The association of assimilation and an increase in visibility in perceptual grouping

Subjects performed a series of forced-choice discriminations to determine whether both group-assimilation and group-visibility associations could be obtained from nearly identical strong and weak group patterns. The discrimination between the context+target and the context was better than between the target^– and background, as was the case for^—, whose context and target components were its left and right halves, but not for^—. and^— produced a better performance when their lines (halves) were the same in color, and a poorer performance when their lines were different in color, but produced the reverse. Likewise, only and^— produced a better performance when closed, and a poorer performance when open. These context+target etc., same-different, and closure results argue that and^— produced a greater increase in visibility of their component^–, more assimilation among their parts, and a stronger group than did . This evidence of a group-assimilation-visibility association cannot be attributed to the fortuitous occurrence of an increase in visibility with one object, assimilation with a second, and closure with a third, unlike previous evidence. This association cannot be explained by feature-based theories. Therefore, a superordinate unit is the cause of this association.     

TEILHARD'S REFLECTIONS ON EASTERN RELIGIONS REVISITED

Abstract. References to Eastern religions are found throughout Teilhard's work. Often considered to be mainly negative, these need to be critically reassessed within the wider context of Teilhard's experience and thought. Primarily interested in the renewal of Christianity (criticized more sharply than Eastern religions), he emphasized the living branches of religion and the need for a gradual convergence toward a religion of action in order to bring about a global transformation of life and thought. He spoke of the “road of the West” or a “new mysticism” which, however, cannot come into existence without the contribution of Eastern religions.     

SEX-ROLE EGALITARIANISM SCALE

The Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale (SRES) was developed to measure attitudes toward the equality of women and men across content domains representing marital, parental, employment, social–interpersonal–heterosexual, and educational roles. The instrument exists in four versions: two alternate 95-item full forms and two alternate 25-item abbreviated forms. Reliability indices derived from a classical test-theory approach, multifaceted generalizability procedures, and an item-response theory-based analysis all support consistency or precision of measurement. Evidence for convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity is presented, along with a series of recommendations for future psychometric and substantive research using the scale.     

Semantic Elaboration through Integration: Hints Both Facilitate and Inform the Process

Semantic knowledge can be extended in a variety of ways, including self-generation of new facts through integration of separate yet related episodes. We sought to promote integration and self-generation by providing “hints” to help 6-year-olds (Experiment 1) and 4-year-olds (Experiment 2) see the relevance of separate episodes to one another. Varying the timing of presentation of the hints—whether provided between episodes or before test—afforded insights into the processes responsible for self-generation of new semantic knowledge through integration. In both experiments, hints provided immediately before testing facilitated performance relative to a control condition. In contrast, hints provided between episodes did not. The findings imply that integration of distinct experiences is not an automatic process set into motion based on shared elements. Even when integration is primed through a hint that a prior episode is relevant to a forthcoming experience, shared elements apparently are not sufficient to promote self-generation of new semantic knowledge. Instead, the process seems to occur upon demand, such as in response to a question. These findings can be used to guide interventions designed to promote enrichment of semantic memory and also further our understanding of the basic cognitive processes involved in extension of knowledge.     

Personality traits and the development of nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drug disorders: prospective links from adolescence to young adulthood

The personality traits constraint (CN) and negative emotionality (NE) have been more (CN) or less (NE) consistently associated with alcoholism. The authors examined the association of personality at age 17 with timing of onset and with prospective prediction of nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drug disorders 3 years later in a twin sample (569 females; 432 males). Earlier onset of alcohol and drug disorders (by age 17) was related to significantly lower CN compared with later onsets (by age 20); high NE was related to either onset. NE, as well as CN, uniquely predicted new onsets of all 3 types of substance use disorders by follow-up, with preexisting substance disorders taken into account. Personality traits confer generalized risk for developing any substance disorder, though some traits are more strongly linked with some substance disorders than with others.