Webster University Vienna

About: Webster University Vienna is a education organization based out in Vienna, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Monetary policy & Cognition. The organization has 60 authors who have published 168 publications receiving 3182 citations.

Using the Startle Eye-Blink to Measure Affect in Players

Abstract: The startle eye-blink is part of a non-voluntary response that typically occurs when an individual encounters a sudden and unexpected stimulus, such as a loud noise or increase in light. Modulations of the startle reflex can be used to infer affective processing in players. The response can be elicited using simple auditory, visual, electric, or mechanical stimuli. The magnitude of the startle eye-blink is used to infer the unconscious positive (pleasant) or negative (unpleasant) emotional state of the player. It is frequently used in psychology where variations in the magnitude, latency, and duration of the startle response are used to understand attention, workload, affective processing, and psychopathologies such as schizophrenia. By comparison, there has been limited use of this objective measure for studying games. As such, there are opportunities to adapt this measure to studies of player affect in the context of game design. We provide a review of the concepts of “affect” and “affective computing” as they relate to game design and also explain in detail the use of the startle eye-blink for objectively measuring player affect. Finally, the use of the approach is illustrated in a case study for evaluating a serious game design.

Fortresses of desire: Melrose Arch and the emergence of urban tourist spectacles

Abstract: Teresa Dirsuweit1 & Florian Schattauer2 1School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa (Tel: +27 11 717 6503; Fax: +27 11 403 7281; E-mail: dirsuweitt@geoarc.wits.ac.za); 2Webster University (Vienna), Berchtoldgasse 1, A1220, Vienna, Austria, and School of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa (E-mail: floschatt@yahoo.com)

Personality functioning in anxiety disorders

Abstract: The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders as well as the upcoming IDC-11 have established a new focus on diagnosing personality disorders (PD): personality functioning An impairment of self and interpersonal functioning in these models represents a general diagnostic criterion for a personality disorder Little is known so far about the impairment of personality functioning in patients with other mental disorders than PD This study aims to assess personality functioning in patients with anxiety disorders Ninety-seven patients with the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or phobia, and 16 healthy control persons were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I and -II) and were assessed by means of the Structured Interview for Personality Organization (STIPO) to determine the level of personality functioning While all three patient groups showed significant impairment in personality functioning compared to the control group, no significant differences were observed between the different patient groups In all three groups of anxiety disorders patients with comorbid PD showed significantly worse personality functioning than patients without Patients without comorbid PD also yielded a significant impairment in their personality functioning when compared to the control group Anxiety disorders are associated with a significant impairment in personality functioning, which is significantly increased by comorbid PD There are no differences in terms of personality functioning between patients with different anxiety disorders

Greek economic policy uncertainty : does it matter for Europe? Evidence from a dynamic connectedness decomposition approach

Abstract: This study examines the propagation mechanism of economic policy uncertainty shocks within Greece and between Greece and Europe over the period of January, 1998 and May, 2018. Further insights about the Greek-internal and external dynamics of economic policy uncertainty are provided by employing the recently developed dynamic connectedness decomposition approach of Gabauer and Gupta (2018). Our analysis reveals that Greek economic policy uncertainty is dominating the European economic policy uncertainty nearly permanently throughout the period of analysis. In particular, the Greek banking policy uncertainty (capital controls) and Greek currency policy uncertainty (Grexit rumors) have been significant net pairwise transmitters with respect to the European economic policy uncertainty. In addition, the Greek-internal transmission mechanism indicates that, Greek fiscal policy uncertainty indices are driven by Greek related monetary policy indices. Finally, our impulse response analysis suggests that the persistence of monetary policy related shocks is varying over time and increased after the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2009. This magnifying effect explains partially the prolonged recovery of the European economy.

Burnout in medical students

Abstract: Only a small number of studies have examined the relationship between medical students and burnout syndrome. In Salzburg, Paracelsus Private Medical University (PMU) offers a 5‑year medical program instead of the regular 6 years of medical studies. Due to the tight schedule and heavy workload, the stress level of students is high. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PMU students show burnout symptoms. Three surveys were conducted: at the beginning of the academic year (T1, December 2009), at the end of the academic year (T2, June 2010), and at the beginning of the following academic year (T3, December 2010). For the assessment of burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism, and low personal accomplishment) was used, as well as the Six Factors Theory of Burnout (workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values) and for comparison, the Austrian norms developed by Unterholzer. Burnout rate was calculated by a combined measure of the three components. The results show a significant difference from the norm means in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization/cynicism, and low personal accomplishment. With regard to areas of work life, all values are below the means, indicating high workload, high external control, low reward, low feeling of community, and low fairness—except values, i.e., motivation of the students. The mean overall burnout frequency turned out to be 47.8 ± 11.0%, whereas females have slightly higher burnout rates than males. An increasing linear trend with burnout rates was seen from the youngest to the oldest class. In addition, the estimated burnout rate increased within the academic term, as T2 had the highest rate, followed by T3, and the lowest rate was seen in T1. In conclusion, burnout in medical students is frequent and significantly related to heavy workload and other factors of worklife, necessitating changes of academic and organizational settings of medical curricula.