Exploring the evolutionary origins of overimitation: a comparison across domesticated and non‐domesticated canids

When learning from others, human children tend to faithfully copy – or ‘overimitate’ – the actions of a demonstrator, even when these actions are irrelevant for solving the task at hand. We investigate whether domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris) and dingoes (Canis dingo) share this tendency to overimitate in three experiments. In Experiment 1, dogs and dingoes had the opportunity to solve a puzzle after watching an ostensive demonstrator who used both a relevant action and an irrelevant action. We find clear evidence against overimitation in both species. In contrast to human children (Horner & Whiten, 2005), dogs and dingoes used the irrelevant action less often across trials, suggesting that both species were filtering out the irrelevant action as they gained experience with the puzzle (like chimpanzees; Horner & Whiten, 2005). Experiments 2 and 3 provide further evidence against overimitation, demonstrating that both species’ behavior is better characterized by individual exploration than overimitation. Given that both species, particularly dogs, show human‐like social learning in other contexts, these findings provide additional evidence that overimitation may be a unique aspect of human social learning. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/g2mRniJZ7aU .     

The Use of the Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model to Understand a Vietnamese American: A Research Case Study

This article presents the sociohistorical experiences of Vietnamese Americans that contextualize the therapeutic relationship. Using a case study approach, researchers illustrate the use of the Racial/Cultural Identity Development model (D. W. Sue & D. Sue, 2003) in the analysis of an interview with a young, adult, Vietnamese immigrant. Este artículo muestra las experiencias histórico‐sociales de Americanos Vietnamitas que contextualizan la relación terapéutica. Empleando la aproximación de un estudio de caso, investigadores ilustran el uso del modelo de Desarrollo de Identidad Racial/Cultural por sus siglas en inglés, de D.W. Sue & D. Sue, 2003, en el análisis de una entrevista con un inmigrante Vietnamita adulto y joven.     

Relationship satisfaction determines the association between Epstein–Barr virus latency and somatic symptoms after the loss of a spouse

The loss of a spouse is associated with a host of negative health outcomes. While bereaved individuals commonly report somatic symptoms, no investigations exist of the association between reactivation of latent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and somatic symptoms among this population. Further, how an individual perceives the quality of their lost relationship in retrospect may impact loss outcomes. Among 99 bereaved spouses, elevated EBV antibody titers were associated with somatic symptoms for those who retrospectively reported high or mean levels of relationship satisfaction (RS), but not among those less satisfied. Further, higher RS was associated with greater grief symptoms. This study identifies higher retrospective RS as a possible risk factor for negative physical and mental health outcomes during bereavement.     

TRACING ORIGINS OF TWENTY‐FIRST CENTURY ECOTHEOLOGY: THE POETRY OF CHRISTOPHER SOUTHGATE

With the goal of better understanding how science, religion, and poetic art came together in the work of Christopher Southgate, the authors first explore his spiritual poetry. They come away with a better understanding of the author's commitment to a broad naturalism that contributes, along with his own faith experience, to his prose works in the emerging field of ecotheology. The authors conclude that Southgate's work is part of the worldwide emergence of a theological rationale that supports environmentalism, the protection of species, and the conservation of biodiversity. The authors find Southgate's poetry warm, appealing, accessible, and re‐readable to good effect, but with a thread of danger and warning throughout. Both features are quite appropriate for the environmental movement in the twenty‐first century.     

Interspecies justice: agency,self-determination,and assent

Philosophical Studies - In this article, we develop and defend an account of the normative significance of nonhuman animal agency. In particular, we examine how animals’ agency interests...     

Continuous self-monitoring of discomfort in the dental chair and feedback to the dentist

The purpose of this study was to examine a continuous measurement of discomfort given by patients during aversive and nonaversive dental activities. To demonstrate the sensitivity of the measurement, the degree of feedback to the dentist about discomfort and the belief in that feedback were varied during oral examination, topical application, and injection of anesthesia. Patients operated buttons which were connected to a recorder and to light which signaled levels of discomfort to the dentist. The lights were operating during the dental activities for the Actual Feedback Group but not for the Belief in Feedback or the No Feedback Group. Subjective ratings of discomfort were also taken after each dental activity. The behaviorally based self-monitoring measure was more sensitive to variations in dental activities than were self-ratings. It showed differences across groups during the aversive, but not the nonaversive, events; showed differences in the delay of discomfort across groups; and suggested a decay in the belief in feedback effect with noncontingent dental response to discomfort responses.This study was supported in part by Research and Training Center Grant 16-P-56812, RT-13 from the National Institute of Handicapped Research, Office of Special Education, Department of Education.