Self‐compassion Is Best Measured as a Global Construct and Is Overlapping with but Distinct from Neuroticism: A Response to Pfattheicher,Geiger, Hartung,Weiss, and Schindler (2017)

Pfattheicher and colleagues recently published an article entitled ‘Old Wine in New Bottles? The Case of Self‐compassion and Neuroticism’ that argues the negative items of the Self‐compassion Scale (SCS), which represent reduced uncompassionate self‐responding, are redundant with neuroticism (especially its depression and anxiety facets) and do not evidence incremental validity in predicting life satisfaction. Using potentially problematic methods to examine the factor structure of the SCS (higher‐order confirmatory factor analysis), they suggest a total self‐compassion score should not be used and negative items should be dropped. In Study 1, we present a reanalysis of their data using what we argue are more theoretically appropriate methods (bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling) that support use of a global self‐compassion factor (explaining 94% of item variance) over separate factors representing compassionate and reduced uncompassionate self‐responding. While self‐compassion evidenced a large correlation with neuroticism and depression and a small correlation with anxiety, it explained meaningful incremental validity in life satisfaction compared with neuroticism, depression, and anxiety. Findings were replicated in Study 2, which examined emotion regulation. Study 3 established the incremental validity of negative items with multiple well‐being outcomes. We conclude that although self‐compassion overlaps with neuroticism, the two constructs are distinct. © 2018 European Association of Personality Psychology     

Zhi and Neng belong to mind: a study of the capacity to be good in the mind of Xunzi

ABSTRACT

The mainstream of academia thinks that Xunzi’s theory of human nature, which claims that human nature is bad, is in contrast with those of Confucius and Mencius and is unable to provide a foundation for human moral subjectivity. However, there are more and more scholars bringing up different ideas, such as Lu Debin and Fung Yiuming. They think that Xunzi’s wei 偽 (artifice), which includes zhi知 (knowing) and neng 能 (capacity), is a kind of inborn capacity to think and activate that belongs to xing. This paper points out that zhi and neng belong to xin 心 (mind) rather than xing. In the text of Xunzi, xing is mainly regarded as human emotions and desires which would result in chaos if not controlled. Making zhi and neng belong to xing does not accord with Xunzi’s theory and will confuse people with the connotation of Xunzi’s xing.     

Towards a new way of healing: experienced counsellors’ perceived influences of ch’i-related experiences on counselling practice in Taiwan

This narrative study explored how the experienced counsellors utilised the idea and practice of ch’i during counselling sessions. The data were co-constructed between the researcher and 12 senior counsellors with substantial ch’i-related experiences using a semi-structured in-depth interview method and were analysed employing a narrative analysis approach. The core themes emerging from the study were (a) an embodiment, which included two sub-themes: ch’i as a way of expressing health and illness and ch’i-related exercise lived out as an embodiment, and (b) ch’i as a way of understanding. The findings pointed to ‘a new way of healing’, which involves perceiving, containing and conveying ch’i and requires counsellors to empty themselves, and remain in a state of non-action and wholeness.     

A Systematic Review of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL)

In this systematic review, the authors analyzed 336 published articles and dissertations that used the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) to determine the reliability and validity of scores on 3 different versions: PCL–Specific, PCL–Military, and PCL–Civilian. Results confirmed Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, and Keane's ( 1993 ) claim that the PCL has adequate psychometric properties and appears to support the construction of a new version, the PCL‐5, as a population‐nonspecific instrument.     

Measurement Error-Corrected Estimation of Clinically Significant Change Trajectories for Interventions Targeting Comorbid PTSD and Substance Use Disorders in OEF/OIF Veterans

In randomized control trials (RCTs), a focus on average differences between treatment arms often limits our understanding of whether individuals show clinically significant improvement or deterioration. The present study examined differences in individual-level clinical significance trajectories between Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE) and Relapse Prevention (RP). Eighty-one treatment-seeking veterans with a comorbid PTSD/SUD diagnosis were randomized to COPE or RP; data from an additional n = 48 patients who did not meet criteria for both disorders was used to establish a normative threshold. A newly developed, modernized approach to the Jacobson and Truax (1991) clinically significant change framework, using (a) moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) scale scoring and (b) measurement error-corrected multilevel modeling (MEC-MLM) was used; this approach was compared to other approaches using conventional total scores and/or assuming no measurement error. Using a conventional approach to estimating the Reliable Change Index (RCI) yielded no differences between COPE and RP in the percentage of patients achieving statistically significant improvement (SSI; 88.9% for both groups). However, under MNLFA/MEC-MLM, higher percentages of patients receiving COPE (75.0%) achieved SSI compared to RP (40.7%). Findings suggest that, even though COPE and RP appear to reduce the same number of PTSD symptoms, MNLFA scoring of outcome measures gives greater weight to interventions that target and reduce “hallmark” PTSD symptoms.     

Therapists’ Thought-Action Fusion Beliefs Predict Utilization of Exposure in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Although exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), it is rarely used in clinical practice. Therapists’ beliefs about ERP affect its utilization, as previous research suggests, but the role of therapists’ cognitive biases is unclear. In particular, susceptibility to thought-action fusion (TAF) may be related to the underutilization of ERP in OCD.Therapists (N = 353) were divided into those recommending (ERP+, n = 228) and not recommending ERP (ERP−, n = 125) as treatment for an OCD case example. TAF in therapists was assessed using behavioral and self-report measures (TAFS).TAF was higher in the ERP− than the ERP+ group, with a small to moderate effect size (0.2 ≤ d ≤ 0.4). ERP− therapists showed more avoidance and neutralizing behavior and a stronger emotional response than the ERP+ therapists during the experimental task. Moreover, higher TAF as measured by the TAFS was associated at a small magnitude with lower likelihood of using ERP in the therapists’ actual clinical practices.Therapists’ cognitive biases should be addressed in their training in order to increase the dissemination of evidence-based treatment (i.e., ERP) and thus improve the treatment of OCD.     

A scoping review of predictors of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) in young drivers

BackgroundRecreational and medical legalization of cannabis or marijuana use in countries and states continues to increase. Young adults aged 16–24 years have the highest prevalence rates of cannabis use. Young driver cannabis use is an incompletely understood traffic safety issue.ObjectivesThe purposes of this scoping review were to characterize the predictors of driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) among healthy young drivers and to identify research gaps.Inclusion criteriaA self-reported measure of DUIC and a correlation (r, odds ratio, risk ratio) to demographic or behavioral variables such as age, gender and frequency of use was required for inclusionSources of evidenceAPA PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, Academic Search Complete, Google Scholar, MEDLINE Complete, Scopus, Embase, ERIC, TRID and POPLINE databases were searched using an a priori protocol.MethodsThe PRISMA-ScR methods and checklist were used to conduct the scoping review. After the removal of duplicates, abstract screening (N = 999), and full-text review (N = 173), 19 primary studies met inclusion criteria. Predictors were coded and mapped into four primary thematic categories: social, individual, driving and substance use.ResultsOf the included studies, a total of 52,197 respondents were surveyed in-person or online and 51.8 percent were males. The predominant predictors of DUIC included being a male, high school senior, with lower grades, having a younger ‘age of first cannabis use’, a higher frequency of consumption, a reduced perception of danger, repeatedly binge drinking, a history of driving under the influence of alcohol and living with fewer parents.Research gapsIdentified research gaps include methods used to study young drivers, cannabis edibles, chronic user tolerance, driver adaptation, passengers of drivers who consumed cannabis, combined use with other legal and illicit drugs, and combined smartphone and cannabis use.ConclusionThe results of this scoping review can be used to develop and target general and specific predictors of DUIC in novice, teen and young drivers. Additional research designs will be required to gain a more complete evidence-based understanding of the effects of cannabis on young drivers.     

共情与中国民族音乐情绪识别的关系：来自ERP的证据

音乐情绪识别能力是利用音乐开展情绪调节的基本条件。传统的以五声音阶为基础的具有独特韵味的中国民族音乐反映了中国人独有的情感和价值观念, 在情绪调节和音乐治疗方面具有积极的作用, 是研究音乐情绪识别的有效音乐刺激。本研究采用跨通道情绪启动范式, 通过人际反应指针问卷筛选出高、低共情组被试各36人参加脑电实验, 考察共情能力对中国民族音乐情绪识别的影响。脑电数据显示, 在进行中国民族音乐情绪内隐识别时, 将宫调和羽调音乐作为启动刺激, 诱发了中期的P2、N400以及晚期正成分LPC (Late Positive Component)。低共情组P2和N400成分的波幅大于高共情组, 高共情组LPC成分的波幅大于低共情组。本研究第一次从电生理层面考察了不同共情能力的个体在进行中国民族音乐情绪识别时的神经反应差异。高低共情组在中国民族音乐情绪识别不同阶段的注意投入可能影响了其对音乐刺激的感受, 进而影响音乐情绪识别。