A fundamental prediction error: Self–others discrepancies in risk preference.

This research examined whether people can accurately predict the risk preferences of others. Three experiments featuring different designs revealed a systematic bias: that participants predicted others to be more risk seeking than themselves in risky choices, regardless of whether the choices were between options with negative outcomes or with positive outcomes. This self–others discrepancy persisted even if a monetary incentive was offered for accurate prediction. However, this discrepancy occurred only if the target of prediction was abstract and vanished if the target was vivid. A risk-as-feelings hypothesis was introduced to explain these findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is a rose always a rose? The role of social category exemplar change in attitude stability and attitude-behavior consistency.

Three experiments tested whether changes in social category exemplars affect attitude stability, attitude–behavior consistency, or attitude change. In Experiment 1, participants displayed greater attitude stability across 1 month, in several social categories, when they named the same rather than different exemplars. In Experiment 2, participants displayed greater attitude–behavior consistency toward each of 2 social categories when they named the same rather than different exemplars at behavior assessment and at attitude assessment. Participants who named a more likable exemplar behaved more positively, and those who named a less likable exemplar behaved more negatively, than their initial attitudes predicted. In Experiment 3, participants changed their attitudes in the predicted direction after estimating the height of an exemplar who was either more or less likable than the one they had earlier named. The results are interpreted as consistent with recent theory and research on attitude introspection, the matching hypothesis, and models of social judgment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Appreciation" as a measure of competency: Some thoughts about the MacArthur Group's approach.

This article focuses on the Perceptions of Disorder (POD) test, an instrument developed by the MacArthur Treatment Competence Study (e.g., P. S. Appelbaum and T. Grisso, Grisso et al, and Grisso and Appelbaum; see records 82:39258, 82:35494, and 82:37814, respectively) to measure appreciation of one's mental condition and need for treatment. The 2 subtests of the POD are based on a conceptualization of competency that is significantly flawed. The appropriate legal test for treatment competency, at least when the treatment is powerful psychoactive medication, is the "basic rationality" test. In the context of treatment refusal, this test requires an investigation of the extent to which the reasons for refusing treatment are based in reality. In contrast, the 1st subtest of the POD does not assess a person's reasons for refusal at all, and the 2nd subtest focuses on the rigidity with which those beliefs are held, rather than whether they have any basis in fact. Ways of revising the POD to conform to the normatively appropriate competency standard are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term memory and strategy use in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The present study was designed to examine recall and rehearsal in short-term memory among children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Children with onset of IDDM before age 5 years, children with onset after 5 years, and children without IDDM were administered a measure of short-term memory that provides information about rehearsal as well as level of recall. Children with later onset of diabetes and children without IDDM were expected to recall more words and use more effective rehearsal strategies than children with early onset of diabetes. Results indicate that children diagnosed with IDDM early in life used similar rehearsal strategies but recalled fewer words than children with later onset of diabetes and children without IDDM. In addition, results provide evidence that children who are in poor control of their diabetes did not use strategies designed to increase recall as often, or as well as, children in better control of their diabetes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The governance of psychological practice: Implications of American developments for Canadian psychology.

Describes 5 means of maintaining standards for psychological practice that are currently used in the US: (1) general and criminal law, (2) peer control, (3) federal regulations, (4) state boards of examiners in psychology, and (5) civil malpractice litigation. Their relevance to the Canadian context is discussed, especially with respect to the more restricted role of the Canadian federal government in professional affairs, the lower profile for civil rights, and the lower incidence of civil litigation in Canada. Recommendations made to ensure the exemplary practice of psychology include the increased use of peer control through peer review committees, increased organization of professional practice at the national level, and a closer liaison between professional associations and governing boards at the provincial level. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-discrepancy and natural killer cell activity: Immunological consequences of negative self-evaluation.

Tested whether self-discrepancy theory could account for changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity after exposure to self-referential stimuli. Anxious, dysphoric, and control Ss were pretested and 1 mo later covertly exposed to their own self-guides as well as those of another S. Blood samples were drawn for analysis of NK cytotoxicity and cortisol. The dysphoric Ss manifested the greatest actual:ideal discrepancy, whereas the anxious Ss manifested the greatest actual:ought discrepancy. Content analysis of written responses showed that activating discrepancies induced specific negative states; priming discrepancies also increased cortisol for the anxious Ss. NK activity was lower after self-referential priming for both distressed groups, particularly the anxious Ss. The control Ss showed a trend toward increased NK activity after self-referential priming. The study represents the 1st experimental demonstration that negative self-evaluation can alter immune responses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Photoaccumulation in Photosystem I Does Not Produce a Phylloquinone Radical

A characteristic EPR spectrum is observed from Photosystem I (PS I) particles that are illuminated under reducing conditions. This signal is thought to arise from the secondary electron acceptor of PS I, A₁. This EPR spectrum, along with data from other spectroscopic methods, has been taken as evidence that A₁ is phylloquinone. In the work reported here, we have used a methionine auxotroph of Anabaena to deuterate specifically the 2-methyl group on the phylloquinone ring. Mass spectrometry of the isolated quinone shows 65% yield in the labeling procedure. The photoaccumulated A₁ EPR spectra in protonated and deuterium-labeled cells are indistinguishable, from which we conclude that the photoaccumulated radical is not phylloquinone.     

Work and Nonwork Satisfaction: A Causal-Correlational Analysis.

Possible directions of causality between work satisfaction and nonwork satisfaction were inferred from a causal-correlational analysis of questionnaire measures of the two variables. The measures were collected from 73 first-line managers on two occasions, which were separated by an interval of 12 months. The results strongly suggest that the direction of causality from work to nonwork satisfaction is stronger than that in the opposite direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dimensional changes during solvent-induced crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films

The sample dimensional changes accompanying diffusion with induced crystallization in amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films are analyzed. Initially, the film's lateral area remains practically constant, but near the end of the process, it increases rapidly, consistent with non-Fickian models for diffusion. The ultimate relative thickness increase is about double that for the lateral dimension, implying that plastic deformation in the thickness direction accompanies the sorption. Plots of fractional area increase (ΔA/ΔA_∞) vs. fractional weight gain (W/W_∞) indicate severe softening of the polymer by the penetrant.