Reciprocal overshadowing in flavour-aversion learning

The present experiments were concerned with the overshadowing by a novel flavour which preceded the pairing of a target flavour and toxicosis. This effect was demonstrated in Experiment I as was reciprocal overshadowing by a novel flavour which was interpolated between the target flavour and illness. Experiment 2 indicated that such overshadowing only occurred if the novel flavour was presented immediately prior to the target flavour; an interval of 10 min between the two abolished the effect. Experiment 3 indicated that the failure to observe overshadowing with a delay of 10 min between the two flavours was not due to a lack of association between the interfering flavour and illness. These data were interpreted as demonstrating that the introduction of the interfering flavour on the training day resulted in a perceptual generalisation decrement and a subsequent reduction in the aversion displayed to the target flavour.     

Workplace intrusions and employee strain: the interactive effects of extraversion and emotional stability

Background/objectives: Intrusions are a type of workplace interruption defined as unexpected interpersonal contact that disrupts workflow. Drawing from the Job Demands-Resources model of work stress, we examined how two personal resources – extraversion and emotional stability – influence relations among intrusions and strain outcomes.

Design/methodology: Self-reported, online questionnaire data were collected from two samples; 323 faculty and staff from a university (sample 1) and 574 full-time employees recruited from an online crowdsourcing forum (sample 2).

Results: In sample 1 extraversion was positively related to intrusions, whereas in sample 2, extraversion and emotional stability were negatively related to intrusions. There were no interactive effects of personality on relations among intrusions and strain outcomes in sample 1. In sample 2, low emotional stability strengthened relations among intrusions and work tension. Additionally, intrusions were negatively associated with stress for individuals high on emotional stability. Finally, introverts experienced less stress in response to intrusions.

Conclusion: Taking a person-situation interactionist approach, we examined personal resources that may mitigate interruption-related strain. Our findings suggest that for employees high in emotional stability, interruptions may be both less detrimental and, in some cases, beneficial. This study has practical implications for the structuring of work environments to mitigate strain and maximize person-environment fit.