Dimensions of perception of posture in dance

This study reports a preliminary investigation designed to assess the possibility of using a semantic differential in the appraisal of expressive characteristics of posture in dance.Twenty still photographs of postures displayed by one female dancer were judged on 25 bipolar scales by 50 Ss. Ratings of eight of these Ss were used for estimating reliabilities of the scales — resulting in elimination of five scales. Intercorrelation matrices of the 20 remaining scales were obtained for each of the 42 remaining Ss. Consideration of homogeneity of the distribution of these matrices led to the exclusion of four of them, leaving 38 matrices for further analysis.After random division of these matrices into two equally sized subgroups, principal component analyses with VARIMAX rotation were carried out on the average intercorrelation matrix for each subgroup. This resulted in two very similar three-factor solutions. The three factors, identified as similar to Osgood's well-known factors of activity, evaluation and potency, accounted for about 55% of the total variance. The results, discussed in terms of Berlyne's conception, suggest that the semantic differential may be a reliable instrument for measuring connotations of posture in dance.     

Neuropsychological, learning and psychosocial profile of primary school aged children with the velo-cardio-facial syndrome (22q11 deletion): evidence for a nonverbal learning disability?

In this exploratory study, the neuropsychological and learning profile of nine primary school age children with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) was studied by systematic neuropsychological testing. In five out of nine children, the following profile was found: a VIQ-PIQ discrepancy (in favor of the VIQ), significantly better scores (.05 level) for reading (decoding) and spelling compared to arithmetic, deficient tactile-perceptual skills (difficulties mainly on the left side of the body), weak but not deficient visual-perceptual abilities, deficient visual-spatial skills, extremely poor psychomotor skills (gross motor skills more deficient than fine motor skills), problems with processing of new and complex material, poor visual attention, good auditory memory and relatively good language skills. These findings correspond to the pattern of neuropsychological assets and deficits that has been described for the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) (Rourke, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1995). The psychosocial profile of all nine children with VCFS also correspond to that of children with NLD. Further studies on the relationship between cognitive function, behavior, psychiatric disorder and abnormalities in brain anatomy in young people with VCFS will be needed. In clinical practice, it is worthwhile exploring in greater depth the neuropsychological functions of children with VCFS to rule out NLD, since they may benefit from specific remediation following the learning principles of the NLD-treatment.     

Vestibular sensitivity and vection chronometry along the spinal axis in erect man

A study is reported of the relations between vestibular sensitivity and vection chronometry in healthy human adults. Twenty-three subjects were examined. For both vestibular and vection investigations, the subjects were seated in an armchair with the spinal axis aligned with the earth vertical and the head normally erect. The subjects' vestibular thresholds for detection of vertical upward accelerations were assessed by a double-staircase psychophysical method. The subjects' vection onset latencies were measured for both upward and downward directions. Since the vection onset latencies are presumed to be shortened by the decrease of the conflict between visual and vestibular afferents, the less-vestibular-sensitive subjects were hypothesised to have shorter vection onset latencies than the more-vestibular-sensitive ones. As expected, the results indicate a negative correlation between vestibular thresholds and vection onset latencies: the higher the vestibular thresholds, the lower the vection onset latencies.     

A note on data smoothing for movement analysis: the relevance of a nonlinear method

The goal of this experiment was to test a potentially useful nonlinear method for smoothing noisy position data, which often is encountered in the analysis of data. This algorithm (7RY) uses a nonlinear smoothing function and behaves like a low-pass filter, automatically removing aberrant points; it is used prior to differentiation of time series so that usable acceleration information can be obtained. The experimental procedure comprises position data collection along with direct accelerometric data recording. From the position-time data, (a) 7RY and (b) Butterworth algorithms have been used to compute twice-differentiated acceleration curves. The directly recorded acceleration measurements were then compared with the acceleration computed from the original position data. Although the results indicated an overall good fit between the recorded and the calculated acceleration curves, only the nonlinear method led to reliable acceleration curves when aberrant points were present in the position data.     

Length of union as a moderator of the relationship between personality and dyadic adjustment

Recent researches have examined the contribution of personality traits to the prediction of dyadic adjustment but, for some traits, the emerging picture is somewhat inconsistent. This study sought to contribute to this body of literature by investigating the moderator role of union length in the relationship between the two variables. Two hundred and twenty-six couples completed, along with a demographic questionnaire, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses, in which conjugal status and age were partialled out, showed that, for women, the effect of neuroticism and openness varies linearly with respect to length of relationship. More specifically, as the length of the relationship increases, the effect of women’s neuroticism on their own dyadic adjustment (i.e., global score, dyadic satisfaction, and affectional expression) becomes more negative. In addition, while women’s openness is positively related to their own dyadic adjustment (i.e., global score, dyadic satisfaction and dyadic consensus) for women in recent conjugal relationships, the influence is negative for those in longer relationships. The moderator effect of the duration on women’s openness also applies to the prediction of their partner’s dyadic adjustment.     

DNA Testing for Family Reunification in Canada: Points to Consider

Countries have adopted different laws, policies, and practices that allow immigration officers to request in certain cases DNA tests to confirm biological relationships in the context of family reunification. In Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has adopted a policy of suggesting DNA testing only as a last resort in cases where no documentary evidence has been submitted or where the evidence provided is deemed unsatisfactory. However, in practice, there have been concerns on the increasing use of DNA tests in family reunification processes of nationals from certain regions including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Moreover, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) presents a biological definition of family as a determinant of parenthood in the context of family reunification that is inconsistent with the psychosocial definition used in provincial family laws. Although there are cases that can justify the request for DNA tests, there are also significant social, legal, and ethical issues, including discrimination and unfair practices, raised by this increasing use of genetic information in immigration. This policy brief identifies points to consider for policymakers regarding the use of DNA testing in Canadian family reunification procedures. These include (1) the need to refine the policy of “using DNA testing as a last resort” and its implementation, (2) the need to modify the definition of “dependent child” under the IRPR to reflect the intrinsic reality of psychosocial family ties, and (3) the importance of conducting more research on the use of DNA testing in other immigration contexts.     

Episodic memory deficits slow down the dynamics of cognitive procedural learning in normal ageing

Cognitive procedural learning is characterised by three phases, each involving distinct processes. Considering the implication of episodic memory in the first cognitive stage, the impairment of this memory system might be responsible for a slowing down of the cognitive procedural learning dynamics in the course of ageing. Performances of massed cognitive procedural learning were evaluated in older and younger participants using the Tower of Toronto task. Nonverbal intelligence and psychomotor abilities were used to analyse procedural dynamics, while episodic memory and working memory were assessed to measure their respective contributions to learning strategies. This experiment showed that older participants did not spontaneously invoke episodic memory and presented a slowdown in the cognitive procedural learning associated with a late involvement of working memory. These findings suggest that the slowdown in the cognitive procedural learning may be linked with the implementation of different learning strategies less involving episodic memory in older participants.     

Self-reported adjustment of teenagers at soccer training centers: the Soccer Trainee Adjustment Scale

The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure adjustment of teenagers at soccer training centers, particularly newcomers. The Soccer Trainee Adjustment Scale was adapted from the Institutional Integration Scale and assesses the trainee's adjustment to operating and social activities. The scale was tested on a sample of 136 trainees from four soccer centers. Exploratory analysis indicated that the 13 items formed five factors: peer adjustment, boarding supervisor adjustment, soccer adjustment, scholastic adjustment, and boarding adjustment. These factors had internal consistency reliability ranging from .76 to .94.     

Links between parental psychological violence, other family disturbances, and children's adjustment

In a sample of 143 parent-child dyads from two-parent and separated families, this investigation documented the links between parental psychological violence and separation or divorce, severity of parental conflict, triangulation of the child in this conflict, and polarized parent-child alliances. The unique and combined contributions of all these variables to children's behavior problems were also assessed. Participants were parents, mostly mothers, and their 10-12-year-old child. They were recruited through schools, community organizations, and newspapers. Questionnaires were administered at home. Findings suggest that separated families undergo more relational disturbances than two-parent families (more severe conflicts, more triangulation, stronger parent-child alliances), but the amount of parental psychological violence was similar in both groups. Psychological violence was associated with the severity of parental conflict, especially in two-parent families. Triangulation of the child in parental conflict was another correlate of psychological violence. Once all variables were controlled for, psychological violence remained the only significant correlate of children's externalized behavior problems. These findings raise the importance of preventing psychological violence toward children, especially in families plagued with severe parental conflicts.