The developmental pathways leading to pattern recognition, joint attention, language and cognition

According to the functional/emotional hypothesis, the core capacities necessary for cognitive and language development, such as pattern recognition, joint attention, and intention reading, are downstream effects of more basic processes having to do with early patterns of affect signalling. In this paper, we present preliminary research that tests the functional/emotional hypothesis. The data set consists of profiles of the emotional functioning of infants and young children at ages 0-3, 4-5, 6-9, 10-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-30, and 31-42 months. Data were collected on a representative population of 1640 children across the US. Results of this preliminary research point to expected correlations between the development of affective signalling and pattern recognition, joint attention, and intention reading. However, we acknowledge that this is only the first step in providing supportive evidence for the functional/emotional hypothesis. Further research is needed to establish causal connections between affective signalling and the core capacities necessary for cognitive and language development.     

Irrational Beliefs as Predictors of Emotional Adjustment after Divorce

The goal of this study was to analyze the role of irrational beliefs and other mediating variables in emotional adjustment after marital separation. Self-esteem and attachment to the ex-spouse were chosen as indicators of emotional adjustment. For this purpose several mediation centres and associations for separated people took part in the project. The results showed that irrational beliefs, as well as length of conflict during marriage, time since divorce and desire of contact with the former spouse, are good predictors of emotional adjustment. It has been suggested that Rational-Emotive-Behavior Therapy can be used in the treatment of divorced people.     

Spirituality and the Health of College Students

Objectives  The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spirituality and health risks of college students. Methods  Undergraduate students enrolled in Personal Health and Wellness classes at The University of Tennessee were selected to participate in the study. Two-hundred twenty-one students were administered two instruments: The College Student Appraisal of Risks Survey (The CARS) and the Spirituality Scale (SS). Results  Significant relationships between self-reported levels of spirituality and the health of college students were indicated during the study. Conclusions  College students integrating a spiritual component while processing decisions about risks that could negatively affect their health experienced better health outcomes. The significance of the study is that this research is an important step toward understanding the role that spirituality plays in the various dimensions of health in young adults.

Emotional, external, restrained eating and overweight in Dutch adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine how emotional, external and restrained eating behavior and other health-related lifestyle factors were associated with being overweight in adolescents. Moreover, demographic and ethnic differences in eating behavior have been examined. The respondents were 10,087 Dutch adolescents aged 11-16 years (M= 13.0, SD= 0.8). Self-reported eating behavior was measured with the DEBQ. Health-related lifestyle was determined by physical activity, breakfasting, fruit consumption and snacking. High restrained, and low external eating were positively associated with being overweight, whereas no significant association between emotional eating and being overweight was found for girls, and a negative association for boys. Adolescents who ate breakfast on a daily basis were less likely to be overweight than those who ate breakfast irregularly or never. Being overweight was positively associated with fruit consumption for girls and negatively with physical activity for boys.     

Regulating anger and sadness: an exploration of discrete emotions in emotion regulation

Do emotion regulation processes vary as a function of discrete emotions? Focusing on anger and sadness, this study examined: (a) the strategies that men and women use to regulate each emotion, (b) the extent to which strategies differ in their use and effectiveness, and (c) the relationship between effective regulation of these emotions and social functioning. One hundred ninety participants described recent situations that evoked anger and sadness and how they regulated each emotion. Emotion regulation attempts for anger and sadness differed to some extent in both use and effectiveness. In addition, effective regulation of each emotion was associated with different aspects of social functioning. Effective anger regulation was associated with constructive conflict resolution style, and effective sadness regulation was associated with positive social relations. The findings suggest that global approaches to studying emotion regulation may be limited and emphasize the importance of moving toward a discrete emotions framework.     

企业管理者的情绪智力、自我效能感、成就动机研究

采用问卷法对211名企业管理者的情绪智力、自我效能感、成就动机的特征及它们与企业管理者绩效的关系进行了研究。研究表明,不同管理层级、不同管理岗位、不同地区的企业管理者的情绪智力、自我效能感、成就动机存在显著差异;企业管理者的年龄、性别、文化水平、所在企业的性质和规模对情绪智力、自我效能感、成就动机没有显著影响。研究还表明,情绪智力、自我效能感、成就动机对高层、中层、基层企业管理者的绩效有不同的预测力。     

情绪状态对大学生道德判断能力的影响

采用道德判断测验(MJT中文版),以300名大学生为被试,考察了情绪状态对大学生道德判断能力的影响。结果发现:(1)大学生道德判断能力的年级差异显著;(2)情绪状态对大学生道德判断能力具有显著影响,快乐状态下的道德判断能力高于悲伤状态,这与国外的研究结论正好相反;(3)道德判断任务的自我相关性对大学生道德判断能力的影响不显著。     

幼儿对于图画作者情绪状态与其作品间关系的认知

采用将作者情绪状态与图画作品相匹配的方法,分别以线条、颜色和内容为线索,考察了3.5~5.5岁儿童对图画作者情绪状态与其作品间关系的认知发展。结果表明:3.5岁儿童尚不能将作者情绪状态与图画特点联系起来,4.5岁儿童开始能够将作者情绪状态与图画特点联系起来,5.5岁儿童的水平在此基础上又有明显的发展。儿童对作者情绪状态与图画间关系的把握显示出一定的性别差异,但对图画传递的情绪信息的认知在各要素形式(颜色、线条、内容)之间差异不明显。     

情绪、情绪调节策略与情绪材料记忆的关系

研究采用实验法,以288名中小学生为被试,考察了不同情绪状态、不同情绪调节策略与不同类型情绪材料记忆的关系。结果表明:(1)快乐情绪的再认反应时短于悲伤情绪,快乐情绪的再认正确率高于悲伤情绪。(2)表达抑制策略下,词汇与图片的再认反应时无显著差异;认知重评策略下,词汇的再认反应时短于图片;对词汇和图片的再认反应时,认知重评组短于表达抑制组;认知重评组的再认正确率高于表达抑制组。(3)快乐材料再认反应时短于悲伤材料;快乐情绪下快乐材料的再认正确率高于悲伤材料,悲伤情绪下悲伤材料的再认正确率高于快乐材料。     

青少年的依恋、情绪智力与攻击性行为的关系

通过对370名青少年的问卷调查,考察情绪智力在亲子依恋与攻击行为之间关系的中介效应和调节效应。结果表明:(1)亲子依恋和情绪智力对青少年的攻击行为均具有保护作用,亲子依恋既直接影响青少年的攻击行为,同时又通过情绪智力对其产生间接影响。(2)情绪智力对亲子依恋与攻击行为的关系具有调节作用,亲子依恋的保护作用在高情绪智力的个体中比在低情绪智力的个体中更明显,支持了保护因子—保护因子模型。