Norm-Narrowing and Self- and Other-Perceived Aggression in Early-Adolescent Same-Sex and Mixed-Sex Cliques

We examined the relations between group context and self- and other-perceptions of aggressive behavior in an ethnically-diverse sample of 168 male and female grade 7 adolescents. We used self- and peer-reports of aggression in high- and average-aggressive mixed-sex and same-sex cliques to examine whether group members would assimilate their self-report of aggression to the aggression report of their peers by way of perceived homophily or, conversely, engage in contrast and see their level of aggression as comparatively low in the face of high-aggression peers. Among boys in mixed-sex groups, comparison with highly-aggressive others resulted in a self-perception of lower levels of aggression than those perceived by their peers. Conversely, girls in mixed-sex groups reported their own levels of aggression to be higher than those perceived by their peers. We interpret these findings in terms of the notion of “norm narrowing”: rather than being set by the larger social environment, such as the school, norms are more narrowly determined within one's immediate peer group.     

Influence of mapping complexity on negative priming for incompatible spatial mappings

For tasks with an incompatible stimulus-response mapping, whether the compatible response must be inhibited paradigm for four-choice tasks with three different incompatible spatial mappings. For a mapping that did not follow a simple rule, reaction time was lengthened when the corresponding response on the preceding trial became the required response on the current trial, as compared with when it did not, showing a negative priming effect. However, for mappings that followed a simple rule, negative priming was not evident. The present study extends this research to a more complex mapping. On the basis of a two-process model adopted from the negative priming literature, we hypothesized that high mapping complexity should also diminish the negative priming effect for incompatible mappings, because the balance of cognitive resources is allocated to identification of the correct response. Two experiments are reported in which mappings of different complexity were used in six-choice spatial tasks. Analyses of reaction times showed that negative priming diminished with increased mapping complexity, apparently due to increased dominance of response identification processes, rather than inhibition of the corresponding response.     

Choices in Life: A Clinical Tool for Facilitating Midlife Review

A critical developmental task of midlife involves reviewing one's past as well as preparing for one's future. The ability to identify past choices, task responsibility for them, and utilize developing patterns in future decision making is seen as a critical component of continued adult development. The Choicemap offers a structured clinical tool to guide such a midlife review. Engaging in this process assists adults in developing choicemaking skills, and provides a powerful clinical intervention.     

The mechanist and the snail

Conclusion Using an example drawn from evolutionary biology, I have shown that distinct, competing explanations may nonetheless postulate identical networks of causal processes and interactions. It follows from this that to provide a causal explanation is to do more than describe a network of causal processes and interactions. In the example given, it seems that the proffered explanations also purport to describe probabilistic causal relations of the sort rejected by Salmon.     

7. The Hero's Return

ABSTRACT Chapter 7 discusses the synthesis of the five-factor and life-story models into an integrative model that is applied to the case study of Dodge Morgan. Such integration allows new ways of thinking, considers multiple levels of analysis, and solves problems that cannot be approached by either model individually. Through the combined lenses of these trait and phenomenological models, one can not only view an individual personality at a higher level of abstraction, but also achieve a different understanding of the models themselves. We discuss the impact of the voyage on Morgan's psychological development; we also analyze post-voyage assessments and personal documents with reference to consistency and change, personal meaning, and the balancing of agentic and communal motivations.     

8. Reflections on the Journey

ABSTRACT In the context of the Dodge Morgan case study, we discuss holistic analysis of personality. In such analysis, apparently separate, even contradictory, approaches can be integrated to produce a metalevel understanding. In our analysis, a trait and a phenomenological model worked effectively in concert; qualitative and quantitative analyses produced a fruitful synergy. We consider the implications of multilevel understanding of personality for future investigations. We also consider the limitations of personality theory with respect to the construct of personality change, as well as the changes in the investigators' perspectives that occurred over the period of study of the Morgan data.     

1. Introduction

ABSTRACT In this article, we introduce the case study of Dodge Morgan, who, at the age of 54, completed a nonstop, solo circumnavigation of the earth in his boat American Promise. Our investigation builds upon a unique foundation of qualitative and quantitative data, which includes extensive formal assessments, content analysis of Morgan's voyage log, additional autobiographical material, and diverse collateral biographical sources. We describe our intent of applying two theoretical models of personality, the five-factor model and the life-story model, to the data, and present an overview of their differing perspectives and predictions. We discuss technical challenges of methodology and integration, and introduce the subsequent chapters comprising the full case study.