Emotional reactions,coping and long‐term consequences of perceived discrimination among the Mapuche people of Chile

Although a substantial body of research has now documented the negative mental and physical health impacts of discrimination on various minority/non‐dominant groups, little has been reported on the impacts of such discrimination on indigenous populations. In this study, we investigated the self‐reported emotional reactions, coping responses and long‐term impacts of discriminatory experiences among 50 Mapuche adults in Chile. The limited literature suggests that a substantial proportion of the Chilean majority society is prejudiced and discriminatory towards the indigenous Mapuche population, and that the Mapuche experience discrimination. Interviews with participants indicated that discrimination was psychologically wounding, and aroused anger, undifferentiated bad feelings, shame and a sense of powerlessness. Participants responded with self‐protective, self‐controlled or confronting actions. Although negative long‐term effects were reported, ethnic re‐affirmation and strengthening of bonds within the Mapuche community were positive outcomes that seem to provide resilience for the participants. This does not discount however, the need for more research assessing the impacts of discrimination in Chile nor the need for anti‐discrimination measures to be implemented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of time and space uncertainty on a vigilance task

Two groups, each of 12 Ss, were instructed to detect increments in light level from displays of one or five lights. Signals appeared in regular and in irregular intervals. The display was flashed on simultaneously for 0.8 sec every 3.2 sec. Signal detection was superior with a display of one light than with a display of five lights. For two extreme response criteria, there was a decrement of false alarms and an increment of beta during a run. These changes were not dependent upon time and spatial uncertainty. There were no systematic changes in correct detections and d’ during a run. No difference was found between central and peripheral light positions. Correlation of measures was also examined.     

Mothers', fathers' and children's perceptions of parents' expectations about children's family obligations in nine countries

Children's family obligations involve assistance and respect that children are expected to provide to immediate and extended family members and reflect beliefs related to family life that may differ across cultural groups. Mothers, fathers and children (N = 1432 families) in 13 cultural groups in 9 countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand and United States) reported on their expectations regarding children's family obligations and parenting attitudes and behaviours. Within families, mothers and fathers had more concordant expectations regarding children's family obligations than did parents and children. Parenting behaviours that were warmer, less neglectful and more controlling as well as parenting attitudes that were more authoritarian were related to higher expectations regarding children's family obligations between families within cultures as well as between cultures. These international findings advance understanding of children's family obligations by contextualising them both within families and across a number of diverse cultural groups in 9 countries.     

Neuroticism and Depression in Children: The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies

This study's general objective was to analyze whether different types of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS), namely adaptive strategies—specifically positive refocusing and positive reappraisal—and maladaptive strategies—self-blame, catastrophizing, and rumination—mediated the neuroticism-depression relationship in children 9–12 years old, and whether gender and school transition moderated the relationships proposed. A self-reporting measure was administered to 315 children to evaluate said variables. The resulting data were analyzed using structural equations. The study verified that maladaptive CERS partially mediated neuroticism's relationship with depression, while adaptive CERS, though negatively associated with depression, did not show a mediating effect on this relationship. The results provide evidence of the mediating function of maladaptive CERS on the neuroticism-depression relationship. Gender and school transition did not moderate the relationships proposed. Because, by their very nature, these strategies are modifiable, these results constitute an important finding that can be transferred to the design and content of child mental health prevention and promotion programs.     

Factor Structure of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Verbal Form B in a Spanish‐speaking Population

The objective of this study was to compare, through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, two different theoretical models that explain the operationalized creativity construct with the Verbal Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), Form B. Model 1 is represented by six factors which correspond to each activity and its respective indicators while Model 2 is integrated by three factors which correspond to each TTCT ability (i.e., Fluency, Originality, and Flexibility) and the corresponding indicators for each variable. The study was carried out with a sample consisting of 432 Spanish‐speaking youngsters of both sexes aged 15–26. According to the research findings, the model which showed the most satisfactory fit identifies six correlated factors that correspond to each of the activities proposed (χ² = 414.48; df = 116; χ²/df = 3.57; GFI = .90; NFI = .95; CFI = .96 and RMSEA = .077). These results are discussed according to its psychometric implications for the construct assessment in different fields.     

Disorganization and Individual Psychotherapy for Schizophrenia: A Case Report of Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy

Despite being a characteristic symptom of schizophrenia, implications for therapy with persons experiencing prominent disorganization have received less attention in the psychotherapy literature than have other aspects of the disorder. As such, formal thought disorder may be viewed largely as a barrier to effective participation in therapy. In contrast, though, a range of writers from varied traditions have stressed that this feature of schizophrenia is meaningful and improved coherence of speech is an important and viable component of treatment and recovery. This paper suggests that an emergent integrative psychotherapy, metacognitive reflection and insight therapy (MERIT), may be well-suited for work with persons experiencing disorganization symptoms. A brief overview of MERIT is provided, followed by a case report of an 18-month course of therapy with a man with severely disorganized speech.