The WHAAM Application: a Tool to Support the Evidence-Based Practice in the Functional Behaviour Assessment

Background: The most recent computing technologies can promote the application of evidence-based practice (EBP) in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).Objective: The study describes how the use of technology can simplify the application of evidence-based practices in applied behaviour analysis.Methods: The WHAAM application demonstrates this in the following two case studies. We are monitoring dysfunctional behaviours, collecting behavioural data, performing systematic direct observations, creating a visual baseline and intervention charts and evaluating the planned interventions using the TAU-U statistical index. Results: Significant positive changes of children's problem behaviours are observed and recorded. Both the duration of the identified behaviour "to get out of bed in time" (r = -.79, TAU-U = -.58, p < .05) and the frequency of the behaviour "interrupting others" (r= -.96, TAU-U = -.82, p < .01) decreased. Conclusion: the WHAAM application is an effective tool to support functional behaviour assessments and it is an example of how technology can support practitioners by facilitating the application of evidence-based practices and increasing the communication among clinical, educational and family environments

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Differenziazione dalle figure genitoriali: il caso dei contenuti degli stereotipi razziali

Differenziazione dalle figure genitoriali: il caso dei contenuti degli stereotipi razziali Gli atteggiamenti di genitori e figli sono legati fra loro durante l’infanzia e l’adolescenza mentre la transizione all’età adulta è caratterizzata da un funzionamento autonomo rispetto alle figure genitoriali. Il presente lavoro è volto ad indagare la socializzazione all’interno della famiglia, in diverse fasce d’età, dell’atteggiamento verso alcuni gruppi etnici facendo riferimento al Modello del Contenuto degli Stereotipi. Il modello citato descrive il calore e la competenza come dimensioni fondamentali dello stereotipo. Recenti ricerche hanno mostrato che il calore è composto da due componenti indipendenti: socievolezza e moralità. Lo studio fornisce l’occasione per analizzare fattori predittivi e relazioni tra diverse dimensioni dell’atteggiamento intergruppi. Lo studio ha due obiettivi principali: (a) verificare la relazione tra i contenuti degli stereotipi di genitori e figli nell’ipotesi che l’adesione al modello genitoriale si modifichi in funzione dell’età; (b) analizzare le relazioni tra le tre dimensioni fondanti lo stereotipo, lo status e la competizione attribuita ai gruppi sociali e la risposta emotiva verso di essi, replicando quindi lo studio di Fiske et al. (2002). Il campione è composto da coppie genitore/figlio (età dei figli compresa tra i 11 e i 19 anni) a cui è stato chiesto di esprimere la propria opinione nei confronti di diversi gruppi etnici tramite un questionario. I dati ottenuti sono stati sottoposti ad analisi correlazionali e di regressione. I risultati confermano parzialmente le ipotesi. Si rilevano relazioni positive di modesta entità tra le posizioni espresse da figli e genitori; relazioni che scompaiono all’aumentare dell’età. Questa tendenza indica che la differenziazione dalle figure genitoriali, tipica dell’approssimarsi dell’età adulta, interessa anche i contenuti degli stereotipi verso i gruppi etnici. Per quanto concerne il secondo obiettivo, i risultati mostrano che: la competitività è un predittore sia della moralità che della socievolezza e che le reazioni emotive nei confronti dei gruppi target sono correlate con esse senza differenze particolari. Ciò permette di asserire che sebbene siano distinte, esse ricadono all’interno della stessa più ampia dimensione concettuale definita ‘calore’

The effect of perspective taking on the mediation process

Background: Previous research demonstrated several benefits of strategic perspective taking in the field of intergroup relations and, more specifically, in the negotiation processes aimed at conflict resolution. The present study, which analyzes the effect of perspective taking and mediation in a conflict setting, corroborates the psychological models that hypothesize the positive effects of the assumption of the competitor'ss perspective on having intergroup conflict and lessening of negative consequences. Materials and methods: After being involved in an epistolary debate on a topic for which their ingroup had very contrasting views compared to an outgroup, participants were asked to use a feeling thermometer to assess their level of intergroup hostility. Mediation was then used as a conflict-resolution strategy for half of the participants. Furthermore, the assumption of perspective was manipulated, resulting in a 2 (conflict: presence vs absence) × 2 (perspective taking: presence vs absence) × 2 (mediation: presence vs absence) between-subjects design. Finally, participants were asked to use the same feeling thermometer to evaluate whether feelings of hostility diminished. Results: The results show that in conflict situations, the level of hostility decreases the most when the mediation process is accompanied by perspective taking. Conclusion: The results extend recent results about the advantages of a significant social ability – perspective taking – for improving intergroup relations

‘You play like a Woman!’ Effects of gender stereotype threat on Women's performance in physical and sport activities: A meta-analysis

Objectives The purpose of this quantitative review was to provide an estimation of the effect of stereotype threat on women's performance in sport. Design This review employed a meta-analytic technique. Method a meta-analysis with random effects model was performed on 24 effects. Publication bias was tested through funnel plots and Egger's regression test. Results Findings show a symmetric distribution of effects, making it possible to conclude that no file-drawer problem affected the collected sample of effects. Aggregating the results of the reviewed studies, a medium effect of stereotype threat manipulation on women's sport performances emerged (d = 0.33). Collected studies were coded for stereotypicality of threatened exercise. The effect of stereotype threat was significantly higher for sports activities perceived as masculine. Conclusions This meta-analysis reveals that gender stereotype affects the sport activities of women and that this is particularly true for sports typically considered suited to males

Multilingualism and Ethnic Prejudice. The Mediating Role of Intergroup Contact

This study explored the relationship between the ability to talk to others in more than one language and ethnic prejudice, considering the quality and quantity of intergroup contact. A structural equation model analysis was carried out on a sample of 631 Italian citizens. The results showed that multilingualism led to an increase of acceptance of intergroup differences and positive attitudes toward Moroccans and that the quality (but not quantity) of intergroup contact-mediated those relationships. The mediating role of the quality of intergroup contact extends previous results on the relationship between multilingualism and positive attitudes toward ethnic out-groups. These findings are important from a scientific point of view, as they enrich the conditions of the intergroup contact hypothesis