The Self As a Complex Adaptive System Part II: Levels of Analysis and the Position of the Observer

This article continues the project begun in the previous article titled: “The Self as a Complex Adaptive System. Part I: Complexity, Metapsychology, and Developmental Theories” (Palombo, 2013). Using systems theory and a complexity perspective, that article provided a critique of psychoanalytic developmental theories. This contribution addresses some of the methodological issues related to data collection on development and the effects of the observer on the observed. It introduces the Level of Analysis perspective as a heuristic that permits the use of a complexity view applicable to the construct of the self as a complex adaptive system. It proposes three levels, each of which is associated with a platform from which phenomena are observed, a neuropsychological level (L-1), an introspective level (L-2), and an interpersonal level (L-3). The article concludes with a plea for a unifying psychoanalytic paradigm that brings together the data from these three levels and that would lay the groundwork for a clinical theory that would bring together the major existing psychoanalytic theories.     

阅读过程中的注视位置效应

注视位置效应是指在阅读过程中,读者的眼跳往往定位于一个单词的特定位置。探讨影响读者注视位置的因素,是当前阅读过程中眼动控制的基本问题之一。文章对不同语言文字系统中注视位置效应的最新进展进行综述,主要内容包括：（1）阅读拼音文字时的注视位置效应,包括阅读有词间空格的拼音文字时的注视位置效应,特别是单词的词长、词间空格、词频和预测性对注视位置的影响以及该效应出现的年龄特征与个体差异等,以及阅读泰语和日语时的注视位置效应;（2）阅读中文时的注视位置效应。最后,文章指出了未来中文阅读中注视位置效应研究尚需解决的几个问题。     

The role of core self-evaluations in the relationship between religious involvement and subjective well-being: a moderated mediation model

This study examined whether core self-evaluations (CSE), a personality-based construct, mediates the association between religious involvement and subjective well-being (i.e., physical and psychological). Furthermore, investigates whether the indirect relation of religious involvement to well-being through CSE is conditional on age group (elderly vs. adults). Two different samples were examined: an elderly (N?=?300) and an adult community sample (N?=?294). To determine whether the strength of these effects depend on (moderated by) age group, we used multiple regression analyses and bootstrapping framework to probe conditional indirect (i.e., moderated mediation) effects. The results showed that CSE mediates the relationship between religious involvement (i.e., religious attendance and intrinsic religiosity) and both aspects of subjective well-being. However, the moderated mediation models revealed that this mechanism exists only for elderly. Implications of these results for improving the quality of life in elderly are discussed and directions for future research are provided.     

Predictors of student burnout and engagement among university students

This study investigated influences of core self-evaluation traits, career decision-making difficulties and social support on student burnout and engagement. A cross-sectional design was used with a non-probability quota sample. In the multiple regression analyses, self-efficacy, inconsistent information due to internal conflict and (lack of) parental support were significant predictors of exhaustion, cynicism, vigour and dedication. Self-esteem was also a significant predictor for the two engagement dimensions. In addition, lack of information about the self, lack of information about the occupations and inconsistent information due to external conflict predicted cynicism.     

消防武警新兵适应不良影响因素的中介效应模型

采用军人适应不良量表、核心自我评价量表、自我韧性量表、亲子关系问卷和军营联结问卷对435名消防武警新兵进行调查,考察了消防武警新兵适应不良的影响因素及其内在机制。结果发现：1）核心自我评价、韧性、亲子关系和军营联结与适应不良均显著负相关。2）韧性在核心自我评价与适应不良关系间起着部分中介作用,军营联结在核心自我评价、亲子关系与适应不良关系间起着部分中介作用。     

The manifestation of transference during early psychotherapy sessions: Exploring an alternate data source for therapist narratives in transference research

Introduction: Previous transference studies have compared in‐session client narratives about significant others to in‐session client narratives about the therapist, limiting data to the information that clients are willing to share with the therapist. Method: The first three sessions of 30 therapies with high‐functioning individuals were examined using the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) method. Client narratives about others were drawn from the psychotherapy sessions and client narratives about the therapist were drawn from a Participant Critical Event (PCE) interview conducted after the third session of therapy. Results: Factor analyses of the CCRT components indicated several relational patterns: a complementary pattern of relating characterised by a devaluation of the therapist and idealisation of others; a concordant relational transfer where clients feel bad with both the therapist and others; and as clients experience control issues with significant others, they wish to adopt a submissive stance toward the therapist. The results suggest that the source of therapist narratives may influence the results of transference research.     

发明创造问题解决中的原型位置效应

以科学发明创造问题为实验材料,采用“学习-测试”两阶段实验范式,对发明创造问题解决中的原型位置效应进行探讨,结果发现：（1）原型位置主效应显著,后呈现原型成绩显著优于先呈现原型;（2）原型位置效应受创造性倾向影响,随创造性倾向的提高而显著降低;（3）原型位置效应不受启发量影响,但不同创造性个体受高低启发量影响;（4）发明创造问题解决得分与创造性倾向总分相关显著,二者在原型位置效应上表现相同的效应。     

‘The newspaper reader’: On the meaning of concrete objects in a psychoanalytic treatment1

The author investigates the meaning of concrete objects in the psychoanalytic treatment of a severely disturbed patient for the development of his inner world and the analytic process. She includes a survey of relevant theoretical concepts with an emphasis on Winnicott and Bion. It is shown that the objects served basic defensive functions both within the analytic relationship and for the precarious intrapsychic state of the patient. The author describes the technical dealing that led to a structural change. From the comparison of the initial dream and a later dream, Mr N's inner development from total inclusion in the object to triadic reality of separated, repaired objects becomes discernible. The author shows how this progress was facilitated by his use of concrete objects as links between his psychotic and non‐psychotic parts, as well as by the specifi c way the analyst handled the paradoxical transference‐ countertransference. She also illustrates the thesis that the developmental steps described are crucial for the capability to digest psychic pain by symbolization instead of discharging it in a destructive‐violent way.     

童年中期同伴关系的变化对孤独感的影响

在一年期间追踪调查了412名3、4、5年级儿童,探讨了同伴关系变化对孤独感的影响。结果表明:对于男孩而言,友谊质量上升,1年后测得的孤独感显著降低;友谊质量下降,1年后测得的孤独感显著增强。对于女孩而言,社交自我知觉下降,其1年后的孤独感显著增强;社交自我知觉稳定组的孤独感显著降低,社交自我知觉上升组的孤独感最低。同伴关系的变化对孤独感的影响因性别而异。