Structural and nonstructural aspects of power distance reduction tendencies

Re-examines Mulder's Power Distance Reduction Theory (P.D.R.) and the related experiments using a model which distinguishes between structural and nonstructural parameters of a power system. The former defines the Vertical and Horizontal nature of the power relations between people in the system, while the latter specifies the power differential between two immediate ranks, and together they provide a more adequate and precise conception of the links between the power parameters and the tendencies of subordinate group members to seize super-ordinate power. Several theoretical statements were generated on the bases of the P.D.R. literature and theories of social comparison and bureaucracy to hypothesize the individual effects of the three parameters on power distance reduction (p.d.r.) tendencies. Two experiments using 48 and 40 male college students respectively were conducted to test the hypotheses by systematically varying one parameter and holding constant the other two. The results indicate an inverse relationship between the p.d.r. tendencies and the size of the parameters, as predicted. The strength of the relationship increases from the nonstructural to the Vertical to the Horizontal parameter. An argument was developed which combined the three power parameters to form two ideal power conditions for further research.     

Sub-semiorder: A model of multidimensional choice with preference intransitivity

The paper develops a model of choice called a sub-semiorder which is a generalization of Luce's semiorder to multidimensional choice. The same reason (imperfect discrimination) that gives rise to the intransitivity of indifference in a semiorder gives rise to the intransitivity of preference in a sub-semiorder. This provides a rational explanation of intransitivity of preference without resorting to the lexicographic semiorder of Tversky. It is shown that the “apparent underlying preference” of a sub-semiorder is transitive but unfortunately it is not complete. However, with a mild condition, there exists a maximal element.     

Inhibition of the Endothelial Isoform of Nitric Oxide Synthase Impairs Long-Term Memory Formation in the Chick

Previous studies with general inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase have yielded variable and contradictory results with respect to their effects on memory. This may have been due to differential effects of blocking the various isoforms of this enzyme. We show that day-old chicks trained on a single-trial passive-avoidance task suffered significant memory loss from ~40 min post-training following post-training intracranial administration of a potent inhibitor of eNOS. Administration of a specific nNOS or iNOS inhibitor at the same time had no effect on retention, although a role for either of these isoforms when administered at a different time after learning has yet to be fully investigated. The onset of memory loss following eNOS inhibition is the same as observed following general NOS inhibition, which suggests that amnestic effects observed in previous studies using nonspecific inhibitors may be attributable to blocking the function of eNOS. The findings indicate that eNOS may play a role in memory formation for this task, which is at least distinct from any role that may be played by nNOS.     

Filial Obligations and Expectations in China: Current Views from Young and Old People in Beijing

This study examines how 90 university students and 77 old people in Beijing view filial piety in Chinese society now. The results show that old people continue to hold high filial expectations for young people and that young people still endorse strongly filial obligations for old people. Obedience received the lowest rating while respect received the highest rating. "Looking after the aged parents" and "assisting them financially" are the top filial concerns for young males whereas "retaining contact with the elders" is the top filial concern for young females. "Respecting elders but necessarily obeying them" appears to be a new cultural protocol for fulfilling filial obligations in Chinese societies now.     

Inhibition of Intermediate-Term Memory Following Passive Avoidance Training in Neonate Chicks by a Presynaptic Cholinergic Blocker

The effects of a specific presynaptic cholinergic antagonist, toosendanin, on memory formation following a passive avoidance training experience in day-old chicks was investigated. Bilateral injection of toosendanin into the neostriatal/hyperstriatal region of the chick forebrain produced memory impairment in a dose-dependent manner. Retention deficits were apparent from 20 min following training in chicks treated with toosendanin, regardless of the injection time relative to training. Chicks that received injections of the drug at corresponding times prior to retention tests showed normal retention levels, suggesting that toosendanin has no effect on performance and memory retrieval. These results indicate an involvement of cholinergic transmission during an early stage of memory formation.     

Lateral foot-movement times in sitting and standing postures

This study examined the effects of foot-side, sex, movement amplitude, and target width on lateral and nonvisually controlled foot-movement time with a reciprocal foot-tapping task in sitting and standing postures. 9 male and 9 female right-foot dominant undergraduates (ages 20 to 25 years) with no reported physical and health problems with their lower limbs voluntarily participated. Analysis indicated foot-movement time in a standing posture was much faster than that in a sitting posture. Target width and movement amplitude had significant effects on foot-movement time, while the effects of foot-side and sex were not significant. Multiple regression models with inclusion of the significant factors were examined which should be useful in predicting foot-movement time required for different tasks in sitting and standing postures. Possible applications of the results may be made to the design of work and foot controls in terms of the related task factors for person-machine interfaces with two or more pedals.     

The relationship of age to ten dimensions of job performance

Previous reviews of the literature on the relationship between age and job performance have largely focused on core task performance but have paid much less attention to other job behaviors that also contribute to productivity. The current study provides an expanded meta-analysis on the relationship between age and job performance that includes 10 dimensions of job performance: core task performance, creativity, performance in training programs, organizational citizenship behaviors, safety performance, general counterproductive work behaviors, workplace aggression, on-the-job substance use, tardiness, and absenteeism. Results show that although age was largely unrelated to core task performance, creativity, and performance in training programs, it demonstrated stronger relationships with the other 7 performance dimensions. Results also highlight that the relationships of age with core task performance and with counterproductive work behaviors are curvilinear in nature and that several sample characteristics and data collection characteristics moderate age-performance relationships. The article concludes with a discussion of key research design issues that may further knowledge about the age-performance relationship in the future.     

Parental Attachment and Adjustment to Higher Learning Institutions: The Role of Stress for a Malaysian Sample of Late Adolescents

The current study examined the mediating role of stress in the linkages between attachment to parents and adjustment to attending higher learning institutions in another country. Self‐reports from 114 Malaysian late adolescents studying in Singapore supported the primacy of stress for adjustment; more pertinent, stress mediated all the attachment‐adjustment linkages that met the conditions for mediation testing, although this mediating role of stress applied mostly to the late adolescent girls and was also dependent on parent gender.     

Personality, Meta-Mood Experience, Life Satisfaction, and Anxiety in Australian versus Singaporean Students

This study explores two issues concerning the relationships between personality, meta-mood experience, life satisfaction, and anxiety. First, it explored the incremental value of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience in predicting the three components of meta-mood experience (that is, attention to feelings, emotional clarity, clarity of feelings and mood repair), after controlling for demographic variables across Australia and Singapore. Second, it explored the incremental value of the three meta-mood experience components in predicting life satisfaction and anxiety, after controlling for demographic variables and personality variables across the two countries. One hundred and eighty nine tertiary students from Australia and 243 tertiary students from Singapore participated in this study. First, hierarchical regression analyses for both samples suggested that Agreeableness and Neuroticism are the two most important personality predictors of meta-mood experience, emotional attention, and emotional repair. Second, hierarchical regression analyses for both samples suggested that emotional repair was a significant predictor for life satisfaction and anxiety, even after controlling for demographic variables and personality variables. These results have implications for therapeutic interventions with life satisfaction versus anxiety. Funding for this research is facilitated partially by a research grant from the National Institute of Education.