The motivational impairment effect in the communication of deception: Replications and extensions

Past research (e.g., DePaulo & Kirkendol, in press) has documented a motivational impairment effect in the communication of deception, whereby people who are more highly motivated to get away with their lies (relative to those who are less highly motivated) are less successful at doing so whenever observers can see or hear any of their nonverbal cues. In the present study, we report a conceptual replication of the effect: Subjects who told ingratiating lies under conditions in which they thought that the ability to convey particular impressions was an important skill (high competence-relevance) were less successful at getting away with those lies when judges could observe their nonverbal behaviors. We also report a conceptual replication of an unpredicted finding from an earlier study (DePaulo, Stone, & Lassiter, 1985b): Under the same conditions (ingratiating lies, high competence relevance), women were more likely to show the motivational impairment effect than were men. We predicted in this study that more attractive speakers would be less susceptible to the motivational impairment effect than less attractive speakers. Consistent with this prediction, under high motivational conditions (ingratiating lies, high competence-relevance), more attractive speakers were less likely to show the impairment than were less attractive speakers. Finally, we report suggestive evidence that the motivational impairment effect may occur when subjects are trying deliberately to control simultaneously all of their verbal and nonverbal behaviors.This research was supported by an NIMH research grant and an NIMH Research Scientist Award to the first author. We thank Paul Ekman for his comments, and Ann Ashworth, Joan Hairfield, Bruce Hedrick, Morgan Kulow, Margaret Lluy, Terri Michell, Helen Ponte, Carissa Smith, and Debby Winokur for their help with this research.     

A segmented regression model for event history data: an application to the fertility patterns in Italy

We propose a segmented discrete-time model for the analysis of event history data in demographic research. Through a unified regression framework, the model provides estimates of the effects of explanatory variables and jointly accommodates flexibly non-proportional differences via segmented relationships. The main appeal relies on ready availability of parameters, changepoints, and slopes, which may provide meaningful and intuitive information on the topic. Furthermore, specific linear constraints on the slopes may also be set to investigate particular patterns. We investigate the intervals between cohabitation and first childbirth and from first to second childbirth using individual data for Italian women from the Second National Survey on Fertility. The model provides insights into dramatic decrease of fertility experienced in Italy, in that it detects a ‘common’ tendency in delaying the onset of childbearing for the more recent cohorts and a ‘specific’ postponement strictly depending on the educational level and age at cohabitation.     

The role of exercise on the innate immunity of the elderly

The increased life span in human population has shown that some diseases, as infections, cancer and autoimmune phenomena, occur more frequently in the elderly than in the younger. We describe the ageing process involving the innate immune system and the improvement given by moderate physical activity. In addition, we discuss the altered neutrophil granulocytes function, the role of macrophages and natural killer cells, besides the influence of cytokines and secretory IgA. The acquired information help us to explain how these changes could favor the onset of diseases in the elderly and how they may boost their immune function.     

The significance of place in middle childhood: qualitative research from Wales

The paper presents some key findings of qualitative research with older primary school children in Wales on their attachments to places and cultures. There is discussion of children's perspectives on the global, national and local arenas. We argue both that there are continuities with adult perspectives and that the children's views on place and identity need to be understood in the context of the social location of middle childhood. The study shows children making relatively little use of culturally-filled categories of local, national and global place-identifications. The differences they articulate are largely framed in terms of divisions between groups of people rather than in the characteristics of place, and generally related back to the self.     

The evolution of employee engagement: Towards a social and contextual construct for balancing individual performance and wellbeing dynamically

Research demonstrates that high Employee Engagement (EE) sustains job satisfaction and performance among staff. This literature review analyses the evolution of EE, highlighting the theoretical frameworks used to explain the concept, the measurement scales adopted by researchers and the principal antecedents and outcomes relating to EE that have been progressively considered along the way. Three main findings emerge from the analysis. First, we highlight the social and relational nature of EE, providing a more sociological interpretation of this phenomenon. Second, we underscore the fact that EE is dynamic, and when combined with modern digital technologies, it can be studied through innovative approaches. Third, we discuss how EE could be a fundamental ingredient in shifting towards a human centred approach through which balancing individuals’ wellbeing and performance. We discuss the implications of these findings, highlighting the necessity to rethink EE in relation to the new normal ushered in by Covid-19, and the increasing role of hybrid working.     

The development of a pilot ‘thinking about relationships prompt sheet’ within an alcohol and other drugs rehabilitation programme

This paper documents the development of a programme component within an alcohol and other drugs residential service. Designed to improve relational competence, this pilot component was designed to have multiple levels of function: from the specific, for example, stimulating residents to formulate and monitor relationally oriented goals, to the more pacific, for example, embedding relationally focused learning as an ongoing rehabilitative concern. Development of the component began with a literature review. After finalising a set of relationship types (friends, siblings, etc.), this review identified three domains: ‘values’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘skills’. To create an initial draft, these categories were populated by items selected from a multi-stage inspection of the relevant literature. This draft was then reviewed by multiple stakeholder groups. Feedback from these consultations resulted in substantial modifications to the initial draft. In addition to the component having a broad-spectrum interventive purpose, the authors propose that this component could play a role in (i) pre-admission assessment and (ii) programme evaluation insofar as data concerning individual residents are aggregated and analysed.     

“I screamed but then realized nobody was listening”: Exploration of the presence of others during intrafamilial child sexual abuse through survivors' testimonies from the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry

Intrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) is perceived as a crime perpetrated without witnesses. Nevertheless, researchers have explored two main aspects of the others present during abusive incidents: bystanders in extra-familial child sexual abuse and bystanders' decisions of whether to become involved. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how children and survivors perceive and experience the presence of others during abusive incidents. The current study examined survivors' experiences and perceptions concerning the presence of others during IFCSA based on their written testimonies for an independent inquiry. Of the more than 500 written testimonies sent to an independent Israeli inquiry, 16 addressed IFCSA and the others present. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted, and four main themes were identified: survivors' perceptions of others, others' responses to the abuse, familial dynamics with others during abuse, and acceptance. The discussion addresses the phenomenon of the presence of others during IFCSA and related theories of trauma and family dynamics. The findings challenge the social perception of IFCSA as a secret, highlighting the awareness that characterizes it in reality, as illustrated in the survivors' testimonies. This emphasizes the urgent need for policy-makers and professionals to promote the publicness of IFCSA instead of maintaining its secrecy.