Showing papers in "Review of General Psychology in 2001"
TL;DR: The authors found that bad is stronger than good, as a general principle across a broad range of psychological phenomena, such as bad emotions, bad parents, bad feedback, and bad information is processed more thoroughly than good.
Abstract: The greater power of bad events over good ones is found in everyday events, major life events (e.g., trauma), close relationship outcomes, social network patterns, interpersonal interactions, and learning processes. Bad emotions, bad parents, and bad feedback have more impact than good ones, and bad information is processed more thoroughly than good. The self is more motivated to avoid bad self-definitions than to pursue good ones. Bad impressions and bad stereotypes are quicker to form and more resistant to disconfirmation than good ones. Various explanations such as diagnosticity and salience help explain some findings, but the greater power of bad events is still found when such variables are controlled. Hardly any exceptions (indicating greater power of good) can be found. Taken together, these findings suggest that bad is stronger than good, as a general principle across a broad range of psychological phenomena.
5,340 citations
TL;DR: For instance, the authors describes an upsurge of interest among theorists and researchers in autobiographical recollections, life stories, and narrative approaches to understand human behavior and expe...
Abstract: Recent years have witnessed an upsurge of interest among theorists and researchers in autobiographical recollections, life stories, and narrative approaches to understanding human behavior and expe...
2,050 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the cultural construction of fatherhood in America, as well as the consequences of this construction as a motivator for understudying fathers, especially father love, for nearly a century.
Abstract: This article explores the cultural construction of fatherhood in America, as well as the consequences of this construction as a motivator for understudying fathers—especially father love—for nearly...
343 citations
TL;DR: The paradox of distress expression is that expression of negative feelings is both a sign of distress and a possible means of coping with that distress as mentioned in this paper, and it is argued that negative feelings are adaptive to the extent that it leads to some kind of resolution involving the source or significance of distress.
Abstract: The paradox of distress expression is that expression of negative feelings is both a sign of distress and a possible means of coping with that distress. This article describes research illustrating the paradox of distress expression. It reviews evidence concerning 3 possible mechanisms by which expression might alleviate distress, focusing on the role of expression in (a) reducing distress about distress, (b) facilitating insight, and (c) affecting interpersonal relationships in a desired way. The authors conclude by highlighting the circumstances under which expression is most likely to be adaptive. Overall, the authors argue that expression of negative feelings is adaptive to the extent that it leads to some kind of resolution involving the source or significance of distress.
302 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the dual-process model of coping with loss was suggested to help explain gender differences in health outcomes in mental health outcomes, and a stressor-specific framework was proposed to cope with loss.
Abstract: The loss of a marital partner results in substantial increases in morbidity and mortality among both men and women, but the effects are relatively greater for widowers than for widows in the acute grieving period Evidence is reviewed, and explanations of the pattern are examined An interpretation in terms of gender differences in social support (cf M Stroebe & W Stroebe, 1983), although plausible, has not yet been empirically confirmed Likewise, with respect to gender differences in coping styles, women are more confrontive and expressive of their emotions than men, but there has been little validation of the generally accepted grief work hypothesis (working through grief by women brings about their better recovery) Cognitive processes underlying effective coping with bereavement are analyzed, and a stressor-specific framework, the dual-process model of coping with loss, is suggested to help explain gender differences in health outcomes
301 citations
TL;DR: In this article, memories of momentous events are analyzed from a functivity-based perspective, where memories of specific life episodes, termed personal event memories, have only recently become a focus of systematic research.
Abstract: Memories of specific life episodes, termed personal event memories, have only recently become a focus of systematic research. In this article, memories of momentous events are analyzed from a funct...
249 citations
TL;DR: Life review and reminiscence as discussed by the authors are two concepts used to describe the phenomenon of people reflecting on their lives and they need to be distinguished on the basis of their basis.
Abstract: Life review and reminiscence are 2 concepts used to describe the phenomenon of people reflecting on their lives. Rather than used synonymously, these 2 concepts need to be distinguished on the basi...
217 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a skeptical review concludes that the "perceptual accuracy hypothesis" is unsupported, and the indirect evidence is better explained by objective self-awareness theory's core tenet: self-focus increases consistency motivation.
Abstract: How is introspection related to accurate self-perception? Self-focused attention is said to facilitate accurate judgments of cognitive aspects (attitudes, standards, and attributions) and somatic aspects (sensations, arousal, physical symptoms, emotions) of self. The present skeptical review concludes that the "perceptual accuracy hypothesis" is unsupported. There is simply little direct evidence, and the indirect evidence is better explained by objective self-awareness theory's core tenet: Self-focus increases consistency motivation. Most studies have also failed to appreciate the complexity of establishing the accuracy of self-judgment. The authors discuss some conceptual issues that future work should recognize, such as the logics of accuracy research, the role of honesty standards in accurate self-reports, differences in self-perception and object perception, and the implications of different self-theories for accuracy.
164 citations
TL;DR: The abiding interest that sustains scientific research has only rarely been displaced onto interest itself as discussed by the authors, and what little research there is has pursued one of two parallel paths: the first path is the study of interest as a transient affective state.
Abstract: The abiding interest that sustains scientific research has only rarely been displaced onto interest itself. What little research there is, however, has pursued one of two parallel paths. The first path is the study of interest as a transient affective state. Emotion psychology—this path's primary traveler—has historically viewed interest as the black sheep in the flock of basic emotions. The ?prototypical? negative emotions such as anger and fear have received the lion's share of research, leaving interest and the other positive emotions in relative obscurity (Fredrickson, 1998). But mere neglect aside, many venerable shepherds have kicked interest out of the flock entirely. Interest isn't included in many major emotion theories, beginning with Darwin (1872/1998) and continuing with contemporary models (Carver & Scheier, 1998; Lazarus, 1991; Oatley & Johnson-Laird, 1996; Ortony, Clore, & Collins, 1988).
160 citations
TL;DR: The need for planning is not only an aspect of our day-to-day lives, but also represents a critical aspect of performance on many high-level tasks as mentioned in this paper, and the psycholo...
Abstract: Planning is not only an aspect of our day-to-day lives, it represents a critical aspect of performance on many high-level tasks. Although few of us would dispute the need for planning, the psycholo...
150 citations
TL;DR: This paper presented a framework for extending the study of autobiographical memory by combining a life perspective with a life span perspective, and the life perspective suggests not only the co-occurrence but also the life span.
Abstract: By combining a life perspective with a life span perspective, the authors present a basic framework for extending the study of autobiographical memory. The life perspective suggests not only the co...
TL;DR: Researchers from diverse psychological sub-disciplines have increasingly turned their attention to the storied aspect of human thought as discussed by the authors, focusing on narrative processing and autobiographical reasoning, which are 2 form...
Abstract: Researchers from diverse psychological subdisciplines have increasingly turned their attention to the storied aspect of human thought. Narrative processing and autobiographical reasoning are 2 form...
TL;DR: The consensus that emotions are functional and adaptive has reached such a level that contradictory evidence is no longer seriously considered, and the complex determinants of functionality are not ful....
Abstract: Consensus that emotions are functional and adaptive has reached such a level that contradictory evidence is no longer seriously considered, and the complex determinants of functionality are not ful...
TL;DR: Although the enterprise of experimental psychopathology has been around for quite some time, the integrative role that it plays in psychological science has not received explicit attention as discussed by the authors, which is not the case here.
Abstract: Although the enterprise of experimental psychopathology has been around for quite some time, the integrative role that it plays in psychological science has not received explicit attention. This is...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue to replace individualistic explanations of behavior with descriptions of social and historical context, arguing that playing a guitar alone in a room can be more effective than doing so with a group of people.
Abstract: This article argues to replace individualistic explanations of behavior with descriptions of social and historical context. Eighteen ways are outlined that playing a guitar alone in a room can be t...
TL;DR: The authors criticizes such notions and suggests three ways that such theories can be replaced with faithfulness, drive reduction, or uncertainty reduction instead of catharsis, drive reductions, and uncertainty reduction.
Abstract: Many explanations in psychology rely on notions of catharsis, drive reduction, or uncertainty reduction. This article criticizes such notions and suggests 3 ways that such theories can be replaced ...
TL;DR: For example, this paper found that youth tobacco use has increased substantially in the United States during the past decade, in part due to the potency of cigarette advertising and relative ineffective advertising.
Abstract: Youth tobacco use has increased substantially in the United States during the past decade. This increase can be attributed, in part, to the potency of cigarette advertising and relative ineffective...
TL;DR: It is argued that Freud's seduction theory was so manifestly false that it was unlikely that his contemporaries would accept it or that he would retain it for very long as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: It is argued that Freud's seduction theory was so manifestly false that it was unlikely that his contemporaries would accept it or that he would retain it for very long. It is further argued that t...
TL;DR: A group-assimilation theory hypothesizes that a Gestalt-like group is associated with assimilation among the parts of the group as mentioned in this paper, which is an increase in the perceived or sensed similarity of the groups.
Abstract: A group-assimilation theory hypothesizes that a Gestalt-like group is associated with assimilation among the parts of the group. Assimilation is an increase in the perceived or sensed similarity of...
TL;DR: Three hundred six psychologists, all members of the American Psychological Association, responded to a questionnaire on which they rated various theoretical-philosophical statements concerning the... as mentioned in this paper, with a score of 0.
Abstract: Three hundred six psychologists, all members of the American Psychological Association, responded to a questionnaire on which they rated various theoretical–philosophical statements concerning the ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe high intellectual and creative educational multimedia technologies (HICEMTs), which will constitute one of the innovative breakthroughs in science and technology of the 21st century and will lead to a new wave of innovations in psychology.
Abstract: This article describes high intellectual and creative educational multimedia technologies (HICEMTs), which will constitute one of the innovative breakthroughs in science and technology of the 21st century and will lead to a new wave of innovations in psychology. HICEMTs appear at the intersection of many subdisciplines of psychology (including general, cognitive, developmental, educational, personality, media, cyber, and applied), education, and multimedia. The general and specific nature of HICEMTs is considered. The importance of HICEMTs is discussed from technological, economic, societal, educational, and psychological perspectives.