Science and God: An automatic opposition between ultimate explanations

Science and religion have come into conflict repeatedly throughout history, and one simple reason for this is the two offer competing explanations for many of the same phenomena. We present evidence that the conflict between these two concepts can occur automatically, such that increasing the perceived value of one decreases the automatic evaluation of the other. In Experiment 1, scientific theories described as poor explanations decreased automatic evaluations of science, but simultaneously increased automatic evaluations of God. In Experiment 2, using God as an explanation increased automatic evaluations of God, but decreased automatic evaluations of science. Religion and science both have the potential to be ultimate explanations, and these findings suggest that this competition for explanatory space can create an automatic opposition in evaluations.     

Trajectories of Big Five Personality Traits: A Coordinated Analysis of 16 Longitudinal Samples

This study assessed change in self-reported Big Five personality traits. We conducted a coordinated integrative data analysis using data from 16 longitudinal samples, comprising a total sample of over 60 000 participants. We coordinated models across multiple datasets and fit identical multi-level growth models to assess and compare the extent of trait change over time. Quadratic change was assessed in a subset of samples with four or more measurement occasions. Across studies, the linear trajectory models revealed declines in conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness. Non-linear models suggested late-life increases in neuroticism. Meta-analytic summaries indicated that the fixed effects of personality change are somewhat heterogeneous and that the variability in trait change is partially explained by sample age, country of origin, and personality measurement method. We also found mixed evidence for predictors of change, specifically for sex and baseline age. This study demonstrates the importance of coordinated conceptual replications for accelerating the accumulation of robust and reliable findings in the lifespan developmental psychological sciences. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology     

Community Psychology in higher education in Europe: Results of a survey and discussion of the basic competency approach

This report from the Standing Committee on Community Psychology of the European Federation of Psychological Association provides an overview of higher education in Community Psychology (CP) in 14 European countries. Our findings show that 10 countries have some kind of CP teaching in their educational system. Twenty European universities offer a CP‐oriented Master degree, two universities at the Bachelor level and 16 universities also have CP‐oriented Ph.D. programmes. The profiles of the universities focus on two areas: Community psychology in a pure form and a combination of social psychology and community psychology. The other universities vary between clinical, organisational psychology, and a pedagogical focus. Within a certain European emphasis, these universities are analysing and changing the social conditions of community life and mental health. The responding universities failed to report adequately on comprehensive core competences and key elements in CP. To compensate for this deficit, the Standing Committee on Community Psychology proposes to develop a primer of basic CP competences for inclusion in programmes like EuroPsy.     

Programs developed in response to teen pregnancies

This paper describes programs developed in response to the dramatic rise in adolescent pregnancies and births during the past 15 years. In the main, these programs are targeted to reduce pregnancies among the teen population, as well as to teach teen mothers positive parenting and health care practices. The emphasis on parenting skills arose due to the fact that low-birth-weight and premature children tend to occur in large numbers in teen populations and that these children are at risk for child abuse and neglect. Primary prevention programs are designed, e.g., within school clinics that dispense contraceptives, and are among the most successful of the newer movements in the field. Greater attention currently is given to the teen father. An ideal program is presented and recommended for widespread adoption because the United States continues to experience large numbers of adolescent pregnancies.     

Language: The convergence of developmental interactions

Language arises out of the infant-caregiver's nonverbal communication patterns. These patterns are transactional in nature and are in part stimulated by genetically based fixed-action patterns of the infant. Child-rearing practices of the caregiver greatly influence the rate and nature of infant's language development and later measures of achievement, particularly IQ scores. Marked differences in child-rearing patterns are found among social class, ethnic and racial groups. Means of facilitating an infant's development are discussed.