Dynamics in the fine structure of schedule-controlled behavior.

The variability in the behavioral equilibrium established by six basic schedules was characterized. The measures were the pause preceding the first response in each interreinforcement interval; the mean rate of responding in each interreinforcement interval; and the relative frequency of each interresponse time. The temporal windows ranged across the 780-session exposure, across a session, and across the interreinforcement interval. A display of individual interresponse times as a function of time in the interreinforcement interval indicated clear recurrent responding at somewhat less than 3 Hz in every bird, even after extended exposure to a schedule and regardless of the contingency. No strong sequential dependencies in the interresponse-time distributions were identified. A simulator, based on a simple recurrent pulser, was presented that produced output similar to the obtained data. An archival data base of the behavior chronically maintained by the simple schedules was also generated.     

Rhythmic organization of heart rate in breast-fed and bottle-fed newborn infants

Heart rates and behavioural states of 14 breast-fed and 14 bottlefed newborn infants were assessed every 30 seconds for 2 continuous hours. The 240 observations of heart rate were treated as time-series data and spectrum-analysed for behavioural rhythmicities. Of the 28 infants, 25 showed reliable cycles in heart rate; 22 of the 25 infants showed a dominant frequency with a 30–60 min periodicity, one that approximates the basic-rest activity cycle (BRAC). In addition to this basic cycle, additional higher frequency cycles in long-term heart rate variability were evident in the spectra of many infants. Breast-fed newborns had greater numbers of reliable cycles in heart rate than bottle-fed newborns. Further, breast-fed newborns had lower overall mean heart rates and lower mean heart rates in Quiet and Active Sleep states than bottle-fed newborns. Bottle-fed newborns were observed more often in Quiet Sleep than breast-fed newborns. Without knowledge of the specific mechanisms causing these behavioural differences, the results of this study suggest that the context in which breast-feeding occurs results in a more complex and energy-efficient pattern of behavioural organization than the context of bottle-feeding.     

HIV Prevention with Male Prostitutes and Patrons of Hustler Bars: Replication of an HIV Preventive Intervention

The core objectives of this study were to document the process by which a community-based organization replicated and adapted an experimentally developed intervention to its own use and to explore the effectiveness of that HIV prevention program for male prostitutes and other patrons in New York City hustler bars. The intervention model employed was based on previous research with gay men (Kelly, St. Lawrence, Diaz, et al., 1991; Kelly, St. Lawrence, Stevenson, et al., 1992) and inspired by diffusion of innovation theory (Rogers, 1995). The effects of the current intervention were assessed on a sample of 1,741 male prostitutes and bar patrons. Analyses indicated significant reductions in paid, unprotected sexual intercourse and oral sex following the intervention. Analyses further indicated that the data were partially consistent with the program's model, which specified that norms were the putative mediator of behavior change in the intervention. Also, the intervention's effects varied by bar and by participants' race/ethnicity. Data support the utility of the intervention model for an urban sample of men at high risk for HIV infection. The importance of exploring the mechanisms that underlie the intervention is discussed.     

Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) and Kernberg's theory of personality organization related to adolescents in psychiatric care

75 adolescent psychiatric patients were diagnosed with the perceptual projective test the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) and also according to Kernberg's theory of personality organization (PO). The test protocols were scored in respect of 130DMT variables and analyzed by means of partial least squares (PLS) discriminant analysis. The objective was to try to separate the three types of PO, psychotic (PPO), borderline (BPO) and neurotic (NPO) by means of the DMT and also to compare the results with a similar study on adult psychiatric patients. The results showed that it is possible to separate significantly the three groups of PO. The BPO group seemed to be heterogeneous. The results were fairly similar to those obtained with adult psychiatric patients. The overall results supported the concurrent validity of Kernberg's theory of PO and for the DMT as well. The DMT seems to be a useful diagnostic method in respect of adolescent psychiatric patients.     

The University as Learning Community

Organizations are increasingly faced with the need to "reinvent" themselves as they adapt to a changing society. In this article, the university is examined as one such organization. Faced with enormous pressures to educate an increasingly diverse group of students, equip them with skills for the global marketplace, and prepare them to be responsible citizens, the university must become a more responsive institution that can respond effectively to these challenges. Various perspectives on how the university can become a learning organization are discussed. Central to the discussion is the need to change the university culture in ways that encourage and nurture more interdisciplinary programs and problem-focused teams that address the needs of communities. It is suggested that culture change is also necessary to encourage the development of new types of learning environments that nurture the spirit and the mind. Future business organizations are then compared with the university. A key issue that needs to be considered is how universities can better prepare students for the work settings of tomorrow. It is suggested that such preparation requires environments that help students adapt to change and encourage them to become lifelong learners.     

组织中的关爱：概念界定、结果与影响因素

关爱就是注意到他人痛苦, 经过对当前情况评估之后, 对他人痛苦产生共情感受, 最终采取行动帮助他人脱离困境的过程。目前, 关爱已经成为积极组织行为学关注的热点问题。关爱的测量主要有4种方法：行为编码、量表、自我报告和定性评估。关爱对积极情绪、焦虑、员工满意度、组织承诺、组织公民行为、离职意向、组织合作能力等有积极的影响。组织成员之间的关系质量、组织文化、组织领导者与制度化的组织关爱措施对关爱具有预测作用。未来关于关爱的研究需加强对结构测量、影响因素与作用机制的进一步探讨。     

On the minimal relative motion principle—lateral displacement of a contracting bar

Xausa, Beghi, and Zanforlin (J. Math. Psychol. 45(4) (2001) 635) provide an account of perceptual organization based on their ‘minimal relative motion’ principle. They claim that this principle can account for the percept generated by a contracting bar that is simultaneously translating laterally. We critique the mathematical analysis provided in the aforementioned paper. We conclude that the ‘minimal relative motion’ principle, in the form presented, cannot adequately explain the percept reported by observers.     

公共组织学习的心理学透视：经验习得与信息加工

本文从心理学关于学习的概念,关于行为、认知与信息加工的行为学习理论、社会学习理论和信息加工理论,以及行为绩效的心理学原理角度,阐述了我们所提出的公共组织学习的概念框架的心理学理论基础。认为从心理学角度透视公共组织学习,其实质是经验习得与信息加工的过程。这充分体现了心理学基本理论原理在公共组织学习理论建构中所具有的重要应用价值。