Les capacités d'inhibition : une fonction « frontale » ?

It has been strongly suggested that one important function related to frontal lobes is inhibition. However, a review of the literature on classical tests of inhibition (Stroop test, WCST, and AB-AC learning) suggests that this hypothesis is not well established. We further examined this hypothesis using short-term and long-term directed forgetting tasks (Reed, 1970, Zacks et al., 1996), the Stroop test and the Hayling test (Burgess and Shallice, 1996) in 13 patients with focal frontal lesions. The results revealed short-term and long-term memory deficits and a slowing down, but no inhibition deficit compared with control subjects. These results question the relevance of the hypothesis of the frontal lobe as the unique substrate of inhibitory mechanisms. More generally, they address the issue of executive functions: are these sustained by the frontal cortex or by a cortical and subcortical diffuse neural network?     

Le bonheur de vieillir : une approche « positive » du vieillissement

The positive psychology movement promotes a better quality of life and subjective well being for all people of every age. The supporters of this approach acknowledge the problems associated with aging, but emphasize the possibility of personal development and happiness in the third and fourth ages. From the numerous suggestions proposed by researchers, we recommend three methods, the efficiency of which is demonstrated by empirical results: the use of our signature strengths, the pursuit of our significant goals and the experiencing of flow (optimal experience). These activities certainly contribute to the happiness of aging.     

« Porosité » entre travail et vie privée,conflits et aménagements : une étude comparative de deux populations de femmes

At present, little research has been done regarding the links between work and private life from the standpoint of subjective perceptions. The authors present a qualitative research focused on this issue involving women working in the fields of health and management. The content analysis revealed a double dynamic implying autonomy as well as “permeability” between the two worlds. Three subjective dimensions define this paradoxical movement: “dynamics in social relations”, the “subjective function of the body”, and the “perception of a certain mastery”. Outcomes show how psychological conflict can play an essential role in the personalization process. This was described by participants in terms of satisfaction, yet only under certain conditions.     

« Docteur,pourrais-je avoir une copie du certificat ? » Étude pluricentrique concernant l’application des décrets du 31 mars 2021 et du 23 novembre 2021

On 31 March 2021, a decree was published in the Official Journal concerning the procedures for the delivery of medical certificates to victims of violence. These victims can now obtain a copy of the certificate drafted by the doctor required by the judicial authorities, particularly as regards medical examiners.PurposeThe aim of our study was to assess the impact of the March 31, 2021 decree on victims’ requests to the medical examiner for a copy of the medical certificate.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted among three forensic services receiving victims in consultation, using a paper questionnaire linked to Medlé data, over a three-month period.ResultsOf the 1,492 consultations conducted during the study period, a copy of the certificate was only given to the victim in 13.1 % of the consultations. It was requested spontaneously by the victim in 15.2 % of cases, most often to exercise his right (46.4 %). These were primarily consultations following an accident, psychological abuse, and assault. This copy was requested spontaneously by less than 3 % of victims of domestic violence. There was some disparity between the three centres regarding the minor victim.ConclusionThis study is a small sample over a short period. The information of the victims, especially of domestic violence, on access to the copy of the medical-legal certificate seems still insufficient, and the principle of surrender, when it can help the victim in his efforts, can also be a source of confusion.     

Accompagner et instrumenter l’intervention dans une organisation en transition (SCOP) : quand l’intervenant doit prendre et trouver sa place

Our contribution is based on the observation in immersion of a collective of workers engaged in the struggle to take back its factory in Scop. We seek to understand, from the analysis of this intervention, what is the place and the role that the psychologist of work takes or is given in this context of transformation. From this perspective, the use of the intervention method has produced a large body of data that we have chosen to analyze according to the job four-dimensional model (Clot, 2008). We seek then to make visible our slippages in the use of this method, the interferences that may be the cause, the way in which they affect us, and what we can make of it. As we believe that these affects, however uncomfortable, can be transformed into objects of analysis to the benefit of the collective and its current activity.     

« Mon enfant est-il surdoué ? » Que demande-t-on ?

Is it possible to identify the specific characteristics as well as the scope of the phenomenon of demands concerning giftedness? The author presents and comments a set of data reflecting the activity of a Parisian consultation center over two separate years: 2004 (12% of the demands concern giftedness) and 2006 (11% of the demands concern giftedness). The psychometrical investigations are based on the Wechsler Scales (WISC-III; WISC-IV). The percentage of demands related to giftedness is quite high as compared to other motives. It mainly concerns children who do not show what are called “very superior” intellectual abilities. The development of certain social stereotypes could be an explanation.     

Le processus placebo : amorcer le sujet par une « hypothèse suffisamment bonne »

If placebo cure is self-cure, a fundamental question, as proposed by N. Humphrey, is why this capacity remains blocked until primed by a symbolic event such as the injection of an inert substance. In our view, this event induces a rearrangement of the ongoing predictions by which the brain generates expectancies of what is likely to happen next. These predictions are akin to anticipations simulating an increased comfort in the case of the administration of an antalgic treatment. In some cases, this anticipation promotes the reinforcement… of its prediction, mediated by a dopamine surge, together with a release of endogenous opiates. This priming of a circular causal chain might represent the basis of a placebo effect… normally followed by the action of the pharmacological event itself. Somehow, the placebo effect is akin to a risky bet.     

« Te dire comment je me suis sentie insultée ! » – Instruments, émotions et transformation de l’activité

This article examines the place of emotions in mediated activity. The literature has shown that management tools produce emotions for users. However, this literature mainly analyses users in isolation and without taking into account their work context. Building on the work of Rabardel and 15 interviews with managers, this article shows how the emotions produced by the use of management tools transform the relationship to the activity, the relationship to oneself and the relationship to others and contribute to the transformation of the mediated activity. These results allow to underline the place of emotions in the mediated activity but also to discuss the relevance of the usual distinction between positive and negative emotions.     

Qualités psychométriques d’une version francophone du « Displaced Aggression Questionnaire »

IntroductionThe Displaced Aggression Questionnaire is currently the only self-report instrument to measure individual tendency to displace aggression. It is composed of three factors, which assess an affective dimension (angry rumination), a cognitive dimension (revenge planning) and a behavioral dimension (displaced aggression).ObjectiveTo adapt a French translated version of the Displaced Aggression Questionnaire and test the psychometrics.MethodIn this study, we recruited 191 adults in the community. The questionnaire has been adapted and validated with respects to guidelines for the process of transcultural adaptation and validation of self-report measures. A principal component analysis has been used to assess the structure of the French version of the questionnaire.ResultsAfter taking into account one item that has not loaded onto any of the three expected factors, the principal component analysis confirmed the hypothesized three-factor structure for the French version of the questionnaire according to the original structure of the scale. It has been named Questionnaire d’Agression Déplacée in French. Results showed good psychometric qualities for the internal consistency, the discriminant and concomitant validity and the reliability.ConclusionBased on these positive results, this version can already be used by French speaking researchers.     

Comment aider les résidents d’une maison de retraite à librement décider de participer à une activité sociale ? Toucher, « vous êtes libre de… » et pied-dans-la-porte

Confronted with the social exclusion of the elderly [cf. Pellissier, J., 2003. La nuit, tous les vieux sont gris. La société contre la vieillesse. Bibliophane-Daniel Radford, Paris], some old peoples homes propose to their residents to participate in social activities, but about 56% of the residents never participate [Paillat, P., 1982. Vieillissement et vieillesse. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris]. In an initial study [Pratiques Psychol 13 (2) (2007), 213–225], two free compliance procedures were used, jointly, to help the residents of an old peoples home overcome their isolation [Joule, R.-V., Beauvois, J.-L., 1998. La soumission librement consentie. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris, Joule, R.-V., Beauvois, J.-L., 2002. Petit traité de manipulation à l’usage des honnêtes gens. Presses Universitaires de Grenoble, Grenoble]: the “but you are free to..” procedure [Curr Res Soc Psychol 5 (18) (2000), 264–270]; and the “touch” procedure [J Exp Soc Psychol 13 (1977), 218–223]. The present research analysed the split effects of both procedures used. Results showed the effectiveness of a touch procedure on intention to participate and the actual participation in social activities by the residents (as proposed by the homes). Besides, the use of a new procedure of free compliance (foot-in-the-door [J Pers Soc Psychol (4) (1966), 195–202]) allowed to revive the observed effects.     

La rotation alternante en 3 × 8 et ses effets sur le processus d'inhibition

This experiment is based on the negative priming paradigm by using a Stroop like material (Dalrymple-Alford et Budayr, 1966) to study an inhibitory functional deficit in 3 × 8 alternating shiftworkers. The results revealed a deficit in the inhibitory mechanism when 3 × 8 and 2 × 8 ex 3 × 8 alternating shiftworkers were compared with 2 × 8 alternating shiftworkers. These results make necessary to develop further studies on the effects of the 3 × 8 alternating shiftwork on the information processing system, that focus on attentional processes.     

Le « dispositif de gestion » : un cadre méthodologique pour l’analyse psychosociale du « Patient-centered care » dans un hôpital parisien

This article explores the implementation of Patient-Centered Care approaches that have been spreading since the 2000s in French hospitals. Questioning their acceptance, the authors mobilize the framework of analysis of the management dispositive, applied to the orthopedic department of a Parisian hospital (3 weeks of observations and 43 interviews). They identify the socio-material resources mobilized (spaces, instruments and language) and their arrangement under the influence of an ideology. The article underlines the hybrid and situated nature of the arrangements as well as the reciprocal influences between the resources of the arrangement. The article thus extends the reflection on situated acceptance, showing that the dispositive studied is not fixed, but is the result of a collective activity, both mediated and subject to retroactions.     

La méthode d’intervention en psychodynamique du travail face au « tournant gestionnaire » : l’exemple d’une intervention dans une unité mixte de recherche

This text aims to show the continuing interest in using the “canonical” method of investigation in work psychodynamics in the context of what is commonly called the managerial turning point. In order to demonstrate this methodology, the authors will rely on a survey conducted in a U.M.R of science called “hard science” following a recommendation of the Agency for evaluation of research and higher education. We will raise the impact of this intervention, allowing participants to think about their work relationship and the necessary modalities in order to do it continuously well, within the managerial logic context.     

Créativité verbale et valence émotionnelle : « Je deviens plus créatif quand je vois un mot positif ! »

IntroductionThe modulating effect of emotion on creativity is one of the most current topics in cognitive research. Emotion, and particularly positive emotion, is supposed to be conducive of creativity and to enhance the processes of creative thinking.ObjectiveThis work aimed to study the modulating effect of emotional valence of the task material (words-stimuli) as well as the emotional valence of the task instructions on verbal creativity performance.MethodAn experiment was conducted on a set of 27 stimuli-words and six instructions-phrases selected on the basis of pretest valence ratings. The valence of the stimuli-words (negative, neutral and positive) was crossed with the valence of the instructions-phrases (negative, neutral and positive) in a 3 × 3 factorial design. However, only five experimental conditions were considered relevant and used in the Experiment. Three components of verbal creativity identified in the literature were measured: fluidity, flexibility and originality.ResultsResults showed that positive instructions and words increased verbal creativity, especially the originality of the responses, which is considered as a basic component of creativity. Conversely, negative valence had an inhibitory and obstructive effect on verbal creativity.ConclusionThis study supports previous research showing the existence of a significant influence of emotional valence of words on cognitive functioning, and adds to the very little (or absent) research on the modulating effect of the valence of instructions and on the relationship between verbal creativity and emotional valence, a relationship that can be fostered in education.     

Le « burn out » de l'aidant familial âgé

This study deals with old significant other who cares of his polyarthritic spouse and has to be faced with his ageing. We assume that caregiver's assessment of his spouse's pain involves psychological consequences (daily life, locus of control, distress). Moreover, we suppose that caregiver's distress influences support given to the patient. These measures are made with the Multidimensional Pain Inventory Significant Other (Sharp et Nicholas, 2000). Thanks to the caregivers' assessment of spouses' pain experience, an average is made in order to form two groups and to yield the assessment's effect on each measure, in comparing the results with statistic tests. A correlation between distress and support is made. The outcomes of a 22 subjects sample show that the anxiest caregivers bring less support than the others (α = –0,5) and chronic pain reinforces caregivers' anxiety and cause meaning changes in their daily life, in so far as chronic pain is perceived by caregivers as very disabled.     

L’outil « estimateur », la ligne numérique mentale et les habiletés arithmétiques

This report presents the effects of learning study based on the Estimator program to learn the addition and subtraction operations on children selected for mathematical difficulties. The Estimator is designed to link the magnitudes of the mental number line with the verbal representations of exact arithmetic. Experiment shows that using the Estimator for five 30-minute sessions increases not only the children's arithmetic capacities but also other numerical knowledge assessed with Zareki-R. By taking account of the limits of the sample, the results are discussed in terms of (re) educational implications.