Evidence of means–end behavior in Asian elephants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elephas maximus</Emphasis>)

The present study explores to what extent Asian elephants show “means–end” behavior. We used captive Asian elephants (N = 2) to conduct four variations of the Piagetian “support” problem, which involves a goal object that is out of reach, but rests on a support within reach. In the first condition, elephants were simultaneously presented with two identical trays serving as the “support”, with the bait on one tray and the other tray left empty. In the next two conditions, the bait was placed on one tray, while additional bait was placed beside the other tray. In the last condition, both trays contained bait, but one of the trays had a small gap which prevented the elephants from reaching the reward. Subjects were required to choose and pull either tray with their trunk and to obtain the bait (i.e. goal). Results showed that one elephant performed all of the support problems significantly above chance after several sessions, suggesting that the elephant was capable of understanding that pulling the tray was the “means” for achieving the “end” of obtaining the bait. This study showed that elephants show means–end behavior when subjected to a Piagetian “support” task, and indicates that such goal-directed behavior occurs in species other than primates.     

Pre‐treatment change in psychotherapy with adult children of problem drinkers: The significance of leaving home

In a qualitative diary study of four adult children of problem drinkers in psychotherapy, it transpired that all four clients had experienced significant changes before they entered psychotherapy. This study first addresses the issue of how pre‐treatment change may be conceptualised in psychological theory and research. Five ways of understanding pre‐treatment change are presented. Data from the case studies are then presented, highlighting how these clients experienced a diminishing sense of self‐control in relation to leaving the home they cohabited with their alcoholic parent. The dynamics of how leaving home affects the clients are analysed. It is suggested that change experienced in relation to leaving home is significant to the decision to enter therapy. The fit between the data and the theories of pre‐treatment change is discussed.     

2～11岁儿童问题行为的稳定性与变化

本研究采用追踪研究方法,考察了儿童2岁、4岁、7岁、11岁时内隐问题行为和外显问题行为的稳定性和变化。结果发现,各个年龄阶段,父母报告的问题行为都具有中等程度的相关。儿童的问题行为2岁时最多,此后开始下降,11岁时问题行为最少。儿童的问题行为具有中等程度的连续性,2岁、4岁、7岁、11岁的问题行为之间的相关均非常显著。     

家庭功能对青少年情绪问题的作用机制

本研究以探索家庭功能发挥过程和发挥结果之间的关系并检验两者对青少年情绪问题的作用大小和机制为目的,采用Skinner等人编制的家庭评价量表(FAM,测量家庭功能发挥过程)和Olson编制的家庭适应性、亲密度量表(FACESⅢ,测量家庭功能发挥结果)、流调中心抑郁量表(CES-D)和焦虑自评量表(SAS)对422名中学生进行匿名问卷施测,通过相关分析、分层回归和结构方程模型统计分析发现:(1)总体上青少年的情绪处于良好状态;(2)家庭功能发挥过程和发挥结果各变量之间呈显著相关;(3)家庭功能发挥过程比家庭功能发挥结果对青少年情绪问题预测作用更大;(4)家庭功能发挥结果是家庭功能发挥过程与青少年情绪问题的部分中介变量。     

合作学习小组的认知风格对其问题解决的影响

本研究以认知风格为依据,将合作学习小组分为场依存同质组、场独立同质组及异质组,通过小组对开放问题以及逻辑问题的解决,考察不同认知风格个体、不同类型小组的问题解决水平。结果表明:(1)个体认知风格的作用依任务性质不同而不同。(2)异质组中存在的个体之间的差异会成为有效沟通合作的障碍,进而影响异质组的问题解决水平,影响程度受到问题本身对沟通合作要求程度的影响。(3)异质分组能更好解决开放性问题。     

科学发明情境中问题提出的fMRI研究*

本研究中,以76个科学发明问题(36个带有相关的原型,40个不带有相关的原型)为实验材料,使用功能性磁共振成像(fMRI)技术探讨了科学发明情境中的问题提出以及新近获得的语义对有价值的科学问题提出的启发效应的大脑机制。对有原型提出有价值的科学问题与无原型提出一般问题这两种情况下被试反应的数据进行记录和分析。结果表明两种情况下共同激活的脑区(科学发明情境中问题提出的脑区)为左侧梭状回、左侧内侧额叶、左侧豆状核、右小脑和左侧中央前回。这些共同激活的脑区表明：左侧梭状回也许与各个语句的语义表征有关;左侧内侧额叶也许与所有语句的整体语义表征以及提出各个语义之间的―问题‖有关(左侧豆状核和右小脑配合内侧额叶分别负责控制注意、眼动的指向和注意资源的分配);左侧中央前回可能负责用语句表述出所提出的语义之间的―问题‖。对有原型提出有价值的科学问题和无原型提出有价值的科学问题这两种情况下被试反应的数据进行记录和分析。结果表明有原型提出有价值的科学问题比无原型提出有价值的科学问题显著激活的脑区(科学发明情境中新近获得的语义对有价值的科学问题提出的启发效应的脑区)为左侧楔前叶、左侧额下回、左侧颞中回。这些显著激活的脑区表明：楔前叶与情境记忆的贮存和提取有关;额中回与认知控制和注意资源的分配有关;颞中回与新异性原型的成功激活有关。     

数学成绩与代数应用题分类结果的相关研究

以初中代数应用题为材料,探讨了不同年级学生对代数应用题的分类结果与数学成绩的关系。结果表明：不同年级学生对代数应用题分类结果差异显著;数学成绩优生与数学成绩差生对代数应用题分类结果差异显著。     

班级同学关系与青少年外化问题行为:自尊和亲子亲合的作用

采用问卷法对1694名中学生进行调查,考察自尊在班级同学关系和青少年外化问题行为之间的中介作用,以及该中介过程是否受到亲子亲合（父子亲合和母子亲合）的调节。结果发现：（1）控制性别和年龄之后,班级同学关系对青少年外化问题行为具有显著的负向预测作用;（2）班级同学关系不仅可以直接负向预测外化问题行为,还可以通过自尊间接预测外化问题行为;（3）父子亲合和母子亲合均在班级同学关系与自尊的关系间起调节作用;（4）父子亲合而非母子亲合能够调节班级同学关系对外化问题行为的直接影响。总之,班级同学关系通过自尊的部分中介作用影响青少年的外化问题行为,且父子亲合和母子亲合进一步对该过程起到不同的调节作用。     

Lessons learned from pedestrian-driver communication and yielding patterns

Understanding the hidden patterns of tacit communication between drivers and pedestrians is crucial for improving pedestrian safety. However, this type of communication is a result of the psychological processes of both pedestrians and drivers, which are very difficult to understand thoroughly. This study utilizes a naturalistic field study dataset and explores the hidden patterns from successful and failed communication events using a pattern recognition method known as Taxicab Correspondence Analysis (TCA). The successful communication scenarios indicate the combinations of variable attributes such as eye contact, facial expression, the assertion of crossing, and effective traffic control devices are strongly associated with successful scenarios. The patterns for failed scenarios are most likely to be on the roadway with a relatively higher speed limit (e.g., 35 mph) and a relatively lower speed limit (e.g., 15 mph) under different conditions. On roadways with a higher speed limit, the failed scenarios are highly associated with passive and undecisive pedestrians, pedestrians far away from the crosswalk, regardless of pedestrian-driver eye contact and facial expression of the pedestrians. Instead of waiting for pedestrians to making a crossing decision, overspeeding drivers are more likely to speed up and pass the crosswalk. On roadways with a lower speed limit, the failed scenarios are often associated with distracted pedestrians, vehicles having the right of way, and the absence of effective traffic control devices. These findings could help transportation agencies identify appropriate countermeasures to reduce pedestrian crashes. The findings on driver-pedestrian communication patterns could provide scopes for improvement in computer vision-based algorithms designed for autonomous vehicle industries.