Interamerican Journal of Psychology

Empirical illustration of the hierarchical organisation of social thought: a domino effect?

The "architecture of social thinking", a model presented by Rouquette (1996) suggests that various forms of social thought may be conceived as being part of a hierarchical organisation. Our study aims to show how that variation in a higher level of social thought (ideology) can trigger variations in the lower levels (social representations, attitudes and opinions). Our study compared two ideologically distinct groups (N=81): the first group (n=25) comprised participants who had reported a religious affiliation (Catholicism), while the second (n=56) comprised those who had reported no religious affiliation. We compared participant's representational and attitudinal fields towards a scenario on a charitable activity promoted by the Church. Results indicated that representations and attitudes may depend on higher levels. These findings suggest the hypothesis of a domino effect among the successive levels of the architecture of social thought.

Les différentes formes de la pensée sociale forment une architecture hiérarchisée (Rouquette, 1996). Cette recherche vise à illustrer comment une variation au niveau supérieur de cette architecture (niveau idéologique) peut entraîner des variations des niveaux inférieurs (attitudes et opinions) en passant par le niveau intermédiaire (représentations). Dans cette recherche deux populations (N=81) idéologiquement distinctes ont été comparées: des participants se sentant catholiques (n=25) et des participants sans appartenance religieuse (n=56). Nous avons mesuré leurs représentations et attitudes vis-à-vis d'un texte fictif. Les résultats montrent que le champ représentationnel et le champ attitudinal, se situant à des niveaux inférieurs de l'architecture, sont affectés par la variation idéologique de la population. Cela nous conduit à avancer l'hypothèse d'un effet en cascade (effet domino) entre les différents niveaux de l'architecture.

Comprehensive reading: an intervention study

El presente estudio, se planteó con el objetivo de evaluar un programa de intervención y analizar la lectura comprensiva como una situación de solución de problemas. Se enfatizó la relación entre las estrategias cognitivas y metacognitivas y las estructuras textuales a lo largo del proceso de lectura. El programa de intervención se llevó a cabo en una escuela pública de la que participaron 89 alumnos de 5º año primario. Mediante las instrucciones recibidas durante este programa, los alumnos desarrollaron estrategias cognitivas y metacognitivas específicas de lectura, así como conocimientos sobre superestructura (narrativa, expositiva) y macroestructura (idea principal) de texto. Los resultados revelaron que el grupo experimental se benefició del programa de intervención en lo concerniente a la mayoría de las variables investigadas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate an intervention program and to analyze reading comprehension as a problem-solving situation. It was emphasized the interaction between cognitive and metacognitive strategies and text structure along the reading process. The intervention program was carried out with 89 fifth grader students of public school. Through this program the students developed specific cognitive and metacognitive strategies for reading. Besides they learned about the superstructure (narrative, expositive) and the macrostructure (main idea) of the texts. The results revealed that the experimental group benefited from the intervention program concerning the majority of the variables used in the study.

A relação entre abuso sexual e transtornos alimentares: uma revisão

A relação entre o abuso sexual e distúrbios alimentares tem sido extensamente pesquisada. O abuso sexual como fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de transtornos alimentares, especialmente de bulimia nervosa, é, no entanto, tema controverso. Estudos que investigam a possível relação entre abuso sexual e transtornos alimentares apresentam resultados bastante heterogêneos. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma revisão teórica acerca desta relação. Apesar dos resultados controversos, este trabalho pretende destacar a necessidade de que profissionais de diversas áreas, especialmente psicoterapeutas, estejam atentos para esta possível relação a fim de potencializar suas intervenções.

The relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders has been widely researched. Sexual abuse as a risk factor for the development of eating disorders, especially bulimia nervosa is, however, heterogeneous. Studies investigating a possible relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders have reported highly discrepant results. The aim of this paper is to present a theoretical review about this relationship. Despite controversial results, this paper intends to highlight the need for professionals of several areas, especially psychotherapists, to pay attention to this possible relationship in order to reinforce their interventions.

Reduced version of triangular love scale: feeling's characteristics in Brazil

La Teoría Triangular del Amor de Sternberg divide el sentimiento en los componentes de la Intimidad, de la Pasión, y del Decisión/Compromiso. Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de analiza las características del amor en una muestra de estudiantes de licenciatura del Sur de Brasil. Se utilizó la versión reducida de la Escala Triangular del Amor, que obtuvo los valores adecuados de consistencia interna y estructura factorial. Los resultados indicaron semejanzas entre los géneros en las cuentas de las tres dimensiones. Por la comparación transversal de los datos, se observó que los niveles del amor tienen la tendencia para aumentar hasta el casamiento. Las tres dimensiones del amor contribuyen con sus particularidades en un modelo explicativo de la satisfacción en la relación. Así, la Intimidad, la Pasión y el Decisión/Compromiso se pueden considerar independientes, aunque se pueden poner en correlación. Se sugiere la investigación de los aspectos longitudinales del amor.

The Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love divides the feeling in the components of Intimacy, Passion, and Decision/Commitment. This study had the objective of analyze the characteristics of love in a sample of undergraduate students of the South of Brazil. It utilized itself the reduced version of the Triangular Love Scale, which obtained adequate values of internal consistency and factorial structure. The results indicated resemblances between the genders in the scores of the three dimensions. Through the transversal comparison of the data, observed that the levels of love have the tendency to increase until the marriage. The three dimensions of the love contribute with his particularities in an explanatory model of the satisfaction in the relationship. Then, the Intimacy, the Passion and the Decision/Commitment can be considered independent, although correlated. It suggests itself the inquiry of the longitudinal aspects of the love.

Validation and Equivalence Test of Factorial Structure of Work Application Strategies

La evaluación de cursos de formación y desarrollo de personal en las organizaciones laborales es un foco importante de estudio en la investigación en psicología organizacional y del trabajo. Variables individuales, como las estrategias de aplicación de lo aprendido en el contexto post entrenamiento son cruciales para la efectividad de los cursos de formación. Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar el test de equivalencia de la estructura factorial de una escala para la medición de las estrategias de aplicación de lo aprendido en el trabajo en las culturas de Brasil y de España. Los resultados de los análisis factoriales señalan que existe una estructura factorial similar en ambos países. Finalmente, en este trabajo se discuten las implicaciones teóricas y de utilización de la escala para la investigación.

The evaluation of training and development field is focus of scientific investigation in organizational psychology. Individual variables, like the strategies that individuals use to develop conditions to apply the learning in the post-training environment are essential to training effectiveness. This paper has the main purpose of testing the equivalence of the factorial structure of the measurement scale of work application strategies of learning from training in two countries with different cultures: Brazil and Spain. This paper also has the objective of validate de Spanish version of the scale. Factor analysis was done and the results indicate a similar factorial structure in both countries. Theoretical implications and scale's use are discussed.

Um estudo sobre o desenvolvimento da gratidão na infância

O objetivo deste estudo é identificar se há um desenvolvimento do sentimento de gratidão na infância. Além disso, investiga-se a influência do tipo de benfeitor (adulto ou criança) nas respostas dos participantes. Os participantes foram 12 crianças, igualmente distribuídas em três grupos etários (5-6, 7-8 e 11-12 anos) e por sexo. Utilizaram-se seis histórias sobre situações hipotéticas, três com um benfeitor criança e três com um benfeitor adulto. Após cada história, realizou-se uma entrevista clínica com a criança. Os resultados sugerem diferenças significativas entre os grupos etários quanto a: (a) os tipos de sentimento positivo atribuídos ao beneficiário da ação e (b) o tipo de relação estabelecida entre a satisfação experienciada pelo beneficiário e o benfeitor. Todavia, não se encontraram diferenças significativas quando se compararam dois tipos de benfeitor (criança versus adulto). Os dados encontrados, discutidos à luz da literatura, sugerem novas questões de pesquisa.

The goal of this study is to assess the development of the feeling of gratitude during childhood. In addition, the influence of the kind of benefactor (adult or child) was investigated. The participants were 12 children, distributed equally across three age groups (5-6, 7-8, and 11-12 years) and by sex. The study used six stories about hypothetical situations, three with a child benefactor and three with an adult benefactor. Following each story, a clinical interview was conducted with each child. The results suggest significant differences among the age groups in terms of: (a) the types of positive feeling attributed to the beneficiary of the action and (b) the types of relation established between the satisfaction felt by the beneficiary and the benefactor. However, no significant differences were found when comparing the two types of benefactor (child versus adult). These results, discussed in light of the literature, suggest new research questions.

Normas de associação semântica de 50 palavras do Português Brasileiro para crianças: tipo, força de associação e set size

Listas de palavras associadas semanticamente são fundamentais para experimentos de memória explícita e implícita. Este estudo investiga a evocação de associados semânticos de 50 palavras-alvo por 154 crianças de 3ª série, analisando-se força e tipo de associação estabelecida, assim como a extensão da lista de associados gerados para cada alvo (tamanho do conjunto). Dentre os resultados, a média de força de associação entre os pares foi de 29,44%, 50% dos pares apresentaram forte associação semântica, houve preferência pela geração de respostas com relação alvo-associado semântico do tipo temática (76%), a média de respostas diferentes para cada alvo (tamanho significativo do conjunto) foi de 14,34 itens e os substantivos abstratos geraram um maior tamanho total do conjunto. Houve uma forte correlação negativa entre força de associação semântica e tamanho do conjunto. Palavras concretas, mais propensas a produzir imagens mentais, geraram menor variabilidade de respostas, quando considerado na análise as respostas idiossincrásicas.

Lists of semantically-related words are fundamental when dealing with explicit and implicit memory experiments. The present study investigates the evocation of semantic associates to the 50 target words by 154 third grade children, analysing the strength and the type of association established, as well as the extension of the list generated to each target (set size). Among the results, the association strength average between the pairs was 29.44%; 50% of the pairs presented strong semantic association. It was found a preference for generating semantic responses of thematic type to the target words (76%); the average of different responses generated to each target (meaning set size) was 14.34 items and the abstract nouns generated a larger meaning set size. In addition, a strong negative correlation between the semantic association and the set size was also found. Concrete words, more prone to produce mental images, generated less variability within the responses when considered in the idiosyncratic responses analysis.

Dependência química e personalidade

This study investigated the relationships between chemical dependency and personality structure in a Brazilian sample. Participants were college students (n=35) and patients of a drug recovery center (n= 48). Two personality scales based on the Big-5 Model were used to measure Extraversion and Agreeableness. A semi-structured interview was used to identify events in the patients' life histories that might support specific classifications. Participants' scores were also compared to Brazilian normative samples. The results showed significant differences between clinical and non-clinical groups in Agreeableness, but not in Extraversion. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using scales and interview aspects for predicting group membership. The model showed 92.1% general predictive power. Results pointed to the advantage of using both interview and objective techniques to assess individuals with antisocial personality symptoms.

Este estudo investigou as relações entre dependência química e estrutura da personalidade em uma amostra brasileira. Os participantes eram estudantes universitários (n=35) e clientes de um centro para tratamento de drogadictos (n=48). Duas escalas de personalidade, baseadas no Modelo dos Cinco Grandes Fatores, foram usadas para avaliar Extroversão e Socialização. Uma entrevista semi-estruturada foi usada para identificar eventos nas histórias de vida dos pacientes que pudessem apoiar classificações específicas. Os escores dos participantes também foram comparados a amostras normativas brasileiras. Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas em Socialização entre o grupo clínico e o não-clínico, mas não para Extroversão. Análises de regressão foram realizadas com as escalas e dados da entrevista para predizer a que grupo o participante pertencia. O poder preditivo do modelo foi de 92,1%. Os resultados apontam para a vantagem de utilizar entrevistas e técnicas objetivas para avaliar sintomas de personalidade anti-social.

Avaliando a comunicação da emoção: o ato de mostrar e ocultar como efeitos da cultura, gênero, tipo de emoção e relacionamento

Students from a collectivistic (Brazilian, n= 401) and an individualistic (Norwegian, n= 418) culture rated their ability to display and conceal anger, sadness, and anxiety in relation to immediate family, partner, friends, and "other persons." Norwegians showed higher display ratings for anger and sadness, and higher concealment ratings for anger and anxiety. Display ratings were much higher, and concealment ratings much lower in relation to close persons than in relation to "other persons." A culture x relationship interaction was that Brazilians' ratings suggested more emotional openness to friends than to family and partner, whereas Norwegians showed the inverse patterns. Gender differences supported previous research by showing higher display and lower concealment ratings, and less differentiation between relationships by females.

Estudantes de uma cultura coletivista (brasileiros, n= 401) e uma individualista (noruegueses, n= 418) pontuam suas habilidades em demonstrar e esconder raiva, tristeza e ansiedade em relação à família, companheiro, amigos e "outras pessoas". Noruegueses mostram pontuações mais altas na manifestação da raiva e tristeza, e menores pontuações para encobrir raiva e ansiedade. As pontuações de expor foram muito mais altas, e o ocultar muito mais baixas em relação a pessoas mais íntimas do que em relação a "outras pessoas". Uma interação entre cultura x relacionamento apresenta que os escores dos brasileiros sugerem maior abertura emocional para amigos do que para familiares e companheiros, enquanto os noruegueses denotam um o padrão inverso. Diferenças de gêneros apóiam pesquisas anteriores evidenciando que o sexo feminino tem escores mais elevado em expressar emoções e menores escores em esconder; também demonstram menos diferenciação entre os relacionamentos.

Gender equality practices in a group of heterosexual couples in Puerto Rico

Cambios en los roles tradicionales del género han suscitado nuevas ideologías que se manifiestan en prácticas de convivencia en la pareja. La equidad juega un papel significativo en las relaciones de pareja. Este artículo surge de una investigación para explorar las experiencias, prácticas y significados atribuidos a la convivencia en un contexto de equidad por género. Se realizaron 20 entrevistas semi-estructuradas con cada miembro de 10 parejas heterosexuales puertorriqueñas. Los relatos revelan que las parejas están en transición hacia la equidad y que para lograrla, es necesario un proceso reconocido como construcción social de la equidad que representa una nueva visión de hacer vida en pareja. Los significados que los informantes le atribuyen a la equidad sugieren que ésta tiene connotaciones multidimensionales que se apartan de las definiciones tradicionales. La equidad constituye una práctica liberadora que conlleva educación, esfuerzo, responsabilidad, justicia, estabilidad emocional y equilibrio en la relación de pareja.

Changes in traditional gender roles have promoted new ideologies that mark different practices in the domestic realm among couples. Equality plays an important part in couples' relationships. The present article result from a research which studied the experiences, practices and meanings attributed to gender equality among heterosexual couples in Puerto Rico. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with each member of 10 couples. Findings revealed that couples are in a transition stage towards equality, and have actually undergone the process we called "social construction of gender equality". This process represents a new vision in a living together context. The personal meanings reported as a result of this social construction process suggested that equality is a multidimensional concept far distant from traditional definitions. Equality seems to engender a liberating practice that requires education, effort, responsibility, sense of fairness, emotional stability, and role balance among partners in the relationship.

A research training model: the academy hit the road

Presentamos un modelo de adiestramiento en investigación para estudiantes universitarios/as. Este sirvió de experiencia para los/as estudiantes mientras permitió que una investigación ambiciosa (LEXIS) se realizara en un corto periodo de tiempo. Describimos como la integración de dos áreas de la psicología es de utilidad para llevar a cabo la experiencia colaborativa. Desde la psicología comunitaria la pirámide educativa, proveyó la estructura para la realización de la tarea, mientras que el modelo de enriquecimiento o significancia de la tarea de la psicología industrial/organizacional sirvió de marco para lograr una experiencia diferente para el estudiantado de psicología. Presentamos los datos cuantitativos y cualitativos que apoyan la integración de los modelos. Concluímos que la motivación de participar en una investigación facilitó que los/as estudiantes se interesaran en participar en LEXIS. Ofrecemos recomendaciones para utilizar ambos modelos en la investigación.

We present a research training model for undergraduate students. It allowed for the development of a practicum experience for the students which in turn facilitated an ambitious research project (LEXIS) in a short period of time. We describe how the integration of two areas of psychology made the collaborative experience possible. Community psychology provided the educational pyramid model to structure the task, while industrial/organizational psychology reframed the collaborative experience with a job enrichment model for the 30 psychology students. Quantitative and qualitative data sustain the use of both models in research training. Student's motivation to participate in research facilitates their participation in LEXIS. Recommendations for use of the research training model are provided.

Cultural adaptation of a preschool prevention program

Se evaluó la efectividad del Programa "Segundo Paso", una traducción al español de Second Step, aplicado a nivel de preescolar. La resolución de los problemas sociales, las habilidades y las destrezas que se enfatizan en este programa, fueron evaluadas realizando entrevistas a los niños antes y después del estudio. Participaron 141 niños en el grupo experimental y 139 en el grupo control, en edades entre 3 a 5 años. Los resultados de la comparación de las medias indican que hubo un cambio significativo en las habilidades sociales del grupo experimental entre la primera y la segunda entrevista; evidenciándose la utilidad del programa en niños en edad preescolar en Venezuela.

The effectiveness of the "Segundo Paso" Program, the Spanish translation of "Second Step" was evaluated with a preschool sample. Social problem solving and social skills were assessed at the commencement and conclusion of the intervention using individual interviews with children and questionnaires for teachers and parents. Participants included 141 children in the experimental group and 139 children in the control group all between the ages of 3 to 5 years. Results indicated a significant change in social knowledge for the experimental group, supporting the effectiveness of the Segundo Paso Prevention Program for preschool children in Venezuela.

Identifying social support patterns in migrant population, trough partial order scalogram analysis by base coordinates

El objetivo del presente estudio fue elaborar un perfil de la población mexicana migrante en Estados Unidos que permitiera ubicarlos de una manera sencilla y rápida, en cuanto al nivel de apoyo social, con el que cuentan fuera de su lugar de origen. Se realizó el estudio con la participación de 82 migrantes mexicanos en el área de Florida, que respondieron una escala de cinco reactivos, desarrollada para esta investigación. Se realizó un Escalograma de Orden Parcial para la muestra general, así como para cada sexo. Los resultados indican que las mujeres, a diferencia de los hombres, tienen más apoyo social. La disposición de un agente de consuelo, así como de un consejero espiritual, resultaron ser las variables más significativas en el análisis para diferenciar los patrones de apoyo. Este estudio constituye una propuesta para evaluar de manera exploratoria, los tipos de apoyo disponibles para los migrantes, utilizando un número relativamente mínimo de variables para tal efecto.

The purpose of this study was to create a profile of the Mexican migrant population in the United States, which would allow us to identify them in a quick and easy way based on their level of social support. 82 Mexican migrants who lived and worked in Florida participated; they answered a five-item test, specifically developed for this research. A Partial Order Scalogram Analysis was performed on the total sample, as well as by gender. The results showed that women perceive more availability of social support than men. The accessibility to a comfort agent, as well as that of a spiritual counselor, was the most significant variables in the analysis. This study represents a proposal to further studies in the research of social support types available to migrants, with the added advantage of using a relatively low number of variables.

Venezuelan children temperament styles and comparison with their United States peers

Temperament styles of 411 Venezuelan children are described in reference to possible gender and age differences and compared with those of 2589 U.S. children in light of Jung's theory of temperament as modified by Myers and Briggs, one that highlights four bipolar qualities: extroversion-introversion, practical-imaginative, thinking-feeling and organized-flexible styles. Venezuelan children generally prefer extroverted to introverted style, practical to imaginative styles, thinking to feeling styles, and organized to flexible styles. Gender differences are seen on thinking-feeling. In contrast to males, females are more likely to prefer a feeling style. Age differences are seen only on organized-flexible styles. In contrast to U.S. children, Venezuelan children express higher preferences for extroverted, practical, thinking, and organized styles. Results are discussed in light of possible contextual differences in child development and qualities associated with temperamental styles and its practical implication for parenting and teaching. However, the biological base for temperament should not be overlooked.

Este estudio describe las preferencias de estilo temperamental en una muestra de niños venezolanos (n=411), analiza diferencias por género, edad y compara los resultados con una muestra de niños de los Estados Unidos (n= 2589). Se apoya en la teoría jungniana de Myers y Briggs, la cual contempla cuatro cualidades bipolares: extroversión-introversión, práctico-imaginativo, pensador-afectivo y organizado-flexible. Los resultados muestran que los niños venezolanos prefieren los estilos extrovertido, práctico, pensador y organizado. Se encontraron diferencias por género sólo para la bipolaridad pensador afectivo, donde las niñas prefieren el estilo afectivo en comparación con los niños y diferencias por edad en organizado flexible. En comparación con los niños de los Estados Unidos, los de Venezuela mostraron mayor preferencia por los estilos extrovertido, práctico, pensador y organizado. Los resultados se discuten a la luz de las diferencias contextuales en desarrollo infantil y cualidades asociadas con los estilos temperamentales en niños con sus implicaciones para la crianza y la enseñanza.

Experiences: links with schizotypy, dissociation and fantasy proneness

Sobre una muestra de 650 estudiantes universitarios, 24% varones y 76% mujeres, se administraron seis escalas; cuatro para medir la intensidad de experiencias perceptuales y dos escalas de personalidad. Los resultados mostraron que los individuos con experiencias puntuaron significativamente alto en relación a absorción (r = .48, p < .001, a dos colas), disociación (r = .46, p < .001, a dos colas), esquizotipia cognitivo-perceptual (r = .44, p < .001, a dos colas), propensidad a fantasear (r = .42, p < .001, a dos colas), y neuroticismo (r = .20, p = .001, a dos colas). Se puede concluir que estas diferencias reflejan la facilidad con que una persona puede atravesar estados de consciencia que permiten el pasaje entre el estado de vigilia y el mundo de fantasía.

In this paper, we investigate whether the personality trait of Absorption is a predisposing factor for HG/HP hallucinatory experience. Our participants, six hundred and fifty-six undergraduate students, 76% females and 24% males (age range 17-57), completed four scales, assessing absorption (r = .48, p < .001, 2-tailed), Cognitive-perceptual schizotypy and schizotypy proneness (r = .44, p < .001, 2-tailed), dissociation (r = .46, p < .001, 2-tailed), and Fantasy proneness (r = .42, p < .001, 2-tailed), subjective experiences along the sleep-wakefulness continuum. Our findings are indicative of a common, pseudo-hallucinatory experiential base, suggesting that absorption can indeed serve as the predisposing factor for hallucinatory experience. In our discussion, we look at the implications of this finding for applied cognitive psychology, focusing on the study of false memories and reality monitoring.

Adaptação trans-cultural e propriedades psicométricas da 'Escala de Senso de Coerência' em mães de crianças pré-escolares

The aim of this paper is to present the trans-cultural adaptation and reliability of the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13 from Antonovsky) into Portuguese language using a sample of mothers of preschool children. The originally validated scale demonstrated a low return percentage and high number of extreme answers when applied to mothers of preschool children selected by convenience sampling in Brazil. Adaptations were made through cognitive interviews and involved rewording items, the usage of five rather than seven alternatives and the insertion of middle anchoring phrases. Three independent samples took part in the study for the psychometric tests. These samples consisted of one group of 36 and another of 38 mothers selected by convenience, as well as an additional group of 546 mothers randomly selected from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Instrument reliability was accessed by internal consistency, test-retest and item-to-total-score correlations with each of the three samples, respectively. Findings indicate that the adapted scale is comprehensible and obtained a greater response rate than the originally validated scale. Internal consistency increased from 0.67 for the original scale to 0.71 for the adapted scale. This value was extended to 0.80 in the test with the randomly selected sample. Medium weighted Kappa coefficients were 49.5%. The Spearman test demonstrated that the questions were correlated with total SOC scores. Results indicate that the adapted scale is valid and consistent for mothers of preschool children from different social classes.

O objetivo do presente estudo é apresentar a adaptação trans cultural e a confiabilidade da escala de Senso de Coerência (SOC-13 de Antonovsky) para a língua portuguesa em uma amostra de mães de crianças pré-escolares. A escala originalmente validada demonstrou um baixo percentual de resposta e um elevado número de respostas extremas quando aplicada a mães de crianças pré-escolares de uma amostra de conveniência na cidade de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Com o auxílio de entrevistas cognitivas, foram feitas adaptações que envolveram a alteração de palavras, o uso de cinco opções de respostas ao invés de sete e a inserção de explicação por escrito para as respostas intermediárias. Três amostras independentes participaram do estudo para os testes psicométricos. Estas três amostras consistiram de um grupo de 36 e outro de 38 mães selecionadas por conveniência, e um terceiro grupo composto por 564 mães selecionadas aleatoriamente. A confiabilidade foi verificada através da consistência interna, teste-reteste e correlação intem-escore total, em cada uma das três amostras respectivamente. Os resultados indicam que a escala adaptada é consistente e obteve uma taxa de respostas superior à da escala originalmente validada. A consistência interna aumentou de 0,67 para 0,71 para a escala adaptada. Este valor aumentou para 0,80 no teste com a amostra aleatoriamente selecionada. Os coeficientes de Kappa ponderado atingiram valores médios de 49,5%. A correlação de Spearman mostrou que todos os itens se correlacionaram com os escores totais de SOC. Os resultados indicam que a escala adaptada é válida e consistente para mães de crianças pré-escolares de diferentes classes sociais.

Wisdom in multicultural counseling: the omitted ingredient

This study explored the relationship between wisdom and multicultural counseling expertise. Wisdom was defined by Hanna, Bemak, and Chi-Ying Chung (1999) and measured by the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (Hy & Loevinger, 1996) and multicultural counseling expertise was measured by the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey (D'Andrea, Daniels, & Heck, 1990) among counselors-in-training. Specifically the study consisted of 45 counselors-in-training and was conducted based on the assumption that the acquisition of wisdom was the primary tool used by ancient civilizations to teach healers about human conditions. The findings indicated that levels of wisdom were statistically significant and accounted for 14% of the explained variance in the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey (D'Andrea et al., 1990).

Este estudio exploró la relación entre la sabiduría y la pericia en consejería multicultural. La sabiduría fue definida de acuerdo a Hanna, Bemak, y Chi-Ying Chung (1999) y medida por Washington University Sentence Completion Test (Hy & Loevinger, 1996) y la pericia en consejería multicultural fue medida por el Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey (D'Andrea, Daniels, & Heck, 1990) entre consejeros en entrenamiento. Específicamente el estudio consistió de 45 consejeros en entrenamiento y fue realizado basado en la creencia de que la adquisición de la sabiduría fue el instrumento primario utilizado por antiguas civilizaciones para enseñar a los curandero/as acerca de las condiciones humanas. Las conclusiones indicaron que los niveles de sabiduría fueron estadísticamente significativas y justificaron el 14% de la variación explicada en el Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey (D'Andrea et al., 1990).

Narrative production of older adults: investigating a possible pragmatic change

This study investigated the possible pragmatic change concerning the narrative production of older adults. Brazilian young and older adults residing in Porto Alegre/BR were instructed to tell personal and fictitious stories. Propositions of their discourse were analyzed in terms of relevance, subjectivity and repetition. Older adults presented a greater proportion of indirectly relevant propositions, expressed more subjective content and repeated more propositions than younger adults. Older adults also demonstrated preference for personal narratives. Evidence supported the pragmatic change hypotheses concerning the discourse production of older adults.

Este estudio ha investigado el posible cambio pragmático en la producción narrativa de adultos mayores. Se instruyó a adultos jóvenes y mayores residentes de Porto Alegre/BR a que contasen historias personales y ficticias. Las proposiciones de sus discursos fueron analizadas en términos de relevancia, subjetividad y repetición. Adultos mayores presentaron una proporción mayor de proposiciones indirectamente relevantes, expresaron más proposiciones subjetivas y repitieron más ideas que adultos jóvenes. Adultos mayores también demostraron preferencia por narraciones personales. Las evidencias apoyaron la hipótesis de cambio pragmático en la producción narrativa de adultos mayores.

Context in personal epistemology: teoretical considerations and empirical explorations

En la investigación sobre epistemología personal, se ha tenido escasamente en cuenta el contexto. En este artículo, exponemos razones teóricas que muestran la importancia de considerar el contexto al que la epistemología personal hace referencia, así como el contexto en el que las creencias son declaradas. Proponemos que la comprensión epistemológica referida a y declarada en contextos especializados, podría ser diferente que la referida a y declarada en contextos no especializados. Presentamos dos estudios exploratorios cuyo objetivo fue determinar si la comprensión epistemológica es distinta en contextos referencial y declarativo distintos. Los resultados mostraron que la comprensión epistemológica referida a y declarada en el contexto pedagógico -especializado- es mayor que cuando es referida a y declarada en un contexto social informal - no especializado. Sugerimos que es importante incorporar los contextos declarativo y referencial, así como la distinción entre contexto especializado y no especializado, en la investigación en epistemología personal.

In personal epistemology research, context has been scarcely kept in mind. In this paper, theoretical reasons are presented that show the importance of considering the context to which the personal epistemology makes reference, as well as the context in which the beliefs are declared. We propose that epistemological understanding referred to and declared in specialized contexts, could be different that the one referred to and declared in non specialized contexts. Two exploratory studies were carried out in order to answer the research question: Are epistemological understanding different in different reference and declarative contexts? In both studies, epistemological understanding referred to and declared in the specialized pedagogic context was bigger than when it is referred to and declared in a non-specialized, an informal social context. It is suggested that it is important to incorporate declarative and referential contexts, as well as the distinction among specialized and non-specialized context, in personal epistemology research.

Assessment of the volunteer process model in environmental volunteers

Most of the explanatory models of volunteerism have focused on the study of assistantial volunteerism and have not verified whether their results could be generalized to other types of volunteerism. The purpose of this work is to verify the validity of the Volunteer Process Model in environmental volunteers. Therefore, a field study of 140 environmental volunteers is presented in which the antecedents and experiences of volunteerism are used to predict duration of service over one year. In general, the results obtained indicate that this model does not explain sustained environmental volunteerism adequately.

La mayoría de los modelos explicativos del voluntariado se han centrado en el estudio del voluntariado asistencial y no se ha comprobado si estos modelos podrían ser generalizados a otros tipos de voluntariado. El propósito de este trabajo es analizar la validez del Modelo del Proceso del Voluntariado en voluntarios ambientales. Con este objetivo se llevó a cabo un estudio de campo en el que se evaluaron los antecedentes y las experiencias de voluntariado de 140 voluntarios ambientales para predecir su permanencia en la organización voluntaria a lo largo de un año. En general, los resultados obtenidos muestran que el modelo estudiado no explica adecuadamente la permanencia del voluntariado ambiental.

Influence of parents modeling over children development of prosocial reasoning

Los crecientes problemas de la agresividad infantil indican la importancia de evaluar el razonamiento moral prosocial como proceso protector contra la misma, en la medida en que se produce ante un problema o una necesidad de otra persona, que implica una respuesta de ayuda que entra en conflicto con las propias necesidades o deseos. Eisenberg (2000) subraya que para estudiar la conducta moral es necesario incluir la regulación emocional y la empatía. A su vez, parecería que la empatía está influida en gran medida por experiencias tempranas de relación interpersonal (Krevans & Gibbs, 1996). En el presente trabajo analizaré en qué medida el comportamiento parental se relaciona con el razonamiento moral prosocial, en la niñez mediana y tardía. Al mismo tiempo, puesto que se ha visto que la empatía que los/las niños/as perciben en sus padres/madres influye sobre el desarrollo de la propia empatía, que es uno de los antecedentes del razonamiento moral prosocial, estudiaré la relación entre la empatía de los padres/madres percibida por los niños/as y su propio razonamiento moral prosocial. Además, dado que se conoce que el género está relacionado con la empatía y el razonamiento moral prosocial y que el aumento en la edad, en la medida que va acompañado por un mayor desarrollo cognitivo, influye en el desarrollo del razonamiento moral prosocial, analizaré las relaciones de la empatía percibida en los padres/madres y de los estilos parentales sobre el razonamiento moral prosocial, teniendo en cuenta ambas variables. Para ello administré a una muestra de 610 niños de 9 a 12 años, la versión española del Prosocial Reasoning Objective Measure (PROM) (Carlo, Eisenberg, & Knight, 1992; Mestre, Frías, Samper, & Tur, 2002), dos cuestionarios para estudiar la percepción que el/la niño/a tiene de la empatía de su madre y padre en sus aspectos afectivo y cognitivo (Richaud de Minzi, 2006), basados en el modelo de Davis (1980) y el Inventario de Percepción de estilos parentales en niños/as de 8 a 12 años (Richaud de Minzi, 2007). Realicé regresiones múltiples para analizar la contribución relativa sobre el desarrollo y estilo del razonamiento prosocial en los niños/as, de la percepción que éstos/as tienen de la empatía y estilo relacional de su padre y madre.

Increasing problems of children aggressiveness indicate the importance to evaluate prosocial moral reasoning as a protective process, given that it occurs to face with a problem or necessity of other person, that involves a help response that comes into conflict with the own necessities and wishes. Eisenberg (2000) underlines that to study moral behaviour it is necessary to include emotional regulation and empathy. At the same time, it would seem that empathy is influenced to a large extent by early interpersonal relationships experiences (Krevans & Gibbs, 1996). In the present work I will analyze if parental behaviour is related to prosocial moral reasoning in middle and late childhood. At the same time, given that perceived parent's empathy in children has an influence on children empathy, I will study the relationship between perceived parent's empathy by children and children prosocial moral reasoning. Moreover, I will analyze the influence of children gender and age. I administered the Spanish version of Prosocial Reasoning Objective Measure (PROM) (Carlo, Eisenberg, & Knight, 1992; Mestre, Frías, Samper, & Tur, 2002), two questionnaires to study child perception of mother and father empathy (Richaud de Minzi, 2006), based on Davis model (1980) and Perception of Parental Styles Inventory in children between 8 and 12 years, to a sample of 610 children between 9 and 12 years (Richaud de Minzi, 2007). I calculated multiple regressions to analyze the contribution of children perception of parental empathy and behaviour to explain prosocial reasoning development and style.