Prefrontal cognitive ability, intelligence, Big Five personality, and the prediction of advanced academic and workplace performance

Studies 1 and 2 assessed performance on a battery of dorsolateral prefrontal cognitive ability (D-PFCA) tests, personality, psychometric intelligence, and academic performance (AP) in 2 undergraduate samples. In Studies 1 and 2, AP was correlated with D-PFCA (r=.37, p<.01, and r=.33, p<.01, respectively), IQ (r=.24, p<.05, and r=.38, p<.01, respectively), and Conscientiousness (r=.26, p<.05, and r=.37, p<.01, respectively). D-PFCA remained significant in regression analyses controlling for intelligence (or g) and personality. Studies 3 and 4 assessed D-PFCA, personality, and workplace performance among (a) managerial-administrative workers and (b) factory floor workers at a manufacturing company. Prefrontal cognitive ability correlated with supervisor ratings of manager performance at values of r ranging from .42 to .57 (ps<.001), depending on experience, and with factory floor performance at pr=.21 (p=.02), after controlling for experience, age, and education. Conscientiousness correlated with factory floor performance at r=.23.     

儿童期心理虐待对青少年网络欺负的影响:领悟社会支持及性别的调节作用

近年来,网络欺负现象逐渐成为网络心理学研究的热点问题。青少年网络欺负的发生率约为60.8%,且每年都在呈增长的趋势,这对青少年正常的学习生活造成了严重的影响。故本研究主要探讨儿童期心理虐待对青少年网络欺负的影响,以及领悟社会支持和性别起到的调节作用。本研究以447名青少年作为被试(男生205人,女生242人,被试年龄范围为11~17岁,平均年龄为14.17±1.35岁),采用儿童期心理虐待量表、网络欺负问卷及领悟社会支持量表进行调查。运用SPSS 22.0及AMOS 21.0统计软件进行数据处理,Harman单因素法表明,本研究不存在严重的共同方法偏差问题。研究结果表明:(1)儿童期心理虐待与领悟社会支持呈显著负相关(r=-.14,p<.01),儿童期心理虐待与青少年网络欺负呈显著正相关(r=.44,p<.01),领悟社会支持与青少年网络欺负呈显著负相关(r=-.15,p<.01);(2)结构方程模型显示,模型各指标均达到了临界值(χ^2/df=2.67,GFI=.90,TLI=.91,CFI=.92,RMSEA=.07);(3)儿童期心理虐待对青少年网络欺负具有显著的正向预测作用(β=.21,p<.01),领悟社会支持对青少年网络欺负具有显著的负向预测作用(β=-.11,p<.05),同时,儿童期心理虐待与领悟社会支持的交互项对青少年网络欺负具有显著的负向预测作用显著(β=-.19,p<.01),简单斜率检验表明,对于低领悟社会支持水平的青少年,儿童期心理虐待对网络欺负有显著的正向预测作用(β=.54,p<.001);对于高低领悟社会支持水平的青少年,儿童期心理虐待对网络欺负的预测作用不显著(β=-.17,p>.05);(4)儿童期心理虐待与性别的交互项对青少年网络欺负具有显著的正向预测作用(β=.28,p<.001),简单斜率检验表明,对于男青少年,儿童期心理虐待对网络欺负有显著的正向预测作用(β=.54,p<.001);对于女青少年,儿童期心理虐待对网络欺负的预测作用不显著(β=.13,p>.05);由此可说明,儿童期心理虐待是青少年网络欺负出现的助推机制,而领悟社会支持和性别是青少年网络欺负出现的抑制机制,它可以弱化儿童期心理虐待对青少年网络欺负造成的创伤。     

Psychological predictors of HIV-preventive behavior among Zimbabwean students

This report is based on a study of 852 sexually active volunteer student teachers in Zimbabwe who were assessed on their AIDS risk reduction behavior and the Health Belief Model of Janz and Becker. The model posits that behavior modification occurs if there is knowledge of the disease and its severity, susceptibility, effective prevention, self- efficacy for prevention, accessible health care and advice, normative support for behavior change, and few barriers to action. Behavior change is measured by reduced numbers of sexual partners, increased condom use, and decreased prostitute contact. The 404 women showed no sex differences from the 448 men, except that men reported lower self- efficacy. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that for men the Health Belief Model was significant and explained 15% of the variance (F=7.50, p.0001). Behavior risk reduction was predicted by self-efficacy (B=.10, p.0001), perceived barriers to action (B=-.19, p.01), and belief in the effectiveness of preventive practices (B-.10, p.001). The women's model was also significant and explained 12% of the variance (F=4.06, p.001). Preventive behavior was predicted by perceived susceptibility to infection (B=.19, p.01), access to health care and advice (B=.09, p.05), and belief in the efficacy of preventive measures (B=.06, p.05). Future research in planned to try to augment the Health Belief Model results by including the following variables: contact with AIDS-affected persons and specific barriers to action such as dependence on paid sex, the breakdown in traditional values, familial separation, and attitudes toward monogamy. Also, the role of alcohol and drugs in the context of sexual behavior will be considered. Other alternative models will also be examined, such as Bandura's social learning theory and Fishbein's theory of reasoned action. New theories which are uniquely applied to AIDS may need to be formulated.     

Violence in close relationships--development of a research area: comment on Archer (2000)

A brief history of empirical research on violence in close relationships is presented. Assumptions of and conclusions made by feminist researchers about the problems of battered wives are reviewed. It is argued that their focus on marital violence as a form of aggression against women by men and their concern for severely beaten wives may have caused them to ignore high levels of female violence in marriage and dating. J. Archer's (2000) meta-analysis of studies of marital and dating violence showed that both sexes display violence in these relationships, although women are more likely to be injured. An expansion of Archer's definition of heterosexual violence (or violence in close relationships) to include sexual aggression and stalking is suggested. Reasons for relatively high levels of female violence in close relationships relative to violence toward strangers are briefly discussed. It is argued that more attention needs to be given to male victims of violence from their partners.     

暴力视频游戏接触对大学生网络攻击行为的影响：一个有中介的调节模型

以946名大学生为被试进行问卷调查,探讨暴力视频游戏接触对大学生网络攻击行为的影响机制。结果表明：(1) 暴力视频游戏接触正向预测大学生网络攻击行为;(2) 特质愤怒在大学生暴力视频游戏接触与其网络攻击行为及暴力态度的关系中均具有调节作用;(3) 暴力态度不仅部分中介了大学生暴力视频游戏接触对其网络攻击行为的影响,而且部分中介了特质愤怒与暴力视频游戏接触的交互作用对大学生网络攻击行为的影响。     

Young adults' media use and attitudes toward interpersonal and institutional forms of aggression

Links between media violence exposure and favorable attitudes toward interpersonal violence are well established, but few studies have examined whether associations extend to include favorable attitudes toward institutional forms of aggression. Studies on this topic have not assessed multiple forms of media use and statistically controlled for individual characteristics likely to influence attitudes beyond sociodemographic information. In this study, undergraduate students (N=319) aged 18-20 years (56% male) completed a survey assessing media use (number of hours per week spent playing videogames, watching movies/TV shows, watching TV sports) and attitudes toward interpersonal violence, punitive criminal justice policies, and different types of military activities (preparedness/defense and aggressive intervention). Greater number of hours spent watching TV contact sports was associated with more favorable attitudes toward military preparedness/defense, aggressive military intervention, and punitive criminal justice policies among men independently of parental education, lifetime violence exposure within the home and community, aggressive personality, and constrained problem solving style. Greater number of hours spent watching violent movies/TV was associated with more favorable attitudes toward military preparedness/defense among men and with more favorable attitudes toward interpersonal violence and punitive criminal justice policies among women, but these associations became non-significant when adjusting for covariates.     

Professional Ethics of Psychologists and Physicians: Mortality,Confidentiality, and Sexuality in Israel

Clinical psychologists' and nonpsychiatric physicians' attitudes and behaviors in sexual and confidentiality boundary violations were examined. The 171 participants' responses were analyzed by profession, sex, and status (student, resident, professional) on semantic differential, boundary violation vignettes, and a version of Pope, Tabachnick, and Keith-Spiegel's (1987) ethical scale. Psychologists rated sexual boundary violation as more unethical than did physicians (p<.001). Rationale (p<.01) and timing (p<.001) influenced ratings. Psychologists reported fewer sexualized behaviors than physicians (p<05). Professional experience (p<.01) and sex (p<.05) were associated with confidence-violating behavior. Overall, 78% of the sample reported attitudes or behaviors associated with boundary violations. The behavior violations were correlated (r=.49). Actual violators rated vignette violators more leniently than did nonviolators (p<.01).     

Evidence for the construct validities of the Beck Youth Inventories with child psychiatric outpatients

To provide further information about the construct validities of the Beck Youth Inventories of Emotional and Social Impairment, these inventories were administered to 35 female and 65 male outpatients whose ages ranged from 7 to 12 years and who were diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders. The Children's Depression Inventory was also administered, and the children were rated by a parent with the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form. The scores on the former inventory were more positively correlated with the scores on the Beck Youth Depression Inventory (r =.81, p<.001) than with scores on the four other Beck Youth Inventories, and those on the Conners Oppositional scale were comparably correlated with the scores on the Beck Youth Disruptive Behavior (r=.49, p<.001) and Anger (r=.41, p<.001) Inventories. These latter correlations were higher than those for scores on the Oppositional scale with the scores on the three other Beck scales.     

无惧失败预测幸福:成就动机对心理幸福感的预测作用

前人研究发现成就动机影响个体的主观幸福感,而对心理幸福感的研究较少。本研究利用成就动机量表和心理幸福感量表,采用随机抽样的方法对214名大学生进行问卷调查。研究发现,成就动机与心理幸福感及其各维度呈显著正相关;成就动机的两个维度(追求成功的动机和避免失败的动机)对心理幸福感具有显著预测作用,且避免失败的维度相对贡献更大。结果提示,成就动机可以较好的正向预测心理幸福感,且避免失败的预测作用更强。     

Relationships between mood state, time estimation, and selected movement speed

We investigated whether different aspects of mood state influence sense of time estimation and movement speed. Mood states were measured on the Multiple Mood Scale for 142 female undergraduate students, who were then asked to estimate the interval of time elapsed between the words "start" and "stop" spoken by a tester. Next, the same subjects were told to draw circles inside 1-cm squares printed on an A4 size sheet of paper in succession at their freely elected comfortable speed. Scores on Concentration (r=-.22, p<.01) and Being Startled (r=-.26, p<.01) each correlated significantly and negatively with time estimation, while scores on Boredom (r =.17, p <.05) had a significant positive correlation with movement speed. These results suggest that different aspects of mood state have some association with time estimation and selected movement speed. Values account for small common variance.     

Professional ethics of psychologists and physicians: morality, confidentiality, and sexuality in Israel

Clinical psychologists' and nonpsychiatric physicians' attitudes and behaviors in sexual and confidentiality boundary violations were examined. The 171 participants' responses were analyzed by profession, sex, and status (student, resident, professional) on semantic differential, boundary violation vignettes, and a version of Pope, Tabachnick, and Keith-Spiegel's (1987) ethical scale. Psychologists rated sexual boundary violation as more unethical than did physicians (p less than .001). Rationale (p less than .01) and timing (p less than .0001) influenced ratings. Psychologists reported fewer sexualized behaviors than physicians (p less than .05). Professional experience (p less than .01) and sex (p less than .05) were associated with confidence-violating behavior. Overall, 78% of the sample reported attitudes or behaviors associated with boundary violations. The behavior violations were correlated (r = .49). Actual violators rated vignette violators more leniently than did nonviolators (p less than .01).     

Family adjustment,parental attitudes,and social desirability

This study examines the role of social desirability response set on the report of marital adjustment, child adjustment, and parenting attitudes. Results from 69 married couples closely replicate previous self-report findings suggesting that the more positive the report of marital adjustment, the fewer the number of child problem behaviors endorsed by parents (r = -.19(69), p less than .05). When social desirability is controlled, however, the marital-child adjustment relationship is nonsignificant. Previous reports of a global relationship between marital and child adjustment may have been inflated by individual differences in willingness to endorse problems on self-report measures. Parenting attitudes are not associated with social desirability or marital adjustment. Warmth, but not authoritarianism, is negatively correlated with child behavior problems in the home (r = -.25(69), p less than .01). The authors propose that family interaction research use a multimethod strategy to focus on circumscribed variables that influence marital and parenting behavior.     

Exposure to maternal vs. paternal partner violence,PTSD, and aggression in adolescent girls and boys

Adolescents who witness interparental violence (IPV) are at increased risk for perpetrating aggressive acts. They are also at risk for post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we examined the relation between exposure to maternal vs. paternal physical IPV and adolescent girls' and boys' aggressive behavior toward mothers, fathers, friends, and romantic partners. We also assessed the influence of PTSD (as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents‐IV (DICA‐IV)) on the relation between exposure to IPV and aggressive behavior. Participants were 63 girls and 49 boys, ages 13–18, consecutively admitted to a youth correctional facility or assessment facility designated to serve aggressive and delinquent youth. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate unique relations between exposure to maternal vs. paternal IPV and youth aggression in relationships. Girls who observed their mothers' aggressive behavior toward partners were significantly more aggressive toward friends. Similarly, boys who witnessed their fathers' aggression were significantly more aggressive toward friends. Adolescent girls and boys who observed aggression by mothers toward partners reported significantly higher levels of aggression toward their romantic partners. Approximately one third of our sample met PTSD criteria; the relation between exposure to parental IPV and aggression was stronger for individuals who met criteria for PTSD. The implications of understanding the relations between parents' and their daughters' and sons' use of aggression are discussed within the context of providing support for families in breaking intergenerational patterns of violence and aggression. Aggr. Behav. 32:385–395, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Gender Differences in Narcissism and Courtship Violence in Dating Couples

The current study explored the relationship between courtship violence and the exploitativeness/entitlement factor of overt narcissism, covert narcissism, and sexual narcissism. Data were analyzed from 63 currently dating couples on their own and partner’s aggression using the CTS2. All were white, heterosexual students from a small US college in Central Pennsylvania. An interdependence analysis showed that correlations were entirely explained at the individual-level, thus demonstrating that gender is a key element in understanding narcissism and courtship violence. For women, exploitativeness/ entitlement was significantly correlated with sexual coercion in both dating partners. For men, covert narcissism was correlated with physical assault and sexual narcissism was correlated with their partner’s sexual coercion. Narcissism also influenced some discrepancies in self- and partner-rated aggression.     

A sense of presence and self-reported performance in international teams

Research over the last two decades has explored the relationship between a variety of states of consciousness, performance, and motivation. These have included flow and a sense of presence in face-to-face, online, and virtual environments. This study examined the relationship between presence and flow experienced by 75 male and female participants from several Pacific Rim nations on 4 international teams and their self-reported performance, enjoyment, and motivation associated with team-related tasks. The results indicate that in these task situations, which are relatively novel because of their cultural diversity, self-reported performance correlated more highly with presence (r=.34, df=72, p<.01) than flow (r=.26, df=71, p<.05). Enjoyment and motivation, however, correlated more highly with flow (r =.60, df=71, p<.01 and r=.40, df=71, p<.01, respectively) than presence (r=.26, p<.05 and r=.25, p<.05). These findings suggest the need to explore further the relationship between activity- or task-related states of consciousness, the characteristics of the tasks involved, particularly in terms of their novelty, and the effect on performance and motivation.     

How to Become Famous: On Simonton's Greatness: Who Makes History and Why

Many studies reveal that adaptors are more ready to accept the status quo, whereas innovators are less likely to do so. This raises the question: Do adaptors and innovators subscribe to opposing values? A study is conducted with the following hypotheses. H1 predicts that adaptors are more likely to subscribe to CONSERVATION values like security, conformity, and tradition. H2 predicts that innovators are more likely to subscribe to OPENNESS TO CHANGE values like self-direction and stimulation. The respondents consisted of 243 students from Singapore with an average age of 17.9 years and 195 students from Australia with an average age of 19.1 years. These respondents answered a survey that contained the Kirton Adaption-Innovation (KAI) inventory and the Schwartz value survey. For the Singapore sample, KAI was negatively correlated with CONSERVATION: r = –.39, p < .0001; but it was positively correlated with OPENNESS TO CHANGE: r = .14, p < .05. For the Australian sample, KAI was negatively correlated with CONSERVATION: r = –.15, p < .05; but it was positively correlated with OPENNESS TO CHANGE: r = .32, p < .0001. A standard regression analysis indicated that CONSERVATION was the most significant predictor (β = –.43, p < .0001) of KAI, followed by OPENNESS TO CHANGE (β = .37, p < .0001) and Nationality (β = .21, p < .0001). The significant finding associated with Nationality could be attributed to the fact that the Singaporean respondents were a highly select and innovative group of individuals who were aspiring to work in the media industry.     

Self‐Control Inhibits Aggression

Aggression brings tremendous costs to individuals, relationships, and society. Yet, people behave aggressively toward strangers and close others at alarmingly high rates. The current article seeks to unlock part of the mystery of why people behave aggressively. We review evidence that self‐control failure plays an integral role in many acts of aggression and violence. We begin by reviewing theoretical models that emphasize the importance of self‐control processes in understanding aggressive and other criminal behaviors. We also discuss how a theoretical model that originally neglected self‐control processes can be extended to incorporate self‐control theorizing. We then discuss recent empirical evidence (a) showing that self‐control failure is a crucial predictor of aggression toward strangers and romantic partners and (b) identifying the neural processes relevant to the self‐control of aggression. Finally, we review evidence that self‐control processes can also explain why people engage in displaced aggression toward bystanders. By appreciating the importance of self‐control processes, researchers and laypersons can gain a better understanding of why people behave aggressively – and how aggression can be prevented.     

Interpersonal touching and orality.

Sixty-five undergraduates were assigned to guide a blindfolded confederate through a floor maze. The frequency of touching the confederate's skin and the length of time required to complete the trip through the maze were recorded. Each subject was also given a self-administered Rorschach test; an independent count was made of the number of oral responses given. Orality was positively related to touching behavior (r=.39, p=.001) and with speed of guiding the confederate through the maze (r=.31, p=.01).     

Subjective and objective measures of quality of life have different predictors for people with schizophrenia

This study investigated the relationship between subjective and objective quality of life and assessed predictors in people with schizophrenia. The study population consisted of 99 stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) who had been regularly receiving outpatient treatment at the Department of Psychiatry, The Tokushima University Hospital. Subjective and objective quality of life were estimated using the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale and the Quality of Life Scale, respectively. Psychiatric symptoms were also measured with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. Scores on the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Motivation and Energy scales significantly correlated with the Quality of Life Scale total scores -.40 (p <.001), and with the scores on Interpersonal Relations subscale -.42 (p <.001), Instrumental Role subscale -.28 (p = .005), Intrapsychic Foundations subscale -.39 (p<.001), and Common Objects and Activities subscale -.25 (p =.014). The Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Psychosocial scale significantly correlated with only the Quality of Life Scale total score -.20 (p =.05), and there was no significant correlation between the scores on the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Symptoms and Side-effects scales and the Quality of Life Scale. Stepwise regression analyses showed that the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia score was the most important predictor of each scale of the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale Negative Symptoms score was the most important predictor of the Quality of Life Scale total score and each subscale. These results suggest that subjective and objective quality of life have different predictors and should be considered as separate and complementary outcome variables.     

Fantasy proneness,creative capacity,and styles of creativity

The Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised was used to measure graduate psychology students' (N=173) self-perceptions of creative capacity and styles of creativity (beliefs about and strategies for going about being creative). Participants also completed the Inventory of Childhood Memories and Imaginings, a self-report measure of Fantasy Proneness. The Self-perceived Creative Capacity and Fantasy Proneness scores were significantly correlated (r=.36, p<.001), and these scores were positively correlated with the styles subscale scores of Belief in Unconscious Processes. Use of Techniques, Use of Senses, and negatively correlated with Final Product Orientation. Also, the Fantasy Proneness scores were positively correlated with the Superstition scores and the Environmental Control and Behavioral Self-regulation scores.