Biran Mertan

A standardized set of 260 pictures for Turkish: Norms of name and image agreement, age of acquisition, visual complexity, and conceptual familiarity

In the present study, normative data in Turkish are presented for the 260 color versions of the original Snodgrass and Vanderwart (1980) picture set for the first time. Norms are reported for name and image agreement, age of acquisition (AoA), visual complexity, and conceptual familiarity, together with written word frequency, and numbers of letters and syllables. We collected data from 277 native Turkish adults in a variety of tasks. The results indicated that, whilst several measures displayed language-specific variation, we also reported what seem to be language-independent—that is, universal—measures that show a systematic relationship across several languages. The implications of the reported measures in the domain of psycholinguistic research in Turkish and for wider cross-linguistic comparisons are discussed.

Children's perception of national identity and in-group/out-group attitudes: Turkish-Cypriot school children

The aim of the current study was to explore the conceptual development of national identity in Turkish-Cypriot school children ranging from age 6 to 12. Cyprus presents a unique opportunity for the investigation of national identity and related issues due to its vibrant and unresolved political and historical milieu. Currently, there is no comprehensive developmental model that incorporates the conceptual development of national identity in children raised in stable political and national versus unstable political and national scenes. One would expect the sociopolitical environment in Cyprus to shape national identities that include large distances and enmities between the “self” and the “other”. In total, 71 Turkish-Cypriot school children responded to the items of the National Identification Scale and were requested to indicate their liking for in-group and out-group targets as well as the appropriateness of traits to describe the in-group and out-groups. In order to provide bases for comparisons between the in-group (Turkish Cypriots) and the enemy out-group (Greek Cypriots), two neutral out-groups (Ireland and the Netherlands) were also used as target groups. The present data suggest that while age has no impact, gender does have an impact on the development of national identity. In the current sample girls demonstrated higher national identity than boys. Data also indicated strong in-group favouritism and negativity towards the enemy out-group.

Reducing Turkish Cypriot children’s prejudice toward Greek Cypriots: Vicarious and extended intergroup contact through storytelling:

Two studies investigated the effectiveness of intergroup contact in Turkish Cypriot children with the aim of improving attitudes, intentions, and trust toward Greek Cypriots. In the first study, we found that positive contact and positive family storytelling were associated with more positive outgroup attitudes and intended outgroup behavior in a group of 6- to 12-year-old Turkish Cypriots. We followed this up in Study 2 by using a vicarious intergroup contact intervention technique. Turkish Cypriot children aged 6–11 years took part in a 3-week intervention involving reading stories of solidarity between Turkish and Greek Cypriot children. Results showed that the intervention worked to improve outgroup attitudes, intended behavior, and outgroup trust. These findings suggest that indirect contact techniques such as extended contact and vicarious intergroup contact can be used as prejudice-reduction tools in intractable conflict zones, most in need of such interventions.

The Roles of Traditional Gender Myths and Beliefs About Beating on Self-Reported Partner Violence

The aim of the current study was to investigate the roles of beliefs about beating, traditional gender myth endorsement, ambivalent sexism, and perceived partner violence in determining an individual’s own reported violence toward his or her partner. The sample consisted of 205 (117 women; 88 men) Turkish and Turkish Cypriot undergraduate students, aged between 16 and 29 years. Participants completed measures of beliefs about beating, traditional gender myth endorsement, and ambivalent sexism and rated the extent to which they experienced abusive behaviors from their partner as well as the extent to which they were themselves abusive to their partners. Results showed that positive beliefs about beating, endorsing traditional gender myths, and experiencing partner abuse were all predictive of self-reported abuse to one’s partner. Furthermore, the relationship between myth endorsement and self-abusive behavior was mediated by beliefs toward beating—only in men. Results are discussed in light of the traditional gender system evident in Turkish societal makeup.