Avoiding versus seeking: the relationship of information seeking to avoidance, blunting, coping, dissonance, and related concepts.

QUESTION: How have theorists and empirical researchers treated the human tendency to avoid discomforting information? DATA SOURCES: A historical review (1890-2004) of theory literature in communication and information studies, coupled with searches of recent studies on uptake of genetic testing and on coping strategies of cancer patients, was performed. STUDY SELECTION: The authors' review of the recent literature included searches of the MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and CINAHL databases between 1992 and summer of 2004 and selective, manual searches of earlier literature. Search strategies included the following subject headings and key words: MeSH headings: Genetic Screening/psychology, Decision Making, Neoplasms/diagnosis/genetics/psychology; CINAHL headings: Genetic Screening, Genetic Counseling, Anxiety, Decision Making, Decision Making/Patient; additional key words: avoidance, worry, monitoring, blunting, cancer. The "Related Articles" function in MEDLINE was used to perform additional "citation pearl" searching. MAIN RESULTS: The assumption that individuals actively seek information underlies much of psychological theory and communication practice, as well as most models of the information-seeking process. However, much research has also noted that sometimes people avoid information, if paying attention to it will cause mental discomfort or dissonance. Cancer information in general and genetic screening for cancer in particular are discussed as examples to illustrate this pattern. CONCLUSION: That some patients avoid knowledge of imminent disease makes avoidance behavior an important area for social and psychological research, particularly with regard to genetic testing.     

Effects of adding a preceding run-up on performance, blood lactate concentration and heart rate during maximal intermittent vertical jumping

In this study, we examined the effects of a prior run-up on intermittent maximal vertical jump performance. Seven regionally ranked male volleyball players volunteered to participate in the study. They performed three randomized tests: (1) six repeated intermittent maximal jumps (jump condition), (2) six repeated intermittent run-ups (run-up condition), and (3) six repeated run-ups followed by maximal jumps (run-up plus jump condition). All performances were assessed and blood lactate concentration and heart rate were measured before and after each of the tests. Mean ( +/- ) jump performance (64.7 +/- 2.3 cm) increased significantly (P = 0.02) over the course of the jump condition and was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than for the run-up plus jump condition (58.0 +/- 3.2 cm), which tended to decrease with repetition. Blood lactate concentration was significantly higher in the run-up plus jump condition (3.73 +/- 0.24 mmol . l(-1)) than in the jump (2.61 +/- 0.26 mmol . l(-1), P = 0.02) and run-up (2.86 +/- 0.18 mmol . l(-1), P = 0.03) conditions. The increase in heart rate was significantly higher both in the run-up plus jump condition (33 +/- 6 beats . min(-1), P = 0.05) and run-up condition (33 +/- 4 beats . min(-1), P = 0.02) than in the jump condition (21 +/- 3 beats . min(-1)). The results indicate that the addition of run-ups probably impeded performance in the repetition of vertical jumps.     

The relationship between concept attainment and level of maturity

Evidence supporting instructional sequences for and grade placements of concepts relating to the biological cell is given in this report on a pilot study. Is replication possible?