Establishing the Measurement Invariance of the Very Short Form of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised for Mothers Who Vary on Race and Poverty Status

We examined the measurement invariance of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised–Very Short Form (IBQR–VSF; Putnam, Helbig, Gartstein, Rothbart, &; Leerkes, 2014 Putnam, S. P., Helbig, A. L., Gartstein, M. A., Rothbart, M. K., &; Leerkes, E. (2014). Development and assessment of Short and Very Short Forms of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96, 445–458. doi:10.1080/00223891.2013.841171[Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) in a sample of 470 racially (185 White, 285 African American) and socioeconomically diverse mothers (158 below federal poverty threshold, 296 above federal poverty threshold) of infants. Using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, we demonstrated configural, full metric, and full scalar invariance demonstrating that the 3-factor structure (negative emotionality, positive affectivity/surgency, orienting/regulatory capacity), pattern of item loadings, and item means were comparable for White and African American mothers, and for poor and not poor mothers. In addition, we demonstrated full error invariance across racial groups and partial error variance invariance across poverty status, demonstrating that item reliability was comparable for White and African American mothers, and both those above and below the poverty line (with the exception of a subset of items). Thus, the IBQR–VSF appears appropriate for use in racially and socioeconomically diverse samples.     

The development of gyrification in childhood and adolescence

Gyrification is the process by which the brain undergoes changes in surface morphology to create sulcal and gyral regions. The period of greatest development of brain gyrification is during the third trimester of pregnancy, a period of time in which the brain undergoes considerable growth. Little is known about changes in gyrification during childhood and adolescence, although considering the changes in gray matter volume and thickness during this time period, it is conceivable that alterations in the brain surface morphology could also occur during this period of development. The formation of gyri and sulci in the brain allows for compact wiring that promotes and enhances efficient neural processing. If cerebral function and form are linked through the organization of neural connectivity, then alterations in neural connectivity, i.e., synaptic pruning, may also alter the gyral and sulcal patterns of the brain. This paper reviews developmental theories of gyrification, computational techniques for measuring gyrification, and the potential interaction between gyrification and neuronal connectivity. We also present recent findings involving alterations in gyrification during childhood and adolescence.     

Reactivity to Stress: When Does a History of Medical Adversity Foster Resilience Versus Vulnerability?

Young adults with (or without) a history of medical or physical disorders (MPDs) were exposed to repeated laboratory stress. The effects of MPD status on habituation (as measured by changing levels of cortisol) were found to be moderated by the extent to which respondents reported “attachment feelings” in their relationships (as measured by the Social Provisions Scale). Students in the MPD group who reported attachment feelings showed (a) cortisol increases during their first exposure to a laboratory stressor; and (b) cortisol decreases during a second exposure to the same stressor 1 week later. No equivalent benefit was found for students who lacked this medical history. Findings suggest the extent to which medical adversity—under the right interpersonal circumstances—promotes resilience.     

Increases in parental investment and child health as a result of an early intervention

Parental investment (involving time or money invested in 3-year-olds) and child health were assessed as an outcome of (a) children’s risk status (preterm vs. full-term birth) and (b) maternal resources (defined here in terms of their problem-solving skills in resolving caregiving challenges). Resources were varied systematically as a function of maternal participation in a traditional home visitation program versus a novel cognitively enhanced program that facilitated parenting skills more successfully. As predicted, mothers in the traditional home visitation condition invested preferentially in low-risk children, whereas mothers in the cognitively enhanced condition invested preferentially in high-risk children (who, in turn, showed maximal health benefits). Maternal investment of time in care provision mediated the relationship between predictor variables and children’s health. This pattern supports an evolutionary model of parental investment in which parents show discriminative solicitude based on the reproductive potential of the child and parents’ access to relevant resources.     

一种有神的信仰是怎样建立起来的(三)

(三)讨论“人不信神,就会为所欲为,什么坏事都敢干”的观点“法轮大法”除了如上所述谈了许多神的问题外,还从道德的角度谈了一个信神的观点,看起来非常有道理,也非常容易得人心。摘录其中两段:“人之所以有道德规范,是因为人知道,做不好的事去不了天国还要下地狱会遭报应。人在约束自己不做坏事,维护人类的道德。……人不相信神的时候,大家想一想,就非常的可怕!人什么坏事都敢干,他认为谁也看不见,就干坏事……”“人不相信神,不是一个简单的问题,是人在毁灭着人的道德。人相信业力轮报,相信做好事有好报,做坏事有坏报、恶报,人干什么事情…     

3～6岁儿童绘画故事能力的发展

以绘画故事作为实验任务,对儿童绘画语义表达能力的发展进行探讨。研究对象为3～6岁儿童,按年龄分为3组。研究结果表明:儿童绘画故事能力的发展是一个从零散到整合,从无序到有序的过程。4～5岁是儿童绘画故事发展过程中的重要转折时期。故事的结构水平对儿童绘画故事有影响。     

理性的张力及其衰减:一个经济哲学的脚注

时至今日,已经没有人会对哲学与经济学的密切关联性提出质疑,哲学与经济学的互动关系生动地反映了经济学背后所蕴藏着的哲学思想的"支援意识"对经济学所产生的深远影响.[1]这种影响主要包括两大方面,即哲学的理性传统对经济学理性传统的影响、哲学认识论对经济认识论的影响.在这种影响下,当哲学主题发生转向时,或早或晚也会在经济学研究的范式上得以反映.这种反映我们可以根据哲学主题的演化来洞悉.     

儿童的内隐特质观与社交失败后反应的关系

以160名儿童为被试考察儿童内隐特质观与社交失败后反应的关系。结果表明:(1)随着年龄增长,儿童越来越积极地应对社交失败;(2)社交失败后,越赞同固存观儿童提出的积极群体加入策略比例越低而消极策略比例越高;越赞同发展观儿童提出的积极策略比例越高而消极策略比例越低;(3)持固存观儿童比持发展观儿童更倾向将社交失败归因于自己,自我评价也更为消极,但两者在社交坚持性、未来社交预期等方面无显著差异。     

学龄后心理理论的持续发展--从"获得"到"使用"的转变

心理理论发展是一个毕生过程,学龄后个体这一能力发展,主要体现在由学龄前的“获得”转变成日后的“使用”。该文从一致性和差异性两个方面探讨了学龄后个体心理理论发展的情况,并提出未来研究重点和趋势。     

儿童心理状态推理中的观点偏差

采用知识状态推理和冲突愿望推理任务考察儿童对知识状态和愿望状态推理的偏差。被试为108名3~5岁的儿童,结果表明在知识状态推理任务中,儿童对别人知识状态的推理会受到自己知识状态的影响,表现出自我中心的特点;而在冲突愿望推理任务中,与自己喜欢的情况相比,较小年龄的儿童在自己不喜欢的条件下更容易正确推理别人的愿望,表现出不对称性。因此儿童在对心理状态进行推理时具体表现出什么样的特点具有情境依赖性