Hot-Cognitive Defense of Worldviews

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kees Van Den Bos
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Exact Role ◽  
Cognitive Reactions ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Defense Reactions ◽  
Affective Processes ◽  
The World ◽  
Special Relevance

Chapter 8 discusses people’s tendencies to defend their views on how the world should look and what exact role affective processes and feelings play in these defensive responses. The chapter delineates that worldview-defense reactions tend to be “hot-cognitive” reactions, consisting of a combination of how situations are interpreted, assessed, and appraised and the feelings associated with these interpretations, assessments, and appraisals. The chapter examines three levels of analysis at which feelings play a role in radicalization: (1) individual defensive responses involve processes of self-esteem perseverance; (2) group responses include the buffering role of culture; and (3) ideological and religious concerns often serve important psychological functions that are of special relevance to radicalizing individuals and radical groups and subcultures.

scholarly journals Psychological Well-being of Students with Different Levels of Role Victimization

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
E.S. Polishchuk
Keyword(s):  
Social Role ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The World ◽  
Social Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Different Levels

of psychological well-being features in students with different levels of role victimization. Role victimization shall be understood to mean such a strategy of victim relations, which is based on the individual predisposition to produce a particular playing or social type of victim behavior (playing and social role of the victim) (M.A. Odintsova). The article presents the analysis of psychological well-being of students with different levels of role victimization (N = 82, average age 21 years). "Auto-viktim» (N = 28), "victim» (N = 31), "non-viktim» (N = 23) groups were formed according to the level and nature of manifestations of the role victimization, and a comparative analysis of the level of psychological well-being and perception of the image of the world in these groups was made. The study shows that while level of role victimization increases, psychological well-being of students reduces and negative attitude toward the world forms. "Auto-viktim" students while facing difficulties play the role of victim, and "victim" students use social role. "Non-viktim" students have positive self-esteem, they are optimistic, easy to set goals and reach them. Also the article present an analysis of the peculiarities of the psychological well-being, the perception of image of the world, the level of role victimization in groups of male and female youth.

scholarly journals White space interpretation in Hermann Rorschach’s inkblot test: An analysis of two male examinees’ responses

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Hunca-Bednarska
Keyword(s):  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Control ◽  
White Space ◽  
The World ◽  
Identical Number ◽  
Resistance To Stress ◽  
Inkblot Test ◽  
Mental Resources

Abstract Introduction: There are numerous points of controversy over the psychological interpretation of the so-called S responses – namely, the interpretation of white space in the Rorschach test. The aim of my paper was to verify the position held by Charles P. Fonda, who claims that the meaning of S responses depends on the results of the test as a whole. Materials and methods: I have presented the responses of two young men and coded them according to the Comprehensive System developed by John E. Exner. I chose this way of processing data as the most precise, relatively well formalized, and detailed one. The two examinees gave an almost identical number of responses in the whole test and a similar number of S responses, similarly distributed across the cards of the test. Results: I assessed and compared the results of the two examinees in terms of the effectiveness of their cognitive processes, self-control ability, mental resources, social adjustment, and self-esteem. Finally, I looked closely at the contents of a few responses, as in my opinion they symbolically expressed the examinees’ basic problems. Discussion: I tried to avoid describing the examinees’ psyche in nosological terms and to focus on presenting the way in which they experienced the world, as well as on how this experience affected their behavior. Conclusions: I found that in Examinee 1 criticism towards other people may stem from an excessively idealistic attitude to the world and from the ensuing disappointments. Good cognitive functioning, resistance to stress, positive self-esteem, and the socialized emotional sphere make this man’s S responses a sign of creative engagement in the problems encountered rather than a sign of maladjustment. In the case of Examinee 2, S responses can be understood as defiance and a generalized attitude of negativism, which play the role of defense against the excessively complicated, not fully comprehensible, and inhospitable world; these responses may, in their turn, contribute to the intensification of problems and to an increase in maladjustment.

scholarly journals The motivational primacy of environmental coherence : self-derogation and the experience of meaning in life

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samantha J. Heintzelman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Tendency

Although the human tendency to make self-serving attributions is well-documented, not all behaviors and cognitions are primarily self-serving. Victims blame themselves for uncontrollable circumstances and individuals derogate themselves to maintain a sense that the world is just. Callan and colleagues (2014) found that random negative outcomes result in lowered self-esteem, increased perceptions that one deserves bad outcomes, and spurred self-detrimental behaviors. How might these self-defeating processes be explained? I examined whether such processes might serve to maintain a broader sense of coherence that allows the experience of life as meaningful. Participants (N = 1199) wrote about past bad or good breaks, or daily activities, and then rated self-esteem, deservingness of bad outcomes, and meaning in life and coherence. I found no support for the prediction that self-esteem would negatively relate (or deservingness of bad outcome beliefs would positively relate) to meaning in life following reminders of bad breaks. Some evidence emerged suggesting that self-esteem was less strongly related to coherence in the good breaks condition compared to controls. Exploratory analyses examined the role of depression in processes involved in the experience of life as meaningful. The manipulation had stronger effects on meaning in life in participants experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those who were not. Furthermore, self-esteem was more strongly related to meaning in life in individuals experiencing some depression compared to the non-depressed participants, especially in the bad breaks condition. Implications for this work regarding the study of meaning in life and future directions regarding this research question are discussed.

The Speed Capital of the World: Organizing the Methamphetamine Industry in Philadelphia 1970–1990

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Structural Models ◽  
Designer Drugs ◽  
Exact Role ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
National Production

Synthetic narcotics have received relatively little attention in the growing scholarly literature on drugs, though synthetics like PCP, amphetamines and “designer” drugs play a major role in the illicit economy. This case-study focuses on the organization of the illicit manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in the Philadelphia area, which for several years was believed to play a critical role in national production of this drug. There are several important implications for policy. Given the enormous attention paid to the “drug war” in recent years, it becomes imperative to ensure that resources are correctly and effectively targeted. In this context, there has been much debate about the exact role of the Mafia, or “traditional” organized crime. This paper suggests that the Mafia has indeed been extremely important in the narcotics trade, especially through union locals within its control. However, we must also emphasize the role of a wide range of other ethnic groups, often working independently of La Cosa Nostra. Finally, it is suggested that conventional organizational, financial and structural models can be applied to this particular area of illicit business.

Social and Temporal Comparisons as Moderators of Psychological Resources Associations With Wellbeing

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasida Ben-Zur
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Age Range ◽  
General Wellbeing

Abstract. The current study investigated the associations of psychological resources, social comparisons, and temporal comparisons with general wellbeing. The sample included 142 community participants (47.9% men; age range 23–83 years), who compared themselves with others, and with their younger selves, on eight dimensions (e.g., physical health, resilience). They also completed questionnaires assessing psychological resources of mastery and self-esteem, and three components of subjective wellbeing: life satisfaction and negative and positive affect. The main results showed that high levels of psychological resources contributed to wellbeing, with self-enhancing social and temporal comparisons moderating the effects of resources on certain wellbeing components. Specifically, under low levels of mastery or self-esteem self-enhancing social or temporal comparisons were related to either higher life satisfaction or positive affect. The results highlight the role of resources and comparisons in promoting people’s wellbeing, and suggest that self-enhancing comparisons function as cognitive coping mechanisms when psychological resources are low.

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