Something in the way we move: Motion dynamics, not perceived sex, influence head movements in conversation

During conversation, women tend to nod their heads more frequently and more vigorously than men. An individual speaking with a woman tends to nod his or her head more than when speaking with a man. Is this due to social expectation or due to coupled motion dynamics between the speakers? We present a novel methodology that allows us to randomly assign apparent identity during free conversation in a video-conference, thereby dissociating apparent sex from motion dynamics. The method uses motion-tracked synthesized avatars that are accepted by naive participants as being live video. We find that 1) motion dynamics affect head movements but that apparent sex does not; 2) judgments of sex are driven almost entirely by appearance; and 3) ratings of masculinity and femininity rely on a combination of both appearance and dynamics. Together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis of separate perceptual streams for appearance and biological motion. In addition, our results are consistent with a view that head movements in conversation form a low level perception and action system that can operate independently from top-down social expectations.     

Growing Up Wired: Social Networking Sites and Adolescent Psychosocial Development

Since the advent of social networking site (SNS) technologies, adolescents’ use of these technologies has expanded and is now a primary way of communicating with and acquiring information about others in their social network. Overall, adolescents and young adults’ stated motivations for using SNSs are quite similar to more traditional forms of communication—to stay in touch with friends, make plans, get to know people better, and present oneself to others. We begin with a summary of theories that describe the role of SNSs in adolescents’ interpersonal relationships, as well as common methodologies used in this field of research thus far. Then, with the social changes that occur throughout adolescence as a backdrop, we address the ways in which SNSs intersect with key tasks of adolescent psychosocial development, specifically peer affiliation and friendship quality, as well as identity development. Evidence suggests that SNSs differentially relate to adolescents’ social connectivity and identity development, with sociability, self-esteem, and nature of SNS feedback as important potential moderators. We synthesize current findings, highlight unanswered questions, and recommend both methodological and theoretical directions for future research.     

Do hospital treatments represent a ‘teachable moment’ for quitting smoking? A study from a stage-theoretical perspective

Hospital treatments are assumed to be a ‘teachable moment’. This phenomenon, however, is only poorly conceptualised and untested. A stage-theoretical perspective implies that a cueing event such as hospital treatments is a teachable moment if a stage progression, change of cognitions, or both occur. This concept is examined in a cross-sectional study by comparing smokers in two treatment settings, an emergency department (ED) and inpatient treatment after elective surgery, with smokers in a control setting. Setting differences were hypothesised in stage distribution, and levels of and stage differences in social-cognitive factors under control for possible confounders. Stage, social-cognitive factors and possible confounders were assessed in 185 ED smokers, 193 inpatient smokers and 290 control smokers. Compared to control smokers, ED and inpatient smokers were in higher stages; they perceived fewer risks and cons; inpatient smokers reported more concrete plans. Stage differences in self-efficacy among ED and inpatient smokers differed from those among control smokers, but the former corresponded more strongly to the theoretical stage assumptions. The results suggest that hospital treatments lead to a stage progression and change of corresponding cognitions, and thus represent a ‘teachable moment’. Stage-matched interventions should be provided but consider differences in cognitions to be effective.     

Microstructural features of phase transformation in a binary Pd–Si metallic glass

Glassy ribbons of Pd–Si alloys were prepared by a combination of melt spinning and flux treatment. The crystallization behaviour of a Pd₈₁Si₁₉ glassy alloy was studied through isothermal annealing at temperatures ranging lower than the glass-transition temperature T _g to around the onset of crystallization. The evolution of microstructures arising from isothermal annealing was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy ((HR)TEM). XRD spectra showed that, after the sample was annealed at a sub-T _g temperature, its first diffraction peak was split into two overlapping broad peaks. TEM analysis revealed the formation of a spherical, particle-like glassy phase embedded in the glassy matrix together with a finely connected network morphology within both. Combining these observations with compositional analysis suggested that phase separation had taken place during sub-T _g annealing. When the glassy alloy was annealed at temperatures higher than T _g, nanocrystalline structures, composed of Pd₃Si and Pd phases plus a Pd₉Si₂ phase with a lamellar structure, was formed.     

Complicating Counterspaces: Intersectionality and the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival

The counterspaces framework articulated by Case and Hunter (2012), follows from community psychology's long‐standing interest in the potential for settings to promote well‐being and liberatory responses to oppression. This framework proposes that certain settings (i.e., “counterspaces”) facilitate a specific set of processes that promote the well‐being of marginalized groups. We argue that an intersectional analysis is crucial to understand whether and how counterspaces achieve these goals. We draw from literature on safe spaces and present a case study of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (Michfest) to illustrate the value of an intersectional analysis and explore how these processes operate. Based on 20 in‐person interviews, 23 responses to an online survey, and ethnographic field notes, we show how Michfest was characterized by a particular intersection of identities at the setting level, and intersectional diversity complicated experiences at the individual level. Moreover, intersectional identities provided opportunities for dialogue and change at the setting level, including the creation of counterspaces within counterspaces. Overall, we demonstrate the need to attend to intersectionality in counterspaces, and more broadly in how we conceptualize settings in community psychology.     

从青少年学生的评价看教师的人格结构

本研究以班为单位,要求1594名大、中、小学生采用《青少年学生评价教师人格特质形容词捡核表》对自己理想中的教师人格特质进行评定,结果显示学生们对教师人格特质的评价维度是：高尚／进取、慈爱/公正、客观／求真、外向／开朗、退缩/粗暴、内向／怪异、损人俐己,前四个维度是学生们喜欢的,后三个维度是学生们不喜欢的。学生们对教师人格的评价存在着年龄、性别和学科上的差异。     

Does suppressing negative emotion impair subsequent emotions? Two experience sampling studies

Motivation and Emotion - Suppression is one of the most commonly studied emotion-regulation strategies and a variety of studies have shown that suppression of emotions is associated with adverse...     

异性拒绝对大学生择偶行为的长期影响:基于社会计量器理论的探讨

运用问卷调查法以339名大学生为研究对象,基于社会计量器理论探讨异性拒绝经历和择偶价值感对大学生择偶行为的长期影响。研究发现:(1)女大学生的择偶标准显著高于男大学生,男大学生的择偶行为倾向略高于女大学生;(2)异性拒绝经历与择偶价值感、择偶标准、择偶行为倾向呈负相关,择偶价值感与择偶标准、择偶行为倾向呈显著正相关;(3)异性拒绝经历可以显著负向预测大学生的择偶行为,择偶价值感在异性拒绝经历对大学生择偶行为影响中起部分中介作用,但其发挥作用的方式存在性别差异。这一结果表明,择偶价值感是一种重要的缓冲因素,可以在一定程度上缓解异性拒绝给大学生择偶行为带来的负面影响。     

Experimental induction of emotional conditions--alternatives to the Velten method]

The technique most often used to induce emotion is based on self-referent statements read by the subjects (Velten, 1968). This technique is known to be of intermediate efficiency. Therefore film and hypnosis-like procedures were investigated as alternative techniques. Efficiency was tested using two selected scales of a mood questionnaire (SES by Hampel, 1977). The subjects were male and female students. Both alternative procedures allowed us to induce significant changes in Ss' moods. The film method was more efficient than the Velten-technique in inducing a negative mood, whereas it was equally efficient in inducing a positive mood. The hypnosis-like procedure, however, was not more efficient than the Velten-technique. Obviously film is a quite efficient and easy applicable alternative technique to induce moods.     

Experimental induction of emotional states--does addition of music improve self disclosure?

Two procedures to experimentally induce negative and neutral emotional states are compared: self-referent emotional statements (Velten, 1968) presented alone vs. combined with music. For female subjects selected according to their baseline mood, it could be shown that negative statements alone induced anger whereas in combination with music they evoked sadness, i.e. dependent on the procedure applied, the quality of the induced negative emotion changed. For the induction of a neutral state the combined procedure proved to be superior, especially to reduce a positive baseline mood.