Angry Versus Furious: A Comparison Between Valence and Arousal in Dimensional Models of Emotions

The present study compared the roles of valence and arousal, proposed by the dimensional models of emotions, in recognizing emotional expressions. It was hypothesized that the dimension of valence, due to its functional significance, would be more salient in the recognition of emotional expressions than the dimension of arousal would be. The results of the current study supported this hypothesis. The participants in all age groups were more accurate and quicker in recognizing an emotion when the expression was paired up with another emotional expression that was different in the polarity of the valence dimension than with this similar polarity difference in the arousal dimension. The insignificant difference in recognizing the positive and negative emotional expressions in the group of elders also rejected the Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory.     

Effects of trustors' social identity complexity on interpersonal and intergroup trust

Although previous literature has revealed the effect of a single social identity on trust, only few studies have examined how multiple social identities affect trust in others. The present research examined the effects of trustors' social identity complexity on their level of trust toward another person (interpersonal trust), outgroup members (outgroup trust), and ingroup members (ingroup trust). Study 1, which was a correlational study, indicated that trustors' social identity complexity was positively related to their interpersonal and outgroup trust. Three experimental studies were performed to identify causal relationships. Study 2 found that activating trustors' high social identity complexity produced high levels of interpersonal trust, and Studies 3 and 4 found that this effect was more pronounced when the trustee was an outgroup member (outgroup trust) rather than an ingroup member (ingroup trust). The implications of these results for social harmony are discussed.     

Positive and Negative Affect in Loss Aversion: Additive or Subtractive Logic?

Previous studies explain loss aversion as the result of a situation in which the expected negative emotions derived from a potential loss exceed the expected positive emotions derived from a potential gain (subtractive logic). We questioned this view and proposed additive logic, in which a linear combination between negative and positive emotions can be used as summed anticipatory affect intensity (SAAI) to explain loss aversion. By disproving two implicit hypotheses of subtractive logic, Study 1 showed that the additive logic of expected positive and negative affect was more effective than the subtractive logic in predicting loss aversion. Study 2 used real monetary gains and losses to verify the conclusion in Study 1. Using state‐trait theory to comprehensively consider the state and trait aspects of affect intensity, we further deduced that the immediate expected affect intensity might originate from the difference of an individual trait in affect intensity. Study 3 proved this hypothesis and showed that SAAI plays an intermediary role between affect intensity and loss aversion. Furthermore, Study 4 used real gamblers in casinos in Macau as its sample and obtained the same conclusion regarding loss aversion in real life as was found in the laboratory. Finally, we explained the effect of SAAI on loss aversion and indicated the contribution and significance of this study. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving Motor Performance During Initial Skills Acquisition Through Regulatory Fit: An Experimental Study Based on Ball Throwing Task and Small Financial Reward

Regulatory focus theory (RFT) suggests that performance will be enhanced when there is a match between individual characteristics and environmental cues. Given that the application of RFT in the context of motor performance has been rarely examined, a ball-throwing task with small financial reward was conducted to test the theory. A total of 51 undergraduate students participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the promotion- or prevention-oriented task (which were different in terms of how the reward was instructed to be given). Results indicated that students performed better on ball throwing when the given instruction fit their relatively dominant regulatory focus. This finding supports the expectations of RFT. Implications and limitations were discussed.     

So You,My Children,Can Have a Better Life: A Cambodian American Perspective on the Phenomenology of Intergenerational Communication about Trauma

We address this question: How do Cambodian American young adults come to know about their family’s experiences of trauma? Using a social constructivist critical ideological approach, we developed a phenomenological model describing intergenerational communication about trauma (IGCT) in Cambodian American families. We found IGCT to be an interactional process in which younger and older generations each played a role. IGCT was influenced by the availability of multiple sources of information and opportunities for learning, interpersonal connectedness between the generations, emotional distress tolerance, and having motivation to empathically learn and share. When these factors were abundant, direct interactive IGCT was more likely. When wanting, the IGCT was more disrupted and incoherent, filled with emotionally charged silence and lead to negative attributions. IGCT was a dynamic process that could change over time to accommodate developmental change. Limitations of the findings, clinical implications, and future directions are discussed.     

面孔可信度对助人行为的影响：依恋安全的调节作用

分别从特质依恋和状态依恋角度考察施助者的依恋安全在求助者面孔可信度与助人行为之间的调节作用。结果发现：(1)求助者面孔可信度影响助人行为, 面孔可信度高的求助者得到的助人行为显著多于面孔可信度低的求助者; (2)施助者的依恋安全调节求助者面孔可信度与助人行为之间的关系, 安全依恋能有效缓冲低面孔可信度带来助人行为下降的趋势。本研究结果表明依恋安全有助于提升社会安全感和促进亲社会行为, 因此应注重依恋安全的培养。     

青少年自我监控能力的发展研究

本研究用认知操作的部分内容,探索了青少年在认知操作活动中自我监控能力的发展特点,研究发现：随着年龄的增长,计划性中的初步思考时间延长,操作任务越难,初步思考时间越长,停顿次数越多,但停顿次数年龄差异不大;在监视性中的悔步次数逐渐减少,任务越复杂,悔步次数越从,短时注意次数年龄不大;在简单积木操作中,随年龄增长,长时注意次数延长;认知操作的总时间减少,在操作中的拼错数逐渐减少,但年龄差异不大。     

简明心境量表(POMS)在中国的试用报告

该研究引进ＰＯＭＳ,采用随机对照的方法将２８９名放化疗病人分成实验组和对照组,分别在治疗前中后测查三次,同时测查３８５名正常人,以验证其在中国大陆的适用情况。研究发现：ＰＯＭＳ各量表同质性信度高,三种方法检验的临床效度均较高,尤其是对心理干预的效果更敏感;但该问卷的区分效度不高,对正常人心境变化的敏感性不如对病人。由此得出,ＰＯＭＳ在中国大陆癌症病人中是可行的、可靠的、有效的和敏感的,可作为心理干预的一个敏感指标。     

6～12岁儿童脑电α波频率分布特点与信息加工速度的关系

本研究以 2 2 8名 6～ 12岁儿童为研究对象 ,采用脑电波超慢涨落分析技术 (简称ET) ,重点探讨了与认知功能有关的α波 ( 8～ 13Hz)的分布特点。研究结果表明 :①α波在全脑 12个脑区的比率 ,因频率成分不同而表现出不同的分布特点 ;②α波在左右对称脑区的分布比率也因频率不同而表现出不同的左右脑优势。除左前颞叶的平均频率显著大于右前颞叶外 ,其他左右脑对称区域的平均频率的差异均不显著。α波平均频率的从高到低依次为枕叶、中央区、顶叶、左前颞叶、后颞叶、额叶、右前颞叶 ;③信息加工速度与α波的关系并不明显 ,快组和慢组被试的 6种频率 ( 8～13Hz)α波的比率均无显著性差异     

预测特征竞争范式下的特征推理方式

当面临归类不确定的情景时,人们的特征推理是基于类别进行,还是基于特征联结进行,一直是类别研究中的重要内容。本研究采用预测特征竞争范式对这一问题进行了探究。共两个实验：实验1采用预测特征竞争范式探讨推理前预先归类时,人们的推理方式是基于类别还是基于特征联结。实验2采用预测特征竞争范式探讨推理前不预先归类时,人们的推理是基于类别还是基于特征联结。实验结果表明,推理前预先归类时,被试倾向于基于类别进行推理。推理前不预先归类时,被试倾向于根据特征联结进行推理。