Food and token quantity discrimination in capuchin monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cebus apella</Emphasis>)

Quantity discrimination is adaptive in a variety of ecological contexts and different taxa discriminate stimuli differing in numerousness, both in the wild and in laboratory settings. Quantity discrimination between object arrays has been suggested to be more demanding than between food arrays but, to our knowledge, the same paradigm has never been used to directly compare them. We investigated to what extent capuchin monkeys’ relative numerousness judgments (RNJs) with food and token are alike. Tokens are inherently non-valuable objects that acquire an associative value upon exchange with the experimenter. Our aims were (1) to assess capuchins’ RNJs with food (Experiment 1) and with tokens (Experiment 2) by presenting all the possible pair-wise choices between one to five items, and (2) to evaluate on which of the two proposed non-verbal mechanisms underlying quantity discrimination (analogue magnitude and object file system) capuchins relied upon. In both conditions capuchins reliably selected the larger amount of items, although their performance was higher with food than with tokens. The influence of the ratio between arrays on performance indicates that capuchins relied on the same system for numerical representation, namely analogue magnitude, regardless of the type of stimuli (food or tokens) and across both the small and large number ranges.     

The manifestation of transference during early psychotherapy sessions

Despite the clinical use of therapeutic transference across various schools of psychotherapy, there have been relatively few empirical studies of this phenomenon, none of which has examined transference with a non‐pathological population. In this study, the core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT) method was used to examine the manifestation of therapeutic transference in the first three sessions of 22 counselling contracts with high‐functioning individuals. Factor analyses of the wish (W) and response of other (RO) components of the CCRT indicate a complementary pattern of relating in which the therapist is idealised and others are devalued. Within the response of self (RS) component, clients exhibited a concordant relational transfer whereby they had a negative response to both the therapist and others. Additionally, control issues emerged in the W component for significant others and in the RS component for the therapist.     

The ELCA at 20 Years: Flunking the Theological Test

Abstract : This article deals with four theological issues at the forefront of controversy in the ELCA. They are: 1) the naming of God; 2) the unique place of Jesus in the world's salvation; 3) the authority and interpretation of the Bible; 4) the place of the law in theological ethics. The response to these issues holds the key as to whether or to what extent the ELCA will be faithful to its confessional commitment or become just another variety of liberal Protestantism.     

Rethinking the Human Being in Light of Evolutionary Biology

Abstract : For the sake of its own enrichment and relevance, Christian anthropology today must be informed by what we are learning from the biosciences, including the theory of biological evolution. The two quite different paradigms of theology and biology should be seen as complementary to each other, with theology recognizing the biological foundation of human nature. This necessitates a repudiation of the traditional body/soul dualism and re‐conceptualizing the concept of soul as a metaphorical expression rather than a spiritual entity. It affirms the spiritual dimension of human life that relates us to God and neighbor. Biblical scholarship affirms this psychosomatic, holistic view of the human being.     

The application of the first order system transfer function for fitting the 3-arm radial maze learning curve

A mathematical model is described based on the first order system transfer function in the form Y=B3∗exp(−B2∗(X−1))+B4∗(1−exp(−B2∗(X−1))), where X is the learning session number; Y is the quantity of errors, B2 is the learning rate, B3 is resistance to learning and B4 is ability to learn. The model is tested in a light-dark discrimination learning task in a 3-arm radial maze using Wistar and albino rats. The model provided good fits of experimental data under acquisition and reacquisition, and was able to detect strain differences among Wistar and albino rats. The model was compared to Rescorla-Wagner, and was found to be mutually complementary. Comparisons with Tulving’s logarithmic function and Valentine’s hyperbola and the arc cotangent functions are also provided. Our model is valid for fitting averaged group data, if averaging is applied to a subgroup of subjects possessing individual learning curves of an exponential shape.     

高绩效工作系统负面影响的潜在机制

高绩效工作系统是一系列以提升组织绩效为目标的人力资源管理实践的集合或捆绑。已有研究发现高绩效工作系统也可能对员工产生负面影响。针对此问题, 本文首先澄清了高绩效工作系统的概念, 从管理理念分析其可能产生负面影响的原因。厘清了高绩效工作系统对组织和员工带来的不同效果, 从多元论的视角分析其负面影响的来源。基于工作要求−资源模型、自我决定理论、归因理论和过犹不及效应, 阐释高绩效工作系统对员工负面影响的内在机制。并进一步从个人和组织层面分析高绩效工作系统产生负面影响的边界条件。最后, 提出未来的研究方向和建议。     

社会网络视角下的同伴关系与心理健康

近年来, 从社会网络视角考察同伴关系与心理健康的相互作用正成为发展心理学和健康心理学研究的热点。研究者多借助整体网和纵向数据, 通过两种作用机制, 即选择过程(selection process) (强调心理和行为变量对社会网络和同伴关系的影响, 如关系的形成、维持和解除)和影响过程(influence process) (强调社会网络和同伴关系对心理和行为变量的影响), 来分析同伴关系与心理健康协同演进的动态过程。实证研究关注的领域集中在青少年健康风险行为(如吸烟、喝酒、药物滥用)和情绪问题(如抑郁、焦虑、孤独感)。未来研究应该注重拓展社会网络的类型和样本、加强理论建构、增加对积极心理和消极关系的研究, 并有望在互联网领域及社会网络的生物学基础等方面取得进展。     

父母网络监管对青少年网络游戏成瘾为何事与愿违?——一个有调节的中介效应模型

父母网络监管对于减少青少年网络游戏成瘾的效果往往不尽相同,本研究对4105名青少年进行调查考察了不良同伴交往在父母网络监管对青少年网络游戏成瘾影响中的中介作用,以及父母网络监管对青少年不良同伴交往的影响路径是否受亲子关系的调节。结果发现：（1）直接效应显示父母网络监管能显著正向预测青少年网络游戏成瘾,不良同伴交往在父母网络监管对网络游戏成瘾的影响中起“遮掩效应”;（2）亲子关系显著调节父母网络监管对不良同伴交往的影响;（3）整体模型检验发现,父母网络监管、亲子关系、不良同伴交往和网络游戏成瘾形成了一个有调节的中介模型。     

低地位群体的外群体偏好

内群体偏好是群际关系中较为普遍现象。但是, 近来研究发现, 在低地位群体中存在着外群体偏好现象。社会认同理论、社会优势理论和系统公正理论从不同角度对这一现象进行了解释。社会认同理论关注情境因素的作用, 它描述了在何种情境下, 外群体偏好可能会出现。社会优势理论认为, 低地位群体成员的社会优势取向水平会决定其究竟是反抗现状还是接受现状。系统公正理论提出, 系统公正动机会使低地位群体成员支持与其内群体利益相违背的现存等级系统。每个理论各有优劣之处, 将各理论进行整合是值得考虑的研究方向。本文提出, 在解释低地位群体的外群体偏好现象时, 社会认同与社会优势取向之间可能会存在交互作用。     

知情同意权中的哥德巴赫猜想--知情权与患者认知能力之间的冲突

知情同意权作为医患关系中患者一方最基本的权利正受到患者认知能力的严重影响。这一方面是原本专业化医学正在逐步走向专门化原因造成的,但与医患关系,文化传统,知识水平等因素也有千丝万缕的联系,正确处理知情权与患者认知能力之间的关系对于衡平医患关系,维护医患双方权益有着重大的现实意义。问题既有赖于医患双方的协力;更要依靠社会各方面合作,形成合力加以解决。