Memory processes and hypochondriacal tendencies

Article Abstract:

Hypochondriasis is a morbid preoccupation with one's health, with a tendency to focus attention on bodily sensations and to unrealistically label them as symptoms of disease. Hypochondriacs often feel or fear they have symptoms of a disease that they have heard or read about. Memory monitoring processes refer to the ability to distinguish the origin of memory (e.g., one's thoughts versus a book or movie). To assess the role of memory monitoring in hypochondriasis, approximately 1,000 female and male university students were administered a short version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Index (MMPI), which contains all the items on the MMPI hypochondriasis scale. Fifty-two students who scored either extremely high (hypochondriacs) or low (non-hypochondriacs) on the scale participated in the memory research. They were asked to describe any health problems and non-health related events they had experienced over the past two days. They then were asked to fill out reports on a close friend or relative and to judge the overall well-being of a man and a woman reporting health-related and non-health-related events on a tape. One week later they were asked to indicate which events had been mentioned during the report phase and which items were new. They then completed the full MMPI. Although the groups did not differ in terms of traditional measures of memory, they did differ in their ability to identify the memory source. Non-hypochondriacal students were more able to distinguish between self-relevant health memories and other health memories, indicating that hypochondriacs may remember events correctly, but have problems attributing memories to the correct source. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Causes of, Memory, Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory, Hypochondria, Hypochondriasis

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Exploring polarization in organizational groups

Article Abstract:

This is a systematic analysis of the polarizations inherent in management theory. The unifying model that allows management group polarizations to be explored is group field dynamics. Polarization within organizations is then considered, using a stereotypical key management group as a starting point. Levels of polarization and predicted team effectiveness are discussed under different configurations of group members. A demonstration is given of an automated report writer and a computer-assisted polarization analysis.

Management science, Analysis, Organizational behavior

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Reactance in closed groups: the effect of belief in powerful others

Article Abstract:

The majority group should use honest and open communications with the minority group in order to present the majority position in a fair manner. A significant effort by the majority to subtly convince the minority with cognitive response persuasion methods can only work with some minority members. Locus of control and reactance are related.

Methods, Minorities, Persuasion (Psychology)

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