Cognition associated with use of and belief in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

The use of and belief in the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is associated with two cognitive biases: over-reliance on intuitive thinking and ontological mistakes. This thesis reports seven studies which explore the nature of these biases.Aims. The aim of study 1 was to develop and test a valid and reliable measure of belief in the effectiveness of CAM and use of CAM (the Attitudes to Complementary and Alternative Medicine scale; ACAM). Studies 2-3 explored whether the previously reported relationship between CAM beliefs and intuitive thinking could be found when using performance measures (rather than just self-report measures) of thinking. Studies 4-7 tested the proposal that being able to spot ontological mistakes is a system 2, analytical process and that overlooking ontological mistakes is more likely when one relies on intuitive, automatic processing. Methods. Studies 1-3 employed a mixture of self-report questionnaires and performance measures of thinking (the cognitive reflection test and base rate problems) in a survey methodology. Studies 4-7 employed experimental methods, and specifically a variation of the syllogistic belief bias paradigm. Results. In study 1, a principal components analysis yielded four factors for the ACAM, each reflecting beliefs in the effectiveness of different categories of CAM (alternative whole medical systems, energy medicines, herbalism and natural products, mind and body approaches). The ACAM had good internal consistency and convergent validity. In study 2, psychology students’ self-reported analytical thinking was negatively related to belief in CAM effectiveness. In study 3, self-reported intuitive thinking was positively related to CAM beliefs in a mixed sample of students and the general population. Performance measures of thinking style largely did not relate with CAM beliefs. In studies 4-7, it was found that ontological correctness biased responding when simultaneous processing demands were low, but when ontological statements were embedded in difficult reasoning problems, particularly those in which belief and logic conflicted, ontological correctness was less likely to bias responding.Conclusions. These findings suggest that faith in CAM effectiveness depends not so much on the people’s actual thinking style but rather on people’s perception of their own thinking style. Furthermore, noticing ontological mistakes appears to be a system 2, analytical process which is more difficult to carry out when simultaneous reasoning competes for processing capacity. However, the ability to spot ontological mistakes is made easier following simple psychoeducational instructions. These findings improve our understanding of the cognitive factors which might underpin beliefs in the effectiveness of CAM and have implications for the design of health psychology interventions to improve people’s health decision-making

A systematic review of the traits and cognitions associated with use of and belief in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is widespread despite the controversy over its effectiveness. Although previous reviews have examined the demographics and attitudes of CAM users, there is no existing review on the traits or cognitions which characterise either CAM users or those who believe in CAM effectiveness. The current systematic review set out to address these gaps in the literature by applying a narrative synthesis. A bibliographic search and manual searches were undertaken and key authors were contacted. Twenty-three papers were selected. The trait openness to experience was positively associated with CAM use but not CAM belief. Absorption and various types of coping were also positively associated with CAM use and belief.No other trait was reliably associated with CAM use or belief. Intuitive thinking and ontological confusions were positively associated with belief in CAM effectiveness; intuitive thinking was also positively associated with CAM use. Studies researching cognitions in CAM use/belief were mostly on non-clinical samples, whilst studies on traits and CAM use/belief were mostly on patients. The quality of studies varied butunrepresentative samples, untested outcome measures and simplistic statistical analyses were the most common flaws. Traits and cognition might be important correlates of CAM use and also of faith in CAM

Sexual selection and the evolution of altruism: males are more altruistic and cooperative towards attractive females

Explaining altruism through an evolutionary lens has been a challenge for evolutionary theorists. Where altruism towards kin is well understood through kin selection, altruism towards non-kin is an evolutionary puzzle. Contemporary research has found that, through a game-theoretic framework, sexual selection could be an explanation for the evolution of altruism. Research suggests that males are more altruistic towards females they are interested in engaging with, sexually or romantically when distributing stakes in economic games. This study, adopting a between-groups design, tested the sexual selection explanation for altruism by asking participants to self-report altruistic and cooperative intention when reading moral scenarios accompanied by attractive or unattractive images. We find that participants, particularly males, report being more altruistic and cooperative when viewing an attractive image of a female. This study replicates the sexual selection hypothesis in explaining altruism through an alternative experimental framework to game theory

Patterns of occupational stress in police contact and dispatch personnel: Implications for physical and psychological health

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Springer Nature in International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health on 12/10/2020, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01562-1 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Purpose Occupational stress in police call handlers is researched less frequently than in operational or front-line police, despite the role’s unique challenges. Occupational stress is potentially manageable, thus improved understanding of its contributors and consequences is important for effective intervention. We aimed to compare levels and sources of organisational stress in police contact and dispatch personnel with UK benchmarks. Secondly, to test whether different typologies of stress were associated with physical health, mental health and substance use. Finally, to examine whether non-organisational factors (socio-demographic factors and family interference with work (FIW)) predicted organisational stress typologies. Methods A sample (n = 720) of police and civilian staff in a UK police call and dispatch centre were surveyed. Results The strongest sources of stress were competing and high demands, low control, insufficient managerial support and ambiguity surrounding workplace change – all of which indicated need for ‘urgent action’ according to UK benchmarks. Substance use and particularly mental health difficulties were higher than published norms. A latent profile analysis grouped respondents into a low stress group and two high stress profiles: As stress increased across profiles, this corresponded with worse physical and mental health and higher substance use. FIW predicted membership of both high stress profiles. Conclusion Despite non-operational roles, police contact and despatch personnel can experience high occupational stress which is associated with physical and mental health difficulties and substance use. Organisational-level interventions which address lack of control, conflicting role demands as well as enhance management support and communication around change might be most effective in this group

A research note on the Influence of relationship length and sex on preferences for altruistic and cooperative mates

Previous literature suggests that altruism may have evolved as a sexually selectable trait. Recent research suggests that women seek altruistic traits for long-term, not short-term relationships, as altruism can serve as an honest signal of one’s character. We tested this hypothesis by asking 102 participants to complete a modified version of Buss’s Mate Preferences Questionnaire. We found that women placed higher importance on altruism in a mate compared to men, and this preference was greater when seeking a long-term mate, compared to a short-term mate. We also found that although women placed greater importance on cooperativeness in a mate compared to men, this preference was not influenced by whether they were seeking a short-term or a long-term mate. We successfully replicate previous literature exploring the role of altruism in mate choice

Understanding first year undergraduate achievement in a post-1992 university science department

The purpose of this study was to address the under-researched theme of achievement among students in a post 1992 university in the UK. The findings are based on a case study of a cohort of first year (FY) undergraduates in a science department in a post 1992 university. Three key research approaches were deployed within this case study, namely, grounded theory, phenomenography and survey research. These three distinctive approaches have been framed within a broad interpretivist perspective in which subjectivity is managed through researcher positionality and the triangulation of data where appropriate. The research findings demonstrate that the point of registration at higher education (HE) institutions does not constitute a successful student because such a constitution is a process of becoming, involving complex meaning-making processes over time. These processes are characterised by a movement from 'outsider and potential achiever' to 'insider and reflexive achiever'. Important phases within this movement are those of: attending; being engaged and solving self-identified difficulties. In the light of the evidence gathered and the review of the existing scholarship, a detailed exploration and theorisation of these phases is offered. The preoccupation with students who fail in some way has led to a lack of research into those who succeed. This research has sought to overcome this lack by exploring the active meaning-making processes that lead undergraduates to achieve. A dynamic is identified between students' reflexive management of their FY experience and aspirations to achieve and the institutional context. This dynamic is also held to undermine the notion of students as customers awaiting satisfaction, suggesting instead that students be regarded as reflexive actors in the shaping of undergraduate achievement. This study presents a novel alternative to the prevalent deficit model in the relevant research which tends to treat students as passive bearers of diverse levels of readiness for undergraduate study. It also offers an alternative to the prevailing research on why students fail to progress or stay at university.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceCentre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), University of WolverhamptonGBUnited Kingdo

Autonomous motivation mediates the relation between goals for physical activity and physical activity behavior in adolescents

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The mental health of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic

�� 2020 The Authors. Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists /Cambridge University Press. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher���s website: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.44Doctors experience high levels of work stress even under normal circumstances, but many would be reluctant to disclose mental health difficulties or seek help for them, with stigma an often-cited reason. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis places additional pressure on doctors and on the healthcare system in general and research shows that such pressure brings a greater risk of psychological distress for doctors. For this reason, we argue that the authorities and healthcare executives must show strong leadership and support for doctors and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak and call for efforts to reduce mental health stigma in clinical workplaces. This can be facilitated by deliberately adding ���healthcare staff mental health support process��� as an ongoing agenda item to high-level management planning meetings.Published versio

The impact of continuing bonds following bereavement::A systematic review

Following bereavement, continuing bonds (CBs) include engaging with memories, illusions, sensory and quasi-sensory perceptions, hallucinations, communication, actions, and belief that evoke an inner relationship with the deceased. To date, the literature has been unable to confirm whether retaining, rather than relinquishing, bonds is helpful. A mixed studies systematic literature search explored how CBs affect grief. Studies on the effect or experience of CBs on adjustment following bereavement were eligible for inclusion. Six computerized databases were searched. A total of 79 of 319 screened studies were included. Three themes were derived from the thematic analysis: (1) comfort and distress, (2) ongoing bonds and relational identity, and (3) uncertainty, conceptualizing, and spirituality. Themes describe the role of CBs for the accommodation of the death story, transformation of the relationship, meaning reconstruction, identity processes, and affirmation of spiritual belief. Results shed light on the adaptive potentials for CBs

Individual Differences as Predictors of Social Networking

Research suggests that personality dictates specific Internet preferences. One area that remains relatively unexplored is the influence of personality on engagement with social networking sites (SNSs). The current study employs a ‘Uses and Gratifications’ framework to investigate whether personality, age, and sex predict motivations for using SNSs. The study explores both global and specific factors of personality using Eysenck's EPQ-R short form (extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism) and Beck's SAS (sociotropy and autonomy). Principal component analysis identified ten distinct motivational components, which were then successfully predicted by individual differences through regression analyses. It is therefore suggested that individuals with different profiles vary in their motivations for using SNSs. Results support theoretical assumptions based on previous literature and personality dispositions