In competitive interaction displays of red increase actors' competitive approach and perceivers' withdrawal

Colors carry meaningful psychological signals. We hypothesized that the color red serves as a powerful cue in competition, affecting both actors and perceivers. Using simplified poker games we investigated the psychological meaning of color in competitive interaction, by examining how the color of chips (red vs. blue or white) used by participants or their competitors affected behavior. Although chip color was objectively unrelated to the chips' value or competitors' strength, perceiving competitors using red chips renders competitors more intimidating, which leads perceivers to withdraw. Furthermore, actors who used red chips felt more dominant, which led them to enhanced competitive approach. Displaying red thus makes actors feel stronger and increases competitive approach; perceivers of displays of red in competitors feel intimidated and withdraw from competing.     

Cohen’s Linearly Weighted Kappa is a Weighted Average of 2×2 Kappas

An agreement table with n∈ℕ_≥3 ordered categories can be collapsed into n−1 distinct 2×2 tables by combining adjacent categories. Vanbelle and Albert (Stat. Methodol. 6:157–163, 2009c) showed that the components of Cohen’s weighted kappa with linear weights can be obtained from these n−1 collapsed 2×2 tables. In this paper we consider several consequences of this result. One is that the weighted kappa with linear weights can be interpreted as a weighted arithmetic mean of the kappas corresponding to the 2×2 tables, where the weights are the denominators of the 2×2 kappas. In addition, it is shown that similar results and interpretations hold for linearly weighted kappas for multiple raters.     

The dual pathway to creativity model: Creative ideation as a function of flexibility and persistence

The dual pathway to creativity model argues that creativity—the generation of original and appropriate ideas—is a function of cognitive flexibility and cognitive persistence, and that dispositional or situational variables may influence creativity either through their effects on flexibility, on persistence, or both. This model is tested in a number of studies in which participants performed creative ideation tasks. We review work showing that cognitive flexibility, operationalised as the number of content categories surveyed, directly relates to idea originality, but that originality can also be achieved by exploring a few content categories in great depth (i.e., persistence). We also show that a global processing mode is associated with cognitive flexibility, but only leads to high originality in tasks that capitalise on cognitive flexibility. We finally show that activating positive mood states enhance creativity because they stimulate flexibility, while activating negative mood states can enhance creativity because they stimulate persistence. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.     

Marriage and Children as a Key to Happiness? Cross-National Differences in the Effects of Marital Status and Children on Well-Being

This research examines the relationship between family structure and subjective well-being and the extent to which cultural differences across 24 countries/regions may condition that relationship. Using the 2002 ISSP data, we examine how the effects of marriage status and the presence of children on happiness and satisfaction with family life differ according to the perceived importance of marriage and parenthood in society. We find significant cross-country differences in the relationship between presence of young children and the happiness of men, and in the relationship between the marital status of women and their happiness and satisfaction with family life.     

Age and Trust as Moderators in the Relation between Procedural Justice and Turnover: A Large‐Scale Longitudinal Study

The current study investigated the moderating roles of age and trust in the relation of procedural justice with turnover. It was expected that the relation between procedural justice and turnover was weaker for older workers and those with high prior trust in their leader. Older workers are better at regulating their emotions, and focus more on positive aspects of their relationships with others, and therefore react less intensely to unfair treatment. Moreover, people with high trust are more likely to attribute unfair treatment to circumstances instead of deliberate intention than people with low trust. Finally, we expected a three‐way interaction between age, trust, and procedural justice in relation to turnover, where older workers with high trust would have less strong reactions than younger workers and older workers with low trust. Results from a three‐wave longitudinal survey among 1,597 Dutch employees indeed revealed significant interactions between trust and procedural justice in relation to turnover. Furthermore, the three‐way interaction was significant, with negative relations for younger workers, but a non‐significant relation was found for older workers with low trust. Contrary to expectations, negative relations were found between procedural justice and turnover for older workers with high trust.     

Mate choice in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.)

The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus L.) has colonized different types of environments that differ in their spatial distribution of resources. Urban environments are characterized by highly clumped distributions of food and shelter, allowing domestic cats to live in large multimale‐multifemale groups. In such a situation, questions arise about male and female mating strategies. In particular, do females exert active mate choice? We tested this question using behavioural records on acceptance and refusal of males by estrous females. Our results showed that most females copulated with several males during a single estrus period. The variability of female behaviour was high: six females copulated with all courting males whereas three others mated with most courting males; six others copulated with half or less of the courting males. Even if some females copulated with certain males more often than with others, the identity of the most successful males changed each time. These results show that most females did not choose mates among different males available. The results are discussed in terms of optimal reproductive strategies of males and females in an urban environment. Aggr. Behav. 26:455–465, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Infanticide in rural male cats (Felis catus L.) as a reproductive mating tactic

Here we report six cases of infanticide in the domestic cat directly observed in populations located in the rural environment. This is the first time that infanticide in domestic cats has been witnessed directly and described. All infanticidal males were fully adult and sexually mature unknown males. All kittens killed were within their first week of life. The killing pattern was generally the same as that described in lions. All females reacted aggressively but could not prevent the infanticide. Three hypotheses are discussed : (1) infanticide is a remnant of cat male reproductive strategy selected in the original environment; (2) the conditions of the rural environment have created a selection pressure encouraging a polymorphism of infanticidal and noninfanticidal males to evolve; (3) infanticide is an abnormal behaviour caused by environmental conditions such as human disturbance. Aggr. Behav. 25:445–449, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.