Personal Construct Research Articles

Functional Ego States, Behavior Patterns, and Social Interaction of Bulgarian Adolescents and Their Parents

Adolescence is a dynamic period of transition, and interaction with parents is important for successfully passing through it. This article presents results from a study of three transactional analysis theory personality constructs of adolescents and their parents—functional ego states, life positions, and stroke economy. The sample included 215 students from 12 to 16 years old and 215 parents from 30 to 55 years old. The results show significant differences between the ego states Adult, Adapted Child, Nurturing Parent and Normative Parent of the adolescents and their parents, which are more expressed in the parents. It was found that the life position, “I am OK—you are OK” is more strongly expressed in parents, while the life position, “I am not OK—you are not OK” is leading in adolescents. In their interactions with others, adolescents express modesty, self-doubt, and underestimation of their own success, while parents are more assertive, confident, and resilient in their behavior. The obtained results can be used in different programs to improve social interaction and increase the effectiveness of adolescent-parent relationships.

Classroom assessment that tailor instruction and direct learning: A validation study

We report the validity of a test instrument that assesses the arithmetic ability of primary students by (a) describing the theoretical model of arithmetic ability assessment using Wilson’s (2004) four building blocks of constructing measures and (b) providing empirical evidence for the validation study. The instrument consists of 21 multiple-choice questions that hierarchically evaluate arithmetic intended learning outcomes (ILOs) on arithmetic ability, hierarchically, based on Bloom’s cognitive taxonomy for 138 primary three grade students. The theoretical model describes students’ arithmetic ability on three distinct levels: solid, developing, and basic. At each level, the model describes the characteristics of the tasks that the students can answer correctly. The analysis shows that the difficulty of the items followed the expected order in the theoretical construct map, where the difficulty of each designed item aligned with the cognitive level of the student, the item difficulty distribution aligned with the structure of the person construct map, and word problems required higher cognitive abilities than the calculation problems did. The findings, however, pointed out that more difficult items can be added to better differentiate students with different ability levels, and an item should be revised to enhance the reliability and validity of the research. We conclude that the conceptualizations of such formative assessments provide meaningful information for teachers to support learning and tailoring instruction.

Vocation: Theory and Practice

The core paradigm of the role of the phenomenon of vocation in being of a human as a spiritual mystery and a rational choice at the same time is emphasised. We consider the problem of the mystery of vocation in the spiritual-axiological (Christological) context of consideration and secular (so-called profane) understanding with a logical approach to modern-rational, research, and empirical paradigms of understanding and representation. The work analyses the results of the study of the guidance and actions of Ukrainian psychology students regarding the realisation of one’s vocation in the field of spiritual searches, in real life and virtual life space. The phenomenon of vocation is considered as a significant personal construct, which becomes a factor in its successful life self-realisation and achievement of psychological well-being. It is stated that a conscious vocation is a key to the successful professional self-determination of a young person and a factor in the effectiveness of their further professionalisation.

The hidden curriculum across medical disciplines: an examination of scope, impact, and context.

While research suggests that manifestations of the hidden curriculum (HC) phenomenon have the potential to reinforce or undermine the values of an institution, very few studies have comprehensively measured its scope, impact, and the varied clinical teaching and learning contexts within which they occur. We explored the HC and examined the validity of newly developed constructs and determined the influence of context on the HC. We surveyed medical students (n =182), residents (n =148), and faculty (n = 140) from all disciplines at our institution between 2019 and 2020. Based on prior research and expertise, we measured participants' experience with the HC including perceptions of respect and disrespect for different medical disciplines, settings in which the HC is experienced, impact of the HC, personal actions, efficacy, and their institutional perceptions. We examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the HC constructs using exploratory factor analysis Cronbach's alpha, regression analysis and Pearson's correlations. Expert judges (physician faculty and medical learners) confirmed the content validity of the items used and the analysis revealed new HC constructs reflecting negative expressions, positive impacts and expressions, negative impacts, personal actions, and positive institutional perceptions of the HC. Evidence for criterion validity was found for the negative impacts and the personal actions constructs and were significantly associated with the stage of respondents' career and gender. Support for convergent validity was obtained for HC constructs that were significantly correlated with certain contexts within which the HC occurs. More unique dimensions and contexts of the HC exist than have been previously documented. The findings demonstrate that specific clinical contexts can be targeted to improve negative expressions and impacts of the HC.

Writings on Patriotic Theme in Chinese Autobiographical Literature of the Song Dynasty China (960-1279

After the Yuan Army invaded the Central Plain at the end of the Song Dynasty, the Song Empire was broken. Faced with the atmosphere and historical background of the national crisis, the Song scholar-official class generally set up a moral standard and value system of "taking the world as their own duty", regarded loyalty to the country and the emperor as the most righteous path, and made a political choice to consciously transform their identity from scholar-officials to military generals who would save the country from being battered. At the same time, patriotic climax and expression of personality became an inseparable unity. Take Wen tianxiang for example, their loyalty to the Song emperor and patriotism was highly unified with their personality, it has been widely praised by future generations. The outstanding scholars’ writings made a patriotic literature climax at the end of the Song Dynasty. It not only reflected the profound influence of neo-confucianism on the personality construction of the scholar-officials and literary intelligentsia in the Song Dynasty, but also accorded with the orthodox literary thought in the Late Song Dynasty. In their patriotic writings, their noble national integrity of serving the country with death, coupled with their superb talent and creative skills, endowed their works with the epic temperament of shining through the ages. Therefore, the Song scholar-officials’ patriotic writing made the Song Dynasty a highlight moment of patriotic writing in the history of Chinese literature.

An exploration of validation as a form of social support in maintaining sobriety

This paper presents selected findings from a larger qualitative study in which 18 people recovering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD) were interviewed about maintaining long-term sobriety. The research adopted Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) as its theoretical framework. PCP focuses on personal meanings, particularly within role relationships with significant others. The findings extend our understanding of ‘social support’ from significant others in recovery from AUDs, and may be applicable to other Substance Use Disorders. In line with previous research, participants reported valuing practical support and general encouragement from family, friends and work colleagues. However, participants also reported changes in their sense of self, and especially valued instances where their significant others accepted and endorsed their new ‘sober selves’. Participants reported that their recovery was made more difficult when significant others failed to validate their new selves, or continued to endorse their old drinking identities, and the findings are discussed in terms of the PCP concept of ‘validation’. It is recommended that self-help groups provide opportunities for those recovering from AUDs to ‘practise’ and gain validation for their new, sober selves, and that they provide information and advice to significant others about the potential importance of validation in recovery.

Impact of Coaching on the Development of Personal and Social Competences among Secondary School Students.

In this study, the impact of school coaching in Spain on the dimensions that comprise the effective personality construct and the development of those dimensions among secondary school students is analyzed. Differences relating to the variables of gender, course year/age, and the state/private sector of each educational center are specified. A longitudinal study employing a quasi-experimental methodology was conducted with a sample of 310 students in attendance at 6 educational centers within the Community of Madrid, Spain; the study cohort comprised 156 (50.3%) male students and 154 (49.7%) female students. The effective personality questionnaire in secondary education was used for the pre- and post-intervention evaluations, as well as to conduct an open survey once the program had ended. The students who attended the six-session intervention expressed high degrees of satisfaction. Despite the brevity of each session (45-60 min), a slight non-significant improvement was observed in the experimental group relative to the control group in the dimensions that were studied (p > 0.05). Regarding gender, the program worked better with male rather than with female students. It was also more effective within state-aided than in state schools.

Association of loneliness and grey matter volume in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: the mediating role of interpersonal self-support traits.

As a social and public health concern, loneliness is associated with an abundance of negative life outcomes such as depressive symptomatology, mortality, and sleep disturbance. Nevertheless, the neural basis underlying loneliness remains elusive; in addition, previous neuroimaging studies about loneliness mainly focused on the elderly and were limited by small sample sizes. Here, utilizing the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach via structural magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the association between brain GMV and loneliness in 462 young adults (67.7% females, age = 18.59 ± 1.14 years). Results from whole-brain VBM analyses revealed that individuals with higher loneliness tended to have greater GMV in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which was thought to be associated with emotional regulation deficits and executive dysfunction. Importantly, the GMV-based predictive models (a machine-learning method) demonstrated that the correlation between loneliness and GMV in the DLPFC was robust. Further, interpersonal self-support traits (ISS), a Chinese indigenous personality construct and pivotal personality factor for resisting negative life outcomes, mediated the relationship between the GMV in the right DLPFC and loneliness. Taken together, the present study reveals that the GMV in right DLPFC acts as an underlying neurostructural correlate of loneliness in the healthy brain, and further provides a brain-personality-symptom pathway for protection against loneliness in which GMV of DLPFC affects loneliness through ISS traits. Future intervention procedures aiming to decrease loneliness and enhance mental health levels among young adults should be developed through improving interpersonal relationships such as social skills training.

The indispensable role of the goal construct in understanding and improving teaching practice

ABSTRACT Teacher research tends to focus on either teacher cognition or actions, or both. However, an understanding of cognition or behaviour that does not take multiple goals into account is incomplete. We integrate insights from self-regulation research in a goal system model and a methodology for eliciting teachers’ goal systems representations (GSRs). GSRs are personal constructs that show how people connect hierarchies of goals to actions in pursuit of tasks. The insight that multiple goals mediate the influence of cognition and context also has consequences for developing support for teacher learning. To illustrate the use of GSRs, we use the case of a biology student teacher who taught practicals in a cookbook manner and was supported to redesign her cookbook practical into a more open scientific inquiry practical. The case illustrates how GSRs can be used to understand a teacher’s practice and to develop support that bridges for the teacher the gap between current and target practices. Such support shows the teacher how they can adapt their practice to make it more in line with the target practice, and how this contributes to attaining their goals better. Additionally, we describe practical variants of the bridging approach for groups of (student) teachers.

The influence of a transgender identity on psychological wellbeing from the perspective of personal construct theory: Implications for educational psychology practice

Transgender identity and psychological wellbeing are highly related concepts. The theoretical landscape offered by personal construct theory highlights and encourages hypothesis construction and enables the active consideration of individual experience. The Educational Psychologist role within this rhetoric is centred around the provision of equity of practice and psychological wellbeing. Correspondingly, transgender individuals differ in respect to the variety of experiences faced in comparison to the rest of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer (LGBQ+) community.

Правосубъектность федеральной территории «Сириус»

The article considers the formation of the legal personality of the federal territory “Sirius” as a new public law entity. This formation is the subject of public, power relations and is endowed with competence powers. At the same time, the federal territory is not implemented as a subject of civil circulation. By methods of comparative analysis of the content of legal regulation and ontological ideas about the place of this formation in the system of ordinary public law entities, the author stated conclusions about the mistakes made in the construction of the legal personality of the federal territory.

Differences and similarities in personality functioning across different types of eating disorders.

The classification of anorexia nervosa (AN) into subtypes is relevant due to their different symptomatology. However, subtypes (restricting type: AN-R; purging type: AN-P) differ also in terms of their personality functioning. Knowledge about these differences would allow for better treatment stratification. A pilot study indicated differences in structural abilities that can be assessed by the operationalized psychodynamic diagnosis (OPD) system. The aim of this study was therefore to systematically explore differences in personality functioning and personality between the two AN subtypes and bulimia nervosa (BN) using three personality (functioning) constructs. A total of N = 110 inpatients with AN-R (n = 28), AN-P (n = 40), or BN (n = 42) were recruited in three clinics for psychosomatic medicine. Assignment to the three groups was performed using a comprehensive questionnaire validated for diagnostic purposes (Munich-ED-Quest). Personality functioning was examined using OPD Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SQ), personality by using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form and Big Five Inventory-10. (M)ANOVAs were used to examine differences across eating disorder groups. In addition, correlation and regression analyses were conducted. We observed differences on several sub- and main scales of the OPD-SQ. Whereas patients with BN showed the lowest levels, AN-R patients displayed the highest levels of personality functioning. On some sub- and main scales, such as "affect tolerance," the subtypes of AN differed from BN, whereas on the scale "affect differentiation," AN-R, differed from the other two groups. The total eating disorder pathology score of the Munich-ED-Quest best predicted overall personality structure [stand. β = 0.650; t(104) = 6.666; p < 0.001] and self-regulation [stand. β = 0.449; t(104) = 3.628; p < 0.001]. Our findings confirm most of the results of the pilot study. These findings can facilitate the development of stratified treatment approaches for eating disorders.

Disaggregating the relationship between aggressiveness and susceptibility to extremist cognitions

Despite the fundamental role of aggression within violent extremism, there is a significant lack of understanding of how aggression, at the individual level, may be involved in an individual's movement toward violence. Possible reasons for this are the lack of empirical investigation and the view of aggression as a homologous personality construct. In this study we explore the impact of a range of types of aggression on two cognitions associated with extremist violence: activism and radicalism intentions (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2009). Specifically, using an in-laboratory sample of undergraduate students (n = 73) and an experimental paradigm designed to measure the role of personality and individual differences on the effect of exposure to, and engagement with, content associated with violent extremism (the EXTREME-Inventory; Shortland & McGarry, 2022), this study identified the differential relationship that exists between various types of aggression, and two factors of extremism. While physical aggression was associated with both factors, social and reactive aggression, hostility, and rule breaking were uniquely associated with radicalism intentions. These results demonstrate that disaggregating general traits, such as aggression, can be one possible avenue for better understanding how, and why certain individuals are motivated to engage in illegal or violent political behaviors.

Meta-analytic relations between personality and cognitive ability.

Cognitive ability and personality are fundamental domains of human psychology. Despite a century of vast research, most ability-personality relations remain unestablished. Using contemporary hierarchical personality and cognitive abilities frameworks, we meta-analyze unexamined links between personality traits and cognitive abilities and offer large-scale evidence of their relations. This research quantitatively summarizes 60,690 relations between 79 personality and 97 cognitive ability constructs in 3,543 meta-analyses based on data from millions of individuals. Sets of novel relations are illuminated by distinguishing hierarchical personality and ability constructs (e.g., factors, aspects, facets). The links between personality traits and cognitive abilities are not limited to openness and its components. Some aspects and facets of neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness are also considerably related to primary as well as specific abilities. Overall, the results provide an encyclopedic quantification of what is currently known about personality-ability relations, identify previously unrecognized trait pairings, and reveal knowledge gaps. The meta-analytic findings are visualized in an interactive webtool. The database of coded studies and relations is offered to the scientific community to further advance research, understanding, and applications.

Structure and Sources of Core Self-Evaluations: Construct Validation Using Multi-Rater and Genetically Informative Designs

Self-efficacy, internal locus of control, self-esteem and emotional stability are characterized by substantial theoretical overlap and empirical associations. In previous research, these four characteristics were frequently suggested to represent a common personality construct referred to as core self-evaluations (CSE). However, neither the structure of the construct CSE has been sufficiently validated nor its genetic and environmental sources examined, so far. The current study bridges this gap. Applying multitrait-multirater analyses of 2377 self- and 1176 informant-reports, we found substantial common variance beyond self-rater specificity, item specificity and random measurement error. Furthermore, using genetically informative data from 1146 twins, we investigated common and specific genetic and environmental sources of variance in the four characteristics. Common variance was substantially attributable to additive genetic and nonshared environmental influences, which were mediated by a higher-order latent variable. The results support the validity of the construct’s hierarchical structure with a common latent core trait accounting for the covariance between the four characteristics. Beyond nonshared environmental components specific to the four characteristics, nonadditive genetic sources accounted for common variance in self-efficacy and internal locus of control, whereas specific additive genetic factors explained variance in emotional stability, implying that these characteristics also include divergently valid aspects of personality.

Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0: Validity and reliability of the Polish adaptation.

This study examined psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0) measuring features corresponding to self - and interpersonal impairment of personality functioning as defined in the diagnostic guidelines for Personality Disorder in the DSM-5 Section III. The study involved a non-clinical sample of N = 242 adults (52.9% female; Mage = 30.63 years, SDage = 11.81 years). To evaluate the criterion validity, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD), Agency-Communion-Inventory (AC-IN), and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) were administered. The LPFS-BF 2.0 yielded two reliable latent components that correspond to an interpretation of self - and interpersonal functioning and showed relevant associations with a personality disorder severity index, maladaptive personality traits, well-being, and personality constructs of agency and communion. The LPFS-BF 2.0 also demonstrated incremental validity over and above all the PID-5 pathological traits with respect to global well-being as an outcome. The Polish adaptation of the LPFS-BF 2.0 is a psychometrically and conceptually sound measure to assess features corresponding to self and interpersonal impairment of personality functioning as defined in the DSM-5 Section III. However, findings warrant replication in clinical populations.

Disagreeable and out of control: Applicability of the Big Five and low self-control in predicting offending

PurposeDespite low self-control being identified as a strong criminological correlate, the psychological view of personality traits has been partly neglected within mainstream criminology due to assumptions made by the authors of low self-control that discount other trait predictors. Recent research though has begun to challenge this assumption with comparisons between low self-control and other personality constructs like psychopathy. However, one often overlooked set of predictors that merits further scholarly attention is the Big Five, and whether the Big Five exert differential independent effects beyond low self-control. MethodThe current study analyzes a sample of serious male juvenile offenders with longitudinal data from the Pathways to Desistance study. Using negative binomial regression, we assess whether the Big Five are significantly associated with three offending outcomes independent of low self-control and other common criminological variables. ResultsEvidence indicates that net of controls, low Agreeableness and low self-control emerge as significant and consistent predictors of self-reported offending. ConclusionsThe significance of these findings is that they cast doubt on the assumption of there not being significant personality differences in offending beyond low self-control. Further, this study highlights how the psychological view of personality traits overcomes several theoretical limitations of low self-control.

Research on the Expansion of Psychological Education from the Perspective of Personality Construction Law

Research on the Expansion of Psychological Education from the Perspective of Personality Construction Law

Expanding the Direction of Psychological Education from the Perspective of the Law of Personality Construction

Expanding the Direction of Psychological Education from the Perspective of the Law of Personality Construction

Trait emotional intelligence as predictor of psychological health in undergraduate medical students: A hierarchical multiple regression approach

Objectives: Trait emotional intelligence (TEI) is a key personality construct by which an individual recognizes, understands, expresses and regulates emotions in self and others to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goals. TEI skills are modifiable and have a potential to significantly influence psychological health (PH) of a person. The aims of current work were to evaluate relationship between TEI and PH of medical students and to explore the incremental validity of TEI to predict psychological distress beyond sociodemographic and educational factors in them. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-two medical students (mean age 18.02 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. TEI and PH were assessed using TEI questionnaire short form (TEIQue-sf) and depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine if scores on TEIQue-sf added significantly to the prediction of psychological symptoms in medical students. Results: There was a significant negative association (r = −0.57, P &lt; 0.001) between TEIQue-sf and DASS-21 scores. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that after controlling for sociodemographic and educational variables, TEIQue-sf scores explained a statistically significant increment of variance (P &lt; 0.001) in DASS-21 scores. TEI emerged as best predictor of psychological distress of medical students followed by educational factors. However, sociodemographic profile as an attribute failed to demonstrate significant capacity to predict PH of our participants. Conclusion: Our results indicate that TEI is a robust and unique predictor of better PH and plays a positive role in promoting psychological well-being.