Abstract Two pilot studies and 2 experiments (N = 1,168) explored whether delaying a sure (or highly likely) outcome would reduce its appeal relative to a more immediate riskier outcome. In our pilot studies, participants separately viewed a gamble with either a 100% (or highly likely) chance to win or a 50% chance to win, with the reward available either today or in 1 month. We found that the 100% was always more attractive than the 50% and that that highly likely gamble did not differ from the 50%. In Experiments 1 and 2 we shifted to within-subject designs in which participants evaluated a series of gambles with varying delay and likelihood of realization. In these settings, participants found a certain, delayed gamble less appealing than a riskier, immediate one, but only when the payout for both was in the near future. Conversely, for risky options, delaying a high-probability gamble made it as appealing as a riskier, immediate option—again, only when both would pay out soon. In summary, these findings suggest that risky outcomes are particularly sensitive to delays, more so than certain ones.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the incidence of false memories in the Deese–Roediger–McDermott paradigm is reduced when studied words are accompanied by their pictures or images and also reduced when monitoring activities are enhanced at retrieval. In the present experiment, studied words were accompanied by perceptual features to be learned (word color and location on the screen), and monitoring at retrieval was enhanced by asking participants to recall word location, color, or both features for words identified as old in a recognition test. In contrast to our predictions, we found that recognition of studied words was impaired as more perceptual features to be learned were added, but the number of false memories was not reduced by these additions. We attribute this differential effect to the division of attention at encoding associated with learning perceptual features reducing the subsequent explicit recollection of list items while having no effect on the implicit conceptual representations supporting the false familiarity-based recognition of critical lures. Although the false recognition of critical lures was as high as the correct recognition of studied words in some conditions, vividness ratings were significantly lower for false memories, in line with previous findings.

Abstract Recent research has identified 2 initial processes involved in interpreting emotions from facial expressions: the elicitation of an approach–avoidance response and the judgment of valence (positive or negative). However, it remained unclear whether these processes are independent or related. This study investigated their relationship by using the valence-specific laterality effect. The experiment involved 42 Japanese university students who were tasked with using a joystick to respond to facial expressions randomly displayed on the left and right sides of the screen. Predictions suggested that if the processes were related, a stronger avoidance response would occur for an angry expression presented on the left side. Results revealed no impact of facial expression position on the avoidance response. This finding suggests the independence of the 2 processes, indicating that the initial approach–avoidance response and valence judgment operate separately in interpreting emotions from facial expressions. It was proposed that future research should more thoroughly investigate the distinct processes governing approach–avoidance reactions and valence judgments.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between organizational culture and affective well-being at work and to investigate the moderating role of person-organization (P–O) fit in this relationship. Data were obtained from an experimental design through a questionnaire using scenarios with 127 police officers. No interaction effect between organizational culture and P–O fit has been verified. Nevertheless, a principal effect was obtained regarding P–O fit (i.e., a higher P–O fit seems to promote higher levels of affective well-being at work, especially comfort and enthusiasm). The findings encourage future research on the relationship between P–O fit and affective well-being at work in police organizations.

Abstract The practice of flirting has long been viewed as sexual or romantic. However, this study proposes that flirting is associated with a much broader array of social interactions and that its primary function is relationship enhancement rather than acquisition of some desired outcome. A total of 945 people participated in this study, organized into 315 triads: the primary participant (who answered questions about himself or herself) and 2 friends of each participant (who rated the main participant on the same questions). The questions encompassed frequency of flirting in 8 different contexts (romantic, sexual, party, restaurant, school, work, home, with a stranger), skill at flirting (in the same 8 contexts), 10 predictors of flirting (e.g., social skills, humor, resilience), and 2 outcome variables (life satisfaction and quality of friendships). Through bivariate correlations, regression analyses, and structural equation modeling, results supported the reconceptualization of flirting, the expansion of flirting into other contexts, and the positive outcomes of increased flirting skill. Structural equation modeling revealed that flirting frequency was the greatest predictor of flirting skill, followed by social skills, nonverbal behavior, humor, situational awareness, and confidence. Flirting skill had a significant impact on life satisfaction but not on friendship quality. Results are discussed and potential avenues for future studies explored.

Abstract The speaker identity variability effect (SIVE) has long been interpreted as challenging the abstract phonetic representation hypothesis and supporting the episodic representation hypothesis. However, this review integrates evidence from the auditory system to argue that SIVE does not preclude the hypothesis of abstract representational coding. Speaker identity information is encoded in the primary auditory cortex, but changes in speaker identity can disrupt the continuity of auditory objects, thereby reducing phonetic processing efficiency. This effect is attributed to the dynamic allocation of attentional resources between speaker identification and phonetic decoding processes, supporting the hypothesis of independent pathways for speaker identity and speech processing. Future research should use functional magnetic resonance imaging technology to dissect how the dynamic coordination of neural networks handles speaker identity variability and to elucidate the roles of different attentional subsystems in adapting to such variability.