Previous research suggests that individuals with difficulty upregulating positive affect exhibit below-chance accuracy when identifying positive words presented outside of awareness, an effect termed subchance perception of positive information (SPPI). Previous findings also suggest that state orientation may underlie the relationship between clinical symptoms such as anxiety and anhedonia and SPPI. The current study addressed methodological limitations of previous research and tested hypotheses that state oriented individuals exhibit SPPI and that state orientation underlies the relationship between clinical symptoms and accuracy in identifying briefly-presented positive words. Results did not support hypotheses. The null findings in this study suggest that the relationship between action orientation and subchance perception of positive information may be less robust than preliminary findings suggested. Findings yielded from exploratory analyses suggested that future studies should include participants with greater symptom severity in order to have sufficient power to detect relationships between positive word accuracy and clinical symptoms.

Psychological assessment relies on accurate and forthright reporting to determine valid clinical presentations. However, it has long been recognized that examinees may be motivated to present a "better picture" through Positive Impression Management (PIM). Within the PIM domain, two distinct motivations (i.e., defensiveness and social desirability) emerge that have not been clearly differentiated in empirical literature. This thesis addressed the research gap for detecting PIM distortion of personality pathology, utilizing the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). In this investigation, 106 psychiatric inpatients were recruited from the adult Co-Occurring Disorders and Trauma Programs at University Behavioral Health. Using a mixed within- and between-subjects design, participants engaged in simulation via scenarios to be considered for a highly valued rehabilitation program (defensiveness) or employment (social desirability). As expected, inpatients showed elevated levels of problematic personality traits when reporting genuinely, but suppressed them under PIM conditions. These findings highlight that the PID-5, like all multiscale inventories, is highly vulnerable to intentional PIM distortion. Interestingly, respondents in the social desirability condition generally engaged in more total denial than those in the defensiveness condition. Empirically- and theoretically-based validity scales were developed to identify simulators and differentiate between conditions. Besides PIM, higher levels of experienced stigma were associated with more personality pathology, particularly the domain of Detachment. In addition, ancillary analyses showed strong convergence of the PID-5 with its hierarchical trait model to the DSM-IV categorical model. Continued research to detect PIM distortion, and more importantly to differentiate between PIM motivations, is essential for accurate clinical assessment of personality disorder traits and effective treatment planning.

Ninety-six undergraduates were given four tasks under either reward or punishment conditions. Each task consisted of 20 trials of pressing or not pressing a button to make a light come on. Monetary reinforcement was contingent on light onset for all tasks and on accuracy of judgment of control for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tasks. Cognitive processing was comprehensively assessed for each task by measuring expectancy, judgment of control, perception of environmental stimuli, evaluation of performance, attribution, and reinforcement value. Results showed that subjects were more accurate in moderate than in low control and in low than moderate frequency. Females were more accurate in perceiving environmental stimuli and had lower self-esteem, lower efficacy expectancies, and higher self-rated reinforcement values for monetary incentives than males. Low defensives were accurate in expectancy of control, judgment of control in punishment, and estimation of environmental stimuli. Subjects in reward were more accurate in perceiving reinforcing events and they gave themselves more credit for task performance than subjects in punishment gave themselves blame for comparable performance. Those in punishment had more stable and external attributions and were more anxious, depressed, and hostile. Depressives and nondepressives reacted differently to the monetary contingency on accuracy of judgment of control. Depressives showed overestimation of control immediately after initiation of this contingency, then gradually decreased their estimation until they were relatively accurate on the last task. Nondepressives showed more accurate judgment of control immediately after monetary contingency on accuracy, but returned to overestimation on subsequent tasks. These findings gave partial support to Alloy and Abramson (1979) in that mild depressives became increasingly accurate in judgment of control across tasks. Female depressives, compared to female nondepressives, were less accurate in perceiving environmental stimuli and gave themselves less credit in reward. Although depressives did not set a particularly high criterion for success as suggested by Beck and Seligman, all subjects set criteria for success higher than both estimated and actual maximal control (ps < .05).

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM 5) presents an alternate model for personality disorders, blending categorical and dimensional assessment into a hybrid diagnostic procedure. Released concurrently, the Personality Inventory for DSM 5 (PID 5) measures the five domains and 25 facets that comprise the trait components of this hybrid model. However, the PID 5 currently lacks validity indicators to capture intentionally distorted responding. The current study investigated the susceptibility of the PID 5 to defensiveness and feigning among a large sample of undergraduate students. First, a detailed desirability analysis (N = 465) was conducted of the PID 5 items and response options. Responses from the study were used to create three desirability based validity scales. Next, in a between-subjects simulation design (N = 128), the effects of faking were explored at domain and facet levels. As a result, two symptom based validity scales were created. In a separate validation sample (N = 134), the five newly created validity scales were compared with the Paulhus Deception Scales for capturing both defensiveness and feigning. All five scales were evaluated for ruling out faking (i.e., identifying likely genuine respondents) and ruling in either defensiveness or feigning. In most areas, the symptom based scales were more successful than the desirability based scales, though all scales had difficulty identifying defensiveness. These initial results offer fertile ground for additional testing and development of PID 5 validity scales.

Teachers of foreign languages typically encourage their students to speak in the target language (TL) often, but due to various factors, this is not always achieved. Some reasons might include insufficient vocabulary, lack of topic knowledge, embarrassment, or simple unwillingness. Much of the existing research observes uses of the TL or native language (L1). The purpose of this study was to examine how often students use the TL in paired interactions and whether that amount has any relationship to the students' oral proficiency at the end of the course. In a SPAN 105 course at Brigham Young University, 27 students participated in this project by recording themselves during six in-class, paired interactions, after which they provided comments via questionnaires. This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, with both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data revealed information about the time spent in the TL, as well as the time spent in the L1, and what relationship these variables had with listening comprehension and oral proficiency. The qualitative data exposed emergent findings related to TL/L1 use: helpful tools, effects of task type, pitfalls the students experienced, struggles and benefits of partnering, effects of recording, and student perceptions about the L1. The results of the study indicate a need for teacher strategies to encourage TL use in the classroom.

Die Dissertation besteht aus einem Einleitungsteil sowie drei empirischen Zeitschriftenartikeln. Die Einleitung liefert den theoretischen Hintergrund, integriert die drei Zeitschriftenartikel und geht auf anknüpfende Forschungsfragen ein. Der erste Artikel befasst sich mit unterschiedlichen indirekten Messverfahren zur Erfassung impliziter Selbstwertschätzung und untersucht deren Reliabilität sowie konvergente und diskriminante Validität. Der zweite Artikel untersucht, wie Diskrepanzen zwischen impliziter und expliziter Selbstwertschätzung mit defensiven Reaktionen auf soziales Feedback zusammenhängen. Der dritte Artikel untersucht schließlich Zusammenhänge zwischen Selbstwertdiskrepanzen und Indikatoren psychischer und physischer Gesundheit. / The dissertation consists of an introduction and three empirical journal articles. The introduction gives the theoretical background, integrates the three journal articles, and elaborates on future research questions. The first article investigates the reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of implicit self-esteem measures. The second article examines, how discrepancies between implicit and explicit self-esteem are connected to defensive reactions to social feedback. The third article investigates the relationship of self-esteem discrepancies to indicators of mental and physical health.

Studies of life span development in everyday problem solving suggest two trajectories of change in adulthood: individuals become less effective at solving well-defined instrumental problems but more effective at managing ill-defined interpersonal problems. Two experiments were conducted to examine the ability of young and older adults to effectively manage an interpersonal problem that has a well-defined measure of instrumental success. Participants played an iterated Prisoner s Dilemma game with same-age, computer-simulated strangers (Experiment 1) and friends (Experiment 2). Success was dependent upon one s ability to put aside self-interest and cooperate with a partner. Computer-simulated partners reciprocated the participants decisions 100% of the time or behaved in a more self-interested manner. Young and older adults tendencies to create conflict with the reciprocating partner and their defensive reactions to the selfish partner were examined. Although young adults outperformed older adults when playing the game on their own, they did not carry this performance advantage into the interactive rounds. In fact, despite their success when playing alone, young adults were no more successful than older adults when interacting with others. Young and older adults both cooperated more with friends than with strangers and more with the reciprocating partner than the selfish partner. However, when the participants first interaction was with a selfish stranger, older adults were more cooperative than young adults and consequently accrued more reward. This is consistent with previous research demonstrating that older adults use more passive interpersonal problem solving strategies than young adults, and it also partially supports the prediction that advancing age leads to more effective strategy implementation when solving interpersonal problems.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-15T20:31:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VictorHPD_DISSERT.pdf: 1381835 bytes, checksum: 57c84dd156bdf2a27e739f9bc6c2b2c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-29 / Scientific works on the defensive behavior of AHB-Africanized Honey Bees (A. mellifera L). show that they are more sensitive to dark color. Thus, the use of clothing and gloves with light colors should be an effective strategy to reduce defensiveness of these bees. However many beekeepers still use protective equipments not suitable as dark pants, dark gloves etc. This work aims to evaluate the influence of the colors of pants and gloves on defensiveness of AHB in order to guide the beekeepers about the most suitable protective clothing and gloves for handling these bees. The study was conducted at the CETAPIS bee yards, Experimental Station of UFERSA,in Mossoró-RN from September 2013 to May 2015. Three Langstroth hives were chosen, over 60 thousand bees each, with a high degree of defensive behavior (value of 4 on a scale of 1 to 4). For defensiveness testing the hives were handled without the use of smoke and the hives were stimulated with beats at the entrance and on the sides of the hives. After the bees became angry photographs of the experimenters were done. They wore three colored clothing (white, light blue and dark blue) and wore white gloves, yellow and dark green. The experimenters were posted in front of the hive for about 15 minutes for the photos. A white screen was placed (cloth) behind the experimenters to allow identification of bees around the body of the experimenters, pants and gloves. Each test was conducted four times throughout the day for each hive and for three consecutive days. 1059 comparative photos of pants and 4515 photos of the gloves were made. Photos of each comparative test were chosen at random among the best sharper photos. For comparisons were analyzed 36 photos of pants and 36 photos of the gloves. Bees were counted with the help of the program "Paint". For scores of bees identical areas were defined for each variable and all the bees were counted within their respective areas. The data were transformed to ensure normal distribution. The Tuckey test with 99% confidence level was applied. The white pants attracted an average of 40.28 +5.17 bees, light blue pants attracted 222.77 + 27.55 bees and dark blue pants attracted 392.60 + 78.67 bees. There was a statistically significant difference between the averages for the three treatments. As gloves, dark green attracted an average of 225.72 +35.99 bees, white gloves attracted 77.45 + 26.80 bees and yellow gloves attracted 99.20 + 22 82 bees. The differences between the three means were statistically significant, but there was no statistically significant difference between yellow and white. The results clearly demonstrated that the protective cloths (dark coloration pants) and dark green gloves attract more bees, which become more defensive. This experiment proved that the light-colored protective cloths were the most recommended in the management of Africanized bees, and one should avoid using dark clothes (pants, blouses, coats, overalls) and dark gloves. / Trabalhos científicos sobre comportamento de defesa das abelhas Africanizadas (AHB) (Apis mellifera L.) comprovam que elas são mais sensíveis a cor escura. O uso de vestimentas e luvas com cores claras deve ser uma eficiente estratégia para reduzir a defensividade dessas abelhas. No entanto, muitos apicultores ainda utilizam vestimentas não recomendadas, tais como calças e luvas de cores escuras.Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar a influência das cores de E.P.Is na defensividade das abelhas Africanizadas (AHB)(A. mellifera L.) com vistas a orientar os apicultores quanto a vestimenta e luvas mais adequadas no manejo dessas abelhas. O trabalho foi iniciado em setembro de 2013 e a parte experimental conduzida entre abril e maio de 2015, no apiário do CETAPIS, instalado na Fazenda Experimental da UFERSA, em Mossoró-RN. Foram escolhidas 3 colmeias Langstroth com mais de 60 mil abelhas cada e com elevado grau de defensividade (valor 4 numa escala de 1 a 4). Para os testes as colmeias foram manipuladas sem fumaça e estimuladas com batidas no alvado e nas laterais da colmeia. Após as abelhas ficarem irritadas foram registradas fotografias dos experimentadores com roupas de 3 cores (calças brancas, azul claro e azul escuro) e luvas brancas, amarelas e verde escuro. Para as fotos os experimentadores ficavam postados na frente da colmeia por aproximadamente 15 minutos. Para as fotos foi colocado um anteparo branco atrás dos experimentadores para melhor identificação das abelhas. Cada teste foi realizado 4 vezes ao longo do dia, em cada colmeia e por três dias seguidos. Foram tiradas 1059 fotografias das calças e 4515 fotografias das luvas. Foram escolhidas ao acaso as fotos melhores e mais nítidas de cada teste comparativo, sendo avaliadas 36 fotos para a comparação de calças e 36 fotos para luvas. As abelhas registradas foram contabilizadas com o auxílio do programa Paint . Para as contagens de abelhas foram delimitadas áreas idênticas para cada comparação. Foram contadas todas as abelhas delimitadas dentro das áreas e calculadas as médias para cada variável. Os dados foram transformados para garantir a normalização e os testes estatísticos (Teste de Tuckey com nível de 99% de confiança). A calça branca atraiu uma média de 40,28 ± 5,17 abelhas, a calça de cor azul claro atraiu 222,77 ± 27,55 abelhas e a calça jeans azul escuro atraiu 392,60 ± 78,67 abelhas. Houve diferença estatísticaentre as três médias. As luva amarelas atraíram 99,20 ± 22,82 abelhas, averde-escura atraíram uma média de 225,72 ± 35,99 abelhas e as brancas atraíram 77,45 ± 26,80 abelhas. Houvediferenças estatísticasentre as três médias obtidas nas luvas, porém, não constataram diferenças estatisticas entre amarelas e brancas. Os resultados demonstraram claramente que calça de coloração azul escura bem como luvas de cor verde escura atraem muito mais abelhas, as quais se tornam mais defensivas. Este experimento comprovou que roupas claras, em especial calças brancas e luvas de cores claras (brancas ou amarelas) são as proteções mais recomendadas no manejo de abelhas Africanizadas, devendo-se evitar E.P.Isde cores escuras

The main aim of this study was to determine whether the locus of control construct could be used to predict academic success. The study differentiated between short-term academic success (successful completion of the first year of study) and long-term academic success (successful completion of pre-graduate degree). Both generalised and domain specific locus of control measurements were used to determine which of these correlate with academic success. A further aim was to investigate the role of self esteem and level of defensiveness in the relationship between locus of control and academic achievement. Four measurement instruments were administered to an effective sample of 53 first year students at the University of Pretoria. The measurement instruments were the Internal, Powerful other and Chance Scales (Levenson, 1981), the Multi-dimensional, Multi-attributional Causality Scale (Lefcourt, 1981), the Social Desirability Scale (Crowne&Marlowe, 1960) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). The statistical analyses consisted of descriptive statistics and correlational analyses. Analysis of the data showed no significant correlation between locus of control and academic achievement for the group as a whole but did show a significant positive correlation between long-term academic success and generalised internality among black students. The data further showed a significant negative correlation between self esteem and long-term academic success. Self esteem correlated positively with an external orientation in both black and white students. The only significant predictor of academic success among white students was social desirability. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-05-15T17:57:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ TOMAZ DE AQUINO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2013..pdf: 1522630 bytes, checksum: 67ae7d0f19a1c3206eca380aa90b19d0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-15T17:57:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ TOMAZ DE AQUINO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2013..pdf: 1522630 bytes, checksum: 67ae7d0f19a1c3206eca380aa90b19d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07 / A africanização foi responsável por muitas mudanças no comportamento das abelhas européias, que já habitavam no Brasil há algum tempo. Objetivou-se analisar a agressividade de colônias apis mellífera no semiárido paraibano. A pesquisa foi realizada no município de Cajazeiras, PB em um apiário no distrito de Catolé. O município está situado na região semiárida do Nordeste brasileiro, no estado da Paraíba. O apiário é composto por 60 colmeias com enxames de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) e está instalado no local desde 1983. Todas as caixas foram enumeradas na parte frontal do ninho para facilitar a identificação. Foram selecionadas 20 colmeias, dessas 20 foram escolhidas 10, nas quais se forneceu a alimentação artificial, as outras 10 colmeias não foram alimentadas artificialmente. Os testes foram realizados em três momentos que compreende os meses de agosto, outubro e dezembro de 2012. Os parâmetros analisados foram Tempo para ocorrer a primeira ferroada em um retalho de camurça, número de ferrões deixados no retalho de camurça preto, número de abelhas que atacaram e foram presas no recipiente, distância que as abelhas perseguem o observador e tempo para a calmaria das abelhas. Para o tempo de ocorrência para a primeira ferroada, a colônia 24 alimentada levou um menor tempo para atacar, indicando ser mais agressiva. Para as colônias não alimentadas a colônia 26 foi a que apresentou um maior numero de abelhas atacando nos primeiros 60s. Para as colônias alimentadas não houve diferença entre a colônia 40 e a 46, sendo a colônia 46 a que teve um maior número de abelhas que atacaram. Para a distancia percorrida a colônia 14 não alimentada foi a que perseguiu o observador a uma distancia maior com uma media de 436,8m, já para as colônias alimentadas a colônia 49 foi a que perseguiu a uma maior distancia chegando a 488,3m. Os estudos de defensividade demonstraram que existem diferenças em relação ao nível de defensividade das colônias de apis melífera estudadas, sendo necessário mais estudo para melhor analisar a defensividade de abelhas no semiárido paraibano. / The Africanization was responsible for many changes in the behavior of European honey bees, which inhabited in Brazil for some time. This study aimed to analyze the aggressiveness apis mellifera colonies in semiarid Paraiba. The survey was conducted in the municipality of Cajazeiras PB in an apiary District of Catole. The municipality is located in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, in the state of Paraiba. The apiary is composed of 60 hives with swarms of Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) and is installed in that place since 1983. All the boxes were listed in front of the nest to facilitate identification. 20 colonies were selected, 10 of these 20 were selected, which are provided in the artificial feeding, the other 10 colonies were not artificially fed. The tests were conducted in three stages comprising the months of August, October and December 2012. The parameters analyzed were to occur the first time in sting retail suede, number of stings left in black suede flap, the number of bees that attacked and were arrested in the container, the bees chase away the observer and time for the lull bees. For the time of occurrence for the first sting, the colony fed 24 took a little time to attack, indicating that more aggressive. For colonies not fed the colony 26 showed the greater number of bees attacking in the first 60s. For colonies fed no difference between the colony 40 and 46, 46 being the colony that had a greater number of bees attacked. Distance traveled to the colony 14 was not fed that chased the observer at a distance greater with an average of 436,8 m , while for the 49 colonies fed the colony that was pursued to a greater distance reaching 488,3 m . Defensiveness studies demonstrated that differences exist in the level of defensiveness of apis mellifera colonies studied, more study is needed to better analyze the defensiveness of bees in the semiarid Paraiba.