Analogue Mental Transformations in 3‐Year‐Olds: Introducing a New Mental Rotation Paradigm Suitable for Young Children

Until now, a successful application of the mental rotation paradigm was restricted to children 5 years or older. By contrast, recent findings suggest that even infants can perform mental rotation. Unlike the methods used in infant studies (looking time), our new research paradigm allows for the measurement and interpretation of reaction times. Kindergartners (aged 3–6 years) were presented with a stimulus configuration on a touchscreen and asked to bring a rotated stimulus into an upright position using the shortest path. Mean reaction time (RT) increased linearly with angular disparity. The ensuing linear trend was significant not only for the entire sample but also for the youngest age group analysed separately. To exclude the possibility that linearity was due to movement planning, 3‐year‐olds had to manually rotate a stimulus about the same trajectory without the need for a corresponding mental transformation in a second experiment. Here, no linear trend was observed. These results are interpreted as evidence for an analogue mental transformation in 3‐year‐olds, equal to the transformation processes in older children's and adults' mental rotation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Joint response–effect compatibility

When performing jointly on a task, human agents are assumed to represent their coactor’s share of this task, and research in various joint action paradigms has focused on representing the coactor’s stimulus–response assignments. Here we show that the response–effect (R–E) contingencies exploited by a coactor also affect performance, and thus might be represented as if they were used by oneself. Participants performed an R–E compatibility task, with keypresses producing spatially compatible or incompatible action effects. We did not observe any R–E compatibility effects when the task was performed in isolation (individual go–no-go). By contrast, small but reliable R–E compatibility effects emerged when the same task was performed in a joint setting. These results indicate that the knowledge of a coactor’s R–E contingencies can influence whether self-produced action effects are used for one’s own motor control.     

Topografie der Jugenddelinquenz

The article shows that the registered juvenile delinquency has decreased in recent years. Serious violent crime partially exists, but this is only a small part of the overall juvenile delinquency. Forms of appearance of these violent crimes are outlined. With the help of a dark field study it is illustrated that there is a great variety of delinquency among young people. There are young people showing mostly law-abiding behavior, infrequent offenders and a group with a significant burden of crimes.     

Binaural loudness gain measured by simple reaction time

In order to yield equal loudness, different studies using scaling or matching methods have found binaural level differences between monaural and diotic presentations ranging from less than 2 dB to as much as 10 dB. In the present study, a reaction time methodology was employed to measure the binaural level difference producing equal reaction time (BLDERT). Participants had to respond to the onset of 1-kHz pure tones with sound pressure levels ranging from 45 to 85 dB, and being presented to the right, the left, or both ears. Equal RTs for monaural and diotic presentation (BLDERTs) were obtained with a level difference of approximately 5 dB. A second experiment showed that different results obtained for the left and right ear are largely due to the responding hand, with ipsilateral responses being faster than contralateral ones. A third experiment investigated the BLDERT for dichotic stimuli, tracing the transition between binaural and monaural stimulation. The results of all three RT experiments are consistent with current models of binaural loudness and contradict earlier claims of perfect binaural summation.     

Kulturphilosophie und Kulturanthropologie als Transzendentalphänomenologie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Behandlungsmotivation und Indikation von Psychotherapie

Concepts and results of research into treatment motivation under psychotherapy are discussed with regard to the question whether decisions for indications on the basis of the motivational characteristics of patients are reasonable. Established concepts and broader theories of treatment motivation as well as diagnostic tools for the assessment are presented. Subsequently, empirical results for the effects of motivational factors on the maintenance and success of psychotherapy are briefly sketched. Approaches aimed at the enhancement of treatment motivation before and during psychotherapeutic processes are then illustrated. Finally, it is emphasized that, in turn, features of individual therapeutic processes may provide a basis for the indication of motivational enhancement interventions, thus supporting the notion of a dynamic nature of treatment motivation.