Coaction and upward social comparison reduce the illusory conjunction effect: Support for distraction-conflict theory

This article proposes an integration of Festinger’s (1954) social comparison theory and Baron’s (1986) distraction-conflict theory of the social facilitation-inhibition effect, which successfully predicts attentional focusing in coaction when social comparison represents a distraction. Two experiments confronted participants with the illusory conjunction task (Treisman, 1998), where illusions occur because of the lack of attentional processing of central cues. If coaction, like upward comparison, is distracting and thereby enhances the attention allocated to central cues (here the target’s features) at the expense of peripheral cues (here distractors), then a reduction should be found in the illusions. Experiment 1 indeed showed a lower rate of conjunctive errors under upward comparison than under downward comparison. Experiment 2 specified that this effect was due to downward comparison effectively reducing distraction, with upward comparison only maintaining it, as compared to mere coaction.     

农村健康保障制度与反贫困

从我国农村健康保障现实出发,认为建立农村健康保障制度是反贫困的迫切要求和重要组成部分,并提出了一些政策建议,如树立公共健康投资理念、政府职能转变与市场机制结合等.     

学科领域知识和学业成绩对工作记忆广度的影响

引入Alexander领域知识概念形成数学学科领域知识,以七年级有理数单元为研究材料,编写问卷和E-Prime实验程序,筛选60名初中生为被试,考察数学学科领域知识和学业成绩对工作记忆广度的影响。研究发现:(1)学优生的认知过程知识和问题条件知识显著高于学困生,而学理内容知识差异不显著;(2)在简单加工任务上,学优生和学困生工作记忆广度差异不显著。在复杂任务上,学优生的工作记忆广度都显著高于学困生;(3)当工作记忆广度任务中存储部分的词语和数学学科领域知识相关时,问题条件知识分数和认知过程分数能够显著地预测工作记忆广度。而不相关时,仅问题条件知识分数能够显著地预测工作记忆广度。     

数学困难儿童的数学估计能力

对数学困难儿童(简称数困)的数学估计进行探讨有助于理解数困的成因和寻找适当的干预措施。本文在简要回顾数困和估计的概念基础上, 重点对近年来国内外关于数困儿童数学估计(主要是估算和估数)的表现及影响因素、神经基础和相关的干预研究进行了回顾和梳理, 并强调未来对数困儿童的数学估计研究应注重从选取被试、扩展研究范围和加强干预方案设计等方面开展探讨。     

Quine's Weak and Strong Indispensability Argument

Quine's views on indispensability arguments in mathematics are scrutinised. A weak indispensability argument is distinguished from a strong indispensability thesis. The weak argument is the combination of the criterion of ontological commitment, holism and a mild naturalism. It is used to refute nominalism. Quine's strong indispensability thesis claims that one should consider all and only the mathematical entities that are really indispensable. Quine has little support for this thesis. This is even clearer if one takes into account Maddy's critique of Quine's strong indispensability thesis. Maddy's critique does not refute Quine's weak indispensability argument. We are left with a weak and almost unassailable indispensability argument. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Multiple causal pathways in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder – Do emerging executive and motivational deviations precede symptom development?

The multiple causal pathways model on the etiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is well established. However, developmental implications of the model are not yet sufficiently analyzed. The model implies that critical neural and neuropsychological deviations from normative development precede secondarily developing ADHD symptoms. Cognitive, “cool” inhibitory control (CIC) and reward-related, “hot” functions (RRF) are regarded as neuropsychological basic deficits that indicate independent causal pathways. Both functions involve top-down control networks that undergo major normative developmental changes in the preschool period. We formalized the following assumptions in a path model: (a) CIC and RRF predict change in ADHD symptoms in the preschool period, (b) the reverse is not true, and (c) CIC and RRF independently contribute to this prediction. A community-based sample of 125 (71 boys) preschoolers was assessed at at age 4 and 5 years. At each assessment wave, CIC and RRF were measured by a battery of age-appropriate valid tasks. ADHD symptoms were measured by a clinical parent interview. Evaluation of model fit using manifest maximum likelihood parameter estimation clearly supported the hypothesized path model while controlling for gender of child and maternal education level. Thus, regarding the basic deficits of CIC and RRF, the results add evidence on the developmental implications of the multiple causal pathways model. Our findings point to the potential significance of these early emerging characteristics as indicators of risk and as targets for preventive interventions.     

Motivated to confront: How experiencing anger affects anchoring bias

Prior research has asserted that emotions affect anchoring bias in decision making through the emotion's certainty appraisal or through the emotion's action tendencies, but these prior studies investigate the role of each component—appraisal or action tendency—without accounting for potential effects of the other one. The current research investigates whether anger exerts a significant effect on anchoring bias by activating a desire to confront a potential anchor. Importantly, the studies compare the effect of anger versus disgust, emotions that differ in their action tendency but are similar in their certainty appraisal. In Study 1, participants completed an emotion induction task and then a negotiation task where the first offer from the negotiation partner served as a potential anchor. Anger led to more deviation from the anchor compared with disgust or neutral feelings. Subsequent studies provide evidence that the angry participants are less anchored when the anchor value comes from a more confrontable source (someone else vs. themselves in Study 2 and an out‐group member vs. an in‐group member in Study 3).     

音乐训练对认知能力的影响

在当今社会中, 越来越多的儿童接受音乐训练, 试图通过音乐训练提高认知能力。针对认知活动中的语言能力、空间能力以及数学能力, 探究音乐训练与认知能力的关系, 试图为音乐教育提供实证依据。研究结果表明, 尽管音乐训练与认知能力的关系较为复杂, 但是, 音乐训练与个体的语言知觉和产生能力以及空间视觉化能力都存在正相关, 且在一定程度上可以提高这些认知能力。     

强迫倾向个体的信息加工灵活性

摘 要 以高低强迫倾向个体为研究对象,考察其在不同概率情景设置的Flanker任务中的信息加工灵活性,研究结果表明：高强迫倾向个体的信息加工方式相对较缓慢、单一,以集中加工方式为主;高强迫倾向个体对情境的变化较少做出反应,在信息加工的灵活性上存在缺陷,而低倾向个体的信息加工方式相对较灵活;高强迫倾向个体不易受线索提示的影响,对信息加工方式的策略性调控能力不足。     

心理距离对自发特质推理的影响

采用错误再认范式,考察了心理距离是否影响个体对他人行为的自发特质推理。实验1采用2（配对类型：图片-可推测的特质词、图片-不可推测的特质词）× 2（空间距离：近、远）的混合设计,要求被试判断特质词是否在前面的行为句中出现过,以探讨自发特质推理形成情况。结果表明,与近空间距离相比,被试对远空间心理距离的行为主体产生了更多的自发特质推理。实验2采用2（配对类型：图片-可推测的特质词、图片-不可推测的特质词）× 2（时间距离：近、远）的混合设计,被试反应与实验1相同。结果发现,与近时间心理距离相比,被试对远时间心理距离的行为主体产生了更多的自发特质推理。实验结果提示远心理距离比近心理距离更利于自发特质推理,并在解释水平理论的框架内对结果进行了讨论。