Further Insight and Additional Inference Methods for Polynomial Regression Applied to the Analysis of Congruence

In their seminal paper, Edwards and Parry (1993) presented the polynomial regression as a better alternative to applying difference score in the study of congruence. While this method is increasingly applied in congruence research, its complexity relative to other methods for assessing congruence (e.g., difference score methods) was one of the main claims against its use. The objective of this work is to gain additional insight into the use of polynomial regression in the area of social and behavioral sciences. First, we elaborate on the meaning and the inference based on the coefficients obtained by applying polynomial regression and explain the mathematical terms that are used to describe response surfaces. Then, we introduce additional inference methods and illustrate their application on a real life example from the area of supportive exchanges, using data collected by the Smithers Institute at Cornell University (supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). Our work is aimed to provide a guide to researchers who apply polynomial regression in order to assess the effect of congruence between two constructs and enable better understanding and interpretation of the results obtained.     

向乌托邦告别吗?

存在三种意义上的向乌托邦告别.从前的乌托邦主义者是马克思主义的先行者,但是乌托邦主义者缺乏中间阶段,脱离现实,不善生活.马克思主义并非不是乌托邦,而是一种具体的乌托邦的新事物.具体的乌托邦要求我们善于同可能性打交道,努力领悟可能性,使之成为一种智力参谋部,从而建设一个公正的、美好的、人道的社会.具体的乌托邦永不满足.     

Gender,Culture, and Social Support: A Male–Female,Israeli Jewish-Arab Comparison

Despite large bodies of research on gender, culture, and social support, very few studies have addressed all three. Aspects of 4 theoretical perspectives were used to derive (different) predictions about the role of gender and culture in the evaluation and utilization of social support: evolutionary, psychoanalytic, social role, and social construction theories. The predictions were tested in representative samples of the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel. Men and women were interviewed regarding the importance and availability of different support functions, the quality of different social networks, and the people to whom they would turn for support with different problems. Results demonstrate the universality of the need for support and a number of cultural and gender differences in its utilization. The results support different aspects of the 4 theories and suggest a need for more work on the mechanisms underlying the differences found. The results also demonstrate the value of studying the role of gender and culture in social support.     

the relationship between career and couple burnout: Implications for career and couple counseling

The importance of work and love for healthy functioning is well documented. This article addresses the relationship between them. The authors argue, based on a psychoanalytic‐existential perspective, that people's choice of work and love is related to similar unresolved childhood issues and that career burnout and couple burnout are related to failure in the existential quest aimed at solving these issues. The existence of a relationship between career burnout and couple burnout is demonstrated by several clinical examples and the results of an exploratory cross‐cultural study involving Israeli, Spanish, Portuguese, American, British, and Finnish students. Implications for career and couple counseling are drawn.     

A study of satisfactions and stresses of single women in midlife

Sixty single women 35 to 65 years old, previously married or never married, were interviewed about the satisfactions and stresses of the single status. Respondents were categorized as having high, medium, or low life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was found to be significantly correlated to such factors as good health, not being lonely, living with a female housemate, having many casual friends, and being invested in work. Half the women mentioned having sexual needs, which were or were not fulfilled. The other half stated that they did not have sexual needs. These two groups did not differ in life satisfaction. Regrets about not having had children occurred in one-quarter of the childless women, without necessarily implying low life satisfaction. Only 15% of the entire sample had low life satisfaction, a percentage similar to that found in the general population.The authors wish to express sincere appreciation to George Loewenstein for his aid with the computer analysis of the data.     

Sex differences in gender-related childhood memories

Based on theories of gender development, especially the one proposed by Nancy Chodorow, it was predicted that boys' gender-related childhood memories will be different from girls' on five dimensions related to activity, emotionality, and sex appropriateness. Forty-five men and 45 women were asked to describe their earliest gender-related childhood memories. The memories were analyzed by two judges. The data document a significant sex difference in the activity and emotionality of the memories. Men's memories were more active and women's more emotional. The predictions that men's memories of sex-appropriate behavior will be more positive, will have fewer deviations from sex-appropriate behavior, and when such deviations occur, they will be associated with more negative emotions were not confirmed. It is suggested that childhood memories can be seen as reflecting actual differences between the sexes in childhood experiences, or as the result of a process of memory selection that reflects men's and women's different gender-related experiences as adults.The author would like to thank Beni Feinholtz and Naftali Menashe, both students at Tel Aviv University, for their help in the data collection.