Confirmatory Search and Asymmetric Dominance

Decision makers use confirmatory search strategies in judgment tasks. As a result of this, their attention towards task‐relevant cues is biased in favor of cues supporting available responses. Changing these responses can alter the cues used in the judgment task and, subsequently, alter beliefs. We use this mechanism to predict and explain the emergence of the asymmetric dominance effect in judgment. In four sets of experiments, we document systematic changes in belief, as dominated options are added to the response set. These effects emerge for a number of naturalistic judgment tasks and are mediated by the increased accessibility of decoy‐supporting cues. Finally, these effects can be eliminated when the decision maker's attention is drawn towards the cues supporting the non‐dominant response. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of an experimental social stressor on resources loss,negative affect,and coping strategies

This experimental study, grounded in Hobfoll's conservation of resources (COR) theory, assessed the effects of manipulating a social stressor on loss of psychological resources, negative affect, and coping strategies. Israeli student volunteers were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: (1) social stressor (n = 66) and (2.) nonstressor (n = 59). The social stressor, aimed at reducing participant's personal resources, was experimentally induced via the Trier Social Stress Test protocol. The protocol consisted of a mock job interview administered under evaluative conditions, followed by performing a difficult arithmetic calculation task. The nonstressor condition involved a neutral interaction with an experimenter, followed by performing a relatively easy mental calculation task. Consistent with our hypotheses, the social stressor, compared to the nonstressor condition, resulted in statistically significant lower mean levels of psychological resources, higher levels of negative affect, and increased emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping. Furthermore, under the social stressor condition, compared with the nonstressor condition, negative affect was more strongly related to loss of psychological resources and various coping strategies. Overall, the data provide experimental support for key tenets of COR theory     

Les programmes de l’Association for Psychological Science (APS) pour l’enseignement de la psychologie scientifique

The Association for Psychological Science (APS) supports the teaching of psychological science as a central part of its mission to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of human welfare. APS's teaching-related initiatives include: providing free classroom and educational use of research articles published in APS journals; a series of articles on presenting scientific findings in classroom lessons; sponsoring and hosting conferences on the teaching of psychological science, most notably hosting the popular Teaching Institute at the APS annual meeting and co-sponsoring the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology (NITOP); providing grants for developing teaching resources; a Teaching fellowship; and providing financial and technical support to organizations that focus on teaching psychological science. Many of these activities are supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science, established through an endowment from the David & Carol Myers Foundation. In addition, a core component of the APS Wikipedia Initiative is to involve students and teachers in the development of high-quality accurate information on concepts, findings and methods in psychological science.     

Job design,opportunities for skill utilization,and intrinsic job satisfaction

Arguably, job designs that provide for high levels of employee control also provide increased opportunities for the development and exercise of skill. Perceived skill utilization has consistently been found to be amongst the strongest predictors of job-related affective well-being, yet is frequently neglected in studies of work redesign. In this article, a theoretical framework linking the key job characteristics of perceived control and perceived cognitive demand to perceived skill utilization and intrinsic job satisfaction is presented. Results from one cross-sectional study and one longitudinal study are reported that support the mediational influence of perceived skill utilization on the perceived job control?–?job satisfaction relationship only. The relationship between perceived job demand and perceived skill utilization was mixed but no mediating effect was evident. It is argued that the level of both perceived demand and perceived control dictates the nature of the joint influence of both job characteristics on perceived skill utilization and work attitudes such as job satisfaction.     

Workplace characteristics,career/vocation satisfaction,and existential well-being in Episcopal clergy

This study considers the association of workplace conditions with the well-being of individuals in a profession that is highly imbued with the sacred – ordained ministry. Data from 1202 Episcopal clergy were collected on measures of workplace conditions (meaningfulness; safety; and cognitive, emotional, and physical availability) along with well-being (career/vocation satisfaction, and spiritual well-being). Hierarchical OLS regression analyses indicated that workplace conditions were strong predictors of well-being. Men reported slightly higher career/vocation satisfaction, and gender also moderated the relationships between workplace conditions and well-being. The results suggest that perceived workplace conditions, such as meaningfulness, safety, and resource availability can have strong links with career satisfaction and existential well-being, especially in those occupations where work and spirit are intertwined.     

La qualité de vie au travail dans les services de ressources humaines

This research looks at work well-being for human resources staffs, which are brought to manage relations between individuals and organization, between organization and society, between individuals and society. 263 human resources staffs performed a questionnaire estimating work facets such professionals satisfaction and commitment, work conditions and health. Results shown firstly a work quality of life for staffs, what does not prevent them from reporting hardness (temporal constraints, working overload), secondly the absence of systematic effects of status, age and gender on work attitudes and health. Results and futur works are discussed.     

The caregiver experience: a South African perspective on caring for people with multiple sclerosis

This study explored the lived experiences of caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with regard to their daily challenges, as well as the resources which help them to cope with their caregiving task. Participants were eight South African men (n?=?3) and women (n?=?5) [white?=?6; coloured?=?2] caring for a person with MS. They responded to a qualitative interview on their caregiving experiences. The data were thematically analysed. Findings suggest their daily challenges of managing symptoms, limited social interaction, financial difficulties, and the unpredictability of the future as a result of MS. Resources helpful to coping with caregiving roles include resilience, positive attitude, patience, religion, information, and financial security. Carer support should be tailor-made, because of the unique experiences of each caregiver and the varied presentation of MS.     

Resourcing single parents in a South African community rural setting: an exploratory study

This study investigated the resource needs of single parents as child carers. Participants were a purposive sample of 40 single parents (female?=?70%, Black?=?95%, rural 80%; age range 30 to 55 years old). Data on resource needs of single parents were collected using semi-structured individual interviews. The data were thematically analyzed. The findings indicated that single parents need relationship and socio-emotional, material and time use supports to be successful in their carer roles. Resourcing single parents in their child care roles requires a holistic approach addressing both material and socio-relational support needs.