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Are the predictors of anti-immigration attitudes consistent across countries with diverse immigration histories and policies? We hypothesize that the key predictors of opposition to immigration are indeed relatively consistent across industrial nations. We test this hypothesis with two surveys using probability samples of German citizens. We then compare our findings with those obtained in recent studies of immigration opinions in Europe generally, and in two of the world's leading immigration-receiving nations: Canada and the United States. Striking similarities emerge in the findings across structural, demographic, contact, economic, political, personality, and threat predictors. Opposition to immigration is routinely found strongest among the older and less-educated segments of the population who live in areas with anti-immigration norms and little contact with immigrants. Anti-immigration attitudes also correlate with political conservatism and alienation, economic deprivation, and especially with authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and perceived collective threat.

Literature shows a relationship between pain, personal as well as emotional factors. Subjects high in trait anxiety experience more pain than low anxiety subjects (Graffenried, 1977). Furthermore expectations and emotions about aversive events can change the perception of objective identical stimuli. Distinct emotions e.g. fear and anxiety differ in their neuronal and physiological patterns as well as in their behavioral consequences. For this reason they also vary in the direction they modulate pain. Anxiety leads to increased pain whereby fear decreases it (Ploghaus et al. 2003). Thereby one important factor is the subjective estimation of aversive upcoming events. Laux' s research (1981) indicates that people low or high in trait anxiety asses situations differently. People high in trait anxiety are threatened by situations more often. This study examines the impact of trait anxiety on individual pain perception and whether there are differences in pain perception after aversive visual information (AVI) exposition in subjects with high and low anxiety values. 29 subjects divided in two anxiety groups, participated in the study. Measures were the STAI state ratings and pain thresholds before and after experimental manipulation. To determine maximal tolerable pain threshold, subjects receivde electrical stimuli with increasing intensity. After assessment of initial pain thresholds subjects were exposed to AVI. People high in trait anxiety showed a significant increase of pain thresholds after experimental manipulation, Z= −3.185, p

Introduction Feelings of unrealistic body parts are related to deficits in human information processing and can occur as a part of schizophrenic disorders or phantom sensations after amputation (Koide, 2008; Goller, in press). Experimentally induced sensoric illusions like rubber hand illusion (RHI) (Botvinik & Cohen, 1998) may help to understand basic information processing and could give new ideas for treatment or the rehabilitation process. Objectives Factors that are related to modulate sensoric illusions during movement may help to develop new intervention strategies in the rehabilitation of illusory symptoms. Aims The goal of this study was to review the factors affecting persistence of the RHI effect during movement. Methods We selected 13 keywords and searched in the following www.dimdi.de data bases (CCTR93, CDAR94, CDSR93, DAHTA, DAHTA, EA08, ED93, EM00, EM47, HG05, KP05, KR03, ME00, ME60, PI67, PY81, TV01, TVPP). A total of 160 articles were found. Duplicates were removed and the remaining list was filtered with the objective to explore the influence of active or passive movement during experimentally induced RHI. Then we identified six articles which experimentally examined persistence of RHI during active or passive movements. Results Results indicate that RHI are maintained during active or passive movements due to visual and temporal congruency. During active movements the RHI is more stable or global than in passive movements or during tactile stimulation. Conclusion Factores like visual and temporal congruency are related to maintain RHI and are discussed in the rehabilitation of phantom sensations or symptomes of schizophrenic disorders.

Introduction Cognitive impairments like deficits in attention and memory can occur as a part of depressive disorders (Beblo & Herrmann, 2000). Therefore computer based trainings (CBTs) are used to improve cognitive performance in these areas. Objectives Well-established CBTs e.g. Cogpack (Marker, 2010), are criticized because of their out-of-date design (Schwarz, Christ, Ohlmes & Rapp 2011). Hence, a new CBT was developed (Christ, Schwarz, Ohlmes & Berger, 2011), which differs in its “biotic”, i.e. realistic, design. Aims The effect of a biotic CBT (BG) on depressive patients' global working memory (gwm) was evaluated in comparison to non biotic CBT (NBG) and waiting list control (CG). Methods 13 depressive patients were tested (ICD diagnoses F31.4, F32.1, F32.2, F33.1, F33.2). To examine whether BG or NBG enhances GWM participants were tested before and after a ten day training period with the LGT (Baumler, 1974). Results In the BG values between pre- and post- LGT measures show a marginal significant improvements (p = .099). In contrast, the NBG (p = .297) and CG (p = 1.000) don’t show significant differences. Download : Download full-size image Conclusions These results indicate that a biotic designed training may increase global cognitive functions in depressive patients. Limitations of this study (e.g. sample size, interfering variables) are discussed.

IntroductionComputer based trainings (CBTs) are established in the rehabilitation of mentally ill people to recover cognitive skills (Medalia et al., 2009). The Critique to some CBTs are lack of preparation for real life scenario, no use of tasks that simultaneously engage multiple cognitive processes and lack of enhancing motivation (Medalia & Choi, 2009). This may be summarized as a lack of biotic design in CBTs.ObjectiveIn depressive disorders besides other symptoms a lack of energy/motivation, forgetfulness and difficulty in concentrating are observable. The goal of this pilot study was to develop a new “biotic” designed CBT (Mebitrain) and evaluate its effect on global working memory (GWM) and motivation with data from patients suffering from depression.MethodsTo test whether Mebitrain enhances GWM (measured before and after a ten day training period with the LGT from Bäumler) and motivation (measured before and after training with custom rating scales and during the training with time and performance) five depressive (ICD diagnoses F31.0, F33.2, F32.3) patients were tested.ResultsDifferences between pre- (mean 33.6 ± 10.35) and post- (mean 38 ± 6) LGT values show a marginal significant trend (p = 0.1) with moderate effect size (d = .54).The time finishing the training decreased per training session significantly with an increasing in performance (r = −.788, p < .005).ConclusionFirst results indicate that the development of a biotic designed training and its application may increase global cognitive functions and motivation in depressive patients. Limitations (e.g. sample size, transfer, etc.) of this pilot study are discussed.