Comments on Thomas and Jamison's “a test of the X-linked genetic hypothesis for sex differences on Piaget's water-level task”

In this paper H. Thomas and W. Jamison's (Developmental Review, 1981, 1, 274–283) formulation and evaluation of an X-linked genetic model for explaining male superiority on Piaget's water horizontality task is examined. Criticisms are leveled against (1) the suitability of the model invoked for explaining the sex difference found, (2) the power of the statistical test used to evaluate the model, and (3) the appropriateness of their correction factors. A research strategy for advancing our understanding of the sex difference in performance at this task is suggested.     

Selective attention and target search with brief visual displays

In a series of four experiments, subjects were presented with eight item arrays tachistoscopically. In two tasks, the subject was required to recall a digit presented among seven letters or a letter among seven digits. The remaining tasks required the subject to detect the presence of a specific letter either in the context of seven random letters or seven digits. An examination of the effects of a masking stimulus for various target positions suggested that subjects could attend selectively when the target was a different category than its context but had to process the entire array when the target was the same category as the context. The effects of selective attention and masking are explained in terms of parallel and sequential identification processes.     

Predicting Rehabilitation Success with the MMPI and Demographic Data

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the value of selected demographic and personality variables in the prediction of rehabilitation success of handicapped individuals. Demographic data and MMPI scores of 79 clients who had been served by a state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) were used as predictor variables in a multiple-regression analysis. An attempt was made to predict three criteria: occupational level, upward mobility, and closure status. The multiple correlations for each of the three regression equations approached significance at the .05 level. Correlations significant at the .05 level, were found between age at onset, age at time of application, type of disability, and education, for one or more of the criteria. Significant beta weights were obtained for age at time of application, IQ, and the Mf, K, and Pd scales from the MMPI.     

Spectral cues which influence monaural Localization in the horizontal plane

An extensive series of behavioral tests was carried out to determine what region, or regions, of the sound spectrum were critical for locating sounds monaurally in the horizontal plane. Seven subjects were requested to locate narrow bands of noise centered at different frequencies, combinations of these noise bands, low-pass, high-pass, and broadband noise. As observed in an earlier study, increasing bandwidth did not necessarily lead to improved localization performance until the band became broad, including, for example, all frequencies above 4.0 kHz. What seems to be happening is that listeners perceive narrow bands of noise originating from restricted places in the horizontal plane which may differ one from another depending on the frequency composition of the stimulus. In several instances, if two noise bands were presented simultaneously, the resulting stimulus was located with reasonable accuracy provided each component, when presented singly, was perceived as emanating from clearly separate azimuthal positions. If, however, two noise bands, which were perceived to originate from approximately the same azimuthal position when presented singly, were now presented simultaneously, the resulting stimulus still was perceived to originate from the same region of the horizontal plane. This, then, is a case where augmenting the spectral content of the stimulus does not bring about improved performance. We suggest that the expression of judgmental biases in the apparent location of a band of noise may prove useful for understanding why some stimuli of specified width and center frequency are localizable while others are not.     

Apparent distance of sounds recorded in echoic and anechoic chambers

With miniature microphones inserted into the external ear canals of a model and the sound source 90 degrees to left of midline, low-pass, and broadband noise bursts were picked up and recorded on magnetic tape. The bursts were generated in two highly contrasting acoustic environments: an anechoic and an echoic chamber. The taped sounds were played back monaurally and binaurally via headphones to 16 listeners seated in an acoustically neutral setting. They were instructed to estimate the distance of the stimuli. Apparent distances of bursts recorded in the echoic or reverberant chamber far exceeded those recorded in the anechoic chamber. It mattered not whether the sounds were presented monaurally or binaurally. What did influence distance estimates dramatically was the frequency composition of the stimuli. Low-pass sounds recorded in either acoustic environment were consistently judged to be further removed than high-pass sounds recorded in the same setting. They were also more likely to appear from behind the listener. In our moment-to-moment transaction with the acoustic environment, distant sounds generally have less acoustic energy in the higher audio frequency. We suggest that this lifetime of auditory experience influenced our listeners' scale of relative distance.     

Stay calm! Regulating emotional responses by implementation intentions: Assessing the impact on physiological and subjective arousal

Implementation intention (IMP) has recently been highlighted as an effective emotion regulatory strategy. Most studies examining the effectiveness of IMPs to regulate emotion have relied on self-report measures of emotional change. In two studies we employed electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate (HR) in addition to arousal ratings (AR) to assess the impact of an IMP on emotional responses. In Study 1, 60 participants viewed neutral and two types of negative pictures (weapon vs. non-weapon) under the IMP “If I see a weapon, then I will stay calm and relaxed!” or no self-regulatory instructions (Control). In Study 2, additionally to the Control and IMP conditions, participants completed the picture rating task either under goal intention (GI) to stay calm and relaxed or warning instructions highlighting that some pictures contain weapons. In both studies, participants showed lower EDA, reduced HR deceleration and lower AR to the weapon pictures compared to the non-weapon pictures. In Study 2, the IMP was associated with lower EDA compared to the GI condition for the weapon pictures, but not compared to the weapon pictures in the Warning condition. ARs were lower for IMP compared to GI and Warning conditions for the weapon pictures.     

Adolescent psychopathy features: 6-year temporal stability and the prediction of externalizing symptoms during the transition to adulthood

This study investigated the 6-year stability and predictive validity of adolescent psychopathy features during the transition to young adulthood. It represents one of the longest outcome studies of youth psychopathy to date, and therefore addresses a primary criticism of the research area (i.e., lack of demonstrated associations between child and adult psychopathy features). Recruited participants were 475 males enrolled in the Minnesota Twin and Family Study who had completed a research-based measure of psychopathy features consisting of separate emotional detachment (or affective) and antisocial tendencies (or behavioral) subscales. These psychopathy features and various externalizing symptoms (i.e., conduct problems, impulsivity, and substance use disorder) were assessed through rating scales and structured diagnostic interview at an intake assessment (ages 16-18) and 6-year follow-up. Consistent with prediction, adolescent psychopathy features displayed moderate stability across the transition from adolescence to adulthood [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) = 0.40-0.41]. The antisocial tendencies subscale was uniquely related to most externalizing symptoms both in adolescence and in adulthood, whereas the emotional detachment subscale showed appropriate discriminant validity in its lack of association with externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that psychopathy features are relatively stable from adolescence to adulthood and provide possible insights into the development and maintenance of externalizing difficulties during the adult transition.     

'If you don't want to tell anyone else you can tell her': young people's views on school counselling

The aim of the research was to assess the views of young people about school counselling. In total, 415 pupils from five secondary schools took part in the survey. A smaller number of these pupils took part in focus groups (n=9) to explore their views in more depth. In general, the young people seemed to value having a school counsellor. Most were aware of the school counselling service, although a substantial number (21%) indicated a lack of awareness. For many who were aware, their knowledge of the service was limited. Just over one third of the pupils stated that they would go to see the school counsellor, and girls were more likely to state this than boys. The confidentiality of the service was perceived to be one of the benefits. However, this was also reported to be a hindering factor—the concern that it may not, in fact, be confidential. Two other main reasons for not accessing the service were the counsellor being a stranger and (for boys in particular) a concern about other people finding out (associated with the social stigma of going for counselling). Suggestions to improve the school counselling service included a room in a discrete location, better promotion of the service, more counsellors or a full-time counsellor, and ways to get to know the counsellor better. Those responsible for developing and managing school counselling services should consider these suggestions.     

Grayson Perry and the recalibration of masculine emotional reactions to vulnerability and healing

The so-called ‘crisis in masculinity’ in the post-industrial/post-feminist world is not a new idea but in recent years it does seem to have forced its way back onto the agenda due to a lack of traditional employment, such as coal mining, thus robbing generations of men of their cultural identities. This collective ‘crisis’ has emerged through media attention on a succession of well-known men in the arts and sports worlds such as Bruce Springsteen, Stormzy, Professor Green and Rio Ferdinand, who share in common a strong sense of masculine identification. In addition, all have openly discussed the healing and relief experienced by embracing the vulnerable, emotional aspects of themselves, or what has been historically characterized as the anima archetype in Jungian psychology. This essay will recount some of their stories of struggle as they have bravely spoken up about their mental health issues, perhaps diminishing, by example, the erroneous notion of depression as a ‘woman's problem’. As noted, in recent times we have witnessed a proliferation of famous men speaking out about their emotional difficulties, often in the context of loss and depression, thus providing potential role-modelling for a more expanded view of contemporary masculinity. This paper attempts to consider the tendency amongst a particular type of modern man who is both traditionally macho and simultaneously emotionally articulate with the capacity to open up about the experiences of their inner worlds and the environmental pressures they face in a fast-paced and ever-changing world. Beginning with some brief stories about the men listed above, the primary focus will be on the work of the UK cross-dressing artist and Turner Prize winner (2003) Grayson Perry (b. 1960), by studying his unusual and highly creative clarion call to challenge modern men to recalibrate their emotional behaviour and to speak openly about loss and emotional difficulty. As readers will see, he has developed a unique method that includes filmed, televised interactional interviews with various individuals and groups and he then produces art pieces that embody what has transpired through his engagement with their suffering and real-life dilemmas. This highly creative process offers a double or even triple containment for those struggling with all-too-human pain via the holding interview with him directly; the artwork that he creates as a result; and then through the recording on film that is shared with television audiences who are deeply affected by what they witness and who perhaps find a form of healing via identification.