Psychological Thought

169-172

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

No abstract available.

196-203

Authors: Sabina Alispahić

The academic literature shows that by helping tune out distractions, goals can get individuals' to try harder, work longer, and achieve more. Goals that people set for themselves and that are devoted to attaining mastery are usually healthy. But goals imposed by others—sales targets, quarterly returns, standardized test scores—can sometimes have dangerous side effects (Pink, 2009). Because understanding action demands understanding intention, the idea of motivation is natural and readily expressed in everyday language. Cognitive mental events like goals and expectancies can function as a “spring to action”, a moving force that energizes and directs action in purposive ways (Reeve, 2005). Cognitive studies of motivation are dealing with relationship between cognition and action. Literature is indicating a few cognitive elements that can have motivational significance. The article presents the overview of theory and research about the motivational function of plans and goals, according to Goal setting theory (Locke & Latham, 1990) and Self-determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Suggestions for additional research are also indicated.

241-251

Authors: Shalini Sisodia, Ira Das

The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of job autonomy upon organizational commitment of employees at different hierarchical level. A study was made on randomly selected 100 male employees who work in different organizations in Agra, who were administered Organizational Commitment Scale (by Allen & Meyer, 1990) and Job Autonomy Scale (by Das, Arora, & Singhal, 2000). On the basis of median of the job autonomy scores, the sample was divided into two groups (1) high job autonomy group and (2) low job autonomy group and on the basis of hierarchical level, the employees were divided into two groups (1) 50 high hierarchical level employees’ including managers, etc. and (2) 50 low hierarchical level employees, e.g. clerical staff, etc. The 2x2 factorial design was formed for this purpose and four groups of employees were formed (1) high hierarchy, high autonomy group (2) high hierarchy, low autonomy group(3) low hierarchy, high autonomy group and (4) low hierarchy, low autonomy group. A two-way analysis of variance was employed to compare the level of organizational commitment of each of the four groups. There is a significant difference found between job commitment of employees with high and low job autonomy (F = 4.670, p < .05). There is a significant difference found between job commitment of employees of high hierarchical group and those of low hierarchical group (F = 40.691, p < .01) and significant interaction effect found between job autonomy and hierarchical level upon organizational commitment of employees (F = 6.114, p < .05).

264-282

Authors: Daniela Marinova

Older adults are faced with numerous physical, social and psychological changes in their day-to-day life. In addition, they are inundated by a youth-oriented culture that promotes novelty ideas and challenges to our society. In this article, we examine an important issue related to the relationship between cultural changes and older individuals by combining insights from phenomenological studies on cultural alienation with psychological findings on aspects of beliefs and attitudes of the ageing individual. Based on data collected in Bulgaria (N = 39), we found high levels of cultural alienation in individuals reaching old age. Furthermore, comparative analyses across gender groups revealed that both males and females are similar in the degree of reluctance to accepting and understanding the new cultural forms. The findings are discussed in the context of Jean Améry’s (1968) “On Ageing: Revolt and Resignation” and Simone de Beauvoir’s (1970) essay “The Coming of Age” for better understanding the cultural perception in the aged person. The consistency of these findings challenges for further examination of cultural attitudes across different cultures.

296-316

Authors: Zornitza Ganeva

Ethnically based discrimination and its relation to ethnic stereotypes have been discussed. Comparative analysis of the main characteristics of the “old”, “biological” or “traditional” with the “new”, “modern” or “symbolic” prejudice (Pettigrew & Meertens, 1995) has been made. The results of a longitudinal study of discriminatory behaviour of young people of Bulgarian origin (n = 942; 347 men and 595 women, mean age 21.3 years) in 5 time intervals: in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, towards the representatives of ethnic minorities as a whole, Turks and Roma have been presented. The Modern Racism Scale (McConahay, Hardee, & Batts, 1981) was applied in two social contexts: personal and community. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the two substitution contexts in 5 time periods of study. The men discriminated more, in comparison with women, both minorities as a whole, and the group of Roma. The persons surveyed, both with extreme left and with extreme right political orientation, discriminated more in comparison with those with centrist convictions.

326-338

Authors: KamalJeet Sandhu, Nidhi Gurbaxani

The study examines the relationship of perceived Life Satisfaction (LS) and Role Efficacy (REI) with transactional styles (TS). The sample comprised of 200 managerial level employees from different units of Infosys at Bangalore and NOIDA, India, and HCL at Delhi, India. Stratified random sampling technique was used to generate data. The results for the overall transactional styles reveal that there was no significant relationship between Life satisfaction and transactional styles. It is observed that there was a significant but negative correlation between role efficacy and transactional styles. About 5.19% of total contribution in determining transactional styles was jointly accounted for by the predictor variables, i.e., perceived Life Satisfaction (X1) and Role Efficacy (X2). Role Efficacy accounted for more contribution than Life Satisfaction in determining transactional styles. Relationship of the predictor variables with different transactional styles is also analyzed.

358-375

Authors: Teodor Gergov, Stanislava Stoyanova

A new questionnaire measuring sentimentality and nostalgia in elderly people was developed based on the scale Sentimentality from HEXACO Personality Inventory – Revised (Lee & Ashton, 2013), the scale Sentimentality from Psychological Inventory of Criminal-Thinking Styles (PICTS) (Walters, 2002; Walters & Geyer, 2005); the subscale Sentimentality from Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) (Cloninger, Svrakic, & Przybeck, 1993). A sample of 121 Bulgarian elderly people was studied. The results revealed the importance of the past for the elderly people. The questionnaire had good psychometric properties. Four factors were extracted - Past emotions continue in the present; Nostalgia of the Past; Sentimental compensation; and One’s past perceived by the others. Comparison of the average values on the factors divided into the number of the items in the factor indicated that nostalgia of the past was the most strongly expressed among the elderly people, followed by the experiences related to one’s past perceived by the other people, past emotions continuing in the present, and the attempts for sentimental compensation of some past bad deeds.

1-2

Authors: Paraskevi Theofilou

This article has been retracted due to violating Good Publication Practice and not complying to PSYCT's/PsychOpen's Ethical Guidelines on plagiarism and redundant or concurrent Publication. No abstract available.

27-40

Authors: Ivan Krastev

This paper deals with some social and economic factors influencing on customer’s behaviour – such as social class, social-economic status, occupation, education, income, referent groups, family, gender roles and marketing. Some comparisons are made between some factors influencing on customer’s behaviour in the U.S. and in Bulgaria.

53-61

Authors: Irina Roncaglia

The aim of this paper is to present a theoretical and practical understanding of transitions in young people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and to discuss ways in which support can be provided at different stages of their lives. It aims to propose and highlight some practical initiatives which can be adopted in the preparation of micro and macro transitions thus ensuring an understanding of the criteria behind such practices which can further support practitioners in the long-term aim of positive and empowering outcomes. Ashforth (2001, Role transitions in organizational life: An identity based perspective. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associate) proposes four motives: identity, meaning, control and belonging, which are discussed in the context of role-transitions. These transitions can often require an adjustment in an individual’s behaviour and relationships with their environment as well as people around them. Transitions occur throughout our lives and these key times can cause high levels of disorientation and anxiety more so in people with ASC. The impact of a range of transitions is also discussed and suggestions of ways in which individuals with ASC can be supported are also presented through examples of key resources which can be tailored to each individual’s needs.

75-89

Authors: Chinedum Amadi

Carl Rogers has become a legendary personage in the mental health field. Rogers (1957) “has been cited in the literature over a thousand times, in professional writings originating in 36 countries” (Goldfried, 2007, p.249). Clinicians in the behavioral health field (psychiatry, social work, counseling and psychology) are exposed to his teachings about human behavior. Of all the ideas propagated by Rogers, the concept of unconditional positive regard (UPR) has been elevated to the level of a doctrine (Schmitt, 1980). What then is unconditional positive regard? How can clinicians be faithful to the demands of unconditional positive regard in the face of other competing realities such as threat of suicide or terrorism? This paper seeks to discuss the impossible nature of Rogers' UPR, highlighting its inherent linguistic contradiction. Since psychotherapy is culturally normative, the doctrine of unconditional positive regard negates this fundamental principle. In this article, the author takes a critical look at the influence of American philosophy of education on Rogers--he was a product of his culture. Furthermore, this paper asserts that clinicians are guided by societal norms or 'conditions' which regulate clinical practice, including unconditional positive regard (Gone, 2011).

97-116

Authors: Zornitza Ganeva

Comparative analysis of the current status, own body perception and positive experience within a period of up to 1 year from diagnosing of women with breast cancer (N = 41; mean age 35.25) in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease progress, of Bulgarian origin, was made. Reliability and validity of the scales were described. They were analysed with respect to: 1) medical characteristics (partial or total surgery, surgical removal of lymph nodes, presence or absence of metastases in them), 2) classical therapies (chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy) administered or not and 3) application or not of alternative therapies (herbal medicine, physical load, administration of massage, lymph drainage, use of nutritional supplements, observance of diet). The results showed that the more therapies the persons surveyed were undergone the more unsatisfactory they assessed their current general status. The bigger the size of the surgery performed to remove the tumour the more positive idea of their own bodies they had. The more time after the surgical treatment passed the more the positive experience accumulated from the oncologic diagnosis grew.

124-139

Authors: Olukayode A. Afolabi

Due to dearth of research on prosocial behavior (PSB) among undergraduates in Nigeria, this study investigated the influence of five –factor personality factors (FFP), emotional intelligence (EI) and gender differences on prosocial behavior (PSB) among undergraduates in Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted to tap information from 200 randomly selected undergraduates. They responded to a carefully designed questionnaire with 4 sections. Five hypotheses were tested. The results showed that there were significant relationships between the variables of study. The first step in the hierarchical regression showed that the independent and joint contributions of age, gender, religion and educational level on PSB were not significant. The second step which involved the FFP did not have significant independent and joint contribution on PSB except for conscientiousness [R2 = .34, t = 7.08; p < .01]. In the third step EI also had no significant contribution but the overall joint contribution (with other variables) to PSB increased to 35.3%. However, high EI increased PSB [t(198) = 12.36; p < .01] but gender did not have significant effect on PSB. The findings were discussed based on the existing literature and important recommendations were made.

153-165

Authors: Bolanle Ogungbamila

Studies on occupational burnout among health workers, especially in Nigeria have been at best isolated. No adequate inter-occupational comparative study on burnout among health workers, police personnel, and teachers has been conducted. This study, therefore, investigated the extent to which health workers were different from police personnel, and teachers in the manifestations of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment, and overall occupational burnout. Participants were 455 employees (203 males; 252 females) sampled from 3 service occupations (police = 139; health = 159; teaching = 157), whose ages averaged 35.94 years (SD = 7.93). Health workers reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and overall occupational burnout than either police personnel or teachers. Although health workers reported a higher level of reduced personal accomplishment than police personnel, results indicated that teachers felt as underachieving as health workers. The findings were discussed in terms of the perceived imbalance in the job demands-rewards ratio in the job situations.