Psychodynamic Research Articles

Blockchain in Luxury Resale: The Impact of Blockchain Technology Through Regulatory Focus and Uncertainty Reduction Theories

ABSTRACTThe exponential growth of the online luxury resale market has spurred a notable shift toward a circular economy, reflecting the increasing consumer preference for pre‐owned luxury items. Nevertheless, this growth presents challenges related to product authenticity and seller credibility. In response to these concerns, blockchain technology (BT) emerges as a promising solution, leveraging a decentralized ledger to enhance transparency and reduce information asymmetry. This allows for the traceability of pre‐owned luxury goods, addressing issues of provenance and authenticity in the online resale space. By incorporating regulatory focus theory into the uncertainty reduction theory, this study examines how approach and avoidance motivations impact evaluations of BT‐enabled platforms to effectively mitigate consumer uncertainties and influence trust. The collected data (N= 511) was analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM; study 1), and a complementary qualitative study (study 2) was additionally conducted. Results reveal that distinct motivations coexist, each following separate pathways to build consumer trust. Findings indicate that an approach orientation mindset highly values the reliability of BT‐enabled information, while an avoidance orientation focuses on risk mitigation and expresses heightened uncertainty in online transactions. Consequently, BT is found to be instrumental in reducing consumer concerns about purchasing pre‐owned luxury products. The study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the psychological dynamics influencing consumer trust in BT‐enabled platforms, has implications for luxury retailers contemplating BT integration, and offers insights into consumer behavior that can inform strategies to enhance perceived trust in online luxury resale.

Family Therapy in Improving the Psychological Dynamics of Fishermen's Families in Kampung Bahari Nusantara

In the daily lives of fishermen, their livelihoods come from natural resources, namely the sea, which makes them have to adjust to the natural situations and conditions. When natural conditions are uncertain, it can cause the mental or psychological condition of fishermen’s families to decline so that it requires an intervention. The goal is to improve the psychological condition of fishing families, located in Kampung Bahari Nusantara on the South Coast of Malang Regency, by providing guidance through therapy. The therapy carried out is a family therapy to reduce the signs or symptoms that can threaten family welfare in families with problems or disorders. Activities were carried out on July 5 – 7, 2023, to conduct data collection interviews and on October 31, 2023, to carry out the family therapy interventions. The methods used were interviews and observations in collecting data, lectures, and group guidance in conducting family therapy interventions. The results of the therapy carried out have a positive impact on the participants to be more open to other family members, understand the differences in the nature of family members, share anxiety still, and can make the family more harmonious. Keywords: psychological dynamics, family therapy, fisherman

Moral Injury in Correctional Health Care.

Due to the complex nature of correctional facilities, correctional health care professionals (CHPs) are at high risk of experiencing the harms of helping such as burnout, vicarious trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although traditionally applied to military populations, the construct of moral injury has gained increasing application to health care and bears relevance to correctional health care. This qualitative study examines the prevalence of moral injury among CHPs while considering the moral dilemmas and ethical challenges of delivering care in a carceral environment. Employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of CHPs, selected through nonprobability, purposive sampling. Rigorous thematic analysis, guided by IPA principles, was used. The data revealed five key themes: moral injury is an occupational hazard for correctional health care workers; incidental versus cumulative moral injury; role of institutional betrayal; the intersectional relationship among moral injury, PTSD, and burnout; and the road to moral repair. These themes offer insights into the prevalence and effects of moral injury in correctional health care while offering solutions to navigating moral injury. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex ethical and psychological dynamics within correctional health care settings and explore implications for practice, policy, and future research.

Fighting fiscal awkwardness: How relationship strength changes individuals' communication approach when resolving interpersonal debt.

Social interactions can be uncomfortable. The current research focuses on a particularly uneasy interaction that individuals face with their friends and acquaintances: the need to request owed money back. Nine preregistered studies (N = 6,953) show that individuals' approach to resolving interpersonal debt varies based on their closeness with the requestee. Specifically, people prefer communication methods low in social richness (e.g., digital apps) when requesting money back from weak social connections such as distant acquaintances. However, they prefer communication methods high in social richness (e.g., in-person interactions) when requesting money back from strong social connections such as close friends. Process evidence reveals the psychological dynamics at play: (a) people anticipate discomfort when requesting money back from distant acquaintances in person, driving them away from in-person requests and toward digital apps, and (b) people are more averse to appearing impersonal with close friends, driving them away from digital apps and toward in-person requests. In sum, individuals adaptively approach uncomfortable financial interactions based on the relationship dynamics at hand. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Gambaran Adiksi, Pola Asuh, dan Attachment Style pada Mantan Pecandu Sabu-Sabu di Kota X

The purpose of this study is to explore and understand the experiences of former methamphetamine addicts in rehabilitation centers. The method used method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Subject A who is 28 years old and is undergoing the rehabilitation process in one of the rehabilitation houses in X City participated as a subject. Data collection over five weeks involved interviews and observations. Data analysis involved data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing, with validity checks using triangulation. Interviews revealed psychological dynamics, avoidant attachment style, and permissive-indulgent parenting. Subject shared his journey of addiction to methamphetamine, including emotional changes, antisocial behavior, and the impact on his family relationships. This study provides an understanding of the experiences of former methamphetamine addicts and can help design rehabilitation programs that are more suited to individual characteristics, especially for those with avoidant attachment style

Psychological dynamics of unit-linked insurance product decision-making: a cognitive model

Psychological dynamics of unit-linked insurance product decision-making: a cognitive model

Study on the causes and coping strategies of adolescent mental illness

In recent years, especially since the epidemic, there has been an explosive increase in the incidence of adolescent mental disorders, which has aroused the attention of the whole society. From the perspectives of evolution, humanism, and psychodynamics, this paper analyzes the deep-rooted causes of the increasing incidence of psychological disorders in adolescents and explores various dilemmas adolescents face. From an evolutionary point of view, the current rate of social progress exceeds the rate of human evolution and the rate of cognitive improvement of young people, making it difficult for young people to adapt to complex social environments. In humanitarian terms, excessive academic pressure places a heavy burden on young people. From the perspective of psychodynamics, the conflict between standard, ego, and superego can cause mental illness in adolescents. In addition, this paper points out that adolescent mental illness marks the evolution of social awareness of mental health, and all parties in society need to build a supportive policy framework to foster widespread awareness of mental health.

On coaching and the ethics of care: a psychodynamic approach

This paper is prompted by the intuition that the common ethical theories do not fully comprehend the (internal) psychological structures of the asymmetrical coach-athlete relationship. Through a few examples I attempt to investigate the ethically vulnerable coach-athlete relationships that often emerge. With a philosophical view taken from Nel Noddings’ theory of an ethics of care, I argue that we may need a broader perspective on the ethical issues which also include a psychoanalytic or psychodynamic perspective towards the relationships in question. Doing that would in itself be an ethical approach to take for a deeper understanding of the relationships between coaches and athletes.

Buster Moon Projections: How Cartoon Characters Activate Psychoanalytic Defense Mechanisms in "Sing (2016)"

This research aims to examine the projection of the character Buster Moon in the animated film "Sing" (2016) using a psychoanalytic theory approach, especially defense mechanisms. Buster Moon, an optimistic and persistent koala, struggles to save his theater from bankruptcy by holding a singing competition. This study explores how the character reflects and activates defense mechanisms by projection, both within himself and in interactions with other characters. Denial can be seen in his continued disregard for difficult financial realities. Projection is demonstrated through the way he handles personal fears and failures by focusing on the dreams and ambitions of others. Through this analysis, the author reveals how Buster Moon as a cartoon character functions not only as an entertainer, but also as a reflection of human defense mechanisms, providing insight into how animated films can function as a medium for understanding psychological dynamics in life. Keywords: Film, Projection, Defense Mechanism, Psychoanalysis

Unveiling the dynamics that shape online impulse buying behavior

PurposeThis study uses self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the impact of limited-time deals and credit card usage on online impulse buying behavior, with a focus on hedonic motivation as a mediating variable.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with 290 participants from northern India, specifically Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR and Chandigarh. The current analysis validates the conceptual framework using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology.FindingsThe results indicate that limited-time deals and credit card usage have a favorable impact on both hedonic motivation and online impulse buying behavior. Additionally, hedonic motivation mediates the relationship between limited-time deals, credit card usage and online impulse buying behavior.Originality/valueThe study’s originality stems from its novel application of the SDT to investigate the effects of limited-time deals and credit card usage on online impulse buying. By exploring the mediating role of hedonic motivation, it sheds new light on the psychological dynamics of online consumer behavior.

Brief psychodynamic psychotherapy for adolescents and their families in crisis: a pilot study

ABSTRACT The global rise in adolescent self-harm and suicidal behaviours has intensified the demand for mental health services in the UK. This has further strained already underfunded and understaffed resources, resulting in longer waiting times and increased emergency department visits among teenagers. To address the overwhelming need for effective community-based emergency support, a brief psychodynamic crisis therapeutic intervention was developed within a CAMHS adolescent crisis team, inspired by child psychotherapist Ruth Schmidt Neven’s work on time-limited psychotherapy with adolescents and their families. This 12-session intervention offers both individual therapy for the adolescent and sessions for their parents, along with regular family reviews. Two psychotherapists work closely together on each case – one with the young person, the other with the parents. The brief model views crises as opportunities for deeper understanding, moving beyond diagnostic and symptom-centred approaches, as well as standard risk management and safety-planning strategies, and underlines the centrality of parent involvement in adolescent crisis work. This paper outlines the intervention’s theoretical foundation, guiding principles, and practical design, and presents preliminary findings from a pilot study of 22 cases, run over two and a half years. Early results suggest broad potential for this psychodynamic crisis approach in various adolescent crises, and merit further investigation.

Examining Self-Compassion, Social Support, And Mental Well-Being Among Fast Track Students at UIN Malang

This study explores the relationship between self-compassion, perceived social support, academic stress, and mental well-being among Fast Track students at UIN Malang. Adopting a quantitative approach, the research employs a correlational design to examine the interactions of these variables in a high-pressure academic environment. Data were collected from a 61% sample of Fast Track students using a structured questionnaire, incorporating validated scales for self-compassion, social support, academic stress, and mental well-being. The findings reveal that Fast Track students generally exhibit high self-compassion, significantly correlated with their mental well-being. High levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and an awareness of shared humanity were prominent among the students, suggesting a solid psychological resilience. Perceived social support from family and friends significantly impacted overall well-being, though its direct influence on academic stress was more complex. The research did not find a significant direct relationship between self-compassion and academic stress, indicating that self-compassion aids in managing emotional responses to stress rather than reducing it.The study underscores the need for a holistic approach to supporting students in accelerated academic programs. The findings suggest that enhancing self-compassion and strengthening social support networks can improve students' academic performance and mental well-being. This research contributes to understanding students' psychological dynamics in high-pressure academic settings. It provides insights for developing targeted interventions and support systems to foster a balanced and supportive educational environment.

A Trans-Theoretical Systematization of Clinical Interventions Based on Dynamical Systems Research (DSR)

The scientific literature focused on the categorization of therapists’ interventions in clinical sessions, and their effects on patients, is not very extensive and often autoreferential. The most relevant findings clearly show the eclecticism of clinicians, grounding only 10–14% of their interventions on the specific theoretical approach to which they belong. Despite that, a trans-theoretical systematization of clinical interventions is lacking. The present work aims to verify the feasibility of a trans-theoretical categorization of clinical interventions based on Dynamical Systems Research in psychotherapy (DSR). For this purpose, the authors present the results of three literature reviews. The first sections of this paper present the literature on the historical development of clinical interventions within the psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches. In the fourth section, the review of the DSR literature in psychotherapy and the systematization of clinical interventions according to such a unifying framework are introduced. Clinical interventions can be aimed at increasing the patient’s stability and flexibility, with the final objective of promoting H-L Synchronization and S-F Oscillations. The connections between the DSR-based categorization and the literature pertaining to the psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches are highlighted. Finally, in the conclusions, the limitations and potential developments of this scientific area are discussed.

Bibliometric Insights into Anger and Aggression Research

Background: Anger and aggression are central constructs in psychology, sociology, and behavioral sciences, affecting mental health and social interactions. Despite extensive research, there is a need to map the trends and focal points of studies in this area, particularly to understand how themes like mental health disorders, developmental psychology, and social dynamics interconnect with aggression. Objective: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of global research on anger and aggression, identifying key trends, influential authors, leading research areas, and interdisciplinary approaches. The goal is to provide insights into the trajectory and focus of scholarly work in this field. Methods: Using bibliometric techniques, including co-occurrence mapping and citation analysis, data from relevant research articles were extracted and analyzed through VOSviewer. Key terms, authorship networks, and publication patterns were examined to uncover thematic clusters and research trajectories. Findings: The analysis highlights several prominent themes in the literature on anger and aggression, including their links to psychological disorders (e.g., depression, stress), behavioral development in children and adolescents, and the influence of family and social environments. The co-occurrence analysis also points to growing interest in therapeutic interventions, cognitive and neurological underpinnings of aggression, and biological factors, such as brain injury. Authors such as Richard Tremblay, David Farrington, and Manuel Eisner have emerged as influential figures in this research domain. Conclusion: This bibliometric study reveals that research on anger and aggression is characterized by interdisciplinary approaches, integrating psychology, neuroscience, and social sciences. The focus on mental health and therapeutic interventions highlights the practical applications of this research in clinical settings. The increasing interest in the neurological and biological dimensions of aggression also suggests a broadening of the research agenda. Novelty: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual landscape of anger and aggression research through a bibliometric lens, offering new insights into the evolving trends, collaboration networks, and thematic directions in the field. It is one of the first studies to integrate a co-occurrence analysis with citation data to map both psychological and biological dimensions of aggression research.

Research on the Optimization Method of Bus Travel Safety Considering Drivers’ Risk Characteristics

Bus drivers have an important role in ensuring road safety, as their driving circumstances fluctuate due to the combined influence of physiological, psychological, and environmental dynamics, which can cause complex and varied driving dangers. Quantifying and assessing drivers’ risk characteristics under various scenarios, as well as finding the best fit with their work schedules, is critical for enhancing bus safety. This research first uses the entropy weight method, which is based on historical warning data, to examine the risk characteristics of bus drivers in various complicated contexts. It then creates an objective function targeted at minimizing the operational risk for a specific bus route. This function uses the quasi-Vogel approach and an improved simulated annealing algorithm to optimize and restructure the scheduling table, taking individual driver risk characteristics into account. Finally, the analysis is confirmed and examined with actual operational data from the Zhenjiang Bus Line 3. The data show that enhanced bus operations resulted in a 7.22% gain in overall safety and a 33.76% improvement in balancing levels. These insights provide valuable theoretical guidance as well as practical references for the safe operation and administration of public buses.

From persons to general principles: Methodological decisions for idiographic and nomothetic research

Research in psychology can have various foci, ranging from the psychological dynamics of single individuals to the generalization across individuals, often termed idiographics and nomothetics, respectively. However, terminological ambiguities have limited communication clarity about idiographics and nomothetics. Importantly, whether studies are suitable for idiographic and/or nomothetic inferences is not categorical but rather a matter of degree. Therefore, we propose a list of concrete, better-defined methodological aspects characterizing individual studies. Specifically, we highlight 16 different decisions researchers have to make pertaining to (1) research question, (2) research design, and (3) analyses and interpretation. These decisions are introduced with a focus on personality psychology but apply to psychological research broadly. We discuss the different decisions with an emphasis on their relation to idiographic and nomothetic inferential goals. Rather than providing specific recommendations, we emphasize the importance of aligning the methodology of a given study with the research question and theory. Overall, this overview seeks to help researchers make relevant decisions more intentionally to help them tailor their studies to their inferential goals.

Disputed Boundaries of the Self, the Group, and their Environment: What We Learn from Refugees about our Psychic Functioning1.

One of Jung's most significant contributions concerns the mysterious, inexplicable and always out-of-reach nature of the self. In this paper, I will focus on the borders of the self and their nature, location and dynamics of maintenance and change in geographically, historically, and culturally situated subjects. Reflecting on the refugee experience, I intendto gain more insights into our psychic functioning and the dynamics of the self in relation to itself, the other and groups. The experiences of some refugees, marked bysignificant trauma and migration, shed light on how the boundaries of the self are frequently contested and perpetually negotiated with others, and how our subjectivity is shaped by ongoing dynamics of occupation, dispute and/or negotiation, conducted at various levels of our social and individual existence. My argument is that these processes occur at a specific site:the boundaries of the self, involving intrapsychic, interpersonal and group psychological dynamics, with reverberations in the socio-political and cultural spheres, and reciprocal influences between all these levels. This paper aims to concentrate on the shifts in these boundaries, illustrated through clinical vignettes.

Dance movement psychotherapy for the deconstruction of power and identity in Mexican women in Spain: affective migration

A creative laboratory for Mexican women living in Seville was implemented from the psychodynamic perspective of dance movement therapy (DMT). The principal objective was to create a space for community meetings that would bring about dialogues on topics of interest for the participants. The thematic analysis method was used, observing that migration provides perspective when regarding problems pertaining to the country of origin, which are rooted in the body itself. Thanks to the distancing from cultural references and to the contact with new representations, certain questions and insights arise – regarding the way in which they relate to their body, to themselves, to other women, to the community and to the culture. The analyses show that the participants are in a process of deconstruction regarding power hierarchies, family loyalties, love, self-care, the position of women today; this allows them to make visible their internalised oppression.

A Growth of Hierarchical Autoregression Model for Capturing Individual Differences in Changes of Dynamic Characteristics of Psychological Processes

Several methodological innovations have been advanced in the past decades that combine growth curve models (GCMs) with models of autoregressive (AR) processes. However, most of these approaches do not effectively capitalize on known (e.g., study design-related) information to structure the growth curves into meaningful between- and within-phase changes, while simultaneously accommodating interindividual differences in these intraindividual changes. We propose a Bayesian growth of hierarchical autoregression (GoHiAR) model, which combines AR and GCM to evaluate phase-to-phase changes in multifaceted dynamic characteristics (e.g., baseline, variability, and inertia) as well as individual differences in these changes. This approach allows for drawing conclusions in a way that the proposed data generating mechanisms are in line with the theoretical insights about psychological change and dynamics. Our Bayesian implementation of the GoHiAR model allows for all parameters to be estimated simultaneously. First, we evaluated GoHiAR’s overall estimation accuracy and sampling efficiency, effects of model misspecifications, and sensitivity to effect sizes via a simulation study. Results showed reasonable performance. Then, we applied GoHiAR to an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study that comprised data from pre-, during, and following an intervention, and investigated changes in the dynamic characteristics of individuals’ psychological well-being (specifically in meaning of life) within and across phases.

Learning from Citizens Returning from Prison: Incorporating anti-Oppressive Practice Approaches to Enhance Relational Psychodynamic Practice Impact

Relational psychodynamic practice, to be useful to folks representing “othered” oppressed populations, must integrate an anti-oppressive stance in relation to the people they serve, learn from them about their unique wants and needs, and strive to align with the sequential order in which they believe the wants and needs should be attained. This paper explores how this can occur, focusing on citizens returning from prison and utilizing an example of an individual who successfully navigates this transition. Anti-oppressive practice approaches aimed at empowerment and liberation are discussed as meeting essential needs beyond education, housing, and work, that make successful navigation of post-incarceration “freedom” possible. Elements of psychodynamic theory and practice that are particularly relevant to working with returning citizens and individuals representing other oppressed populations are elaborated. Special attention is given to the approach of a therapeutic-participant and client-participant relationship that blends our psychodynamic relational approach and personal reflexivity with a greater understanding of persons coming from an environment where self-agency was not supported and even thwarted.