On structural models for analyzing change

The recommendation to base the analysis of multi-wave data upon explicit models for change is advocated. Several univariate and multivariate models are described, which emerge from an interaction between the classical test theory and the structural equation modeling approach. The resulting structural models for analyzing change reflect in some of their parameters substantively interesting aspects of intra- and interindividual change in follow-up studies. The models are viewed as an alternative to an ANOVA-based analysis of longitudinal data, and are illustrated on data from a cognitive intervention study of old adults (Bakes et al , 1986). The approach presents a useful means of analyzing change over time, and is applicable for purposes of (latent) growth curve analysis when analysis of variance assumptions are violated (e.g., Schaie & Hertzog, 1982; Morrison, 1976).     

Theoretical Orientation and Therapists' Attitudes to Important Components of Therapy: A Study Based on the Valuable Elements in Psychotherapy Questionnaire

The authors describe the inception and subsequent testing of a questionnaire on attitudes regarding how psychotherapy ought to be pursued: the Valuable Elements in Psychotherapy Questionnaire (VEP-Q). A sample of 416 Swedish therapists (161 psychodynamic, 93 cognitive, 95 cognitive behavioral, and 67 integrative/eclectic) responded to the 17-item VEP-Q. A factor analysis of these items resulted in three subscales: PDT, CBT, and Common Factor, as validated by analyses of covariance. The internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the scales were excellent. In addition to theoretical orientation, variables such as gender and basic professional training influenced how respondents answered the VEP-Q. The authors conclude that the VEP-Q seems to be an appropriate instrument for describing similarities as well as differences among practitioners of various schools of psychotherapy.     

Matrices with a given number of violations of Regular Minimality

A row (or column) of an n×n matrix complies with Regular Minimality (RM) if it has a unique minimum entry which is also a unique minimum entry in its column (respectively, row). The number of violations of RM in a matrix is defined as the number of rows (equivalently, columns) that do not comply with RM. We derive a formula for the proportion of n×n matrices with a given number of violations of RM among all n×n matrices with no tied entries. The proportion of matrices with no more than a given number of violations can be treated as the p-value of a permutation test whose null hypothesis states that all permutations of the entries of a matrix without ties are equiprobable, and the alternative hypothesis states that RM violations occur with lower probability than predicted by the null hypothesis. A matrix with ties is treated as being represented by all matrices without ties that have the same set of strict inequalities among their entries.     

Peripheral pain enhances the effects of incentive downshifts

Physical pain (induced by tissue damage) and psychological pain (induced by surprising incentive loss) share a set of common neural substrates, but little is known about their interactions. The present research studied such interactions using the formalin test to induce physical pain and consummatory successive negative contrast (cSNC) to induce psychological pain. In the formalin test, animals receive an intradermal injection of formalin (1%) in a hind paw. In cSNC, rats with free access to 32% sucrose show a sharp suppression of drinking behavior after a downshift to 4% sucrose, compared to rats that always receive 4% sucrose. In Experiment 1, formalin administration before the first and second 32-to-4% sucrose downshift trials enhanced cSNC. In Experiment 2, a similar treatment before the first downshift trial after a 16-to-4% sucrose downshift, which normally produces little or no evidence of cSNC, significantly increased cSNC. In Experiment 3, using a 32-to-4% sucrose downshift procedure similar to that of Experiment 1, no effects were observed following formalin administration immediately after Trial 11. Thus, no evidence was found that the effects of physical pain on cSNC were caused by changes in memory consolidation. The procedures used in these experiments offer a new approach to study the neural substrates of interactions between physical and psychological pain.     

Comparing thought suppression and mindfulness as coping techniques for spider fear

The current study compared thought suppression, focused attention (mindfulness) and unfocused attention as strategies for managing spider fear. Spider fearful participants were exposed to a strategy induction before completing a Behavioural Approach Test (BAT). The BAT is a 10 step measurement of how close participants are willing to move towards a spider. Participants were instructed to use what they learned in the pre-BAT induction to help them advance through the steps of the BAT. The results of the study indicated that participants given the thought suppression or the unfocused attention induction moved through significantly less steps of the BAT than did those given the focused attention (mindful) induction. Additionally, the thought suppression group felt significantly more anxious than the focused and unfocused attention groups following completion of the BAT. These results are discussed in terms of the impact of thought suppression on avoidance behaviour in phobias.     

可用性测试中用户皮肤电水平变化分析——基于EEMD的方法

根据可用性测试过程中用户皮肤电水平（skin conductance level,SCL）的变化,提出了基于总体平均经验模式分解（ensemble empirical mode deeomposition,EEMD）技术的用户SCL信号趋势和变化特征提取方法。首先,应用EEMD技术对SCL信号进行分解,得到若干独立的基本模式分量及趋势项;然后,对基本模式分量进行显著性检验,进而实现信号的去噪去趋势重构,得到用户SCL的变化特征。实验结果表明：界面的可用性问题使得用户SCL单调趋势变得不明显;当用户遇到可用性问题时,SCL去噪去趋势重构信号波动幅度明显变大,Wilcoxon符号秩检验表明不同阶段用户SCL去噪去趋势重构信号功率差异显著。因此,基于EEMD的信号处理方法能有效支撑可用性测试过程中用户SCL变化的分析。     

Spinoza on Lying and Suicide

Spinoza is often taken to claim that suicide is never a rational act, that a ‘free’ person acting by the guidance of reason will never terminate his/her own existence. Spinoza also defends the prima facie counterintuitive claim that the rational person will never act dishonestly. This second claim can, in fact, be justified when Spinoza's moral psychology and account of motivation are properly understood. Moreover, making sense of the free man's exception-less honesty in this way also helps to clarify how Spinoza should, and indeed does, recognize the possibility of rational suicide.     

构建医务工作者的诚信体系

医务工作者的诚信体系建设是被全社会普遍关注的一个热点问题。医务工作者的诚信体系应包括几个方面:经济基础是诚信体系的前提和保障;法律规范作为他律控制着医务工作者的诚信;良好的道德环境是构建医务工作者诚信体系的主要手段;个体素质即道德良心是提高医务工作者诚信水平的内在诉求;医疗制度是医务工作者诚信的重要保障。     

荣格的情结理论探析

在精神分析学界,对情结的研究以荣格的贡献为最。荣格通过自己的研究独立地发现了情结,并据此建构了他的情结理论体系。随着研究的深入,荣格不袒从情结中发现了导致神经机能病的病理性原因,甚至进一步阐释了“集体潜意识原型”和“精神救赎”等更为深远的内容。     

中学生物理力学问题的分类及表征研究

采用自由分类和标签分类法,以16道中学物理力学应用题为实验材料,探讨不同学业水平中学生对物理问题的分类及表征差异,以及题目陈述方式(有无示意图)对分类的影响.结果发现: (1)自由分类实验中,学优生侧重于按问题的深层特征(物理原理表征)进行分类,学困生侧重于问题的表面特征(文字表征);题目陈述方式对优困生的分类时间和分类表征也有影响. (2)标签分类实验中,学优生的正确分类题目数量显著高于学困生,有示意图下学优生的正确分类题目数量显著高于无示意图下.