Robert I. Watson and the Cheiron Society

Cheiron, the International Society for the History of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was established in 1968 as an outcome of a National Science Foundation summer institute directed by Robert Watson and Josef Brožek. In subsequent years the society has developed into an effective organization for stimulating and disseminating scholarly work, through sponsoring an annual meeting and encouraging a communication network. This article notes Watson's support of Cheiron as one of his contributions to establishing the history of psychology as a specialty field.     

Sense,reference and substitution

Philosophical Studies - We show that, contrary to conventional wisdom, Frege’s distinction between sense and reference does not reconcile a classical logic of identity with apparent...     

Smartphone distraction-addiction: Examining the relationship between psychosocial variables and patterns of use

The use of smartphones has been increasing worldwide. Usage of these devices has been associated with addiction and adverse emotional states. This study employs a mixed methods approach to study these relationships in an Australian sample. The study comprised of 164 participants aged between 18–70 who completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Seven participants were also interviewed providing answers of a qualitative nature. Smartphone addiction significantly predicted higher levels of smartphone usage. Additionally, smartphone addiction, and distractibility also significantly predicted higher levels of stress, depression and anxiety. Qualitative results identified themes such as convenience, time of the day and activities in relation to smartphone usage as well as short-and long-term effects of this usage. Findings indicated that both distraction and addiction have an influence in the use of smartphones and that an increased usage has detrimental consequences to emotional health. Themes such as dependence and temptation and interferences appear congruent and consistent with the results of scales used.     

End of living: maintaining a lifeworld during terminal illness

The narrative responses of 32 people with AIDS or cancer with survival prognoses of 6 months to a year to monthly interview questions about their daily lives were analysed with a team-based qualitative methodology. Two groups emerged: (a) a Maintained Lifeworld Group characterised by one or more of the following: continued engagement with family, friends, and community; the ability to relinquish untenable goals and substitute new, realistic ones; engagement in spirituality and a spiritual practice; and, (b) a Lifeworld Interrupted Group characterised by one or more of the following: relocation just before or during the study, cognitive impairment, commitment to untenable goals, ongoing substance abuse. Understanding how people with a terminal illness can maintain a lifeworld and experience well-being while also managing the physical challenges of their illness could help inform the support offered by professional and family caregivers to improve care recipients’ quality of life.     

The Impact of Perceived Corporate Citizenship on Organizational Cynicism,OCB, and Employee Deviance

This study examines the effects of corporate citizenship at the individual employee level. Four distinct contributions beyond the existing literature are offered. First, the relationship between perceived corporate citizenship (PCC) and employee organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is further clarified. Second, the negative job behavior of employee deviance is considered as an outcome. Third, the attitude of organizational cynicism is positioned as a mediator of the relationships between PCC and the job related behaviors of OCB and employee deviance. Fourth, we disaggregate the PCC measure and explore its relationships with organizational cynicism, OCB and employee deviance. Findings illustrate that the four separate dimensions of PCC have differential relationships with the outcome variables.