Analysis of the Buyer-Seller Dyad: The Social Relations Model

Research into the interaction of a salesperson with a buyer would seem to be relatively simple, but in fact there are a number of theoretical and methodological challenges. The author describes several of these challenges, particularly the nonindependence of observations and the existence of effects at both individual and dyadic levels. An analytical approach, the Social Relations Model, is presented which takes these phenomena into account. The model's application is illustrated with an investigation of the relationship between a salesperson's communication competence and performance.     

Winnicott,Kohut, and the Developmental Context of Well-Being

In this article, qualitative, case-based research findings from the works of D. W. Winnicott and Heinz Kohut, regarding the interpersonal world of the child, are used to show how quantitative data from positive psychology on well-being can be seen as emerging within a highly social developmental context. It was shown that observations concerning the optimal social context for healthy child development embedded within the works of both Winnicott and Kohut can be mutually employed in the service of a productive dialogue with the tradition of quantitative research on well-being within positive psychology. On a more general level, the analysis provides evidence in support of Friedman's (2008 Friedman , H. ( 2008 ). Humanistic and positive psychology: The methodological and epistemological divide . The Humanistic Psychologist , 36 , 113 – 126 .[Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) and Mruk's (2008 Mruk , C. J. ( 2008 ). The psychology of self-esteem: A potential common ground for humanistic positive psychology and positivistic positive psychology . The Humanistic Psychologist , 36 , 143 – 158 .[Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) calls for an enhanced dialogue between humanistic, qualitatively inclined psychologists and positive, quantitatively inclined psychologists.     

The Masking Function of Self-Revelation in Group Therapy

Though similar to traditional group psychotherapy in many respects, a coping skill training approach differs principally in several areas and technically in many more. Coping skill training group therapy tends to employ many concrete intervention strategies to enhance various aspects of process, drawing on ongoing data to evaluate group interaction and individual responses. The approach draws more heavily on cognitive, modeling, reinforcement, and problem-solving procedures to achieve specifically determined goals, and it depends less on interpretive and confrontative methods. The author discusses a wide range of techniques to show the benefits of this approach.     

Psychoanalysis: Practical and Research Aspects by Willi Hoffer

The outcome of clients who saw one of four “expert” professional group therapists selected by peer nomination or four “natural helper” nonprofessionals nominated by students is contrasted in a 15-session psychotherapy group. Process measures tapping specific group and “common factors” were drawn from sessions 3, 8, and 14; outcome was assessed at pre-, mid-, posttreatment, and a 6-month follow-up. Results were examined by leader condition (professional vs. nonprofessional therapists) and time (group development). Virtually no reliable differences were found on measures of outcome primarily because of a floor effect on several measures. Therapist differences on the process measures tapping the “common factors” of therapeutic alliance, client expectancy, and perception of therapists were either nonsignificant or disappeared by the end of treatment. A complex picture of differences on one therapeutic factor (insight), common factor measures, and subtle variation in the outcome data suggests a distinct pattern of change, however. Methodological limitations are also addressed including problems inherent in large-scale clinical-trial studies, ethical concerns raised by using nonprofessional leaders, and problems with generalizability, given the absence of significant psychopathology in group members.     

The Tripartite Foundations of Temporal Psychological Distance: Metaphors,Ecology, and Teleology

What is psychological distance? Why do events sometimes seem “close” yet other times seem “ages away?” We propose a tripartite model of the foundations of psychological distance in which: (a) people use spatial distance as a metaphor for psychological distance; (b) the ecology of subjective experiences that coincide with changes in objective distance define, and hence, influence psychological distance; (c) psychological distance is shaped in the service of people's ultimate goals, or teleological considerations, of successfully navigating through time. This model implies that the subjective experiences that are typically associated with reductions in objective temporal distance should reduce temporal psychological distance–the subjective sense of how close or far away events are. We review evidence indicating that emotional arousal, attention, fluency, and motivational considerations all reduce psychological distance. This model also implies a temporal asymmetry in which people prioritize thinking about the future, which approaches in time, over thinking about the past, which recedes in time. Consequently, the future is psychologically closer than the past, people attend more to the future than to the past, and people feel more emotionally aroused about the future than about the past. These findings help advance understanding of psychological distance as a distinct psychological construct.     

Topological Invariance of Biological Development

A topological inevitability of early developmental events through the use of classical topological concepts is discussed. Topological dynamics of forms and maps in embryo development are presented. Forms of a developing organism such as cell sets and closed surfaces are topological objects. Maps (or mathematical functions) are additional topological constructions in these objects and include polarization, singularities and curvature. Topological visualization allows us to analyze relationships that link local morphogenetic processes and integral developmental structures and also to find stable spatio-temporal topological characteristics that are invariant for a taxonomic group. The application of topological principles reveals a topological imperative: certain topological rules define and direct embryogenesis. A topological stability of embryonic morphogenesis is proposed and a topological scenario of developmental and evolutionary transformations is presented.     

Racial/Ethnic Identity and Subjective Physical and Mental Health of Latino Americans: An Asset Within?

Social Identity Theory indicates that ethnic identity could benefit minority members in a society because of its promotion of a sense of belonging, or of its buffering of the damage of discrimination. Despite growing investigation about Latinos’ overall health, few studies have simultaneously examined the influence of multiple cultural strength factors, especially racial/ethnic identity, social support, and religious attendance, on these outcomes. Using the National Latino and Asian American Study, we examine the potential predictive value of these cultural strength factors on Latinos’ Self-Rated Mental and Physical Health (SRMH and SRPH). Two separate two-step regression models revealed significant positive effects of racial/ethnic identity on both mental and physical health of Latinos, above and beyond the effect of known demographic and acculturation factors, such as discrimination. Religious attendance had a positive effect on SRMH but not on SRPH. The deteriorating roles of discrimination, in mental health only, and that of Length in the US in both outcomes, however, was primarily not altered by entry of these cultural strength factors. The independent direct effect of racial/ethnic identity among Latinos nationwide may suggest that this cultural strength is an internalized protective asset. Longitudinal data is needed to explore its underlying mechanism and long-term impact.     

Does Selection Measure Scoring Influence Motivation: One size fits all?

Current theories of applicant motivation do not take the scoring of the selection measure into account. We propose that selection measures scored objectively versus using ratings have different motivational antecedents and consequences than selection measures scored using performance ratings. Results from two studies indicated differences between a cognitive ability test (scored objectively) and both an interview and written role‐play (scored using ratings) regarding the amount of self‐reported motivation, factors related to motivation (i.e., procedural justice, perceived performance, and perceived influence), and the relationship between motivation and performance. Both perceived performance and procedural justice were related to motivation across selection measures but only procedural justice was equally important. Perceived influence was only related to motivation regarding the interview. Motivation predicted performance only on the cognitive ability test. Thus, it appears that how a selection measure will be scored should be taken into account when investigating applicant motivation.     

An Intersectional Modeling of Risk for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury among LGBTQ Adolescents

Journal of Child and Family Studies - Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is described as the intentional destruction of one’s own bodily tissue without lethal intent and is a common behavior...