Pilot study for assessing the behaviors of patients with schizophrenia towards a virtual avatar.

This study examined whether a virtual avatar could be perceived as a real human by patients with mental disease, especially schizophrenia, as well as whether a virtual avatar could be applied to acquiring patients' behavior characteristics in a short conversation situation. The virtual avatar has been used for various applications which need to communicate with other person or to train or educate by showing humanlike behavior. Recently, many researches have shown that the virtual avatar technology has been enhanced and the avatar could be perceived like real human. A virtual avatar, standing in a virtual room, was designed for this study. Tasks to approach, initiate a talk, and answer to avatar's questions was assigned to the 11 patients with schizophrenia. As behavioral parameters in the virtual environment, the interpersonal distance and the verbal response time were acquired. In addition, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for patients was administered in order to investigate the relationship between patients' symptomatic characteristics and behavior parameters. The interpersonal distance was negatively correlated with the negative syndrome scale, a subscale of PANSS, which is consistent with previous research reporting the relationship between interpersonal distance and a real person's image. The verbal response time, however, was not correlated with any other subscale of PANSS. After analyzing subitems of the negative syndrome of PANSS, two positive correlations were found: one was with blunted affect and the other was with poor rapport. We concluded that the virtual avatar could be perceived as a real human by schizophrenic patients and the avatar could draw the schizophrenic patients' behavior characteristics.     

Prediction of goal orientation and perceived competence on intensity and direction of precompetitive anxiety among adolescent handball players

This study explored the main and interactive effects of goal orientations and perceived competence on intensity and direction of the symptoms of precompetitive cognitive and somatic anxiety. 109 handball players from 16 high school teams (M = 16.2 yr., SD = 1.5) participated. All were asked to complete the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, Perceived Competence Questionnaire, and a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2. Using separated multiple hierarchical regression analyses, direction of the symptoms of precompetitive somatic anxiety was predicted by perceived competence and interaction of ego orientation x perceived competence. Perceived competence and the interaction of ego orientation x task orientation x perceived competence were significant predictors of direction of the symptoms of precompetitive cognitive anxiety. The results suggest that perceptions of competence and task orientation moderate the relationship between ego orientation and direction of the symptoms of precompetitive anxiety.     

Morgenbesser’s Coin, Counterfactuals, and Causal Versus Probabilistic Independence

It is widely held that, as Morgenbesser’s case is usually taken to show, considerations of causal or probabilistic dependence should enter into the evaluation of counterfactuals. This paper challenges that idea. I present a modified version of Morgenbesser’s case and show how probabilistic approaches to counterfactuals are in serious trouble. Specifically, I show how probabilistic approaches run into a dilemma in characterizing probabilistic independence. The modified case also illustrates a difficulty in defining causal independence. I close with a suggestion for a strategy to handle this difficulty.     

社会认知复杂性的量化指标及其关系

在Kelly个人构念理论的基础上,Bieri提出用构念的分化程度衡量个体社会认知复杂性的思路,并具体用从不同构念上评价每个角色时评分的匹配个数作为复杂性的最化指标。此后,研究者从不同分析思路提出了一系列新的复杂性指标,如根据对构念的相关分析所得组内相关、RMS、SMC等,基于因素分析所得第一因素解释率、主要因素个数及其解释率等,冲突分析所得整体冲突百分比,此外还有MPP、LPP、ASO等各种Fiedler分数。本研究以402名初中一二年级青少年为被试。采用库格测验收集数据,以Gridstat4．0、Excel、SPSSl0．0等软件统计数据,分析了上述各种复杂性指标的内在关联,为同类研究选择使用这些指标提供了依据。     

Against natural kind eliminativism

Synthese - It has recently been argued that the concept of natural kinds should be eliminated because it does not play a productive theoretical role and even harms philosophical research on...     

Grandiose narcissism,depression and suicide ideation in Chinese and German students

Current Psychology - In Western cultural context, grandiose (overt) narcissism has been shown to be either unrelated or negatively related to negative mental health (depression, suicide ideation)....     

仪表显示器盘面的颜色对检察速度的影响

本文以心理物理实验为基础,从工程心理学角度寻求不同颜色(篮、黄、绿、灰)仪表盘面对检察速度的影响,为制定仪表显示器和集中控制室内的建筑和照明设计提供实验根据。     

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of Depression,Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) across cultures

Cross-culturally measurement invariant instruments are useful for the assessment of mental symptoms across cultures. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) (DASS) across Pakistan and Germany. German participants were recruited through an online survey (N = 1323), while Pakistani participants were recruited through online survey or paper-and-pencil survey (N = 1841). The DASS-21 showed good reliability, construct and structure validity in both countries. The DASS-21 indicated partial weak (stress subscale) and partial strong measurement invariance (depression and anxiety subscales) between both countries. Latent mean comparison of depression and anxiety symptoms between Pakistani and German students indicated that Pakistani university students experience more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results suggest that the DASS-21 could be used in Pakistan and Germany, but caution should be taken when making direct comparisons between the two countries.     

先天性色觉异常的特性及检查方法

本文简单介绍了各种先天性色觉异常的特性及常用的色觉检查方法。不同类型的先天性色觉异常在颜色匹配、光谱感受性、色差辨别等方面均表现出不同的特点,色觉检查方法就是在这些特点的基础上,根据异常者的某一色觉缺陷设计的。常用的检查方法有假同色图测验,色相排列测验和色盲镜等。一般来说,不同的检查方法各有所长,并应用于临床的不同阶段     

Occupational stress in clinical nurses

The present study was based on an integrative work stress model proposed by Cooper and his associates (Cooper et al., 1988), which focused on stress perception and outcomes, as well as potential moderating variables such as personality and coping efforts. Specifically, this article examines occupational stress in clinical nurses who worked in various hospitals in southern Taiwan. When compared with Chinese industrial white and blue-collar workers, nurses experienced higher work stress, more physical and mental ill-health, lower job satisfaction, and also made more efforts to cope with work stress. There were also some interesting differences in types of stressors experienced by nurses and industrial workers.