Spatial accuracy demand in aiming movements: kinematic analysis of subtended angle and tolerance width

Subtended angle has been assumed to be an important factor in both response programming time and kinematic characteristics of aiming movements. Support for this assumption has come mainly from studies in which circular targets have been used. However, with circular targets, the subtended angle covaries with the size of the target in the principal direction of the movement (tolerance width). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of tolerance width and subtended angle on aiming movement with multiple targets. Participants first hit a 5-cm-diameter circular target located 8 cm to the left of a starting position and then moved another 8 cm left to hit either a 5-cm diameter circular target or a 5- x 1-cm rectangular target oriented either horizontally or vertically, depending on the condition. Analysis showed that reaction times and movement times were longer for the vertical rectangular target, which had a smaller tolerance width than the other two targets. In addition, the vertical rectangular target also showed a greater percentage of secondary-submovement trials, lower movement velocity, and higher peak vertical displacement. Overall, the results indicate that the tolerance width of the target may impose more constraints on aiming movements than subtended angle.     

Concepts,Constructs, Cognitive Psychology,and Personal Construct Theory

In this article, I have addressed the efforts to locate and integrate personal construct psychology with other perspectives in psychology (Neimeyer, 1985). The general domain is cognitive psychology, but with a focus on the basic building block of the cognitive perspective, the concept. Personal construct psychology is particularly interesting in this regard at this time because Kelly (1955) was adamant that his construct encompassed more than concept. Now, 36 years after his deliberations, a discussion of concepts and constructs contributes to an ongoing theoretical debate in psychology that can only serve to better reinforce the discipline.     

The Interrelationships Between Anxiety,Motor Performance and Electromyography

Notterman (1975) argued, contrary to my 1974 article, that the data obtained by Notterman and Page (1962) confirm the important role of proprioception in skilled performance. I argue that these data are in fact ambiguous when it comes to distinguishing the effects of proprioception from those of outflow control.     

Intrinsic-Extrinsic Religiosity and University Students' Willingness to Donate Organs Posthumously

This research focuses on the links between intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientations as they relate to willingness to donate organs posthumously. Participants responded to a factual test of their knowledge about organ donation, indicated their degree of willingness to donate organs, and filled out personality inventories measuring their intrinsic and extrinsic orientations. The data indicated a high level of factual knowledge about organ donation. Also, contrary to Allport's (1966) arguments, people with an intrinsic religious orientation were not more likely to donate their organs, nor were people with an extrinsic religious orientation less likely to do so. Instead, it was found that intrinsic religiosity was unrelated to willingness to donate organs and that extrinsics with strong social orientations were more willing to donate their organs. Discussion centers on the need to develop more psy-chometrically sound measures of mature religiosity as a means of conducting a fairer test of Allport's original theorizing about intrinsic religiosity.     

The Berkeley Civic Courage and Heroism Experiment: The Group Dynamics of Individuals Acting in Concert to Advance Ethical Goals in the Public Interest

Many studies have investigated how to get individuals to obey external authority, as noted in the obedience experiments (Miller, 1986). But next to none have investigated how individuals obey their conscience as they act as members of a group committed to taking nonviolent courageous action in the defense of ethical principles and the public interest. The present study investigates the situational group context and group dynamics that allow individuals to act in concert with others to carry out ethical goals, even at personal cost to themselves.