Dishabituation and spontaneous recovery of the electrodermal orienting response: Effects of extraversion,impulsivity, sociability,and caffeine

The relationship between extraversion and psychophysiological indices of arousal is not yet fully understood. The present study attempted to further clarify this relationship by using caffeine to systematically manipulate arousal. Subjects pretested on the Eysenck Personality Inventory were given caffeine or a placebo, then underwent habituation, dishabituation, and spontaneous recovery of the electrodermal OR. Separate analyses examined the main and interactive effects of extraversion, impulsivity, and sociability with caffeine. Several tonic and phasic measures showed group reversal effects, with introverts having higher tonic levels and larger phasic responses under placebo conditions and extraverts having larger phasic responses and higher tonic levels under caffeine. Although both tonic and phasic responses were differentially affected, the group reversal effects occurred at different points in time on tonic than they did on phasic measures relative to the theoretical buildup of inhibition. The findings for impulsivity were quite consistent with those for extraversion, and both sets of results were generally supportive of the Eysenck hypothesis.     

Sex differences in sexual fantasy patterns

A detailed sexual fantasy questionnaire was completed anonymously and returned by post by a sample of 90 Londoners stratified by sex and social class and representing a 30% return rate. Men and women were equally likely to accept and return the questionnaires. Information was also collected concerning sexual behaviour, libido and satisfaction. Factor analysis revealed four main types of fantasy: (1) Exploratory (e.g., group sex, promiscuity, homosexuality); (2) Intimate (e.g., kissing, oral sex, outdoor love); (3) Impersonal (e.g., watching others, fetishism, using objects for stimulation); and (4) Sadomasochistic (e.g., whipping or spanking, being forced). These four types of fantasy were positively correlated and were all more commonly reported by men, although women were almost as high on the Intimate factor. Women were also more likely to be passive or receptive in their fantasies, and men active. All fantasies were associated with high libido as indicated by self-rated sex drive and orgasm frequency, especially for women. In general, reports of many fantasies went with satisfaction in women but with dissatisfaction (frustration?) in men. This finding is explained in terms of the higher average level of libido in men than women, with the consequent difficulty experienced by men in acting out their desires.     

Effects of prestriate, inferotemporal, and superior temporal sulcus lesions on attention and gaze shifts in rhesus monkeys.

The role of extrastriate cortical areas in selective attention was studied in 12 rhesus monkeys. Animals learned a series of color-form pattern discrimination problems, with either color or form cues relevant. After each problem was mastered, correct behavior required a shift in attention, i.e., that responses be made to be previously irrelevant dimension. On some problems shifting attention required that the animal maintain the same fixation; on other problems the color and form cues were separated in space, and the attention shift presumably required a shift in gaze. Matched groups of animals with inferotemporal, prestriate, or superior temporal sulcus lesions, and normal controls, differed significantly in their ability to shift attention. Analyses of inferred stages in attention shift showed that different processes were disturbed in the three lesion groups. Results are discussed in terms of cortical substrates for "looking" and "seeing".     

The effect of applicant sex and scholastic standing on the evaluation of job applicant resumes in sex-typed occupations

The purpose of this study was to examine sex discrimination in three occupations. Male and female applicants were evaluated for suitability in a managerial role for a predominately female occupation, a predominately male occupation, and a sexually mixed occupation. The academic qualifications of the applicants were systematically varied to be either high, average, or low. Discrimination on the basis of sex was evidenced for all three occupations involving applicants of average scholastic qualifications. Attitudes toward women in management were found to be correlated with the suitability ratings, but the correlations were greatly moderated by the sex of the rater. While some of the hypotheses were confirmed, the results support previous research in sex discrimination (Terborg & Ilgen, 1975).     

Behavior modification in the home: Siblings as behavior modifiers,parents as observers

It was hypothesized that siblings could function as effective behavior change agents for their behaviorally disturbed brothers and sisters within the home environment. Further, it was predicted that parents could be trained to be reliable observers of their children's performance under these circumstances. The results of the study supported both predictions with siblings in two separate families demonstrating their ability to work with their brother or sister within the context of an ABAB reversal design. Parents were also shown to obtain consistently high reliability ratings when compared to outside observers. The judicious use of siblings as behavior modification aides is recommended as a treatment procedure.     

Additional evidence from a paradigm for inferring discriminative processes in children and adults

A previously developed paradigm which incorporates a correlational methodology into an experimental context was used in the present study to specify more definitely the attribute(s) underlying verbal discrimination learning under normal conditions. In the case of fifth- and sixth-grade children, it was found that frequency theory is sufficient to account for performance on the task. However, older subjects were less homogeneously reliant on the frequency attribute. While many older subjects appeared to utilize frequency cues, others adopted strategies that resulted in the utilization of attributes other than frequency.