Uncovering the most robust predictors of problematic pornography use: A large-scale machine learning study across 16 countries.

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is the most common manifestation of the newly introduced compulsive sexual behavior disorder diagnosis in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Research related to PPU has proliferated in the past two decades, but most prior studies were characterized by several shortcomings (e.g., using homogenous, small samples), resulting in crucial knowledge gaps and a limited understanding concerning empirically based risk factors for PPU. This study aimed to identify the most robust risk factors for PPU using a preregistered study design. Independent laboratories' 74 preexisting self-report data sets (Nparticipants = 112,397; Ncountries = 16) were combined to identify which factors can best predict PPU using an artificial intelligence-based method (i.e., machine learning). We conducted random forest models on each data set to examine how different sociodemographic, psychological, and other characteristics predict PPU, and combined the results of all data sets using random-effects meta-analysis with meta-analytic moderators (e.g., community vs. treatment-seeking samples). Predictors explained 45.84% of the variance in PPU scores. Out of the 700+ potential predictors, 17 variables emerged as significant predictors across data sets, with the top five being (a) pornography use frequency, (b) emotional avoidance pornography use motivation, (c) stress reduction pornography use motivation, (d) moral incongruence toward pornography use, and (e) sexual shame. This study is the largest and most integrative data analytic effort in the field to date. Findings contribute to a better understanding of PPU's etiology and may provide deeper insights for developing more efficient, cost-effective, empirically based directions for future research as well as prevention and intervention programs targeting PPU. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The effects of expected and unexpected stress on inappropriate aggression in simulated police interventions.

Here we performed a before-after ABA-design study in police cadets (N = 82) to compare the effects of unexpected (event-triggered) and expected (anticipatory) stressors on aggression. On the first day of the study, participants filled in the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and were fitted with heart rate (HR) monitors, which remained attached till the end of the study. On day 2, they were instructed to perform a police intervention in a realistic training environment. The intervention was preceded either by a warning or by a reassuring audio recording that forecasted violent or routine interventions, respectively. Both groups encountered hostile suspects at the intervention site, the behavior of which, however, did not justify the use of force e.g., aggression. The warning resulted in a gradually developing anticipatory stress as shown by HRs. Cadets exposed to the reassuring audio recording showed minimal anticipatory stress but responded to the hostile suspects by an abrupt increase in HRs, which was missing in the warned group. The magnitude of HR responses was similar in the two groups, only their temporal evolution differed. Although aggression showed some associations with BPAQ and BIS scores, the main predictors of behavior were HR changes according to a Multiple Regression analysis. The gradually developing anticipatory stress was associated with low, whereas the abrupt increase in HRs was associated with high aggression. Our findings suggest that the anticipation of a stressful event improves behavioral control whereas an unexpected stress strongly promotes aggression.

Risk Matrix for Violent Radicalization: A Machine Learning Approach.

Hypothesis-driven approaches identified important characteristics that differentiate violent from non-violent radicals. However, they produced a mosaic of explanations as they investigated a restricted number of preselected variables. Here we analyzed without a priory assumption all the variables of the "Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States" database by a machine learning approach. Out of the 79 variables considered, 19 proved critical, and predicted the emergence of violence with an accuracy of 86.3%. Typically, violent extremists came from criminal but not radical backgrounds and were radicalized in late stages of their life. They were followers in terrorist groups, sought training, and were radicalized by social media. They belonged to low social strata and had problematic social relations. By contrast, non-violent but still criminal extremists were characterized by a family tradition of radicalism without having criminal backgrounds, belonged to higher social strata, were leaders in terrorist organizations, and backed terrorism by supporting activities. Violence was also promoted by anti-gay, Sunni Islam and Far Right, and hindered by Far Left, Anti-abortion, Animal Rights and Environment ideologies. Critical characteristics were used to elaborate a risk-matrix, which may be used to predict violence risk at individual level.

Narratives of effort among Chinese, Hungarian and Chinese immigrant students in Hungary.

The present study aimed to reveal the effect of migration processes on the conceptualisation of effort involving two cultures with different approaches towards effort: China with an effort-promoting mindset and Hungary with an effort-repressing mindset. In the study, narrative approach was used in cross-sectional design involving Chinese, Hungarian and Chinese immigrant students living in Hungary. Altogether 139 students-49 Hungarian, 47 Chinese, 43 Chinese immigrants-aged 13-15 years provided narratives on past personal effort. Content analyses were done on 222 narratives. The results showed that the Chinese narratives of effort were characterised by learning and achievement orientation with elaborated effort process. In contrast, the Hungarian narratives were characterised by relationship orientation and emotional coping with a non-elaborated effort process. The narratives of the Chinese immigrants showed great similarity to those of the Chinese students reflecting academic effort, achievement goals and elaborated process. The findings suggest that the traditional Chinese approach towards effort persists in cultural transition, and academic effort tends to be a primary resource for educational success for the Chinese immigrant students in Hungary.

Rebound Effect, Fast Adaptation to Social Change or Cultural Continuity among Two Generations of Hungarians / Efecto de Rebote, Rápida Adaptación al Cambio Social o Contiuidad Cultural entre Dos Generaciones de Húngaros

Abstract The aim of the present research was to reveal what kind of values, self-conceptualisation and beliefs of personhood characterize two generations of Hungarians, almost three decades after the socio-political changes from socialism to capitalist market economy. Participants were high school students (N = 239) and adults (N = 122). Value-orientation was measured using the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ, Schwartz et al., 2001), beliefs of personhood were measured by the Lay Contextualism Scale (Owe et al., 2013). Self-construals were measured in case of the high school students by using 23 items from Gudykunst et al. (1996) self-construal scale and in case of the adults a modified version of it (Owe et al., 2013). Results indicate that in the post-socialist Hungary, individualistic values and independent self-concept strongly characterize both the high school students and the adults, but the younger generation displays higher tendency towards individualism.

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo fue encontrar qué tipo de valores, auto-conceptuación y creencias de la persona caracterizan dos generaciones de húngaros, casi tres décadas después de los cambios sociopolíticos del socialismo al mercado económico capitalista. Los participantes fueron estudiantes universitarios (N=239) y adultos (N=122). La orientación hacia los valores fue evaluada utilizando el Cuestionario de Valores (PVQ, Portrait Value Questionnaire; Schwartz et al., 2001), las creencias sobre la persona fueron evaluados a través de la Escala de Contextualismo (Owe et al., 2013), las auto-definiciones fueron evaluadas utilizando los 23 reactivos de la escala de autodefinición de Gudykunst et al. (1996) para el caso de los estudiantes, y para los adultos se utilizó la versión modificada del instrumento de autodefinición (Owe et al., 2013). Los resultados indican que, en la Hungría post-socialista, los valores individualistas y un autoconcepto independiente caracterizan fuertemente a ambos grupos, aunque la generación más joven muestra mayor tendencia hacia el individualismo.

The Four Faces of Competition: The Development of the Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory.

To date, no short scale exists with established factor structure that can assess individual differences in competition. The aim of the present study was to uncover and operationalize the facets of competitive orientations with theoretical underpinning and strong psychometric properties. A total of 2676 respondents were recruited for four studies. The items were constructed based on qualitative research in different cultural contexts. A combined method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed. ESEM resulted in a four-factor structure of the competitive orientations and this structure was supported by a series of CFAs on different comprehensive samples. The Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) included 12 items and four factors: hypercompetitive orientation, self-developmental competitive orientation, anxiety-driven competition avoidance, and lack of interest toward competition. Strong gender invariance was established. The four facets of competition have differentiated relationship patterns with adaptive and maladaptive personality and motivational constructs. The MCOI can assess the adaptive and maladaptive facets of competitive orientations with a short, reliable, valid and theoretically underlined multidimensional measure.