Thinking about decisions: An integrative approach of person and task factors

Decisions vary. They may vary in both content and complexity. People also vary. An important way that people vary is how much they think. Some prior research investigating thinking and decision making largely conflicts with most traditional decision theories. For example, if considering an array of products to choose from, thinking more about the alternative's attributes should lead to a better decision. However, some research indicates that thinking more may also lead to focusing on irrelevant aspects of the decision and a less optimal outcome. We propose that this conflict in the literature exists because of a failure to consider the interaction between the individual and the decision task. To test this, we used separate methodologies that enhance or attenuate a person's thinking. In Study 1, we selected people who were especially high or low in need for cognition and had them complete a robust decision-making inventory, which included both complex and simple tasks. In Study 2, we manipulated participant's level of glucose, which acts as the brain's fuel to enhance or attenuate thinking ability. Both studies provide insight for understanding our central tenant that more thought leads to better decisions in complex tasks but does not influence simple decisions. These findings show how the individual's thinking can interact with the constructive elements of the task to shape decision choice.     

Social competence group intervention (SOCO) for children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study

This study aimed to describe concept of social competence as a theoretical background for social skills group intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A model of social competence comprised of three components: social skills, social performance, and social adjustment. We also examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the manualized Social Competence group intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (SOCO) using a variety of outcome measures. The nine-month intervention included children groups, parental support groups and co-operation with teachers. A pilot study involved 23 children aged 7 to 12 years (n = 16 intervention, n = 7 control) and intervention outcomes were measured with questionnaires for parents and teachers, neuropsychological tests, and observations. The parents of the intervention group reported improvements in social skills and social adjustment, whereas the teachers reported increases in social performance. Findings also indicated that affect recognition skills, social overtures, and reactions to peers were improved in the intervention group. Although the evidence of the pilot study should be considered as preliminary, it gives some indication of the feasibility of the SOCO group intervention and supports the usability of the theoretical background and approach for multiple outcome measures.     

Good to Bad or Bad to Bad? What is the relationship between valence and the trait content of the Big Two?

In this article we directly assessed the relationship between valence and relevant traits of the Big Two dimensions (i.e., communion and agency). Drawing on previous research, we expected that the relationship with valence would be less monotonous and more variable in direction across agency-related traits, compared to communion-related traits. In three repeated measures studies we assessed the perceived valence of each trait dimension on a continuum of seven points. Studies 1 and 2 defined each continuum verbally. In Study 3 each continuum was defined by facial features. Results across these studies show that valence is linearly and more consistently related with communion-related traits than with agency-related traits. Within agency, however, competence established a positive linear relationship with valence, whereas dominance showed a target-sensitive relationship with valence: quadratic in evaluation of trait concepts, and negative and linear in face evaluation. We discuss the implications of these data for Big Two-related research.     

人际交往能力与生命意义的关系:孤独感和年级的作用

基于存在主义心理学理论,本研究采用人际交往能力问卷、孤独感量表和生命意义量表对福建省三所大学的1476名大一和大二学生进行调查,考察人际交往能力与生命意义的关系,以及孤独感的中介作用和年级的调节作用。结果表明：（1）交往能力和孤独感存在显著的性别差异。男生的交往能力显著高于女生,孤独感显著低于女生;（2）交往能力与孤独感呈显著负相关,与拥有意义和追寻意义均呈显著正相关,而孤独感与它们均呈显著负相关;（3）孤独感在交往能力与拥有生命意义之间的中介作用受到年级的调节。与大二学生相比,大一新生孤独感的中介效应更大。研究结果在一定程度上揭示了交往能力对生命意义的作用过程,为针对性提升大学新生生命意义提供方向指导和实证依据。     

Examining the Relation Between Technical and Global Competence in Two Treatments for Youth Anxiety

Although technical (quality of delivering techniques from a specific treatment) and global (general clinical expertise) competence are believed to be important ingredients of successful psychosocial treatment with youth, there have been few empirical efforts to measure both dimensions. Efforts to understand the role that each competence dimension plays in the process and outcome of youth treatment starts with determining whether the dimensions can be measured separately. This study examined whether scores from measures designed to assess technical and global competence were distinct. Treatment sessions (N = 603) from 38 youths (M age = 9.84 years, SD = 1.65; 60.5% White; 52.6% male) treated for primary anxiety problems within a randomized effectiveness trial were coded. Four coders used observational measures designed to assess technical competence, global competence, protocol adherence, and the alliance. Mean item interrater reliability was .70 (SD = .09) for technical competence and .66 (SD = .05) for global competence. While most components of global competence were distinct from technical competence scores, two components showed redundancy (r > .70). Scores on both competence measures were empirically distinct (r < .70) from scores on measures of protocol adherence and the alliance. Although the measures did not fully distinguish between technical and global competence, our findings do indicate that some components of technical and global competence may provide unique information about competence.     

自我表露热情与能力对人际吸引的差异化影响

研究考察了自我表露热情与能力是否对人际吸引存在不同影响。通过两个实验发现,自我表露热情对社会吸引影响更大,自我表露能力对任务吸引影响更大,但表露负面热情也会显著削弱任务吸引,且表露正面热情与能力在社会吸引上的差异在男性身上不再显著。研究表明,自我表露热情与能力对人际吸引存在不同影响,且会受到表露内容效价与表露者性别的调节。     

心理委员胜任力与心理健康的关系:领悟社会支持和心理弹性的链式中介

目的:探究领悟社会支持和心理弹性在心理委员胜任力与心理健康之间的中介作用。方法:采用问卷调查法对某高校433名大学生进行测查。结果表明:(1)相关分析显示,心理委员胜任力与领悟社会支持、心理弹性呈现显著正相关,与大学生心理健康呈现显著负相关;(2)结构方程模型分析表明,心理委员胜任力对大学生心理健康的直接效应显著,领悟社会支持和心理弹性在心理委员胜任力与大学生心理健康之间中介作用均显著,且领悟社会支持-心理弹性的链式中介作用也显著。结论:心理委员胜任力既可以直接预测大学生心理健康,又可以分别通过领悟社会支持、心理弹性的中介作用,以及领悟社会支持-心理弹性的链式中介作用间接预测大学生心理健康。