Saleh Moradi

The accuracy and promise of personal breathalysers for research: Steps toward a cost-effective reliable measure of alcohol intoxication?

Objective Technology is continuing to shape the way we collect health data, including data on alcohol use. A number of technologies are being developed to objectively measure intoxication ‘in the wild’ without relying on self-report; the most immediate solution may be the use of personal breathalysers. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a cost-effective personal breathalyser would perform in a similar manner to a device used for roadside breath testing. Method We intercepted young adults (n = 337; 45% men) outside three concerts, administered 5-min interviews, and asked for breath samples on two devices (a personal breathalyser and a police-grade breathalyser). Results Participants reported having consumed an average of 7.3 standard drinks before the interview and had a mean Blood Alcohol Content of 0.077 g/dl on the police-grade device and 0.085 g/dl on the personal device. Difference scores suggested the personal breathalyser was more likely to over report Blood Alcohol Content (bias = 0.008 g/dl). Conclusion Although the personal device was more likely to over report Blood Alcohol Content compared with the police-grade device, the results suggest that personal devices could be used as a measure of Blood Alcohol Content when collecting data outside of the lab.

Well-being and moral identity: Well-being and moral identity

The good life is the result of flourishing and resilience, but also of being a morally good person. We found that moral identity was associated with engagement, meaning, the identification and acceptance of others (i.e., cooperativeness), and the sense of being part of something bigger than the self (i.e., self-transcendence).

Flourishing and prosocial behaviors: A multilevel investigation of national corruption level as a moderator

The current psychology literature defines flourishing as leading an authentic life that directs one towards the highest levels of both feeling good and functioning well. Numerous studies show that flourishing relates to a wide array of advantageous personal outcomes. However, the same literature says very little about the social outcomes of flourishing, even though an individual’s pursuit of well-being does not happen in isolation of others. With the present research, we seek to address this void. Specifically, we argue that flourishing, in its psychological conceptualization, does not provide strong moral guidance. As such, flourishing is amoral when it comes to social outcomes such as prosocial behaviors. Drawing on social learning theory, we argue that flourishers’ prosociality is at least somewhat contingent on the moral guidance of their society. To assess this, we tested society’s corruption level as a moderator in the relation between flourishing and prosocial behavior. To that end, we conducted two studies using data from the European Social Survey (ESS), which were collected in 2006 (N1 = 50,504) from 23 countries and in 2012 (N2 = 56,835) from 29 countries. We generally find that corruption at the national level moderates the relation between flourishing and prosocial behaviors (i.e., helping close/distant others, charitable activities). Overall, our study suggests that moral guidance should factor into discussions about flourishing.

Positive youth development in Māori and New Zealand European adolescents through an adventure education programme

ABSTRACT Within Aotearoa New Zealand there is growing interest in positive youth development (PYD). A PYD approach provides balance to narratives surrounding outcomes for youth and broadens our views of what we consider beneficial developmental outcomes. In the current study we used sail training as a method to promote PYD in Māori and New Zealand European adolescents. Specifically, 54 Māori and 37 New Zealand European adolescents completed the 7-day youth-development voyage on-board the gaffed rigged schooner, R. Tucker Thompson. We demonstrate that, for both Māori and New Zealand European adolescents, psychological resilience, self-esteem, and positive outlook on life increased from the first day to the last day of the voyage. In addition, we demonstrate that the increases in psychological resilience were driven by the social/collective identity adolescents formed with their group over the course of the voyage.

Collective Identity and Intergroup Discrimination: Outcomes in Contexts that Emphasize and do not Emphasize Intergroup Relations

Several important theoretical perspectives in intergroup relations predict that there should be a positive association between various form of intergroup discrimination and collective identity. The empirical evidence for this assumption is however inconsistent and contradictory. Some studies show positive associations, some show negative associations and some show fail to find any associations. In an attempt to bring some clarity to this area, we conducted four studies that examined the relationship between collective identity and intergroup discrimination as a function of the intergroup context. Based on ideas derived from Self-Categorization Theory (SCT) it was predicted that the association between collective identity and intergroup discrimination would emerge in contexts where intergroup relations are emphasized. Using a between groups methodology, this prediction was tested in four independent studies. The results indicate a consistently positive relationship between the evaluative dimension of collective identity and various forms of intergroup discrimination. This association is found only in circumstances that specifically emphasize intergroup relations. This relationship held across increasingly negative forms of intergroup discrimination.