Cognitive adaptation and mental health: A motivational analysis

The present study tested a motivational model where the beneficial impact that processes of cognitive adaptation have on mental health takes place through self‐determined motivation. The model proposes that the components of cognitive adaptation theory (positive self‐perceptions, perceptions of control, and optimism) foster a self‐determined motivation. In turn, self‐determined motivation predicts positive indices of mental health. In addition, the model posits that the beneficial role of cognitive adaptation on mental health is mediated by motivational processes. The model was tested using a 1‐year prospective design with a random sample from the general population. Results from structural equation modelling analysis provided empirical support for the proposed model. Results are discussed with regards to Taylor's ( 1983 ) cognitive adaptation theory, self‐determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1991 ), and the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation (Vallerand, 1997 ). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The name game: acceptability,bonus information and group size

Our previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of the name game when learning the names of group members. In three experiments we conclude our study of the name game by demonstrating that it is very acceptable to participants and successful with larger groups. Experiment 1 compared the simple and elaborate name games. In the latter, participants learned a word provided by each person in addition to their full name. This ‘bonus’ information was very well learned without detriment to the name learning. Participants rated both versions of the name game as a good use of time and worth playing again although the elaborate name game was rated as more fun. Experiments 2 and 3 used the name game with groups of around 25, finding very good recall of full names. The role of retrieval in the effectiveness of the name game was again demonstrated to be essential. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Borderline Personality Disorder: towards a systemic formulation

The diagnostic label, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), is rapidly gaining currency in the UK. Although many systemic practitioners are skilled and experienced at working with the clinical difficulties associated with the diagnosis, there is little systemic literature on the topic. This paper discusses some of the difficulties for systemic practitioners in engaging with the concept of BPD and offers some pointers for the development of systemic practice in this area.     

The psychology behind the masks: Psychological responses to the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in different regions

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first reported in China, and spread to 29 regions, affecting over 8000 people worldwide. For the general public, the psychological impact of SARS may have been greater than the physical health danger of the disease. The present paper proposes the influence of psychological factors on people's cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses during the SARS outbreak. The various papers in this special issue of the Journal reveal how people have reacted during the SARS outbreak: People's general coping styles may be related to their health behavior during the outbreak. Cultural differences were evident in the perception of SARS, and individuals' perceptual styles may have influenced their ability to cope with the outbreak. The way in which individuals coped with SARS-related stressful events was different from their usual practices of managing daily stress. Individual differences in the adoption of preventive measures were related to the distinct susceptibility to several social-cognitive biases.     

Estimating Actor,Partner, and Interaction Effects for Dyadic Data Using PROC MIXED and HLM: A User–Friendly Guide

Data collected from both members of a dyad provide abundant opportunities as well as data analytic challenges. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kashy & Kenny, 2000) was developed as a conceptual framework for collecting and analyzing dyadic data, primarily by stressing the importance of considering the interdependence that exists between dyad members. The goal of this paper is to detail how the APIM can be implemented in dyadic research, and how its effects can be estimated using hierarchical linear modeling, including PROC MIXED in SAS and HLM (version 5.04; Raudenbush, Bryk, Cheong, & Congdon, 2001). The paper describes the APIM and illustrates how the data set must be structured to use the data analytic methods proposed. It also presents the syntax needed to estimate the model, indicates how several types of interactions can be tested, and describes how the output can be interpreted.     

Impact of background characteristics and gender–role attitudes on Chinese perceptions of selection criteria in employment

A random sample of 699 (327 men and 372 women) currently employed Chinese subjects participated in a study that examined their perceptions of common selection criteria in employment. Results of factor analysis showed that various selection criteria could be grouped under four underlying factors. In general, participants rated the Psychological Attribute factor as the most important criterion, followed closely by the Experience and Skill factor, and viewed the Physical Attribute and Demographic factors as the least important. Results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that participants'gender–role attitudes, especially those towards men's and women's roles in education, marriage and social interactions, were the most salient predictors of their perceptions towards the selection criteria. This remained true even after controlling for participants' background characteristics. Participants' gender, age and educational attainment were also predictive of their appraisal of various selection criteria in employment.     

A comparison of latent inhibition and learned irrelevance pre-exposure effects in rabbit and human eyeblink conditioning

The learning of an association between a CS and a US can be retarded by unreinforced presentations of the CS alone (termed latent inhibition or LI) or by un-correlated presentations of the CS and US (termed learned irrelevance or LIRR). In rabbit eyeblink conditioning, there have been some recent failures to replicate LI. LIRR has been hypothesized as producing a stronger retardation effect than LI based on both empirical studies and computational models. In the work presented here, we examined the relative strength of LI and LIRR in eyeblink conditioning in rabbits and humans. In both species, a number of pre-exposure trials sufficient to produce LIRR failed to produce LI (Experiments 1 & 3). Doubling the number of CS pre-exposures did produce LI in rabbits (Experiment 2), but not in humans (Experiment 4). LI was demonstrated in humans only after manipulations including an increased inter-trial interval or ITI (Experiment 5). Overall, it appears that LIRR is a more easily producible pre-exposure retardation effect than LI for eyeblink conditioning in both rabbits and humans. Several theoretical mechanisms for LI including the conditioned attention theory, stimulus compression, novelty, and the switching theory are discussed as possible explanations for the differences between LIRR and LI. Overall, future work involving testing the neural substrates of pre-exposure effects may benefit from the use of LIRR rather than LI.     

Impact of Gender and Problem Severity upon Intervention Selection

The extent to which prejudicial views of both genders influence college students' clinical evaluations was investigated. Primarily White and working-class students listened to 1 of 4 audiotapes of either a male or a female actor with identical major or minor psychological problems. Participants selected 1 of 4 intervention levels (no intervention, workshops/seminars, counselor, or psychiatrist) for the actor and for themselves if they were to experience the actor's problems. The results indicated that both actor gender and participant gender influenced intervention choice. Participants, especially men, tended to select a higher intervention level for the actor than for themselves. These findings are congruent with the self-serving biases exhibited in therapeutic contexts and support the position that gender affects clinical decisions.