The threshold model of scientific change and the continuity of scientific knowledge

The continuity thesis of the Pozna school threshold model of the growth of scientific knowledge is considered in the light of the example of Van der Waals' and Boyle-Mariotte's laws. It is argued — using both traditional logical means and the structuralist reconstruction of the example — that the continuity thesis does not hold.A distinction between a historical and a systematic point of view is introduced and it is argued that the continuity thesis of the threshold model presupposes the systematic point of view. However, looking at matters from the systematic point of view need not yield the original theory, looked at from the historical point of view. Applied to the case of Van der Waals/Boyle-Mariotte laws, it turns out that the latter law is not a true idealizing special case of the former, contrary to the continuity thesis.     

Comprehensive stereotype content dictionaries using a semi‐automated method

Advances in natural language processing provide accessible approaches to analyze psychological open‐ended data. However, comprehensive instruments for text analysis of stereotype content are missing. We developed stereotype content dictionaries using a semi‐automated method based on WordNet and word embeddings. These stereotype content dictionaries covered over 80% of open‐ended stereotypes about salient American social groups, compared to 20% coverage from words extracted directly from the stereotype content literature. The dictionaries showed high levels of internal consistency and validity, predicting stereotype scale ratings and human judgments of online text. We developed the R package Semi‐Automated Dictionary Creation for Analyzing Text (SADCAT; https://github.com/gandalfnicolas/SADCAT ) for access to the stereotype content dictionaries and the creation of novel dictionaries for constructs of interest. Potential applications of the dictionaries range from advancing person perception theories through laboratory studies and analysis of online data to identifying social biases in artificial intelligence, social media, and other ubiquitous text sources.     

Adaptive logics using the minimal abnormality strategy are $$\Pi^1_1$$ -complex

In this article complexity results for adaptive logics using the minimal abnormality strategy are presented. It is proven here that the consequence set of some recursive premise sets is -complete. So, the complexity results in (Horsten and Welch, Synthese 158:41–60, 2007) are mistaken for adaptive logics using the minimal abnormality strategy.     

Keep making sense

In a number works Jerry Fodor has defended a reductive, causal and referential theory of cognitive content. I argue against this, defending a quasi-Fregean notion of cognitive content, and arguing also that the cognitive content of non-singular concepts is narrow, rather than wide.     

我国古籍中“勇”的心理学探析

在830部古籍中检索“勇”,形成包含836个句段的语料库,对语料逐条进行内容分析。结果如下：“勇”的内涵主要体现为威猛强悍、临危不惧、坚定笃志、果敢决断、大义担当、知耻革新六个方面,大致分为义理之勇和血气之勇两类,具有维护国家安全、优化人格等功能。最后,对勇气的传统性与现代性、跨文化的一致性与差异性进行了讨论,并提出勇气是一种既继承了优秀的中国文化传统,又能适应当下心理学国际化需要的心理品质。     

Traumatology Trends: A Content Analysis of Three Counseling Journals From 1994 to 2014

A content analysis of the Journal of Counseling & Development, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, and Counselor Education and Supervision from 1994 to 2014 was conducted to determine traumatology topics and trends. The frequency of trauma articles was low, and the largest category focused on sexual abuse. Few articles addressed terrorism or mass violence. Emerging topics included shared trauma and trauma supervision. Development of consistent nomenclature, trauma training, and specialized trauma journals are recommended to increase publications.     

On representational content and format in core numerical cognition

Carey has argued that there is a system of core numerical cognition – the analog magnitude (AM) system – in which (approximate) cardinal numbers are explicitly represented in iconic format. While the existence of this system is beyond doubt, this paper aims to show that its representations cannot have the combination of features attributed to them by Carey. According to the argument from abstractness, the representation of the (approximate) cardinal number of a collection of individuals as such requires the representation of individuals as such, and this in turn requires non-iconic format, from which it is concluded that the explicit representation of the (approximate) cardinal number of some individuals requires non-iconic representational format. In support of the first premise, an account is given of what approximate cardinal numbers might be (namely, quantifiers), and in support of the second, a direct argument is articulated and defended. Finally, in response to an objection, a second argument (from parts) for the central thesis is provided. While the discussion is couched in the terms of Carey’s work, the considerations it adduces are perfectly general, and the conclusion should therefore be taken into consideration by all those aiming to characterize the AM system.     

Deaf hearing: Implicit discrimination of auditory content in a patient with mixed hearing loss

We describe a patient LS, profoundly deaf in both ears from birth, with underdeveloped superior temporal gyri. Without hearing aids, LS displays no ability to detect sounds below a fixed threshold of 60 dBs, which classifies him as clinically deaf. Under these no-hearing-aid conditions, when presented with a forced-choice paradigm in which he is asked to consciously respond, he is unable to make above-chance judgments about the presence or location of sounds. However, he is able to make above-chance judgments about the content of sounds presented to him under forced-choice conditions. We demonstrated that LS has faint sensations from auditory stimuli, but questionable awareness of auditory content. LS thus has a form of type-2 deaf hearing with respect to auditory content. As in the case of a subject with acquired deafness and deaf hearing reported on a previous occasion, LS’s condition of deaf hearing is akin in some respects to type-2 blindsight. As for the case of type 2 blindsight the case indicates that a form of conscious hearing can arise in the absence of a fully developed auditory cortex.     

全球化时代的国家认同：认同内容及其对群际行为的影响

随着全球化进程的不断推进, 国家认同再次成为社会心理学的研究热点。全球化到底是削弱国家认同还是增强国家认同, 不仅与国家认同的具体内容有关, 还受国家的全球化水平影响。同时, 个体对外群体的态度, 不仅受到群体规模的影响, 国家认同内容也起着调节作用。人们越是基于语言、宗教、文化等族群特质来界定国家身份, 对外群体的态度越消极; 越是基于公民特质来界定国家身份, 对外群体的态度越积极。今后应该整合国家认同的内容、厘清国家认同的发展轨迹、拓展国家认同的研究方法以及开展中国化研究。