Detection of change in shape: an advantage for concavities

Shape representation was studied using a change detection task. Observers viewed two individual shapes in succession, either identical or one a slightly altered version of the other, and reported whether they detected a change. We found a dramatic advantage for concave compared to convex changes of equal magnitude. Observers were more accurate when a concavity along the contour was introduced, or removed, compared to a convexity. This result sheds light on the underlying representation of visual shape, and in particular the central role played by part-boundaries. Moreover, this finding shows how change detection methodology can serve as a useful tool in studying the specific form of visual representations.     

Encoding and Maintaining Reference in Oral Discourse

This study deals with information management and reference encoding modes in oral discourse production. Three potentially influential factors were the distance between the first occurrence of an item and its later occurrences, a topic change that takes the focus off that item, and the span of the conceptual information available for verbalization. French-speaking adult subjects were asked to tell stories from comic strips to a listener who was unfamiliar with them. The frames in each strip were presented simultaneously or in succession. Four versions were generated for each comic strip: a given version was either short (three frames) or long (eight frames), and either did or did not have a topic change. The results showed that the target character was usually marked as a given, regardless of the version. This was more often true, however, when the topic did not change. When the character was treated as a given, referent accessibility marking was dependent on (1) topic change alone when the frames were presented simultaneously, and (2) topic change and comic strip length when the frames were presented in succession. The discussion analyzes the results in terms of the allocation of cognitive resources to maintaining coreference and to assisting addressees in their processing.     

Counsellor role perceptions and preferences of Zimbabwe teachers of a Shona cultural background

Thurstone's Case V paired comparisons procedure was used to investigate the perceived role status and preferences of counsellor for a sample of Zimbabwe teachers of a Shona cultural backgroud (n = 312) in relation to type of presenting problem (personal; educational; employment) and as the teachers varied by gender, age, level of formal educationa and marital status. Counsellor expertise contrasted those of modern status (psychologist; church pastor; work supervisor) and traditional status (family members; traditional healer; friend). The teachers seemed to have an undifferentiated perception of counselling needs as measured by preferences for helper. Age jand level of formal education were significantly related to counsellor prefernces, with the older and less schooled teachers tending to endorse counsellors of a traditional status. The results are considered with respect to the provision as well as public image of counselling services in an African culture.     

A typical interaction behaviour between fathers and toddlers: Teasing

The purpose of this article is threefold. First, it presents teasing behaviours towards the infant through the notion of ‘expectancy violation’, and defines what parental teasing may consist of. Secondly, the paper summarizes empirical data which show that teasing concerns more paternal than maternal behaviours. Thirdly, we speculate about a positive impact of this kind of typical paternal behaviour on cognitive and social development, as it introduces novelty and ambiguity, which must be processed, as well as negotiation of a struggle.     

Strategies in processing new versus old information by children

This study investigated how children linguistically encode new versus old information as a function of age on a Receptive and an Expressive Task. Kindergarteners and third-graders were presented with picture pairs. Members of each picture pair were identical except for one obvious detail, the new information. While there was little difference between the two age groups on the Receptive Task, statistically significant differences were found on the Expressive Task. Results were discussed in terms of children's cognitive/perceptual strategies in encoding new versus old information.     

The curfew bill as it relates to the juvenile and his family

Curfew laws have been instituted in cities across the United States in an attempt to control the rise in juvenile crime. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a curfew law for Baltimore City based on interviews with city officals and concludes that the law in its present form will not bring about any significant change in the rate of delinquency. Alternative are suggested that might better get to the source of the problem. These include more youth and family counseling services, rehabilitative facilities, work study programs and shelter areas.     

What do parents talk about to infants?

The content of parents' talk is studied here as expressing their conception of their developing infant, from the initial symbiotic fusion to an individual situtated in space, time and society. The topics parents introduce in their speech to their infant reflect the perception and expectations they have of their baby. The social and parental status of fathers and mothers, and the anticipated role and status of the child- and adult-to-be, and in particular the age and gender of the infant, mediate the choice of topics. Parents' spontaneous speech to 3-month- and 9-month-old infants was studied during a diapering episode, before leaving the day-care centre. Five minutes of such a speech was recorded, and each utterance was assigned to a semantic category (e. g. greetings, comments on diapering, on mood). Sex-typing is already noticeable as early as 3 months of age: comments on the present situation and state are more frequent for girls, and comments about absent persons or events more frequent with boys. Both parents contribute to this effect, fathers more than mothers. With age parents become less concerned with immediate problems and more aware of the infant's own performances. First names are used more for boys than for gilrs. As a whole, boys are considered as individuals earlier than girls.     

Hyperactivity and the Fragile X Syndrome

Workers who have claimed an association between Fragile X [fra(x)] Syndrome and Hyperactivity and aggressive behavior have done so despite the lack of controlled studies using standard diagnostic criteria. Accordingly, we provided a controlled test of the hypothesis that individuals with the fra(x) Syndrome are more hyperactive and have more symptoms of aggression than other mentally retarded individuals. The test formed part of a study to assess autistic behavior in fra(x) individuals. A sample of fra(x) individuals was obtained from the register of a clinical genetics unit and individually matched for age, sex, and IQ with mentally retarded individuals selected from assessment centres. Fortyfive pairs of fra(x) cases and control individuals were compared on criteria which reflected DSM-III concepts of hyperactivity and on criteria reflecting aggressive behavior. The comparison failed to find a higher prevalence of these symptoms in the fra(x) group. An analysis of the study's statistical power suggested that it is unlikely that the investigation failed to detect a large to medium difference between fra(x) individuals and control individuals in the symptoms investigated.     

Paraconsistent logic and model theory

The object of this paper is to show how one is able to construct a paraconsistent theory of models that reflects much of the classical one. In other words the aim is to demonstrate that there is a very smooth and natural transition from the model theory of classical logic to that of certain categories of paraconsistent logic. To this end we take an extension of da Costa'sC ₁ ⁼ (obtained by adding the axiom A A) and prove for it results which correspond to many major classical model theories, taken from Shoenfield [5]. In particular we prove counterparts of the theorems of o-Tarski and Chang-o-Suszko, Craig-Robinson and the Beth definability theorem.     

For whom and why organizational dehumanization is linked to deviant behaviours

‘We are humans not robots!’ This protest slogan denounces a working reality in which employees perceive that they are reduced to a mere tool or instrument at the service of the organization. Such an experience refers to organizational dehumanization. Researchers have recently indicated that organizational dehumanization may shape employee work behaviours. However, why, and for whom, organizational dehumanization leads to maladaptive work behaviours remains unclear in this literature. Drawing upon social exchange theory, we first propose that employees who experience organizational dehumanization engage in a reciprocity process by first developing thoughts of revenge that, in turn, materialize into more organizational deviance. We further argue that compliance buffers the indirect effect of organizational dehumanization on deviant behaviours via thoughts of revenge. Overall, the combined results of two experimental studies, a cross-sectional study and two three-wave studies provide strong evidence for our hypothesized relationships. Our research suggests that when experiencing organizational dehumanization, compliant employees are less likely to engage in a homeomorphic reciprocity in the exchange relationship with their organization.