A taxonomic theory is put forth that there are a cluster of behaviors that are generally characte... more A taxonomic theory is put forth that there are a cluster of behaviors that are generally characteristic of mammals, the same as there is a cluster of physical traits that are generally characteristic of mammals. These behaviors are play, kissing, dreaming, killing prey before devouring, hygiene, interspecies bonding, vocalization, interspecies helping, culture, behavioral mimicry, tickling, need for tactile behavior from conspecifics, inequity aversive, creating art, plasticity of behavior, personality, intelligence and reaction to the death of a conspecific. Whereas some of the behaviors are well documented, others have been sporadically detected through opportunistic observation and require extensive research to either confirm or deny their inclusion. One of the principal aims of this paper is to spur research on behaviors that up to now have been overlooked.
When liquid or solid protein is gently placed on the surface of leaf traps, certain genera of car... more When liquid or solid protein is gently placed on the surface of leaf traps, certain genera of carnivorous plants, specifically sundews and the Venus Flytrap, tissues near the protein begin to move towards the protein. Although this phenomenon has been known for a century and a half, it has not been recognized as a tropism per se.
Formal scientific investigations on paranormal topics have consistently disproven their validity ... more Formal scientific investigations on paranormal topics have consistently disproven their validity (Menzel and Boyd 1963; Sagan and Page 1972; Wilson and Mather 1974; Kusche 1975; Wilson 1976; Crowe 1990). One of these paranormal topics, the subject of this paper and one that is viewed as either curious, irritating, or amusing (jokingly referred to by some in the literature as the “Transylvania Effect” (Shapiro et al. 1970), is the question of whether the full moon affects human behavior. There are various references in classical literature: from England, in Shakespeare’s Othello: “It is the very error of the moon; she comes more near the earth than she was wont, And makes men mad”. and from Austria, in Meyrink’s The Golem: “Obviously, after what I had just seen, he was an acute case of somnambulism – the kind of persons highly susceptible to the influence of the full moon”. What is puzzling with this topic is that the results do not appear 100% conclusive. There have been studies that pointed to a possible deleterious effect of the full moon: among others, Osborn (1968) found an increase in mental hospital admissions during the full moon phase, Lieber and Sherin (1972) found an increase in homicides over a 15-year period and later Lieber (1978) again found that homicides and aggravated assaults demonstrated significant clustering of cases around the full moon, while Oderda and Klein-Schwartz (1983) found that a significantly larger number of unintentional poisonings occurred in the full moon period. Templer et al. (1982) found an increase in vehicle accident injuries during the full and new moons. But, then, we have contradictory findings. For example, negative results were obtained for homicides (Pokorny and Jachimczyk 1974), emergency psychological events (Kazemi-Bajestani et al. 2011), and reported crimes to the police (Schafer et al. 2010). There were also negative results for completed suicides in Spain and Norway (Jacobsen et al. 1986; Gutiérrez-García 1997) and serious crimes of battery in Germany (Biermann et al. 2009). Russell and de Graaf (1985), found no evidence in Canada for aggression during hockey games. Sanduleak (1985) found no relationship between lunar cycles and homicides in Cleveland. In a prison setting, Pettigrew (1985) did find an increase in violent incidents in a correctional setting. However, Simón (1998), found no relationship in records of aggressive acts by convicts during the full moon. In regards to medical problems, uniformly negative results have been the rule in the United States (Alves et al. 2003; Wende et al. 2013; Komann et al. 2014), Holland (Nijsten and Willemsen 1991) and Turkey (Arai et al. 2015). And for good measure, Schuld et al. (2011) found that moon phases, zodiac signs, and Friday the 13th had no influence on blood loss, emergency frequency, and intestinal perforations.
A role-playing game called Vampire: The Masquerade has been described in the popular press as eti... more A role-playing game called Vampire: The Masquerade has been described in the popular press as etiological of antisocial behavior. The 16 PF was administered to players of the game and the years of playing the game was correlated with scores on antisocial behavior. No relationship was found with amount of exposure to the game on Factor C.
A simulated stalled car with its hood up was parked at the side of a highway. Either a male or a ... more A simulated stalled car with its hood up was parked at the side of a highway. Either a male or a female confederate was visible, while the confederate of the opposite sex remained inside, in an invisible position. A tabulation was made of how many drivers stopped to help each sex. A difference for sex was found for frequency of offers of assistance; the females received more offers of aid than the males. Implications for the Women's Liberation Movement were discussed.
A case study of the modelling effects of the news media in reporting an unusual act of violence i... more A case study of the modelling effects of the news media in reporting an unusual act of violence is presented. Using the naturalistic unobtrusive methodology, the double assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford in September 1975 resulted in an increase in the number of assassination threats for several months thereafter. The implications were discussed.
A replication of a factor analyzed questionnaire on science and UFOs was carried out. 10 factors ... more A replication of a factor analyzed questionnaire on science and UFOs was carried out. 10 factors were obtained, two of which were similar to the previous ones: Belief in Extraterrestrial Visitation, Belief in the Occult, Psychological Explanations, Disbelief in Contactees, Witnessing, Belief in Possibilities, Reluctance to Report a Sighting, Skepticism of UFOs, Belief in Extraterrestrial Life, Extrapolations of Nature. A second major goal of the study, aside from actual replication, was the relating of a Science factor to the above factors, insofar as in recent years the popularity of science and technology has reportedly declined, with an increase in advocacy of pseudoscience. However, the Philosophy of Science factor from the original study did not replicate.
An unexpected, relatively unknown, pitfall of electronic journals is the proliferation of “fake j... more An unexpected, relatively unknown, pitfall of electronic journals is the proliferation of “fake journals,” fake in so far as there are no editorial boards nor peer reviews of submitted manuscripts. The author’s investigation and personal experience with one such journal is described. Although most of the submissions to that journal have been from Third World scholars taking advantage of the low fees, it is only a matter of time before unsuspecting scholars from Europe and North America become entangled in such journals.
Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far... more Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far as fewer students are obtaining an advanced degree in the field and fewer courses are being offered in universities. However, the real cause for the decline occurred decades prior and although the problem was acknowledged at the time, no significant corrections were made and those same scholars have skirted the issue. Presently, it is bureaucratic obstacles that impede a resurgence of the discipline.
Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far... more Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far as fewer students are obtaining an advanced degree in the field and fewer courses are being offered in universities. However, the real cause for the decline occurred decades prior and although the problem was acknowledged at the time, no significant corrections were made and those same scholars have skirted the issue. Presently, it is bureaucratic obstacles that impede a resurgence of the discipline.
The Darwinian-Wallace theory of evolution is examined and found to be flawed, specifically that t... more The Darwinian-Wallace theory of evolution is examined and found to be flawed, specifically that the mechanism which the classical theory puts forth as bringing about evolution (Natural Selection) is insufficient to account for various discrepancies found in the natural world (e.g., living fossils). Additionally, neo-Darwinists have put forth extreme assertions which neither Wallace nor Darwin would have supported. Based on the work of Barbara McClintock whose work on the restructuring of the genome through stress won her the Nobel Prize, the present paper puts forth the proposition that the numerous meteoritic impacts (some of which have resulted in the massive extinction of species) have been the primary cause of speciation through cataclysmic effects in the biosphere, both on a local and global level.
A taxonomic theory is put forth that there are a cluster of behaviors that are generally characte... more A taxonomic theory is put forth that there are a cluster of behaviors that are generally characteristic of mammals, the same as there is a cluster of physical traits that are generally characteristic of mammals. These behaviors are play, kissing, dreaming, killing prey before devouring, hygiene, interspecies bonding, vocalization, interspecies helping, culture, behavioral mimicry, tickling, need for tactile behavior from conspecifics, inequity aversive, creating art, plasticity of behavior, personality, intelligence and reaction to the death of a conspecific. Whereas some of the behaviors are well documented, others have been sporadically detected through opportunistic observation and require extensive research to either confirm or deny their inclusion. One of the principal aims of this paper is to spur research on behaviors that up to now have been overlooked.
When liquid or solid protein is gently placed on the surface of leaf traps, certain genera of car... more When liquid or solid protein is gently placed on the surface of leaf traps, certain genera of carnivorous plants, specifically sundews and the Venus Flytrap, tissues near the protein begin to move towards the protein. Although this phenomenon has been known for a century and a half, it has not been recognized as a tropism per se.
Formal scientific investigations on paranormal topics have consistently disproven their validity ... more Formal scientific investigations on paranormal topics have consistently disproven their validity (Menzel and Boyd 1963; Sagan and Page 1972; Wilson and Mather 1974; Kusche 1975; Wilson 1976; Crowe 1990). One of these paranormal topics, the subject of this paper and one that is viewed as either curious, irritating, or amusing (jokingly referred to by some in the literature as the “Transylvania Effect” (Shapiro et al. 1970), is the question of whether the full moon affects human behavior. There are various references in classical literature: from England, in Shakespeare’s Othello: “It is the very error of the moon; she comes more near the earth than she was wont, And makes men mad”. and from Austria, in Meyrink’s The Golem: “Obviously, after what I had just seen, he was an acute case of somnambulism – the kind of persons highly susceptible to the influence of the full moon”. What is puzzling with this topic is that the results do not appear 100% conclusive. There have been studies that pointed to a possible deleterious effect of the full moon: among others, Osborn (1968) found an increase in mental hospital admissions during the full moon phase, Lieber and Sherin (1972) found an increase in homicides over a 15-year period and later Lieber (1978) again found that homicides and aggravated assaults demonstrated significant clustering of cases around the full moon, while Oderda and Klein-Schwartz (1983) found that a significantly larger number of unintentional poisonings occurred in the full moon period. Templer et al. (1982) found an increase in vehicle accident injuries during the full and new moons. But, then, we have contradictory findings. For example, negative results were obtained for homicides (Pokorny and Jachimczyk 1974), emergency psychological events (Kazemi-Bajestani et al. 2011), and reported crimes to the police (Schafer et al. 2010). There were also negative results for completed suicides in Spain and Norway (Jacobsen et al. 1986; Gutiérrez-García 1997) and serious crimes of battery in Germany (Biermann et al. 2009). Russell and de Graaf (1985), found no evidence in Canada for aggression during hockey games. Sanduleak (1985) found no relationship between lunar cycles and homicides in Cleveland. In a prison setting, Pettigrew (1985) did find an increase in violent incidents in a correctional setting. However, Simón (1998), found no relationship in records of aggressive acts by convicts during the full moon. In regards to medical problems, uniformly negative results have been the rule in the United States (Alves et al. 2003; Wende et al. 2013; Komann et al. 2014), Holland (Nijsten and Willemsen 1991) and Turkey (Arai et al. 2015). And for good measure, Schuld et al. (2011) found that moon phases, zodiac signs, and Friday the 13th had no influence on blood loss, emergency frequency, and intestinal perforations.
A role-playing game called Vampire: The Masquerade has been described in the popular press as eti... more A role-playing game called Vampire: The Masquerade has been described in the popular press as etiological of antisocial behavior. The 16 PF was administered to players of the game and the years of playing the game was correlated with scores on antisocial behavior. No relationship was found with amount of exposure to the game on Factor C.
A simulated stalled car with its hood up was parked at the side of a highway. Either a male or a ... more A simulated stalled car with its hood up was parked at the side of a highway. Either a male or a female confederate was visible, while the confederate of the opposite sex remained inside, in an invisible position. A tabulation was made of how many drivers stopped to help each sex. A difference for sex was found for frequency of offers of assistance; the females received more offers of aid than the males. Implications for the Women's Liberation Movement were discussed.
A case study of the modelling effects of the news media in reporting an unusual act of violence i... more A case study of the modelling effects of the news media in reporting an unusual act of violence is presented. Using the naturalistic unobtrusive methodology, the double assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford in September 1975 resulted in an increase in the number of assassination threats for several months thereafter. The implications were discussed.
A replication of a factor analyzed questionnaire on science and UFOs was carried out. 10 factors ... more A replication of a factor analyzed questionnaire on science and UFOs was carried out. 10 factors were obtained, two of which were similar to the previous ones: Belief in Extraterrestrial Visitation, Belief in the Occult, Psychological Explanations, Disbelief in Contactees, Witnessing, Belief in Possibilities, Reluctance to Report a Sighting, Skepticism of UFOs, Belief in Extraterrestrial Life, Extrapolations of Nature. A second major goal of the study, aside from actual replication, was the relating of a Science factor to the above factors, insofar as in recent years the popularity of science and technology has reportedly declined, with an increase in advocacy of pseudoscience. However, the Philosophy of Science factor from the original study did not replicate.
An unexpected, relatively unknown, pitfall of electronic journals is the proliferation of “fake j... more An unexpected, relatively unknown, pitfall of electronic journals is the proliferation of “fake journals,” fake in so far as there are no editorial boards nor peer reviews of submitted manuscripts. The author’s investigation and personal experience with one such journal is described. Although most of the submissions to that journal have been from Third World scholars taking advantage of the low fees, it is only a matter of time before unsuspecting scholars from Europe and North America become entangled in such journals.
Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far... more Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far as fewer students are obtaining an advanced degree in the field and fewer courses are being offered in universities. However, the real cause for the decline occurred decades prior and although the problem was acknowledged at the time, no significant corrections were made and those same scholars have skirted the issue. Presently, it is bureaucratic obstacles that impede a resurgence of the discipline.
Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far... more Several previous scholars have noted the decline in the field of comparative psychology in so far as fewer students are obtaining an advanced degree in the field and fewer courses are being offered in universities. However, the real cause for the decline occurred decades prior and although the problem was acknowledged at the time, no significant corrections were made and those same scholars have skirted the issue. Presently, it is bureaucratic obstacles that impede a resurgence of the discipline.
The Darwinian-Wallace theory of evolution is examined and found to be flawed, specifically that t... more The Darwinian-Wallace theory of evolution is examined and found to be flawed, specifically that the mechanism which the classical theory puts forth as bringing about evolution (Natural Selection) is insufficient to account for various discrepancies found in the natural world (e.g., living fossils). Additionally, neo-Darwinists have put forth extreme assertions which neither Wallace nor Darwin would have supported. Based on the work of Barbara McClintock whose work on the restructuring of the genome through stress won her the Nobel Prize, the present paper puts forth the proposition that the numerous meteoritic impacts (some of which have resulted in the massive extinction of species) have been the primary cause of speciation through cataclysmic effects in the biosphere, both on a local and global level.
The question of what, exactly, makes a child "cute" began with Lorenz's (1943) paper, wherein he ... more The question of what, exactly, makes a child "cute" began with Lorenz's (1943) paper, wherein he postulated a number of craniophysical traits which rendered a child "cute," with the resulting appeal and caretaking behavior on the observer. These traits became the focus of research. However, there is another trait that renders someone (or something) as "cute." Children are essentially miniature adults. 36 white Ss of ages 5-86 were recruited to judge whether they considered inanimate objects to be "cute." It was found in this study that if an inanimate object is a miniature version of another larger object, it was judged to be "cute."
A case of Transient Global Amnesia occurring after sexual intercourse is presented with a somewha... more A case of Transient Global Amnesia occurring after sexual intercourse is presented with a somewhat unusual symptomatology. Instead of an all-encompassing amnesia as has usually been reported in the literature, the patient's amnesia was evident in spots. Therefore, Transient Global Amnesia after sexual relations may go unnoticed in patients if the amnesia is temporary, as is usually the case, and is restricted to a few memories.
Uploads
Papers by Armando Simon