What difference reveals about similarity

Detecting that two images are different is faster for highly dissimilar images than for highly similar images. Paradoxically, we showed that the reverse occurs when people are asked to describe how two images differ--that is, to state a difference between two images. Following structure-mapping theory, we propose that this disassociation arises from the multistage nature of the comparison process. Detecting that two images are different can be done in the initial (local-matching) stage, but only for pairs with low overlap; thus, "different" responses are faster for low-similarity than for high-similarity pairs. In contrast, identifying a specific difference generally requires a full structural alignment of the two images, and this alignment process is faster for high-similarity pairs. We described four experiments that demonstrate this dissociation and show that the results can be simulated using the Structure-Mapping Engine. These results pose a significant challenge for nonstructural accounts of similarity comparison and suggest that structural alignment processes play a significant role in visual comparison.     

framing of prenatal screening test results and women's health-illness orientations as determinants of perceptions of fetal health and approval of amniocentesis

Abstract

Framing effects of medical test results and interactions of these effects with personal perspectives were investigated in the context of prenatal screening. Hundred and Thirty-three pregnant women undergoing the ‘triple-test’ were assessed as having health or illness orientations, and were randomly presented with reassuring/moderate/severe diagnoses framed in normal/abnormal terms, forming a 2 × 3 × 2 between subjects design. Evaluations of fetus' health and recommendations to perform amniocentesis were assessed. Findings showed healthier evaluations of the fetus and weaker recommendations to perform amniocentesis in normal versus abnormal framings. An interaction was found between framing, diagnosis, and personal orientations: women with health orientations receiving a moderate diagnosis framed in abnormal terms were significantly more inclined to recommend amniocentesis than illness-oriented women given the same diagnosis; the normal/abnormal framing of severe diagnoses yielded opposite effects on health-oriented versus illness-oriented women. The influences of framing effects and health/ illness orientations on health perceptions and behavioral intentions were discussed.     

The hostile‐world scenario among Israeli homosexual adolescents and young adults

This study identified relevant themes within the hostile‐world scenario (HWS) concept among lesbian and gay adolescents and young adults. The HWS refers to an image of major threats to one's physical and mental integrity, and thus presents a meaningful structure of stressors that may be particularly aggravated among stigmatized minorities. An Israeli sample of 219 homosexuals (136 men, 83 women; mean age 20.9) was compared with 219 matched heterosexuals. Results showed gays and lesbians as more concerned with HWS themes of victimization (by crime and discrimination), lack of social and family support, poor health condition, disrupted relationships, and aging. This study specifies ingredients of vulnerability among homosexuals in face of challenging life conditions.     

Reactive Kripke models and contrary to duty obligations. Part A: Semantics

This paper introduces a new method for modelling contrary to duty obligations (CTD). Given a contrary to duty obligation structure CTDs presented in English, there is the problem of offering a logical system in which it can be coherently formalised. There are several formal systems in the literature attempting to do so, such as SDL (Standard Deontic Logic), various dyadic operators and other kinds of formalised normative systems. The difficulties encountered by such systems is that they end up with counter intuitive results for some CTD linguistic structures, referred to as paradoxes (for the offered formalising logic). We use reactive Kripke models as the semantics and a reactive extension of SDL, with one additional reactive modality as syntax for such CTD. Reactive Kripke models change their accessibility relation as we move from node to node during the semantic evaluation process. This change is made to correspond to the change implicit in the intuitive meaning of the contrary to duty obligations. The reactive Kripke semantics is stronger semantics than ordinary Kripke models and therefore allows for more fine tuning of our modelling process.     

The Effect of Perceived Advantage and Disadvantage on Performance: The Role of External Efficacy

This experiment examined how perceptions of advantage and disadvantage determine performance in a competitive context. We distinguished between internal and external efficacy, and manipulated external efficacy by inducing perceptions of advantaged or disadvantaged starting positions in a competition, keeping the actual positions equal. The treatment increased the performance of the advantaged party and decreased the performance of the disadvantaged party. In addition, measured external and internal efficacy had qualitatively different effects on performance. The results are explained by the idea that losses loom larger than gains.     

A Group Journey—to Hell and Back

The process of a therapy group in an inpatient daycare unit¹ became saturated with anger and detachment, ultimately leading to a despairing silence. Based on Ferenczi’s concept of Orpha, I will explain the group silence as indicative of deep trauma and dissociative self-states. I propose that the therapist’s willingness to “hang in” with his group and be part of a seemingly unbearable enactment enhances the possibility for emergence of hope and restoration of positive communication. It is rare in the literature for authors to expose the pitfalls that they and their group members can fall into, leading to despair, shame, and hopelessness. When working in the complex environment of a mental hospital where every level of staff is stressed, therapists often find themselves without support and consultation. My hope is that my colleagues can learn from my challenges, errors, and lessons, as I have.     

Mathematical Studies of the Information in the Stimulus-Response Matrix

This paper considers the information transmitted in absolute judgments as encoded in a stimulus-response matrix (e.g., see Garner and Hake, 1951). When transmitted information is plotted against the number of stimulus categories in the matrix, one obtains a curve that increases monotonically toward a plateau, which is the maximum information transmittable per stimulus for the particular range of stimuli employed. We demonstrate that although the maximum information transmitted is an attribute of the stimulus continuum itself, the shape of the curve is an empirical property of the stimulus-response matrix, which is determined, in part, by maintaining a constant stimulus category width. Therefore, in principle, each curve of information transmitted vs number of stimulus categories can be determined by a single point: the rightmost point on the graph. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.