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Full-Text Articles in Personality and Social Contexts

Finding A Happier Ending: The Role Of Narrative In Post Traumatic Meaning-Making, Donna Henson Aug 2015

Finding A Happier Ending: The Role Of Narrative In Post Traumatic Meaning-Making, Donna Henson

Donna Henson

This chapter explores the intersections of meaning-making, the narrative construction of identity, and story-telling as implicated in the experience of post traumatic recovery. Based on the view of human-beings as storytellers, the intent here is to explicate the idea that victim recovery, that living post-victimhood, may be best achieved through the recognition that recovery is both outcome and process. Toward this end, the chapter presents a critical review of literature drawn primarily from the fields of psychology and communication, centering on contributions across the domains of post traumatic growth and narrative. Despite the unavoidable conclusion that there is no neat …


Are You A Perfectionist And Does It Matter? Depression And Perfectionism In Australian University Students, Maryke Mead, Richard Hicks Apr 2015

Are You A Perfectionist And Does It Matter? Depression And Perfectionism In Australian University Students, Maryke Mead, Richard Hicks

Richard Hicks

This study examined the relationships that exist between depression and adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism among university students. There has been earlier evidence that depression in a general population is related to maladaptive perfectionism, but first, would this be the case among university students and second, would adaptive perfectionism be related positively to wellbeing (i.e., be related negatively to depression). This current study examined these questions in a sample of 215 university students across three Australian states. The links between maladaptive perfectionism and poorer mental health were confirmed, but there was no significant relationship found between adaptive perfectionism and depression or …


Introduction: Context And Background To Australian Research In Personality And Individual Differences, Richard Hicks Apr 2015

Introduction: Context And Background To Australian Research In Personality And Individual Differences, Richard Hicks

Richard Hicks

Extract: Interest and research in personality and individual differences, in why people behave the way they do and the implications for life and living, remain unabated around the world. Human beings are fascinated by how they are similar to one another and how they are different. The similarities and differences underpin many implicit and espoused theories of behaviour and of personal and professional practice, informing the decisions that we all make on what we will do and when.


Coping Strategies Employed By University Students In Handling Their Occupational Role Stress, Tanya Paspaliaris, Richard Hicks Apr 2015

Coping Strategies Employed By University Students In Handling Their Occupational Role Stress, Tanya Paspaliaris, Richard Hicks

Richard Hicks

Research has reported that high levels of stress exist among university students and that the common coping strategies used by the students add to their stress. Stress associated with student role requirements appears not unlike stress experienced in occupational roles in the workplace. However, no previous research in Australia has investigated the relationships among combined facets of the work environment (roles and related stresses) of university students, the types of coping strategies used and the relationship to stress and to depression. This study addressed this gap by using a workplace stress inventory, the Occupational Stress Inventory - Revised, the Ways …


Personality And Task Performance, Trishita Mathew, Richard Hicks Apr 2015

Personality And Task Performance, Trishita Mathew, Richard Hicks

Richard Hicks

While the positive effects of goal setting and self-efficacy on performance are well established (Bandura, 1997; Locke & Latham, 1990) and it is known that task anxiety can lead to detriments in performance (Locke & Latham, 1990); it is not known which variable affects task performance the most. The present study aimed to identify the strongest predictor of task performance among self-efficacy, goal setting and task anxiety. The study was conducted with a total of 80 participants who were students from an Australian university. It was hypothesised that self-efficacy, goal setting and task anxiety would be significant predictors of task …


The Initiation Of Heroism Science, Scott T. Allison Dec 2014

The Initiation Of Heroism Science, Scott T. Allison

Scott T. Allison

In this article I describe the nascent field of heroism science, as part of a broader movement for the promotion of heroism in 21st century societies. I identify several markers of its emergence and offer reasons why the science is now coalescing into an established and autonomous field of inquiry. Moreover, I discuss the importance of maintaining a dynamic symbiotic relationship between the research and activist wings of the heroism movement. The aims and scope of heroism science are discussed, and reasons are offered for producing a science that is inclusive, transdisciplinary, and risk-taking. I examine all these issues within …


"Toxic" Workplaces: The Negative Interface Between The Physical And Social Environments, Linda Too, Michael Harvey Sep 2013

"Toxic" Workplaces: The Negative Interface Between The Physical And Social Environments, Linda Too, Michael Harvey

Linda Too

Toxic real estate has been used as a negative phrase to describe non-performing assets on a firm's balance sheet. Today there is another form of "TOXIC" real estate that needs management's attention, i.e. physical workplaces that are harmful to employees on a day-in and day-out basis. Particularly when productivity of workforce is now central to business competitiveness, it is timely to explore the interface between physical and social environments as many of the social/psychological impacts on employees have not been recognized or calibrated. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the links between physical workplace and social behaviour.


Measuring Adolescent Depression: The Adolescent Depression Scale, Mona Taouk, Mark Bahr Sep 2013

Measuring Adolescent Depression: The Adolescent Depression Scale, Mona Taouk, Mark Bahr

Mark Bahr

A new brief instrument for the measurement of adolescent depression is described. The instrument is the product of a systematic review of the factors currently considered to be salient to the investigation of adolescent depression. From an initial set of pilot investigations a 90-item test bank was constructed covering six domains of adolescent depression. The resultant instrument was administered to 263 adolescents, late adolescents and young adults. Factor analysis and item analysis reduced the item pool to a 20-item four-factor measure of adolescent depression, which correlates well with existing measures of depression.


Stakeholder Perspectives Of Organisational Reputation, Mark Bahr, Jeni Warburton, Yolanda Van Gellecum, Margaret Shapiro Sep 2013

Stakeholder Perspectives Of Organisational Reputation, Mark Bahr, Jeni Warburton, Yolanda Van Gellecum, Margaret Shapiro

Mark Bahr

Good reputation management is becoming increasingly important as organisations and the social environments in which they function become more complex (Caruana, 2000; Fombrun & van Riel, 2003). Organisations are being evaluated by far more demanding standards than in the past, and are increasingly being held responsible for their environmental, social and ethical decisions as well as their economic decisions. Mishandled social, ethical and environmental issues can have dire consequences for corporate reputation. Well-known and well-documented examples include the Royal Dutch/Shell Brent Spar and Nigeria incidents, in which perceived social violations were detrimental to their reputation (see e.g., Dickson & McCulloch, …


Australian Psychologists' Beliefs And Practice In The Detection Of Malingering, Jacqueline Yoxall, Mark Bahr, Norman Barling Sep 2013

Australian Psychologists' Beliefs And Practice In The Detection Of Malingering, Jacqueline Yoxall, Mark Bahr, Norman Barling

Mark Bahr

Malingering is a possibility in any assessment context where external incentive exists. However, it is not clear whether advances in malingering research over the last 10 years have translated to psychologists' assessment practices. There is limited Australian research regarding malingering base rates or psychologists' beliefs and practices in malingering detection (Sullivan, Lang, & Dawes, 2005). The current study surveyed Australian psychologists (n=102), currently engaged in psycho-legal practice, in regard to their estimation of malingering base rates; their beliefs about malingering; and their assessment practices. Information gathered raises important matters to be considered in regard to the translation of research to …


Some Personality Predictors Of Tolerance To Human Diversity: The Roles Of Openness, Agreeableness And Empathy, Rivka Witenberg, Ninawa Butrus Jun 2013

Some Personality Predictors Of Tolerance To Human Diversity: The Roles Of Openness, Agreeableness And Empathy, Rivka Witenberg, Ninawa Butrus

Rivka T Witenberg Dr

The aim of this study was to determine the most salient predictors of tolerance to human diversity. A total of 118 individuals (M = 32.93 years, SD = 13.80) responded to dilemma-like stories involving holding prejudicial beliefs (beliefs), talking about them (speech) and acting on them (acts). Participants also completed the Openness and Agreeableness scales from the Big Five Inventory and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Differences in tolerance judgements were found to be related to differences in personality characteristics. Results showed that Openness and Agreeableness were predictors of tolerance in the belief dimension; whereas the most salient predictor of tolerance …


The Better-Than-Average Effect In Hong Kong And The United States: The Role Of Personal Trait Importance And Cultural Trait Importance, Kim-Pong Tam, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Young-Hoon Kim, Chi-Yue Chiu, Ivy Yee-Man Lau, Al K. C. Au Apr 2013

The Better-Than-Average Effect In Hong Kong And The United States: The Role Of Personal Trait Importance And Cultural Trait Importance, Kim-Pong Tam, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Young-Hoon Kim, Chi-Yue Chiu, Ivy Yee-Man Lau, Al K. C. Au

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

People tend to make self-aggrandizing social comparisons on traits that are important to the self. However, existing research on the better-than-average effect (BTAE) and trait importance does not distinguish between personal trait importance (participants’ ratings of the importance of certain traits to themselves) and cultural trait importance (participants’ perceptions of the importance of the traits to the cultural group to which they belong). We demonstrated the utility of this distinction by examining the joint effects of personal importance and cultural importance on the BTAE among Hong Kong Chinese and American participants. Results showed that the BTAE was more pronounced for …


Embodied Metaphors And Creative “Acts”, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Suntae Kim, Evan Polman, Lay See Ong, Lin Qiu, Jack A. Goncola, Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks Aug 2012

Embodied Metaphors And Creative “Acts”, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Suntae Kim, Evan Polman, Lay See Ong, Lin Qiu, Jack A. Goncola, Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

Creativity is a highly sought after skill. To inspire people’s creativity, prescriptive advice in the form of metaphors abound: We are encouraged to think outside the box, to consider the problem on one hand, then on the other hand, and to put two and two together to achieve creative breakthroughs. These metaphors suggest a connection between concrete bodily experiences and creative cognition. Inspired by recent advances on body-mind linkages under the emerging vernacular of embodied cognition, we explored for the first time whether enacting metaphors for creativity enhances creative problem-solving. In five studies, findings revealed that both physically and psychologically …


Virtue And Virility: Governing With Honor And The Association Or Dissociation Between Martial Honor And Moral Character Of U.S. Presidents, Legislators, And Justices, Dov Cohen, Angela K.-Y. Leung Aug 2012

Virtue And Virility: Governing With Honor And The Association Or Dissociation Between Martial Honor And Moral Character Of U.S. Presidents, Legislators, And Justices, Dov Cohen, Angela K.-Y. Leung

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

In many honor cultures, honor as martial honor and honor as character/integrity are often both subsumed under the banner of honor. In nonhonor cultures, these qualities are often separable. The present study examines political elites, revealing that Presidents, Congresspeople, and Supreme Court Justices from the Southern United States with a greater commitment to martial honor (as indexed by their military service) also show more integrity, character, and moral leadership. This relationship, however, does not hold for nonsoutherners. The present studies illustrate the need to examine both between culture differences in cultural logics (as these logics connect various behaviors under a …


Explaining Individual Differences In Physical Aggression Among A Community Sample, Erica Begelhole, Nicole Guse, Bruce Watt Mar 2012

Explaining Individual Differences In Physical Aggression Among A Community Sample, Erica Begelhole, Nicole Guse, Bruce Watt

Bruce Watt

Violence poses an ongoing concern for society. Numerous risk factors have been implicated as contributors to individual differences in levels of physical aggression. The current study examined variations in physical aggression using a community sample in South East Queensland (N = 151). Selfreport measures of alcohol misuse, retrospective conduct disorder, emotional control, violent fantasies and attitudes to violence were examined in the prediction of involvement in physical aggression. Over half of the variance was accounted for by the combination of the independent variables. Attitudes to violence emerged as the greatest contributor in explaining individual differences in physical aggression. The findings …


Predicting Individual Differences In Future Violence Among Juvenile Offenders, Bruce Watt, Michelle Perrin Mar 2012

Predicting Individual Differences In Future Violence Among Juvenile Offenders, Bruce Watt, Michelle Perrin

Bruce Watt

Screening tools in forensic and mental health settings are utilised to assess individual differences in risk for future violence. The Child and Youth Forensic Outreach Service Violence Screening Tool (CYFOS VST) was developed for use with juveniles referred to mental health and juvenile justice settings. The reliability and validity of the VST was evaluated based on 222 consecutive referrals to a Youth Justice Service in South East Queensland. Data on future violence was obtained from official Youth Justice Service records as well as case workers recorded observations of youth violence. The VST was found to have adequate inter-rater and test-retest …


The Virus Of Violence: The Relationship Between Victimisation And Aggression, Bruce Watt, Mattias Allard Mar 2012

The Virus Of Violence: The Relationship Between Victimisation And Aggression, Bruce Watt, Mattias Allard

Bruce Watt

Experiments for the relationship between victimisation and violence often do not include any mediation variables to account for the difference between victimised individuals that become violent in adulthood and those that do not. A model was proposed, using a Gold Coast community sample of 250 individuals (79 males, 138 females, 33 unspecified) with a median age range 41-45 years, that violent thoughts (measured as violent fantasies and permissive attitudes towards violence) mediate the relationship between victimisation (measured retrospectively) and aggression. The study consisted of distal factors (victimisation and gender), proximal factors (permissive attitudes towards violence and violent fantasies) and an …


The Validation Of A Screening Tool For The Assessment Of Violence Risk Among Juvenile Offenders, Michelle Perrin, Bruce Watt, Tasneem Hasan Mar 2012

The Validation Of A Screening Tool For The Assessment Of Violence Risk Among Juvenile Offenders, Michelle Perrin, Bruce Watt, Tasneem Hasan

Bruce Watt

Screening tools in forensic mental health settings are utilised to assess individual differences in risk for future violence. The Child and Youth Forensic Outreach Service Violence Screening Tool (CVST) was developed for use with juveniles referred to mental health and juvenile justice settings. The reliability and validity of the CVST evaluated based on 156 consecutive referrals to a Youth Justice Service in South East Queensland. Data on future violence was obtained from official Youth Justice Service records as well as caseworker observations of youth violence. The CVST was found to have adequate inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Importantly, the CVST significantly …


The Virus Of Violence, Mattias Allard, Bruce Watt Mar 2012

The Virus Of Violence, Mattias Allard, Bruce Watt

Bruce Watt

Models explaining the relationship between victimisation and violence typically fail to include any mediation variables to account for the difference between victimised individuals that become violent in adulthood and those that don’t. A model was proposed, using a Gold Coast community sample of 250 individuals (79 males, 138 females, 33 no answer) with a median age 41-45, that violent thoughts (measured as violent fantasies and permissive attitudes towards violence) mediate the relationship between victimisation (measured retrospectively) and aggression. The study controlled for gender and social desirability bias. The model consisted of a distal stage (victimisation and gender), proximal stage (permissive …


Violence And Character: A Cups (Culture X Person X Situation) Perspective, D. Cohen, Angela K.-Y. Leung Jan 2012

Violence And Character: A Cups (Culture X Person X Situation) Perspective, D. Cohen, Angela K.-Y. Leung

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

No abstract provided.


A Dual-Motive Model Of Self-Enhancement Behavior, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Kim-Pong Tam, Y. H. Kim Jan 2012

A Dual-Motive Model Of Self-Enhancement Behavior, Angela K.-Y. Leung, Kim-Pong Tam, Y. H. Kim

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

No abstract provided.


Attributionally More Complex People Show Less Punitiveness And Racism, Kim-Pong Tam, Al Au, Angela K.-Y. Leung Jan 2012

Attributionally More Complex People Show Less Punitiveness And Racism, Kim-Pong Tam, Al Au, Angela K.-Y. Leung

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

Based on past findings that attributionally more complex people make less fundamental attribution error, it was hypothesized that they would show less punitiveness and racism. In a study of 102 undergraduates, this hypothesis received robust support. The effect of attributional complexity was significant in two different punitiveness measures, a rehabilitation support measure, and two different racism measures. Also, this effect still held when demographic variables, crime victimization history, and need for cognition were statistically controlled. Moreover, attributional complexity mediated the effect of need for cognition and gender on punitiveness and racism. Theoretical implications are discussed.


The Soft Embodiment Of Culture, Angela K.-Y. Leung, D. Cohen Jan 2012

The Soft Embodiment Of Culture, Angela K.-Y. Leung, D. Cohen

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

No abstract provided.


The Positivity And Negativity Of American Iconicity: How To Manipulate Hot And Cool Responses Towards American Iconic Brands?, L. Kwan, Chi-Yue Chiu, Angela K.-Y. Leung Jan 2012

The Positivity And Negativity Of American Iconicity: How To Manipulate Hot And Cool Responses Towards American Iconic Brands?, L. Kwan, Chi-Yue Chiu, Angela K.-Y. Leung

Ka Yee Angela LEUNG

No abstract provided.


Genetic Correlations Among Facets Of Type A Behavior And Personality, Andrew Johnson, Julie Schermer, Philip Vernon, Kerry Jang Dec 2011

Genetic Correlations Among Facets Of Type A Behavior And Personality, Andrew Johnson, Julie Schermer, Philip Vernon, Kerry Jang

Andrew M. Johnson

The purpose of this study was to examine the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental relationships between multiple dimensions of Type A behavior and personality. Adult twins (N = 247 pairs) completed a self- report personality measure and a work style questionnaire that measured six facets of Type A behavior: impatience, anger, work involvement, time urgency, job dissatisfaction, and competitiveness. Univariate results suggest that only the job dissatisfaction facet of Type A behavior was explained by non-genetic (environmental) factors. Multivariate results suggest that all of the genetically determined facets of Type A behavior show some correspondence with at least one of the …


Brief Report: Need For Autonomy And Other Perceived Barriers Relating To Adolescents’ Intentions To Seek Professional Mental Health Care., Coralie J. Wilson, Frank P. Deane Dec 2011

Brief Report: Need For Autonomy And Other Perceived Barriers Relating To Adolescents’ Intentions To Seek Professional Mental Health Care., Coralie J. Wilson, Frank P. Deane

Coralie J Wilson

The current study examined the relationship between belief-based barriers to seeking professional mental health care and help-seeking intentions in a sample of 1037 adolescents. From early adolescence to adulthood, for males and females, the need for autonomy was a strong barrier to seeking professional mental health care. Help-seeking fears were weaker in the older age groups. Having lower perceived need for autonomy and believing that prior mental health care was helpful was significantly associated with higher intentions to seek future professional mental health care. Implications for prevention and overcoming barriers to seeking mental health care are suggested.


Personality And Task Performance, Trishita Mathew, Richard Hicks Feb 2011

Personality And Task Performance, Trishita Mathew, Richard Hicks

Trishita Mathew

While the positive effects of goal setting and self-efficacy on performance are well established (Bandura, 1997; Locke & Latham, 1990) and it is known that task anxiety can lead to detriments in performance (Locke & Latham, 1990); it is not known which variable affects task performance the most. The present study aimed to identify the strongest predictor of task performance among self-efficacy, goal setting and task anxiety. The study was conducted with a total of 80 participants who were students from an Australian university. It was hypothesised that self-efficacy, goal setting and task anxiety would be significant predictors of task …


Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

This study examined whether high school students’ current symptoms of general psychological distress, self-rated social problem-solving skills, and recent help-seeking experiences predict their future intentions to seek help for a mental health problem. At Time 1, 98 high school students, aged 12-17 years, completed the study self-report survey that included measures of psychological distress, social problem-solving skill, and recent help-seeking behaviour. At Time 2, three weeks later, the same students completed measures of help-seeking intentions. Students with more severe levels of distress symptoms at Time 1 had lower intentions to seek help for a mental health problem at Time 2. …


Early Access And Help Seeking: Practice Implications And New Initiatives., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Early Access And Help Seeking: Practice Implications And New Initiatives., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

Seeking appropriate help for early signs and symptoms of psychological distress can reduce the long-term impact of many mental disorders. This article describes practice implications and new initiatives for promoting early access and help-seeking among young people. Relevant help-seeking research is reviewed, and prominent help-seeking barriers are discussed. Prominent barriers for young people include: incomplete mental health and emotional literacy, beliefs about having little need for help versus having a need for autonomy, and the process of help-negation for different symptoms of psychological distress. To improve early access to appropriate help and mental health services, barriers that can be reduced, …


Help-Negation And Suicidal Ideation: The Role Of Depression, Anxiety And Hopelessness., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2009

Help-Negation And Suicidal Ideation: The Role Of Depression, Anxiety And Hopelessness., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

Help-negation is expressed behaviorally by the refusal or avoidance of available help and cognitively by the inverse relationship between self-reported symptoms of psychological distress and help-seeking intentions. The current study is part of a larger multi-cite research program developed and led by the first author. It examines the association between suicidal ideation and intentions to seek help from friends, family and professional mental health sources in a sample of 302 Australian university students. Participants were 77.5% female and aged from 18-25 years old, with 85.4% aged 21 years or younger. Higher levels of suicidal ideation were related to lower help-seeking …