Intergroup Emotions and Intergroup Relations

Intergroup emotions theory seeks to understand and improve intergroup relations by focusing on the emotions engendered by belonging to, and by deriving identity from, a social group (processes called self‐categorization and identification). Intergroup emotions are shaped by the very different ways in which members of different groups see group‐relevant objects and events. These emotions come, with time and repetition, to be part and parcel of group membership itself. Once evoked, specific intergroup emotions direct and regulate specific intergroup behaviors. This approach has implications for theories of emotion as well as of intergroup relations. Because intergroup emotions derive from self‐categorization and identification and because they strongly influence intergroup behavior, intergroup emotions theory provides an innovative framework for attempts to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations.     

Evaluation of an imputed pitch velocity model of the auditory tau effect

This article extends an imputed pitch velocity model of the auditory kappa effect proposed by Henry and McAuley (2009a) to the auditory tau effect. Two experiments were conducted using an AXB design in which listeners judged the relative pitch of a middle target tone (X) in ascending and descending three-tone sequences. In Experiment 1, sequences were isochronous, establishing constant fast, medium, and slow velocity conditions. No systematic distortions in perceived target pitch were observed, and thresholds were similar across velocity conditions. Experiment 2 introduced to-be-ignored variations in target timing. Variations in target timing that deviated from constant velocity conditions introduced systematic distortions in perceived target pitch, indicative of a robust auditory tau effect. Consistent with an auditory motion hypothesis, the magnitude of the tau effect was larger at faster velocities. In addition, the tau effect was generally stronger for descending sequences than for ascending sequences. Combined with previous work on the auditory kappa effect, the imputed velocity model and associated auditory motion hypothesis provide a unified quantitative account of both auditory tau and kappa effects. In broader terms, these findings add support to the view that pitch and time relations in auditory patterns are fundamentally interdependent.     

An empirical approach to identify job duty-KSA linkages in managerial jobs: A case example

One-hundred and five managers and supervisors in the maintenance and engineering areas of a national aviation company rated job behaviors and personal requirements of their positions. Component analyses yielded factor structures of seven general job responsibilities and five skills, respectively. Consistent with previous research, skill importance varied as a function of level of management. Most importantly, the results of a series of regression analyses yielded empirical evidence of perceived behavior-skill associations in this sample of managerial positions. The uses of these empirical behavior-skill linkages are outlined.     

Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) comprehend the referential character of the human pointing gesture

The authors tested a dolphin's (Tursiops truncatus) understanding of human manual pointing gestures to 3 distal objects located to the left of, to the right of, or behind the dolphin. The human referred to an object through a direct point (Pd), a cross-body point (Px), or a familiar symbolic gesture (S). In Experiment 1, the dolphin responded correctly to 80% of Pds toward laterally placed objects but to only 40% of Pds to the object behind. Responding to objects behind improved to 88% in Experiment 2 after exaggerated pointing was briefly instituted. Spontaneous comprehension of Pxs also was demonstrated. In Experiment 3, the human produced a sequence of 2 Pds, 2 Pxs, 2 Ss, or all 2-way combinations of these 3 to direct the dolphin to take the object referenced second to the object referenced first. Accuracy ranged from 68% to 77% correct (chance = 17%). These results established that the dolphin understood the referential character of the human manual pointing gesture.     

An experimental evaluation of tokens as conditioned reinforcers in retarded children

Since the publication of experimental reports by Wolfe (1936) and Cowles (1937), that tokens could be established as conditioned reinforcers, many accounts have appeared on the implementation of token systems in human subjects. Tokens have been successfully used as prosthetic motivational devices in a great variety of situations and subjects, such as retarded children (Birnbrauer, Wolf, Kidder and Tague, 1965), adult psychotics (Ayllon and Azrin, 1969), delinquent children and adolescents (Tyler, 1967; Phillips and Wolf, 1968), low achievers in schools (Clark, Lachowicz and Wolf, 1968), emotionally disturbed children (Hewett, Taylor and Artuso, 1969) and in normal classroom settings (O'Leary, Becker, Evans and Saudargas, 1969). In these reports, administration of tokens usually produced an increase in the frequency of desirable social and productive behavior. However, none of these studies showed that the effect of the tokens depended on their role as conditioned reinforcers based on the standard exchange systems being used. No assessment was provided about the separate contribution of the social reinforcement operations involved in dispensing tokens in a social setting.A suggestion about the possible confounding effects of social reinforcement in token administration comes from the failure to establish token systems in subjects who are partially unresponsive to social reinforcement (Hamblin et al., 1970; Ribes and Souza e Silva, in preparation). The present research was conducted with the aim of isolating the effects of conditioned reinforcement as such—apart from those produced by the social reinforcement provided in the delivery of tokens.     

Social factors influence haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rat

This study employed manipulations which presumably influence social interactions in rats: (1) paired housing with a heavier conspecific and (2) exposure to the odors of other rats. The dependent variable was the akinetic state induced by haloperidol, a neuroleptic and dopamine antagonist. In Experiment 1, adult male Long-Evans hooded rats were matched by weight and caged alone or in pairs with one rat 30 g heavier than its cagemate. All rats received haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg) and catalepsy testing. Heavy rats showed more catalepsy than the lighter member of pairs or weight-matched, singly housed controls. In Experiment 2, adult male rats were left unrecaged or were recaged into cages with bedding recently soiled by females or other adult males. After haloperidol (1.0 mg/kg), the rats exposed to bedding soiled by other adult males showed more catalepsy than did the control groups. Thus, the results of both experiments indicated that social factors can influence the akinesia induced by dopamine antagonists.     

Perceived COVID-induced racism and contextual predictors of fear and psychological distress among Black men

The present study examined if Black men's perceptions of COVID-induced racism (i.e., the extent to which racism increased during the beginning months of the COVID-19 pandemic) were associated with their reported fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. Self-report COVID-related variables and psychological distress data from 231 Black men in the U.S. were analyzed alongside archival percentages of confirmed cases and deaths by participants' county at the time of participation. Hierarchical regressions identified perceptions of COVID-induced racism as a significant predictor of Black men's psychological distress over and above contextual (e.g., county-level COVID-19 case %) and individual-level predictors (i.e., perceived race-related infection risk and self-reported COVID-related stressful life events). This work contributes to the growing literature on health inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic with a snapshot of Black men's experiences during the COVID-19 and racism pandemics of 2020 in the U.S.     

The perceived impact of tax and regulatory changes

People believe that shared events, events that impact everyone to the same degree, will nonetheless impact them more than others. Across four studies we examined whether this impacts people's reactions to proposed changes to tax and regulatory policies. We found that participants thought that tax (Study 1a and 1b) and regulatory (Study 2) changes would have more of an impact on their own lives than on the lives of people in their same financial situation. We then examined whether these findings are the product of a broad focalism bias or its narrower relative, egocentrism. Because we observed the bias both when participants were asked about their own financial situation or that of someone else, the former appears to be the better explanation (Study 3). We discuss the implications of this bias for people's willingness to embrace policy proposals designed to advance the common good.     

Eastern versus Western Control Beliefs at Work: An Investigation of Secondary Control, Socioinstrumental Control, and Work Locus of Control in China and the US

La théorie et la recherche concernant les croyances (LOC) et les perceptions du contrôle suggèrent que les Asiatiques tendent à obtenir des scores plus bas et àêtre plus passifs que les Américains, mais ces travaux ont été menés à l’aide de concepts et d’échelles développés principalement aux USA qui certifient une primauté du contrôle interne (ex: en changeant l’environnement pour l’adapter à soi). Une équipe de recherche internationale a étendu la notion de croyance dans le contrôle en développant des échelles qui permettent de reconsidérer la notion en faisant état de croyances secondaires dans le contrôle (ex: en adaptant le soi à l’environnement) et de faire état d’un concept nouveau de croyances socio‐instrumentales (ex: le contrôle par les relations interpersonelles) qui permettent de rendre compte de manière plus pertinente des croyances en un contrôle dans les cultures collectivistes. Nous nous attendions à ce que, par l’utilisation d’échelles culturellement appropriées, les Américains n’obtiennent pas une croyance en un contrôle plus importante que les Asiatiques. Les hypothèses ont été partiellement confirmées en ce que les Américains se sont montrés comme obtenant un contrôle plus bas que les Chinois (de Hong Kong et de RP de Chine) sur ces échelles. Il est suggéré que voir les Asiatiques comme évitant passivement le contrôle au travail peut être incorrect et dû aux insuffisances de contrôle socio‐instrumental. Research and theory concerning beliefs (locus of control) and perceptions of control suggest that Asians tend to be lower and more passive than Americans, but this work has been conducted mainly with US‐developed constructs and scales that assess primary control (i.e. changing the environment to adapt to the self). An international research team expanded the notion of control beliefs by developing scales to assess secondary control beliefs (i.e. adapting the self to the environment) and the new construct of socioinstrumental control beliefs (i.e. control via interpersonal relationships), both of which were thought to better fit the control beliefs of collectivist cultures than Western‐developed control scales. We expected that, when culturally appropriate scales were employed, Americans would not show higher control beliefs than Asians. Hypotheses were partially confirmed that Americans would be lower than Chinese (Hong Kong and PR China) on these new scales. It is suggested that views of Asians as passive avoiders of control at work may be incorrect and due to the overlooking of socioinstrumental control.