The Cultural Evolution of Structured Languages in an Open‐Ended,Continuous World

Language maps signals onto meanings through the use of two distinct types of structure. First, the space of meanings is discretized into categories that are shared by all users of the language. Second, the signals employed by the language are compositional: The meaning of the whole is a function of its parts and the way in which those parts are combined. In three iterated learning experiments using a vast, continuous, open‐ended meaning space, we explore the conditions under which both structured categories and structured signals emerge ex nihilo. While previous experiments have been limited to either categorical structure in meanings or compositional structure in signals, these experiments demonstrate that when the meaning space lacks clear preexisting boundaries, more subtle morphological structure that lacks straightforward compositionality—as found in natural languages—may evolve as a solution to joint pressures from learning and communication.     

Treatment-resistant depressed patients show a good response to Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a class-based programme designed for use in the prevention of relapse of major depression. Its aim is to teach participants to disengage from those cognitive processes that may render them vulnerable to future episodes. These same cognitive processes are also known to maintain depression once established, hence a clinical audit was conducted to explore the use of MBCT in patients who were currently actively depressed, and who had not responded fully to standard treatments. The study showed that it was acceptable to these patients and resulted in an improvement in depression scores (pre-post Effect Size=1.04), with a significant proportion of patients returning to normal or near-normal levels of mood.     

Keeping memories at an arm's length: vantage point of trauma memories

This study investigated the relationship between memory vantage point and avoidance following trauma. Sixty trauma survivors with differing levels of avoidance were interviewed about the vantage point of their memory for trauma, a positive memory, and a neutral memory. Avoidant individuals were more likely to remember their trauma from an observer perspective than individuals with a lower level of avoidance. Avoidance did not influence vantage point for positive or neutral memories. These data support the proposal that adoption of the observer vantage point for trauma memories may serve an avoidant function for people affected by trauma.     

An application of the matching law to social dynamics

Using a procedure similar to the one described by Conger and Killeen (1974), we evaluated levels of attending for 25 college students who participated in either a 20-min (n = 12) or 30-min (n = 13) discussion on juvenile delinquency. Confederates delivered statements of agreement (e.g., "I agree with that point") according to independent variable-interval schedules. Pooled results were evaluated using three generalized formulations of the matching law, and showed that matching was more likely during the first 5 min of the discussion than during the last 5 min. Individual data for 7 of 9 participants were better described by the generalized response-rate matching equation than by the generalized time-allocation matching equation when response allocation was characterized in terms of frequency rather than duration.     

Associations between prenatal maternal mental health indices and mother–infant relationship quality 6 to 18 months’ postpartum: A systematic review

Maternal mental disorders can significantly impact on children's psychosocial and psychological development, incurring substantial ongoing economic and personal costs. A key mediating mechanism is mother–infant relationship quality (MIRQ). Research studies and perinatal mental health screening initiatives have predominantly focused on depressive symptoms and perinatal depression as predictors of MIRQ. While maternal depression is associated with suboptimal MIRQ, the findings have not been consistent. Personality characteristics are associated with parenting and proneness to depression, presenting a potential addition to prenatal mental health assessment. We conducted a systematic review of studies that have examined the link between prenatal depressive symptoms and/or personality characteristics with postnatal MIRQ. Our findings suggest that both maternal personality traits and depressive symptoms measured in early pregnancy are associated with postnatal MIRQ. A measure of personality characteristics may enhance prenatal mental health assessment, affording opportunities for targeted intervention commencing in pregnancy to improve MIRQ, parenting, maternal mental health outcomes, and infant psychosocial and psychological development, and thereby contributing to the reduction of human and economic cost burdens.     

The how and why of disagreement among perceivers: An exploration of person models

Impression formation has been conceptualized as a process whereby perceivers form person models of others, describing what the person is like and why (Park, DeKay, & Kraus, 1994). If they exist, person models could help explain why there appears to be little consensus in personality judgments; perceivers forming different models of a person would also view them differently on trait and affect ratings. Two experiments were conducted to test assumptions of the person-model paradigm using naturalistic targets. The structure of person models was examined, along with their content. Results demonstrated that three distinct person models emerge for each target and that the majority of perceivers can easily identify with one of the three models. We found that person models were valid across different groups of perceivers, and that the models differed in terms of masculinity-femininity and affect. Implications for the person model formulation process are discussed.     

Stressed organizations and organizational stressors: A systemic analysis of workplace injury

The experiences of five injured workers from one workplace which had been identified as having a very poor workers' compensation claims experience were analyzed using a systemic theory framework. It was predicted that the fundamental stress-producing conflict between safety and profit that exists in industry between workers and their employers is exacerbated when a worker is injured; furthermore, the degree of stress experienced by both the injured worker and the employer is related to the impact of the injury on the organization and on the productivity of the workplace. The increased stress in both the injured worker and the employer results in increased rigidity in responding to the change or threat in the organization caused by workplace injury. A systemic approach to rehabilitation was recommended in which the employer as well as the injured worker were viewed as clients who required varying levels of support and intervention in managing workplace injury.     

Clinical Utility of Expanded Carrier Screening: Reproductive Behaviors of At-Risk Couples

Expanded carrier screening (ECS) analyzes dozens or hundreds of recessive genes to determine reproductive risk. Data on the clinical utility of screening conditions beyond professional guidelines are scarce. Individuals underwent ECS for up to 110 genes. Five-hundred thirty-seven at-risk couples (ARC), those in which both partners carry the same recessive disease, were invited to participate in a retrospective IRB-approved survey of their reproductive decision making after receiving ECS results. Sixty-four eligible ARC completed the survey. Of 45 respondents screened preconceptionally, 62% (n = 28) planned IVF with PGD or prenatal diagnosis (PNDx) in future pregnancies. Twenty-nine percent (n = 13) were not planning to alter reproductive decisions. The remaining 9% (n = 4) of responses were unclear. Of 19 pregnant respondents, 42% (n = 8) elected PNDx, 11% (n = 2) planned amniocentesis but miscarried, and 47% (n = 9) considered the condition insufficiently severe to warrant invasive testing. Of the 8 pregnancies that underwent PNDx, 5 were unaffected and 3 were affected. Two of 3 affected pregnancies were terminated. Disease severity was found to have significant association (p = 0.000145) with changes in decision making, whereas guideline status of diseases, controlled for severity, was not (p = 0.284). Most ARC altered reproductive planning, demonstrating the clinical utility of ECS. Severity of conditions factored into decision making.