An Experimental Test of Loss Aversion

This paper experimentally investigates a preference condition for loss aversion in the framework of cumulative prospect theory (CPT). We propose the concepts of absolute and relative loss premiums in order to measure the extent of loss aversion and to derive notions of increasing, constant, and decreasing loss aversion. While in only one of the 28 choice situations analyzed loss neutrality and loss seeking can be rejected, about 51% of all choices are loss averse and, due to the large extent of loss aversion revealed by these choices, the average loss premium is positive for most choice situations. Female subjects exhibit both a more frequent occurrence and a larger extent of loss aversion.     

学习者个体差异和第二语言教学

二语习得理论是科学系统地研究二语习得现象的理论,在我国主要是对英语习得的研究。由于对二语习得现象的认识视角不同,其研究也呈跨学科趋势。将学习者的个体差异这一主观性差异作为研究的重点,探讨其在二语习得中的体现及如何导致二语习得的差异,并提出了相应的教学策略,以期帮助二语习得中的"学困生"走出困惑。     

习俗文化与跨文化交际

语言不仅是信息的载体,而且是文化的载体,语言运用方式集中反映了各民族的文化特征。习俗是一个民族在特定的历史条件和地理环境中发展和承袭下来的,是一种文化形态的象征和体现。习俗文化是文化的重要组成部分。跨文化交际中产生的许多问题,包括误解、不快、关系紧张,甚至产生严重后果,都是由于交际双方不了解对方的习俗文化造成的。习俗文化差异是跨文化交际成功的重要障碍之一。这就要求人们在跨文化交际中具备深厚的文化功底,建立良好的习俗差异意识。     

Disclosing Lesbian and Gay Male Sexual Orientation in Later Life: Attitudes of Younger and Older Generations in Eight Latin American Countries

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research was to explore attitudes toward older lesbians and gay men disclosing their sexual preferences in eight Latin American countries. The sample consisted of 1,539 participants belonging to three age groups (18–29 years, 60–69 years, and 70 years and over). Their answers to two open-ended questions were content-analyzed, and binary logistic regressions were run on the extreme attitudinal categories. Results showed that although most attitudes were positive, a solid percentage of participants still expressed different kinds of derogatory attitudes. Men (as compared to women) and participants who were more religious and less educated tended to hold more negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Both older samples were more prejudiced than the younger one, and attitudes also varied according to country. There was a general trend showing more positive attitudes toward older lesbians and gay men in those countries where sexual minorities’ rights are better assured, which suggests that measures to protect sexual minorities and to make sexual diversity in older age visible could be advisable.     

中日两国传统价值观现代化转变的差异及启示

在近代西学东渐的形势下,中日两国传统价值观念各自发生了现代化转变,在这一转变的过程中,两国彼此的不同国情导致了两国传统价值观念的现代化转变出现了五个方面的差异,这些差异使两国的历史发展走上了不同的道路。探讨中日两国传统价值观念的现代化转变的差异及其影响,得到的重要启示是:中日两国必须探索具有本国特色和充满理性精神的现代化民族国家的正确发展之路。     

汉英祈使疑问句对比研究

文章以“小句”为视角,采用“疑问句语用性嬗变理论模型”的有关理论和研究方法,以汉英语祈使疑问句为研究对象,从句法层面对其语表形式进行充分的观察、描述和解释,向深层挖掘语里意义,向外层探求语用价值,力求做到形式和意义相结合,以期在祈使疑问句的形式、意义和功能之间找出某种对应关系,对二者的类型进行合理的归纳、分类；对疑问句探询功能的迁移及衰退进行了验证,挖掘出汉英语祈使疑问句出现的根源并发现二者之间异同.同时,也验证了该模型具有跨语言解释力.     

‘Speak roughly to your little boy’? Sex Differences in the Relations Between Parenting and Preschoolers’ Understanding of Mind

The present study explores relations between young children's understanding of mind and parental emotional expression and disciplinary style, along with gender differences in these relations. Participants were recruited from a study of 125 same-sex twin-pairs (58% female; group mean age 5 43 months, SD 5 1 month). Each child received a comprehensive set of theory-of-mind tasks, and was filmed at home for 20 minutes in dyadic interactions with the primary caregiver, who was also interviewed about disciplinary strategies. Ratings of discipline and positive and negative parental affect and control were made from direct observation, from the interview, and from the videoed interactions. Strong correlations were found between family SES, parenting measures, and child verbal IQ and theory-of-mind score. However, regression analyses showed that parental behaviours were significant predictors of children's theory-of-mind performance, even when sex, verbal IQ and family SES were taken into account. Sex differences in these relations were also identified; parental affect was especially salient for understanding of mind in girls, while discipline was more salient for boys. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of individual differences in the proximal processes associated with early understanding of mind, and suggest that development in mental-state awareness is associated with distinct aspects of parenting for girls and boys.     

White and nonwhite trends in first birth timing: Comparisons using vital registration and current population surveys

The magnitude of racial differences in first birth timing vary greatly depending upon the data sources from which they are estimated. Vital registration data (Heuser 1976; with updates from the National Center for Health Statistics 1974–1990) show that in recent years nonwhites have higher risks of a first birth at virtually all ages compared to whites. As a result very large and historically novel differentials in childlessness are forecast using these data (see Rindfuss et al. 1988; Chen & Morgan 1991; Morgan & Chen 1992). However, retrospective fertility history data collected from the 1980, 1985 and 1990 Current Population Surveys (CPS) suggest much smaller racial differences in completed childlessness and isolate racial differences in probabilities of first births at young ages. Differences also exist between theses two series for whites prior to the mid-1960s but not afterwards. Reasons for these differing estimates are suggested and examined. We conclude that a substantial portion of the differences result from an accumulation of biases in the vital registration estimates that affect primarily estimates of first birth timing. Thus, the CPS data provide a more firm basis for racial comparisons of first birth timing.     

CONSIDERAITON OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL FACTORS IN CLASSROOM LANGUAGE TEACHING

本文就学生的个性、学习动力和认知方式等方面的差异对外语课堂教学产生的不同影响进行了探讨，试图从学习者的角度阐述：施教者在教学过程中应注意评析各个差异的优劣因素及其关系，并引导利用于不同的教学目的及技能培养上，使课堂教学达到因材施教的最优化。