Choice behavior in a discrete-trial concurrent VI-VR: A test of maximizing theories of matching

Rats were trained on a discrete-trial procedure in which one alternative (VR) was correlated with a constant probability of reinforcement while the other was correlated with a VI schedule which ran during the intertrial intervals and held the scheduled reinforcer until they were obtained by the next VI response. Relative reinforcement rate was varied in series of conditions in which the VR schedule was varied and in series in which the VI was varied. Choice behavior was described well by the generalized matching law, although moderate undermatching occurred for all subjects. Contrary to the predictions of molar maximizing (optimality) theories, there was no consistent bias in favor of the ratio alternative, and the sensitivity to reinforcement allocation was not systematically affected by whether the ratio or interval schedule was varied. The results were also contrary to momentary maximizing accounts, as there was no correspondence between the probability of a changeover to the VI behavior and the time since the last response to the VI alternative. Neither variety of maximizing theory appears to provide a general explanation of matching in concurrent schedules.     

Anatomically based measurement of facial expressions in simulated versus hypnotically induced affect

In an attempt to determine whether hypnotically induced affect could be reliably discriminated from simulations, three hypnotically trained female undergraduate subjects were presented with posthypnotic cues to either experience or simulate varying degrees of anxiety and pleasure. Facial expressions generated by subjects in response to these cues were recorded on videotape and coded by means of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). It was hypothesized that simulated emotional expressions, requiring greater cortical processing, would be marked by longer onset latencies and greater irregularity or fluctuation in muscular contraction than the presumably automatic changes in facial behavior accompanying posthypnotic emotions. Statistical analyses confirmed both expectations. The results were viewed as reflecting support for the validity of posthypnotically cued affect.     

The role of identification in the resolution of trauma: the Anna Freud memorial lecture

In studies on the consequences of trauma, identifications have too often been overlooked. Trauma is experienced as an assault and can lead to an automatic, unconscious identification with the aggressor. Trauma is associated with a constellation of identifications, including identification with the aggressor, with the victim, with the rescuer, and with the caregiver. Identifications are important for the recovery from and mastery of trauma.     

Countertransference and the theory of technique: discussion

Historical, clinical, and conceptual remarks are presented regarding countertransference and the theory of psychoanalytic technique, preliminary to and in the context of discussing the contributions to the panel, "Countertransference in Theory and Practice" (Tyson, 1984; Loewald, 1984; Jacobs, 1984; Dewald, unpublished). In addition, special emphasis is given to problems of countertransference in training and supervision which may be prototypes for later difficulties in analytic work.     

Selecting University Lecturers: What is and Should be Done

This paper presents a survey designed to identify the procedures used by British university departments when selecting academic staff and compare them with typical practice in other UK organizations. The results indicate that, compared with other large organizations, university departments make much less use of psychometric tests or assessment centres, relying heavily on the application form, a single interview and a presentation. There were no differences between academic departments of English, Biology or Psychology and the level of academic appointment only affected the composition of the interview panel. Possible reasons for the failure to use modern objective methods of selection are considered. It is argued that universities should apply more objective selection methods based on a full analysis of the competencies required of the higher education lecturer.     

Muscle tension in human operant heart rate conditioning

The physiological mechanism involved in human operant heart rate conditioning is not known. If skeletal muscle tension is a mediator, it should be possible to generate significant heart rate increases by inconspicuous voluntary muscle tension. Eleven subjects were instructed to generate inconspicuous muscle tension for 90-second periods. No gross muscle movements were observed, but average heart rate during the trials was over 13 beats-per-minute greater than pre-trial base lines. Respiratory pattern changes and surface electromyogram changes did not reliably correlate with heart rate increases. Inconspicuous muscle tension could be a mediator in human operant heart rate conditioning, and cannot be ruled out by absence of change in respiratory pattern or electromyogram.     

Detection of increments in noise intensity by monkeys

Monkeys were trained to detect 100-msec increments in the intensity of continuous white noise. A response on one of two bars was reinforced with some probability if it conformed to the presence or absence of the increment on that trial. Stimulus parameters of background intensity, increment size, and probability of increment presentation were varied, and response probabilities and latencies were recorded. The task was analogous to the "yes-no" task used in human psychophysics. Data analysis within the context of signal-detection theory revealed response biasing toward one bar or the other to be related to the probability of increment presentation, whereas sensitivity depended on the combination of increment size and background noise intensity. Weber's law was found to hold for a large range of background intensities in that the sensitivity to relative intensity increments varied little. Performance was compared to that of an ideal observer that uses samples of the envelope of the noise waveform on which to base its responses.     

High-speed memory retrieval with auditorily presented stimuli

Two groups of 8 Ss memorized three lists of consonental phonemes. The length of the memorized lists (M) was one, two, and four phonemes. Test words were presented, and reaction time (RT) for S to say whether or not the word started with a member of the memorized list was measured. RT increased with M. In one group, the phonemes comprising the memorized sets were dissimilar. RT increased linearly with M for that group. In the other group, the phonemes comprising the sets were similar. The function relating RT to M appeared to deviate from linearity. Even after extended practice, all the evidence was consistent with a somewhat modified serial model of memory retrieval.