http://hdl.handle.net/1842/1536 2013-05-24T06:17:07Z 2013-05-24T06:17:07Z Hatzidaki, Anna http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6583 2013-02-27T13:53:55Z 2007-06-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Interactions between languages in verb- and pronoun-agreement in bilingual sentence production Authors: Hatzidaki, Anna Abstract: This thesis investigates how fluent bilinguals make use of the grammar of their two languages when they construct verb- and pronoun-agreement only in one language (monolingual mode) or in both their languages (bilingual mode). We are particularly interested in the impact of the non-response language in sentence processing on the response language. Bilingual research has provided evidence for language integration in bilingual speech (e.g., Hartsuiker, Pickering, & Veltkamp, 2004) which is also consistent with the phenomenon of code-switching whereby speakers can use elements of each language in producing mixed-language utterances (e.g., Myers-Scotton, 2002). So far, studies at the lexical level have provided support for parallel language activation (e.g., Colomé, 2001), yet the issue of whether activation of either language can be strong enough to influence the workings of the other is still in dispute (e.g., Hermans, Bongaerts, de Bot, & Schreuder, 1998, but see Costa, La Heij, & Navarrete, 2006). In three separate sections of the thesis we employ a sentence-completion paradigm widely used in monolingual agreement literature (Bock & Miller, 1991) to examine language interaction effects in the monolingual and the bilingual modes of speech (Grosjean, 2000). English-Greek and Greek-English fluent bilinguals produced completions to singular or plural subjects when the number of the translation was either the same or different, and when their completion either did or did not switch languages. The first section investigates whether there is influence of the divergent number properties of the nonresponse native language (L1) on verb-agreement in the response second language (L2). The results of Greek-English bilinguals show influence of the underlying number of the L1 on completions in the L2. We interpret this in terms of a markedness account (e.g., Eberhard, 1997) whereby parallel activation and competition between an L2 singular subject noun and its L1 plural translation results in plural verbagreement because the singular form is more vulnerable to the marked plural form. English-Greek bilinguals who perform on the same monolingual mode do not show influence of their L1 when speaking in the L2 (Greek). We attribute this finding to a difference of morphological/inflectional properties between the two languages which renders a language that displays fewer overt markings (English) easier to control when utterances are produced in a language that displays more overt markings (Greek) (e.g., Vigliocco, Butterworth, & Semenza, 1995).

2007-06-27T00:00:00Z Hope, David John http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6442 2012-09-26T12:13:08Z 2012-06-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Bodily symmetry: origins and lifecourse associations with cognition, personality, and status Authors: Hope, David John Abstract: Symmetry – measured as the size asymmetry of a group of symmetrical body traits such as ear height or elbow circumference – has often been used as an index of the capacity to develop normally despite stress and correlates with a wide range of outcomes including intelligence, health and aspects of behaviour. However, theoretical debate continues over the underlying causes of these associations and outstanding methodological issues – such as the reliance on small sample sizes of college age students – makes the robustness of the findings uncertain. The present work advances the existing empirical literature in six separate domains. It also improves upon past methodology by using novel methods of digital measurement of asymmetry as well as for the first time digitally measuring endogenous asymmetry as indexed by the bones and linking bone asymmetry to intelligence. The research was conducted on four samples. Numbers given are for participants who provided asymmetry measures. Firstly, a sample of elderly participants from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 (LBC1921, n = 216) tested around ages 11, 79, 83, and 87. Secondly, the Science Festival Sample (SFS), a group of children recruited at a public science event aged between 4 and 15 (n = 856). Thirdly, a group of Orkney residents aged 18 to 86 (the ORCADES, n = 1200). Fourthly the Berlin Sample (BS), a group of Berlin residents (n = 207) between 20 and 30 years old. In the LBC 1921, men with poorer socioeconomic status in childhood had higher facial asymmetry in old age (β = -.25, p = .03). While investigating issues related to asymmetry in the same sample it was found that relatively more severe digit curvature – a minor physical anomaly – was associated with relatively greater cognitive decline (β = -.19, p = .02). Within the SFS asymmetry decreased across human childhood (β = -.16, p = .01), and more asymmetrical children exhibited slower choice reaction times (β = .0.17, p = .002). In the ORCADES sample, the more asymmetrical participants (as indexed by bone asymmetry) were less intelligent (β = -.24, p = .01). In the Berlin Sample and the LBC 1921 no consistent associations were found between personality traits and asymmetry. Collectively, these findings suggest symmetry functions as a measure of overall well-being as the trend is for higher asymmetry to be associated with a relatively poorer score on a variety of outcome measures. The findings considerably expand the number of existing studies in these empirical areas and in several cases – particularly asymmetry’s association with socioeconomic status in the elderly and reaction times among children – represent the first work on those areas. The present work confirms the finding that asymmetry is linked to adverse outcomes. However, the underlying mechanisms by which symmetry is linked to such outcomes remain underexplored and require clarification.

2012-06-27T00:00:00Z Lewis, Gary J. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6423 2012-09-19T15:02:10Z 2012-06-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Origins and structure of social and political attitudes: insights from personality system theory and behavioural genetics Authors: Lewis, Gary J. Abstract: People differ, often strikingly, in their views on desired social structures and processes. For example, while some value ethnic diversity in their society, others believe non-indigenous individuals (whatever that might mean) should be repatriated to their land of origin. Similarly, whereas some believe religion should play no role in determining social policy, others strongly advocate the importance of living according to religious scripture, including at a social level. This variation in attitudes, and its implication for societal cohesion, has made research on the origins of social and political attitudes of enduring interest to psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, among many others. The goal of the current thesis was to extend work in this literature in two key ways: Firstly, I examined whether political attitudes can be understood within a personality system model. This work addresses previous mixed results on the links of basic personality traits to political conservatism. In Chapter 3, I test predictions from this model; namely, that direct influences on political behaviour flow from moral values, with personality mostly acting indirectly via these moral values, rather than directly affecting political attitudes. Findings from two studies (published as Lewis & Bates, 2011a) supported these predictions suggesting that the new model helps explain inconsistencies in previous research attempting to link personality to political orientation that have not included the intermediary level of values. Secondly, I examined the genetic architecture of social attitudes constructs in three separate studies. Chapter 4 addressed whether in-group favouritism reflects heritable effects, and, secondly, whether race-favouritism was accounted for broad or specific genetic effects. Results indicated that a common biological mechanism exists facilitating generalised favouritism, with evidence for additional genetic effects specific to each form of group favouritism. These findings(published as Lewis & Bates, 2010) suggest that (at least) at the genetic level, race favouritism is multiply determined. In Chapter 5, I examined whether prosocial obligations across the domains of welfare, work, and civic obligation share a common genetic basis, or reflect specific heritable components (published as Lewis & Bates, 2011b). In females, results indicated the existence of a common heritable factor underlying each of these prosocial obligations. In males, a prosocial factor was also observed; familial effects (genetic and shared-environment effects were indistinguishable) influenced this general mechanism. At the domain-specific level, modest genetic effects were observed in females for civic and work obligations, with shared environment effects influencing welfare obligations. In males, genetic influences were observed for welfare obligation, with unique-environments affecting work and civic duty. Finally, in Chapter 6, I present work examining the genetic architecture of religious belief. Although genetic factors are known to influence strength of religious belief, the psychological mechanism(s) through which this biological influence is manifest are presently unknown. Two non-theological constructs – 1) need for community integration and 2) need for existential certainty – were hypothesised to account for the genetic effects on religiosity. The results supported this hypothesis, with genetic influences on these traits wholly accounting for the heritable basis of religiosity, suggesting that religion “re-uses” systems involved in meeting both social and existential needs.

2012-06-27T00:00:00Z Brooks, Joanna Louise http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6391 2012-09-13T13:43:27Z 2012-06-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Representational pseudoneglect: lateralised biases in attentional orienting in the absence of vision in healthy ageing participants. Authors: Brooks, Joanna Louise Abstract: Pseudoneglect is the tendency to be biased towards the left side of space in tasks of a spatial nature. A non-visual form of the bias referred to as ‘representational pseudoneglect’ has been observed when people generate a mental representation of a stimulus in the complete absence of visual input - participants pay more attention to the left-hand side of the mental representation. The aim of this thesis was to advance our understanding of representational pseudoneglect by exploring the bias across lifespan using different modes of non-visual presentation (touch vs. audition vs. visual imagery). In Experiments 1 and 2 healthy participants aged 3 to 96 years used touch alone without vision to bisect wooden rods at the perceived centre. All participants (with the exception of some adolescents) showed leftward biases on tactile rod bisection and significant gender and age effects were found. In Experiments 3 to 10 healthy young adults listened to aural-verbal descriptions of abstract patterns or real-world scenes without vision and formed a mental representation of the spatial layout that was described. A leftward bias was consistently found for a relative judgement task along with a significant effect of monaural presentation and start side, but no lateralised bias for memory recall regardless of ‘mental mapping’ ability or method of response. In Experiment 11 participants eye movements were recorded while they visually processed and then memorised natural real-world scenes; again there was no lateralised memory or eye movement bias. Experiment 12 showed that a secondary task increased the magnitude of visuo-spatial pseudoneglect for children and adults under certain conditions. This thesis argues that purely representational forms of pseudoneglect clearly exist in healthy participants and that: 1) the results can be explained in terms of contralateral attentional orienting by the right hemisphere, 2) extraneous variables (gender; physical or imagined starting position) can mediate representational pseudoneglect, and 3) current models of cognitive ageing need to provide for a cognitive bias that can be enhanced by age.

2012-06-27T00:00:00Z