Zur Differenzierung zwischen unsicheren und aggressiven Teilnehmern beim Gruppentraining Sozialer Kompetenzen (GSK) im Straf- und Maßregelvollzug

The cognitive-behavioural group training for social competence “GSK” [16] has proven to also be effective in the penal system [28]. The present study examines if a targeted differentiating assessment prior to the intervention and a thereon based homogeneous group composition with regard to insecure and aggressive behaviour patterns can enhance the effectiveness of the “GSK” in the penal system and in a forensic hospital unit. Altogether 48 male delinquents across both settings were therefore divided into a “homogeneous insecure” group, a “homogeneous aggressive” group and a “heterogeneous” group. Pre-post-comparisons show that the intervention is effective for all three groups and also in both settings, the penal system and the forensic hospital unit. The “homogeneous aggressive” group revealed the strongest intervention effects.     

Effects of relative nurturance and social power on observational learning and imitation

Preschool children observed two models, one of whom (controller of resources) controlled rewards dispensed to the child and to the other model (rival consumer of resources). The nurturance of the controller was varied in terms of his relative generosity towards the subject and rival consumer. Controllers were imitated to a greater extent than consumers only when the controller had been more nurturant to the child than to the rival consumer. Imitation of the controller and consumer were affected differently by the various conditions of nurturance, but children's learning of each model's behaviors were affected similarly by the conditions. The learning and imitative performance of each model's behaviors were uncorrelated, and imitation of one model did not correlate with imitation of the other. However, the learning of the two models' behaviors was highly correlated.     

Development of the near-death phenomena knowledge and attitudes questionnaire

In the first study of nurses' knowledge of and attitudes toward near-death phenomena and patients who have experienced them (NDErs), 20 registered nurses in Intensive or Cardiac Care Units completed a questionaire containing 29 true/false/undecided statements about near-death phenomena (alpha reliability .83), 29 Likert items concerning attitudes toward such phenomena (alpha .84), and 25 Likert items concerning attitudes toward care of NDErs (alpha .81). The revised questionnaire has high levels of content and construct validity, and acceptable levels of internal consistency, and is therefore a valid and reliable tool.This paper was derived in part from her M.S.N. thesis submitted to the University of Cincinnati, and was based on a study conducted at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.     

Accuracy and differentiation in social prediction: A developmental perspective1

Two studies examined the accuracy and differentiation of 4–5-yearolds‘, 8–9-year-olds’, and undergraduates' predictions of the preferences of peers and nonpeers. In Study 1 each subject was presented with separate arrays of snacks, meals, and activities depicted on cards and were asked to select their own preferences and the preferences of peers and nonpeers (“grown-ups” for the children, and “4- to 5-year-olds” for the undergraduates). In Study 2 each subject selected his or her own preference, the preference of peers, and the preferences of both older nonpeers (“grown-ups”) and younger nonpeers (“2-year-olds”). For all age groups, including 4–5-year-olds: (1) the preference predictions differentiated peers from nonpeers, as well as older nonpeers from younger nonpeers; (2) it was very rare for a subject to select his or her own preferences for the preference predictions of both peers and nonpeers. There were no consistent developmental differences either in the tendency to select one's own preferences when predicting the preferences of others or in the tendency to differentiate predictions for peers and nonpeers. In contrast, there was a clear developmental increase in predictive accuracy, with 4–5-year-olds being relatively inaccurate in predicting the preferences of nonpeers. The inadequacy of constructs such as “assumed similarity” and “egocentrism” as explanations for the general accuracy in predicting peers' preferences and the 4–5-year-olds' inaccuracy in predicting nonpeers' preferences is discussed. Possible alternative variables underlying developmental increases in judgmental accuracy, such as “social reference,”“self reference,” and “social category knowledge,” are then proposed.     

Parental play styles and sibling interaction during a problem‐solving task

Associations between parental play styles and sibling interaction were investigated in 30 same‐sex preschool‐ and school‐aged sibling dyads (first‐borns were 4–9 years, M=6.6 years; second‐borns were 2–7 years, M=4.2 years), divided into older and younger sibling groups. Participants completed puzzles under three conditions: (a) siblings alone, (b) together with mother, and (c) together with father. Prosocial and agonistic sibling‐directed behaviors and positive and negative parent–child behaviors were coded. Siblings engaged in both more prosocial and agonistic interactions when alone than with either parent; there were no differences in sibling interactions in the mother versus father episodes. Paternal negative behavior was associated with sibling agonistic behavior when the children were alone, indicating second‐order effects, however, mother–child and sibling interactions were not significantly associated. Nevertheless, reciprocity in positive and negative behaviors directed by children to parents and vice versa was evident, demonstrating synchrony in patterns of exchanges. The findings underscore the necessity of studying both parents in order to understand more fully the dynamics involved in family relationships. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adults' emotional states and recognition of emotion in young children

This study addressed the degree to which adults' emotional states influence their perception of emotional states in children and their motivation to change such states. Happiness, sadness, anger, or a neutral state was induced in adults, who then viewed slides of 4-year-old children who were actually experiencing various emotional states. Adults' own emotional states had little impact on their accurate recognition of children's emotions or on their motives for social action to change such emotions. However, adults' states did influence the intensity they assigned to children's emotions, with happy adults tending to rate some emotions as more intense for black children (sadness) and for girls (anger and neutrality). The base rates with which adults used different emotion labels also influenced judgments, increasing it for the recognition of happiness and reducing it for anger. The results are discussed in terms of the factors that influence whether or not emotional states affect judgment processes and the role of emotion labels in the effective recognition of ongoing emotional states. Also addressed is the consequence of adults' recognition of emotion in children for the effective socialization of emotion.     

Reflections on the Evaluation of a Cambodian Youth Dance Program

Evaluating a youth program whose goals are to provide instruction in Cambodian dance, increase awareness and pride in Cambodian culture, promote healthy behaviors, and create linkages within the community has been a challenge. A primary source of conflict was incorporating evaluation methods that were required of all funded programs with our own specifically tailored measures. One of our concerns was that the required tools were not culturally appropriate for our participants. Our experiences reinforce the importance of forming partnerships that embrace principles of respect, equity, and empowerment among all involved before establishing a research agenda. The choices we made and did not make contributed to our struggles and frustration and also to the insight that was gained. Our analysis examines the importance of clear communication, cultural awareness, tailoring evaluation, and meaningful participation. We believe that the lessons we learned will help facilitate the conduct of culturally sensitive community-based research.     

Product involvement: an application in clothing

• The paper examines the dimensionality of involvement with clothing. The extant literature is reviewed to show the origins, application and classification of involvement. The discussion focuses on enduring, situational and response involvement, emphasising the dimensionality of the construct. The research examines enduring involvement with clothing, using a scale of 15 Likert‐type statements to operationalise the concept. The findings suggest that involvement with clothing stems from: (1) pleasure and enjoyment derived from shopping and (2) the importance consumers attach to the product, which relates to the symbolic nature of clothing as a means of self‐expression.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The longitudinal structure of the Children's Depression Inventory: testing a latent trait-state model

In a 6-wave longitudinal study, children (Grades 4-6, n = 648), adolescents (Grades 7-9, n = 1,489), and their parents completed child-adolescent or parent versions of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; M. Kovacs, 1981). Using structural equation modeling, the authors conducted latent trait-state analyses to distinguish between a stable trait dimension of depression (in which individual differences are stable over time) and an autoregressive dimension (in which individual differences are less stable over time). Children's CDIs reflected the autoregressive dimension more than a stable trait dimension, whereas parents' CDIs reflected a stable trait dimension more than an autoregressive dimension. Reports from adolescents and their parents reflected a stable trait dimension more than an autoregressive dimension of depressive symptoms. Results suggest that the longitudinal structure of the CDI varies considerably depending on the age of the target and the type of informant.