Self-Representation in High-Functioning Autism – Review of Neuroimaging Experiments

Development of self-representation is vitally important for internalizing typical behavior and for building interpersonal relationships. Taking into account the neuronal underpinnings of cognitive functions, symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been related to impairments of neuronal systems underlying self-perception. The present paper reviews research implementing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to study the neural mechanisms of self-related information processing in persons with ASD. These experiments address the psychological aspects of self-representation associated with the appraisal of one’s own traits and of the symbolic, as well as physical, representation of self in response to the perception of one’s own name and face. Furthermore, results of a study that employed fMRI to assess the perception of changeability of personal traits across time among subjects with ASD are also included. The studies under review support the hypotheses of atypical neuronal mechanisms of cognitive self-representation and anomalous perception of social feedback in persons diagnosed with ASD.

Resilience, Maternal Bond Quality and the Mother’s Life Satisfaction

The presented research analyses the relationship between resilience, the mother–child bond, and the life satisfaction of young mothers. The assumption regarding the importance of resilience in taking on parental responsibilities was drawn from studies indicating the protective effect of individual resilience in difficult situations. It was assumed that resilience could work as a buffer between the mother–child bond and maternal life satisfaction. For measuring resilience the Lifespan Individual Resilience Scale in the adaptation of Malina, Pooley, Harms (2016) was used. The Mother–Child Bond Tool in the Bielawska-Batorowicz adaptation (2006) was used to assess the quality of relationship with the child. Satisfaction with life was evaluated using the Satisfaction with Life Scale in the adaptation of Juczyński (2009). The study participants were 340 women in early adulthood who have at least one child under the age of 2. Research indicates that resilience as well as particular aspects of the mother–child bond are important for maternal life satisfaction. It was also established that resilience plays a mediative role between the mother –child bond and the life satisfaction of the mother.

Flexibility of Coping with Stress Questionnaire for Adolescents (FCSQ-14A)

Coping flexibility is one of the crucial traits determining individual adaptive ability, which is associated with precise adjustment to environmental requirements in a stressful situation. One of the elements that assist in this adjustment is coping flexibility which relies on finding a strategy appropriate for the particular circumstances in which it is to be applied. People who are flexible in coping are characterized by sensitivity to subtle signals coming from the environment, which allow them to change their behavior and act in a more adaptive way. Flexibility in coping has not yet been studied in the Western population of children and adolescents. Due to the lack of methods that could record all signs of flexibility, it was reasonable to start work on a questionnaire that would measure this construct. To provide an equivalent to the Flexibility of Coping with Stress Questionnaire (FCSQ-14) for adults, the Flexibility of Coping with Stress Questionnaire for Adolescents (FCSQ-14A) was developed. Based on the results of pilot studies, assessment of competent judges (CVR < .6), and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) a tool containing 14 items –which examines three dimensions of flexibility: a repertoire of coping strategies, coping competence, and reflexivity –was created. The psychometric properties of the final version of the questionnaire were verified in terms of reliability and validity on a group of adolescents (N = 288), ages 14 to 20 (M = 16.50, SD = 1.58), in accordance with validation standards. The results showed that FCQ-14A is a valid and reliable method: most values of Cronbach’s αcoefficients exceed the value of .7, absolute stability is satisfactory, as is both the internal and external validity. The results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a group of adolescents for a three-factor solution showed that the model is adjusted to the data on an acceptable level (RMSEA = .057; GFI = .94; AGFI = .92).

Psychological Well-Being, Life Attitudes and Life Assessment in Old Age

This study assesses the relationship between psychological well-being and life attitudes among older adults, while also providing a psychological analysis of life review questionnaires of 148 participants over 60 years of age (99 female). Quantitative research was conducted by means of Reker’s Life Attitudes Profile (LAP) and the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (PWB) by Ryff and Singer. The results confirmed the hypothesis that psychological well-being and life attitudes are positively correlated. Qualitative data were gathered by means of Life Review Interview (LRI). Selfnarratives of senior citizens (n = 70), both older adults (60–69) and the elderly (70–101), revealed the predominance of topics related to life values, attitudes toward life and death, and changes during the course of life. Participants who assessed their life positively in LRI obtained higher scores in Environmental Mastery and Personal Growth than participants who assessed their life negatively or ambivalently; no differences were observed in life attitudes between these two groups.

Characteristics of Passion and the Period of Human Development – A Cross-Sectional Study

Having a passion is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon. The aim of the study was to describe passion in subsequent human development periods and to examine whether age, sex, and education were significant factors in the process. Furthermore, it was assessed if passion results for passionate and obsessive enthusiasts (1412 people took part in the study) were differentiated by these variables. To assess harmonious passion and obsessive passion, the Passion Scale was used along with passion criteria. The development phase, gender, and education differentiated only the obsessive passion results. For the harmonious and obsessive passionate, these variables did not differentiate the result of the main dimension of passion. Gender and education differentiated the nature of passion. The most popular passions of both harmonious and obsessive nature were those associated with free time. The content and intensity of passion can be a marker of adaptation to the development tasks currently encountered by people of a given age, sex, or education. Depending on its nature, passion can be both a catalyst and an obstacle in overcoming subsequent developmental conflicts.

The Development and Characteristic of the Attachment Bond in Romantic Relationships

The article presents the development of the attachment bond in romantic relationships and its main characteristics by comparison to child–caregiver attachment. The description of the developmental process begins with infant attachment styles, traces it through the adolescence period, finally accounting for how the attachment bond develops in adults engaged in romantic relationships. Similarities and differences between child and adult attachment styles are pointed out.