Journal Reviews

D avidson , R. H. & D ay , R. 'Symbol and realization: a contribution to the study of magic and healing.'
D reifuss , G. (Haifa): 'The significance of the shofar in the rite of the Jewish high holidays'
E ngel , W. (New York): 'Psychotherapeutic prophylaxis in a changing world'
F ordham , M. (London): 'Reflection on child analysis read at the Rome conference "Jung e la cultura europea"'
F ordham , M. (London): Jungian view of the body-mind relationship
F ordham , M. (London): ' Simbolismo nella prima e seconda infanria (Symbolism in infancy)'
H enderson , J. L. & W heelwright , J. B. (San Francisco): American handbook Of psychiatry
H enderson , J. L. (San Francixo): 'The picture method in Jungian psychotherapy'
L ambert , K. (London): 'The problem of authority in the early development of the individual'
L ambert , K. (London): 'Facilitating elements in analysis'
McC ully , R. S. (Charleston, South Carolina): 'Tantric imagery and Rorschach perception'
McC ully , R. S. (Charleston, South Carolina): Separatdruck aus Rorschachiana X
M arshak , M. D. (London): 'Art education in relation to psychic and mental functioning'
P ontius , A. A. (New York): 'Neuro-ethics of "Walking" in the newborn'
P ontius , A. A. (New York): 'Maori art and pseudo-hypoparathyroidism—a medical contribution to prehistoric anthropology'
P ontius , A. A. (New York): 'Basis for a neurological test of frontal lobe system functioning up to adolescence. A form analysis of action expressed in narratives'
P ye , F. (London). 'Feminine images of success'
W heelwright , J. (San Francisco): 'Psychological types'
W allace , E. (New York): 'Conventional boundaries or protective temenos'
W illiams , M. (London): 'Transcience and eternity'     

Journal Reviews

A sher , C harles (New York): 'Dream responses to the Jungian training process.'
B lomeyer , R. (Berlin): 'Identität, Identifizierung, Individuation'
B lomeyer , R. (Berlin): 'Aspekte der Persona'
F ierz , H. K. (Zürich): 'Crucial points at the start of a psychotherapeutic treatment'.
F inley , P atricia (New York): 'Dialogue drawing: an image-evoking communication between analyst and analysand'.
K luger H. Y. (Haifa): 'Archetypal dreams and "everyday" dreams: A statistical investigation into Jung's theory of the collective unconscious'.
K raemer , W illiam P. (London): 'The enemy within-without; psychotherapy and morals; psychotherapy—what it is'.
L äpple , J. & P rell , G. (Stuttgart): 'Krankendemonstration in der ausbildung analytischer Psychotherapeuten'
P ontius , A. A. (New York): 'The face in sacred art of the Upper Sepik river of New Guinea: analogies to neuro-developmental aspects and to prosopagnosia'.
P ontius , A. A. (New York): 'Developmental phases in visual recognition of the human face pattern, exemplified by the "smiling response"'.
P ontius , A. A. (New york): 'New frontiers of ecological ethics—or balance between over-and-under-control of outer and inner factors'.
P ontius , A. A. (New York): Zerstückelungsmord als unbewusstes Ritual'
M endelsohn , J. (Jerusalem): Psychotherapie eines Knaben mit schweren Verhaltungs-störungen im Rahmen eines Kinderheimes des Ichud-Hakibbuzim'
P sychological P erspectives
R ivista di P sicologia A nalitica
W ilke , H-J. (Berlin): 'Neurosentheoretische Überlegungen zur Struktur und Dynamik depressiver Erkrankungen'     

THE SENSE OF BEAUTY

This paper proposes an integrative psychoanalytic model of the sense of beauty. The following definition is used: beauty is an aspect of the experience of idealisation in which an object(s), sound(s) or concept(s) is believed to possess qualities of formal perfection. The psychoanalytic literature regarding beauty is explored in depth and fundamental similarities are stressed. The author goes on to discuss the following topics: (1) beauty as sublimation: beauty reconciles the polarisation of self and world; (2) idealisation and beauty: the love of beauty is an indication of the importance of idealisation during development; (3) beauty as an interactive process: the sense of beauty is interactive and intersubjective; (4) the aesthetic and non-aesthetic emotions: specific aesthetic emotions are experienced in response to the formal design of the beautiful object; (5) surrendering to beauty: beauty provides us with an occasion for transcendence and self-renewal; (6) beauty's restorative function: the preservation or restoration of the relationship to the good object is of utmost importance; (7) the self-integrative function of beauty: the sense of beauty can also reconcile and integrate self-states of fragmentation and depletion; (8) beauty as a defence: in psychopathology, beauty can function defensively for the expression of unconscious impulses and fantasies, or as protection against self-crisis; (9) beauty and mortality: the sense of beauty can alleviate anxiety regarding death and feelings of vulnerability. In closing the paper, the author offers a new understanding of Freud'semphasis on love of beauty as a defining trait of civilisation. For a people not to value beauty would mean that they cannot hope and cannot assert life over the inevitable and ubiquitous forces of entropy and death.     

Are there nontrivial constraints on colour categorization?

In this target article the following hypotheses are discussed: (1) Colour is autonomous: a perceptuolinguistic and behavioural universal. (2) It is completely described by three independent attributes: hue, brightness, and saturation: (3) Phenomenologically and psychophysically there are four unique hues: red, green, blue, and yellow; (4) The unique hues are underpinned by two opponent psychophysical and/or neuronal channels: red/green, blue/yellow. The relevant literature is reviewed. We conclude: (i) Psychophysics and neurophysiology fail to set nontrivial constraints on colour categorization. (ii) Linguistic evidence provides no grounds for the universality of basic colour categories. (iii) Neither the opponent hues red/green, blue/yellow nor hue, brightness, and saturation are intrinsic to a universal concept of colour. (iv) Colour is not autonomous.     

The Legitimacy Crisis of Arguments from Expert Opinion: Can’t We Trust Experts?

Recent disputes (Mizrahi in Inform Logic 33(1):57–79, 2013; Mizrahi in Inform Logic 36(2):238–252, 2016; Mizrahi in Argumentation 32(2):175–195, 2018; Seidel in Inform Logic 34(2):192–218, 2014; Seidel in Inform Logic 36(2):253–264, 2016; Hinton in Inform Logic 35(4):539–554, 2015) on the strength of arguments from expert opinion (AEO) give rise to a potential legitimacy crisis of it. Mizrahi (Inform Logic 33(1):57–79, 2013; Inform Logic 36(2):238–252; Argumentation 32(2):175–195, 2018) claims that AEO are weak arguments by presenting two independent arguments. The first argument (i.e., the argument of unreliable experts) is that AEO are weak arguments because empirical studies show that expert opinions p do not make p significantly more likely to be true. The second argument (i.e., the argument of biased experts) is that AEO are weak arguments because empirical studies show that expert opinions are susceptible to the kinds of cognitive biases that novice opinions are susceptible to. In this paper, I intend to argue that Mizrahi’s two arguments both fail because of inconsistency, irrelevance, and insufficiency. Nevertheless, Mizrahi’s arguments help to evaluate AEO better by expanding the relevant critical questions.

     

Family therapy training: Current issues,future trends

This article extends the previous literature review of the family therapy training and supervision field (Liddle & Halpin, 1978) by organizing and discussing some of the dimensions most relevant to family therapy teachers. The five domains of focus include: (1) Personnel: who should teach and be taught family therapy? (2) Content and skills: what should be taught? (3) Methodology: how should the content and skills be taught? (4) Context: how do the setting and the training enterprise influence each other? (5) Evaluation: how should training be assessed? Finally, the article brings into focus several key aspects of family therapy training likely to have relevance for current and future trainers.     

高校教师教学水平评价概化理论预算限制下最佳样本量估计

使用“高校教师教学水平评价问卷”,要求566名学生对19名教师进行评价,对收集到的数据作不同的概化设计,包括t×i、（s：t）×i、（s：t）×（i：v）和（s：t）×（i：v）×o四种设计。基于概化理论,结合预算限制,统一LaGrange乘法公式,自行推导不同设计的最佳样本量公式,联合估计的方差分量,计算出不同设计的最佳样本量。结果表明：（1）LaGrange乘法统一公式表现出较强的通用性,能够适用于预算限制下各种概化设计;（2）评价场合是影响高校教师教学水平评价一个相当重要的因素;（3）（s：t）×（i：v）×o是高校教师教学水平评价概化理论预算限制下最优概化设计;（4）高校教师教学水平评价概化理论预算限制下,每位教师最佳评价学生人数为20人,每个维度最佳评价题目数为3题。     

Review

F riedrich S eifert and R otraut S eifert -H elwig : Bilder und Urbilder , Erscheinungsformen des Archetypus
M. E sther H arding : The 'I' and the 'Not-I' : a study in the development of consciousness
W arner M uensterberger and S idney A xelrad (editors): The psychoanalytic study of society, III
S tanley A. L eavy (translation and introduction): The Freud journal of Lou Andreas Salome
R obert W aelder : Psychoanalytic avenues to art
Tripurā-Rahasya (JÑĀNAKHANDA)
E rwin R. G oodenough : The psychology of religious experiences
M ircea E liade (translated by J. M. Cohen): The two and the one
G ershom G. S cholem (translated by Ralph Manheim): On the Kabbalah and its symbolism
K. B annister and L. P incus : Shared phantasy in marital problems: therapy in a four-person relationship
I. B oszormenyi -N agy and J ames L. F ramo (eds.): Intensive family therapy
K. D abrowski : Positive disintegration , edited by J. Aronson     

Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion during treadmill and elliptical exercise training

Elliptical exercise has recently increased in popularity. However, little is known regarding heart rate and perceptual responses during this exercise mode even though such information is important with respect to prescribing and regulating exercise intensity. In the current study, heart rate and perceived exertion were compared between treadmill and elliptical exercise. During treadmill exercise (TM(EST)) participants estimated RPE-Overall as well as RPE-Legs and RPE-Chest. Two elliptical sessions followed: (1) RPE estimation during elliptical exercise (EL(EST)): HR (b/ min.) from TM(EST) was achieved during elliptical exercise, with participants estimating RPE-Overall, RPE-Legs, and RPE-Chest. (2) RPE production during elliptical exercise (EL(PROD)): RPE-Overall from TM(EST) was produced during elliptical exercise. There were no significant differences between modes for RPE-Overall (TM(EST): 11.2 +/- 2.2 vs EL(EST): 11.9 +/- 3.2) or RPE-Chest (TM(EST): 11.0 +/- 2.4 vs EL(EST): 11.7+/- 3.2). Mean RPE-Legs was significantly different (TM(EST): 11.2 +/- 2.4 vs EL(EST): 12.5 +/- 3.1). Heart rate was not significantly different between TM(EST) (163 +/- 16.6) and EL(PROD) (159 +/- 20.0). Analysis indicated elliptical exercise is perceived as more intense with respect to leg (RPE-Legs) exertion. Further, RPE-Overall appears effective for regulating heart rate during elliptical exercise.     

Blood donation is an act of benevolence rather than altruism.

OBJECTIVES: Blood donation is described as an archetypal altruistic behavior, and recruitment/retention campaigns emphasize altruism. Here, a benevolence hypothesis for blood donation (both the donor and recipient benefit) rather than the altruism hypothesis (only the recipient gains) is proposed. DESIGN: Three United Kingdom-based studies contrasted benevolence and altruism: (a) a 6-month prospective study of blood donor behavior (Study 1: N = 957), (b) a cross-sectional study of blood donors' intentions (Study 2: N = 333), and (c) an experimental study examining the effect of benevolent and altruistic messages on willingness to help across high- and low-cost helping behaviors for committed and noncommitted blood donors (Study 3: N = 200). MAIN OUTCOME: Donor behavior and intentions-willingness. MEASURES: Beliefs in personal and societal benefit (Time 1) and actual donations (Time 2) were assessed in Study 1; beliefs in benevolence, altruism, hedonism, and kinship along with donation intentions were assessed in Study 2; and empathy, donor commitment, and willingness to donate blood, money, fund-raise, and staff a telephone helpline were assessed in Study 3. RESULTS: Beliefs in personal rather than societal benefit predicted actual future donation. A path model showed that only beliefs in benevolence were associated with intentions to donate. Committed blood donors were more willing to donate blood when exposed to a benevolent message rather than an altruistic one. This effect was not observed for other forms of helping. CONCLUSIONS: The benevolence hypothesis is supported, suggesting that blood donor motivation is partly selfish. Blood donation campaigns should focus on benevolent rather than purely altruistic messages.     

The 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and eating disorder diagnosis in women

Eating disorders are more common in females than in males and are believed to be caused, in part, by biological and hormonal factors. Digit ratio or 2D:4D (the ratio of the 2nd to the 4th digit) is considered to be a proxy for prenatal testosterone (PT) and prenatal oestrogen (PE) exposure. However, how 2D:4D may be related to type of eating pathology is unknown. The relationship between 2D:4D and eating disorder diagnosis was investigated in recovered and currently eating disordered (n = 31) and control (n = 99) women. Mean 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower (indicating higher levels of PT and lower levels of PE) in anorexic (AN) compared to bulimic (BN) women, with controls intermediary. In eating disordered women, 2D:4D was positively and significantly related to current weight, lowest weight and current BMI, with strongest associations for right 2D:4D. Among women, low 2D:4D is related to AN and high 2D:4D to BN, suggesting a differential causal influence of prenatal sex hormones on later eating pathology.     

Limits to preference and the sensitivity of choice to rate and amount of food

Studies of choice holding food‐amount ratio constant while varying food‐rate ratio within sessions showed that local changes in preference depend on relative amount of food. The present study investigated whether sensitivity of choice to food‐rate ratio and sensitivity to food‐amount ratio are independent of one another when food‐rate ratios are varied across sessions and food‐amount ratios are varied within sessions. Food deliveries for rats’ presses on the left and right levers were scheduled according to three different food‐rate ratios of 1:1, 9:1, and 1:9; each food‐rate ratio lasted for 106 sessions and was arranged independently of seven food‐amount ratios (7:1, 6:2, 5:3, 4:4, 3:5, 2:6, and 1:7 food pellets) occurring within sessions in random sequence. Each amount ratio lasted for 10 food deliveries and was separated from another by a 60‐s blackout. Sensitivity to rate ratio was high (1.0) across food deliveries. Sensitivity to amount ratio was low when food rates were equal across alternatives, but was high when rate ratio and amount ratio opposed one another. When rate ratio and amount ratio went in the same direction, choice ratio reached an elevenfold limit which reduced sensitivity to approximately zero. We conclude that three factors affect sensitivity to amount: (1) the limit to preference, (2) the equal effect on preference of amounts greater than four pellets, and (3) the absence of differential effects of switches in amount in the equal‐rates (1:1) condition. Taken together, these findings indicate that rate and amount only sometimes combine independently as additive variables to determine preference when amount ratios vary frequently within sessions.     

Reaching Our 75th Anniversary: A History of AGPA 1992–2017—Part 3

This is the third in a series of three articles that chronicle and examine the 25-year history of the American Group Psychotherapy Association from 1992 to 2017. This time period has been divided into three naturally occurring eras: the pre–9/11 era, the 9/11 era, and the post–9/11 era. To permit meaningful comparisons across time, an effort has been made to contextualize events and to examine each era using the same set of seven facets/dimensions: (1) mission(s); (2) structure and administration; (3) jewels in the crown; (4) membership; (5) financial health; (6) organizational tensions and family dynamics; (7) relationships with the outside world.

This account while based on objective data, like all such histories, is inherently subjective. Choices about which specific events to chronicle, as well as their meaning and significance, are filtered through the authors’ perceptual and conceptual lenses.

This third section focuses on the post–9/11 era.     

Reaching Our 75th Anniversary: A History of AGPA 1992–2017—Part 2

This is the second in a series of three articles that chronicle and examine the 25-year history of the American Group Psychotherapy Association from 1992 to 2017. This time period has been divided into three naturally occurring eras: the pre–9/11 era, the 9/11 era, and the post–9/11 era. To permit meaningful comparisons across time, an effort has been made to contextualize events and to examine each era using the same set of seven facets/dimensions: (1) mission(s); (2) structure and administration; (3) jewels in the crown; (4) membership; (5) financial health; (6) organizational tensions and family dynamics; and (7) relationships with the outside world.

This account, while based on objective data, like all such histories, is inherently subjective. Choices about which specific events to chronicle, as well as their meaning and significance, are filtered through the authors’ perceptual and conceptual lenses.

This second section focuses on the 9/11 era.     

Internalized transphobia: Exploring perceptions of social messages in transgender and gender-nonconforming adults

Background: Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals encounter a variety of minority stressors that have yet to be fully articulated or explored within the research literature. The purpose of this study is to better understand internalized stigma—the experience of accepting and internalizing negative social messages and experiences about one's identity—an underexplored minority stressor for TGNC people.

Method: We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 diverse TGNC participants using consensual qualitative research (CQR) methodology.

Results: Following data saturation and analysis, six distinct themes emerged across participants: (1) TGNC identities are regarded negatively by society; (2) social messages are perceived as originating from the media and religious ideology; (3) TGNC individuals report emotional distress; (4) negative self-perceptions in response to social messages; (5) TGNC individuals report resilience processes in response to negative social messages; and (6) social messages are perceived generally to differentially impact TGNC people of color.

Conclusion: Findings highlight the common experience of encountering social marginalization for TGNC individuals. Structural interventions that target pervasive sociocultural messages regarding TGNC identities are warranted.     

Book Reviews Section

Book reviewed in this article: Wieland , George F. (Editor) Improving Health Care Management: Organization Development and Organization Change. Bass , Bernard M. Stogdill's Handbook of Leadership: A Survey of Theory and Research. (Revised and Expanded Ed.) Maccoby , Michael . The Leader: A New Face for American Management. Lippitt , Gordon L. Organization Renewal: A Holistic Approach to Organization Development. (Second Edition) Fleenor , C. Patrick and Scontrino , M. PETER. Performance Appraisal: A Manager's Guide. Christie , Bruce . Face to File Communication: A Psychological Approach to Information Systems. Nollen , Stanley D. New Work Schedules in Practice: Managing Time in a Changing Society. Johnson , Laverne C, Tepas , Donald I., Colquhoun , W. P. and Colligan , Michael J. (Editors) Biological Rhythms, Sleep and Shift Work. Ellig , Bruce R. Executive Compensation–A Total Pay Perspective. Hunt , James G., Sekaran , Uma and Schriesheim , CHESTER A. (Editors) Leadership: Beyond Establishment Views. Meister , David . Behavioral Research and Government Policy: Civilian and Military R &D. Van De Ven , Andrew H. and Joyce , William F. (Editors) Perspectives on Organization Design and Behavior. Buehler , Vernon M. and Shetty , Y. Krishna . (Editors) Productivity Improvement: Case Studies of Proven Practice. Katz , Ralph . (Editor) Career Issues in Human Resource Management. Williams , Richard . Career Management and Career Planning: A Study of North American Practice. Kahn , Robert L. Work and Health. Veninga , Robert L. and Spradley , James P. The Work Stress Connection: How to Cope with Job Burnout. Appelbaum , Steven H. Stress Management for Health Care Professionals. Marshall , Judi and Cooper , Cary L. (Editors) Coping with Stress at Work: Case Studies from Industry. Belbin , R. Meredith . Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail. Nixon , Bruce . (Editor) New Approaches to Management Development. Cummings , Thomas G. (Editor) Systems Theory for Organization Development. Boydell , Tom and Pedler , Mike . (Editors) Management Self-Development: Concepts and Practices. Pati , Gopal C. and Adkins , John I., Jr . with Glenn Morrison. Managing and Employing the Handicapped: The Untapped Potential. Barton , Paul E. Worklife Transitions: The Adult Learning Connection. Hackett , Penny . Interview Skills Training: Practice Packs for Trainers. Hersey , Paul and Blanchard , Ken . Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources. (Fourth Edition) Carby , Keith and Robinson , Shelagh . (Editors) Personnel File. Siegel , Laurence and Lane , Irving M. Personnel and Organizational Psychology. Foulkes , Fred K. and Livernash , E. Robert . Human Resources Management: Text and Cases. Heneman , Robert G., Ill and Schwab , Donald P. (Editors) Perspectives on Personnel/Human Resource Management. (Revised Edition) Thomason , George . A Textbook of Personnel Management. (Fourth Edition) London, England: Institute of Personnel Management, 1981. Kaumeyer , Richard A., Jr . Planning and Using a Total Personnel System. Blasingame , Margaret C. A Selected Bibliography on Employee Attitude Surveys. Blasingame , Margaret C, Schneider , Katie R. and Hawk , Donald L. Performance Appraisal Bibliography of Recent Publications (1981 Edition). Schneider , Katie R. Human Resource Accounting: A Comprehensive Bibliography. Rosenzweig , Mark R. and Porter , Lyman W. (Editors) Annual Review of Psychology, Volume 33 (1982).     

Motilin- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in a psychophysiological stress experiment on patients with functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare plasma motilin-like immunoreactivity (MOT-LI) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) during a controlled psychophysiological experiment. METHOD: 25 patients (12 men, 13 women), age 24-50, with recurrent FD, and 25 pair-wise sex- and age-matched community control subjects were studied. In an experiment, after a rest period, subjects were studied during a 15-min stress interview. The aim of the interview was to elicit anxiety. Before and during the intervention blood samples were drawn for peptide analyses. Outcome measures were the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, fasting blood glucose, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the subjects' self-ratings on visual analogue scales. The plasma concentrations of MOT-LI and NPY-LI are given as anti-logarithms. RESULTS: Mean plasma MOT-LI concentration was 7.3 (CI: 5.7-9.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 7.9 (CI: 6.1-10.2) pmol/L in the control group. Mean plasma NPY-LI concentration was 14.2 (CI: 12.3-16.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 13.4 (Cl: 11.8-15.3) pmol/L in the control group. Using ANCOVA (covariates: group, gender, age, body mass index and smoking) MOT-LI was related to lower indigestion symptomatology (p<0.04) and positive change in joyfulness during the interview (p<0.03). In the patient group delta motilin correlated with increased joyfulness (p<0.03) and decreased sadness (p<0.03). The NPY-LI increase during the interview was related to higher fasting blood glucose before the interview (p<0.01) and a stronger increase in systolic blood pressure during the test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: During a stress interview plasma MOT-LI is positively related to less indigestion symptomatology and joyfulness, while changes in plasma NPY-LI were positively related to sympathetic nervous system activity, but not to gastrointestinal symptoms.     

Abstracts edited by Neil Frude

S elvini -P alazzoli , M. and V iaro , M. (1988) The anorectic process in the family: a six-stage model as a guide for individual therapy. Family Process , 27 (2): 129–148.
Z acks , E., G reen , R.-J. and M arrow , J. (1988) Comparing lesbian and heterosexual couples on the circumplex model: an initial investigation. Family Process , 27 (4): 471–484.
K urdek , L. A. (1989) Relationship quality in gay and lesbian cohabiting couples: a one-year follow-up study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 6 : 39–59.
L ewis , J. M. (1988) The transition to parenthood. I: The rating of marital competence. Family Process , 27 (2): 129–148.
R adochonski , M. (1988) Family therapy following loss of sight in an adult member. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 19 (2): 167–171.
S kovholt , T. M. and M c C arthy , P. R. (1988) (Eds) Special Issue: Critical incidents in counselor development. Journal of Counseling and Development , (no. 2), 69–134.     

Relationality in Kohut's psychology of the self

In this essay, I will posit that Kohut's psychology of the self portrays relationality and that its relationality can be categorized into the explicit aspects. I will also put forth the six aspects of relationality contained in Kohut's psychology of the self as relational, dynamic, wholistic, unilateral, mutual, and doxological and they can be summarized as following: (1) Relational: Narcissism is not self-love but is a particular kind of object relationship; (2) Dynamic: The most central self is dynamic or agentic and not defined in substantival attributes; (3) Wholistic: The whole of the self is important; (4) Unilateral: In order for one's self to develop, one is in need of and at the receptive end of another's empathy; (5) Mutual: Others’ empathy is needed in maintaining the health of the developed selves; and (6) Doxological: Joy and thanksgiving are natural expression of developed selves.     

On the flexibility of letter position coding during lexical processing: the case of Thai

In Indo-European languages, letter position coding is particularly noisy in middle positions (e.g., judge and jugde look very similar), but not in the initial letter position (e.g., judge vs. ujdge). Here we focus on a language (Thai) which, potentially, may be more flexible with respect to letter position coding than Indo-European languages: (i) Thai is an alphabetic language which is written without spaces between words (i.e., there is a degree of ambiguity in relation to which word a given letter belongs to) and (ii) some of the vowels are misaligned (e.g., [see text] ε:bn/ is pronounced as /bε:n/), whereas others are not (e.g., [see text]/a:p/ is pronounced as /a:p/). We conducted a masked priming lexical decision experiment with 3-4 letter Thai words (with vs. without an initial misaligned vowel) in which the prime was: (i) identical to the target, (ii) a nonword generated by transposing the two initial letters of the target, or (iii) a replacement-letter control nonword. Results showed a significant masked transposed-letter priming effect in the initial letter positions, which was similar in size for words with and without an initial misaligned vowel. These findings reflect that: (i) letter position coding in Thai is very flexible and (ii) the nature of the obtained priming effects is orthographic rather than phonological.