ON TRANSITIONS FROM PERCEPTUAL TO CONCEPTUAL LEARNING

L indahl , M.-B. On transitions from perceptual to conceptual learning. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1968, 9, 206–214.—In a classification problem subjects showed to prefer perceptually determined solutions to conceptually determined ones, although both types were objectively possible and equally rewarding. With decreasing saliency of defining attributes increasing numbers of subjects adopted conceptually determined solutions, however. The results were discussed in relation to a non-formal information-processing mo del and a postulated perceptual-conceptual dimension of functioning.     

Social proximity in early mother–infant interactions: implications for gender differences?

In an exploratory study, we investigated degrees of social proximity between mothers and their 9-month-old children. Twenty-four Swedish mother–infant dyads (12 boys and 12 girls) were observed during a brief free play episode. Social proximity was measured through nine items focusing on both communication and social interaction. Overall, we found that mother–daughter dyads displayed significantly higher degrees of social proximity than mother–son dyads. More specifically, mothers with daughters displayed more physical and visual contact, and were also rated as more sensitive than mothers with sons. It was also found that girls were judged as being more compliant than boys. ©1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Behavioral Control Dynamics and Developmental Outcomes in Infants Prenatally Exposed to Cocaine

This study longitudinally examined the associations between mother–infant interactions at 15 months and behavioral and cognitive outcomes at 36 months of age in a sample of at‐risk, young children. Participants for the current study were 58 infants/toddlers prenatally exposed to cocaine and their maternal caregivers. These infants were from a low socioeconomic status background and were part of an intervention setting. When the children were 12, 15, and 36 months, they participated in research sessions with their maternal caregivers. Cognitive development at 12 months and maternal and infant behavior at 15 months were measured to predict behavioral and cognitive outcome at 36 months. Higher levels of maternal control at 15 months were marginally significant in predicting higher levels of problem behavior at 36 months whereas higher levels of infant resistance to control predicted lower levels of problem behavior. Furthermore, control‐resistant behavior displayed by infants was a unique buffer against problem behavior, even after controlling for maternal factors and cognitive abilities. These findings suggest that maternal control attempts and infant reactions to those maternal control behaviors play an important role in the development of adaptive and maladaptive behavior patterns during early childhood.     

STRATEGY MODIFICATION IN CONCEPT LEARNING AS A FUNCTION OF INTRADIMENSIONAL VARIABILITY

LINDAHL, M.-B. Strategy modification in concept learning as a function of intradimensional variability. Scand. J. Psychol. , 1971, 12, 90–98.–60 subjects took part in a concept-learning-like task, where the independent variable was the intradimensional variability of the instances and the dependent variable was the type of strategy adopted by the subjects. Two main types of strategy were used by the subjects: one based on subtle cues and in principle requiring only one instance to lead to solution (conceptual-deductive strategy) and one based on salient cues and requiring a number of instances for solution (perceptual-inductive strategy). Adoptions of a conceptual-deductive type of strategy were shown to be significantly more frequent, when the variability was large than when it was small. It was concluded that the intradimensional variability of the instances influenced the subjects' choice of strategy in a seemingly rational way. This type of strategy modification was considered to be in line with theories describing concept learning as a sequence of, in principle, rational decisions.     

Credit for discoveries: Citation data as a Basis for History of Science Analysis

Citation data have become an increasingly significant source of information for historians, sociologists, and other researchers studying the evolution of science. In the past few decades elaborate methodologies have been developed for the use of citation data in the study of the modern history of science. This article focuses on how citation indexes make it possible to trace the background and development of discoveries as well as to assess the credit that publishing scientists assign to particular discoverers. Kuhn's notion of discovery is discussed. The priority dispute over the discovery of the AIDS virus is used as an example.     

A discussion of the mind-brain problem

In this paper Popper formulates and discusses a new aspect of the theory of mind. This theory is partly based on his earlier developed interactionistic theory. It takes as its point of departure the observation that mind and physical forces have several properties in common, at least the following six: both are (i) located, (ii) unextended, (iii) incorporeal, (iv) capable of acting on bodies, (v) dependent upon body, (vi) capable of being influenced by bodies. Other properties such as intensity and extension in time may be added. It is argued that a fuller understanding of the nature of forces is essential for the analysis of the mind-brain problem. The relative autonomy and indeterministic nature of mind is stressed. Indeterminism is treated in relation to a theorem of Hadamard. The computer theory of mind and the Turing test are criticized. Finally the evolution of mind is discussed.     

THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGY IN A COMPLEX LEARNING TASK

The predictive value of cognitive strategies on behaviour was investigated in a classification task. This was similar to usual concept learning tasks but a possibility to deductive solution was provided together with the customary possibility to inductive solution. The results showed that improvement was dependent on the efficiency of the strategy. The theoretical interpretation of the results was that the learning of complex tasks depends upon hypothesis testing activity in the subject rather than on automatic S-R-connections.     

Border Crossings by Immigrants: Legality,Illegality, and Alegality

What happens to the concept of security if legal disorder manifests itself not only as illegal behavior but also as alegal behavior—acts that challenge the very distinction between legality and illegality, as drawn by a political community? Focusing on European immigration policy, this paper examines how the distinction between illegal and alegal acts critically illuminates the relation between collective (in)security and the concept of legal (dis)order. It concludes by arguing that this distinction sheds new light on the systematic relation—and tension—between security, freedom, and justice.     

Burnout in Mothers and Fathers of Children Surviving Brain Tumour

The aim of this paper was to investigate the occurrence of burnout among parents of brain tumour survivors. Burnout was assessed in 24 mothers and 20 fathers of childhood brain tumour survivors, using the Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire. Parents of children with no history of chronic or serious diseases served as a reference group. Mothers’ burnout scores were significantly higher compared with reference mothers. For fathers, no relation between burnout and being a parent of a brain tumour survivor was established, despite a nonsignificant tendency in the same direction as for the mothers. In conclusion, the parenting burden after a child’s brain tumour may include chronic strain, and this may be particularly taxing for mothers. The findings encourage further studies of psychological exhaustion among parents of children with special needs.