Are false memories more difficult to forget than accurate memories? The effect of retention interval on recall and recognition

What is the effect of retention interval on accurate and false recollection in the Deese, Roediger, and McDermott (DRM) procedure? Previous research has suggested that false recall is more persistent than accurate recall, but the recognition results have been inconsistent. In two parametric studies, we tested recall and recognition for the same DRM lists, over retention intervals that ranged from no delay to a 2-month delay. We found that accurate and false memory were diminished by increases in retention interval, false memory persistence was present for recall and recognition, greater persistence for false memory than for accurate memory was more readily observed for recall than recognition, and the highthreshold (Pr), signal detection (d’), and nonparametric (A’) recognition measures differed in their sensitivity for detecting change. The effect of retention interval on accurate and false memory is consistent with expectations from fuzzy trace theory. In the DRM procedure, truth is not more memorable than fiction.     

“Not me” consumer justifications for not reporting suspected price-fixing activities: Neutralization techniques & counterstrategies

Price-fixing, an anti-competitive activity by firms, raises consumer prices, limits consumer choices, and violates the law. Drawing on the neutralization theory, this study aims to investigate consumer participation in anti-price-fixing efforts. This is important as the government's strategy of combating price-fixing often relies on tip-offs from the public. Accordingly, this study examines consumer willingness to come forward to file a complaint of suspected price-fixing cases to authorities and the justifications provided by participants for their reluctance. Focus group interviews were conducted with twenty-three participants. The findings revealed that although the participants agreed that price-fixing is unethical and unjust, they were reluctant to file a complaint to report suspected price-fixing activities to authorities. This study makes theoretical contributions to uncover five neutralization techniques used by the participants to reconcile their negative feelings. Three new counterstrategies have not been explored or discussed in previous studies. This contributes to a new line of inquiry about consumer responses to price-fixing.     

Agoraphobic avoidance and panic frequency as predictors of laboratory induced panic reactions

This study examined the importance of agoraphobic avoidance and frequency of panic as predictors of psychological and physiological responses of panic sufferers to a laboratory based provocation procedure. Psychophysiologic comparisons were made between 22 panic disorder patients and 15 controls, at baseline and across three periods of carbon dioxide gas inhalations (1, 3, 5%; balance oxygen). Subjective measures of anxiety, frightening cognitions and body sensations were obtained across the phases. Physiological measures of minute ventilation, breathing rate, tidal volume, end tidal CO₂ and heart rate were also obtained. Between group comparisons revealed significant differences between the groups on the subjective measures with no significant differences occurring on the physiological measures. Within group analyses revealed that pre-session questionnaire measures of agoraphobia avoidance and panic frequency predicted the degree of anxiety, frightening sensations and cognitions during baseline and 5% CO₂ inhalation. The results indicated that both self-reported agoraphobic avoidance and panic frequency are strong clinical predictors of psychological reactions of panic sufferers during laboratory provocation.     

Formal vs. Informal Use of Television and Sex-Role Stereotyping in Hong Kong

This study examines the relationship between media use and gender stereotyping in Hong Kong, where Western liberal thoughts meet Chinese traditional and patriarchal norms. Although mainstream media studies center on the general impact of television on sex-role stereotyping, this study distinguishes the formal use of television for information from the informal use for entertainment, the latter of which is often neglected, but the impact is far more encompassing. A baseline survey on gender equality commissioned by the Hong Kong Government with 2,020 successful face-to-face interviews was conducted and the sample was of the Equal Probability of Selection Method (EPSEM) type provided by the Census and Statistics Department. The participants are all Chinese from all class strata (51.5% below HK$10,000; 39.4% between HK$10,000 and HK$24,999; and 19.1% above HK$25,000 with US$1 HK$7.8). The BSRI measurement was modified to gauge the gender-role stereotype. The results show that despite influence by Western culture, gender stereotyping of the public in Hong Kong still exists. In particular, the self-reported functional television for entertainment (rather than for information) as well as exposure to entertainment programs on television have reinforced the female stereotypes, and females have a lower cultural awareness toward male stereotypes.     

Psychometric Properties of the Cultural Intelligence Scale in a Saudi Arabian Context

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the cultural intelligence scale (CQS) in a Saudi Arabian context. The CQS was administered to a random sample of 553 undergraduate students at Hail University. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the four‐factor structure of the CQS: cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, and behavioral. In addition, the results of a second‐order CFA indicated that these four factors can be further collapsed into one general factor. The CQS showed adequate internal consistency and test–retest reliability as well as convergent and discriminant validity. The results further revealed no significant differences between males and females. In sum, results suggest that the Arabic version of the CQS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring an individual's intercultural intelligence.     

Early Verb Learning: How Do Children Learn How to Compare Events?

An important problem verb learners must solve is how to extend verbs. Children could use cross-situational information to guide their extensions; however, comparing events is difficult. In 2 studies, researchers tested whether children benefit from initially seeing a pair of similar events (“progressive alignment”) while learning new verbs and whether this influence changes with age. In Study 1, 2.5- and 3.5-year-old children participated in an interactive task. Children who saw a pair of similar events and then varied events were able to extend verbs at test and differed from a control group; children who saw 2 pairs of varied events did not differ from the control group. In Study 2, events were presented on a monitor. Following the initial pair of events that varied by condition, a Tobii x120 eye tracker recorded 2.5-, 3.5-, and 4.5-year-olds’ fixations to specific elements of events (areas of interest) during the 2nd pair of events, which were the same across conditions. After seeing the pair of events that were highly similar, 2.5-year-olds showed significantly longer fixation durations to agents and to affected objects as compared with the all-varied condition. At test, 3.5-year-olds were able to extend the verb, but only in the progressive alignment condition. These results are important because they show children’s visual attention to relevant elements in dynamic events is influenced by their prior comparison experience, and they show that young children benefit from seeing similar events as they learn to compare events to each other.     

An Integrative Clinical Approach to Cultural Competent Psychotherapy

To provide effective psychotherapy in cross-cultural situations, cultural issues need to be adequately addressed. We describe core concepts of cultural competence relevant for psychotherapists to consider. A contextualized approach to conducting cultural competent assessment and formulation is recommended, including the use of DSM-5 Outline for Cultural Formulation and Cultural Formulation Interview. We introduce a cultural competent framework to help therapists become more mindful of culturally relevant interactions in therapy. Finally, a three-tier system is proposed for the examination of psychotherapy models through a cultural lens. The concepts and framework described can be flexibly and pragmatically integrated into a therapist’s regular clinical work, increasing the therapy’s effectiveness across diverse populations.     

Is a lower dose of cyproterone acetate as effective at testosterone suppression in transgender women as higher doses?

Objective: The recommended dose of cyproterone acetate (CPA), an anti-androgen that is commonly used in the hormonal treatment of transgender women, is 50–100 mg daily. Our objective was to determine whether CPA at 25 mg daily would suppress total testosterone as effectively as 50 mg daily in transgender women.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of transgender women attending an endocrinology clinic between April 1, 2009, and June 30, 2015. We used a generalized linear mixed model to compare total testosterone between patients on CPA 25 mg versus CPA 50 mg or higher. In a subgroup of patients for which the CPA dose was decreased from 50 mg to 25 mg, we compared total testosterone levels before and after the decrease.

Results: We divided the sixty-eight patients included in the study into 4 groups: group 1, CPA 25 mg (N =31); group 2, CPA 50 mg or higher (N = 19); group 3, CPA dose lowered from 50 mg to 25 mg (N = 15); group 4, CPA dose increased from 25 mg to 50 mg (N = 3). The mean total testosterone on treatment was 0.9 nmol/L (95% CI 0.7 to 1.1) in group 1 and 1.2 nmol/L (95% CI 0.9–1.5) in group 2 and were not significantly different (p = 0.087). In group 3, there was no significant difference between total testosterone levels before and after decreasing the dose of CPA from 50 mg to 25 mg, p = 0.86. Group 4 was excluded from analysis.

Conclusions: We found that 25 mg of CPA daily was effective at suppressing testosterone levels to within normal female range when used in combination with recommended estrogen therapy in transgender women. Clinicians should consider using a lower dose of CPA in order to minimize potential adverse effects.     

The effect of a collision warning system on the driving performance of young drivers at intersections

This study investigated the manner in which the driving performance of young people was affected by a collision warning system when they encountered a driver running a red light at an intersection. Furthermore, the causal relationship among driving performance, traffic factors and intersection accidents was examined using Path Analysis. Participants drove a driving simulator with an intersection collision warning system (ICWS) in a simulated urban area. The driving performance measures recorded were reaction time, speed, lateral position deviation and crash events. Experimental results indicated that drivers who drove a vehicle with an ICWS audio signal at an intersection had a shorter reaction time, a lower speed and a reduced accident rate than those observed while driving a vehicle without ICWS audio signal. Furthermore, Path Analysis showed that the ICWS had an indirect effect on accident rate reduction through improved driving performance. The location of intersection accident had both direct and indirect effects on the accident rate. The number of driving days per week had a direct effect on accident rate reduction.