Changes in Multidigit Synergies and Their Feed-Forward Adjustments in Multiple Sclerosis

The authors explored the changes in multidigit synergies in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) within the framework of the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. The specific hypotheses were that both synergy indices and anticipatory synergy adjustments prior to the initiation of a self-paced quick action would be diminished in the patients compared to age-matched controls. The MS patients and age-matched controls (n = 13 in both groups) performed one-finger and multifinger force production tasks involving both accurate steady-state force production and quick force pulses. The patients showed significantly lower maximal finger forces and a tendency toward slower force pulses. Enslaving was increased in MS, but only in the lateral fingers (index and little). Indices of multifinger synergies during steady-state force production were lower in MS, mainly due to the lower amount of intertrial variance that did not affect total force. Anticipatory synergy adjustments were significantly delayed in MS. The results show that MS leads to significant changes in multidigit synergies and feed-forward adjustments of the synergies prior to a quick action. The authors discuss possible contributions of subcortical structures to the impaired synergic control.     

Working for the Hierarchical System: The Role of Meritocratic Ideology in the Endorsement of Corruption

Corruption has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies, but it is widespread throughout the world. There is a question, however, as to whether corruption is endorsed as an outcome of a legitimate hierarchy and meritocracy. To address this issue, the present study examines the associations between meritocratic ideology and the indicators of corruption by performing two empirical studies with correlational and experimental designs. In Study 1, all variables were measured with scales, and the results demonstrated that meritocratic ideologies were negatively associated with corruption perception but positively associated with corrupt intention. In Study 2, meritocratic ideology was manipulated, and the results demonstrated that compared with the low meritocratic‐ideology condition, the participants primed by the high meritocratic‐ideology condition reported a lower corruption perception but higher corrupt intention. In both studies, the findings suggest that the meritocratic ideology that motivates people to maintain and bolster the current hierarchical structure and meritocracy leads to the endorsement of corruption. The present study explores the roles of meritocratic ideology in the perception and intention of corruption, extends the scope of the predictive power of system justification theory to corruption beyond mere injustice‐related aspects of disadvantage, and also provides suggestions for interpreting and fighting against corruption.     

幼儿教师职业压力和心理资本对职业幸福感的影响:应对方式和文化的作用

为探索幼儿教师职业压力、心理资本、应对方式和文化对职业幸福感的影响,选取中国成渝两地和新西兰汉密尔顿市的幼儿教师共501名,用幼儿教师职业幸福感量表(KTOWBS)、幼儿教师职业压力问卷(KTOSQ)、教师心理资本问卷(TPCQ)、简易应对方式量表(SSWC)进行调查。结果表明:(1)控制学校性质和教师教龄影响后,幼儿教师积极应对中介心理资本对职业幸福感的影响,消极应对中介职业压力对职业幸福感的影响。(2)幼儿教师心理资本对积极应对、职业压力对消极应对以及消极应对对职业幸福感的影响皆受文化调节。以上研究结果有助于认识文化这种情景因素的重要性,从而有针对性地提高幼儿教师职业幸福感。     

心理韧性、孤独感、自我效能感预测老年人主观幸福感的优势分析

心理韧性、孤独感、自我效能感都会影响老年人的主观幸福感,但三者影响程度的相对大小尚不清楚。为考察其影响力的大小,本研究采用了优势分析的方法。选取心理韧性量表、UCLA孤独量表、一般自我效能感量表分别测量老年人的心理韧性、孤独感、自我效能感,主观幸福感量表、费城老年中心信心量表测量老年人主观幸福感。优势分析结果表明,孤独感对老年人主观幸福感的预测力大于心理韧性与自我效能感;心理韧性的预测力大于自我效能感。本研究提示减少孤独感是提升老年人主观幸福感的重要途径,而老年人的心理韧性和自我效能感对提升老年人主观幸福感有一定的作用。     

Interaction between Prenatal Maternal Stress and Autonomic Arousal in Predicting Conduct Problems and Psychopathic Traits in Children

Evidence has suggested that neurobiological deficits combine with psychosocial risk factors to impact on the development of antisocial behavior. The current study concentrated on the interplay of prenatal maternal stress and autonomic arousal in predicting antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Prenatal maternal stress was assessed by caregiver’s retrospective report, and resting heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were measured in 295 8- to 10-year-old children. Child and caregiver also reported on child’s antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Higher prenatal maternal stress was associated with higher caregiver-reported antisocial and psychopathy scores, even after the concurrent measure of social adversity was controlled for. As expected, low heart rate and high RSA were associated with high antisocial and psychopathic traits. More importantly, significant interaction effects were found; prenatal stress was positively associated with multiple dimensions of psychopathic traits only on the conditions of low arousal (e.g., low heart rate or high RSA). Findings provide further support for a biosocial perspective of antisocial and psychopathic traits, and illustrate the importance of integrating biological with psychosocial measures to fully understand the etiology of behavioral problems.     

Personality Homogeneity in Organizations and Occupations: Considering Similarity Sources

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate organizational and occupational homogeneity, compare homogeneity at different levels of composition, and uncover a mechanism for homogeneity.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Data were obtained from an archival data base of current employees (N = 23,933) in 40 organizations, 19 major job groupings, 42 minor job groupings, and 115 detailed job titles.

Findings

Support for homogeneity within organizations and occupations was found, regardless of the granularity with which occupation were defined. Homogeneity estimates were smaller than prior estimates in the literature based on smaller, less diverse samples. Occupational homogeneity was significantly greater than homogeneity at the organizational level for neuroticism and extraversion. As a potential mechanism, we demonstrated that occupational interest could predict personality at the occupational level.

Implications

Investigating homogeneity effects with a large, representative sample and simultaneously considering occupation and organization helps to advance our theoretical understanding of the Attraction–Selection–Attrition process. This study provides evidence of relative homogeneity effects and mechanisms. Such knowledge could help inform the selection, training, and socialization tactics employed by practitioners.

Originality/Value

Little is currently known about how within-occupation homogeneity in personality relates to within-organization homogeneity, or the influence of vocational interests on such homogeneity. We provide a methodological update to decompose and compare organizational and occupational influence on personality homogeneity. We also assess homogeneity at three levels of occupational granularity, and delineate a mechanism for personality to become homogeneous at the occupation level.

     

保护因素和风险因素提示对乐观偏差的影响

人们在相对风险认知中表现出的乐观偏差现象已被广泛证实。基于以往研究的不一致结果及可能存在的混淆因素,本研究考察提示保护因素和风险因素对乐观偏差的影响。实验一采用自我-同辈直接比较的方法,实验二采用自我判断方法,通过提示条件和无提示条件的比较发现,提示与将来事件相关的保护因素不影响乐观偏差,而提示风险因素能够显著降低乐观偏差,影响个人风险知觉,但是这种影响存在一定的有限性。     

运用中医体质学说对心理健康干预的可行性初探

随着现代中医研究热点体质学说的兴起,从中医体质学说角度对心理健康进行干预具有一定的可行性。根据个体体质的不同制定不同的调养、治疗方针,将会为心理干预的本土化取得事半功倍的效果。因此,本文将从中医体质对心理素质的认识、心理健康问题与中医体质的关系、运用中医体质干预心理健康问题的措施等3个方面展开论述。     

Decoding dyadic interactive nonverbal behaviour in Chinese and Australian cohorts: A novel dyadic puzzle‐solving task

The current study used a novel problem‐solving task in which the solution could only be reached via interactions between members of dyads. The study aimed to systematically examine how nonverbal interactive behaviour was related to the cultural background of the dyads, the participant's role in the dyad (viz., instructor, problem solver) and task repetition. Twenty‐one Australian dyads and 32 Chinese dyads performed the dyadic puzzle‐solving task while their interactions were video‐recorded. In each dyad, one instructor and one problem solver worked together to solve a seven‐piece puzzle. Six trials, each comprising a different puzzle, were completed. Results indicate that the Australian instructors engaged in significantly more eye gazing and displayed more hand gestures but smiled less than the Chinese instructors. The Australian problem solvers maintained longer eye gazing, displayed more hand gestures and more echoing than their Chinese counterparts. Over trials, the Chinese instructors reduced their total talking time, hand gestures, nodding behaviour and smiling during self‐talking more than the Australian instructors. Moreover, the problem solvers in the dyads from both countries significantly reduced their smiling across trials. The current study shows that nonverbal behaviours during dyadic interactions are related to one's cultural background, role in the task and task repetition.