When head is tempered by heart: Heart rate variability modulates perception of other-blame reducing anger

This study examined the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), as an index of individual differences in emotion regulation, and perception of other-blame, as a mechanism of anger induction. The physiological responses were recorded while subjects read a story from a computer screen. The story narrated a negative event in self-referred way -dismissal from a job as the result of a colleague’s action- under conditions of intentionality versus non-intentionality. Cognitive and emotional variables were assessed by questionnaire immediately after the physiological test. The resulting structural model supports the conclusion that HRV exerts its regulatory influence directly on perception of other-blame rather than on emotion. In situations of intentionality, individuals with higher HRV make less extreme evaluation of the offender’s blame, versus those with lower HRV, thus leading to a reduction in anger reaction. These results suggest that HRV is a direct index of cognitive rather than emotional regulation.     

Factorial invariance of the theory of planned behavior applied to physical activity across gender,age, and ethnic groups

Objectives:The present study assessed the generalizability of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) applied to physical activity and to examine if the TPB operates equivalently across gender, age, and ethnic sub-groups.Design/Methods:Measurement equivalence was evaluated for gender (male/female), age (19–34/35–54/55+) and ethnicity (Japanese/Hawaiian or part Hawaiian/Filipino/White) in a random sample (n = 3533) using Multisample Structural Equation Modeling.Results:Measurement equivalence was found for all variables and for their intercorrelations. Of the 100 possible TPB variable relationships between groups, only 6 were significant. The differences were found in explained variances of physical activity.Conclusions:The findings indicate that TPB measures apply over a range of population sub-groups, and should be considered comprehensively when designing interventions.     

Token Majority: The Work Attitudes of Male Flight Attendants

This study examined the work experiences of men, a traditional workplace majority, as minority members of a female-dominated occupation. We used tokenism and social categorization theories to propose and test a set of hypotheses that link token status (a less than 15% minority) with male flight attendants' work attitudes through intervening psychological and job factors. Survey data from a sample of 236 male and female flight attendants supported a model in which a negative relationship between token status and the work attitudes of job satisfaction and organizational attachment was mediated by low self-esteem, increased role ambiguity, and poor job fit. The uncovering of these previously unmeasured intervening variables strengthens theoretical connections between demography and work outcomes and suggests leverage points for improving the work attitudes of individuals in the minority.     

Using statistical risk information to assess oral contraceptive safety

The effect of variations in the presentation of oral contraceptive risk information on perceived safety was investigated. Four tests of the hypothesis that consumers focus on the absolute value of the numbers presented when assessing risk probabilities were performed with the following results: (1) when base rates are given, risks are perceived as less likely than when base rates are not given; (2) risks seem smaller when the information provided focuses on the number that will not die than when the number of expected deaths is presented; (3) contrary to our expectation, respondents do not focus on foreground numbers when risk was represented in an ‘X out of Y occurrences’ format; (4) respondents judged a risk of ‘4.15 times greater’ as less likely than when the information was presented as ‘415% greater risk’. We concluded that consumers convert statistical risk information into judgements about the magnitude of the number presented (small or large number) and utilize this more meaningful information when making risk judgements.     

Resurgence of derived stimulus relations.

Resurgence has been shown in human and nonhuman operant behavior, but not in derived relational responses. The present study examined this issue. Twenty-three undergraduates were trained to make conditional discriminations in a three-choice matching-to-sample paradigm. The training resulted in three equivalence classes, each consisting of four arbitrarily configured visual stimuli. The same 12 stimuli were then reorganized, and the conditional discrimination training was repeated such that three new classes were possible. In a subsequent test of derived relations, most subjects showed response patterns that were consistent with the altered conditional discriminations. Subjects were then exposed to conditional discrimination trials under extinction. Most subjects continued to respond consistently with the most recently reinforced conditional discrimination trials. During the next phase, subjects were exposed to symmetry and equivalence trials. Responses consistent with the most recent training produced feedback saying that the responses were incorrect, whereas other responses produced no feedback. Most subjects showed a resurgence of responding that was consistent with their earlier training. Finally, subjects were exposed to conditional discrimination trials carried out in extinction. Most subjects continued to show a resurgence of responding that was consistent with their early training.     

Anatomical Specialization of the Anterior Motor Speech Area: Hemispheric Differences in Magnopyramidal Neurons

The lateralization of motor speech function to the left hemisphere is supported by multiple lines of evidence, but relatively little is known about the anatomical basis of that specialization. In a preliminary study, we recently reported that area 45 of the left hemisphere (Broca′s area) contained a subpopulation of magnopyramidal neurons which were significantly larger than any seen in the homotopic region of the right hemisphere (Hayes and Lewis, 1993a). In the present study we examined a larger sample of cases in order to determine how consistently this difference is present in the population, if it is specific to Broca′s area or is a general feature of cortical regions mediating lateralized functions, and whether the subpopulation of large magnopyramidal neurons in left area 45 can be distinguished by their chemical phenotype. In Nissl-stained sections from 19 human brains, the mean (±SD) cross-sectional area of the largest layer III pyramidal neurons in area 45 was significantly (p < .0001) greater in the left hemisphere (522.1 ± 128.3 μm²) than in the right (454.1 ± 121.5 μm²). This interhemispheric difference appeared to be a unique characteristic of the largest neurons, since the mean size of all layer III pyramids in this area was not significantly different in the left (206.2 ± 93.5 μm²) and right (213.3 ± 103.9 μm²) hemispheres. In contrast to area 45, there was no interhemispheric difference in the mean cross-sectional area of the largest layer III pyramids in another lateralized region, primary motor cortex. in addition, in area 46, a region of prefrontal association cortex not known to be functionally lateralized, the mean somal size of the largest layer III pyramidal neurons was significantly (p < .001) smaller in the left hemisphere (402.4 ± 84.9 μm²) than in the right (437.8 ± 88.3 μm²). Finally, although the large layer III pyramids in area 45 were immunoreactive for nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein in both hemispheres, the mean cross-sectional area of the largest labeled neurons was significantly larger (p < .002) in the left hemisphere (525.2 ± 149.0 μm²) than in the right (490.3 ± 154.1 μm²). These findings demonstrate that layer III of Broca′s area contains a distinctive subpopulation of neurons that may play an important role in the specific functional architecture of this region.     

A self-capitalization model for building behavior analysis graduate programs

The development of the Behavior Analysis Program at the University of Nevada through self-capitalization is described. With this model, both doctoral and master's degree programs were established at almost no cost to the university. Some of the problems encountered along the way, including gaining support for the original proposal, attracting and retaining high-quality faculty, engendering support from the Department of Psychology and the university, developing resources, and balancing academic with entrepreneurial demands are discussed, as are the solutions we have found for those problems.     

Attributions of Responsibility for Memory Problems in Older and Younger Adults

This study investigated older and younger persons' responsibility attributions for the cause of and solution to a memory problem and, for comparison, a weight problem. Traditional college-age students (n = 116) and persons over 65 years of age (n = 98) read a vignette describing either a 25-year-old or 65-year-old who had a memory or weight problem. Results indicated that both the age of the help-seeker and problem type affected attributions. Specifically, the 65-year-old was perceived to be less responsible than the 25-year-old for the cause of and solution to a memory problem. In addition, help-seekers with a memory problem were held less responsible for causing and solving their problem than were help-seekers with a weight problem.