Affective Scaffolding to Mediate the Use of Emergent Technology

Technology is reshaping the micro-ecologies of developing, becoming a part of it. It impacts and enables reconfiguration of social interaction in everyday situations. The study aims to bring a macro and micro discussion about close interconnection with complex technology and how these interactions have reciprocal implications between materiality and subjectivity. The broad research question is: How do we deal and interact with daily increasingly complex technology? A theoretical perspective is outlined about the subject and object relationship, focusing on new technology in the baby day living. One key point stressed in this paper is the affective scaffolding that could be a key point for social mediation with technology. To support the reflection, some illustrative examples are proposed from a naturalistic observation. In particular, the study focus on one 1-years old baby interacting with a smartphone and a robot toy. A final discussion is proposed to discuss the material and subjective dialectic interactions.

How Do You Behave at the Zoo? A Look at Visitor Perceptions of Other Visitors' Behavior at the Zoo

Previous research regarding behaviors of zoo visitors near exhibits has shown that they can influence animals’ well-being. What is unclear is whether people’s views concerning the purpose of zoos or their beliefs might influence their perception of what is acceptable behavior when visiting the zoo. In this study, we used naturalistic observation to examine zoo visitor behavior near specific exhibits. We also surveyed visitors regarding the purpose of zoos, their perception of animals and the zoo, and if they have seen inappropriate behavior in other zoo visitors. We observed visitors engaging in various inappropriate behaviors such as hitting the glass and trying to provoke the animals. These same inappropriate behaviors were also reported by visitors in our survey, indicating an awareness of what behaviors might be disruptive to animals. Visitors who reported similarities between humans and animals reported more inappropriate behaviors in others partially due to having more empathy for animals. When asked to consider the purpose of the zoo, education and conservation were ranked as being the most important, entertainment and research the least important priorities. However, of those who identified entertainment as most important, this group also reported humans to have less similarity with animals and reported less inappropriate behaviors in other visitors. Our findings suggest that zoo visitors’ views regarding the purpose of zoos and perceived human similarities to animals influence what they considered inappropriate behavior around captive zoo animals. This study provides the first exploration concerning the perception of visitors regarding other visitor behaviors directed towards zoo animals.

COVID-19 infection in 50 patients receiving lithium

Objectives. The aim of the study was a naturalistic observation of the occurrence and course of COVID-19 infection in fifty patients treated with lithium from March 2020 to March 2021 and not receiving the vaccination against COVID-19 during this period. Materials and methods. The study group included 23 men and 27 women aged 23–71 (mean 45) receiving lithium for 1–45 (mean 7) years. Bipolar disorder (BD) was diagnosed in 46 patients, including BD type 1 in 19 patients and BD type 2 in 26 patients, and recurrent depression in one patient. The patients were treated with lithium to prevent manic and depressive recurrences, of which six underwent lithium monotherapy. Four patients with schizophrenia receiving clozapine were administered with lithium to treat and prevent neutropenia. Results. In the study group, 37 patients (74%), including five patients receiving lithium monotherapy, did not develop the infection. The infection was mild in 8 patients and moderately severe in two. Two patients developed lithium intoxication. One patient died of COVID-19 related pneumonia. Conclusions. The observations made on the study group show that COVID-19 infection occurred in one-fourth of lithium-treated patients. In the majority of the subjects, the infection was benign. The results also suggest that COVID-19 infection and related circumstances may be a risk factor for lithium intoxication.

Naturalistic observation of perfectionistic behaviours

Perfectionism plays an important role across psychopathology. However, there are almost no naturalistic studies that examine the function of perfectionistic behaviours in everyday life. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors, contextual triggers, frequency, and outcomes of 10 proposed perfectionistic behaviours across a 14-day monitoring period in a community sample: Overpreparing, repeating behaviours, excessive reassurance seeking, excessive organizing, excessive perseverance, quitting too soon, procrastinating, refusing to delegate, avoiding situations where standards may be threatened, and attempting to change other people’s behaviour. Correlates and predictors of these behaviours and their related features are discussed in the context of previous research that has examined these behaviours in less naturalistic ways. The findings of the present study have implications for future research regarding behavioural manifestations of perfectionism, and may provide clinicians with important information about perfectionistic behaviours. Additionally, findings using new perfectionism measures provide evidence for their utility with nonclinical samples.

Naturalistic observation of perfectionistic behaviours

Perfectionism plays an important role across psychopathology. However, there are almost no naturalistic studies that examine the function of perfectionistic behaviours in everyday life. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors, contextual triggers, frequency, and outcomes of 10 proposed perfectionistic behaviours across a 14-day monitoring period in a community sample: Overpreparing, repeating behaviours, excessive reassurance seeking, excessive organizing, excessive perseverance, quitting too soon, procrastinating, refusing to delegate, avoiding situations where standards may be threatened, and attempting to change other people’s behaviour. Correlates and predictors of these behaviours and their related features are discussed in the context of previous research that has examined these behaviours in less naturalistic ways. The findings of the present study have implications for future research regarding behavioural manifestations of perfectionism, and may provide clinicians with important information about perfectionistic behaviours. Additionally, findings using new perfectionism measures provide evidence for their utility with nonclinical samples.