Power of the desired self: Influence of induced perceptions of the self on reasoning

This research shows that the motivation to posses a desired characteristic (or to avoid an undesired one) results in self-perceptions that guide people’s use of base rate in the Lawyer–Engineer problem (Kahneman & Tversky, 1973). In four studies, participants induced to believe (or recall, Exp. 2) that a rational cognitive style is success-conducive (or an intuitive cognitive style failure-conducive) subsequently viewed themselves as more rational and relied more on base rate in their probability estimates than those induced to believe that a rational cognitive style is failure-conducive (or an intuitive cognitive style success-conducive). These findings show that the desired self had an influence on reasoning in the self-unrelated lawyer–engineer task, since the use of base rates was mediated by changes in participants’ perceptions of their own rationality. These findings therefore show that the desired self, through the working self-concept that it entails, constitutes another factor influencing people’s use of distinct modes of reasoning.     

The Role of Childhood Neglect and Childhood Poverty in Predicting Mental Health, Academic Achievement and Crime in Adulthood

This study examines the roles of childhood neglect and childhood poverty (family and neighborhood) in predicting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), academic achievement, and crime in young adulthood. Using existing data from a prospective cohort design study, 1,005 children with documented histories of neglect (N = 507) and matched controls (N = 497) were interviewed in young adulthood (mean age 29). Official criminal histories were also used to assess outcomes. Data were analyzed using logistic and ordinary least squares regressions and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to control for neighborhood clustering. Results from HLM revealed that childhood neglect and childhood family poverty uniquely predicted PTSD and adult arrest, MDD was predicted only by childhood family poverty, and a significant interaction between childhood family poverty and childhood neighborhood poverty predicted academic achievement for the control group only. Childhood neglect, childhood family poverty, and childhood neighborhood poverty each contribute to poor outcomes later in life. While interventions should be developed for neglected children to prevent negative outcomes, the current findings suggest that it is also important to consider the ecological context in which these children are growing up.     

Child Maltreatment,Problem Behaviors,and Neighborhood Attainment

Using data from a prospective cohort design study of a group of children with documented histories of abuse and neglect (n = 908) and matched controls (n = 667), this paper examines whether problem behaviors (e.g., prostitution, crime, school problems, and homelessness) in young adulthood explain the link between maltreatment in childhood and living in high‐risk neighborhoods in middle adulthood. Problem behaviors were assessed at mean age of 29 and neighborhood characteristics were assessed at mean age of 40. Child maltreatment predicted living in less desirable neighborhoods in middle adulthood. Problem behaviors in young adulthood partially mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and residence in less desirable neighborhoods in middle adulthood. The direct paths from child maltreatment to neighborhoods were not significant for Black children. For White children, there was a direct relationship between child maltreatment and living in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood. Problem behaviors were a stronger mediator between child maltreatment and living in more disordered and less socially cohesive neighborhoods for Black children, while the problem behaviors were a stronger mediator for living in more economically disadvantaged and less socially cohesive neighborhoods for White children. Further research is needed to understand these racial differences. Interventions should focus on preventing problem behaviors to minimize the risk of residency in high‐risk neighborhoods.     

Rage and hatred in infants: conditions which facilitate development versus those which result in tragic delays or alarming distortions

The paper traces some possible trajectories of aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents. It distinguishes three contributing factors: 1. Disturbance or Disorder; 2. Deficit and Neglect; and 3. Deviance. Therapeutic technique may need adjusting depending on which factor is dominant at any moment. Two dimensions which seem to run through these categories are first, the question of which type of violence is occurring - that is, the motivation and emotion which accompany the violence; the second question is whose violence: that is, when we study the inner world of aggressive children we discover vast differences in the relationships between the self and the internal objects or representational figures of other people. These two questions will be raised whenever we try to treat these children or adolescents.     

“误读”与新义——经学文本诠释刍议

中国的文本诠释学产生于战国时期。从文本诠释的内容、性质和体例看,大致可分为两类。一类是义理诠释学,一般称为"传"。另一类是语言诠释学,一般称为"训诂"或"诂训"。传的特点是"解说经义","并经文所未言者而引申之","多离经"。诂训的特点是"第就经文所言者而诠释之",追求文本原貌、原义。但是,在文本诠释的历史实践中,传往往离不开训诂,训诂也离不开传。"传"的内容在西方诠释学中又称作"误读"。我们借用"误读"的概念只是为了吸收西方文本诠释中的合理成分,并不是同意放弃追求文本原貌、原义的真理性原则。在中国文化史上,"误读"是创建新义理的一种方式,也是为汉语增加新质要素的一种方式。"误读"源于春秋战国间"断章取义"、"以意逆志"、"诗无达诂"的文本阅读诠释理论,是一种理论创新、语言创新的手段。"误读"在易学发展史上,尤其《易经》与《易传》的关系上有着重要的理论价值,有着突出的解释力。     

2 B kreativ’ or not to be creative: Textisms and texters’ creativity

IntroductionText messages are particularly popular among young people. Studies have focused on the links between writers’ unconventional spelling and literacy skills. Creativity gives the possibility to cope with the numerous changes people have to face.ObjectiveThe present research aimed to examine the relation between the creative potential of texters (text-message writers) and their use of textisms (a change in a word's orthographic form as compared to traditional writing).MethodTwo corpora were compiled: one of 285 elicited text messages and one of 580 naturalistic text messages produced in daily-life situations by undergraduates (n = 29, 20–23 years of age). Two types of textisms were measured: those consistent with traditional written code and those breaking with traditional written code. Four scores of creative potential were considered: graphic divergent thinking, verbal divergent thinking, graphic integrative thinking and verbal integrative thinking.ResultsThe results showed negative correlations between the level of creativity and the density of textisms. Overall, texters who were creative in divergent thinking produced fewer textisms breaking with traditional written code.ConclusionThe results of our study are discussed with regard to the texters’ flexibility and ability to adapt or appropriately address their interlocutor.     

Withholding Effort in Organizations: Toward Development and Validation of a Measure

Field research into the topic of withholding effort and its variants (shirking, loafing, free riding, and job neglect) has been limited due to a lack of measures that are applicable to organizational settings. This study used a multi-phase process to ascertain a measure of withholding effort that can be used in organizational settings. Items were generated through literature review and discussions with practitioners; culled by the authors; and tested in a field study in multiple, diverse organizations. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses found the construct of withholding effort to be multidimensional, but not necessarily as previous theoretical work in the area would suggest. Correlations of the various dimensions of withholding effort scales with existing scales tapping a wide range of employee attitudes were consistent with a priori expectations. Implications for the use of these scales in future workplace research and their practical application in organizations are discussed.     

平面广告中图形与文本加工差异的眼动研究

记录被试在观看不同文本位置的平面广告时的眼动轨迹,探讨了广告中文本和图形加工的差异性、文本在广告中的不同位置(左上、左下、右下、右上)的加工差异、人们对广告图片及文字的评价与其眼动指标是否具有一致性以及与再认成绩的相关程度等。结果表明,(1)瞳孔大小是比较敏感的指标,在观看广告时,文本的位置及评价水平都可以引起瞳孔大小的改变：而不会对注视时间产生影响。(2)人们对文本和图形的加工方式上存在差异,它不仅表现在眼动指标上,同时也表现在再认成绩上。广告中适当的文字有助于广告内容的记忆。     

两种自我保护机制：记忆忽视和自我免疫

当自我概念的稳定性受到威胁时,人们有时会采取自我保护手段来加以应对。在诸多自我保护方式中,记忆忽视加工是指个体在接触具威胁性的信息时进行选择性记忆,自然地忽视此类信息而不让其进入精加工,以消除该信息对自我概念的伤害;自我免疫加工是指个体通过对具威胁性信息的适宜操作界定来强调自己的优势能力,并重新评估自己的弱点,从而策略性地实现自我概念的稳定。文章从两种加工的认知机制角度来介绍和评述该领域的研究概况、研究方法与研究展望,借以引起对自我保护机制研究新进展的关注