Aging and Inhibition of Unconsciously Processed Information: No Apparent Deficit

Young and older adults were compared on a cued recall task designed to show effects of activation and inhibition of unconsciously processed information. The number of associates related to the target words by prior experience was varied, and the targets were studied either in the absence or the presence of meaningfully related context cues. The number of associates of the target had an effect on recall when context cues were absent during study, suggesting that the associates had been activated and encoded during study. In contrast, when context cues were present during study, no effect of the number of target associates was observed, suggesting that the associates had been inhibited during study. Comparable activation and inhibition effects were obtained for younger and older subjects. The results suggested little or no age-related deficit in inhibition when the to-be-inhibited information was unconsciously processed and not brought to conscious awareness.     

Autonomy and control in dyads: effects on interaction quality and joint creative performance

Two studies examined interaction quality and joint performance on two creative tasks in unacquainted dyads primed for autonomy or control orientations. It was hypothesized that autonomy-primed dyads would interact more constructively, experience more positive mood, and engage the task more readily, and as a result these dyads would perform better. To test this, Study 1 primed orientation and explored verbal creative performance on the Remote Associates Task (RAT). In Study 2, dyads were primed with autonomy and control orientation and videotaped during two joint creative tasks, one verbal (RAT) and one nonverbal (charades). Videotapes were coded for behavioral indicators of closeness and task engagement. Results showed that autonomy-primed dyads felt closer, were more emotionally and cognitively attuned, provided empathy and encouragement to partners, and performed more effectively. The effects of primed autonomy on creative performance were mediated by interpersonal quality, mood, and joint engagement.     

Apology versus defense: Antecedents and consequences

Participants imagined themselves in face-threatening predicaments in two studies that examined the reproach and evaluation phases of predicament management. In Study 1, participants gave accounts of their behavior after receiving hypothetical reproaches that were mild/moderate or severe. Results showed that reproach severity influenced perpetrator accounts in opposite ways for females and males. Male perpetrators became more defensive under severe reproach, whereas females became less defensive. Expectations for a future relationship were more negative under severe reproach, and this was more pronounced when the victim was an acquaintance rather than a friend. Individuals high in Self-Determination were less defensive under mild/moderate reproach, but not under severe reproach. In Study 2, participants gave evaluations after receiving hypothetical accounts that varied in responsibility-taking. Results showed that greater responsibility-taking led to more positive victim evaluations and better expected future relationships. The advantage of responsibility-taking was especially pronounced when the perpetrator was a friend, suggesting that friends are forgiven more than acquaintances when they take responsibility and apologize, but not if they fail to do so. Results are interpreted in terms of reciprocal facework and thresholds for face threat.     

Masculine traits and reports of social functioning: Evidence for a positivity bias

Sex Roles - Previous reviews have concluded that there is a significant positive relation between masculine traits and measures of adjustment, including social adjustment. It is suggested that this...     

ON THE DETERMINATION OF VARIANCE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREVIOUSLY ISOLATED FACTORS

H olley , J. W. & E lmgren , J. On the determination of variance attributable to previously isolated factors. Scand.J. Psychol ., 1969, 10 , 74–80.—The paper describes a method for extracting variance which can be attributed to factors which have been isolated previously. An illustration is given, using hypothetical data.     

A REPLY TO PHILIP LEVY-IN DEFENSE OF THE G INDEX

Levy's criticism that the use of the G index does not equate person means and variances in Q analysis is answered by pointing out that the matrices used in the illustrations supporting his argument are not based upon items which have been 'double-scored', a necessary requirement for the correct use of G in Q technique. His comments, therefore, are regarded as irrelevant.     

NOTE ON THE PREDICTION OF FACTORIALLY COMPLEX CLASSES

Indices of the discriminatory power of items, based on the differences in performances of groups, can be influenced by the degree of factorial mixture with respect to such groups. An illustrative example is presented, using hypothetical data. Items, normally rejected on the basis of such discriminatory tests, may be of value for predictive purposes. An empirical example of such a use is offered.