A Comparison of Religious Orientation and Health Between Whites and Hispanics

The study of religious orientation thus far has neglected the influence of race/ethnicity as well as all four religious orientations (intrinsic, extrinsic, pro-religious and nonreligious) in explaining differences in both physical and psychological health. A representative sample of 250 Hispanics and 236 non-Hispanic Whites in Utah was drawn and analysed for differences in health (self-rated health, life satisfaction, exercise) according to race/ethnicity, religious orientation and religious attendance. Responses to the Religious Orientation Scale differed significantly by race/ethnicity, indicating that future studies of religious orientation should take cultural context into account. For both Whites and Hispanics, pro-religious individuals reported the highest life satisfaction scores, which highlight the utility of employing the fourfold religious orientation typology.     

Habituation and dishabituation during object play in kennel-housed dogs

Domestic dogs are reported to show intense but transient neophilia towards novel objects. Here, we examine habituation and dishabituation to manipulable objects by kennel-housed dogs. Labrador retrievers (N?=?16) were repeatedly presented with one toy for successive 30-s periods until interaction ceased. At this point (habituation), a different toy was presented that contrasted with the first in both colour and odour (since the dog’s saliva would have accumulated on the first), colour alone, or odour alone. No effect of the type of contrast was detected in the number of presentations to habituation, the difference in duration of interaction between the first presentation of the first toy and the presentation of the second toy (recovery), or the duration of interaction with the second toy (dishabituation). Varying the time interval between successive presentations of the first toy up to habituation between 10?s and 10?min had no effect on the number of presentations to habituation, nor did it alter the extent of dishabituation. Varying the delay from habituation to presentation of the second toy, between 10?s and 15?min, affected neither the recovery nor the dishabituation. Overall, the study indicates that loss of interest in the object during object-orientated play in this species is due to habituation to the overall stimulus properties of the toy rather than to any single sensory modality and is also atypical in its insensitivity to the interval between presentations.     

Problem finding,problem solving,and cognitive controls: An empirical investigation of critically acclaimed productivity

In an exploration of the relationship among problem finding, problem solving, and cognitive controls, 80 adult male subjects were studied in four groups based on their domain of expertise (art or science) and their professional productivity (critically acclaimed professional producer or professionally competent). A MANOVA, followed by post hoc analyses of covariance, revealed that the critically acclaimed professional producers in art and in science differed from the professionally competent artists and scientists. The critically acclaimed professional producers devoted a larger proportion of their total response time to finding a problem in a decontextualized task and utilized a larger proportion of abstract functions on a sorting task. Chi‐square tests of homogeneity revealed group differences with respect to the types of constructions created on a problem‐finding task, the strategy used in a spatial‐visualization task, and the responses regarding attitude toward taking chances. Educational implications were drawn based on a model of problem situations involving problem formulation, method formulation, solution formulation, and the relationships among the differentiating variables.     

A content analysis of person‐centered expressive therapy outcomes

Abstract

This study is a content analysis and follow‐up of thirty‐two former participants in multi‐modal expressive therapy training workshops conducted by the Person‐Centered Expressive Therapy Institute. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on Carl Rogers’ concept of the “significant learning” and Natalie Rogers’ concept of the “creative connection.” The expressive therapy applies core conditions of acceptance, empathic understanding, and congruence in a learning setting that uses writing, visual arts, drama, music and dance. Narratives of significant incidents were analyzed phenomenologically. Results revealed important learnings and shifts of self‐perceptions towards greater self‐awareness, improved self‐confidence, risk‐taking, deeper self‐exploration and appreciation for the process involved in the creative act. This qualitative study shows expressive therapy as making an important contribution to person‐centered theory and practice.     

Identification Problems in Personality Psychology

This paper discusses and illustrates identification problems in personality psychology. The measures used by psychologists to infer traits are based on behaviors, broadly defined. These behaviors are produced from multiple traits interacting with incentives in situations. In general, measures are determined by these multiple traits and do not identify any particular trait unless incentives and other traits are controlled for. Using two data sets, we show, that substantial portions of the variance in achievement test scores and grades, which are often used as measures of cognition, are explained by personality variables.