Reliability of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in Opiate Dependent Individuals

Previous research has supported theoretical claims that dichotomous thinking may be a risk factor for suicide. However, the concept of dichotomous thinking is vague, and thus far, no measures of it have been developed. This study developed a coding scheme useful on Thematic Aperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943) protocols and applicable to other verbal productions to refine the concept of dichotomous thinking and to assess its utility as a predictor of suicidality. Suicidal patients had a significantly elevated rate of a narrowly defined type of dichotomous thinking involving diametric or polarized possibilities. However, suicidal and nonsuicidal patients did not differ on weaker forms of dichotomous thinking involving nonexclusive or nonbinary alternatives. Suicidal patients produced shorter TAT stories than nonsuicidal patients, supporting other findings in the literature that suicidal patients tend to be cognitively and affectively shut down. Traditionally designated suicide cards also yielded shorter stories but did not elicit higher rates of dichotomous thinking.     

Positive affect and self-control: Attention to self-control demands mediates the influence of positive affect on consecutive self-control

Positive affect (PA) can either improve or impair self-control performance, depending on whether two tasks are dissimilar, and thus require flexible releasing and switching, or similar, which requires stable maintenance. The present study suggests that this effect is mediated by attentional shifts. The authors found that participants under PA, who performed on two dissimilar tasks and had to switch to a new response dimension, were less attentive to distracting information compared to neutral affect (NE), leading to better performance. In contrast, participants under PA who did not have to switch, were more attentive to distracting information compared to participants under NE. These findings highlight the opposite effects of PA on consecutive self-control.     

Accuracy of judgments of sexual orientation from thin slices of behavior.

In this research the authors examined the accuracy of judging sexual orientation on the basis of brief observations or "thin slices" of nonverbal behavior. In Study 1, sexual orientation was judged more accurately than chance, with judgments being more accurate when based on dynamic nonverbal behavior (10-s and 1-s silent video segments) than on static information (a series of 8 still photographs). Gay men and lesbians were more accurate than heterosexuals in judging still photographs and 1-s clips but not in 10-s clips. In Study 2, judgments based on 10-s dynamic figural outline displays containing primarily gestural information were more accurate than chance.     

Expected benefits of alcohol use on sexual behavior: Native American adolescents.

A study of self-reported drinking and beliefs about alcohol and sex was conducted during an Intertribal Pow Wow. 42 American Indian adolescents in attendance volunteered for the survey. Those adolescents who reported heavy drinking during the pow wow were more likely to report the belief that drinking alcohol makes sexual experiences more enjoyable. Results are discussed in terms of the limitations of the study, the implications for increases in sexually transmitted diseases among this population, and the need to modify preventive efforts about "safe" sex.     

Computer control for operant oriented laboratories

A process control procedure using base rate polling within interrupt driven routines, segmentation of time dependent events, and a branch table execution structure was developed for an operant oriented behavioral pharmacology laboratory. Efficient independent control and analysis for eight experimental chambers was obtained utilizing the similarities between various operant techniques.     

Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Review and Avenues for Further Research

This paper describes and reviews the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The focus is on evidence supporting the further extension of the TPB in various ways. Empirical and theoretical evidence to support the addition of 6 variables to the TPB is reviewed: belief salience measures, past behavior/habit, perceived behavioral control (PBC) vs. self-efficacy, moral norms, self-identity, and affective beliefs. In each case there appears to be growing empirical evidence to support their addition to the TPB and some understanding of the processes by which they may be related to other TPB variables, intentions, and behavior. Two avenues for expansion of the TPB are presented. First, the possibility of incorporating the TPB into a dual-process model of attitude–behavior relationships is reviewed. Second, the expansion of the TPB to include consideration of the volitional processes determining how goal intentions may lead to goal achievement is discussed.     

The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and event-specific drinking: The relationship between FoMO and alcohol use,harm, and breath alcohol concentration during orientation week

Current Psychology - The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is the feeling that one is missing out on rewarding experiences. FoMO research has largely focused on the link between FoMO and unhealthy social...     

Social influence processes on adolescents’ food likes and consumption: the role of parental authoritativeness and individual self‐monitoring

This cross‐sectional study investigated how parents and friends influence adolescents’ food likes and consumption. 709 adolescent‐parent and 638 adolescent‐friend dyads completed a questionnaire, allowing us to compare target‐parent and target‐friend resemblances both on food likes and consumption, while distinguishing between cultural influence and dyadic unique influence. In addition, we identified two psychosocial predictors of resemblance, namely parenting style and adolescents' self‐monitoring. As expected, results indicated that authoritative parenting style increased target‐parent resemblance in food likes (directly) and consumption (indirectly), and self‐monitoring orientation increased target‐friend resemblance in food likes (directly) and consumption (indirectly). We also showed that target‐friend resemblance was more culture‐based than target‐parent resemblance, suggesting that parental influence is more specific to the dyadic relation than is peer influence.     

Changing self-reported physical activity using different types of affectively and cognitively framed health messages,in a student population

The present research focused upon the power of different messages to increase self-reported physical activity (PA). Five hundered and ninety six participants were randomised to one of five conditions that varied in the content of message: short-term affective, short-term cognitive, long-term affective, long-term cognitive and a no message control. PA was measured at baseline and follow-up (seven days later) was done using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire over the subsequent seven day period. The affective short-term message (ASM) was shown to be equally effective at increasing self-reported PA as a cognitive long-term message. Furthermore, when controlling for baseline activity levels, the ASM emerged as being the message that produced the highest levels of self-reported PA at follow-up. The findings point to the value of distinguishing between health messages in terms of the focus on affective and cognitive outcomes and the temporal nature of the outcomes (short-term or long-term).