Two models of adolescent self-mutilation

Currently little research exists examining the theoretical underpinnings of self-mutilation (SM) in community samples of adolescents. Two models, the hostility and anxiety reduction models, were simultaneously tested in order to determine whether SM in adolescence was characterized by greater feelings of anxiety and hostility. Four hundred and forty students were screened for the presence of SM. Sixty-one students who indicated that they hurt themselves as well as a comparison group of non-SM students completed the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and an interview. Results indicate support for the hostility model of SM. Students who SM reported significantly more anxiety and more intropunitive and extrapunitive hostility. In addition, prior to self-mutilating feelings of both hostility and anxiety were described. Results are discussed with reference to both theoretical models.     

A semantic memory sentence verification model based on relative judgment theory

A subjective referent model of sentence verification in semantic memory tasks based on the relative judgment theory of Link and Heath (1975), together with the derivation of a discriminability index, are presented in this paper. An attractive feature of the model is its consideration of both error rates and response times (RTs) in the calculation of the discriminability index. The model is also able to account for the frequent finding in semantic memory tasks that error RTs are longer than correct RTs. A partial replication of Experiment 2 of McCloskey and Glucksberg's (1979) sentence verification context effect studies, in which we employed 44 subjects and 28 categories, and controlled for item familiarity, revealed that error RTs were consistently longer than correct RTs--a finding inconsistent with the McCloskey and Glucksberg property comparison model, but in accord with the subjective referent model. An important fortuitous result was the detection of a context effect by the discriminability measure, an effect not detected by the RT data alone. The discriminability measures yielded a near perfect correlation with estimates of the mean step size of the random walk obtained by application of the parameter estimation program FITTRW (Heath, 1983).     

The role of attention in one-handed catching

The present study investigated the contribution of attention to one-handed catching success. A group of skilled (n = 8) and less skilled (n = 9) male subjects were compared in their ability to process secondary task information while executing a primary one-handed catching task. On 40% of the trials, a secondary visual stimulus (SVS) was presented in the peripheral visual field at predetermined times during the flight of the ball. On these trials, the subject was required to complete the one-handed catch and immediately throw the ball at a stationary target. Less skilled subjects made significantly more catching errors under both normal viewing and dual-task processing conditions. The differences were due to errors of positioning rather than grasping. Positioning of the hand appears to require visual attention regardless of skill level, as both skill groups experienced increased difficulty processing secondary task information as the ball approached the catching hand.     

Self-concept Differentiation and Depressive Symptomatology in Children

Self-concept differentiation is the degree to which separate domains of the self-concept are differentiated from one another. Two studies of children's self-reported depressive symptomatology and self-concept differentiation were completed. Study 1 found higher levels of self-concept differentiation associated with greater depressive symptomatology. Study 2 replicated this finding but further revealed a trend for elevated self-concept differentiation to be related to a positive outcome at 5-week follow-up in the depressed sample.     

Evidence for genetic influences on personality from self-reports and informant ratings.

Self-report data on Extraversion (E) and Neuroticism (N), together with ratings by the co-twin, were obtained from a sample of 826 adult female twin pairs ascertained through a population-based twin register. Data were analyzed using a model that allowed for the contributions to personality ratings of the rater's personality (rater bias) as well as of the personality of the person being rated. For E, but not for N, significant rater bias was found, with extraverted respondents tending to underestimate, and introverted respondents tending to overestimate, the Extraversion of their co-twins. Good agreement between self-reports and ratings by the respondent's co-twin was found for both E and N. Substantial genetic influences were found for both personality traits, confirming findings from genetic studies of personality that have relief only on self-reports of respondents.     

Respiratory phase and visual signal detection

Previous studies have implicated respiration as a source of intra-S variation in visual signal detection tasks. In the present study, pneumographic respiration records were obtained on 22 female undergraduates during a visual signal detection task. The analysis of signal detection with respect to respiration phase showed that signals presented during exhalation were detected more frequently than those presented during inhalation. These findings suggest that the intra-S variation in signal detection performance may be partially accounted for by respiratory behavior at the moment of signal presentation.     

Predicting Occupational Status for Non-College-Bound Males

In a follow-up of selected 1957 Wisconsin male high school graduates (N = 2,230), a prediction of occupational status was attempted. Of the 17 independent variables used, 3 emerged as highly significant and valid: post-high school education (p < .001), community of residence (p < .001), and high school grade-point average (p < .01). Two multiple coefficients were obtained (R = .32, F = 42.43, p < .001, and R = .26, F = 24.97, p < .001). Results suggest that family background factors and aspiration levels are not as important in predicting occupational status as are further education and training, high school achievement, and community of orientation in a highly industrialized urban technocracy.     

A factor analysis of women's measurements taken for garment and pattern construction

In order to facilitate garment and pattern construction, a research which involved taking a minimum of fifty-five measurements on several thousand women was conducted by the Bureau of Home Economics. Partial correlations with age held constant were computed for a representative group of 4,128 of the women. The correlations among twenty-nine of these variables served as the basis of the present study. By a combination of the multiple-group and the centroid method of factoring, five factors were extracted. After twenty-nine rotations, simple structure was evident, and the factors were interpreted as bone length, size of joints, circumference below the waist, circumference of extremities, and circumference above the waist. The intercorrelations of the primaries were computed, and two second-order factors were extracted. One of these seems to be primarily related to the growth of fatty tissue and the other to the development of the bones.The author wishes to express her appreciation to Professor L. L. Thurstone and to the members of the Psychometric Laboratory Staff for advice relative to this study.     

Physiological and cognitive effects of expressive dissonance

Emotional well-being depends in part on affect modulation. The present study extends research on emotion regulation by assessing the physiological and cognitive effects of a novel response-focused regulation strategy, termed 'expressive dissonance.' Expressive dissonance refers to the incongruence between an emotional state (e.g., sadness) and a behavioral expression (e.g., a smile). Fifty-five participants watched a series of sad film clips in which they were asked to either naturally watch or express the opposite of what they were feeling. Results suggest that persons using the expressive dissonant strategies evidenced greater sympathetic arousal and performed worse on subsequent memory tasks than persons in the natural-watch conditions.     

A Cue Utilization Approach for Investigating Harvest Decisions in Commons Dilemmas

Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is introduced as a new tool for investigating decision making in commons dilemmas. University undergraduates ( N  = 171) managed a virtual fishery, with 2 computer-simulated fishers, over 60 seasons. Level 1 HLM analyses revealed that participants took significantly more fish during seasons when feedback suggested fish stocks, fish value, and fishing expenses were high; and when noncooperative and cooperative others had taken more fish and fewer fish, respectively, in the previous season. Level 2 analyses produced several cross-level interactions, indicating that participants' use of feedback information varied as a function of their social values and environmental attitudes.