Is it even worth it? The effect of loss prospects in the outcome distribution of a public goods dilemma

Contributions to public goods are premised on the expectation that the collective will realize benefit in excess of the value of required contributions. However, past research has focused on public goods of fixed and known value, for which the added value of the produced public good is obvious. Research has largely ignored public goods whose eventual value is uncertain at the time contribution decisions are made. Two studies explored the effects of outcome variance on individuals’ contributions to a public good and their reasons for contributing. Contributions were negatively affected by loss prospects in the distribution of possible outcomes. Further, loss prospects directly discouraged contributions because of loss aversion, and indirectly discouraged contributions by fueling fears that others would not contribute. The negative effects of loss prospects were stronger when social uncertainty was low. Implications for social dilemma research and the effective management of collective action are discussed.     

A comparison of attachment outcomes in enactment-based versus therapist-centered therapy process modalities in couple therapy

Attachment issues are viewed by many therapists as lying at the heart of couple distress. It is critical to empirically validate therapy processes that facilitate couples in responding to each other's attachment needs. This study examined enactments as a therapy process and change mechanism to promote secure attachment in couple therapy. Sixteen couples were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental groups--1 group received 3 therapist-centered sessions followed by 3 enactment-based sessions, and a second group received 3 enactment-based sessions followed by 3 therapist-centered sessions. To measure between-session and within-session change, each spouse completed presession and postsession measures of attachment security each week. Results showed that couples who received enactment-based sessions first reported greater increases in attachment security than those receiving therapist-centered sessions first. These same couples continued to show improvement after switching to the therapist-centered sessions. Conversely, couples who received therapist-centered sessions first did not increase attachment after switching to enactment-based sessions. For wives, enactment-based sessions produced the greatest improvement in attachment, yet both therapy process modalities led to some improvement. Conversely, for husbands, attachment improved only when they received enactment-based sessions first. Enactment-based sessions may therefore be more important for husbands than wives. Overall, with some qualification it appears that enactment-based therapy process may improve attachment more than a therapist-centered process. These observed trends and findings are generally consistent with previous research supporting use of enactments in couple therapy.     

Social cognitive model of adjustment to engineering majors: Longitudinal test across gender and race/ethnicity

We conducted a longitudinal test of a social cognitive model of academic adjustment in a sample of 732 engineering students. The model, designed to explain students' satisfaction with and intentions to persist in their majors, integrated features of social cognitive career theory's (SCCT) segmental models of satisfaction, interest, choice, and performance (Lent & Brown, 2006; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994). Students completed measures of academic support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, interests, satisfaction, positive affect, and intended persistence at three time points (at the end of their second, third, and fourth semesters in engineering). A bidirectional version of the model offered good fit to the data, both in the larger sample and across gender and racial/ethnic groups. Self-efficacy was the most reliable direct predictor of academic satisfaction and intended persistence across the third and fourth semesters, though other social cognitive variables also contributed, either directly or indirectly, to predictions at one time point or the other. We consider implications of the findings for further research and practice on academic adjustment and persistence in STEM fields.     

Mid‐ and Long‐Term Effects of Family Constellation Seminars in a General Population Sample: 8‐ and 12‐Month Follow‐Up

In a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT), short‐term efficacy of family constellation seminars (FCSs) in a general population sample was demonstrated. In this article, we examined mid‐ and long‐term stability of these effects. Participants were 104 adults (M = 47 years; SD = 9; 84% female) who were part of the intervention group in the original RCT (3‐day FCS; 64 active participants and 40 observing participants). FCSs were carried out according to manuals. It was predicted that FCSs would improve psychological functioning (Outcome Questionnaire OQ‐45.2) at 8‐ and 12‐month follow‐up. Additionally, we assessed the effects of FCSs on psychological distress, motivational incongruence, individuals’ experience in their personal social systems, and overall goal attainment. Participants yielded significant improvement in psychological functioning (d = 0.41 at 8‐month follow‐up, p = .000; d = 0.40 at 12‐month follow‐up, p = .000). Results were confirmed for psychological distress, motivational incongruence, the participants’ experience in their personal social systems, and overall goal attainment. No adverse events were reported. This study provides first evidence for the mid‐ and long‐term efficacy of FCSs in a nonclinical population. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

正负效价面部表情图片加工的差异

为探讨正负效价面部表情图片识别的差异,采用独立呈现范式呈现正负效价面部表情图片,控制呈现时间和提示线索位置,并利用眼动仪记录识别过程中的眼动指标。结果发现:(1)在识别速度和正确率上,加工积极面部表情图片高于加工消极面部表情图片,显示出积极表情优势。(2)呈现时间没有改变正负效价表情图片加工之间的差异。(3)存在提示线索位置效应,即提示线索在嘴部有利于面部表情识别。(4)面部表情识别遵循"眼部-嘴部-眼部"的规律。结果提示不同性质面部表情的加工机制不同,加工深度作用小于线索作用。     

L’évaluation thérapeutique et collaborative : preuves empiriques

This paper covers the empirical research that addressed utility and effectiveness of therapeutic assessment or of its components (i.e., providing individualize feedback to clients). Studies vary in terms of methods and problems addressed but provide the consistent picture of therapeutic assessment as a brief approach which increases process variables related to subsequent treatment and has direct effects of symptoms reduction for a variety of psychological problems. Future directions of studies in this are finally provided.     

催产素对情绪识别的影响及其机制

催产素(oxytocin)被称为“社会键(social bonds)荷尔蒙”, 时刻影响着社会行为和认知, 其中包括情绪识别。目前, 关于催产素对情绪识别的影响主要有3种观点：(1)催产素选择性地促进个体对积极情绪的识别、减慢对消极情绪的识别; (2)催产素选择性地增强对消极情绪的识别; (3)催产素提高对所有情绪的识别, 与情绪效价无关。催产素影响情绪识别神经机制的研究主要集中在3个方面：情绪效价、性别差异和精神疾病。此外, 还运用社会显著假说解释催产素对情绪识别的作用。催产素可能对情绪识别障碍类精神疾病有潜在的治疗效果, 未来的研究应深入探究催产素与情绪效价的关系, 考虑性别等个体因素的影响, 进一步探讨催产素的临床应用并拓展研究范围。     

情绪的自动加工与控制加工

由于人类注意资源有限,对相关刺激的加工经常以抑制对其它刺激的加工为代价。大量的研究表明,情绪的加工是注意加工过程的一个特例。通常认为情绪信息的加工是自动的,不需要注意资源的调节。但最近的研究结果倾向于支持对立的观点,即情绪信息的加工需要注意的控制。该文结合认知神经科学研究证据,对情绪的自动加工的观点提出质疑。主要的证据来自对情绪的皮层和皮层下通路的研究以及对盲视病人的研究。     

调节聚焦对期限效果的影响

结合调节聚焦探讨了期限的时长、结果框架及效价对期限效果的影响。结果表明,防御聚焦个体认为期限的阻碍效果更大,且调节聚焦对前述变量与期限效果的关系具有调节作用:4分钟期限中防御聚焦组认为期限的阻碍效果更大,8分钟期限中则相反,12和16分钟期限中均无显著差异;收益框架下促进聚焦组认为期限对任务表现的阻碍作用更大,促进聚焦组在正效价条件下认为收益框架下期限对策略使用的阻碍作用更大,但在负效价条件下则相反。     

愤怒的聚光灯效应对个体新闻阅读的归因影响

最初情绪的聚光灯理论仅从效价角度出发,解释了情绪通过影响注意范围,干涉个体归因,没有针对其它情绪（譬如愤怒）做进一步验证。本研究通过2（情绪）×2（因素显著性）×2（性别）的被试间实验设计,进一步揭示了愤怒的聚光灯效应对个体新闻类信息归因的影响方式。共有243名在校学生参加实验,其中男生99名,年龄在19~25岁之间。本研究将原有的锚式（anchor）归因计分改为对显著和非显著信息独立计分。结果发现：愤怒对个体归因的影响结果与负性情绪的聚光灯效应相一致,并且具有双向性。一方面增加了对显著因素的归因倾向,一方面抑制对非显著的归因素因倾向,且不存在性别差异。另外,本研究发现新闻中某一信息的显著程度亦会造成归因偏差。本研究为聚光灯理论提供了新的实验支持,并就愤怒效价上的模糊性做了进一步的解释和讨论。