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Roy G. Beran - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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automatism a case of Reality Testing
Forensic Science International: Mind and Law, 2020Co-Authors: Roy G. BeranAbstract:Abstract Automatism represents automatic behaviour, thereby eliminating concepts of actus rea and mens rea, as the perpetrator is not in voluntary control of his/her actions nor intent. There are ‘sane’ automatisms (due to external factors) or ‘insane’ automatisms (due to internal factors). The present case represents a situation in which both ‘sane’ and ‘insane’ automatism could be evoked but neither were applicable when the facts were critically evaluated. Having pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter, the accused then tried to evoke automatism at the sentence hearing, which would, if proven, have resulted in an acquittal, thereby pleading both guilt and innocence in the same trial, something dismissed by the judge.
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Automatism – A case of Reality Testing
Forensic Science International: Mind and Law, 2020Co-Authors: Roy G. BeranAbstract:Abstract Automatism represents automatic behaviour, thereby eliminating concepts of actus rea and mens rea, as the perpetrator is not in voluntary control of his/her actions nor intent. There are ‘sane’ automatisms (due to external factors) or ‘insane’ automatisms (due to internal factors). The present case represents a situation in which both ‘sane’ and ‘insane’ automatism could be evoked but neither were applicable when the facts were critically evaluated. Having pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter, the accused then tried to evoke automatism at the sentence hearing, which would, if proven, have resulted in an acquittal, thereby pleading both guilt and innocence in the same trial, something dismissed by the judge.
Neil Dagnall - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Conspiracist Beliefs, Intuitive Thinking and Schizotypal Facets: A Further Evaluation
Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Nick NeaveAbstract:Summary This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to Reality Testing deficits and Need for Cognition) Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship This article is protected by copyright All rights reserved
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Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, and Sleep Paralysis: Associations With Reality Testing Deficits and Paranormal Experience/Belief.
Frontiers in psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Denovan, Neil DagnallAbstract:Focusing on lucid dreaming, this paper examined relationships between dissociated experiences related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis), Reality Testing, and paranormal experiences/beliefs. The study comprised a UK-based online sample of 455 respondents (110 males, 345 females, Mean age = 34.46 years, SD = 15.70), who had all previously experienced lucid dreaming. Respondents completed established self-report measures assessing control within lucid dreaming, experience and frequency of nightmares, incidence of sleep paralysis, proneness to Reality Testing deficits (Inventory of Personality Organization subscale, IPO-RT), subjective experience of receptive psi and life after death (paranormal experience), and paranormal belief. Analysis comprised tests of correlational and predictive relationships between sleep-related outcomes, IPO-RT scores, and paranormal measures. Significant positive correlations between sleep and paranormal measures were weak. Paranormal measures related differentially to sleep indices. Paranormal experience correlated with lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis, whereas paranormal belief related only to nightmares and sleep paralysis. IPO-RT correlated positively with all paranormal and sleep-related measures. Within the IPO-RT, the Auditory and Visual Hallucinations sub-factor demonstrated the strongest positive associations with sleep measures. Structural equation modeling indicated that Auditory and Visual Hallucinations significantly positively predicted dissociated experiences related to REM sleep, while paranormal experience did not. However, paranormal experience was a significant predictor when analysis controlled for Auditory and Visual Hallucinations. The moderate positive association between these variables explained this effect. Findings indicated that self-generated, productive cognitive-processes (as encompassed by Auditory and Visual Hallucinations) played a significant role in conscious control and awareness of lucid dreaming, and related dissociative sleep states (sleep paralysis and nightmares).
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Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Inventory of Personality Organization-Reality Testing Subscale
Frontiers in psychology, 2018Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, R. Stephen WalshAbstract:The Reality Testing dimension of the Inventory of Personality Organization, the IPO-RT, has emerged as an important index of proneness to Reality Testing deficits. However, to date few studies have examined the factorial structure of the IPO-RT in isolation. This is an important and necessary development because studies use the IPO-RT as a discrete measure. Additionally, psychometric evaluation of the IPO suggests alternative factorial solutions. Specifically, recent work supports multidimensionality, whereas initial IPO assessment evinced a unidimensional structure. Accordingly, this study, using a heterogeneous sample (N = 652), tested the fit of several factorial models (one-factor, four-factor oblique, second-order, and bifactor) via maximum likelihood with bootstrapping due to multivariate non-normality. Analysis revealed superior fit for the bifactor solution (correlated errors) (CFI = 0.965, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.042). This model comprised a general Reality Testing dimension alongside four subfactors (auditory and visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, social deficits, and confusion). Inter-factor correlations were in the moderate range. Item loadings and omega reliability supported the notion that the IPO-RT emphasizes a single latent construct. The model demonstrated invariance across gender and partial age invariance. Overall, from a psychometric perspective, the IPO-RT functioned effectively at both global and, to an extent, factorial levels. Findings recommend that the IPO-RT should be scored as a total scale, and rather than treat subscales independently, future studies should consider examining factor variance alongside overall scale scores.
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Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Peter J. CloughAbstract:The present study assessed the degree to which probabilistic reasoning performance and thinking style influenced perception of risk and self-reported levels of terrorism-related behaviour change. A sample of 263 respondents, recruited via convenience sampling, completed a series of measures comprising probabilistic reasoning tasks (perception of randomness, base rate, probability, and conjunction fallacy), the Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale, and a terrorism-related behaviour change scale. Structural equation modelling examined three progressive models. Firstly, the Independence Model assumed that probabilistic reasoning, perception of risk and Reality Testing independently predicted terrorism-related behaviour change. The Mediation Model supposed that probabilistic reasoning and Reality Testing correlated, and indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change through perception of risk. Lastly, the Dual-Influence Model proposed that probabilistic reasoning indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk, independent of Reality Testing. Results indicated that performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks most strongly predicted perception of risk, and preference for an intuitive thinking style (measured by the IPO-RT) best explained terrorism-related behaviour change. The combination of perception of risk with probabilistic reasoning ability in the Dual-Influence Model enhanced the predictive power of the rational-analytical route, with conjunction fallacy having a significant indirect effect on terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk. The Dual-Influence Model possessed superior fit and reported similar predictive relations between intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational routes and terrorism-related behaviour change. The discussion critically examines these findings in relation to dual-processing frameworks. This includes considering the limitations of current operationalisations and recommendations for future research that align outcomes and subsequent work more closely to specific dual-process models.
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Urban Legends and Paranormal Beliefs: The Role of Reality Testing and Schizotypy.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, Peter J. CloughAbstract:Recent research suggests that unconventional beliefs are locatable within a generic anomalous belief category. This notion derives from the observation that apparently dissimilar beliefs share fundamental, core characteristics (i.e., contradiction of orthodox scientific understanding of the universe and defiance of conventional understanding of Reality). The present paper assessed the supposition that anomalous beliefs were conceptually similar and explicable via common psychological processes by comparing relationships between discrete beliefs [endorsement of urban legends (ULs) and belief in the paranormal] and cognitive-perceptual personality measures [proneness to Reality Testing (RT) and schizotypy]. A sample of 222 volunteers, recruited via convenience sampling, took part in the study. Participants completed a series of self-report measures (Urban Legends Questionnaire, Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization, Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief). Preliminary analysis revealed positive correlations between measures. Within schizotypy, the cognitive-perceptual factor was most strongly associated with anomalistic beliefs; disorganized and interpersonal produced only weak and negligible correlations respectively. Further investigation indicated complex relationships between RT, the cognitive-perceptual factor of schizotypy and anomalistic beliefs. Specifically, proneness to RT deficits explained a greater amount of variance in ULs, whilst schizotypy accounted for more variance in belief in the paranormal. Consideration of partial correlations supported these conclusions. The relationship between RT and ULs remained significant after controlling for the cognitive-perceptual factor. Contrastingly, the association between the cognitive-perceptual factor and ULs controlling for RT was non-significant. In the case of belief in the paranormal, controlling for proneness to RT reduced correlation size, but relationships remained significant. This study demonstrated that anomalistic beliefs vary in nature and composition. Findings indicated that generalized views of anomalistic beliefs provide only limited insight into the complex nature of belief.
Andrew Denovan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Conspiracist Beliefs, Intuitive Thinking and Schizotypal Facets: A Further Evaluation
Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Nick NeaveAbstract:Summary This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to Reality Testing deficits and Need for Cognition) Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship This article is protected by copyright All rights reserved
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Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, and Sleep Paralysis: Associations With Reality Testing Deficits and Paranormal Experience/Belief.
Frontiers in psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Denovan, Neil DagnallAbstract:Focusing on lucid dreaming, this paper examined relationships between dissociated experiences related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis), Reality Testing, and paranormal experiences/beliefs. The study comprised a UK-based online sample of 455 respondents (110 males, 345 females, Mean age = 34.46 years, SD = 15.70), who had all previously experienced lucid dreaming. Respondents completed established self-report measures assessing control within lucid dreaming, experience and frequency of nightmares, incidence of sleep paralysis, proneness to Reality Testing deficits (Inventory of Personality Organization subscale, IPO-RT), subjective experience of receptive psi and life after death (paranormal experience), and paranormal belief. Analysis comprised tests of correlational and predictive relationships between sleep-related outcomes, IPO-RT scores, and paranormal measures. Significant positive correlations between sleep and paranormal measures were weak. Paranormal measures related differentially to sleep indices. Paranormal experience correlated with lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis, whereas paranormal belief related only to nightmares and sleep paralysis. IPO-RT correlated positively with all paranormal and sleep-related measures. Within the IPO-RT, the Auditory and Visual Hallucinations sub-factor demonstrated the strongest positive associations with sleep measures. Structural equation modeling indicated that Auditory and Visual Hallucinations significantly positively predicted dissociated experiences related to REM sleep, while paranormal experience did not. However, paranormal experience was a significant predictor when analysis controlled for Auditory and Visual Hallucinations. The moderate positive association between these variables explained this effect. Findings indicated that self-generated, productive cognitive-processes (as encompassed by Auditory and Visual Hallucinations) played a significant role in conscious control and awareness of lucid dreaming, and related dissociative sleep states (sleep paralysis and nightmares).
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Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Inventory of Personality Organization-Reality Testing Subscale
Frontiers in psychology, 2018Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, R. Stephen WalshAbstract:The Reality Testing dimension of the Inventory of Personality Organization, the IPO-RT, has emerged as an important index of proneness to Reality Testing deficits. However, to date few studies have examined the factorial structure of the IPO-RT in isolation. This is an important and necessary development because studies use the IPO-RT as a discrete measure. Additionally, psychometric evaluation of the IPO suggests alternative factorial solutions. Specifically, recent work supports multidimensionality, whereas initial IPO assessment evinced a unidimensional structure. Accordingly, this study, using a heterogeneous sample (N = 652), tested the fit of several factorial models (one-factor, four-factor oblique, second-order, and bifactor) via maximum likelihood with bootstrapping due to multivariate non-normality. Analysis revealed superior fit for the bifactor solution (correlated errors) (CFI = 0.965, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.042). This model comprised a general Reality Testing dimension alongside four subfactors (auditory and visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, social deficits, and confusion). Inter-factor correlations were in the moderate range. Item loadings and omega reliability supported the notion that the IPO-RT emphasizes a single latent construct. The model demonstrated invariance across gender and partial age invariance. Overall, from a psychometric perspective, the IPO-RT functioned effectively at both global and, to an extent, factorial levels. Findings recommend that the IPO-RT should be scored as a total scale, and rather than treat subscales independently, future studies should consider examining factor variance alongside overall scale scores.
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Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Peter J. CloughAbstract:The present study assessed the degree to which probabilistic reasoning performance and thinking style influenced perception of risk and self-reported levels of terrorism-related behaviour change. A sample of 263 respondents, recruited via convenience sampling, completed a series of measures comprising probabilistic reasoning tasks (perception of randomness, base rate, probability, and conjunction fallacy), the Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale, and a terrorism-related behaviour change scale. Structural equation modelling examined three progressive models. Firstly, the Independence Model assumed that probabilistic reasoning, perception of risk and Reality Testing independently predicted terrorism-related behaviour change. The Mediation Model supposed that probabilistic reasoning and Reality Testing correlated, and indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change through perception of risk. Lastly, the Dual-Influence Model proposed that probabilistic reasoning indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk, independent of Reality Testing. Results indicated that performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks most strongly predicted perception of risk, and preference for an intuitive thinking style (measured by the IPO-RT) best explained terrorism-related behaviour change. The combination of perception of risk with probabilistic reasoning ability in the Dual-Influence Model enhanced the predictive power of the rational-analytical route, with conjunction fallacy having a significant indirect effect on terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk. The Dual-Influence Model possessed superior fit and reported similar predictive relations between intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational routes and terrorism-related behaviour change. The discussion critically examines these findings in relation to dual-processing frameworks. This includes considering the limitations of current operationalisations and recommendations for future research that align outcomes and subsequent work more closely to specific dual-process models.
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Urban Legends and Paranormal Beliefs: The Role of Reality Testing and Schizotypy.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, Peter J. CloughAbstract:Recent research suggests that unconventional beliefs are locatable within a generic anomalous belief category. This notion derives from the observation that apparently dissimilar beliefs share fundamental, core characteristics (i.e., contradiction of orthodox scientific understanding of the universe and defiance of conventional understanding of Reality). The present paper assessed the supposition that anomalous beliefs were conceptually similar and explicable via common psychological processes by comparing relationships between discrete beliefs [endorsement of urban legends (ULs) and belief in the paranormal] and cognitive-perceptual personality measures [proneness to Reality Testing (RT) and schizotypy]. A sample of 222 volunteers, recruited via convenience sampling, took part in the study. Participants completed a series of self-report measures (Urban Legends Questionnaire, Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization, Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief). Preliminary analysis revealed positive correlations between measures. Within schizotypy, the cognitive-perceptual factor was most strongly associated with anomalistic beliefs; disorganized and interpersonal produced only weak and negligible correlations respectively. Further investigation indicated complex relationships between RT, the cognitive-perceptual factor of schizotypy and anomalistic beliefs. Specifically, proneness to RT deficits explained a greater amount of variance in ULs, whilst schizotypy accounted for more variance in belief in the paranormal. Consideration of partial correlations supported these conclusions. The relationship between RT and ULs remained significant after controlling for the cognitive-perceptual factor. Contrastingly, the association between the cognitive-perceptual factor and ULs controlling for RT was non-significant. In the case of belief in the paranormal, controlling for proneness to RT reduced correlation size, but relationships remained significant. This study demonstrated that anomalistic beliefs vary in nature and composition. Findings indicated that generalized views of anomalistic beliefs provide only limited insight into the complex nature of belief.
Kenneth Drinkwater - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Conspiracist Beliefs, Intuitive Thinking and Schizotypal Facets: A Further Evaluation
Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Nick NeaveAbstract:Summary This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to Reality Testing deficits and Need for Cognition) Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship This article is protected by copyright All rights reserved
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Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, and Sleep Paralysis: Associations With Reality Testing Deficits and Paranormal Experience/Belief.
Frontiers in psychology, 2020Co-Authors: Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Denovan, Neil DagnallAbstract:Focusing on lucid dreaming, this paper examined relationships between dissociated experiences related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis), Reality Testing, and paranormal experiences/beliefs. The study comprised a UK-based online sample of 455 respondents (110 males, 345 females, Mean age = 34.46 years, SD = 15.70), who had all previously experienced lucid dreaming. Respondents completed established self-report measures assessing control within lucid dreaming, experience and frequency of nightmares, incidence of sleep paralysis, proneness to Reality Testing deficits (Inventory of Personality Organization subscale, IPO-RT), subjective experience of receptive psi and life after death (paranormal experience), and paranormal belief. Analysis comprised tests of correlational and predictive relationships between sleep-related outcomes, IPO-RT scores, and paranormal measures. Significant positive correlations between sleep and paranormal measures were weak. Paranormal measures related differentially to sleep indices. Paranormal experience correlated with lucid dreaming, nightmares, and sleep paralysis, whereas paranormal belief related only to nightmares and sleep paralysis. IPO-RT correlated positively with all paranormal and sleep-related measures. Within the IPO-RT, the Auditory and Visual Hallucinations sub-factor demonstrated the strongest positive associations with sleep measures. Structural equation modeling indicated that Auditory and Visual Hallucinations significantly positively predicted dissociated experiences related to REM sleep, while paranormal experience did not. However, paranormal experience was a significant predictor when analysis controlled for Auditory and Visual Hallucinations. The moderate positive association between these variables explained this effect. Findings indicated that self-generated, productive cognitive-processes (as encompassed by Auditory and Visual Hallucinations) played a significant role in conscious control and awareness of lucid dreaming, and related dissociative sleep states (sleep paralysis and nightmares).
-
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Inventory of Personality Organization-Reality Testing Subscale
Frontiers in psychology, 2018Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, R. Stephen WalshAbstract:The Reality Testing dimension of the Inventory of Personality Organization, the IPO-RT, has emerged as an important index of proneness to Reality Testing deficits. However, to date few studies have examined the factorial structure of the IPO-RT in isolation. This is an important and necessary development because studies use the IPO-RT as a discrete measure. Additionally, psychometric evaluation of the IPO suggests alternative factorial solutions. Specifically, recent work supports multidimensionality, whereas initial IPO assessment evinced a unidimensional structure. Accordingly, this study, using a heterogeneous sample (N = 652), tested the fit of several factorial models (one-factor, four-factor oblique, second-order, and bifactor) via maximum likelihood with bootstrapping due to multivariate non-normality. Analysis revealed superior fit for the bifactor solution (correlated errors) (CFI = 0.965, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.042). This model comprised a general Reality Testing dimension alongside four subfactors (auditory and visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, social deficits, and confusion). Inter-factor correlations were in the moderate range. Item loadings and omega reliability supported the notion that the IPO-RT emphasizes a single latent construct. The model demonstrated invariance across gender and partial age invariance. Overall, from a psychometric perspective, the IPO-RT functioned effectively at both global and, to an extent, factorial levels. Findings recommend that the IPO-RT should be scored as a total scale, and rather than treat subscales independently, future studies should consider examining factor variance alongside overall scale scores.
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Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew Denovan, Kenneth Drinkwater, Neil Dagnall, Andrew Parker, Peter J. CloughAbstract:The present study assessed the degree to which probabilistic reasoning performance and thinking style influenced perception of risk and self-reported levels of terrorism-related behaviour change. A sample of 263 respondents, recruited via convenience sampling, completed a series of measures comprising probabilistic reasoning tasks (perception of randomness, base rate, probability, and conjunction fallacy), the Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale, and a terrorism-related behaviour change scale. Structural equation modelling examined three progressive models. Firstly, the Independence Model assumed that probabilistic reasoning, perception of risk and Reality Testing independently predicted terrorism-related behaviour change. The Mediation Model supposed that probabilistic reasoning and Reality Testing correlated, and indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change through perception of risk. Lastly, the Dual-Influence Model proposed that probabilistic reasoning indirectly predicted terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk, independent of Reality Testing. Results indicated that performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks most strongly predicted perception of risk, and preference for an intuitive thinking style (measured by the IPO-RT) best explained terrorism-related behaviour change. The combination of perception of risk with probabilistic reasoning ability in the Dual-Influence Model enhanced the predictive power of the rational-analytical route, with conjunction fallacy having a significant indirect effect on terrorism-related behaviour change via perception of risk. The Dual-Influence Model possessed superior fit and reported similar predictive relations between intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational routes and terrorism-related behaviour change. The discussion critically examines these findings in relation to dual-processing frameworks. This includes considering the limitations of current operationalisations and recommendations for future research that align outcomes and subsequent work more closely to specific dual-process models.
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Urban Legends and Paranormal Beliefs: The Role of Reality Testing and Schizotypy.
Frontiers in psychology, 2017Co-Authors: Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Parker, Andrew Denovan, Peter J. CloughAbstract:Recent research suggests that unconventional beliefs are locatable within a generic anomalous belief category. This notion derives from the observation that apparently dissimilar beliefs share fundamental, core characteristics (i.e., contradiction of orthodox scientific understanding of the universe and defiance of conventional understanding of Reality). The present paper assessed the supposition that anomalous beliefs were conceptually similar and explicable via common psychological processes by comparing relationships between discrete beliefs [endorsement of urban legends (ULs) and belief in the paranormal] and cognitive-perceptual personality measures [proneness to Reality Testing (RT) and schizotypy]. A sample of 222 volunteers, recruited via convenience sampling, took part in the study. Participants completed a series of self-report measures (Urban Legends Questionnaire, Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization, Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief). Preliminary analysis revealed positive correlations between measures. Within schizotypy, the cognitive-perceptual factor was most strongly associated with anomalistic beliefs; disorganized and interpersonal produced only weak and negligible correlations respectively. Further investigation indicated complex relationships between RT, the cognitive-perceptual factor of schizotypy and anomalistic beliefs. Specifically, proneness to RT deficits explained a greater amount of variance in ULs, whilst schizotypy accounted for more variance in belief in the paranormal. Consideration of partial correlations supported these conclusions. The relationship between RT and ULs remained significant after controlling for the cognitive-perceptual factor. Contrastingly, the association between the cognitive-perceptual factor and ULs controlling for RT was non-significant. In the case of belief in the paranormal, controlling for proneness to RT reduced correlation size, but relationships remained significant. This study demonstrated that anomalistic beliefs vary in nature and composition. Findings indicated that generalized views of anomalistic beliefs provide only limited insight into the complex nature of belief.
Terry G. Cook - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Object Relations and Reality Testing in Psychopathic and Antisocial Methadone Patients
Journal of Personality Disorders, 1996Co-Authors: Megan J. Rutherford, Arthur I. Alterman, John S. Cacciola, James R. Mckay, Terry G. CookAbstract:The Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BOR-RTI) was used to evaluate differences in object relations and Reality Testing in a sample of 215 male and 25 female methadone patients based on their degree of psychopathy, measured by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), and their degree of antisociality, measured by the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE). As hypothesized, results showed that compared to non psychopaths, psychopaths demonstrated significantly greater impairment in object relations and, also, unexpectedly in Reality Testing. No significant differences in object relations or Reality Testing between antisocial and non-antisocial individuals were revealed. Additionally, it was hypothesized that differences in object relations would be found in antisocial subjects who were and were not considered to be psychopathic. No significant differences in object relations were revealed, however, but differences in Reality Testing were revealed between antisocial individuals based on...
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The relationship of object relations and Reality Testing deficits to outcome status of methadone maintenance patients
Comprehensive psychiatry, 1996Co-Authors: Megan J. Rutherford, Arthur I. Alterman, John S. Cacciola, James R. Mckay, Terry G. CookAbstract:Abstract Impairments in the ability to form and maintain meaningful interpersonal relationships and in the ability to distinguish between internal and external stimuli are related to an individual's psychological health. The Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI) scores of 146 methadone patients were used to evaluate whether transitory (TI) or chronic impairments (CIs) in object relations and Reality Testing were related to more severe drug use, family and social problems, psychological distress, as well as more time in treatment, seeking additional treatments, or taking psychiatric medication. The results showed no significant relationship between BORRTI scores and family or social problems, time in treatment, or the months of heroin use between follow-up evaluations. However, severity of drug use was related to an impairment in a specific dimension of object relations—egocentricity. There was a significant relationship between Tls and CIs in object relations and Reality Testing with levels of psychological distress and the likelihood of taking psychiatric medication.
