The influence of CS-US interval on several different indices of learning in appetitive conditioning.

Four experiments examined the effects of varying the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) interval (and US density) on learning in an appetitive magazine approach task with rats. Learning was assessed with conditioned response (CR) measures, as well as measures of sensory-specific stimulus-outcome associations (Pavlovian-instrumental transfer, potentiated feeding, and US devaluation). The results from these studies indicate that there exists an inverse relation between CS-US interval and magazine approach CRs, but that sensory-specific stimulus-outcome associations are established over a wide range of relatively long, but not short, CS-US intervals. These data suggest that simple CR measures provide different information about what is learned than measures of the specific stimulus-outcome association, and that time is a more critical variable for the former than latter component of learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conceptual orientations of contemporary small group theory.

In an attempt to study some of the conceptual and content parameters of contemporary small group orientations, 2 classificatory systems were developed and applied to a sample of empirical hypotheses derived from 6 such orientations. The results of this analysis provide data on the similarities and differences between these points of view on 3 dimensions: (1) the size of the social unit(s), (2) the social process level(s) with which they deal, and (3) the substantive content of the variables which they employ. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organizational decision-making during COVID-19: A qualitative analysis of the organizational decision-making system in the United States during COVID-19

This study sought to understand COVID-19-related organizational decisions were made across sectors. To gain this understanding, we conducted semi-structured interviews with organizational decision-makers in North Carolina about their experiences responding to COVID-19. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the context, inputs, and processes involved in decision-making. Between October 2020 and February 2021, we interviewed 44 decision-makers from the following sectors: business (n = 4), community non-profit (n = 3), county government (n = 4), healthcare (n = 5), local public health (n = 5), public safety (n = 7), religious (n = 6), education (n = 7) and transportation (n = 3). We found that during the pandemic, organizations looked to scientific authorities, the decisions of peer organizations, data about COVID-19, and their own experience with prior crises. Interpretation of inputs was informed by current political events, societal trends, and organization mission. Decision-makers had to account for divergent internal opinions and community behaviour. To navigate inputs and contextual factors, organizations decentralized decision-making authority, formed auxiliary decision-making bodies, learned to resolve internal conflicts, learned in real time from their crisis response, and routinely communicated decisions with their communities. In conclusion, aligned with systems and contingency theories of decision-making, decision-making during COVID-19 depended on an organization's ‘fit’ within the specifics of their existing system and their ability to orient the dynamics of that system to their own goals.     

Extinction of conditioned flavor preferences.

In a series of 4 experiments, the effects of extinction on flavor preferences conditioned by mixing flavor cues with a nutrient were examined. In each experiment it was observed that rats preferred a flavor cue that had not undergone extinction to one that had. In addition, this preference was reversed in subjects trained thirsty (Experiments 1 and 2) if the associated nutrient had been devalued prior to the test or the preference for the nonextinguished cue was attenuated by nutrient devaluation in subjects trained hungry (Experiments 3 and 4). The results suggest that extinction may weaken associations between the flavor and the specific sensory properties of the nutrient and, for subjects trained hungry, between the flavor and the motivational components of the nutrient as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological factors in diabetes and its treatment.

Reviews the psychological factors of diabetes with respect to etiology, psychological impact and adjustment to the disease, family dynamics, and psychological programs to aid diabetes management. Stress appears to influence metabolism both directly and indirectly. Little evidence exists for a consistent pattern of traits that typifies diabetes or poor management of the disease. Several studies have shown diverse psychological problems related to diabetes, especially in the area of social problems and peer relationships among juveniles. A variety of psychological interventions may be helpful in the care of diabetes; however, none of these are conclusively useful. Research should clarify the role of stress and stress management and focus on psychological factors related to metabolic control. Treatment research needs careful specification of interventions and measurement of both behavioral and metabolic outcomes so that connections among them may be assessed. (97 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self- and spouse ratings of anger and hostility as predictors of coronary heart disease.

Self- and spouse ratings of anger and hostility were examined as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD) in 185 cardiac patients. Patients completed the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability (MCSD) Scale; the MAI (rewritten to 3rd person) was completed by Ss' spouses or by a peer. Thallium scans were used to measure CHD status. Results show that patient-rated MAI scores were inversely correlated with MCSD. There were no gender differences for patient-rated MAI scores, but spouse ratings showed gender effects for Anger-Arousal and Hostile Outlook: Women rated their husbands higher than men rated their wives. Patients with positive thallium scans were no different from those without CHD on patient-rated MAI scores; however, spouse ratings indicated that those with CHD had higher Hostile Outlook and Anger-In scores. After accounting for the effects of traditional CHD risk factors, only spouse-rated hostility contributed significant incremental variance to the prediction of CHD status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential outcome effects in Pavlovian biconditional and ambiguous occasion setting tasks.

Three experiments with rats explored the differential outcome effect (DOE) using a Pavloian magazine approach conditioning preparation. Experiment 1 compared groups trained on a biconditional discrimination (AX+, AY?, BX?, BY+) with differential or nondifferential outcomes, and Experiment 2 examined this using an ambiguous occasion setting task (e.g., AX+, X?, Y+, AY?). In both experiments, subjects trained with differential outcomes learned the tasks better than subjects trained with nondifferential outcomes. Furthermore, subjects given differential outcome training learned the positive occasion setting component of the ambiguous task more efficiently than the negative occasion setting component, although both were enhanced by differential outcome training. Experiment 3 demonstrated that the ambiguous occasion setting task was reversed more readily when the target–outcome relations (as opposed to the modulator–outcome relations) were maintained during the reversal phase. These data suggest that an acquired distinctiveness effect may be responsible for the DOE in Pavlovian learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)