Individual Psychological Differences Research Articles

Leveraging artificial intelligence to identify the psychological factors associated with conspiracy theory beliefs online

Given the profound societal impact of conspiracy theories, probing the psychological factors associated with their spread is paramount. Most research lacks large-scale behavioral outcomes, leaving factors related to actual online support for conspiracy theories uncertain. We bridge this gap by combining the psychological self-reports of 2506 Twitter (currently X) users with machine-learning classification of whether the textual data from their 7.7 million social media engagements throughout the pandemic supported six common COVID-19 conspiracy theories. We assess demographic factors, political alignment, factors derived from theory of reasoned action, and individual psychological differences. Here, we show that being older, self-identifying as very left or right on the political spectrum, and believing in false information constitute the most consistent risk factors; denialist tendencies, confidence in one’s ability to spot misinformation, and political conservativism are positively associated with support for one conspiracy theory. Combining artificial intelligence analyses of big behavioral data with self-report surveys can effectively identify and validate risk factors for phenomena evident in large-scale online behaviors.

USING THE METHOD OF PSYCHOCONSTITUTIONAL THERAPY IN THE EARLY ACUTE PERIOD OF POST-TRAUMATIC DISORDER

In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of psychoconstitutional therapy (PCT) in the early acute phase of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within a biopsychosocial framework, considering individual psychological and constitutional differences. Participants were categorized into "Flowers," "Pots," and "Gardeners" based on their stress response behaviours and received tailored interventions aimed at modulating amygdala activity and revising maladaptive stress responses. The results showed statistically significant improvements in stress response behaviours, PTSD symptomatology across various clusters, and overall psychological well-being, as measured by the Psychological General Well-Being Index. This study highlights the potential of psychoconstitutional therapy not only to reduce PTSD symptoms but also to enhance general mental health. It supports the inclusion of this therapy in current psychiatric practices and aligns with the growing trend towards personalized treatment approaches, offering new hope for effective PTSD management

Designing and evaluating tasks to measure individual differences in experimental psychology: a tutorial.

Experimental psychology is witnessing an increase in research on individual differences, which requires the development of new tasks that can reliably assess variations among participants. To do this, cognitive researchers need statistical methods that many researchers have not learned during their training. The lack of expertise can pose challenges not only in designing good, new tasks but also in evaluating tasks developed by others. To bridge the gap, this article provides an overview of test psychology applied to performance tasks, covering fundamental concepts such as standardization, reliability, norming and validity. It provides practical guidelines for developing and evaluating experimental tasks, as well as for combining tasks to better understand individual differences. To further address common misconceptions, the article lists 11 prevailing myths. The purpose of this guide is to provide experimental psychologists with the knowledge and tools needed to conduct rigorous and insightful studies of individual differences.

Особенности эмоционального состояния врачей, работающих и неработающих с пациентами, больными Covid-19, в контексте их индивидуально-психологических различий

<p>Since 2019, the world has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the lives of almost everyone. But the greatest burden of responsibility fell on the shoulders of medical workers who have been fighting for the lives of patients in the "red zones" all this time, experiencing enormous overload and stress, and after all, everyone has limited resources to overcome difficult life situations and reacts to them in their own way. In this regard, the purpose of our work was to study the emotional state of doctors working and not working with patients with COVID-19 in the context of their individual psychological differences, such as personal anxiety, features of aggressive behavior and the presence of certain socio-psychological attitudes. The total number of study participants was 81 people aged 27 to 63 years (M=43.6; SD=8.7). As a result of the study, significant differences were revealed in the severity of situational anxiety, overstrain and counteraction to stress in groups with moderate and high levels of personal anxiety among doctors working in "red" zones. For doctors working in "clean" zones, significant differences between situational anxiety and overexertion were revealed for this parameter. The presence of significant connections of such features of aggressive behavior as aggressiveness and hostility with the severity of stress, overexertion and resistance to stress was found. Significant connections between the levels of situational anxiety, overexertion and resistance to stress and different styles of behavior in conflict situations were also revealed. In addition, the links between situational anxiety, overstrain and resistance to stress and various styles of socio-psychological attitudes were revealed.</p>

Correlation Analysis Between Time Awareness and Morningness-Eveningness Preference.

The circadian clock is adjusted by light inputs via the retinohypothalamic tract. Because environmental light is controllable for modern humans at the individual's preference although under social schedules, individual differences in time-related psychology and behavior may be associated with morningness-eveningness preference (M-E preference). To examine this hypothesis, we used the Time Management Scale and Time Anxiety Scale to quantify time-related psychology and behavior. These scales aim to evaluate "awareness of effective time management and utilization" and "anxiety about uncontrollable time schedule and unexpected time-related outcome", respectively. According to our correlation analysis using mid-sleep time as a marker for M-E preference, we obtained results supporting our hypothesis in the correlation between the M-E preference values and the Time Management Scale scores, with larger "time estimation" and "taking each moment as it comes" scores associated with more morningness and eveningness, respectively. Considering that modern humans likely become night owls under artificial light conditions, it appears plausible that lower awareness of time management leads to more eveningness.

Sex and national differences in internet addiction in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

BackgroundUnderstanding individual differences in psychology, and how they relate to specific addictions, may allow society to better identify those at most risk and even enact policies to ameliorate them. Internet addiction is a growing health concern, a research focus of which is to understand individual differences and the psychology of those most susceptible to developing it. Western countries are strongly overrepresented in this regard. MethodHere, sex and national differences in internet addiction are measured, using Young's ‘Internet Addiction Test,’ in two non-Western countries, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. >800 students aged 18 and 35 years (M = 20.65, SD = 1.48) completed a multidimensional internet addiction instrument. The instrument measures traits such as Withdrawal and Social Problems, Time Management and Performance and Reality Substitute. ResultsAnalyses revealed that males scored higher than females and Saudis higher than Egyptians on nearly all scales, including the total score. Factor analysis of the 20-item instrument revealed three factors, all exhibiting sex and culture differences. ConclusionsThese findings add to the body of evidence that males are higher than females in problematic internet use, as they are in addictive behaviors in general. Our findings may also imply that restrictions on male-female interaction, which are more pronounced in Saudi Arabia, may elevate the prevalence of internet addiction. The internet is also easier and cheaper to access in Saudi Arabia than in Egypt.

Why students do not engage in contract cheating: a closer look

Contract cheating – students outsourcing assignments to ghost-writers and submitting it as their own – is an issue facing tertiary education institutions globally. Approximately 3% to 11% of higher education students may engage on contract cheating. Understanding why nearly 90% of students do not engage in contract cheating is as important as understanding why other students do, as it can aid in the development of effective interventions and policies. This study addressed limitations in previous research and built upon a measure of Reasons for Not Contract Cheating (RNCC). In this study, 403 university students participated in an online survey consisting of a revised version of the Reasons for Not Contract Cheating measure (RNCC-R) and measures of psychological individual differences, such as the dark triad personality traits, self-control, and autonomy. Two higher-order factors and six sub-factors were identified in the RNCC-R, which included some similarities to the original RNCC. The findings from this study demonstrate the importance of psychological individual differences, such as satisfaction of the need for autonomy, grit (perseverance of effort), and Machiavellianism, in predicting the reasons why students do not engage in contract cheating. Consistent with previous research, this study provides support for the importance of students’ motivation for learning, and their perceived morals and norms, as reasons for not engaging in contract cheating. It additionally provides evidence of the importance of the academic environment, such as respect for academic staff, as a reason why students do not engage in contract cheating.

Exploratory study: Financial behaviour of qualified financial professionals during South Africa’s lockdown

Orientation: Financial behaviour is known for the direct or indirect management of funds through inter alia spending, saving and borrowing.Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the financial behaviour of qualified financial professionals and how it compares with behaviour since the national lockdown regulations in South Africa were imposed in March 2020.Motivation for the study: Several studies found that higher levels of financial knowledge are often associated with more desirable financial behaviour, but because of individual psychological resource differences, people in a similar economic situation may experience different levels of financial threat.Research approach/design and method: An empirical study using a survey, which is supported by an underlying literature review.Main findings: Survey results showed that most respondents do not track actual expenditure against budgets; however, this tendency changes with an increase in age. Financing through loans decreases with an increase in the age of respondents. Cash flow considerations were identified since the national lockdown regulations were imposed, addressed mostly by an increase in saving initiatives. Where qualified financial professionals use financial advisors, it is predominantly for advising on retirement and investment strategies. An association was found between the age of respondents and the likelihood of utilising the services of financial advisors for taxation savings.Practical/managerial implications: It is recommended that the findings on how qualified financial professionals managed their funds prior to and after the national lockdown should be used as guidance by others.Contribution/value-add: The study provides information that the lockdown did not necessarily result in major changes in the financial behaviour of the qualified financial professionals in the study.

Personality Neuroscience: An Emerging Field with Bright Prospects.

Personality neuroscience is the study of persistent psychological individual differences, typically in the general population, using neuroscientific methods. It has the potential to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying individual differences and their manifestation in ongoing behavior and experience. The field was inaugurated many decades ago, yet has only really gained momentum in the last two, as suitable technologies have become widely available. Personality neuroscience employs a broad range of methods, including molecular genetics, pharmacological assays or manipulations, electroencephalography, and various neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Although exciting progress is being made in this young field, much remains unknown. In this brief review, we discuss discoveries that have been made, methodological challenges and advances, and important questions that remain to be answered. We also discuss best practices for personality neuroscience research and promising future directions for the field.

Psychographic Segmentation of Saving Market

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of saving market segmentation by identifying segments consumers using a combination of several dimensions, such as psychological motivations, perceptions, attitudes, and demographics. A sample of 1,800 age-appropriate savers, randomly selected, completed a structured questionnaire which contains more than 190 questions to determine an individual's psychological differences for each dimension. Data related to the key objectives were analyzed using Factor analysis, Cluster analysis, and Multi-factor regression. Results revealed certain segments that differed in psychological and demographic characteristics. The further differences were examined among the segments based on the factors that impact on consumer’s purchasing intention and choice of savings services.

Neuropsychological Preventive Treatment of Emotional Burnout among University Students

The article is dedicated to the problem of theoretical study and development of methodical recommendations on neuropsychological preventive treatment of emotional burnout among students of higher education establishments. The concept of neuropsychological symptom complex of emotional burnout syndrome at the emotional, cognitive and behavioral levels associated with the rigidity of psychological defense mechanisms and psychosomatic disorders has been clarified. Neuropsychological preventive treatment of emotional burnout is described, taking into account scientific data on the structural and functional organization of the cerebral hemispheres, which affect individual psychological differences in overcoming the syndrome of physical exhaustion. The phases and factors of emotional burnout development among students are indicated. Neuropsychological preventive treatment of emotional burnout among students is presented as a set of measures, with complication of the proposed techniques, taking into account an individual approach and personal resources, motivation to overcome stress, interests and needs of students. Recommendations for normalization of emotional exhaustion among students by modern foreign and domestic researchers are summarized.

Psychographic Segmentation of Saving Market

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of saving market segmentation by identifying segments consumers using a combination of several dimensions, such as psychological motivations, perceptions, attitudes, and demographics. A sample of 1,800 age-appropriate savers, randomly selected, completed a structured questionnaire which contains more than 190 questions to determine an individual's psychological differences for each dimension. Data related to the key objectives were analyzed using Factor analysis, Cluster analysis, and multi-factor regression. Results revealed certain segments that differed in psychological and demographic characteristics. The further differences were examined among the segments based on the factors that impact on consumer's purchasing intention and choice of savings services.

Specialised minds: extending adaptive explanations of personality to the evolution of psychopathology.

Traditional evolutionary theory invoked natural and sexual selection to explain species- and sex-typical traits. However, some heritable inter-individual variability in behaviour and psychology - personality - is probably adaptive. Here we extend this insight to common psychopathological traits. Reviewing key findings from three background areas of importance - theoretical models, non-human personality and evolved human social dynamics - we propose that a combination of social niche specialisation, negative frequency-dependency, balancing selection and adaptive developmental plasticity should explain adaptation for individual differences in psychology - 'specialised minds' - explaining some variance in personality and psychopathology trait dimensions, which share various characteristics. We suggest that anthropological research of behavioural differences should be extended past broad demographic factors (age and sex) to include individual specialisations. As a first step towards grounding psychopathology in ancestral social structure, we propose a minimum plausible prevalence, given likely ancestral group sizes, for negatively frequency-dependent phenotypes to be maintained as specialised tails of adaptive distributions - below the calculated prevalence, specialisation is highly unlikely. For instance, chronic highly debilitating forms of autism or schizophrenia are too rare for such explanations, whereas attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and broad autism phenotypes are common enough to have existed in most hunter-gatherer bands, making adaptive explanations more plausible.

Psychological Research of Teenagers’ Creativity

Psychological Research of Teenagers’ Creativity

Serious disease as an existential problem

The results of a theoretical and empirical study of basic beliefs and their relationship with the level of post-traumatic stress, personal characteristics, and psychological safety represenrarions in people with severe somatic disease ("meningioma" (n=60)) are analysed. Basic beliefs are presented as empirical markers of a person's experience of an existential experience. Hypotheses about individual psychological differences in a person's attitude to himself and the world in the conditions of experiencing a difficult life event are tested. It is proved that people with a positive attitude towards themselves and the world have high rates on the World Assumption Scale (WAS) and such subscales as benevolence of the world, controllability, justice, self-worth and luck. It is shown that a positive attitude towards oneself and the world correlates with a certain configuration of personality traits on Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI), including sociability, poise, masculinity; the representations about psychological safety are related to the orientation of the person towards internal resources (competence, life experience, control, etc.). The people with negative attitudes towards themselves and the world, i.e. with low rates on the WAS, are characterized as neurotic, depressive, irritable, emotionally labile on FPI; their representations about psychological safety are related with the need in social support. In a group with averages on the WAS, personality profile is similar to the profile of the people with low rates on the WAS in exception of depression and femininity; the psychological safety is associated with internal and external resources. The results are discussed in the context of existential experience problem.

Sales promotion: the role of equity sensitivity

PurposeThis paper explores how consumer psychographics impact responses to sales promotions (SPs), and specifically whether equity sensitivity (ES) moderates attitudes towards sales promotion in the retail purchase experience (PE).Design/methodology/approachThe study examines data from a survey of 284 Hong Kong consumers, using a shopping mall-intercept method. Every third person walking past the researchers was asked to participate in the survey. After obtaining their permission, those agreeing to take part in the study were surveyed either inside or outside of the shopping complex. The face-to-face intercept surveying method also increases confidence in sample and response reliability.FindingsThe study finds that ES has a significant positive relationship with evaluations of the retail PE. Consumers identified as “Benevolents” were significantly more positive towards SPs and reported significantly higher satisfaction with the PE. In contrast, consumers identified as “Entitled” were less positive towards SP and less satisfied with the PE. In addition, noncash SPs significantly positively influenced Benevolents' PE.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study extends and expands equity theory and ES research by applying these concepts to consumer SPs. The study is limited to an examination of common consumer purchases, across different product categories and SP types. While this allows us to examine the relationship between SP attitudes, ES and purchase satisfaction, future comparisons between individual sales promotion techniques (SPTs) and specific consumer profiles are recommended.Practical implicationsFrom a retail perspective, it is important to understand individual differences and what influences and motivates the consumers' retail PE. Retail managers are advised to track customer purchases and satisfaction levels linked to SPs as this would allow for the identification of which customers are more likely to fit the Entitled or Benevolent psychological profiles and predict their likely responses to SP offers.Originality/valueTo date, there has been little research on individual psychological differences between consumers when offered SPs at retail stores. The current study contributes to the marketing literature by extending the price fairness equity model to the retail PE, thereby addressing a prominent gap in the literature.

Individual Differences in Developmental Psychology Early Childhood Mentality

As long as human life is never static, from birth to death, humans always experience changes; these changes are known as two kinds of changes: growth, which is increasing size and structure, and second, a development which means progressive, coherent, and orderly changes. Differences influence individual differences in early childhood mental development psychology in cognitive, language skills, motor skills, backgrounds, talents, and learning readiness. Parents who directly educate and shape children's social behavior early tend to continue to survive until the child reaches the next stage of development. Individual attitudes toward others and towards social activities are consistent at every age level. Individual development is a functional change that is qualitative, both from physical and mental functions, as a result of its association with environmental influences. Individual development is indicated by changes that are systematic, progressive, and continuous.

The predictive role of achievement goals adoption on sensation-seeking and risk taking in driving

Risk taking in driving is a major road safety issue. Understanding the individual psychological differences that may influence risk taking may contribute to better overcome its negative consequences. Recently, four achievement goals were highlighted in the driving domain: striving to drive well or to improve as much as possible (mastery-approach goals), to avoid driving badly or to avoid being a worse driver than before (mastery-avoidance goals), to outperform other drivers (performance-approach goals), and to avoid being a worse driver than other drivers (performance-avoidance goals). The first purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive role of these achievement goals in driving on self-reported drivers’ risk taking (ordinary and aggressive violations) and sensation-seeking. The second purpose of the study was to test the mediating role of sensation seeking between achievement goals adoption in driving and violations. A total of 341 French drivers voluntarily filled out the questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. The main results showed that performance-approach goals adoption was found to positively predict sensation seeking, ordinary and aggressive violations, whereas mastery-avoidance goals adoption was found to negatively predict these variables. The results also highlighted that sensation seeking was a significant mediator of the relationships between the two previous achievement goals (performance-approach and mastery-avoidance goals) and ordinary and aggressive violations. In conclusion, the achievement goal model may now be considered a relevant theoretical framework in the driving literature focusing on risk taking, sensation seeking, and road safety.

The interactive effects of socialization tactics and work locus of control on newcomer work adjustment, job embeddedness, and voluntary turnover

Previous research has tended to focus on general best practices for onboarding organizational newcomers. In this study, we shift the conversation to instead address the question: for whom are certain socialization tactics more or less beneficial? Whereas institutionalized socialization tactics provide considerable structure intended to reduce uncertainty and help newcomers adjust, less is known about whether and how individual psychological differences cause some newcomers to react differently to the same socialization tactics. To examine the interplay between organizational socialization efforts and newcomer individual differences, we hypothesize that newcomers’ work locus of control moderates the relationship between socialization tactics and voluntary turnover. We also examine the indirect role of newcomer work adjustment—role clarity, work mastery, social integration—and job embeddedness in transmitting the interaction between socialization tactics and work locus of control to turnover. Data collected from 676 newcomers at four time points over 12 months in various organizations provided general support for our hypotheses: newcomers with an external work locus of control showed higher social integration and embeddedness and lower turnover under institutionalized socialization tactics, but lower social integration and embeddedness and higher turnover under individualized tactics. Their turnover was also reduced (about nine times) from individualized to institutionalized tactics. In contrast, newcomers with an internal work locus of control were less influenced by either socialization tactic approach in terms of their social integration, embeddedness, or turnover.

Do trait psychological characteristics moderate sympathetic arousal to racial discrimination exposure in a natural setting?

Personality and psychological traits are known to influence how individuals react to and cope with stress, and thus, have downstream health and aging consequences. However, research considering psychological health traits as individual-level difference factors moderating the links been racism-related stress and health for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States is rare. Using intensive daily diaries and a wearable sensor that continuously recorded sympathetic nervous system arousal in a sample of racial and ethnic minority college students (80% African American, first-generation Black, or African; 20% Latinx), we linked arousal to racism-related experiences dynamically throughout the day as participants naturally went about their lives. Findings suggest that multiple traits are associated with increased arousal in real time when interpersonal discrimination is perceived, but that only anger and anxiety also predicted increased arousal during moments of rumination and reflection on race-related inequities. Vicarious discrimination exposure moments were also linked to suppressed arousal in general, but particularly for more anxious individuals. We use a stress appraisal and coping framework to elucidate the ways in which individual psychological differences may inform physiological responses to race-related stress. The biopsychosocial pathways by which cognitive appraisal and interpersonal race-related stress contribute to racial health disparities are also discussed.