Purpose – This paper aims to develop a new socio-cognitive theory of the normative personality of a plural agency like, for instance, an organisation or a political system. This cybernetic agency theory is connected to Bandura’s theory of psychosocial function. The agency is adaptive and has a normative personality that operates through three formative personality traits, the function of which ...

In 1998, the Hong Kong government introduced a new policy to use information technology (IT) as a “catalyst” for change in classroom practices. The desired effect was to create a shift from a predominantly teacher-centred approach to more learner-centred teaching. This investigation explores the impact of IT on teaching practices in Hong Kong schools from the perspective of teachers, through th...

OBJECTIVE To test whether physiological satiation as measured by the gut peptide ghrelin may vary depending on the mindset in which one approaches consumption of food. METHODS On 2 separate occasions, participants (n = 46) consumed a 380-calorie milkshake under the pretense that it was either a 620-calorie "indulgent" shake or a 140-calorie "sensible" shake. Ghrelin was measured via intraveno...

Purpose – Context and cultural condition given, cybernetic agency theory enables the anticipation of patterns of behaviour. However, this only occurs under “normal” conditions. Abnormal conditions occur when pathologies develop in the agency, especially within its Piagetian intelligences. An understanding of these pathologies, therefore, constitutes an appreciation of how abnormal behaviour dev...

► Person perception often involves comparing individual targets to reference points. ► Past work argues that difference versus similarity focus yields less stereotyping. ► We suggest this could reverse if self, rather than group, representations are focal. ► In two studies, we manipulate comparison mindset and activated representation. ► We find an interaction: impact of comparison mindset depe...