Exploratory behavior as a function of motivational orientations and task conditions

Twenty-four boys and 24 girls from the 5th and 10th grades, one-half of whom were predominantly intrinsically motivated (IM) while the other half were predominantly extrinsically motivated (EM), were given an interesting task under task-imposed, task-offered and neutral conditions, and their exploratory behavior was observed during an intermission period. IM Ss both explored less and showed less satisfaction under the task-imposed condition than under the other two conditions, preferred a high level of difficulty across all conditions and showed higher diversive curiosity at 15 yr than at 10 yr of age. EM Ss explored about the same amount in all conditions, were less satisfied under the task-imposed condition than under the other conditions, preferred lower-difficulty tasks in the neutral condition than in the other conditions, showed more diversive curiosity at 10 yr than at 15 yr of age and showed more specific curiosity at 15 yr than at 10 yr of age. Personality integration and variation seeking appear to characterize relatively IM persons more than relatively EM persons. Age and gender differences are discussed, and conceptual analysis of performance expectations as a function of IM, task conditions and personality domains is offered.     

Psychoanalytic practice in the early postgraduate years

As a pilot investigation for a longitudinal study of psychoanalytic careers, a survey was conducted of analysts who graduated during the last fifteen years from the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Graduates were asked to describe both their analytic practice and their interest in pursuing appointment as training and supervising analysts. The 23-item questionnaire was completed by 67 of 102 potential respondents (66%). The study identified two subgroups of graduates: those who were not certified and were not training analysts (GAs), 78% of the sample, and certified and training analysts (CAs, TAs), 22% of the sample. GAs started a mean of 1.4 new analytic cases since graduation, as compared to CAs and TAs, who started a mean of 5.4 and 8.3 new cases, respectively. CAs and TAs also saw more twice-weekly therapy cases than did GAs. Once-weekly therapy was the most commonly practiced treatment for all subgroups. Interest in becoming a TA was highest during the first five postgraduate years and was lower among non-TAs five to fifteen years after graduation. Only one of the CA respondents met current APsaA immersion criteria for training analyst appointment.     

Reactions of African American Students to the George Zimmerman Trial: Co-Rumination and Thought Intrusions as Mediators

We document how prior experiences with racism, sequentially mediated by co-rumination about racial problems with a friend and thought intrusions, are associated with negative reactions to a racially charged event—the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman and the subsequent trial and acquittal of Mr. Zimmerman. African Americans’ prior experiences with racial discrimination predicted more co-rumination about racial problems with a friend. In turn, co-rumination was associated with more thought intrusions about the trial, leading to more negative affect and less forgiveness for Zimmerman. Co-rumination about racism and worrisome thinking about high-profile race-related events may amplify concern about racism for a frequent target of racial discrimination, lowering the threshold for negative psychological reactions to racist acts (including acts of violence) that may happen to other African Americans or to oneself.     

Psychotherapy training via a task-based assessment of the multicultural orientation framework: A pilot study

This pilot study involved the development and initial testing of an applied Multicultural Orientation Performance Task (MCO-PT) and coding system. The MCO-PT was comprised of seven brief video simulations of cultural exchanges. Seventy-four graduate students recorded responses and then completed measures of desirable responding and multicultural competence. Research assistants coded the videos on three dimensions: cultural humility, cultural opportunities and cultural comfort (ICCs 0.61–0.97). Exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors that corresponded with the MCO constructs (alphas 0.77–0.97). Cultural opportunities were positively correlated with multicultural competence, and none of the subscales were associated with social desirability.     

Accompanied Visits as a Tool to Understand Visitors’ Experiences: A Critical Reflection and Proposed Typology

Accompanied visits are commonly used to capture visitors’ spontaneously occurring activities, conversations, and views. However, there is limited reflection on how to implement and analyze accompanied visits, and their use is under-theorized. This article draws on three uses of accompanied visits: in a small gallery, a botanic garden, and a science museum. It describes and critically reflects on the methods used for these visits. Overall, it is argued that although accompanied visits can offer valuable insights into visitors’ views and experiences, it is important to conceptualize them to shape academic discussions and longer-term improvements to museum practice and visitor experience. The article provides a typology of accompanied visits that is based on an ethnographic approach and that shows the benefits and drawbacks of different types of accompanied visits. The typology provides the necessary structure for accompanied visits to understand current audiences and possibly to increase the number and diversity of future audiences.     

Neuropsychological aspects of facial asymmetry during emotional expression: A review of the normal adult literature

This review focuses on facial asymmetries during emotional expression. Facial asymmetry is defined as the expression intensity or muscular involvement on one side of the face (“hemiface”) relative to the other side and has been used as a behavioral index of hemispheric specialization for facial emotional expression. This paper presents a history of the neuropsychological study of facial asymmetry, originating with Darwin. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of asymmetry are addressed. Next, neuroanatomical bases for facial expression are elucidated, separately for posed/voluntary and spontaneous/involuntary elicitation conditions. This is followed by a comprehensive review of 49 experiments of facial asymmetry in the adult literature, oriented around emotional valence (pleasantness/unpleasantness), elicitation condition, facial part, social display rules, and demographic factors. Results of this review indicate that the left hemiface is more involved than the right hemiface in the expression of facial emotion. From a neuropsychological perspective, these findings implicate the right cerebral hemisphere as dominant for the facial expression of emotion. In spite of the compelling evidence for right-hemispheric specialization, some data point to the possibility of differential hemispheric involvement as a function of emotional valence. An earlier version of this paper by the first author was presented at the XV Annual Symposium of the Society of Craniofacial Genetics, July 12, 1992, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.