Implicit theories of online trolling: Evidence that attention‐seeking conceptions are associated with increased psychological resilience

Three studies were conducted to investigate people's conceptions of online trolls, particularly conceptions associated with psychological resilience to trolling. In Study 1, a factor analysis of participants’ ratings of characteristics of online trolls found a replicable bifactor model of conceptions of online trolls, with a general factor of general conceptions towards online trolls being identified, but five group factors (attention‐conflict seeking, low self‐confidence, viciousness, uneducated, amusement) as most salient. In Study 2, participants evaluated hypothetical profiles of online trolling messages to establish the validity of the five factors. Three constructs (attention‐conflict seeking, viciousness, and uneducated) were actively employed when people considered profiles of online trolling scenarios. Study 3 introduced a 20‐item ‘Conceptions of Online Trolls scale’ to examine the extent to which the five group factors were associated with resilience to trolling. Results indicated that viewing online trolls as seeking conflict or attention was associated with a decrease in individuals’ negative affect around previous trolling incidents. Overall, the findings suggest that adopting an implicit theories approach can further our understanding and measurement of conceptions towards trolling through the identification of five salient factors, of which at least one factor may act as a resilience strategy.     

Aligning Expatriate Managers’ Expectations with Complex Global Assignments

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical, yet practical framework for managing unrealistic expectations of expatriate marketing managers relative to their role in complex global marketing assignments. The formation of these unrealistic expatriate marketing managers’ expectations is examined using relational contracting theory. We explore alternative HRM evaluation/support designs that can suppress the development of expatriate marketing managers’ entitlement process and thus enhance the reality of expatriate marketing managers’ expectations relative to the role in a subsidiary of the multinational enterprise.     

Evidence for spatial navigational impairments in hydrocephalus patients without spina bifida

The cognitive sequelae of hydrocephalus have mostly been explored with standardised clinical tasks. The aim of the present research was determine whether impairments on these abstract tasks extend to everyday spatial and navigational behaviour. Patients with hydrocephalus, but without spina bifida, were compared to a control group on tests of searching behaviour, landmark memory, route learning, and path integration. Participants with hydrocephalus displayed reduced sensitivity to spatial cueing, less accurate route-learning, and significantly less accurate spatial updating. These data represent an important empirical demonstration of spatial navigational impairments due to hydrocephalus outside of the context of spina bifida. We discuss some of the cognitive, neural, and individual differences factors that might contribute to this particular pattern of impairments.     

Prioritizing Harm

In this study, we examined if a self-report of trait spite, the Spitefulness Scale, retains the same associations with dark personality traits in individuals with severe mental illness. We also examine if reports on the Spitefulness Scale are correlated with observed spiteful behavior in a game developed to offer opportunities for spite. One hundred twenty individuals clinically diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorders and receiving inpatient treatment at a state hospital participated in this study and completed measures of personality. The Spitefulness Scale retained its associations with measures of dark personality traits in individuals with psychosis. Spitefulness Scale scores were also related to a performance measure of spite and spite was evidenced by a significant proportion of participants across measures (20.8%–26.7%). These data suggest the presence of spite as it is understood in the general population in a significant subset of individuals with psychosis. Spite could be considered an independent personality trait and part of the family of dark personality traits.     

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale–2 (BERS-2) Parent and Youth Rating Scales

We confirmed the factor structure of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale – 2nd Edition (BERS-2) with a normative parent and youth sample. The BERS-2, based on the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS), is a standardized instrument that assesses children's emotional and behavioral strengths. The original BERS was renormed to create a separate parent scale (Parent Rating Scale) and a youth self-report scale (Youth Rating Scale). In this study, we investigated whether the five-factor structure of the original BERS (i.e., interpersonal strengths, family involvement, intrapersonal strengths, school functioning, and affective strengths) could be replicated with normative parent and youth respondents. A total of 927 parents of students with and without disabilities and 1301 youth with and without disabilities volunteered to participate in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the extent to which the normative parent and youth data fit the original five-factor BERS structure. Results indicated that the five-factor structure demonstrated an acceptable fit with the normative parent and youth samples. Practical implications and future research ideas are discussed.     

Self-Evaluation Bias of Social Comparisons in Ethical Decision Making: The Impact of Accountability

The purpose of this paper is to examine how accountability and judgment biases that occur in social comparisons may be related to ethical decision making. Using Jones' (1991 ) model as the theoretical framework to investigate this phenomenon, we found that self-enhancing individuals (i.e., those who thought they were more ethical in comparison to their peers) demonstrated higher responsiveness to increases in accountability than did self-effacing individuals (i.e., those who thought they were less ethical in comparison to their peers). We discuss these findings and outline the implications for future ethics research. Further, we provide practical guidance to those who administer ethics compliance programs on effective ways of facilitating ethical behavior in organizations.     

Reactions to acceptance and rejection: Effects of level and sequence of relational evaluation

Two experiments examined the effects of various levels and sequences of acceptance and rejection on emotion, ratings of self and others, and behavior. In Experiment 1, participants who differed in agreeableness received one of five levels of acceptance or rejection feedback, believing that they either would or would not interact with the person who accepted or rejected them. In Experiment 2, participants who differed in rejection sensitivity received one of four patterns of feedback over time, reflecting constant acceptance, increasing acceptance, increasing rejection, or constant rejection. In both studies, rejection elicited greater anger, sadness, and hurt feelings than acceptance, as well as an increased tendency to aggress toward the rejector. In general, more extreme rejection did not lead to stronger reactions than mild rejection, but increasing rejection evoked more negative reactions than constant rejection. Agreeableness and rejection-sensitivity scores predicted participants’ responses but did not moderate the effects of interpersonal acceptance and rejection.     

The slide projector as a computer-operated visual display

Advantages and method are presented for using the slide projector in a computer-operated visual display system.     

Hierarchically distributed processing for psychology

The advantages of loosely coupled hierarchical computer networks for psychological research are discussed. Hardware methods for interconnecting computers are considered, and software communication protocols are detailed. A hierarchy of interconnected computers is formed: (1) large campus computer for statistical analyses, (2) medium scale computer for data concentration and program development, and (3) laboratory computers for data collection. This hierarchy provides efficient computing at all levels and insures maximum computing power at minimum cost.