Framing human inference by coherence based probability logic

We take coherence based probability logic as the basic reference theory to model human deductive reasoning. The conditional and probabilistic argument forms are explored. We give a brief overview of recent developments of combining logic and probability in psychology. A study on conditional inferences illustrates our approach. First steps towards a process model of conditional inferences conclude the paper.     

Personality types and self-reported aggressiveness

Applying a person-centered approach, three personality types based on the NEO-FFI scales were identified in a sample of N = 141 participants by means of clustering methods. They were described as a resilient (low N, high E), a non-desirable (high N, low E, A, and C), and a reserved overcontrolled prototype (low E and O, high A and C). The prototypes were related to the level of aggressiveness, assessed by the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Results indicate that the three clusters differ mainly in their levels of hostility, verbal aggressiveness, and with respect to anger. With respect to total aggressiveness, the non-desirable prototype displayed the highest and the reserved prototype the lowest AQ scores. The results are discussed in relation to studies based on a variable-centered approach. Possible implications for treatment and research are addressed.     

A measure of linear influence between patient and therapist.

This paper describes the application of the cross-correlation function (CCF) to four quantified dimensions of the therapeutic consultation dialogue: newness of themes, degree of narration, and positive and negative thematic tone of images. A 10-min. window was used to study lag relationships in both directions of effect--from therapist to patient and the reverse. This measure of linear influence was applied to six psychotherapeutic consultation sessions carried out by different well known psychoanalysts with two women patients. Analysis showed a range of significant CCF effects that totaled from zero to 1360 sec. depending on the consultation. The implications of these and other findings are discussed in the context of viewing the present study as part of a program of investigations into the nonexperimental nature--the underlying laws, structures, and transactions--of therapeutic and everyday emotional dialogues.     

An analysis of illusion components with ⌞ and ⊥ - figures in active touch

The influence of radial movement in haptically explored ⌞ and ⊥-figures is investigated by tilting them from the frontoparallel to the horizontal plane. Inclining an upright ⌞-figure towards the horizontal plane leads to an illusion that increases with the degree of inclination (Experiment I). The same curve, only shifted upwards, is found with a ⊥-figure (Experiment II), indicating an additive bisection effect. A theoretical function relating illusion magnitude and angle of inclination is presented. The results confirm an interpretation of the illusion in terms of radial and tangential components of arm movements. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to theoretical explanations of the haptic and visual form of the horizontal-vertical illusion.     

Medical and psychology students' disbelief in the inheritance of risk factors for suicide

Despite convergent evidence for a role of genetic risk factors for suicide stemming from quantitative genetic (family, twin, and adoption designs), molecular genetic, and geographical studies, professionals, likely to be exposed to suicide, appear to disbelieve strongly in the inheritance of risk factors for suicide. In a sample of 1,093 Austrian medical and psychology students, about 80% of respondents did not endorse genetic risk factors for suicide, regardless of their sex, age bracket, field and year of study, and overall knowledge on suicide facts. This may reflect educational gaps, cognitive biases against genetic bases and explanations, or both. One single implication is that this information needs to be incorporated and covered more visibly in medical and psychology textbooks and curricula.     

Youth suicide risk factors and attitudes in New York and Vienna: a cross-cultural comparison

The prevalence of suicide risk factors and attitudes about suicide and help-seeking among New York and Viennese adolescents were compared in order to explore possible cross-cultural differences. Viennese adolescents exhibited higher rates of depressive symptomatology than their New York counterparts and had more first-hand experience with suicidal peers. More attribution of suicide to mental illness was reported in Vienna; yet Viennese youth were less likely than New York adolescents to recognize the seriousness of suicide threats. Help-seeking patterns of Viennese adolescents were influenced by their setting a high value on confidentiality. These cross-cultural differences may reflect the limited exposure of Austrian youth to school-based suicide prevention programs. The findings highlight the need of taking the sociocultural context into consideration in the planning of youth suicide prevention strategies.     

From bad to worse: Symbolic equivalence and opposition in fear generalisation

The present study compared the impact of symbolic equivalence and opposition relations on fear generalisation. In a procedure using nonsense words, some stimuli became symbolically equivalent to an aversively conditioned stimulus while others were symbolically opposite. The generalisation of fear to symbolically related stimuli was then measured using behavioural avoidance, retrospective unconditioned stimulus expectancy and stimulus valence ratings. Equivalence relations facilitated fear generalisation while opposition relations constrained generalisation. The potential clinical implications of symbolic generalisation are discussed.     

Birds of a feather… Generalization of facial structures following massive familiarization

Three experiments examined the effects of symmetry and complexity, as facial structures, on the aesthetic judgments of faces, and how these effects are modulated by moderate or massive familiarization. Results showed that symmetrical faces were judged as more attractive than nonsymmetrical faces, and simple faces were judged as more attractive than complex faces—with complexity defined as the number of facial elements. Complexity in faces seemed to have overridden the usually positive effects of facial symmetry. Moreover, while moderate familiarization did not modulate the effects, massive familiarization to a specific face type resulted in structural generalization effects: participants provided higher aesthetic judgments to faces that were new, but similarly structured to those which they were familiarized. This latter result contrasts previous studies that have found structural contrast effects following familiarization to meaningless, abstract stimuli. Taken together, these results reflect the greater biological and social significance of faces as compared to other objects in the world. They also show that people are drawn to those with familiar characteristics.