynamic cognitive creative problem solving process: generation, conceptualization, optimization, and implementation. The generation stage is the activity that initiates the creative process. It is disruptive, because it entails proactively and deliberately seeking and discovering brand new problems and opportunities. Often called opportunity finding, generation results from restless discontent with the status quo. This activity is different from the second stage, conceptualization, which other researchers have previously described as problem construction, identification, or formulation. Such second stage activity gives definition to a newly discovered problem freshly emerging from the first stage or to a presented or otherwise already existing problem. We provide research showing that the people who prefer the generation stage activity (generators) are underrepresented in industrial and business organizations and are likely to be found in occupations normally found outside such organizations, for example, artists, writers, designers, teachers, and academic institutions. We argue that organizations seeking increased creativity and innovation could do so by understanding and recognizing the contributions made by people preferring the generator style, and by making generator activity more attractive for all members of the organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are the fundamental facts of a comparison of two treatments' outcomes?

Responds to comments by Stefan G. Hofmann (see record 2011-19228-003), Edward A. Wise (see record 2011-19228-004), Michael J. Lambert (see record 2011-19228-005), and William H. Gottdiener (see record 2011-19228-006) on the authors original article "Statistical significance testing and clinical trials" (see record 2011-19228-002). The original article is one very narrowly focused effort at studying the implications of relying on the null hypothesis significance test (NHST) for determining which psychotherapy randomized clinical trial (RCT) findings to take seriously for clinical purposes. Although there are several approaches for faulting the NHST, the matter is important and complicated enough to justify dealing, in detail, with one approach at a time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are patients' expectations of tomorrow's physicians?

The question of the patient's expectation on his physician and through him on modern medicine has nowadays developed to surprising actuality. Four points are raised for reflection basing on historic analysis, empiric investigations and personal experience: 1. The expectations on the personal physician, the "eyewitness" of life. 2. The expectations on the physician as expert in diagnosis and treatment. 3. The expectations on the physician as companion through critical situations and as helper in need. 4. The expectation on a new patient-doctor relationship in tomorrow's medicine.     

What are the odds? How demographic similarity affects the prevalence of perceived employment discrimination.

Because research is needed to identify the conditions that facilitate or impede the prevalence of perceived workplace discrimination, the authors examined the effects of demographics and demographic similarity on the prevalence of sex- and race/ethnicity-based perceived workplace discrimination. Results from a national survey of 763 full-time, United States employees show perceived sex-based discrimination at work was more prevalent among female than male employees, and perceived race-based discrimination at work was more prevalent among Black and Hispanic than White employees. Additionally, perceived racial/ethnic discrimination was less prevalent among those with same-race/ethnicity supervisors. The effect of employee-coworker sex similarity on perceived sex discrimination was significant only for women, and the effects of supervisor-subordinate racial similarity on the prevalence of perceived racial discrimination varied between Black and White respondents, depending on employee-residential-community racial similarity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are the benefits of mindfulness? A practice review of psychotherapy-related research.

Research suggests that mindfulness practices offer psychotherapists a way to positively affect aspects of therapy that account for successful treatment. This paper provides psychotherapists with a synthesis of the empirically supported advantages of mindfulness. Definitions of mindfulness and evidence-based interpersonal, affective, and intrapersonal benefits of mindfulness are presented. Research on therapists who meditate and client outcomes of therapists who meditate are reviewed. Implications for practice, research, and training are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring the link between racial discrimination and substance use: What mediates? What buffers?

The relation between perceived racial discrimination and substance use was examined in 2 studies that were based on the prototype-willingness model (Gibbons, Gerrard, & Lane, 2003). Study 1, using structural equation modeling, revealed prospective relations between discrimination and use 5 years later in a panel of African American adolescents (M age 10.5 years at Time 1 [T1]) and their parents. For both groups, the relation was mediated by anger and/or hostility. For the adolescents, it was also mediated by behavioral willingness, and it was moderated by supportive parenting. Study 2 was a lab experiment in which a subset of the Study 1 adolescents (M age = 18.5 years) was asked to imagine a discriminatory experience, and then their affect and drug willingness were assessed. As in the survey study, discrimination was associated with more drug willingness, and that relation was again mediated by anger and moderated by supportive parenting. Implications of the results for research and interventions involving reactions to racial discrimination are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What causes the isolation effect?

Events that are incongruent with their prevailing context are usually very well remembered. This fact often is described as the distinctiveness effect in memory, an effect that has served as explanation not only of memory phenomena but also of various other phenomena, including social judgment. The core laboratory paradigm for studying distinctiveness in memory research has long been the isolation paradigm. This paradigm, sometimes attributed to H. von Restorff (1933), yields better memory for an item categorically isolated from surrounding items than for the surrounding items and a proper control item. The authors offer an interpretation of the isolation effect based on the analysis of the processing of similarities and differences among the items. Two experiments provide evidence for this interpretation. The results are discussed in the context of current theories of distinctiveness effects in memory. An appeal is made for a different conceptualization of distinctiveness effects, one that treats distinctiveness as a discriminative process in memory that requires processing of both similarities and differences among items. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What are the symptoms of varicose veins? Edinburgh vein study cross sectional population survey

OBJECTIVE: To define the relations between age, sex, lower limb symptoms, and the presence of trunk varicose veins on clinical examination. DESIGN: Cross sectional population study. SETTING: 12 general practices with catchment areas geographically and socioeconomically distributed throughout Edinburgh. PARTICIPANTS: An age stratified random sample of 1566 people (699 men and 867 women) aged 18-64 selected from the computerised age-sex registers of participating practices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self administered questionnaire on the presence of lower limb symptoms and physical examination to determine the presence and severity of varicose veins. RESULTS: Women were significantly more likely than men to report lower limb symptoms such as heaviness or tension, swelling, aching, restless legs, cramps, and itching. The prevalence of symptoms tended to increase with age in both sexes. In men, only itching was significantly related to the presence and severity of trunk varices (linear test for trend, P=0.011). In women there was a significant relation between trunk varices and the symptoms of heaviness or tension (P相似文献   

Complexity and valence in ethnophaulisms and exclusion of ethnic out-groups: What puts the "hate" into hate speech?

Ethnophaulisms (A. A. Roback, 1944) are the words used as ethnic slurs to refer to out-groups in hate speech. The results of previous archival research have suggested that it is the complexity, more so than the valence, of ethnophaulisms that predicts the exclusion of ethnic immigrant out-groups from the receiving society. This article reports the results of 3 experimental examinations of the relative contributions of complexity and valence in ethnophaulisms to the exclusion of an ethnic out-group. Experiment 1 demonstrated that exclusion of the ethnic out-group was increased by the use of low-complexity ethnophaulisms. Experiment 2 demonstrated that exclusion of the ethnic out-group decreased by the use of high-complexity ethnophaulisms. Experiment 3 confirmed the demonstration that exclusion decreased by the use of a different set of high-complexity ethnophaulisms. The results of these three experiments converge to indicate that low complexity exerts more of an effect than negative valences on the exclusion of an ethnic out-group. The implications of these results for theoretical approaches to intergroup behavior are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Note taking and university students with learning difficulties: What supports are needed?

Despite advances in electronic course delivery, most university content is still conveyed through class lecture, which necessitates note taking by students. At the same time, students with learning difficulties are entering universities in unprecedented numbers (Stodden, Conway, & Chang, 2003; Wilhelm, 2003). These students encounter high expectations for autonomous learning and may struggle when they attempt to quickly prioritize and record lecture information. Research on students with learning difficulties and note taking at the university level is limited but worthy of review. This article examines the literature on the utility of providing copies of instructors' notes to all students and the effect of instructor-provided notes on the academic performance of students with learning difficulties. Practical implications for current university teaching practice are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychology of making ethical decisions: What affects the decision?

Individuals engage in an ethical decision-making process to solve ethical dilemmas. This empirical study of Navy chaplains explored the process of ethical decision making and the extent to which the characteristics of the moral situation influence the decision-making process. The results of the study are visually displayed in a model that pictures the steps in ethical decision making, which could be used as a teaching and training tool for professionals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cranial growth in Homo erectus: how credible are the Ngandong juveniles?

Confusion exists regarding the developmental ages of numerous Asian and southeast Asian Homo erectus fossils because of Weidenreich's contention that Pithecanthropus fused its sutures prematurely relative to H. sapiens. I reevaluate the cranial developmental ages of the Ngandong "juveniles" (2, 5, 8, 9) based on a series of indicators of youth (superstructure development, suture development/fusion, and cranial thickness) and cranial contours. The Ngandong juveniles are compared with H. sapiens adults (n = 281) and subadults (n = 81) and with Ngandong and other H. erectus adults (n = 20) and subadults (n = 4). Cranial contours are assessed using bivariate plots of arc vs. chord measurements. All indicators suggest that Ngandong 5 and 9 are adults, whereas Ngandong 8 is an older juvenile or young adult and Ngandong 2 is a juvenile with a developmental age range of greater than 6 and less than 11 years. In addition, adult cranial contours and the pattern of contour development are similar between Ngandong adults and other H. erectus adults. There is nothing in the cranial contour data to suggest that Ngandong is, despite a relatively large brain, transitional in vault shape between H. erectus and H. sapiens.     

Language in autism and specific language impairment: Where are the links?

It has been suggested that language impairment in autism is behaviorally, neurobiologically, and etiologically related to specific language impairment (SLI). In this article, the authors review evidence at each level and argue that the vast majority of data does not support the view that language impairment in autism can be explained in terms of comorbid SLI. The authors make recommendations for how this debate might be resolved and suggest a shift in research focus. They recommend that researchers concentrate on those aspects of language impairment that predominate in each disorder rather than on those comparatively small areas of potential overlap. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)