Bullying at work: a discussion of definitions and prevalence, based on an empirical study

The past 15 years have witnessed a growing interest in studies of bullying in the area of work and organizational psychology, but the results of research on this topic seem to indicate very wide variations in the prevalence of bullying. The range of differences may be primarily due to the utilization of different categories and operationalizations of the concept. The aim of this study is to discuss definitions and delimitations of the phenomenon known as bullying, and to demonstrate empirically how the prevalence of bullying can be determined by the way in which it is defined and delimited. On the background of a discussion of some current definitions of bullying and a survey of some central research results on its rate of occurrence, this study presents the results of a study of 3,024 public-sector employees. The results showed that 1.0% of the sample reported that they had been bullied weekly during the previous six months, while 4.7% reported themselves as having been exposed to acts of bullying with the same frequency and for the same period of time. If we change the criteria from "weekly" to "2-3 times a month" the prevalences rise to 3.7% and 26.9%. Based on observations of bullying the prevalence is 3.3%. The results are discussed with reference to other studies that are comparable in terms of delimitations and rates of occurrence and it is concluded that the prevalence is at the same level as these.     

Infant responsiveness and maternal confidence in the neonatal period

Responsiveness in prematurely and term-born infants was studied cross-sectionally in relation to maternal confidence. Orientation and arousal were measured in 140 prematurely (mean BW 1,398 g, GA 30.1 weeks) and 75 term-born infants (mean BW 3,613 g, GA 39.3 weeks) with the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scales. Mothers filled out the Maternal Confidence Questionnaire and a modified version of the Parenting Stress Index. Prematurely born infants had a significantly lower level of arousal than term-born neonates. Responsiveness was not associated with maternal confidence. Lower confidence was associated with primiparity in both groups of mothers. Multiparous mothers of prematurely born infants had significantly lower levels of confidence than multiparous mothers of term-born infants. Confidence was significantly associated with stress for mothers of prematurely and term-born infants, and may be focused in follow-up after giving birth. Prematurely born infants should be examined more thoroughly in aspects of arousal at the time of discharge.     

Applying the concept of lifestyle in association with aggression and violence in Greek cohabitating couples

The current study investigated the role of lifestyle as a significant factor related to the aggression and violence between cohabitating partners. Based on previous research, lifestyle was defined as a special reflection of socialization into society and working life, where different lifestyles should also be able to produce different patterns of socialization into people's roles as partners. It was found that gender and years of cohabitating were significantly related to Emotional aggression and Sexual violence; lifestyle patterns were associated with specific forms of violence. More specifically, the lifestyles of Pleasure & Elegance and the one of Culture-Intellectualism were found to promote Emotional aggression. Also, the lifestyle of Yuppies/Workaholic and that of Physical activities stimulated the appearance of Sexual violence between partners. Moreover, individuals with Tradition-Religiousness lifestyle were more likely to show lower levels of Physical & Sexual violence while the adherents of the Substance abuse lifestyle pattern appeared to have an inclination towards Physical & Sexual Violence. Finally, the occurrence of one form of violent behaviour was likely to be related to the other forms of violent behaviour.     

From Nonhuman to Human Mind: What Changed and Why?

ABSTRACT— Two questions regarding the human mind challenge evolutionary theory: (a) What features of human psychology have changed since humans' lineage split from that of the other apes such as chimpanzees and bonobos? And (b) what was the process by which such derived psychological features evolved (e.g., what were the selection pressures)? I review some of the latest research on chimpanzee and canine psychology that allows inferences to be made regarding these questions.     

初中生情绪反应、表达及其与攻击行为

运用自编的《中学生情绪评定问卷》和修订的Spielberger《状态——特质愤怒表达问卷》对833名普通中学初中生进行了测试,并用同伴提名的方法把学生分为普通组、身体攻击组和关系攻击组,探讨了初中生情绪反应、表达的特点和攻击行为学生情绪反应、表达的特点。研究结果表明:(1)初中女生报告的恐惧感、悲伤感高于男生,女生报告的愤怒表达也显著高于男生;但在特质愤怒方面,男生报告的特质愤怒水平显著高于女生。在情绪表达与反应的大多数方面不存在显著的年级差异,只在负性情绪表达方面初二女生报告了比初一、初三女生更高的负性情绪表达。(2)被同伴提名为身体攻击学生在状态愤怒、特质愤怒、愤怒表达方面显著高于普通学生,被同伴提名为关系攻击的学生在特质愤怒、愤怒表达方面也显著高于普通学生。攻击行为学生的愤怒情绪系统存在一定的缺陷。     

情绪信息与注意偏向

情绪信息对注意的调节是情绪研究的热点问题之一。过去的研究多集中于注意偏向,研究范式的多样化、被试群体特质的差异性,导致对注意偏向机制的诸多争论,形成了注意成分说、图式说、注意资源说和PDP模型。注意成分说认为,威胁相关的刺激损害了注意解除能力而引起偏向。图式说认为,图式或知识结构的激活引发注意偏向。注意资源说认为,过多注意资源的消耗引起情绪Stroop实验中的注意偏向。PDP模型认为,特殊人群过高的输入单元激活水平引起注意偏向。     

焦虑和抑郁动物模型的研究方法和策略

焦虑和抑郁障碍是严重威胁人们健康的精神疾病。焦虑和抑郁动物模型是通过一定的心理社会应激使动物产生明显的焦虑和抑郁情绪,模拟人类焦虑和抑郁障碍,以探讨其细胞、分子和基因水平机制。情绪障碍动物模型通常通过表面效度、结构效度和预测效度进行评价。目前的动物模型虽然存在一定的缺点,但已经为临床和科研提供了巨大帮助。     

中枢N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体在应激所致行为改变中的作用

应激所致行为效应的脑机制研究是目前生理心理学研究的热点领域。近年来,对于参与应激所致行为效应的神经递质研究从5-HT、多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素的范畴,逐渐发展到关注脑内含量最为丰富的谷氨酸能神经元所产生的兴奋性递质,包括谷氨酸、天冬氨酸及其相应受体NMDAR可能在应激性行为效应的中枢机制中的作用。近十年来的研究表明,中枢NMDAR是学习记忆的关键物质,在兴奋性突触传递、突触可塑性和脑发育过程中扮演重要的角色。不同类型的应激能导致动物的与行为密切相关脑区如杏仁核,海马的兴奋性氨基酸及NMDAR数量增多,活性增高。突触间隙增多的兴奋性氨基酸与NMDAR结合后,通过激活NMDAR促进糖皮质激素的相关性释放,共同产生的兴奋毒性作用引起上述脑区的神经元细胞缺失和变性;或干扰其他中枢神经递质在动物行为的脑内奖赏机制中的正常功能;或通过持续激活NMDAR,导致细胞内Ca2＋超载,损害其信号传导途径下游的蛋白激酶级联反应,使其底物蛋白的磷酸化或去磷酸化作用发生改变,影响突触可塑性和神经细胞间的信号传递,导致动物出现相应的行为障碍。应激前给动物的上述脑区注射NMDAR阻滞剂,可以减轻动物的应激性焦虑和抑郁行为。而NMDAR依赖性LTP下游途径的新信号分子,神经颗粒素,参与了脑内多种蛋白信号传导,可能是应激性行为效应的另一重要中枢机制。     

有偿献血HIV感染者的情绪障碍

考察有偿献血HIV感染者的情绪状况,探讨他们面临的艾滋病压力和对感染HIV的认知评价对其情绪的影响。方法：采用Beck抑郁量表、焦虑自评量表、艾滋病压力量表、认知评价量表作为测查工具,测查了185名有偿献血HIV感染者,并收集了人口学资料、症状资料和其它信息。结果：（1）92%的有偿献血HIV感染者有中、重度抑郁障碍,他们的焦虑程度高于神经衰弱者和焦虑症者;（2）艾滋病压力不仅通过认知评价而且会直接对情绪障碍产生影响;（3）认知评价在艾滋病压力和情绪障碍之间起部分中介作用。结论：有偿献血HIV感染者抑郁、焦虑情绪障碍严重,艾滋病压力和认知评价对情绪障碍的产生都有直接或间接的影响     

情绪性工作的研究现状

情绪性工作是为表达组织所期待的情绪所做出的心理调节加工,是制约工作绩效高低和组织目标达成的重要因素。该文在介绍情绪性工作的涵义、特征的基础上,从规则的效度、表达的类型、调节的策略、理论的模型以及工作的后效等方面,介绍了当前情绪性工作的研究现状。