A parameter analysis method for the weight‐set to satisfy preference orders of alternatives in additive multi‐criteria value models

In the context of the additive multi‐criteria value model, this paper investigates how the set of criteria weights (weight‐set hereafter) can be determined according to the preference orders of alternatives given by the decision maker. A construction method is proposed for the weight‐set for different intervals of β, where β is a differential amount of value between the preference information on two alternatives. The results of this paper are important for sensitivity analysis in multi‐criteria decision making (MCDM) problems and multi‐criteria group decision analysis. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Materialism and the Bright and Dark Sides of the Financial Dream in Spain: The Positive Role of Money Attitudes—The Matthew Effect

Research suggests that materialism leads to the dark side of the financial dream. In this study, we treat love of money as a mediator and test a theoretical model's direct path (Materialism to Financial Satisfaction) and indirect path (Materialism to Love of Money to Financial Satisfaction) simultaneously using the whole sample and across several demographic variables based on 1,011 citizens in Spain. Results for the whole sample showed that the positive indirect effect suppressed the negative direct effect creating an overall small positive effect. Furthermore, we found a significant negative direct path for rural dwellers, the 30–44‐year‐old age group, and married people, but a positive indirect path for rural residents, the 45–59‐year‐old age group, married, males, and urban dwellers. Overall, those in the 30–44 age group, rural residents, and married people experienced the dark side of the financial dream, whereas old (over‐60 age group), unmarried, urban, and young people (18–29 age group) enjoyed the bright side of their financial optimism. People's money attitudes and demographic variables play a positive role in our understanding of materialism and financial satisfaction, i.e. the Matthew Effect. Our novel, counterintuitive, and original theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions foster theory development and testing and improved practice.     

Clarifying the Role of Psychological Pain in the Risks of Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Acts among Patients with Major Depressive Episodes

The role of psychological pain in the risk of suicide was explored using a three‐dimensional psychological pain model (pain arousal, painful feelings, pain avoidance). The sample consisted of 111 outpatients with major depressive episodes, including 28 individuals with suicidal histories. They completed the Chinese version of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Psychache Scale, and the three‐dimensional Psychological Pain Scale (TDPPS). A structured clinical interview was conducted to assess the history of suicidal acts. Significant correlations were found among BDI, BSI, and TDPPS scores (p < .01). Stepwise regression analyses showed that only pain avoidance scores significantly predicted suicide ideation at one's worst point (β = .79, p < .001) and suicidal acts (β = .46, p < .001). Pain avoidance was also a better predictor of current suicidal ideation (β = .37, p = .001) than were BDI scores (β = .31, p < .01). Increased levels of pain avoidance during a major depressive episode may be a dominant component of the motivation for suicide. Future clinical assessments for populations at high risk of suicide should include measures of psychological pain to reduce the incidence of suicide.     

Culture and Testing Practices: Is the World Flat?

There has been much speculation regarding the influence of cultural norms on the acceptance and use of personnel selection testing. This study examined the cross‐level direct effects of four societal cultural variables (performance orientation, future orientation, uncertainty avoidance, and tightness–looseness) on selection practices of organisations in 23 countries. A total of 1,153 HR professionals responded to a survey regarding testing practices in hiring contexts. Overall, little evidence of a connection between cultural practices and selection practices emerged. Implications of these findings for personnel selection and cross‐cultural research as well as directions for future work in this area are described.     

国家宗教事务局局长叶小文看望慰问中国道教协会负责人

1月6日上午全国政协民族和宗教委员会主任田聪明、副主任周明甫、专职副主任邓宗良,在民宗委办公室副主任卫元琪等的陪同下来到北京白云观,看望慰问中国道教协会负责人,向全国道教界表示节日的问候和新春的祝福.     

作为社会管理主体的行政及其伦理取向

从存在意义上说,行政对应的是社会,是社会管理的主体,所以,行政角色来源于社会的规定.行政只是社会的填充型结构,它置身社会之中,利用专业知识判断为社会服务.如果它不能被证明是有效且公正地完成其职能的话,行政的合法性就会受到挑战.行政伦理取向就在于服务社会,以促成社会活力和社会功能合理化.社会性的角色也要求行政伦理应为解决行政过程中引起的伦理冲突创造一个对话的平台,保证每一个相关人员的充分介入,进行有深度的交流,才能达成具有普遍意义且令当事人满意的伦理共识.     

女性人格特征的服装服饰刻板印象研究

采用服装服饰偏好语义区分量表对与女性人格特征相关联的服装服饰刻板印象进行了研究。实验由１０７名男女大学生，针对给定的刺激人物的四种不同人格特征，在服装服饰量表上作出印象判断。结果证实，存在与不同人格特点相关联的服装服饰刻板印象，并揭示出在四种人格特征的服装服饰刻板印象中，所存在的具体的服饰符号特征。实验还发现，服装服饰刻板印象中存在着性别差异。作为知觉者的女性对女性刺激人物的印象较作为知觉者的男性表现出极端化的特点。