Accessing source information in analogical problem-solving

Several studies showed that people presented with source information fail to apply it to an analogous target problem unless they are instructed to use the source. Seven experiments were carried out to assess whether such a lack of spontaneous transfer occurs because individuals do not activate the source during the target task or because they do not realize the source-target relationship. Experiment 1 compared a condition in which the source was activated with no cue about the source-target connection to conditions in which subjects were informed about this connection. Results suggested that the lack of spontaneous transfer does not depend on failure in activating source information. Experiments 2, 3, and 4 were devised to falsify this finding by activating the source closer and closer to the target and by focusing participants' attention toward the relevant aspects of the source. Experiments 5, 6, and 7 were aimed at stressing source-target correspondences by introducing surface similarities. All experiments showed that the mere activation of the source does not facilitate analogical transfer. Results suggested that two processes should be distinguished in the access phase of analogical problem-solving: Source retrieval and identification of the source-target connection.     

A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PSYCHODYNAMIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF EATING DISORDERS

The objective of this paper is to give an historical overview of the development of psychodynamic theories and to acknowledge their contribution to the understanding of the aetiology of these complex disorders. Relevant psychodynamic and psychoanalytic papers on the historical development of eating disorders were identified through a search of (1) Medline and PsychoInfo, (2) the library of the London Institute of Psychoanalysis, (3) Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing (PEP), and (4) a number of textbooks on eating disorders.

The search revealed a dearth of psychoanalytic historical perspectives about the aetiology of eating disorders in general. Overall most psychoanalytic publications were based on single case studies and concerned primarily with anorexia nervosa. No single model was identified, but a number of psychoanalytic ideas remain consistent throughout. Several psychoanalysts and contemporary psychodynamically‐informed authors refer to, apply and have further developed a number of these original ideas. This overview highlights the unique contributions of psychodynamic concepts towards a better understanding of the aetiology of eating disorders and how much they have influenced and informed modern thinking on the meaning of these complex conditions. A range of psychodynamic views has emerged and gradually evolved from concentrating solely on intra‐psychic factors to a more comprehensive multi‐modal model. This tendency has become a fertile ground for cross‐fertilization which, along with the bio‐social counterparts, remains the fundamental pillars on which modern understanding of eating disorders still rests.     

The international financial crisis and the north‐south dialogue

The author describes several origins of current international financial problems. Shortcomings of current solutions are analyzed, and solutions which the author thinks are more appropriate are presented.     

Ground-breaking Potential Of Argentine Recovered Companies In Industrial And Organizational (i/o) Psychology

This article aims at contextualizing the Argentine phenomenon defined as “recovered companies,” both from a historical and a psychological viewpoint. A short historical analysis will be proposed about Soviet experiences/debates, their resumption, and the cases of bottom-up production control/management in the international context with a special focus on the 1920s. A thorough discussion will follow on the contemporary phenomenon of Argentinian recovered companies, where the need for the traditional managerial role in organizations is thoroughly examined with respect to present literature.     

The Scarcity Bias

Two experiments provided empirical support for the scarcity bias, that is, when the subjective value of a good increases due to the mere fact that it is scarce. We define scarcity as the presence of limited resources and competition on the demand side (i.e. not enough for two people). In Experiment 1, 180 students were divided into two conditions. The same good was abundant in one condition but scarce in the other one. The scarcity condition involved a partner (competitor) to create scarcity, while the abundant condition did not. Results showed that more participants chose a good when it was scarce than when it was abundant, for two out of four sets of items (ballpoints, snacks, pencils, and key rings). Experiment 2 employed 171 participants and a WTA (willingness to accept) elicitation procedure of the subjective value of the good. Results showed that the scarce good was given a higher WTA price by those participants choosing it, than by those who did not, compared to the WTA of the abundant good, despite the fact that both types of participants assigned a lower market price to the scarce good, as compared to the abundant one. Deux expériences ont confirmé empiriquement le biais de rareté (la valeur subjective d'un bien s'accroît en raison de sa seule rareté). La rareté est définie par une demande conflictuelle car confrontée à des ressources limitées (tout le monde ne pourra pas être satisfait). La première expérience fit appel à 180 étudiants répartis sur deux conditions. Le même bien était abondant dans l'une des conditions et rare dans l'autre. La condition de rareté impliquait la présence d'un concurrent pour créer la pénurie, concurrent inexistant dans la condition d'abondance. Les résultats ont montré que davantage de participants se sont portés sur un bien quand il était rare que lorsqu'il était abondant, cela pour deux des quatre séries d'items (stylos à bille, casse‐croûte, crayons, porte‐clefs). 171 sujets participèrent à la seconde expérience qui utilisa une procédure de mise en évidence de la valeur subjective du bien (WTA: prix jugé acceptable pour se procurer le bien). Il apparaît que le bien rare bénéficiait de la part de ceux qui le choisissait d'un prix WTA supérieur à celui octroyé par ceux qui le délaissaient, par comparaison au WTA du bien abondant, et cela en dépit du fait que les deux catégories de sujets accordaient un prix de vente inférieur au bien rare par rapport à celui qui était largement disponible.