Religious symbols are a manifestation of the reality outside of human cognition, connecting people with the divine. Due to its multifaceted nature, symbols encompasses both favorable and challenging aspects concerning this relation. However, the ambivalence in the relationship between individuals and symbols has not yet been empirically explored. In the current study, we argue that the semantic differential method provides means to address issues related to this duality. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between individuals and religious symbols, particularly focusing on the symbols of the Christian cross and the Bible. Further, it was examined whether any differences exist between different age groups. The study was conducted with the participation of Catholic youth (N = 239), age ranging from 12 to 24 years. Using principal component analysis and the semantic differential, we discovered that the relationship between individuals and religious symbols unfolds on two independent dimensions: opportunity and challenge. Older age groups (18 and 24 years) obtained significantly higher scores than the younger age groups on both dimensions, pointing to ambivalence in the relationship with the symbols of the cross and the Bible.

The current study investigated the relationship among executive functioning, activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and forgiveness among students enrolled in Christian colleges in the United States. Guided by the regulatory model of forgiveness framework, employing a two-study methodology, our aim was to uncover the neurocognitive correlates of forgiveness. In the first study, 159 participants (67% women) completed neuropsychological tasks sensitive to PFC impairments alongside self-reported forgiveness measures. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between executive functioning and both state and dispositional forgiveness. In the second study, 36 participants (46% women) engaged in an ultimatum game followed by a dictator game, with changes in regional cerebral blood oxygenation (rCBO2) serving as an indicator of dlPFC activation. We found heightened right dlPFC activation during fair allocation of money to unfair opponents compared to unfair allocation within the same participants, suggesting a higher cognitive load in forgiving decision-making. Despite limitations associated with convenience sampling and a small sample size, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying forgiveness, with potential implications for interventions aimed at fostering forgiveness and enhancing overall well-being.

The current study aimed to verify the psychometric properties of the Flow Short Scale (FSS) on a group of 528 Polish board game players. Participants were asked to refer to a state of engagement during playing their most preffered board game. The experience of flow as a specific state rather than a general disposition was thus verified. The validity of the FSS was established based on a threefaced construct validation method. Participants were randomly divided into three subsamples (N1 = 115; N2 = 213; N3 = 200). Exploratory analyses were conducted on the first subsample to examine the quality of test items. Then, in the second subsample, a total of 36 models were verified for the goodness-of-fit criteria. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model with two factors, fluency and absorption - but without Items 1 and 5 - was found to have an optimal goodness-of-fit in the third subsample. Gender measurement invariance was then cross-validated on the entire sample, indicating homogeneity of the FSS at the strict invariance level. The convergent validity of both FSS subscales with the Immersion Questionnaire, tested on the entire sample, was also confirmed. In conclusion, the Polish adaptation of the FSS is a reliable and accurate tool for investigating the state of flow experienced by board game players.