The honeymoon effect in job performance: temporal increases in the predictive power of achievement motivation

Correlations between a job performance criterion and personality measures reflecting achievement motivation and an interpersonal orientation were examined at three points in time after completion of job training for a sample of airline reservations agents. Although correlations between the personality predictors and performance were small and nonsignificant for the 3-month period after beginning the job, by the end of 6 and 8 months a number of significant relationships had emerged. Implications for the utility of personality measures in selection and performance prediction are discussed.     

The effect of negative stimulus presentations on observing-response rates

Theories of observing differ in predicting whether or not a signal for absence of reinforcement (S−) is capable of reinforcing observing responses. Experiments in which S− was first removed from and then restored to the procedure have yielded mixed results. The present experiments suggest that failure to control for the direct effect of presenting S− may have been responsible. Pigeons and operant procedures were used. Experiment 1 showed that presentations of S−, even when not contingent on observing, can raise the rate of an observing response that was reinforced only by presentations of a signal (S+) that accompanied a schedule of food delivery. Experiment 2 showed that this effect resulted from bursts of responding that followed offsets of S−. Experiment 3 showed that, when the presence of S− was held constant, lower rates occurred when S− was dependent on, rather than independent of, observing. These results support theories that characterize S− as incapable of reinforcing observing responses.     

Units of analysis and kinetic structure of behavioral repertoires

It is suggested that molar streams of behavior are constructed of various arrangements of three elementary constituents (elicited, evoked, and emitted response classes). An eight-cell taxonomy is elaborated as a framework for analyzing and synthesizing complex behavioral repertoires based on these functional units. It is proposed that the local force binding functional units into a smoothly articulated kinetic sequence arises from temporally arranged relative response probability relationships. Behavioral integration is thought to reflect the joint influence of the organism's hierarchy of relative response probabilities, fluctuating biological states, and the arrangement of environmental and behavioral events in time.     

实用主义与哲学的命运

C.G.普拉多的《罗蒂的实用主义》一文(载《对话》杂志1983年22卷3期,本文引文均来自该文)是许多十分准确评价罗蒂著作意向的文章的一篇。他恰当地指出:罗蒂的目的在于取消哲学的传统和它所关心的问題。但是,如果普拉多以为罗蒂在这方面获得了成功,那他就错了。普拉多承认:取消     

论科学中的哲学要素和哲学的科学特性

显然,我们称为哲学的东西,不是以所谓实证科学方式存在的科学。并不是哲学沿着它独自研究的其他科学的规范研究领域,拥有一种实证的资料,因为哲学必须研究全体。但是,这个全体并不象任何其他全体那样,仅仅是包含了它的一切部分的全体。作为这个全体,它是一种超越各种知识的有限可能性的观念,因此,我们不能以一种科学的方法去认识它。然而,谈论哲学的科学特性,仍然很有意义。有人常以哲学指象独特的世界观这样一些主观的、奥秘的问题的集合,这种独特的世界观想象自身无需要求科学的地位。同这样一种见解相反,哲学理应能被称为科学的,因为尽管它同实证科学有各种差异,它对实证科学仍然具有一种亲缘联系,     

人类的六项使命

1.行动时刻正如我不断重复的,一切都表明,人类体系已进入一个巨大的变革和转折的时期。从人类的黎明开始,危机和混乱在以前就发生过许多次了,虽然从来没有今天这样大的规模,其影响也不能同目前人类的飞速发展和进步的结果相比。但是,既然目前所发生的转折是史无前例的,因而我们比以往任何时候更不能预言实际上我们将会面临什么样的命运。而这一点是非常明显的:尽管人类陷入困境只能责怪自己,但它只有一个可以接受的拯救自己的抉择——勇敢地和客观地估量自己全面的处境,然后集中全力去寻找一个全新的行动方向,从而在今后能够支配自己所做的一切。     

社会理论中的批判观念

在那些自认是批判理论家的学者中存在着两个基本争端。(1) 如何构想批判概念,这种概念与解说(Erklaren)和理解(Verstehen)有着怎样的关系?(2) 哪些社会生活领域应该成为批判的首要鹄的? 如果人们将社会批判理论仅仅归结为法兰克福社会研究所及其追随者们的工作,那么,     

精神分裂症病人的几个心理卫生问题

一、问题精神分裂症多发于青少年或成年的早期,占住院精神病患者的80%以上,长期以来,被认为是精神医学的重大课题。本症,自E.Kraepelin 于1898年提出“早发性痴呆”的概念到E.Bleuler 1911年改名为“精神分裂症”以来,已经七、八十年了。尽管人们对于它的病因和发病机理还缺乏一致的认识,但在治疗方面仍取得了较大的进展。原来,精神病人多数长期关在医院里,得不到有效的治疗和照顾。精神     

关于中小学生情绪动因的调查研究

目的情绪是影响人的行为的主要因素。儿童的情感、情绪的发展,对其健康、学习和个性的形成起着重大作用。教育实践表明,很多儿童学习落后或品行不良,常常是由于一些不良的情感体验所引起。因此,探明中小学生情绪发生的原因,对培养他们良好的情感、形成积极的个性是十分必要的。关于情绪动因的研究,目前国内外心理学界多见于描述。对这一问题能否作数量分析,我们想进行一下大胆的尝试,通过问卷调查,对中小学生情绪发生的原因及这些原因在不同年龄的结构做一些初步探讨,以便为中小学教育实践提供一点参考资料,并为开展中小学情绪问题的研究起一个抛砖引玉的作用。