Is entry-level recognition viewpoint invariant or viewpoint dependent?

Subjects decided whether an object drawing matched the entry-level name that immediately preceded it in a name-object sequence. When objects in the stimulus set were visually similar with respect to global shape and configuration of parts, response time increased linearly from 0° to 120° for both match and mismatch trials. Similar effects of orientation were found on match trials when objects in the stimulus set were visually dissimilar. No effects of orientation were observed when name and drawing did not match in the visually dissimilar condition. The results are consistent with the view that, in a variety of viewing situations, the initial identification of an object at the entry level is accomplished by viewpoint-dependent mechanisms.     

VISUAL IDENTITY MATCHING AND AUDITORY-VISUAL MATCHING: A PROCEDURAL NOTE

After preliminary computerized training on visual-visual identity matching, a 5-year-old boy with autism (Sam) was given visual-visual and auditory-visual matching-to-sample tests with new stimuli. He did well in matching dictated name samples to 20 pictures, 26 printed upper case letters, and 9 single-digit numbers. In matching the visual stimuli (pictures, letters, or numbers) to themselves, however, he did not perform well. We then increased the number of picture comparisons per trial from two to three. In tests after this three-comparison training, Sam correctly matched on 95% of the original 20-stimulus, four-comparison, identity-matching test trials. He went on to demonstrate accurate identity matching of the numbers, letters, and new pictures. In identity-matching tests on the table top, he performed poorly until the stimulus array was made to resemble the stimulus arrangement on the computer. These findings showed that seemingly small procedural changes can influence performance and demonstrated that successful auditory-visual matching does not guarantee proficiency in visual-visual identity matching.     

Psychology and rural America. Current status and future directions

Rural people constitute about one fourth of the U.S. population, and their special mental health needs have been largely neglected. For a variety of reasons psychologists have focused little attention on this group. Recent economic developments affecting agriculture, farm families, and rural communities have increased awareness of problems facing rural areas. Psychologists can respond to the unique challenges created by rural mental health needs through research on stress, psychopathology, and community well-being. Training programs should be encouraged to recognize rural concerns. Psychologists are needed to practice in rural areas and to help develop effective rural service models. They can also support the development of state and federal policies that address rural needs.     

Psychophysiological aspects of nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking

Monitoring sleep through electroencephalography and electroculography has identified the different sleep stages in which nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking occur. Questionnaire surveys have supplemented the findings of case studies of these sleep disorders. Neurotransmitters operative during these sleep disorders have enlarged the knowledge of the psychophysiological dimensions especially of nightmares.     

Sex differences in smiling as measured in a picture taking task

Previous research suggests females smile more than males in a picture taking task (Mills, 1984; Morse, 1982; Ragan, 1982). Experiment 1 sought to replicate this effect and, in addition, investigate if the gender of the photographer or instructions to smile would influence smiling in females and males. Subjects were told that their picture would be used in a subsequent facial perception study. Results showed that subjects instructed to smile smiled more than subjects given no instructions. There were no main effects for subject's or photographer's gender and no interactions. In Experiment 2, graduating students from the University of New Brunswick, Saint John, completed a questionnaire which assessed how much subjects wanted to smile for their yearbook picture, whether subjects selected a picture of themselves smiling for their yearbook, and how much the photographer encouraged them to smile. Experiment 2 showed that females wished to smile significantly more than males, and females selected a picture of themselves smiling significantly more than males. Males and females did not differ in the reported degree to which the photographer encouraged them to smile. Results from Experiments 1 and 2 suggest that sex differences in smiling as measured in a picture taking task depend critically on the situation in which the picture is taken.     

The corroboration requirement in child sex abuse cases

The sharp rise in reports of child abuse has led to efforts to protect children in family courts in child protective proceedings. Hearsay evidence of a child's prior statements may be admitted in child protective proceedings, but such evidence is legally insufficient to support an adjudication of abuse without corroborative evidence. Courts have admitted expert psychological, psychiatric or social work testimony about the child sex abuse syndrome as sufficient corroborative evidence. The testimony is called “validation” testimony. The scientific basis for such validation testimony in the absence of a disclosure by the child is very weak. Courts have also tended to accept the most minimal evidence as corroboration of the child's out-of-court statements, including other hearsay evidence. The socially valuable policy of protecting children by admitting weak evidence, such as validation testimony, or other hearsay, should be reviewed to ensure the evidence meets criteria of reliability in order to minimize erroneous determinations.     

Mood congruence and depressive deficits in memory: a forced-recall analysis

Two experiments examined the contribution of reporting biases to mood-congruent recall patterns and diminished levels of recall frequently associated with depressed mood states. In Experiment 1, participants classified as dysphoric (n = 14) or nondepressed (n = 21) on the basis of scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Profile of Mood States made self-referential judgements regarding a series of affectively valenced words. Subsequently they were given an unexpected forced-recall test, which encouraged guessing to meet the output requirement (i.e. 40 responses) of the test. Nondepressed subjects confidently reported more positive words than dysphoric subjects, but the latter produced significantly more correct guesses of words that were positively valenced. Similar findings were obtained in Experiment 2, in which dysphoric (n = 40) and nondepressed subjects (n = 40) performed both self-referent and orthographic judgements of affectively valenced words, followed by either a free- or forced-recall test. The findings suggest that positive and negative trait words were adequately encoded in memory, but, consistent with cognitive theories of depression, their accessibility to retrieval was differentially limited. In addition, however, the results implicate an important contribution of diminished motivation and/or conservative report criterion in the manifestation of depression-related biases and deficits in recall.     

The impact of HIV illness on parents and children, with particular reference to African families

This paper looks at the effects of HIV infection on parenting and family relationships, focusing on the issues this presents for HIV families from sub-Saharan Africa, both here in the UK and in their countries of origin. We describe how we have experienced and dealt with some of the dilemmas facing parents and the context in which our service is offered. Despite the wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, many common parenting issues and themes transcend cultural differences.