Coordination Matters : Interpersonal Synchrony Influences Collaborative Problem-Solving

The authors thank Martha von Werthern and Caitlin Taylor for their assistance with data collection, Cathy Macpherson for her assistance with the preparation of the manuscript, and Mike Richardson, Alex Paxton, and Rick Dale for providing MATLAB code to assist with data analysis. The research was funded by the British Academy (SG131613).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Eleutheric-Conjectural Libertarianism: a Concise Philosophical Explanation

The two purposes of this essay. The general philosophical problem with most versions of social libertarianism and how this essay will proceed. The specific problem with liberty explained by a thought-experiment. The positive and abstract theory of interpersonal liberty-in-itself as ‘the absence of interpersonal initiated constraints on want-satisfaction’, for short ‘no initiated imposed costs’. The individualistic liberty-maximisation theory solves the problems of clashes, defences, and rectifications without entailing libertarian consequentialism. The practical implications of instantiating liberty: three rules of liberty-in-practice, 1) initial ultimate control of one’s body, 2) initial ultimate control of one’s used resources, 3) consensual interpersonal interactions and resource transfers. These rules are economically efficient and maximise general want-satisfaction. Private property and legal remedies are additional practical institutional aspects, but to which ‘initiated imposed costs’ then apply prima facie. Libertarian law is often mistaken for complete libertarianism. Moral explanations are a separate issue. The three main moral theories imply libertarianism, but it can be morally posited independently of them. Critical rationalism and its application. No empirical or argumentative support for theories. An important ambiguity with ‘justification’. How the epistemology applies to the theory of liberty and its application but remains separable in principle. Conclusion: there are further published explanations but this should be enough to generate useful criticism. Appendix replying to some typical comments

Adolescent interpersonal problem solving and family functioning

The relationship between family functioning and interpersonal problem solving during adolescence are investigated in this study. Two self-report questionnaires were administered to a sample of 413 adolescents (183 boys and 230 girls aged between 14 and 18 years). The first instrument comprised a MEPS Procedure specially modified for adolescents; it is a content-analysis measure of psychosocial skills displayed in different developmental task areas of adolescence. The second measure was a Family Functioning Questionnaire devised for the study; an evaluation of the level of family functioning, as perceived by the adolescent. It assesses the family system in terms of (1)Structure, (2)Affect, (3)Communication, (4)Behaviour control,(5)Value transmission, and (6)External systems. Results support the hypothesis that there is a relation between family functioning and interpersonal problem solving during adolescence

Effects of Mood on Using Analogies to Solve Problems and Reduce Conflict

Past research has shown that analogies and metaphors can be useful tools in problem solving tasks (e.g., Gick & Holyoak, 1980). In addition, mood has been shown to have an effect on a person’s ability to generate solutions to problems (Abele, 1992). The present study was designed to investigate how mood affects analogical problem solving, especially in relation to conflict resolution. I examined whether mood has the same effect on the use of analogies to solve interpersonal conflict problems as it does on the use of analogies to solve cognitive problems. In this experiment, participants began by writing about an especially happy or sad personal experience. After this mood induction, participants were presented with one solved interpersonal conflict problem and then its unsolved analogical problem as well as one solved cognitive problem and then its unsolved analogical problem. The participants were then instructed to type all possible solutions to the unsolved problems they read. Results showed that mood did not affect average analogy scores across both problems nor that mood differentially affected cognitive versus interpersonal problems. However, participants in a positive mood showed greater overall average solution efficacy scores, suggesting better overall problem solving abilities. In addition, participants had a more difficult time coming up with analogical solutions for the interpersonal problem as compared to the cognitive problem, but that they had a more difficult time coming up with alternative solutions for the cognitive problem as compared to the interpersonal problem. Implications as well as limitations of this study are discussed

Family Life & Life Skills Education for Adolescents: Trivandrum Experience

Adolescence is a period of experimenting, experiencing and expanding. Adolescents need help and guidance in decision-making, problem solving, critical thinking, developing interpersonal skills, self-awareness, empathy, coping with stress and managing emotions. The rebelliousness and dislike for parental intrusion usually keeps parents at bay because teenagers do not relish the idea of help and guidance from parents. However, this may not always be so. Beneath frequent violent outbursts, sudden mood swings and related interpersonal problems of an adolescent, there may be a person crying out for professional help. All adolescents need support and guidance. When parents find it difficult to handle signs of trouble, professional help should be sought at the earliest. Extra care is needed while offering help to adolescents problems because it is not easy for teenagers to accept the fact that they need help. Attempts should be made to understand the adolescent, and to safeguard, protect and guide him/her. The Family Life & Life Skills Education Programme is a good support system for adolescents at the community level

Extending the original position : revisiting the Pattanaik critique of Vickrey/Harsanyi utilitarianism

Harsanyi's original position treats personal identity, upon which each individual's utility depends, as risky. Pattanaik's critique is related to the problem of scaling "state-dependent" von Neumann-Morgenstern utility when determining subjective probabilities. But a unique social welfare functional, incorporating both level and unit interpersonal comparisons, emerges from contemplating an "extended" original position allowing the probability of becoming each person to be chosen. Moreover, the paper suggests the relevance of a "Harsanyi ethical type space", with types as both causes and objects of preference

Are interpersonal comparisons of utility indeterminate?

On the orthodox view in economics, interpersonal comparisons of utility are not empirically meaningful and "hence" impossible. To reassess this view, this paper draws on the parallels between the problem of interpersonal comparisons of utility and the problem of translation of linguistic meaning, as explored by Quine. The paper discusses several cases of what the empirical evidence for interpersonal comparisons of utility might be and shows that, even on the strongest of these, interpersonal comparisons are empirically underdetermined and, if we also deny any appropriate truth of the matter, indeterminate. However, the underdetermination can be broken non-arbitrarily (though not purely empirically) if (i) we assign normative significance to certain states of affairs or (ii) we posit a fixed connection between certain empirically observable proxies and utility. It is concluded that, even if interpersonal comparisons are not empirically meaningful, they are not in principle impossible

Interpretation of Interpersonal Utility Comparisons: Positive, Normative or Descriptive

While interpersonal utility comparisons are indispensable to the determination of utility maxima, their interpretation as either normative or positive produces awkward conclusions. This paper alternatively reinterprets interpersonal utility comparisons as descriptive and value-laden rather than as either normative or positive. On this basis they are characterized as functional concepts, and are thus argued to be objective. This treatment suggests that it is possible to derive evaluative statements from descriptive ones, contrary to the usual view of the is-ought problem. Recent philosophy of language results are employed to support these views

Criminal psychology : a critical textual analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

The criminal justice system plays an important role in the reproduction of social power relations, and it embodies an official response to the problem of interpersonal violence. Andrews and Bonta's (2003) The Psychology of Criminal Conduct is an influential text in this setting, informing the Psychological Services of New Zealand's Department of Corrections, and serving as a key text in the training of psychologists for work in this field. The present study is a critical reading of Andrews and Bonta's (2003) text in relation to the problem of violence. This critical reading begins with the development of a theoretical context for analysis. A subsequent analysis of the text focuses on three prominent discursive themes: a construction of the text's rational empiricism, of its advocating for treatment over punishment of offenders, and of the tension between critical and mainstream accounts of psychology in criminal justice settings. The relationship of these themes to discourses of violence is discussed