Sex-Typed instructions and sex-role preference in young children's task performance

Two measures of sex-role preference were administered to 32 male and 32 female preschool children. Each group of children was divided according to sex-role preference scores, assigned to a male experimenter or a female experimenter, and performed two sorting tasks after being instructed that one task was masculine and the other feminine. One analysis was based on the sex preference of subjects as measured by the IT Scale for Children and the other was based on subject assignment from Toy Preference Test scores. The hypothesis that sex-role preference would predict performance on sex-labeled tasks was partially confirmed. All subjects performed better on the female task than on the male task and more accurately on all tasks with a male experimenter than with a female experimenter.This report is based on a master's thesis submitted to the University of Guelph by the first author. Acknowledgments are due to MacDonald, Aladdin, Jack and Jill, Wee Y'rs, Cambridge, and Christopher House preschools in Guelph and Cambridge, Ontario, for their cooperation.     

The Life Course Perspective: a Guide for Genetic Counselors

This is the first article in a two part series about utilizing the life course perspective (LCP) in genetic counseling. LCP can be a useful tool for genetic counselors when counseling people with a known genetic mutation. Previous theories such as Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSMSR) examine current reactions to a positive genetic test result. LCP extends beyond the current time to explore temporal and contextual elements of the experience. A review of research revealed, LCP has been used to study the perspective of caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease, referral for a family history of breast cancer, Mexican American caregivers of older adult, social class and cancer incidence and cancer and the sense of mastery. Incorporating LCP into a study explaining the experiences of people living with a positive test result for a genetic mutation such as the BRCA mutation provides a comprehensive exploration of this experience.     

(In)Justice in Waiting: Russian Officers' Organizational Commitment and Mental Distress During Downsizing1

The present study used the first wave of a quasi‐experimental panel study of Russian military officers (N= 1,798) to assess what happens during the waiting period after notification of release. Procedural, interactional, and distributive justice variables were incorporated into a model of the stress process. Effects on organizational commitment, outcome evaluation, anxiety, depression, and hostility were assessed. Interactional justice (Bies, 1987)—respect shown to the departing officer—was both an effect of downsizing (leavers reported receiving greater respect than stayers perceived them to get) and a moderator of downsizing's impact (respect buffered the stress process more among leavers). The negative effects of leaving were also buffered by duration of service, but were exacerbated by combat experience.     

Labor division in joint tasks: Humans maximize use of their individual attentional capacities

Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics - In daily life, humans frequently perform visuospatial tasks together (e.g., visual search) and distribute the labor in such tasks. Previous research has...     

The Effect of BRCA Gene Testing on Family Relationships: A Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Interviews

Discovery of mutations in the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 can have emotional consequences for both the tested individual and his or her relatives. This secondary analysis study investigated how BRCA testing impacts family dynamics and relationships. For the original study, a grounded theory inquiry, participants were recruited from a hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome support website and open-ended interviews were performed asking about individual and family experiences after BRCA testing. All 12 participants whose interviews were included in the secondary analysis had a BRCA mutation. For the secondary analysis, thematic analysis was conducted and revealed three main themes characterizing the effect of BRCA testing on family relationships: 1. That the first in the family to have testing or seek genetic counseling takes on a special family role that can be difficult for them; 2. That discussions in the family often change; and 3. That individuals may feel more or less connected to certain family members. These changes seemed to relate to family cancer history, relationships, coping strategies, communication patterns, and mutation status. Genetic counselors might find it useful to explore these issues in order to prepare clients before BRCA testing and to support them through shifts in family dynamics after disclosure of results.