Psychological Theory Research Articles

How is parental psychological control associated with adolescent mental health in economically disadvantaged areas? The serial mediating role of psychological reactance and problematic smartphone use.

Adolescent mental health has been an issue of global concern, and the mental health of adolescents in economically disadvantaged areas may require additional research. The research delves into factors associated with economically disadvantaged areas' adolescent mental health, employing family systems theory, self-determination theory, and psychological reactance theory. Specifically, the present study which was done in Jingzhou country, an economically disadvantaged area of Hunan Province, China, aimed to examine the link between parental psychological control and adolescent mental health, as well as the mediating roles of psychological reactance and problematic smartphone use in this relationship. A sample of 1300 Chinese middle school students (620 girls, mean age = 14.22 ± 1.29) completed self-reported measures of parental psychological control, psychological reactance, problematic smartphone use, and adolescent mental health. Results showed that parental psychological control was negatively associated with adolescent mental health. Psychological reactance and problematic smartphone use mediated the association between parental psychological control and adolescent mental health, separately and serially. The findings of the present study enrich the literature on parenting styles and adolescent mental health in economically disadvantaged areas, and this provides an intervention perspective to reduce the negative impact of poor parenting on adolescent mental health in economically disadvantaged areas.

Personal and professional values of nurses in light of Schwartz's theoretical model: scoping review protocol

When considering the theme of values ​​as part of the field of interdisciplinarity, a broader discussion is encouraged regarding the conception of nurses' professional and personal values ​​and their relationship with one of the most renowned theories in social and transcultural psychology. Thus, this protocol aims to map, in the light of Schwartz's Refined Theory of Values, studies on the personal and professional values ​​of nurses in different health care scenarios. This is a protocol based on the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the checklist Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. The research question was developed based on the Population, Concept and Context strategy. The databases used will be: Cochrane Library; BASIS; LILACS, MEDLINE via PubMed; Scopus; ScienceDirect; and WOS. The selection will take place by reviewers, using the EndNote Web® software. Data extraction will be recorded in a spreadsheet covering: author(s)/year/country/journal, title, objective, study design, evidence (value approach) and methodological quality of the study, the latter through JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence. The results will be presented in tables with narrative discussion. Mapping the professional and personal values ​​that are related to nurses' performance in different health care scenarios in the light of Schwartz's Refined Values ​​Theory may lead to reflection on the fundamental values ​​of nursing and the ethical behavior of its professionals.

Modeling User Intentions for Electric Vehicle Adoption in Thailand: Incorporating Multilayer Preference Heterogeneity

Background: The automotive industry is pivotal in advancing sustainability, with electric vehicles (EVs) essential for reducing emissions and promoting cleaner transport. This study examines the determinants of EV adoption intentions in Thailand, integrating demographic and psychographic factors from Environmental psychology and innovation diffusion theory; Methods: Data from a structured questionnaire, administered to 4003 respondents at gas stations with EV charging facilities across Thailand, were analyzed using a Correlated Mixed-Ordered Probit Model with Heterogeneity in Means (CMOPMHM); Results: Findings indicate that younger adults, particularly those aged 25–34 years old and 45–54 years old, are more likely to adopt EVs, whereas conventional or hybrid vehicle owners are less inclined. Rural residency or travel also hinders adoption. Individuals with strong environmental values and openness to new technologies are more likely to adopt EVs; Conclusions: The proposed model quantified the relative importance of these factors and uncovered heterogeneity in user preferences, offering reliable and valuable insights for policymakers, EV manufacturers, and researchers. The study suggests targeted policies and enhanced charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and recommends leveraging environmental values and trialability through communication campaigns and test drive events. These insights can guide the development of targeted incentives, infrastructure expansion, communication strategies, and trialability programs to effectively promote wider EV adoption in Thailand and similar markets.

Responsible AI in Organizational Training: Applications, Implications, and Recommendations for Future Development

Through a literature review, this study investigates the responsibility, application, and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in organizational training based on the theoretical frameworks of Psychological, Economic, and Systems Theories in Human Resource Development (HRD). It emphasizes the importance of responsible AI training systems that adhere to non-discrimination, privacy, interpretability, professional responsibility, and accountability to ensure AI’s beneficial and equitable contribution to training. The application scenarios of AI in areas such as knowledge management, training needs analysis, training delivery, and feedback to provide personalized and efficient training solutions are analyzed. Moreover, it highlights the differing impacts of AI-supported training on organizations, trainers, and trainees and the significance of stakeholder engagement. Finally, it proposes recommendations for future research to broaden our understanding of AI’s application in training and assess its effects on policies and practices, guiding organizations to adopt AI technologies per HRD principles and ethical standards.

How small business owners navigate stress for improved performance: Building psychological capital through peer interactions

ABSTRACT This study explores whether small business owners’ personal networks can enhance business performance by offering psychological benefits to owners, particularly, in navigating stress-inducing challenges inherent in small business ownership. Our argument centers on how peer interactions within these networks promote small business owners’ development of psychological capital, ultimately, leading to improved business performance. Drawing on social support, community psychology, and social comparison theories, we propose a model with two pathways. Structural equation modeling of survey data from the Aba industrial district in Nigeria strongly supports our model. The study advances small business literature by demonstrating the significance of personal networks in facilitating the development of internal resources, offering a new perspective on the value of these networks beyond their often-discussed role in facilitating access to external resources.

GENDER STEREOTYPES AND ITS PSYCOLOGICAL IMPACT PORTRAYED IN MULAN 1998 MOVIE

Gender stereotypes are beliefs about individuals’ traits and behaviors based on gender. These preconceptions of gender stereotypes influenced society and shaped individual beliefs, attitudes, and experiences. This study examines the psychological impact of gender stereotypes towards Mulan as reflected in the Mulan (1998) movie. More specifically, this study aims to determine the psychological impact of negative stereotypes on women that are embedded in the beliefs of a patriarchal society. This research applies Erik Erikson’s developmental psychology theory to examine the psychological impact of gender stereotypes on Mulan as an adolescent girl. This study analyzed the data consisting of words, sentences, and dialogues using a qualitative approach. The data was collected through several steps, such as watching and reading the movie script, identifying, and classifying. Based on the findings of this study, Mulan’s psychological development is impacted by gender stereotypes in several aspects, including low self-esteem, future career, and social roles.

Unity and Pride: An Exploration of the Motivations Behind the People’s Decision to Build the Tower in Genesis 11:1-9

This article explores the complex reasons for a community’s construction of a tall building frequently referred to as the “Tower” in literature and history. This study uses an interdisciplinary lens and sources from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history to identify the fundamental sources of pride and solidarity that motivated the group effort. The Tower, a representation of human togetherness and ambition, is evidence of humanity’s goal to reach the stars. Beneath its imposing exterior, nevertheless, is a rich tapestry of reasons skilfully woven by those who dared to construct it. To offer light on the complex nature of human ambition and group action, this research attempts to analyze these motivations. This study investigates the function of unity in promoting group initiatives using historical accounts, literary interpretations, and psychological theories. It investigates how a shared vision may unite disparate societies in pursuit of a common objective despite individual differences. Examining the idea of pride, it looks at how the need for achievement and acknowledgment fuels human ambition and the formation of collective identities. This study emphasizes the Tower narrative’s ongoing relevance by comparing historical and modern examples. It contends that the inspirations for its creation are timeless and culturally ubiquitous, mirroring the yearning for transcendence, unification, and acknowledgment among all people. Ultimately, this research provides insights into how individual goals and group efforts interact. Understanding the driving forces behind the Tower’s construction gives us critical new perspectives on the dynamics of human ambition and the never-ending pursuit of pride and unification.

Modeling quick autonomous response for virtual characters in safety education games

Serious games have a wide range of applications. Modeling virtual character behaviors and emotions is a challenging task in developing serious games. To generate real-time responses, behavioral and emotional models must be simple and effective. Existing studies have paid little attention to the semantic understanding of virtual characters to external stimuli and have not effectively linked perceived semantics and motivation. This paper proposes a cognitive structure for the virtual character. The structure contains multiple modules: perception, personality, motivation, behavior, and emotion. Based on psychological theory, a semantic table that connects external stimuli, motivations, behaviors, and emotions is designed for each virtual character. Perceptivity is introduced to measure the degree of perception. According to Maslow’s motivation theory, a quantitative description of motivation is given and a discriminating method is proposed to generate behaviors and emotions. A prototype of a serious game is developed to verify the validity of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method can simulate the behavior and emotion of virtual characters in real time and will enhance the immersion of serious games.

Exploring consumers’ competence, autonomy and relatedness needs in the adoption of facial recognition payment technology

Facial Recognition Payment Technology (FRPT) is an emergent innovative biometric payment system that may involve more complexed consumer decision-making process due to its reliance on using consumers' images and financial information. Earlier research on FRPT adoption has overlooked drivers and barriers of ‘trial’, which logically precedes ‘adoption’. For retailers, there is also an unclear understanding about the evolution of consumers' needs before trialling a new and potentially risky technology. Drawing on the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), this current study takes an exploratory approach and uncovers factors that lead to consumers' ‘needs satisfaction’ or ‘frustration’ for autonomy, competence, and relatedness across early stages of the innovation-decision process. Study 1 offers an extensive systematic literature review, then Study 2 adopts an exploratory approach by conducting (n = 21) in-depth interviews. A conceptual framework is offered that defines the meaning of each fundamental human need of BPNT in each stage – including knowledge, persuasion and trial, of the technology adoption process, and underlines the factors drive these needs positively or negatively. The developed framework has important implications for retailers and countries who aim to introduce FRPT or similar new technologies in their market.

First- and Second-Generation Psychological Theories of Suicidal Behaviour.

Suicidal behaviour is defined as taking actions with the intention of killing oneself and thinking of performing these actions. Suicide is a serious public health problem with complex biological, social and psychological risk factors and a multidimensional clinical appearance, occurring all over the world and ranking among the leading causes of death. In this study, psychological approaches explaining suicide were evaluated under the headings of first-generation and second-generation suicide theories, the different aspects of these theories were put forward, and previously published studies and recent evidence were reviewed. A literature review on the theoretical foundations of suicide is presented. First-generation suicide theories were developed before the 2000s and second-generation suicide theories were developed after the 2000s. While Psychodynamic Theory, Social Learning Theory, Hopelessness Theory, Shneidman's Suicide Theory and Escape Theory are included under the title of first-generation suicide theories, Interpersonal Psychological Suicide Theory, Three Stage Suicide Theory, Complementary Motivational-Demotivational Theory and Variable Predisposition Theory are examined as second-generation suicide theories. The approaches of the theories provide important evidence in understanding suicidal behaviour and recognising various risk factors in the transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal action. Controlling the risk factors may contribute both in terms of preventive community mental health and in the development of health policies.

Of course people can reject democracy: psychological perspectives

Concerns have been expressed about a worldwide retreat from liberal democracy and a turn toward more authoritarian forms of government. Along with that concern has come surprise: when the cold war ended, it was widely believed that a new historical era was dawning during which alternatives to Western liberalism would wither away. Influential psychological theories also assume that freedom and autonomy are powerful human needs—needs that are thwarted by dictatorships. However, a number of theoretical perspectives and programs of research in psychology lead to the conclusion that in certain circumstances, turns toward authoritarian forms of government and restrictive societies are not only explicable, but also predictable. Fromm's analysis of why people might want to escape from freedom, Baumeister's work on escape-from-self mechanisms, and Schwartz's review of the literature on choice overload all provide ways of understanding why in turbulent times, members of free countries might intentionally seek out—and perhaps even ecstatically embrace—authoritarian forms of government.

Female Malady: A Psychoanalytic Exploration of Woman’s Madness in Shirley Jackson’s “The Daemon Lover” and “The Tooth

يقدم هذا البحث دراسةَ نفسيةَ لجنون المرأة في قصص مختارة لشيرلي جاكسون. من خلال المنظور التحليلي لمفهوم إلين شوولتر حول "المرض النسوي"، تتعمق هذه الدراسة في الطبقات المتداخلة للعقد النفسية التي تعيشها بطلتي قصتي "الحبيب الشيطان"، التي تعرض هوس البطلة الجنوني بحبيبها، و"الضرس"، التي تدرس القلق، والهوية الأنثوية والضغوط الاجتماعية. تهدف هذه الدراسة النوعية إلى الإجابة على ما إذا كان جنون الإناث صفة موروثة في عقل النساء أم إنها اكتسبت بسبب الضغوطات الاجتماعية المفروضة عليهن. يُطبق البحث النظرية النفسية لتوضيح كيف يمكن أن تثير الأحداث التافهة ظاهريًا اضطرابًا نفسيًا عميقًا. ويكشف هذا التحليل عن الطرق التي يتقاطع بها النظام الذكوري، والقوانين الاجتماعية المفروضة على النساء لتشكيل هذه السردية لجنون المرأة. يتم تحليل تجارب الشخصيات من خلال منظور الرغبات المكبوتة وتوقعات المجتمع واضطرابات الشخصية ضمن سياقات محددة.

Possible evidence for the Law of General Intelligence in honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Finke, Scheiner, Giurfa, and Avarguès-Weber (2023) published correlational data on the performance of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in three learning tasks (associative, reversal, and negative patterning, capturing the domains of operant conditioning, executive-functioning-like ability, and inhibition plus configural processing, respectively) evaluated under both visual and olfactory stimulus conditions. They speculate that general cognitive ability (GCA) may be weakly causing all-positive correlations between performance in these different learning modalities, but do not formally test this possibility. A factor-analytic model applied to Finke et al. (2023) data revealed the presence of two perfectly congruent GCA factors (one for each stimulus condition). Both exhibited all-positive loadings, with the visual factor accounting for 46.8% of the performance variance and the olfactory factor accounting for 52.3%. Diagnostic statistics confirmed that in both stimulus conditions, the correlation matrices were adequate for factor analysis. These findings support extant hypotheses that GCA influences covariation between cognitive measures in honeybees, and constitute the first formal potential demonstration of GCA in an invertebrate. It is argued that GCA might be ubiquitous with respect to metazoans possessing organized nervous systems, perhaps because it convergently evolved multiple times in independent phylogenies, this being a key prediction of Christopher Chabris' Law of General Intelligence. Indeed, GCA has now been identified in insect, avian, mammal, and fish taxa. Some “primordial” aspects of GCA may even by basal to metazoans, and experiments employing Caenorhabditis elegans are suggested that could potentially shed light on such aspects. The findings are also strikingly inconsistent with evolutionary and comparative psychological theories positing a “modules first” understanding of cognitive evolution, such as one recent proposal that smaller brains cannot accommodate structures that give rise to GCA. Other theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

The Development of Prayer in the Light of Czesław Walesa’s Cognitive Developmental Theory of Religiosity and Marcelina Darowska’s Concept of Religious Education

The aim of this study was to find an answer to the question of how prayer develops in children, adolescents and young adults and which psycho-pedagogical factors are conducive to its development. Czesław Walesa’s cognitive developmental psychological theory of the integral development of religiosity and Marcelina Darowska’s concept of religious education served as the theoretical basis of the proposed analyses. The authors showed changes in the development of prayer and expanded upon them in terms of pedagogical and religious aspects. It is proposed that pedagogical interventions aimed at the development of prayer should focus on supporting independence and responsibility in children, adolescents and young adults. In educational work, one should be aware of the close relationship between the psycho-social conditions of human functioning and the development of prayer.

Penerapan Bentuk Dinamis Dalam Membangun Suasana Pada Ruang Tunggu RSUD Pandega Pangandaran

The interior design of hospital waiting rooms plays a crucial role in providing comfort and reducing stress for patients and visitors. In a medical environment, the psychological and physical factors of waiting room design can significantly impact the overall user experience. This study aims to explore and implement dynamic design forms in the waiting room of RSUD Pandega Pangandaran to enhance user experience quality. The methodology employed in this research includes field observations to understand the existing conditions, in-depth interviews with users to identify their needs and preferences, and a comprehensive literature review on dynamic interior design, ergonomic principles, and environmental psychology theories. The findings of the study indicate that the use of dynamic forms, combined with soothing color elements, optimal natural and artificial lighting, and ergonomic and flexible furniture arrangements, can significantly improve the comfort and satisfaction of waiting room users. This study emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach in designing hospital waiting rooms that not only focuses on aesthetics but also on functional and psychological aspects to create a more humane environment that supports the healing process

Strategic Human Resource Management: Descriptive Analysis of Psychological Factors and Literature Review

This study aims to examine the impact of psychological factors on Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) practices and organizational outcomes. The research employs a comprehensive literature review approach to explore the theoretical underpinnings of employee motivation, engagement, and commitment within the context of SHRM. The analysis focuses on key psychological theories, including expectancy theory, social exchange theory, and self-determination theory, to elucidate the motivational dynamics underlying employee behavior and performance outcomes. Moreover, the study investigates the role of leadership effectiveness in influencing employee motivation, engagement, and organizational commitment. Through the integration of diverse perspectives, the research offers insights into how organizations can align HR practices with employees' psychological needs to enhance organizational effectiveness and achieve sustainable growth. The findings highlight the significance of fostering transformational leadership behaviors, creating a supportive work environment, and promoting organizational commitment to drive high performance and employee well-being. This study contributes to the advancement of HRM scholarship by providing a theoretical framework for understanding and managing human capital effectively.

Who is inspired to follow Bishop Barron? Applying psychological type and psychological temperament theory among lay Catholic participants at an event sponsored in London by the Word on Fire Institute

ABSTRACT The present study draws on psychological type theory and psychological temperament theory to test the extent to which Bishop Barron’s ministry shaped by the Word on Fire Institute is reaching people less effectively reached by Catholic congregations. Data provided by 168 male and 292 female participants attending Bishop Barron’s day conference in central London during February 2023, who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales, demonstrated that this event attracted significantly higher proportions of intuitive types and of thinking types, compared with Catholic churchgoers. However, like Catholic congregations, extraverts and perceiving types remained under-represented among the followers of Bishop Barron. The implications of these findings are discussed for the ongoing nurture of those attracted to Bishop Barron alongside inherited congregations.

No More the Nice Guy: Coping with Abusive Supervision through Service Sabotage Behaviours

‘Atithi Devo Bhav’, implying that guests must be treated as Gods, is the philosophical belief of Indian society indicating the importance of treating the customers with utmost respect and courtesy. The current study examines service sabotage behaviours by utilizing time-lagged method to collect data in three waves from 332 employees from Indian hotel industry. The study highlights the effects of abusive supervision on the employees who perceive disrespect, public humiliation or rude supervisory behaviours towards them as breach of psychological contract, and they retaliate by displaying deviant workplace behaviour such as service sabotage. The unique proposition of the research is to investigate the sequential mediating role of psychological contract violation and retaliation intention on the relationship between abusive supervision and service sabotage. The research utilizes psychological contract theory and frustration–aggression theory to draw logical inferences from the findings. Findings indicate that when employees perceive mistreatment or injustice, they experience psychological contract violation that instigates an urge to retaliate against the unfair treatment by engaging in negative service behaviours, for example, sabotage. Therefore, the hospitality organizations must implement practices and processes to take care of any unjust, unfair or hostile behaviour at play in the organization, as the success of the industry is dependent on the service quality and frontline employees’ encounters with the customer. The study provides some interesting and useful managerial and theoretical implications.

The interplay between teacher beliefs, instructional practices, and students’ reading achievement: national evidence from PIRLS 2021 using path analysis

BackgroundReading and reading comprehension are crucial skills, yet many students in grade 4 struggle with them. To address this, several instructional practices have gained popularity. For one, explicit reading strategy instruction (ERSI) is deemed useful, given the finding that successful readers tend to employ reading strategies. As a second example, differentiated reading instruction (DRI) is believed to improve all students’ reading comprehension. Indeed, a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for all students, considering their different reader profiles. Despite the importance of ERSI and DRI, much uncertainty remains about what happens in the classroom and why. One way to understand teacher instructional practices such as ERSI and DRI, is by applying psychological behavioural theories to the teaching context. They provide a framework to predict human behaviour based on human characteristics and beliefs. Educational research points to teachers’ self-efficacy (TSE) and attitudes (TA) as particularly important concepts, especially in the field of science. However, associations between TA, TSE, instructional practices and students’ reading achievement remain insufficiently studied. This study addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the interplay between TSE and TA regarding ERSI and DRI, the implementation of these practices, and students’ reading achievement.MethodsDigitalPIRLS 2021 data from Belgium (Flanders) were used. To gather information about ERSI, DRI, TA and TSE, national adaptations were made to the teacher questionnaires. Three nested path models with a two-level design (students nested into classes) were estimated.ResultsThis study indicates that teachers with higher TSE and more positive TA in ERSI and DRI implement these practices more frequently. Positive TA regarding ERSI and DRI also correspond to positive TSE regarding these instructional practices. Furthermore, ERSI and DRI implementation are positively related. Finally, no significant associations between teacher beliefs, instructional practices, and students’ reading comprehension were found.ConclusionWhereas TSE and TA are considered highly context-dependent, uncertainty remains about TSE and TA regarding ERSI and DRI. The results highlight the importance of subject-specific TSE and TA for teachers’ instructional practices. Ultimately, the findings emphasize the necessity of supporting teachers in developing their TSE and TA towards reading comprehension instruction.

Supporting Prospective Teachers in Learning Psychology: A Digital Case Exploration Tool

This article describes the implementation of a digital case-exploration tool and its use in teacher education. The cases were constructed according to empirically based psychological theories and represent school-related scenarios in which the students could choose among options for action. After selecting an action, its psychological consequences are presented in text or video including theoretical explanations how and why the selected action would lead to the presented consequences. We present first quasi-experimental evaluation data demonstrating the tool's usefulness regarding learning outcomes, students’ active participation, and motivation.