Marxist Axioms as Self-Contradictory Parsonian Statements in Sociology

This paper examines the implicit foundations of several theoretical propositions characteristic of the Marxist tradition in sociology. It argues that these propositions derive from self-contradictory critical premises which are paradoxes of Action Theory. Implicit in these premises is an ideal picture of social reality quite different from the one analytically described by Parsons. I suggest that Action Theory can provide conceptual tools needed to address some specific issues characteristic of the Marxist perspective and, moreover, offers a solution to some epistemological problems raised by the authors who endorse the postmodern position in social sciences.     

Necessary a Posteriori Identity Truths: Fregeanism Beats Direct Reference Theory

I argue that Fregeanism with respect to proper names—the view that modes of presentation are relevant to the contents of proper names—is able to account for the thesis that there are necessarily true a posteriori identity propositions such as the one expressed in “Hesperus is identical with Phosphorus”, whereas the Direct Reference Theory—according to which the semantic function of certain expressions, e.g., proper names, is only to pick out an object (referent)—is able to deal with only their necessary truth. Thus, at least in so far as necessarily true a posteriori identity propositions are concerned, Fregeanism should be preferred to the Direct Reference Theory.     

Is Implicit Personality Theory illusory? Armchair criticism versus replicated empirical research

The Tzeng and Tzeng (1982) criticisms of the assumptions underlying the Jackson, Chan, and Stricker (1979) study of Implicit Personality Theory fail to take account of the relevant empirical data. For example, the key contention of Tzeng and Tzeng–that the measures of judged and empirical trait-co-occurrence used by Jackson et al. were not comparable–is contradicted by replicated findings which establish that the two are substantially and consistently related, results for which Tzeng and Tzeng offer no alternative explanation. In short, Tzeng and Tzeng have not demonstrated that their criticisms have any real substance. Hence, none of the Jackson et al. results and conclusions, including those questioning the conditional probability index as a measure of empirical co-occurrence and those supporting the validity of Implicit Personality Theory, are affected or changed.     

Tenacious inferential illusions: Experimental fact vs. critical fancy

Tzeng and Tzeng's (1982) assertion that the results from two indices of estimated item coendorsement should not have been combined in Mirels' (1976) demonstration of inferential illusions is shown to be based on erroneous suppositions. Evidence for the equivalence of the two formats makes it clear that the separate presentation of data for each index would have yielded results and led to conclusions virtually identical to those for the combined data. The objection by Tzeng and Tzeng to Mirels' use of empirical conditional probabilities as a criterion against which to assess the veridicality of Implicit Personality Theory is also shown to be without empirical foundation. In the light of available findings, the existence of striking inaccuracies in the culturally prevalent Implicit Personality Theory seems well established.     

The New Theory of Reference: Kripke,Marcus, and Its Origins

Book Information The New Theory of Reference: Kripke, Marcus, and Its Origins. Edited by Paul Humphreys and James Fetzer. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Boston. Pp. xiii + 290. Hardback, US$105.     

Truth, Sense and Reference

Books reviewed in this essay:
Wolfgang Carl, Frege's Theory of Sense and Reference: Its Scope and its Origins
William P. Alston, A Realist Conception of Truth     

The Role of Experiencing in Psychotherapy: Attending to the “Bodily Felt Sense” of a Problem Makes Any Orientation More Effective

Focusing-Oriented Theory defines a new aspect of client experiencing – the bodily felt sense of a situation or problem. The felt sense is vague at first, sensed directly but not yet in explicit words or images. It is neither drowning in strong emotions nor is it just thinking. The chapter shows examples of how to help a client find this level and how to respond to it. When the felt sense is responded to little steps inwardly arise directly from the client's own process. It is proposed that the Philosophy of the Implicit which underlies this model, can unify our different orientations by showing us how to use any theory experientially. The client is always invited to check any therapist suggested move for resonance in the body and a sense of life being carried forward.     

对双时间参数理论的改进——从分支时间到分支时空

双时间参数理论由贝尔纳普于2001年提出,该理论使用不同的语义解释参数构建以言行事行为的语境,以确定以言行事行为是否成功或者是否被满足。但是贝尔纳普在构建语境时却忽略了地点这一重要的语境参数,而这也导致了双时间参数理论对以言行事行为的成功以及满足条件的不完善刻画。本文中,作者就将提出一个对双时间参数理论的改进方案。文章中,第一节将在简要介绍双时间参数理论以及其中问题的基础上,给出修正方案的大体思路,即将双时间参数理论的基础由分支时间逻辑变为分支时空逻辑,文章第二节将介绍分支时空逻辑中的主要内容,而第三节则说明如何在分支时空逻辑上使用P_（STIT）算子刻画群体行动的问题。第四节将具体介绍作者所给出的对双时间参数理论的修正方案。文章最后一节则是待解决的问题以及进一步的工作。     

Implicit Association Test: separating transsituationally stable and variable components of attitudes toward gay men

Implicit attitudes are conceived of as formed in childhood, suggesting extreme stability. At the same time, it has been shown that implicit attitudes are influenced by situational factors, suggesting variability by the moment. In the present article, using structural equation modeling, we decomposed implicit attitudes towards gay men into a person factor and a situational factor. The Implicit Association Test (Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998), introduced as an instrument with which individual differences in implicit attitudes can be measured, was used. Measurement was repeated after one week (Experiment 1) or immediately (Experiment 2). Explicit attitudes towards gay men as assessed by way of questionnaires were positive and stable across situations. Implicit attitudes were relatively negative instead. Internal consistency of the implicit attitude assessment was exemplary. However, the within-situation consistency was accompanied by considerable unexplained between-situation variability. Consequently, it may not be adequate to interpret an individual implicit attitude measured at a given point in time as a person-related, trait-like factor.     

内隐自尊效应及内隐自尊与外显自尊的关系

研究运用内隐联想测验对内隐自尊进行了研究和测量,同时还运用结构方程建模对外显自尊和内隐自尊的结构关系进行了研究,结果表明：(1)东方文化下内隐自尊是存在的,个体无意识中对自我持有一种积极的评价,但强度不如西方个体。(2)内隐自尊与外显自尊是相对独立的两个不同的结构,二者间仅存在低的正相关。     

内隐自尊的研究趋势及测量方法

内隐自尊是社会认知研究的新领域。本文主要回顾了内隐自尊研究的趋势及测量方法的进展。内隐自尊的研究趋势主要表现为：内隐与外显自尊研究对照进行;应用性研究初步开展;研究方法的不断更新;与其它社会认知结构的关系;与行为的关系等。目前在研究方法上以反应时范式为主,最常用是内隐联想测验,还包括阈上语义启动、阈下语义启动、姓名字母与数字偏爱、Stroop颜色命名任务、内隐自我评价调查和外部情绪性Simon任务等。     

1991—2008年内隐记忆研究的文献计量学分析

对收录在中国期刊网上的154条内隐记忆研究的论文题录(1991—2008年)进行计量学分析,发现:(1)自1991年来,我国内隐研究呈稳步增长趋势,前后三个六年里,论文数量之比近似为1∶2∶3;2005-2007年是发表论文数量最多的时间,2008年又有所下降。(2)我国内隐记忆的实证研究与理论研究势均力敌。实证研究中,研究对象主要是正常人,特殊群体的关注较少。(3)我国内隐记忆研究具有较高的水平,但仍有待进一步提高。(4)我国的内隐记忆研究力量严重分布不均,在经济较发达的华东、华北、中南地区占了绝对优势。高校是我国内隐记忆的主力军。(5)合作研究与独著研究平分秋色。合作研究不仅要加强内部合作,更要注重外部合作乃至国际合作研究。     

Theoretical terms and the Principle of the Benefit of Doubt

The Principle of the Benefit of Doubt dictates that, whenever reasonably possible, we interpret earlier-day scientists as referring to entities posited by current science. Putnam has presented the principle as supplementary to his Causal Theory of Reference in order to make this theory generally applicable to theoretical terms. The present paper argues that the principle is of doubtful standing. In particular, it will be argued that the principle lacks a justification and, indeed, is unjustifiable as it stands.     

The artificial dispute over Implicit Personality Theory: An answer to Jackson, Strieker, and Mirels

In their evaluation of Tzeng and Tzeng's (1982) concerns over the level of sophistication currently evident in the study of Implicit Personality Theory (IPT), Jackson and Strieker (1982) and Mirels (1982a) reaffirm their disputed positions at the opposing extremes of the myth-vs.-fact continuum of IPT. The present paper re-examines major measurement and statistical issues in the empirical study of IPT that are still unacknowledged by either Jackson and Strieker, or Mirels, or both. It is demonstrated that their dispute is artificial and can be accounted for by their lack of measuremental sophistication and their statistical partialities. Researchers are cautioned to consider more than “mechanical computability” and “statistical adoptability” in conducting and/or judging similar empirical studies.     

Depressive implicit associations and adults' reports of childhood abuse

Theory and research suggest that negative events in childhood (e.g., childhood abuse) may contribute to the development of a cognitive vulnerability to depression. A limitation of past research, however, is that the majority has focused on explicit cognitions (e.g., attributional style) and it remains unclear whether similar relations would be observed for more implicit measures of depressive cognitions. This study investigated the relation between young adults' reports of childhood abuse and their implicit depressive cognitions, as measured by the Implicit Association Test. As hypothesised, young adults reporting a history of childhood abuse exhibited stronger implicit associations for depression-relevant stimuli than did individuals with no abuse history. These results were maintained even after statistically controlling for the influence of current depressive symptom levels.     

名人广告效果的影响因素及其理论探讨

名人广告是通过将产品品牌与名人形象或声誉相联系而期望提升产品附加值的广告,这是现代广告中最为常见的诉求方式之一。现有研究发现,名人广告的传播效果明显受到来自名人自身的特点、产品与广告特点、受众状态、及广告播放环境等诸多因素的影响。学者们利用参照群体模型、联想学习理论、4“Fs”模型等对名人广告效应进行理论解释。但现有研究也依然存在一些问题,如影响来源有待扩展、研究方法有待创新、生态效度偏低等。     

Experimental Test of Escape Theory: Accessibility to Implicit Suicidal Mind

This study tested the Escape Theory prediction that individuals blaming themselves for failure experience increased accessibility to implicit suicidal mind. One hundred and thirty‐eight undergraduate medical students were randomly assigned to three groups: failure‐related priming, success‐related priming, and control. Following experimental conditions, participants completed a death/suicide Implicit Association Test. Results revealed significant differences between groups in accessibility to implicit suicidal mind. Furthermore, priming manipulation interacted with individual differences in locus of control (LOC). Significant differences in accessibility to implicit suicidal mind were observed in individuals with internal LOC, while effects of priming manipulation were eliminated in individuals with external LOC.     

Depressive implicit associations and adults' reports of childhood abuse

Theory and research suggest that negative events in childhood (e.g., childhood abuse) may contribute to the development of a cognitive vulnerability to depression. A limitation of past research, however, is that the majority has focused on explicit cognitions (e.g., attributional style) and it remains unclear whether similar relations would be observed for more implicit measures of depressive cognitions. This study investigated the relation between young adults' reports of childhood abuse and their implicit depressive cognitions, as measured by the Implicit Association Test. As hypothesised, young adults reporting a history of childhood abuse exhibited stronger implicit associations for depression-relevant stimuli than did individuals with no abuse history. These results were maintained even after statistically controlling for the influence of current depressive symptom levels.