Emotional reactivity and self-regulation in relation to personality disorders

Associations of both reactive and regulative temperamental features with personality disorders (PDs) are investigated in a sample of 162 normal controls and 89 psychiatric inpatients. Reactive and regulative temperamental features were assessed by means of the BIS/BAS Scales and the Attentional Control Scale. Dimensional PD scores were obtained by using the ADP-IV. All PDs were characterized by low levels of effortful control, cluster C PDs by high BIS and cluster B PDs by high BAS. For several PDs, BIS and effortful control interacted: BIS was only related to severe PD pathology if effortful control was low. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Heading backward: Perceived direction of movement in contracting and expanding optical flow fields

Two goals were pursued in an investigation of possible visual sources for directionality judgments of ego-motion. First, J. J. Gibson’s (1950) global radial outflow hypothesis was contrasted with a simple extrapolation strategy. Second, backing-direction judgments capitalizing on the informational equivalence of global radial outflow created during forward ego-motion and global radial inflow during backward ego-motion were explored. In comparing the accuracy of heading and backing judgments, new insights about global flow and extrapolation strategies were found. Consistent with the hypothesis of an extrapolation strategy, Experiment 1 demonstrated that backing judgments were more accurate than heading judgments when linear observer motion was simulated by means of a point-light flow field. In this case, accuracy was higher with two-point-light displays (extrapolation) than with more complex displays (global flow). Experiment 2 showed that in cases where extrapolation was not possible, such as circular motion, no advantage of backing judgments could be found and judgments were generally less accurate. We conclude that, whenever possible, observers use extrapolation to determine their heading/backing. Only when global flow is the only good source of information do they rely on it.     

From Brouwerian Counter Examples to the Creating Subject

The original Brouwerian counter examples were algorithmic in nature; after the introduction of choice sequences, Brouwer devised a version which did not depend on algorithms. This is the origin of the creating subject technique. The method allowed stronger refutations of classical principles. Here it is used to show that negative dense subsets of the continuum are indecomposable.     

Development of ear-asymmetry related to coding processes in memory in children

The purpose of this study was to determine if between-ear differences are related to short-term memory functions in 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old males and females. Using the “Proactive Release Technique” in conjunction with monaural verbal stimulation, a total of 288 children were tested. The independent variables were sex, grade level, group (experimental, control), ear (left, right) and trials (acquisition-recall). The dependent variable was free recall scores. The results indicated that children coded in short-term memory by means of taxonomic categories, and that proactive inhibition affects short-term memory functions differentially across age levels. The results further revealed that the observation of ear-asymmetry is dependent on gender differences and required short-term memory functions for verbal material.     

Soccer,rooms, and the quality of your life: Mood effects on judgments of satisfaction with life in general and with specific domains

Two studies on the impact of temporary moods on judgments of satisfaction with life in general and with specific life-domains are reported. It was hypothesized that individuals simplify the complex task of evaluating their life in general by referring to their mood at the time of judgment, but evaluate specific life-domains on the basis of domain-specific information. In accordance with this hypothesis, both studies demonstrated strong mood effects on judgments of general life-satisfaction but only weak and non-significant effects on judgments of specific domain-satisfactions. The findings are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that affective states serve informative functions.     

Preventive intervention with latency-aged children of divorce: A replication study

This replication study assessed the efficacy of a school-based preventive intervention for latency-aged children of divorce. The Children of Divorce Intervention Program (CODIP) emphasizes support, identifying and expressing divorce-related feelings, training situationally relevant communication, problem solving, and anger control skills, and enhancing self-esteem. Fifty-four children of divorce participated in the 11-session program conducted in small groups. Their adjustment was contrasted at pre and post with that of demographically matched peers (N = 78) from intact families on teacher, parent, self-report, and group leader measures. Children of divorce were less well adjusted than their peers before the intervention. They improved significantly after the intervention, approaching youngsters from intact families in adjustment status. The replication data support CODIP's efficacy as a preventive alternative for children of divorce. Needed future development and research steps are considered.     

Multicomponent models for the retention of numbers

Summary Several multicomponent models of memory (Bower, 1967) are presented and applied to the retention of three-digit numbers. Their application is based on the notion that both the digits making up a number stimulus and the position in which they appear can be interpreted as the components of a memory vector. The models are fitted to the data obtained in a Peterson-type experiment in which a single three-digit number was shown per trial. During the retention interval the subject engaged in an arithmetical task for either 13.6, 19.6, or 25.6 s. Following this, the subject attempted recall. Confidence ratings were also obtained. Twenty-four different types of correctly and incorrectly recalled responses were scored. Their frequency distributions were best predicted at each retention interval by a dual encoding model which relies on the assumption that stimuli are stored both component-wise and by means of a single unit code encoding the entire stimulus number. It is also shown that the confidence ratings may be successfully predicted from estimates of the expected number of components retained. About 80% of the rating variance is predicted by a parameter-free procedure.The original experimental study was funded by Grant Ey 4/3, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg. Further developments were made possible by Grant Sch 350/1 to R.S. from the same agency. Part of the theoretical work was done while D.V. was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Psychology of New York University, New York. Free computer time was generously supplied by the Courant Institute of Applied Mathematics. We are grateful to Dietrich Albert, Stephanie Kelter, Micha Razel, and Paul Vitz for stimulating discussions.     

Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Correlates of Internalization of Regulations for Religious Activities

The main goal of this study was to examine the relationship between different types of extrinsic motivation for religious behaviors as conceptualised within self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) and Wulff's (1991) framework of literal versus symbolic approaches of religious contents. Results from a Belgian sample of active believers (N=186) show that the internalization of one's reasons for performing religious behaviors was positively associated with an open, symbolic interpretation of religious belief contents and a stronger adherence to Christian beliefs. Moreover, internalization was also positively related to general well-being and frequency of prayer but unrelated to church attendance. It is concluded that individuals who engage in religious behaviors because of its perceived personal significance will show more cognitive flexibility and open-mindedness towards Christian belief contents, a stronger adherence to this message, higher well-being and more frequent engagement in specific religious behaviors.