A Faceted Eye on Intellectual Giftedness: Examining the Personality of Gifted Students Using FFM Domains and Facets

Author(s): Ana Altaras-Dimitrijevic / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2012

The study examines the personality profile of gifted vs. average-ability students from the perspective of the FFM. The issue was approached by (1) reviewing the literature for well-established personality characteristics of the gifted, (2) establishing correspondences between these traits and FFM domains/facets, and (3) formulating a domain and a facet-level model which were hypothesized to discriminate significantly between gifted and nongifted students. The domain-level model consisted of Openness and Agreeableness. The facet-level model included 14 traits: Anxiety, Impulsiveness, Gregariousness, Assertiveness, Fantasy, Feelings, Aesthetics, Ideas, Compliance, Modesty, Tendermindedness, Order, Achievement, and Deliberation. The models were tested on three samples (N1 =515 high-school students, 155 gifted; N2 =132 psychology students, 28 gifted; N3 =443 psychology students, 91 gifted). Results indicate that the domain-level model does not discriminate significantly between gifted and nongifted students in each sample, whereas the proposed 14-facet model yields a significant discrimination across all samples. The latter model may be further adjusted by removing facets which proved inconsistent or unsubstantial in distinguishing between the two groups. This yields a 7-facet discriminant function, which is also significant across samples, indicating that gifted students are consistently distinguished by a combination of high Ideas, Fantasy, Aesthetics, and Assertiveness, but low Gregariuosness, Modesty, and Tendermindeness. Educational implications and limitations are discussed.

A General Factor of Personality in a sample of inmates: associations with indicators of life-history strategy and covitality

Author(s): Daliborka Kujacic,Janko Mededovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

This study looked for a General Factor of Personality (GFP) in a sample of male convicts (N=226; mean age 32 years). The GFP was extracted from seven broad personality traits: FFM factors, Amoralism (the negative pole of the lexical Honesty-Humility factor) and Disintegration (operationalization of Schizotypy). Three first-order factors were extracted, labeled Dysfunctionality, Antisociality and Openness, and GFP was found through the hierarchical factor analysis. The nature of the GFP was explored through analysis of its relations with markers of fast Life-History strategy and covitality. The results demonstrated that the GFP is associated with unrestricted sexual behavior, medical problems, mental problems, early involvement in criminal activity and stability of criminal behavior. The evidence shows that the GFP is a meaningful construct on the highest level of personality structure. It may represent a personality indicator of fitness-related characteristics and could be useful in research of personality in an evolutionary context.

A model of the relationships between the Big Five personality traits and the motivations to deliver word-of-mouth online

Author(s): Bogdan Anastasiei,Nicoleta Dospinescu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

The goal of this research is to establish the relationships between the Big Five personality traits – Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness – and the motivations to deliver electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in the social media. The research method was based on a survey administered to 262 subjects, mostly students and young professionals. The personality traits that are most related to eWOM are Extraversion (that influences the need for social appreciation and Positive self-enhancement) and Openness to experience (that determines the concern for others and the desire to help good companies). Conscientiousness has a negative relationship with the tendency to Vent negative feelings about a bad buy, while Neuroticism has a slight influence on the motivation to get Social benefits and Self-enhancement. Knowing the prevalent personality traits and motivations of the eWOM transmitters, the company communication strategist can figure out the most proper ways to approach them. This paper is one of the few that throughly investigates the relationship between personality traits and the intrinsic motivations to write online reviews about companies and brands. Key words: big five model, electronic word of mouth, word of mouth communication.

A Response to Tomáš Urbánek

Author(s): Petra Anýžová / Language(s): English / Issue: 03/2017

A six-factor model of brand personality and its predictive validity

Author(s): Marko Živanovic,Sofija Cerovic,Jovana Bjekic / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

The study examines applicability and usefulness of HEXACO-based model in the description of brand personality. Following contemporary theoretical developments in human personality research, Study 1 explored the latent personality structure of 120 brands using descriptors of six personality traits as defined in HEXACO model: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. The results of exploratory factor analyses have supported HEXACO personality six-factor structure to a large extent. InStudy 2 we addressed the question of predictive validity of HEXACO-based brand personality. Brand personality traits, but predominantly Honesty-Humility, accounted for substantial amount of variance in prediction of important aspects of consumer-brand relationship: attitude toward brand, perceived quality of a brand, and brand loyalty. The implications of applying HEXACO-based brand personality in marketing research are discussed.

A study on the relationship between compulsive exercise, depression and anxiety

Author(s): Aviv Weinstein,Yitzhak Weinstein,Gavriel Maayan / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Exercise and physical activity are beneficial both physically and psychologically but a few individuals use exercise excessively resulting in physical and even psychological damage. There is evidence for bidirectional relationship between exercise with depression and anxiety showing that exercise can reduce anxiety and depression, whereas a lack of exercise is associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: This study used questionnaires assessing compulsive exercise, anxiety and depression among 20 professional regular exercisers and 51 recreational regular exercisers. Results: Results showed that ratings of compulsive exercise were associated with ratings of anxiety and depression among individuals who exercise for professional and recreational purpose. Secondly, individuals who exercise for professional purpose were more depressed than individuals who exercise for recreational purpose, but did not exhibit higher trait anxiety ratings. Thirdly, individuals who exercise for recreational purpose showed an association between ratings of compulsive exercise and depression but not with ratings of trait anxiety. Discussion: Individuals who exercise for professional and recreational purpose may use it as a means for alleviating depression and anxiety although this small sample of recreational and professional sportsmen showed clinical levels of anxiety and depression that may require further clinical treatment.

A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS: THE COLLECTION AND FORMALIZATION OF INFORMATION RELATING TO THE NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Author(s): Mabrouka El Hachani,Omar Larouk / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

This article addresses the issue of technical documents and the impact their structuring has on professionals working in the field of disability. A model was developed to accompany users with disabilities when entering information; it was based on the linguistic analysis of an assortment of technical documents (institutional forms). We studied the problems related to technical documents by using a methodological approach which was based on a combination of complementary studies. The first was a terminological study, which aimed to look for relevant themes. It was complemented by a second one, which analyzed the discourse that was transmitted by the texts and which was centered on exploring the logical links between propositions and paragraphs. We completed these two studies with a final one, the logico-cognitive analysis. This which allowed us to look for contextual clues, which were produced by the texts in the documentary environment. It was therefore possible to formalize information and communication operations thanks to the reference discourse’s targeted environment in view of designing an automated information system.

Academic integrity “captured” by a personality-based test

Author(s): Predrag Okanovic,Dragana Okanovic,Dušanka Mitrovic,Nebojša Majstorovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2013

The main goal of this study was to develop and validate a personality-based academic integrity test which could serve as a predictor of students’ academic dishonesty. A new Academic Integrity Test (AIT), based on methodological principles accepted in the field of work integrity, was created during this study. The test was developed on one student sample (N=350), and then validated on another (N=471). Validation of the AIT confirmed its relations with three dimensions previously found to be consistent correlates of work integrity measures – Conscientiousness, Aggressiveness and Neuroticism, with the addition of Negative Valence. The correlation between the AIT and a cognitive ability measure was not significant, which is in accordance with previous research. The test retained significant relations with the aforementioned personality measures in simulated applicant condition (except with Neuroticism), leading to the conclusion that the AIT maintains construct validity in situations susceptible to self-presentation.

Acculturation Process and Ethnic Identity of Immigrants in Germany

Author(s): Liudmyla Smokova / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2015

In the present study, we discuss psychological acculturation, by which we mean the internal processes of change that immigrants experience when they come into direct contact with members of the host culture. The model we present builds on research in the areas of social and ethnic identity. Each of these perspectives is discussed in accordance with its relevance to the acculturative processes operating in immigrants. We understand ethnic identity as a dynamic state, that is determined by three components: (1) by the degree of inclusion in the group of one’s cultural origin; (2) the tendency to assimilate to the ethnic group of origin; and (3) the complementary tendency to differentiate from one’s own ethnic group. Social identity conveys belonging of the individual to different social categories and the value as well as emotional significance of this membership. We have sought to explain how the processes of social categorization, inand out-group identification and social comparison predetermine the direction of the acculturation process and hence the intercultural interaction and wellbeing of the youth from immigrant backgrounds in Germany. Results indicated that immigrants who have more identified themselves with dominant society have expressed the strong preference to integration strategies. The immigrants that had a high degree of ethnic identification have expressed the low preference to the integration as well to marginalization and assimilation. In its turn, the powerful feeling of belonging to an ethnic group and attitude towards the group promotes immigrants segregation choice.

ACTUAL TENDENCY IN INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Author(s): Andreea Szalontay,Alina Mihaela Pascu,Andreea Teodorescu,Dan Minea,Petru IFTENI / Language(s): English / Issue: 51/2015

Patients with schizophrenia requiring long-term institutionalization represent cases with poor outcome, often leading to high costs for patients and family and constituting a huge economical burden for society if patients are young. The aims of the study were identification of characteristics and predictors of institutionalization in schizophrenia. Retrospective study of all institutionalized patients with schizophrenia in Brasov County, Romania, with a DSM-IV-TR lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia institutionalized between 1995 and 2014. Institutionalized patients between 2005 and 2014 (n=172) had lower age (51.15 vs. 57.08, p<0.05) and lower age at institutionalization compared with patients admitted between 1995 and 2004. Lower education level (8.23 vs. 13.22, p<0.05), only one parent, multiple antipsychotics treatments and suboptimal response under first generation long acting antipsychotics are predictors for institutionalization. Our study showed a tendency to institutionalize patients with schizophrenia at the younger age compared with other periods. Early intervention in psychosis, controlled treatment with SGAs should be solutions to avoid institutionalization of young patients with schizophrenia.

Addressing the psycho-pedagogy of learning difficulties. Implications to the various components of personality

Author(s): Horatiu Catalano / Language(s): English / Issue: 7/2009

Unter Lernschwierigkeiten versteht man folgendes: es treten Probleme auf, die die Kapazität des Gehirns, bei der Rezeption, bei der Lagerung und bei der Aktualisierung der Informationen hindern; diese Lernschwierigkeiten haben nichts mit Intelligenz zu tun, sondern nur mit der mangelhaften Behandlung der Informationen. Diese Mangel werden durch Störungen in der Entwicklung oder durch Probleme auf der Ebene der Aufmerksamkeit, des Gedächtnisses, der Koordination, der Kommunikation, des Lesens, des Schreibens, der Rechtschreibung, der mathematischen Rechnung und der Sozialisation bemerkbar. Wenn man die oben genannten Angaben aufmerksam betrachtet, dann kann man sehr leicht darauf schließen, dass Lernschwierigkeiten durch unzählige Faktoren ausgelöst werden können, und ihre Überwindung und Heilung erfordert sehr vorsichtige psychopödagogische Analysen.

Advances in Contemplative Social Research

Author(s): Krzysztof T. Konecki / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2018

This book is unique and audacious, and fits very well with current tendencies within qualitative research. It introduces new, fresh threads to questions and concerns that are highly significant for contemporary social sciences. The formulated conclusions go beyond directly methodological issues, posing key philosophical questions to the whole project of Western sociology.Grażyna WoronieckaFrom the review of the bookDeep contemplation of the situation could be the epistemological choice for social scientists. It is a fundamentally different approach to the research, where the investigator is researching the object but also the situation of research and her-self/him-self. Contemplating is a dual way of the approaching the truth. It does not mean that the researcher is mentally divided; just the opposite, she/he wants to be complete and achieve the unity of being as a researcher-human being and an element of the situation (psycho-social and historical). Contemplating enables researchers to see how the mind works and creates the images and reports from the field – what is available for the mind and what is silent or repressed because of the dominating rhetoric of description and rhetoric of feeling?... Contemplation is not only analysis, it is also an ethical choice of stopping here and now to see the situation clearly and reporting it with the all reservations that could be the result of the mindfully-observed interaction of mind, self, and situation at one historical moment.From the Introduction

Aesthetic Experience and the Emotional Content of Paintings

Author(s): Slobodan Markovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2010

In this study we investigated the relationship between aesthetic experience and other emotional qualities judged in paintings. Aesthetic experience was defined as an exceptional state of mind in which a person is focused on a particular object, transcending its everyday uses and meanings and losing the awareness of surroundings and even of himself/herself. In this state a person has an exceptional emotional experience, that is a feeling of unity with the object. Our basic idea is that aesthetic experience is not reducible to pleasure or a positive hedonic tone, but a person can equally be fascinated with both pleasant and unpleasant objects. In preliminary studies we specified the stimulus set of figural and semi-figural paintings, and a set of descriptors of emotions, feelings and aesthetic experience. Participants judged the paintings on descriptors (seven-point scales). Factor analysis revealed two large factors: the bipolar factor Affective Tone (descriptors on the positive pole: lovely, charming, cheerful, etc; descriptors on the negative pole: scary, disgusting, hateful etc.) and Aesthetic Experience (descriptors: exceptional, profound, unique, etc.). Additional analyses have shown no significant correlation between the two factors. These findings confirmed our idea that aesthetic experience is independent of pleasure or affective attraction, and that it can be induced by both pleasant and unpleasant paintings.

Aggressive Coping Strategy in Situations of Social Conflict. An Attempt to Determine Personality Predictors

Author(s): Danuta Borecka-Biernat / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

The purpose of the study was to find personality predictors of aggressive coping strategies in adolescents in situations of social conflict. The empirical studies have been conducted in junior high schools on a sample of 893 adolescents (468 girls and 425 boys) aged 13-15. The study employed the following instruments: the Stress Assessment Questionnaire (Kwestionariusz Oceny Stresu, KOS) designed by D. Włodarczyk and K. Wrześniewski, The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Spielberger Three-Factor Inventory of Personality States and Traits (TISCO), as well as the Questionnaire for Analysis of Coping Strategies in Adolescents in Situations of Social Conflict (KSMK) designed by D. Borecka-Biernat. The results of the studies indicate that the assessment of a situation of conflict as a threat increases the implementation of the aggressive coping strategy in young people in situations of social conflict. Participation of adolescents in a situation in which the realization of their goals is under threat increases negative emotions. Aggression is a form of coping with anger experienced in a situation of social conflict.

Aggressiveness in the HEXACO Personality Model

Author(s): Valentina Sokolovska,Bojana Dinic,Aleksandar Tomaševic / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2018

The a im of this research was to examine the relations between the HEXACO facets and aggressiveness components (anger, vengefulness, domination, hostility, reactive aggression, proactive aggression, and indirect aggression). On a sample of 654 participants from general population, HEXACO–60, Aggressiveness Questionnaire AVDH, Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ), and Indirect Aggression Scale (IAS) were applied. The results of the community structure network analysis provided the most informative insight into these relations and showed that all aggressiveness components formed a single community with the Agreeableness facets. Thereby, facet Patience was the strongest correlate of anger, and hostility had the highest clustering coefficient, which brings together the Agreeableness facets and aggressiveness components. Although Honesty–Humility formed a separate community, some of its facets had strong isolated connections with indirect aggression and dominance. The results revealed that Agreeableness is a dominant correlate of aggressiveness and captures all aggressiveness components, while Honesty– Humility is related to specific components, referring to a manifestation of aggressiveness in a more subtle and indirect way.

Aleksitimija merena TAS-20 upitnikom: provera faktorske strukture upitnika i njenog odnosa sa zadovoljstvom životom i Velikih pet dimenzija ličnosti

Author(s): Nikola Rokvic,Tamara Jovanovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 1/2018

Alexithymia is the inability of an individual to recognize their own or someone else’s feelings and to communicate their own emotional states. On the cognitive level, we can observe a decreased ability for imagination and a practical style of thinking, while on the affective level, we can notice a diminished ability of getting in touch with emotions. The most commonly used instrument for measuring alexithymia is the TAS-20 scale that consists of three subscales: Factor 1– the identification of feelings, Factor 2– difficulties describing feelings, Factor 3– externally oriented thinking. The aim of this paper is to determine the factor structure of the TAS-20 questionnaire and its relations to personality traits and life satisfaction. The sample consisted of 601“nonclinical” and 65 “clinical” participants. The “clinical” participants have reported in the survey that they had a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. 75% of the “nonclinical” and 76.9% of the “clinical” sample participants were female. The average age of the “nonclinical” sample was 29.47 (SD=7.12), and the average age of the “clinical” sample was 31.18 (SD=8.44). Confirmatory factor analysis has shown an adequate model fit, but only after the removal of item 20 from the model. The summary score and factor scores showed an expected relationship with the Big Five in the “nonclinical” sample, except a somewhat weaker correlation with the Openness trait. The summary score and factor scores also had expected relations with life satisfaction, while no significant correlation was detected in the “clinical” sample. The regression model has shown that personality traits explain 37.6% of the summary score variance. The expected gender differences were not detected.

An Analysis of the Barriers to Inclusion of Children with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (besd) in the Contexts of Greece and England

Author(s): Katerina Lykourgioti / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Children with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) are at high risk of experiencing exclusion in both England and Greece. However, this particular category of Special Educational Needs (SEN) has so far received relatively little academic or political attention in comparison to other SEN. This paper attempts to point out the barriers that may prevent the inclusion of children with BESD both in terms of the theoretical conceptualisation of the category itself and in terms of the policies and practices that England and Greece may implement. In order to achieve a further yet coherent picture of the current situation, this paper has identified three different types of factors that may negatively influence inclusion. Therefore, by discussing the possible ideological, structural, and practical challenges, the paper aims to highlight the crucial need for further theoretical insight that would be able to inform and promote the establishment of a more cohesive and efficient legislative framework for pupils with BESD in both countries.

An empirical investigation of the effects of moderating and mediating variables in business research: Insights from an auditing report

Author(s): Mohammad Namazi,Navid Reza Namazi / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2017

This study examines the empirical impacts of moderating (MO) and mediating (ME) variables in business research, within the context of auditing reports. size, complexity of the operation, and risk of the firm were selected as the independent variable, moderating variable, and mediating variable, respectively. The selection was attempted over 15 years of research (1455 year-firm data) for the firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). The following techniques were employed for testing the hypothesis: Pearson correlation, Levin, Lin, and Chu test, Hausman unit root, and multiple regression. The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between the size of the firm and the type of the auditing report. Moreover, a significant relationship between the size of the company and the type of auditing report is shown in the inventory value of the moderating variables. Furthermore, the same has been displayed in return on the assets and institutional ownership of the mediating variables. However, inventory and institutional ownership demonstrate a significant statistical relationship when moderating and mediating variables are considered simultaneously. The implication of this study is to demonstrate the moderating and mediating variables as significant impediments in the type of auditing report. This would change the design, theory, and implications of this research.

An investigation into problematic smartphone use: The role of narcissism, anxiety, and personality factors

Author(s): Zaheer Hussain,Mark D. Griffiths,David Sheffield / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2017

Over the last decade, worldwide smartphone usage has greatly increased. Alongside this growth, research on the influence of smartphones on human behavior has also increased. However, a growing number of studies have shown that excessive use of smartphones can lead to detrimental consequences in a minority of individuals. This study examines the psychological aspects of smartphone use particularly in relation to problematic use, narcissism, anxiety, and personality factors. Methods: A sample of 640 smartphone users ranging from 13 to 69 years of age (mean = 24.89 years, SD = 8.54) provided complete responses to an online survey including modified DSM-5 criteria of Internet Gaming Disorder to assess problematic smartphone use, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory. Results: The results demonstrated significant relationships between problematic smartphone use and anxiety, conscientiousness, openness, emotional stability, the amount of time spent on smartphones, and age. The results also demonstrated that conscientiousness, emotional stability, and age were independent predictors of problematic smartphone use. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that problematic smartphone use is associated with various personality factors and contributes to further understanding the psychology of smartphone behavior and associations with excessive use of smartphones.

An overview of research on romantic relationships. The case of negative emotions

Author(s): Andreea Ursu,Maria Nicoleta Turliuc / Language(s): English / Issue: 16/2018

The universal human tendency to form close relationships, the basic needs satisfied by social relationships and the centrality of them to human existence were ones of the most important reasons why people started to research the concept of close relationships and its impact on the daily life. In the last 4 decades, the studies of the interpersonal relationships have been one of the favorite areas in the social psychology. The several strong theories and highly generative research paradigms on interpersonal relationships are the result of researchers’ interest in this concept. A central role was played by the romantic relationships concept. At the beginning of the 1980s, the publication of studies on relationship types began, and later on, articles on theories about factors of formation, development, maintenance and dissolution of one romantic relationship were published. Across time, they discover that social relationships represent the context in which people experience their most intense emotions, both positive and negative. Especially, the experience and expression of emotions are influencing the formation, maintenance and dissolution of close relationships. Thus, based on these assumptions, this paper is an overview of synthesizing (a) how the concept of romantic relationships is view by different theories; (b) what are the benefits of them; and (c) which type of negative emotions are experienced within a romantic relationship.