The resonance-dissonance framework of environmental perception : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

Theorising and research in the field of environmental psychology has been dominated by two different schools of thought. The cognitive approach emphasises the primacy of cognitive processes on preference judgements between various types of environments and on the restorative effect of nature on humans. The competing psycho-evolutionary approach emphasises the primacy of affect. This theoretical fragmentation has contributed to environmental psychology's conceptual isolation in respect to its potential significance for other psychological sub-disciplines. This thesis proposes a new theoretical account, the "Resonance-Dissonance" (RD) framework of environmental perception, which provides a unifying framework for hitherto competing approaches in environmental psychology. It also seeks to contribute towards building and strengthening the tenuous or missing conceptual links between environmental psychology and other psychological sub-fields. A series of interlocking concepts, which bind together aspects of the relationship between perceivers and their immediate physical surroundings, is proposed to achieve this theoretical integration. Innate and culturally shaped needs and wants, in the form of mental structures providing reference patterns, are conceptualised as a fundamental aspect of the relationship between individual and environment. If the environment is appraised as having the agency to meet these needs, a state of resonance in the form of positive affect and cognitions ensues. Conversely, if the environment is appraised as not having this agency, a state of dissonance in the form of negative affect and cognitions emerges. These perceptually based cognitive-affective states are conceptualised to influence cognitions, emotions, behaviour, and physiology of the individual. Preference judgements and psycho-physiological restorative effects, as the main areas of theorising and research in environmental psychology, will be addressed. Possible theoretical implications, as well as practical applications, of the proposed RD framework on other psychological sub-fields are outlined and a tentative research programme is suggested

Shy or sociable : introversion/extraversion and message recall

textPersonality research has long been an area of interest in the study of consumer behavior. Currently, common practice is to segment prospective audiences by demographic variables (age, gender, and race) instead of psychographics (values, attitudes, personality). In this research, the author investigates the relationship between personality type (introversion/extraversion) and message recall. Using 122 undergraduate and graduate students, recall was examined across two forms of stimulus (incongruent and congruent messages). Results indicated that while there is no relationship between personality type and message recall, there is a relationship between the frequency of advertising messaging and recall. Results are discussed individually by messaging frequency and personality type with further suggestions for future research.Advertisin

Distance-two coloring of sparse graphs

Consider a graph $G = (V, E)$ and, for each vertex $v \in V$, a subset $\Sigma(v)$ of neighbors of $v$. A $\Sigma$-coloring is a coloring of the elements of $V$ so that vertices appearing together in some $\Sigma(v)$ receive pairwise distinct colors. An obvious lower bound for the minimum number of colors in such a coloring is the maximum size of a set $\Sigma(v)$, denoted by $\rho(\Sigma)$. In this paper we study graph classes $F$ for which there is a function $f$, such that for any graph $G \in F$ and any $\Sigma$, there is a $\Sigma$-coloring using at most $f(\rho(\Sigma))$ colors. It is proved that if such a function exists for a class $F$, then $f$ can be taken to be a linear function. It is also shown that such classes are precisely the classes having bounded star chromatic number. We also investigate the list version and the clique version of this problem, and relate the existence of functions bounding those parameters to the recently introduced concepts of classes of bounded expansion and nowhere-dense classes.Comment: 13 pages - revised versio

Alternative protection of potatoes in organic farming

There were tested water extracts from Syringa vulgaris and Pyrethrum parthenium. They did not prove signincant differences ofdecrease of the air attack ofColorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), the activity ofeggs -laying and the occurrence oflarvae in comparison to the control. Interesting trends oflower-eggs lying and a lower larvae occurrence were discovered. The liquid spray against the late blight (Phytophthora infestans) did not signincantly decrease neither occurrence oflate blight or the yield. The production of the bio-potatoes is only 0,2% of all potatoes production in the Czech Republic. The aim of this experiment was to try alternative methods of regulation of Colorado potato beetle and late blight (the biggest harmful! organisms ofpotatoes). For biological agriculture could be also suitable water extracts. These are possible to use as protection of potatoes against unfavorable factors (Colorado potate beetle and late blight) and increase yield and quality ofproduction