Savings in relearning: II. On the formation of behavior-based trait associations and inferences.

Five experiments based on Carlston and Skowronski's (1994) relearning paradigm suggest that people spontaneously derive trait knowledge about actors from behaviors but that this knowledge may reflect either explicit trait inference processes or implicit actor–trait associations. Experiments 1 and 2 found that inference-instructed and control Ss showed equivalent savings in subsequent efforts to learn actor–trait pairs but not when instructed Ss initially inferred the wrong trait. Experiment 3 showed that savings were equivalent for stimuli from different sources, and Experiment 4 showed that savings effects persisted even when the target was only incidentally associated with a stimulus behavior. Finally, Experiment 5 suggests that after several days, even explicit trait inferences can become inaccessible to intentional retrieval, although the earlier experiments show that they continue to exert an implicit effect on learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negativity and extremity biases in impression formation: A review of explanations.

This article reviews the research relevant to negativity and extremity biases in impression formation and discusses that research as it relates to the major theories that explain these biases. We also describe a model for these biases that draws on principles of natural object categorization. This model explains negativity and extremity biases in terms of the perceived diagnosticity of different kinds of cues for alternative categorizations of the stimulus. The model not only accounts for existing evidence regarding negativity and extremity biases but also suggests circumstances (a) in which positivity biases should occur and (b) in which single cues might be sufficient to prompt categorizations resistant to counterevidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alternative medicine instruction in medical schools and family practice residency programs

Mutations in the gene encoding neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM) are involved in X-linked hydrocephalus (HSAS, hydrocephalus due to stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius), MASA syndrome (mental retardation, aphasia, shuffling gait, and adducted thumbs), and spastic paraplegia type 1. We examined the L1CAM mutation in a Japanese family with HSAS for the purpose of DNA-based genetic counseling. The proband was a 9-year-old boy who had a 1-bp deletion in exon 22 of the L1CAM gene. This resulted in a shift of the reading frame, and introduction of a premature stop codon. Translation of this mRNA will create a truncated protein without the transmembrane domain, which cannot be expressed on the cell surface. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed markedly enlarged lateral ventricles, hypoplastic white matter, thin cortical mantle, agenesis of the corpus callosum and septum pellucidum, and a fused thalamus. These findings represented impaired L1CAM function during development of the nervous system with resultant adhesion between neurons, neurites outgrowth and fasciculation, and neural cell migration. Screening by Apa I digestion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products identified the mother and the younger sister as heterozygous carriers. The carriers were asymptomatic. The father and the other sister did not have the mutation. The identification of L1CAM mutation in families with HSAS will give them the opportunity for DNA-based counseling and prenatal diagnosis.     

Avoiding bias in the search for artifact: A reply to Carlopio, Adair, Lindsay, and Spinner.

J. Carlopio et al (see record 1983-31564-001) criticized several aspects of the present authors' (see record 1982-12761-001) procedures and conclusions in a study of S roles and contended that the entire "subject role" approach is misguided. In this reply, the merits of the arguments and follow-up study of Carlopio et al are considered along with the "alternative" conception of S behavior they proposed. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acidolysis of vegetable and marine oils with phthalic acids

The interchange reaction of the three phthalic acid isomers with triglyceride oils at high temperatures was studied. Orthophthalic acid dehydrates to the anhydride before any interchange occurs, but isophthalic and terephthalic acids are heat-stable and react easily with oils in the temperature range of 260–300°C. Isophthalic acid reacts more rapidly than terephthalic acid and is ideal for use in acidolysis processes of alkyd-resin manufacture. Various methods of application of the acidolysis reaction to isophthalic alkyd resin preparation were studied, and the minimum of oil conversion to monobasic acids that is required for successful alkyd preparation was found. Under certain conditions the acidolysis reaction occurs simultaneously with esterification; use is made of this fact to improve the process. Commercial use of the acidolysis reaction in alkyd-resin manufacture is economically attractive because it is noncatalytic; therefore no catalyst residues need to be removed by pressure filtration. Another advantage is that glycerol is readily pumped into hot acidolysis-reaction mixtures without opening the kettle, and this eliminates the disagreeable and toxic fumes that escape from hot kettles when they are opened after alcoholysis for addition of solid phthalic anhydride or isophthalic acid. Applications of acidolysis in conjunction with oil polymerization, fish oil upgrading, and castor oil dehydration were studied briefly, and the results suggest that further work in these fields is desirable.     

A closer examination of subject roles.

Investigated S. J. Weber and T. D. Cook's (see record 1969-04069-001) notion of "subject roles" by assigning 45 undergraduates to 1 of 6 role-playing groups. Ss performed a word selection/memory task designed to discriminate among the roles. Ss with different role-play motivations differed significantly in their attention to various facets of the instructions and in their behavioral responses on the experimental task. Discriminant analysis indicated that the 6 groups could be distinguished within a 2-dimensional space. However, uninstructed control Ss were located near the center of this discriminant space, revealing few of the characteristics determined to be typical for good, faithful, apprehensive, or negativistic Ss. It is concluded that while the subject-role constructs discussed by Weber and Cook are largely valid, such roles may not be a severe threat in laboratory research. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Solution growth of mercuric iodide crystals from dimethylsulfoxide-based solvent systems

Dimethylsulfoxide is found to be an effective solvent for solution growth of large mercuric iodide crystals. Solvent properties, crystal growth and characterization, and nuclear detector properties are dis-cussed. When tested as nuclear radiation detectors, solution-grown crystals did not function as well as vapor-grown crystals.     

Spontaneous trait transference to familiar communications: Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?

In most social cognition research participants are presented with unattributed information about unfamiliar stimulus persons. However, in the real world it is more common for people to learn about others through social communication and to know something about those with whom they communicate. Such issues are explored in relation to spontaneous trait transference, a phenomenon in which communicators are perceived as having traits that they merely describe in others. Three studies show that even familiar communicators became associated with, and attributed, the traits implied by their remarks. Surprisingly, these effects occurred even when the implied traits were incongruent with participants' prior knowledge about these communicators. The results are discussed in terms of (a) the generalizability of social cognition research, (b) the automaticity of simple associative phenomena, and (c) the interplay of simple associative and higher level processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)