Mental contrasting instigates goal pursuit by linking obstacles of reality with instrumental behavior

The self-regulatory strategy of mental contrasting a desired future with obstacles of reality instigates goal-directed behavior when expectations of success are high and curbs goal-directed behavior when expectations are low (Oettingen, 2000). Two studies show that mental contrasting paired with high expectations of success creates strong associations between obstacles of reality and behavior instrumental to overcome these obstacles; mental contrasting paired with low expectations of success leads to weak associations. Reverse contrasting and irrelevant content control conditions did not produce expectancy-dependent associations between obstacle and instrumental behavior. Importantly, the strength of these associations mediated mental contrasting effects on goal-directed behavior (Study 2).     

Mind–culture interactions: How writing molds mental fluidity in early development

This study investigated intellectual development in 4–7 years old Greek and Chinese children. They were examined on speeded performance, working memory, reasoning, and self-awareness tasks in order to investigate possible effects of learning the Chinese logographic system on possible differences in intellectual development between these ethnic groups. Speeded performance was examined with commonly familiar objects and tasks related to reading (i.e., Latin, Arabic, and Chinese characters). Chinese outperformed Greeks in (1) reading-related processing efficiency tasks but not in common objects (2) spatial but not verbal WM, (3) cognitive, and (4) the self-awareness tasks. Structural equation modeling showed that performance is organized in four systems (i.e., domain-specific problem solving, representational capacity, inference, and consciousness) integrated by g, in both ethnic groups. There were differences between the two ethnicities in the strength of relations between constructs, attributed to Chinese logographic experience. That is, the massive practice in visuo/spatial processing and memory seemed to provide an advantage in the communication between systems of the mind causing increased general cognitive fluidity, expressed in higher intellectual performance among the Chinese.     

Brought Up to Rebel in the Sixties: Birth Order Irrelevant,Parental Worldview Decisive

In Born to Rebel 1997 [1996] and subsequent works Frank Sulloway asserts that laterborns are more supportive of radical rebellions than are firstborns. Failure to replicate his historical cases and lack of significant sibling differences in contemporary studies of personality have produced fierce debate and grave doubts about the theory. It has yet to find robust support from studies of contemporary rebellions. Using retrospective survey data on the 1960s radicalization from 1,246 former students at the University of Oslo, we find no effect of birth order on who became student radicals. What we find are strong effects on political orientation of conventional radicalizing factors: upbringing in an urban environment and in particular in a home with radical parents. Within the group of radicals, birth order did not increase the propensity for political protest activity such as demonstrations and civil disobedience. Laterborns moreover had no higher proclivity than firstborns to apolitical protest behavior such as using cannabis or letting males' hair grow. Coming on top of concerns about the empirical support for other parts of the theory, our findings indicate that Sulloway's contested claim about the extrafamilial effects of birth order is not viable.     

Network approaches for expert decisions in sports

This paper focuses on a model comparison to explain choices based on gaze behavior via simulation procedures. We tested two classes of models, a parallel constraint satisfaction (PCS) artificial neuronal network model and an accumulator model in a handball decision-making task from a lab experiment. Both models predict action in an option-generation task in which options can be chosen from the perspective of a playmaker in handball (i.e., passing to another player or shooting at the goal). Model simulations are based on a dataset of generated options together with gaze behavior measurements from 74 expert handball players for 22 pieces of video footage. We implemented both classes of models as deterministic vs. probabilistic models including and excluding fitted parameters. Results indicated that both classes of models can fit and predict participants' initially generated options based on gaze behavior data, and that overall, the classes of models performed about equally well. Early fixations were thereby particularly predictive for choices. We conclude that the analyses of complex environments via network approaches can be successfully applied to the field of experts' decision making in sports and provide perspectives for further theoretical developments.     

Psychoanalytisch begründete Ans?tze in der forensischen Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

After many years where manualized mainly behaviour treatments dominated in forensic settings, psychodynamic therapies are gaining acceptance and are performed and evaluated more and more in forensic hospitals and in prisons. This encompasses individual, couple, family and group therapies. Individual and group analysts are starting to perform these tasks again, mostly as workers in forensic settings but also as external therapists and supervisors. All staff members are important in creating a therapeutic community based on group analytic principles. They are therefore required to build up a therapeutic attitude supported by regular external case and team supervision. Delictogenic situations occur in everyday life as well as in professional settings and are analysed mainly in group therapies, considering situations of the past and the effect on other people. Modern manualized analytical concepts, such as transference-focussed psychotherapy (TFP) and mentalization-based therapy (MBT) depthen the quality of therapeutic work of all professionals in forensic settings. The multimorbid and sometimes dangerous patients require good ethical and professional attitudes. The psychoanalytic concepts of defence and resistance, transference and countertransference are essential parts of changing internalization and corrective emotional experience, important parts of useful forensic treatments.     

Zur Theorie und Praxis psychoanalytisch begründeter station?rer Psychotherapie

In the last 50 years inpatient psychosomatic psychotherapeutic treatment in Germany has undergone a special development in which the psychoanalytical and group analytical communities were substantially involved. This development will be analyzed in a review with respect to models of the clinical application of psychoanalytical treatment principles. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of transference and countertransference processes in a clinical multiperson situation and the resulting necessity of group and teamwork. Only such an integrative inpatient psychotherapy concept is from a psychoanalytical perspective in a position to utilize the interactional, scene-like restaging in a multiperson relationship field and to benefit therapeutically, by which the group analytical function of the team process plays a special role. The practical aspects of two applications of the integrative model in Essen and Dortmund will be presented and the results will be discussed.     

Die Auswirkungen der Wende 1989 auf Adoleszente

The significance of adolescence for psychosocial development is a controversial theme with discussions ranging from an emphasis on the importance of early childhood to the ideas propagated by Freud that the dynamics of adolescence play an important role in the psychological development of the individual and transculturation. The course of adolescence provides a starting point for understanding the psychodynamics of patients, which is often given insufficient consideration. Today, it can repeatedly be seen that patients in their mid-thirties are coming for treatment: patients who experienced their adolescence during the period of political upheaval in Germany. For a variety of reasons this proves to have been a vulnerable life phase, above all for East Germans. Puberty and adolescence comprise developmental tasks whose completion in a crisis situation, such as represented by the political change in East Germany with the reunification process, suffered considerably. Accordingly, the consequences of this conflict-laden coping process can be revealed during later therapy in transference and central relationship conflicts. The adolescents made considerable efforts to adapt to the new conditions, however, without adolescent altercations with GDR parents and conditions having taken place in sufficient measure. The treatment of a female patient is presented for whom the political change during adolescence proved to be a critical life event. Her narcissistic deficits together with her fragile identity were exacerbated as a result of the social upheavals. It is demonstrated how this ??critical life event?? was intertwined with her earlier psychological structure, the problems of adolescence and her search for identity during the course of psychoanalysis.