Zeitschrift fur Psychologie mit Zeitschrift fur angewandte Psychologie最新文献

The general activation level (GAL) is one of the sources of influence in psychophysiological experiments. That means most of the results are dependent on the GAL. Taken this into account one can furthermore elucidate a part of the high variability of the interesting physiological data. We analysed heart rate (HR), auditory evoked potentials (AEP) elicited by background stimuli and the subjective assessment of the internal state of the subjects to describe changes of the GAL. Summarizing the results we can show different influences of the GAL on the physiological data. Changes of HR and AEP-parameters are caused by specific experimental conditions. The distinct influence of the subjective state of the subjects on the AEP-shapes allows the conclusion that subjective data should be more taken into consideration. The comprehensive characterization of the GAL requires data of different integrative levels.

An active exploration of movement tasks is accompanied with central nervous activation. Its systematical examination needs a teamwork of scientists of various branches of knowledge (i.e. physiology, psychology, sport sciences). Mental training (motor imagination - MI) was chosen as a model for such examinations. In connection with the execution of MI there are characteristic chances of the mean alpha frequency of the EEG, heart rate, respiration rate and skin conductance. The time course of these parameters depends on the number, the duration and the sequence of MI. A graduated submaximal load on ergometer has no influence on the course of the examined parameters. Our investigation allows the conclusion that different activation processes go on within different subsystems during the execution of MI. From a physiological point of view it seems to be necessary that a concrete paradigm of MI must be examined concerning the course of the parameters and, thus, to guarantee the effort of MI.

In the last decade there has been a growing interest among developmental psychologists to investigate whether the cognitive performance of older adults can be improved by means of training programs. A number of cognitive training studies involving aging sensitive abilities of fluid intelligence have been performed with healthy older adults (Willis et al. 1981; Baltes et al., 1984/1986). In this paper we reanalyse data from Baltes et al. (1986) concerning the ADEPT Induction, ADEPT Figural Relations, Induction Standard and the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices Tests. In contrast to the above study, where the data analysis was based on a MANOVA approach, usually carried out when experimental data were gathered, this discussion implements an approach to change measurement for which the structural equation of different aspects of change in means as manifested in the moment matrices. The results here confirm these by Baltes et al. (1986), and suggest conclusions concerning change in means over time in the experimental and control groups, which are not implied by their study.

Unlabelled: Speech intelligibility during the performance of a second task (sorting of small plates), and the frequency of sorting in dependence of the phases of speech processing (input-processing-output) are investigated. A fixed speech level (65 dB) is combined with 5 different noise levels (55, 60, 65, 70, 75 dB). The speech material and the sorting task vary in difficulty (words, sentences, small texts; simple and complicated sorting). By rating 3 questions the subjective quality of both tasks is inquired.

Main results: speech intelligibility and frequency of sorting vary in dependence of noise level; frequency of sorting varies in dependence of the phases of speech processing and speech material; subjective ratings are corresponding with the performance of both tasks.

Attention disorders in school children are a frequently occurring phenomenon in the work of clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. The new approach (DSM III) emphasizes the role of attention deficit with/without hyperactivity in contrast to the Hyperkinetics syndrome (ICD 9) and offers an alternative interpretation. Based on experimental results and clinical observation, the following characteristic features of this class of disturbances are accentuated. A deficient central activation (probably related to "weakness" of central norepinephrine and the locus for stimulant drug action), an inadequate inhibitory control function, and a (secondary) disturbance of perceptive and logic processing strategies. A method of cognitive-behavioural intervention is offered which may be applied separately of in connection with drug treatment.

Most psycho-dynamic theories emphasize the role of intra-personal conflicts in the aetiology and therapy of neurotic disorders, but very few can be empirically tested. The social psychological and psychodynamic "pathogenetic" theory of the "Leningrad School" of psychotherapy according to Mjasiscew (Lauterbach, 1984) maintains that conflicts between a person's relations with his social, material and cultural environment may be the cause of his neurosis. This theory is used to demonstrate that psychodynamic hypotheses about the role of intra-personal conflicts can be empirically tested with the help of "tests of conflict" (Lauterbach, 1987).

Our investigation deals with high interindividual variability of Event-Related-Potentials (ERP). We tried to find out systematic causes of these variability. In a performance situation 36 Ss were asked to solve arithmetical tasks. They got a weak electric shock applied at one finger when the result was wrong (negative feedback), at another finger when it was correct (positive feedback). The electrical stimulus triggered the ERPs. Special personality characteristics related to "need-achievement" (processing of success and failure) "and anxiety" had influence upon ERPs. We found various differences between ERPs following positive as well as negative feedback (success and failure) that point to the suggestion that there exist differences in processing feedback information in persons with different personality traits mentioned above.

Previous research on loudness adaptation has provided heterogeneous and partly contradictory results. One major reason seems to be the inconsistent use of the term 'adaptation', which is due to differing operational definitions. Here, a measurement-theoretic definition of loudness adaptation is introduced, which also comprises a new method for the identification of certain linear dynamic systems. This is of particular interest, since there is a lack of dynamic models describing loudness adaptation. An experiment with sinusoidal sound stimuli (3000 Hz) was performed to test whether loudness adaptation can be modeled by such a linear system. The results of the system identification indicate that this is possible. Therefore, it can be concluded that the given definition of loudness adaptation might be appropriate and that the method of system identification is an applicable research tool.

Starting from the basic ideas of sociobiology we prove that Schopenhauer, in his "Metaphysics of Sexual Love", has to pass for a precursor of sociobiological thinking. Several consequences of this parallel are discussed: The quest for strategic principles of organismic growth and evolution as a positive characteristic of both approaches--the hypothesis of a dominant genetic determination of human behaviour as an outcome of a typical bourgeois view of mankind connecting Schopenhauer and sociobiologists--the necessity of taking into consideration biological predispositions of flexible (learned) behaviour as elements of sociobiological models enjoying the same rights as genetical ones--the utility of Schopenhauer's natural philosophy for the purpose of complementing historical knowledge of many disciplines (also psychology).