Identity avoidance in the Hebrew lexicon: implications for symbolic accounts of word formation

Hebrew frequently exhibits geminates in the root but strictly constrains their location: Root-initial gemination is rare (e.g., ssm), whereas root-final gemination (e.g., smm) is frequent. Four experiments demonstrate that Hebrew speakers generalize this constraint to novel roots. When speakers are encouraged to form a triliteral root from a biconsonantal input (e.g., sm), they frequently reduplicate the root's final radical (e.g., smm), but not its initial radical (e.g., ssm). Likewise, the rejection of novel root foils with root initial geminates is easier than roots with final geminates. In both cases, speakers' performance is inexplicable by the statistical structure of the Hebrew language. Speakers' ability to freely generalize the constraint on root structure suggests that their linguistic competence appeals to mental variables.     

Peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress after pregnancy loss: a prospective study

This study examined (1). predictors for peritraumatic dissociation, (2). its relations with acute and chronic symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and (3). pathways regarding these relations in response to pregnancy loss. In early pregnancy, about 1370 women volunteers completed questionnaires for neuroticism, control over emotions, dissociative tendencies, absorption, and prior life events. Of these, 126 subsequently experienced pregnancy loss and most of them completed measures 1 month (N = 118) and 4 months (N = 104) later. At 1 month, peritraumatic dissociation, memory of pregnancy loss (degree of fragmentation, sensory impressions, and emotional intensity), thought suppression, and PTSD symptoms were assessed, and at 4 months, PTSD symptoms were re-assessed. Peritraumatic dissociation was predicted by prior low control over emotions, dissociative tendencies, and lower education. It was not predicted by neuroticism, absorption, and prior life events. Peritraumatic dissociation was related to acute PTSD symptoms and LISREL analyses indicated that self-reported memory fragmentation and thought suppression of pregnancy loss mediated this relation. It also predicted chronic PTSD symptoms, and this relation was mediated by acute PTSD symptoms.     

Psychological disturbance in children with physical disabilities: Continuity and change in a 5-year follow-up

This study measures continuity in behavioral disturbance over a 5-year period among 255 children with physical disabilities who were 6 to 18 years old at first assessment. The pattern of the results differed from that reported previously for a sample of the general population of children. Disabled children showed little stability in aggression, an area in which stability over time had been consistently reported for the general child population. Furthermore, important differences were observed between children with cystic fibrosis and children with cerebral palsy, myelodysplasia, or multiple physical handicaps, all conditions involving brain abnormality. Children with cystic fibrosis followed the trend toward better adjustment seen among the general population of children. In contrast, among children with conditions involving the brain, the majority of those who had been classified as psychologically severely impaired remained at this level of impairment 5 years later. In two behavioral domains, Mentation Problems and Isolation, children with conditions involving the brain maintained, on the average, the same markedly high score they had initially. Among children with physical conditions involving the brain, Mentation Problems and Isolation signify persistent problems that do not subside as the children mature.This study was supported by NIH grant No. HD-16821, by Research Scientist Development Award No. MH-00380 from NIMH, and by grants from the Cleveland Foundation and the Charles S. Mott Foundation.     

The Cognitive Emotions and Emotional Cognitions

Studies in Philosophy and Education - Israel Scheffler's "In Praise of the Cognitive Emotions" (1977, 1991) extends earlier analyses of the role of emotions in rational undertakings....     

Relations of Masculinity and Femininity with Personality Dimensions of the Five-Factor Model

The aim of this study was to examine therelations of masculinity and femininity with five-factorpersonality dimensions in Croatian adolescents. Sampleconsisted of 464 high school graduates, all of them Caucasian, and approximately 90% Croatian.Results were analyzed by multiple regression procedureusing masculinity, femininity, gender, and theirinteractions as independent variables. All three maineffects were found to be statistically significant,with no significant interactions. Masculinitycontributes positively to extraversion andconscientiousness, and negatively to neuroticism andagreeableness, while femininity shows strong positive relationshipwith agreeableness, and weak positive relationships withthe other four dimensions. Results are discussed interms of four proposed models of the relation between gender role orientation and psychologicalhealth.     

An Item Response Theory Analysis of The Questionnaire of God Representations

The Dutch Questionnaire of God Representations (QGR) was investigated by means of item response theory (IRT) modeling in a clinical (n = 329) and a nonclinical sample (n = 792). Through a graded response model and IRT-based differential functioning techniques, detailed item-level analyses and information about measurement invariance between the clinical and nonclinical sample were obtained. On the basis of the results of the IRT analyses, a shortened version of the QGR (S-QGR) was constructed, consisting of 22 items, which functions in the same way in both the clinical and the nonclinical sample. Results indicated that the QGR consists of strong and reliable scales which are able to differentiate among persons. Psychometric characteristics of the S-QGR were adequate.