Articles tagged with: Department of Psychology
Psychology in Outerspace
Previous work has shown that is important to consider the disjunction between
paranormal and nonparanormal beliefs about extraterrestrial life. The current
study examined the association between both such beliefs and individual
difference and demographic variables. A total of 555 British participants
completed the Extraterrestrial Beliefs Scale, as well as measures of their Big
Five personality scores, social conformity, sensation seeking, and demographics.
Results showed no sex differences in ratings of paranormal and nonparanormal
extr [...]
Previous work has shown that is important to consider the disjunction between
paranormal and nonparanormal beliefs about extraterrestrial life. The current
study examined the association between both such beliefs and individual
difference and demographic variables. A total of 555 British participants
completed the Extraterrestrial Beliefs Scale, as well as measures of their Big
Five personality scores, social conformity, sensation seeking, and demographics.
Results showed no sex differences in ratings of paranormal and nonparanormal
extr [...]
When 2 is Better Than 1 + 1
Little is known about older spousal dyads’ collaborative problem
solving. Although typically collaborating dyads perform worse than nominal dyads
in other dyadic cognition tasks, we assumed that older couples might profit from
collaboration in a highly demanding problem-solving task requiring the
sequential and complementary use of spatial memory and reasoning abilities. In
this paper, we examine whether older couples profit from the dyadic situation on
a computer-based problem-solving task that can most likely be optimally solved
when [...]
Little is known about older spousal dyads’ collaborative problem
solving. Although typically collaborating dyads perform worse than nominal dyads
in other dyadic cognition tasks, we assumed that older couples might profit from
collaboration in a highly demanding problem-solving task requiring the
sequential and complementary use of spatial memory and reasoning abilities. In
this paper, we examine whether older couples profit from the dyadic situation on
a computer-based problem-solving task that can most likely be optimally solved
when [...]
“I Really Don’t Know Whether it is Still There”: Ambivalent Acceptance of a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
Abstract Questioning a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is not surprising given the chronic and fluctuating nature of the illness. Qualitative
research using thematic analysis was used to derive an understanding of the process patients used to make sense of their diagnosis
of bipolar disorder. The findings suggested that receiving a diagnosis was an active process. Factors such as fluctuating
moods, changing diagnoses or misdiagnosis, difficulties patients have differentiating self from illness, mistrust in mental
health services, a [...]
Work-Related Negative Experience
This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between poor employee
well-being (PEWB) and work-related mental ill-health and substance consumption
(MIH). It is proposed as a unification model that links both work-related
negative consequences on the basis of the experiences of threat, loss, and
frustration at work. PEWB contains the following elements: emotional discomfort,
bodily uneasiness, organizational distance, task impairment, and dragging
workday; and MIH includes work-related anxiety, depression, irritability,
cigarette s [...]
This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between poor employee
well-being (PEWB) and work-related mental ill-health and substance consumption
(MIH). It is proposed as a unification model that links both work-related
negative consequences on the basis of the experiences of threat, loss, and
frustration at work. PEWB contains the following elements: emotional discomfort,
bodily uneasiness, organizational distance, task impairment, and dragging
workday; and MIH includes work-related anxiety, depression, irritability,
cigarette s [...]
Incentives Increase the Rate of False but not True Secondary Confessions from Informants with an Allegiance to a Suspect
Abstract One hundred ninety-two students participated in an experimental simulation testing whether incentives would reduce the reluctance
of informants to implicate a close other. Half of the students were made to feel interpersonally close to a confederate who
either admitted to or denied a misdeed. All students were interrogated and encouraged to sign a secondary confession stating
that the confederate had confessed to the misdeed; half were offered an incentive to do so. Contrary to expectations, closeness
did not induce relu [...]
Abstract One hundred ninety-two students participated in an experimental simulation testing whether incentives would reduce the reluctance
of informants to implicate a close other. Half of the students were made to feel interpersonally close to a confederate who
either admitted to or denied a misdeed. All students were interrogated and encouraged to sign a secondary confession stating
that the confederate had confessed to the misdeed; half were offered an incentive to do so. Contrary to expectations, closeness
did not induce relu [...]
Mamow Ki-ken-da-ma-win: A Partnership Approach to Child, Youth, Family and Community Wellbeing
Abstract
Mamow-Sha-way-gi-kay-win: North-South Partnership for Children represents a coalition of individuals and organizations from southern Ontario who have
partnered with First Nations Chiefs, community leaders, Elders, youth and community members from 30 remote northern communities.
The collective goal of the Partnership is to learn from one another while addressing the needs of First Nations communities.
Southern partners are dedicated to following the direction of northern First Nations in identifying issues, priorities an [...]
Abstract
Mamow-Sha-way-gi-kay-win: North-South Partnership for Children represents a coalition of individuals and organizations from southern Ontario who have
partnered with First Nations Chiefs, community leaders, Elders, youth and community members from 30 remote northern communities.
The collective goal of the Partnership is to learn from one another while addressing the needs of First Nations communities.
Southern partners are dedicated to following the direction of northern First Nations in identifying issues, priorities an [...]
Spatial Cues Affect Mental Number Line Bisections
Numerical magnitude is coded left-to-right along a mental number line (MNL). The
MNL can be distorted by an attentional bias directed to the left side, known as
pseudoneglect – making the left of the MNL appear longer. We
investigated whether this distortion can be corrected using spatial cues.
Participants (n = 17) made forced-choice discriminations of
relative numerical length while spatial cues were presented to the left, right,
and both sides. Overall, participants overestimated the leftward length of the
MNL, consistent with the e [...]
Numerical magnitude is coded left-to-right along a mental number line (MNL). The
MNL can be distorted by an attentional bias directed to the left side, known as
pseudoneglect – making the left of the MNL appear longer. We
investigated whether this distortion can be corrected using spatial cues.
Participants (n = 17) made forced-choice discriminations of
relative numerical length while spatial cues were presented to the left, right,
and both sides. Overall, participants overestimated the leftward length of the
MNL, consistent with the e [...]
Adolescents’ Self-Concordance, School Engagement, and Burnout Predict Their Educational Trajectories1
This study investigated whether self-concordance of adolescents’
achievement-related goal predicts their school engagement and lack of burnout during upper
secondary school as well as their subsequent educational trajectories. We also examined whether
goal effort and progress mediate these associations. The sample consisted of 614 17-year-old
upper secondary school students, who were surveyed three times: (1) in the second grade of
upper secondary, (2) in the third grade of upper secondary school, and (3) one year later. The
results sho [...]
This study investigated whether self-concordance of adolescents’
achievement-related goal predicts their school engagement and lack of burnout during upper
secondary school as well as their subsequent educational trajectories. We also examined whether
goal effort and progress mediate these associations. The sample consisted of 614 17-year-old
upper secondary school students, who were surveyed three times: (1) in the second grade of
upper secondary, (2) in the third grade of upper secondary school, and (3) one year later. The
results sho [...]
APOE and Lipid Level Synergy Effects on Declarative Memory Functioning in Adulthood
This study of the general population examined interactions of the gene Apolipoprotein E
(APOE) and/or lipid levels, and their effects on cognitive change. A
MANCOVA model based on longitudinal data (with a 5 year follow-up) obtained from the Betula
study (n = 1777; age 35–85 years) was used. The significant two-way
and three-way interaction effects detected were equally frequent in tests of episodic and
semantic memory. A difference in the distribution of interaction effects on episodic and
semantic memory decline was also found. Men de [...]
This study of the general population examined interactions of the gene Apolipoprotein E
(APOE) and/or lipid levels, and their effects on cognitive change. A
MANCOVA model based on longitudinal data (with a 5 year follow-up) obtained from the Betula
study (n = 1777; age 35–85 years) was used. The significant two-way
and three-way interaction effects detected were equally frequent in tests of episodic and
semantic memory. A difference in the distribution of interaction effects on episodic and
semantic memory decline was also found. Men de [...]
The Time Course of Direction Specification in Brief Interceptive Actions
In fastball sports such as baseball and tennis people are required to produce
accurate responses following brief observations of the ball. This limits the
time available to prepare the movement. To cope with constrained viewing periods
which precede the interception of fast approaching balls, performers are likely
to prepare their responses in advance. Although motor preparation may begin
before the moving object is seen, accuracy requires that certain program
parameters are determined from observations of the target. The aim of the
expe [...]
In fastball sports such as baseball and tennis people are required to produce
accurate responses following brief observations of the ball. This limits the
time available to prepare the movement. To cope with constrained viewing periods
which precede the interception of fast approaching balls, performers are likely
to prepare their responses in advance. Although motor preparation may begin
before the moving object is seen, accuracy requires that certain program
parameters are determined from observations of the target. The aim of the
expe [...] 
