Mass Shootings Backfire: The Boomerang Effects of Death Concerns on Policy Attitudes

ABSTRACT

Fear-inducing communication is commonly adopted in the public domain. For example, advocates of gun control have believed that the tragic cases of mass shooting would be an effective persuasive tool to draw favorable public opinion about gun control policies. However, this assumption does not meet reality. Despite a rash of mass shootings over the past 2 decades, public support for gun regulation has continued to decline. To resolve this dilemma, this article conducted 3 experiments and provided compelling explanations of how threatening shooting stories generated the unintended effects. In line with the terror management theory, the moderated mediation model showed that shooting stories produced partisan polarization on gun policies. Theoretical and practical implications of fear-inducing messages are discussed.     

Motivation,depression, and naturalistic time-based prospective remembering

This study investigated the effect of a motivational manipulation on naturalistic time-based prospective memory (PM) task performance. The association between depression and PM task performance was also investigated. First-year psychology students were required to send mobile phone text messages (SMSs) at a specific time 3 days and 6 days after an initial meeting. During the delay period participants recorded details of the retrieval whenever they remembered the SMS task. Participants given the incentive of extra course credit (motivation condition) outperformed their counterparts on the PM tasks, and showed a greater increase in the reported frequency of self-initiated retrievals on target days. Depression was negatively correlated with PM task performance. The findings suggest that motivational instructions impact the controlled processes underlying PM.     

Exploring the roles of narcissism,uses of,and gratifications from microblogs on affinity‐seeking and social capital

The purpose of this study is to examine how the uses and gratifications of microblogs (i.e. Sina Weibo) can influence interpersonal relationships, especially in affinity‐seeking and perceived social capital. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire with a sample of 431 Weibo users surveyed throughout mainland China. Results show that (i) narcissism, content‐, and social‐gratification were positively related to intensity of Weibo use, (ii) intensity of Weibo use and process‐gratification were positively related to strategic performance, whereas only content‐gratification positively predicted affinity competence. (iii) content‐ and social‐gratification positively predicted bridging social capital, whereas convenience‐gratification and affinity‐seeking predicted bonding social capital, and (iv) intensity of Weibo use was positively related to both types of social capital only when Weibo gratifications were not included in the regression equations. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

整字、部件与笔画对笔画构成汉字的影响

该研究采用笔画构成汉字的实验范式,利用整字、部件、笔画作为启动材料考查了笔画构成汉字过程中整体与部分之间的关系。实验中要求被试用给出的笔画组（四划或五划）构成汉字,并且判断笔画组是否能够构成一个真实的汉字。结果发现整字在笔画构成汉字的实验过程中起到最为关键的作用。其次是笔画存在着明显的启动效应,部件的启动效应最弱。结论：在笔画构成汉字的过程中,主要以整字加工为主,笔画加工也起到了重要作用。     

归类不确定情境下特征预测的理性模型研究

探讨了Bayesian规则计算公式的具体含义,进而考察了归类不确定情境下的特征预测是否符合Bayesian规则.包括2个实验:实验1探讨保持类别内目标成员中预测特征的比例不变,而改变类别内所有成员中预测特征的比例是否影响特征预测.实验2探讨保持类别内目标成员中预测特征的比例不变,进一步扩大类别内所有成员中预测特征比例的差异是否会影响特征预测.结果表明: 类别内目标成员中预测特征的比例影响特征预测,而类别内所有成员中预测特征的比例不影响特征预测.据此,本研究认为,Murphy对Bayesian规则计算公式的含义理解有偏差,其由此提出的"单类说"值得商榷.     

学习判断孤立效应的发生机制及作用途径

本研究系统考察学习判断是否存在孤立效应,采用电脑编程的动窗技术,随机选取高一的学生共614名,实施3个实验分别探讨知觉、类型、语义孤立材料的学习判断是否存在孤立效应.结果表明:知觉、类型和语义孤立会影响学习判断值,表现出明显的孤立效应,由此得出学习判断中存在孤立效应.     

认知神经和神经心理角度的多重类别学习系统

归类是一项非常重要的认知技能,近十多年来归类的研究尤其关注类别学习的多重系统问题.本文回顾了近年来国外对类别学习的认知神经和神经心理研究,结果表明不同的类别学习任务下的学习机制和所依赖的神经生理基础是不同的,支持类别学习的多系统理论.     

国内心理治疗和咨询专业人员及工作状况调查

本研究的主要目的是考察国内目前心理治疗和咨询的人员及专业工作方面的地区差异,并做出比较.调查包括全国29个省、市、自治区的1543名被试.按照行政区域分为华北、东北、华东、中南、西南和西北六个地区.本研究采用自编的调查表对心理治疗师/咨询师个人情况和专业工作情况进行了调查.结果发现各地区发展确实存在不均衡的状况,华北、华东地区的相关人员专业水平较高,专职工作比较完善;而西北地区则相对比较落后,体现在治疗师倍询师专职化、专业化程度较低等方面.     

学习判断孤立效应的发生机制及作用途径（续）

本研究探讨学习判断孤立效应产生机制及其作用方式.设计2个实验,实验1探讨学习者的元认知监控水平对学习判断孤立效应的影响;实验2探讨元认知监控影响学习判断孤立效应的作用方式.结果表明,学习判断的孤立效应产生机制是元认知监控,其作用实现方式有两种:第一是促使学习者在编码阶段对孤立项目给予特殊资源投入,因此对学习结果的实际感觉产生较高的学习判断值;第二是使学习者在编码阶段产生会对孤立项目给予特殊关注的印象,由这种虚拟的印象产生较高的学习判断值.     

精细阐述在先行信息通达中的作用

先前研究发现,在篇章阅读理解中,先行信息与当前信息的合适与否是影响其通达的重要因素。本研究进一步引入精细阐述因素,通过窗口阅读及命名探测技术,以含错误信息的文章为阅读材料,探讨在篇章阅读理解中,精细阐述、信息的合适与否两者相比,何者对先行信息的通达速度影响更大。结果发现,如果错误信息受到精细阐述,在遇到相关的回指词时该信息会比合适、但未受精细阐述的先行信息更快得以通达,表明精细阐述在先行信息通达过程中具有相当重要的作用。