Showing papers in "Current Psychology in 2014"
TL;DR: In this article, a discursive review of the dimensions pleasure, arousal and dominance that Mehrabian and Russell developed in 1974 to assess environmental perception, experience, and psychological responses is presented.
Abstract: This paper presents a discursive review of the dimensions pleasure, arousal and dominance that Mehrabian and Russell developed in 1974 to assess environmental perception, experience, and psychological responses. Since then numerous researchers applied these dimensions to assess the experience of the physical environment and its perceived qualities. Although the dimensions appeared to be useful, there is a long- lasting debate going on among environmental psychologists about the interpretation of pleasure, arousal and dominance and its underlying mechanisms. Due to the lack of clarity researchers use different adjectives to describe environmental experiences, which makes any comparison between research findings difficult. This paper shows that the three dimensions can be linked to the current ABC Model of Attitudes: pleasure, arousal and dominance can be respectively related to affective, cognitive and conative responses, i.e. Affect, Cognition and Behaviour (ABC). In addition, connecting the three dimensions to the triad feeling, thinking and acting, can also help to improve our understanding, interpretation and measurement of pleasure, arousal and dominance. Based on this review, it is proposed to re-introduce the three dimensions and to replace the nowadays often used two dimensional model with pleasure and arousal by a three dimensional model, including dominance as a third dimension, to represent the complete range of human responses.
231 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a mixed quantitative-qualitative methodology to investigate the relationship between attachment and psychopathy and found that the exploration of past and current attachment relationships can be crucial for the understanding of violent behavior.
Abstract: This study used a mixed quantitative-qualitative methodology to investigate the relationship between attachment and psychopathy. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare 2003) was administered to 139 Italian offenders who were convicted of violent crimes (murder, rape, child sexual abuse, armed robbery, assault causing bodily harm). First, we explored whether the two PCL-R items theoretically denoting devaluation of attachment bonds (promiscuous sexual behavior and many marital relationships) were able to predict PCL-R total, factor and facet scores. Subsequently, we analyzed the transcripts of the 10 participants who obtained the highest PCL-R scores in the sample, assessing their childhood experiences and their current attachment representations and attachment styles. Results of the analyses showed that the PCL-R items denoting devaluation of attachment bonds were able to predict the PCL-R scores; moreover, most of the participants who obtained the highest PCL-R scores also reported severe abuse during their childhood and showed indicators of disorganized attachment. Findings of the study suggest that the exploration of past and current attachment relationships can be crucial for the understanding of violent behavior.
81 citations
TL;DR: The results showed that specificity, separateness, and stability of identity content influenced positive and negative affect through the mediating agency of independent and interdependent self-construals, emphasizing the importance of applying a self- construal perspective in considering adaptive functions of identity.
Abstract: An examination of the assumptions underlying identity conceptualizations in psychology of self indicates the assumptions are based on an independent, individualistic view of self. If self is constructed as interdependent with others, such identity characteristic as a sense of uniqueness, separateness, and continuity may be less important in promoting well-being. The results of the conducted study (N = 226) indicated that there were weaker relations between various features of identity structure and subjective well-being for individuals with a highly interdependent self-construal than for those with a highly independent self-construal. The results also showed that specificity, separateness, and stability of identity content influenced positive and negative affect through the mediating agency of independent and interdependent self-construals. These findings emphasize the importance of applying a self-construal perspective in considering adaptive functions of identity.
68 citations
TL;DR: Two studies investigated the extent to which narcissism was associated with volunteer motivation and found that narcissists tend to volunteer for self-interest rather than for humanitarian values, even while controlling for selfesteem and empathic concern.
Abstract: Two studies investigated the extent to which narcissism was associated with volunteer motivation Study 1 investigated a sample of United Way volunteers and Study 2 examined a sample of college student volunteers As hypothesized, results found that narcissists tend to volunteer for self-interest rather than for humanitarian values Results remained significant even while controlling for self-esteem (Studies 1 and 2) and empathic concern (Study 2) Discussion involves the current climate for volunteerism, which includes mandated volunteering as part of high school graduation and other requirements
49 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employed a longitudinal approach using two waves of surveys to examine the directional relations between students' proactive personalities and their academic self-efficacy in education, and found that proactive personalities at time 1 predicted change in their academic Selfefficacy at Time 2, suggesting a top-down relationship.
Abstract: Research about organizations has consistently revealed that proactive personality is a relatively stable disposition and a significant antecedent of self-efficacy, which generates employees’ proactive behavior and thus benefits individuals and firms. Consequently, the present study aimed to examine whether the relationship between proactive personality, a general temperamental tendency, and specific self-efficacy that is focused on certain activities or tasks might emerge across contexts in an education setting with a directional effect. From a sample of 123 students, we employed a longitudinal approach using two waves of surveys to examine the directional relations between students’ proactive personalities and their academic self–efficacy in education. The results showed that students’ proactive personalities at Time 1 predicted change in their academic self–efficacy at Time 2, suggesting a top–down relationship. On the contrary students’ academic self–efficacy at Time 1 could not predict their proactive personalities at Time 2. In short, the directional effect of proactive personality on self–efficacy across contexts was captured in this study. Implications and limitations were discussed.
42 citations
TL;DR: The authors assesses the psychological functioning of a sample of non-referred pre-adolescents and adolescents and considers the impact of the loss of a significant caregiver on their current psychological profiles.
Abstract: The loss of a parent during childhood is a traumatic experience that can bring about several difficulties in adaptation and psychopathological problems over time during the child’s development. The present study assesses the psychological functioning of a sample of non-referred pre-adolescents and adolescents and considers the impact of the loss of a significant caregiver on their current psychological profiles. Three groups of subjects were considered, as follows: Group A experienced loss between birth and 3 years of age; Group B experienced loss between 3 and 10 years of age; and Group C experienced no loss. The results show that there is a significant decrease in psychopathological risk and improvement in subjects’ scores in the transition from pre-adolescence to mid-late adolescence. Adolescents who have suffered the loss of a caregiver within the first three years of life, however, continue to report higher scores than the other two groups, denoting no improvement in their psychological welfare.
38 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it is hypothesized that playfulness in adults is positively associated with relationship satisfaction and that specific types of attachment and love are related with this trait, while gender differences only played a minor role.
Abstract: It is hypothesized that playfulness in adults is positively associated with relationship satisfaction and that specific types of attachment and love are related with this trait Findings, based on two samples of adults that are currently in a relationship (N = 161 and 598), show that playfulness is positively associated with relationship satisfaction—albeit low in effect size Playfulness shares about 17 % overlapping variance with different types of love and attachment; particularly, Seduction, low Market Orientation, Attachment, and Love were predictive for playfulness While gender differences only played a minor role it was shown that playfulness mediates about 57 % of the gender differences in the inclination to Sexuality Overall, findings are in the expected direction The discussion highlights the importance of considering multidimensional measures for playfulness and satisfaction and gives future research directions
31 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify personal barriers for women associating with the feminist movement and suggest that women view feminism as an obsolete entity with largely negative connotations associated with the term.
Abstract: Despite data demonstrating a substantial gender gap in the United States, many women do not self-identify as feminist. An evaluation of the literature suggests four potential reasons for the lack of identification, 1) a negative connotation associated with the term “feminist,” 2) the dichotomous presentation of feminism (e.g., the lack of grey area between feminism and non-feminism), 3) a belief that feminism may no longer be necessary, and 4) a perceived lack of cultural relevance. Previous research on feminism has not adequately addressed the dynamic and contextual factors that can influence a woman’s decision of whether to self-identify. Therefore, the goal of this project was to use qualitative methodology to allow for the identification of potential personal barriers for women associating with the feminist movement. The data suggest that feminism is viewed as an obsolete entity with largely negative connotations associated with the term. The implications of these barriers and several suggestions for change in the movement are discussed.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors called back classical Erikson's theory of psychosocial development to understand current findings of resilience research; they tested the claim that outcomes of developmental crises and resilience are closely related concepts.
Abstract: The article calls back classical Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development to understand current findings of resilience research; we tested the claim that outcomes of developmental crises and resilience are closely related concepts. Participants (310 emerging adults, 64 % women) completed two measures of resilience and a measure of developmental outcomes. We tested two models of developmental psychosocial outcomes predicting both general and multidimensional measures of resilience. The analyses supported our assumption that developmental outcomes and resilience are highly related concepts. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the equivalence of social value-laden measures with data sourced from web-based social media and traditional pen-and-paper methods was examined, showing that both online and offline data were equivalent in terms of internal reliability and patterns of relationships among constructs.
Abstract: Given the changing online environment (from anonymity to social connection) and the importance of establishing equivalence in psychological measures used in online environments, the aim of this research was to examine the equivalence of socially value-laden measures with data sourced from web-based social media and traditional pen-and-paper methods. Data on a suite of socially value-laden measures comparing the equivalence of scores obtained via social media (Facebook) versus offline environments were considered. Participants (N = 193) completed measures of primary and secondary psychopathy, emotional manipulation, emotional intelligence, interpersonal cognition, social desirability, and ethical position either online or using pen-and-paper in a between groups design. Results suggested that both social media and offline data were equivalent in terms of internal reliability and patterns of relationships among constructs. However, participants were more likely to report higher levels of ethical relativism when completing the measure via social media. These findings highlight the importance of establishing equivalence for specific measures when engaging in online data collection, as well as providing insight into the nature of self-disclosure in the social media environment. Future research should assess the equivalence of other socially value-laden measures in online and pen-and-paper environments.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a culturally-responsive cognitive-behavioral support group for migrant farmworker women of Mexican descent was evaluated and participants with elevated depression and migrant farm worker stress underwent a 6-session intervention conducted in Spanish by a licensed clinical psychologist and a lay health worker.
Abstract: Despite previous research findings that suggested that migrant farmworkers are at great risk for mental health problems, no published research has evaluated mental health interventions in migrant farmworkers. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a culturally-responsive cognitive-behavioral support group for migrant farmworker women of Mexican descent. Six participants with elevated depression and migrant farmworker stress underwent a 6-session intervention conducted in Spanish by a licensed clinical psychologist and a lay health worker (promotora). Participants completed baseline, posttreatment and 6-month followup assessments. Baseline and outcome measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory, Personality Assessment Inventory Anxiety Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Rosenburg Self-Esteem Inventory. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests indicated significant reductions in depression, anxiety, migrant farmworker stress, and hopelessness and increased self-esteem scores at posttreatment and followup. Eighty-three percent of participants achieved clinically significant pretreatment-posttreatment change and 100 % achieved clinically significant pretreatment-followup change. Our overall findings provide support for the usage of culturally-responsive support groups as an effective short-term intervention for migrant farmworkers. Our use of a promotora appeared especially helpful in decreasing stigma and promoting trust. Although our intervention shows promise, future research should evaluate the intervention in a more controlled manner.
TL;DR: This article investigated the relationship between socio-structural characteristics of intergroup differences, identity concealment, and self-esteem in members of a stigmatized minority group, and found that these characteristics interact to predict concealment strategies as a way of managing perceived stigma.
Abstract: The present research investigated the relationship between socio-structural characteristics of intergroup differences, identity concealment, and self-esteem in members of a stigmatized minority group. Structural equation modeling of survey responses collected at a convention showed that socio-structural characteristics interact to predict concealment strategies as a way of managing perceived stigma. Perceived permeability of intergroup boundaries predicted increased endorsement of concealment, moderated by the legitimacy and stability of intergroup status differences. Interacting socio-structural characteristics also predicted self-esteem, an effect mediated by identity concealment. The results illustrate that socio-structural characteristics can help predict stigmatized minority group members’ endorsement of identity concealment despite its potentially maladaptive effects.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the associations of BMI and age with estimates of self-perceived mate value and intrasexual competition in Chilean women (18-39) and found partial support to their propositions.
Abstract: Attractiveness is the most important component of women intrasexual competition and it certainly has an impact in female’s perceived mate value (i.e., the value of an individual to the opposite sex as a potential mate). In the realm of intrasexual competition women are eager to emphasize their attractiveness and compete with rivals displaying these cues. Accordingly, age is an important feature of women’s appeal to the opposite sex; youth is highly valued by men, and is perceived by women as an important component of their attractiveness. Another trait that is a reliable cue of health and fertility is Body Mass Index (BMI). A large body of literature has associated BMI to female attractiveness. However, more information is necessary about the associations of BMI and age with mate value, and female intrasexual competition. In the present research we report two studies that examined the associations of BMI and age with estimates of self-perceived mate value and intrasexual competition in Chilean women (18–39 years). More specifically, we hypothesized inverse relationships of BMI and age with mate value (N = 234), and intrasexual competition (N = 308). We found partial support to our propositions. The results revealed inverse associations between BMI, mate value and mating success, but BMI with intrasexual competition were not related. In contrast, age had a strong and negative effect on intrasexual competition. We discuss our results within the framework of Evolutionary Psychology and consider the central role of attractiveness (estimated from BMI and age) in the mating strategies of women.
TL;DR: The present study proposed that discrepancies between self-standards and the can self are a second type of discrepancy that should be included in structural models of self-knowledge, and explored a set of eight self-discrepancies, i.e. both the perceived actualization and the attainability of four self-Standards.
Abstract: A model of self-knowledge is proposed which summarizes and integrates a few distinctions concerning self-standards and related self-discrepancies. Four types of self-standards are distinguished (i.e. ideal, ought, undesired and forbidden selves) and a hierarchical organization of these standards is postulated. There is a basic contrast between positive and negative standards at the higher level of the hierarchy, whereas Higgins’ distinction between ideals and oughts is found at the lower level. Every self-standard is analyzed in terms of two types of self-discrepancies. Many previous studies explored discrepancies between self-standards and the actual self, i.e. the perceived actualization of standards. The present study proposed that discrepancies between self-standards and the can self are a second type of discrepancy that should be included in structural models of self-knowledge. The can self consists of self-beliefs referring to capabilities and potentials; thus, this additional type of discrepancy reflects the perceived attainability of standards. Consequently, the present study explored a set of eight self-discrepancies, i.e. both the perceived actualization and the attainability of four self-standards. In order to assess the intercorrelations among these eight self-discrepancies, participants (N = 404) completed a newly developed online measure. CFA modeling confirmed the postulated two-level hierarchy of self-standards. The reasonability of including discrepancies between self-standards and the can self in the structural model of self-knowledge was also confirmed.
TL;DR: This paper examined how self-reported BAP characteristics, social interaction anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation relate to social functioning (specifically, loneliness) in a sample of college students.
Abstract: Recent research has begun to focus on the subclinical presentation of autistic-like traits in individuals, a construct termed the broader autism phenotype (BAP). The presence of the BAP has been established in both first-degree relatives of individuals with autism as well as in the general population. The current study aimed to examine how self-reported BAP characteristics, social interaction anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation relate to social functioning (specifically, loneliness) in a sample of college students. Results showed that for all subjects, BAP, social interaction anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation did not predict loneliness in a regression model. However, for males these predictors accounted for approximately 48 % of the variance in loneliness scores. Among males, individuals rating themselves as having lower social skills, lower imagination, and higher social interaction anxiety were more likely to also report feeling lonely. These results indicate that the predictors used may function differently among males and females. Although BAP characteristics and social interaction anxiety may not be important correlates of social functioning for females in this sample, they appear to be very important for males’ subjective feelings of loneliness.
TL;DR: The authors explored the synergies between these two lines of inquiry by looking at how time perspectives are related to different academic emotions and found that future time perspective was positively associated with positive academic emotions such as enjoyment, hope, and pride.
Abstract: Research on time perspectives and academic emotions have proceeded in parallel with little cross-fertilization of ideas. The aim of this study was to explore the synergies between these two lines of inquiry by looking at how time perspectives are related to different academic emotions. Filipino university students answered relevant questionnaires. Regression analyses were conducted to examine how time perspectives predicted different academic emotions. Results indicated that future time perspective was positively associated with positive academic emotions such as enjoyment, hope, and pride. Present-fatalistic time perspective was positively associated with negative academic emotions such as anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness, and boredom. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the relationship between self-perceived burden and autonomy, environmental mastery, and resiliency, as well as the occurrence of SPB in cancer patients with varying prognoses.
Abstract: Past research on self-perceived burden (SPB) has primarily focused on palliative care cancer patients with the scope of the research concentrating on explanations of the construct and identification of correlated variables, such as psychological distress. Little is known, however, about individual differences and how they may contribute to the experience of SPB. This quantitative study was designed to investigate the relationship between SPB and autonomy, environmental mastery, and resiliency, as well as the occurrence of SPB in cancer patients with varying prognoses. Using a cross-sectional survey method, 61 cancer patients were recruited from three regional cancer centers in Central and Southwest Virginia. The findings revealed autonomy and environmental mastery to statistically significantly predict a small amount of variance in SPB scores R2 = 0.12, adjusted R2 = 0.09, F (2, 54) = 3.61, p < 0.05. Resilience did not prove to predict SPB. Findings also revealed SPB to be a relatively common occurrence in cancer patient with varying prognoses. The results also demonstrate that cancer patients with varying prognoses are impacted by self-perceived burden increasing their risk of physical, psychological, and existential distress.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated whether factors related to disordered gambling were predictive of endorsing gambling as an escape and found that emotional regulation and social adjustment were significant predictors of gamification.
Abstract: Previous research has suggested that gambling as an escape is strongly related to disordered gambling. The present study tested whether factors related to disordered gambling were predictive of endorsing gambling as an escape. Three hundred eleven adults from the United States completed several measures of gambling and questionnaires on alcohol expectancies, emotion-regulation strategies, social-adjustment level, and sensation seeking. Consistent with previous research, endorsing gambling as an escape was strongly associated with reporting of gambling problems. Drinking as a coping mechanism and several emotion-regulation strategies were significant predictors of endorsing gambling as an escape. However, levels of social adjustment and sensation seeking were not predictive of gambling as an escape. The present results suggest that escape may be a higher-order factor that links substance abuse and disordered gambling. Likewise, they suggest that endorsing gambling as an escape is rooted in affect. As such, the results are informative to both researchers and practitioners.
TL;DR: In this article, the relation of self-supporting personality, Big Five personality, and depression was examined in a sample of 439 Chinese undergraduate students using the Self-Supporting Personality Scale for Adolescent Students (SSPS-AS), the Mandarin Chinese version of Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and the Chinese Version of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).
Abstract: Self-supporting personality (SSP) is an indigenous Chinese personality concept. It is assumed to be a protective personality factor with regard to depression. In the present study, self-supporting personality traits are assumed to be similar to Big Five personality traits or facets of the Five Factor Model to a considerable degree, but also to contain some tendencies or dispositions which are related to depression in ways that go beyond either the Big Five factors or their sub-factors. The relation of self-supporting personality, Big Five personality, and depression was examined in a sample of 439 Chinese undergraduate students using the Self-Supporting Personality Scale for Adolescent Students (SSPS-AS), the Mandarin Chinese version of Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and the Chinese Version of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Results from the correlation analysis revealed that most SSP traits were significantly correlated with the Big Five personality dimensions and sub-dimensions, but the correlation between personal flexibility and either the Big Five dimensions or their sub-dimensions were modest at best. Results from the hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that interpersonal responsibility, interpersonal openness, and personal independence negatively predicted depression, even after controlling for demographic variables and the Big Five personality, however, the explained variance decreased sharply. These results support the hypothesis that despite some overlap with the Big Five personality, self-supporting personality is related to depression in additional ways that the Big Five personality dimensions or their sub-dimensions are not.
TL;DR: This article investigated the cross-lagged relationship between gratitude and adolescent athlete burnout through the corresponsive perspective of personality and found a reverse relationship by showing athlete burn out at time 1 negatively related to gratitude at time 2.
Abstract: The current study aims to investigate the cross-lagged relationship between gratitude and adolescent athlete burnout through the corresponsive perspective of personality. Adolescent athletes completed surveys at two time points with a three-month interval. Current study used structural equation modeling to examine hypothesis. Contrary to previous studies, the results revealed that after controlling for the gender, age, and athlete burnout at time 1, gratitude at time 1 did not predict athlete burnout at time 2. However, this study found a reverse relationship by showing athlete burnout at time 1 negatively related to gratitude at time 2. The findings indicate that athletes’ experience of burnout might decrease dispositional gratitude. The mechanisms and the implications for measuring gratitude were discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a sample of 384 newly unemployed people was assessed using psychometric scales which have been shown in past research to be linked to job finding, and five groups of unemployed people were differentiated: the "integrated", "willing", "outsider", "anxious" and "dispossessed" groups.
Abstract: Profiling of the unemployed in order to predict and prevent long-term unemployment has hitherto been based on socio-professional data; however, there is evidence that psychological dimensions also predict job search strategies and unemployment duration. In order to provide psychological profiling, a typological method could be more parsimonious than trait/dimension approaches. Typologies created to date have not addressed the issue of predicting employment status. A sample of 384 newly unemployed people was assessed using psychometric scales which have been shown in past research to be linked to job finding. Through cluster analysis, five groups of unemployed people were differentiated: the “integrated”, “willing”, “outsider”, “anxious”, and “dispossessed”. The typology showed predictive validity for employment status after 12 months. People who were “anxious” or “dispossessed” were more often unemployed than those who were “integrated”, “willing”, or “outsider”. It provided an alternative way of classifying unemployed people that could be used in profiling and especially in advisory support and counselling.
TL;DR: This article investigated the association between pre-election counterfactual thoughts on the national economy and subsequent voting choice and found that voters focused counterfactuallys on the government and other political or economic actors but also, and more frequently, on unspecified or reified actors.
Abstract: Previous research has shown that counterfactual thinking (“if only…”) is related to event explanation, blame assignment, and future decisions. Using data from a large-scale electoral panel survey (ITANES), we investigated the association between pre-election counterfactual thoughts on the national economy and subsequent voting choice. Results revealed that voters focused counterfactuals on the government and other political or economic actors but also, and more frequently, on unspecified or reified actors. Whereas counterfactuals focused on the government were associated with voting for the challenger, counterfactuals focused on political or economic actors or on reified actors were associated with voting for the incumbent. These associations were even stronger when counterfactuals had a subtractive (“if only X had not…”) rather than an additive (“if only X had…”) structure. The inclusion of the targets of the counterfactuals added significantly to the predictive value of a model of voting choice based on voters’ evaluation of the national economy.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the potential mediators between sociosexual orientation (SO) and romantic commit- ment and find that perceived social skills, intellect, and perceived similarities with the partner are significant mediators for SO and commitment.
Abstract: Past studies have indicated that individuals with an unrestricted sociosexual orientation (SO; 'unrestricted' reflects comfort with sex outside the confines of a committed relationship) emphasize attractiveness and desirability when pursuing ro- mantic partners. Additionally, SO is related to decreased commitment, and ultimately increased infidelity, in a current romantic relationship. Thus, the current study investi- gates potential mediators between sociosexual orientation (SO) and romantic commit- ment. Perceptions of a romantic partner's characteristics such as physical attractiveness, various personality traits, and perceived similarities were examined as mediators. The findings indicate perceived social skills, intellect, and perceived similarities with the partner were all significant mediators between SO and commitment. Additionally, physical attractiveness was a marginally significant mediator. The final mediation model suggests that individuals with unrestricted SOs may have lower commit in their current relationships because participants with an unrestricted SO, compared to partic- ipants with a restricted SO, rated their partners as having fewer social skills, less intellect, and also fewer similarities between themselves and their partners.
TL;DR: In this article, the Authentic Happiness Inventory (AHI) was translated into Persian to ensure item comprehension by the Iranian participants, and the results show that the AHI-PV enjoys a high internal consistency (alpha =.93).
Abstract: Unlike other measures of happiness that have tended to capture current levels of happiness, the Authentic Happiness Inventory (AHI) (Peterson, 2005; Seligman et al. in The American Psychologist 60:410–421, 2005) assesses changes in happiness based on the creation of positive emotions (the pleasant life), engagement in activities that facilitate the utilization of one’s strengths (the engaged life), and serving a more worthwhile purpose than merely the self’s pleasures (the meaningful life). Nonetheless, there is little published data regarding the construct validation of the AHI. The present study, which is part of a larger research project in assessing the effectiveness of integrating happiness intervention programs in the foreign language teaching curriculum at private English institutes and universities in Iran, attempts an examination of the psychometric quality and the construct validation of the Persian version of AHI (hereafter AHI-PV) using data collected from 234 Iranian learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), mainly through employing the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The AHI was translated into Persian to ensure item comprehension by the Iranian participants. The results show that the AHI-PV enjoys a high internal consistency (alpha = .93). Further, having determined a ‘marvelous’ factorability of the present sample through the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test of Sampling Adequacy (.94) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (p < 0.05), we employed the EFA to the data. Moreover, the results obtained from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Scree test indicated that, in contrast to earlier findings, a four-factor solution provides a more parsimonious grouping of the items in the inventory. Having analyzed the items on the scale, we labeled the four factors as ‘Meaningful and Purposeful Life’, ‘Pleasures and Positive Emotions’, ‘Engagement in Life Activities’, and ‘Interpersonal Connectedness’, hence the alignment of these new factors to Seligman’s (2002) conceptualization of authentic happiness.
TL;DR: In this paper, Croatian college students recollected the process of choosing their future professional paths at the end of high school, and evaluated the outcome of this process, and investigated the influence of several identified decision making characteristics on participants' immediate and delayed satisfaction with the chosen option.
Abstract: Choosing one’s future career represents one of the most important decisions individuals face during their development. In the present study, Croatian college students recollected the process of choosing their future professional paths at the end of high school, and evaluated the outcome of this process. Specifically, students described how they chose between different career options, typically different college majors, available to them at that time. They specified the number and main characteristics of considered alternatives, the underlying motivation and timing of committing to a particular option, and reported how satisfied they were with the made choices. Next, the present study explored the influence of several identified decision making characteristics on participants’ immediate and delayed satisfaction with the chosen option. Additionally, the influence of several decision styles on individuals’ satisfaction was investigated. The obtained results indicate that, among decision making features, decision certainty represented the only significant predictor of participants’ immediate satisfaction with the made decision. The appeal of the preferred option and the number of considered options were revealed as additional significant predictors of delayed satisfaction with the chosen alternative. With regard to decision styles, regret and a distinct commitment factor predicted participants’ satisfaction with the made choice.
TL;DR: The authors found that on mental imagery days, students were significantly more likely to report a sense of accomplishment, ease, coping, and positive affect, compared with to-do list days.
Abstract: Although to-do lists are a ubiquitous daily planning tool there is limited information on users’ perceptions of this method. Another resource to support goal-oriented planning is mental imagery. A substantial body of research shows the utility of mental imagery in the domains of healthcare, sports, business and education. Imagery has been shown to enhance goal-oriented behavior, and along with primed positive affect, to enhance persistence and coping. For the purpose of comparison, a sample of 214 college students practiced either a goal-oriented mental imagery technique or a to-do list technique on alternate days for two weeks. On mental imagery days students were significantly more likely to report a sense of accomplishment, ease, coping, and positive affect, compared with to-do list days. Qualitative comments provided additional informative detail showing to-do list days to be associated with a task orientation, greater dissatisfaction with underachievement, and higher levels of perceived stress and negative affect. While the study shows benefit for both mental imagery and to-do lists, a tenable conclusion from the results is that a combination of the two methods may actually yield the greatest benefit. Used in tandem the methods provide a synergistic orientation to daily tasks with a heightened sense of positive affect and expectancy.
TL;DR: Linguistic abstraction moderated the effects of the gender stereotypicality of the context (masculine, feminine, or neutral) on participants’ gender judgments, consistent with the dispositionality factor.
Abstract: We investigated the role that linguistic abstraction may play in people's perceptions of gender in spoken language. In the first experiment, participants told stories about their best friend and romantic partner. Variations in linguistic abstraction and gender-linked adjectives for describing their close others were examined. Participants used significantly more abstract language to describe men compared to women, possibly reflecting a gender stereotype associated with the dispositionality factor of linguistic abstraction. In a second experiment, a new group of participants judged the gender of the protagonists from the stories generated in Experiment 1, after the explicit linguistic gender cues were removed. Consistent with the dispositionality factor, linguistic abstraction moderated the effects of the gender stereotypicality of the context (masculine, feminine, or neutral) on participants' gender judgments. Discussion focuses on the implications of the results for the communication of gender stereotypes and the effects of linguistic abstraction in more naturalistic language.
TL;DR: This article investigated the role of self-perception of reading skill as a critical cue for metacomprehension assessment and found that self-perspective of reading skills was predictive of reading comprehension.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the role of self-perception of reading skill as a critical cue for metacomprehension assessment. To achieve our objective, we inspected how self-perception of reading skill explains judgements of reading comprehension and their absolute accuracy. The study results supported our hypotheses: (1) self-perception of reading skill was predictive of metacomprehension predictions even when actual reading skill was controlled for; (2) the extent to which self-perception of reading skill deviated from actual reading skill accounted for the degree to which absolute accuracy of predictions was limited; and (3) more-skilled readers were less likely to overestimate their general reading skill and their reading performance in specific texts than less-skilled readers. However, (4) self-perception of reading skill was more highly related to postdictions than predictions of test performance, which was counter to expectations. We conclude that self-perception of reading skill influences metacomprehension assessments and their absolute accuracy.
TL;DR: In this article, a dual identity recategorization intervention was applied on age bias toward a hypothetical older adult, when applied on individuals both low and high on the spectrum of ageism.
Abstract: A laboratory experiment was conducted on a convenient sample of N = 724 introductory Psychology students from the southeastern United States, to test the effectiveness of a dual identity recategorization intervention when applied on age bias toward a hypothetical older adult, when applied on individuals both low and high on the spectrum of ageism, and when applied on members of the naturally occurring in-group, younger adults. As predicted by Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, the intervention served to worsen evaluations of an in-group target vis-a-vis a control group that was not exposed to the intervention, and especially when applied on individuals possessing lower amounts of the in-group bias in question, ageism. Moreover, although age-based stereotyping and in-group bias against an older applicant was demonstrated, the intervention was found to have no effect in changing evaluations of an older target relative to the control group. Results and implications for future research are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors test the motivation and awareness variables of the I-change model as predictors of adolescent intention to go to bed earlier and find that positive attitudes towards sleep and parents setting wake time predicted higher intentions to go bed earlier.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to test the motivation and awareness variables of the I-change model as predictors of adolescent intention to go to bed earlier. Questionnaires regarding sleep related motivational and awareness variables were administered to 127 sleep restricted (determined by actigraphy) high school students (12–17 years old). The motivational variables positive attitudes towards sleep and parents setting wake time predicted higher intentions to go bed earlier. The awareness variable sleep related cues to action also predicted higher intentions to advance bedtime. Positive attitudes towards sleep partially mediated the effect of sleep related cues to action on intention to advance bedtime. Future sleep promotion programs should train adolescents to detect cues to go to bed earlier to increase their intentions to go to bed earlier. Adolescents should be assisted to develop positive attitudes towards sleep as to enhance their autonomous motivation to advance their bedtime.