Generativity and Erikson's “belief in the species”

Generativity is the concern for guiding and promoting the next generation through such creative behavior as parenting, teaching, mentoring, leading, and generating products and outcomes that benefit others. Erikson (1963) has argued that in order to be generative in adulthood, people must have a fundamental “belief in the species” or a faith that human progress is possible and worth working toward. The present study focuses on hope and trust concerning the self and others (Erikson's “belief in the species”). In addition, however, the study examines the relation between generativity and personality traits, in this case, dominance, leadership, self-absorption, and nurturance. A sample of 70 adults was administered (1) a series of self-report questionnaires converging on Erikson's idea of belief in the species, (2) a self-report scale assessing generativity, (3) measures of personality traits, and (4) two open-ended measures of generativity requiring subjects to describe life commitments and creative endeavors. The results provide modest support for Erikson's claim of a link between belief in the species and generativity, with significant positive correlations obtained (1) between self-report generativity and two measures of belief in species and (2) between generativity assessed through life commitments and one measure of belief in the species. In addition, the personality trait of nurturance was positively related to all three generativity measures. Problems and issues in the assessment of generativity are discussed.     

广州大学生对衣服款式及颜色爱好特点的实验研究

本文采用心理物理学的等级排列法,用男女各16种服式及27种颜色布样做材料,随机抽取广州市五所大学一年级学生男女各30名为被试,对被试的服式爱好和颜色爱好特点进行实验研究,结果表明:(1)单纯对布样颜色爱好的顺序与对特定服式的颜色爱好顺序不一样、衣服款式不同,喜欢配搭的颜色的爱好等级顺序也不同。(2)当前男女大学生都喜欢活泼大方、文雅、有朝气的服装款式,而不喜欢过时的、古旧的服式。(3)从颜色明度来看,大学生喜欢明度大的(反射率Y大的)颜色,不喜欢明度小的(反射率Y小的)颜色。其颜色爱好变化趋势是从明度大的颜色向明度小的颜色方向变化。     

Book Notes

The Psychological Record -     

信息整合模型与中国人印象形成的特点

24名大学生各自独立地完成了两组由3×3因子设计的材料(人格特质形容词)构成的印象形成的任务。结果表明,信息整合理论的实验设计思想可以在中国文化的背景下应用。中国被试印象形成时的信息整合模型与西方学者的结果比较一致,但同时又体现出其独特的特点。文中对此做了讨论。     

小学儿童公益劳动观念发展的研究

本研究从被试对摆脱成人惩罚影响按行为本身好坏作出判断的反应、对摆脱行为客观后果按行为者主观动机作出判断的反应、对公益劳动的不同行动倾向的反应,对公益劳动的不同情感体验的反应诸方面,较全面地探究了小学儿童公益劳动观念的发展特点。研究结果表明:我国小学儿童在9.5岁基本形成了公益劳动观念,形成公益劳动观念的重大变化在7.5～9.5岁之间;西方价值观辨析学派关于敢于坦露和倾吐情感体验应是衡量是否具有相应道德观念的“指征(indicator)”之一的观点,是否适合于考察中国儿童道德观念的发展尚需进一步研究。     

Effect of EMG-biofeedback training in reduction of muscle tension for individuals displaying type A behavior patterns

This study investigated the effect of EMG biofeedback training in reducing muscle tension among subjects who displayed Type A behavior. 22 Type A college students (19 to 22 yr. old) were randomly assigned to either a biofeedback group or a control group. After 6 wk. of training, Type A subjects showed a significant reduction in muscle tension for both resting and aroused states; however, the reduction of muscle tension did not result in reduction of Type A behavior patterns.     

From page to program: Some typographical and temporal variables in radio homilies

Punctuation in 20 radio homilies by four speakers accounted for 76% of pause time and 64% of pause number. Pause duration varied systematically according to punctuation type. Commas accounted for 82% of punctuated positionsnot used for pausing.RRelevance for theories of text unitization is discussed. Both typographical and temporal measures are compared with a similar corpus of German homilies.