Walking speed and global cognition: results from the OKLAHOMA Study

Executive functioning and processing speed have been related to physical functioning in non-demented, elderly samples; however, the relationship between walking speed and global cognition has not been examined. Six hundred and seventy-five community dwelling older adults were enrolled through their primary care physicians. Walking speed was assessed on a 50-foot course at usual pace. Global cognition was assessed with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Total Scale score. After adjusting for age, gender, and education, there was a strong inverse relationship between walking speed and global cognition, with slower walkers performing worse on the cognitive measures, faster walkers performing better on the cognitive measures, and the intermediate walkers performing in the middle. In these older adults, global cognition was related to walking speed.     

Applications of the theory of meaningfulness to psychology

The theory of meaningfulness of statements using numerical scales is summarized. Applications of this theory are surveyed. These deal with average performance, importance ratings, statistical tests, indices of consumer confidence, psychophysical scaling, block modeling of social structure, structural modeling in decision making, and the analysis of order and matching experiments.     

Being imitated, conformity, and social influence: An integrative review

The recently developed literature on the effects of being imitated and the social influence function of imitation are reviewed, as is related literature on conformity from social psychology. Then, this research is considered within a number of theoretical contexts, but especially within the conceptual framework of Byrne's elaboration of effectance motivation. Finally, questions are raised which need to be addressed in future research.     

Nonverbal Behavioral Indicators of Negative Affect in Couple Interaction

Affect has been identified across numerous research studies to be a vital element in understanding couple relationship processes. Affect has been shown to distinguish between satisfied and dissatisfied couples and to be important in understanding processes leading to relationship dissolution. However, research has not yet uncovered nonverbal indicators that a couple is experiencing negative affect compared to other affective states. In this study we sought to identify specific nonverbal behaviors associated with different affective states. Results suggested that differences in looking-behavior and smiling can be used to identify affect states during couple communication. We outline how the results can aid couples therapy interventions.     

Similarity and attraction effects in episodic memory judgments

In the decision-making literature, it is known that preferences between two options can be influenced in different ways by the introduction of a third option. We investigated whether such influences could be demonstrated when making decisions about qualitative aspects of episodic memories. In a baseline condition, participants were asked which of two dissimilar events they remembered more vividly: (A) a well-known Olympic victory, or (B) the death of a well-known public figure. In two further conditions, a third event was added: (C) an Olympic victory similar and competitive to A, or (D) an Olympic victory similar but inferior to A. With the addition of C, participants were less likely to choose A than B (similarity effect), whereas with the addition of D, they were more likely to choose A than B (attraction effect), suggesting that effects known in decision-making can be generalised to relative judgments about episodic memories.