Diversity’s harvest: Interactions of diversity sources and communication technology on creative group performance

Our research is based on arguments that three different diversity sources in groups – agreeableness, openness, and ethnicity – might simultaneously possess separation properties that result in social categorization and variety properties that provide non-redundant and value-adding information resources. To help understand how these diversity sources interact with the additive and reductive features of communication technology to impact group creativity, we designed two studies involving computer mediation, nominal group technique, and face-to-face (control) communication. Our findings suggest that agreeableness, openness, and ethic diversity possess both negative separation and positive variety properties. Whereas the separation properties of all three diversity sources, as well as the variety properties of openness diversity, are evident in newly-formed groups, the variety properties of agreeableness and ethnic diversity are only manifest in mature groups. Finally, the additive and reductive features of communication technology interact with all three diversity sources to impact creative group performance in different ways.     

Cognitive systems struggling for word order

We argue that the grammatical diversity observed among the world’s languages emerges from the struggle between individual cognitive systems trying to impose their preferred structure on human language. We investigate the cognitive bases of the two most common word orders in the world’s languages: SOV (Subject–Object–Verb) and SVO. Evidence from language change, grammaticalization, stability of order, and theoretical arguments, indicates a syntactic preference for SVO. The reason for the prominence of SOV languages is not as clear. In two gesture-production experiments and one gesture comprehension experiment, we show that SOV emerges as the preferred constituent configuration in participants whose native languages (Italian and Turkish) have different word orders. We propose that improvised communication does not rely on the computational system of grammar. The results of a fourth experiment, where participants comprehended strings of prosodically flat words in their native language, shows that the computational system of grammar prefers the orthogonal Verb–Object orders.     

不同概念范畴和特征类别对儿童归纳推理多样性效应的影响

为探讨概念范畴和特征类别对归纳推理多样性效应的影响, 采用2(概念范畴: 生物类别与非生物类别)´2(特征类别: 不可见的隐蔽特征和可见的外显特征)的实验设计, 设计了四组任务来考察5~6岁、8~9岁儿童归纳推理多样性效应的表现水平。结果显示: 在非生物类别范畴材料上, 5~6岁儿童在两种特征类别上均未表现出多样性效应, 8~9岁儿童在隐蔽特征类别上表现出多样性效应; 在生物类别材料上, 5~6岁、8~9岁儿童在外显特征和隐蔽特征上均未表现出多样性效应。概念范畴和特征类别对8~9岁儿童的归纳判断力有显著影响: 在概念范畴上, 儿童在非生物范畴材料上的表现显著高于生物范畴; 在特征类别上, 儿童在隐蔽特征上的表现高于外显特征。     

The Good Professor

This paper seeks to provide a philosophical analysis of the features of an excellent professor, but a well-balanced one, professionally speaking. What makes for excellence in research, teaching and service is explored in some detail, with attention paid to the contexts of four-year colleges and comprehensive universities in the united states.     

“GOING TO THE DOGS”: CANID ETHOLOGY AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION

Abstract. Theological reflection often treats animals in the very broadest terms and establishes a dramatic difference between humans and animals. Empirical observations, however, describe animals and their relationship to humans in more nuanced ways. Marc Bekoff's science, which integrates ethology and ecology, generates a view of the complex social behaviors of animals and entails observations about difference. Dialogue with Bekoff's sensitive awareness of animal behavior is the occasion to construct a theology of nature that is better informed about diversity among animals and differences within and among species.     

生命伦理之争的文化视角——以安乐死和人工流产为例

从文化的角度看,生命伦理之争是文化之争。也就是说,生命伦理之争的背后是不同文化传统之间、同一文化内部不同派别之间、对同一经典的不同诠释之间的争论。然而,东西方文化之间,以及同一文化内部各派别之间也并非完全不可通约,未来生命伦理学的发展必须保持其普世性和多元性之间的张力。     

刻板印象内容模型：理论假设及研究

介绍了刻板印象内容模型(SCM)的来源、理论假设和在美国与欧洲(个人主义文化)、东亚(集体主义文化)样本中的实证研究。SCM假设:(1)用热情和能力区分不同群体的刻板印象;(2)对外群体的刻板印象是混合的;(3)高社会地位群体被刻板为具有高能力,竞争性群体被刻板为缺乏热情;(4)刻板印象中存在参照群体偏好和外群体贬抑。在比较和评价SCM与其他理论的基础上,提出了刻板印象内容研究进一步细化和扩展的方向     

自我增强偏向的文化差异

个人主义和集体主义两种文化下个体的自我增强行为是否有差异,一直以来都是一个争论的焦点。文章回顾了西方心理学家在个人主义文化背景下自我增强的研究成果,对近年来国内外证明东方文化中存在自我增强的研究进行了综述,并提出中国人的自我增强具有人际性和隐蔽性的特点,展望了中国人自我增强的研究方向。     

Heroes on the Hill: A qualitative study of the psychosocial benefits of an intercultural arts programme for youth in Northern Ireland

The current study investigates the psychosocial benefits of a cross‐community, intercultural dance programme for youth in Northern Ireland. Psychological theories, including contact theory and the ecology of childhood development, underpin the study, and results are discussed in relation to the programme's aims. The present study used qualitative, inductive methods; data consisted of interviews before and after the programme with facilitators (n = 2) and 10 (n = 10) programme participants (11–15 years old) of diverse races and nationalities. Latent themes were identified using thematic analysis. Findings reveal that participants have complex senses of identity. Worryingly, they also reported many instances of bullying, relating both to themselves and others. Results reveal three main psychosocial benefits of the programme, all of which promote positive mental health in adolescents. The benefits are increased self‐confidence, the formation of new cross‐community friendships, and improved intercultural awareness and pride. It is argued that the programme is an exemplar of how the arts can promote peace as well as resilience in the face of adversity. Recommendations for future research are included.     

Addressing the spiritual domain in a plural society: what is the best mode of integrating spiritual care into healthcare?

This study aims to rethink the integration of spiritual care into healthcare in spiritually plural societies. Based on a systematic review of the theoretical literature, we analysed 74 studies and distinguish four positions regarding the integration of spiritual care into healthcare: generalist-particularists who see the spiritual domain as a field to be addressed by all professional caregivers and in which caregivers’ own spiritual orientations play a vital role; generalist-universalists who advocate for all caregivers to provide spiritual care regardless of their spiritual orientations; specialist-particularists who argue that experts should address the spiritual domain in light of their own spiritual orientations; and specialist-universalists who call for experts to provide spiritual care regardless of their spiritual orientations. We argue that these four positions give different weight to the professional, personal, and confessional roles of the spiritual caregiver. Acknowledging these positions is a prerequisite for future scenarios of integrating spiritual care into healthcare.