scholarly journals What are psychological constructs? On the nature and statistical modeling of emotions, intelligence, personality traits and mental disorders.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiko I Fried

Many scholars have raised two related questions: what are psychological constructs such as cognitions, emotions, attitudes, personality characteristics, and intelligence? And how are they best modeled statistically? This paper provides (1) an overview of common theories and statistical models, (2) connects these two domains, and (3) discusses how the recently proposed framework pragmatic nihilism (Peters & Crutzen, 2017) fits in.

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1627-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. C. Michon ◽  
M. ten Have ◽  
H. Kroon ◽  
J. van Weeghel ◽  
R. de Graaf ◽  
...  

BackgroundBoth mental disorders and personality characteristics are associated with impaired work functioning, but these determinants have not yet been studied together. The aim of this paper is to examine the impairing effects that mental disorders and personality characteristics (i.e. neuroticism, locus of control and self-esteem) have on work functioning.MethodData for a representative sample of 3570 working people were derived from the first two waves of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), a prospective cohort study in the Dutch adult population.ResultsHigher neuroticism, more external locus of control and lower self-esteem were each significantly associated with subsequent impairment in work functioning, independently of any effects from mental disorders. Associations between mental disorders and subsequent work impairment disappeared once personality traits were taken into account. Personality traits did not moderate the relationships between mental disorders and work functioning.ConclusionsWorking people with vulnerable personalities have a greater risk of impaired work functioning, independent of the risk from any mental disorder they may have.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Lanzi ◽  
CA Zambrino ◽  
O Ferrari-Ginevra ◽  
C Termine ◽  
S D'Arrigo ◽  
...  

We evaluate personality traits, anxiety and depression in a population of paediatric and adolescent patients, correlating personality characteristics with headache and sociodemographic variables. The clinical features of headache include specific personality traits. We report a clinical study of 57 patients (age 8–18 years), divided up as follows: 12 migraine with aura, 29 migraine without aura and 16 tension-type headache. One of Cattel's tests was administered to every patient; the Children's Depression Inventory test was administered to 53 patients and the Test Anxiety Inventory test to 43 subjects. The scores obtained by every patient in each test were correlated with the characteristics of headache and with sociodemographic data. We found that patients affected by idiopathic headache share some personality traits, mainly emotional rigidity and tendency to repress anger and aggression. These traits do not seem to be correlated with sociodemographic data and the duration of headache: we considered these as characteristic of migrainous patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Singmann ◽  
Gregory Edward Cox ◽  
David Kellen ◽  
Suyog Chandramouli ◽  
Clintin Davis-Stober ◽  
...  

Statistical modeling is generally meant to describe patterns in data in service of the broader scientific goal of developing theories to explain those patterns. Statistical models support meaningful inferences when models are built so as to align parameters of the model with potential causal mechanisms and how they manifest in data. When statistical models are instead based on assumptions chosen by default, Attempts to draw inferences can be uninformative or even paradoxical—in essence, the tail is trying to wag the dog.These issues are illustrated by van Doorn et al. (in press) in the context of using BayesFactors to identify effects and interactions in linear mixed models. We show that the problems identified in their applications can be circumvented by using priors over inherently meaningful units instead of default priors on standardized scales. This case study illustrates how researchers must directly engage with a number of substantive issues in order to support meaningful inferences, of which we highlight two: The first is the problem of coordination, which requires a researcher to specify how the theoretical constructs postulated by a model are functionally related to observable variables. The second is the problem of generalization, which requires a researcher to consider how a model may represent theoretical constructs shared across similar but non-identical situations, along with the fact that model comparison metrics like Bayes Factors do not directly address this form of generalization. For statistical modeling to serve the goals of science, models cannot be based on default assumptions, but should instead be based on an understanding of their coordination function and on how they represent causal mechanisms that may be expected to generalize to other related scenarios.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Wayne Chappelle ◽  
Anne H. Shadle ◽  
Rachael N. Martinez ◽  
Laura E. Reardon ◽  
Tanya Goodman ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) female aircrew represent a small group of military personnel in challenging high-risk, high-demand professions. Personality characteristics may play a key role in distinguishing those women who pursue a career as a special operations aircrew member and succeed in this pursuit. Having access to normative personality data can potentially support psychologists in assessing AFSOC female aircrew and subsequently making informed recommendations to leadership.METHODS: A total of 586 AFSOC aircrew trainees58 (9.9%) women and 528 (90.1%) mencompleted a series of computer-based psychological tests to assess cognitive ability and personality traits.RESULTS: Results indicated significant differences between female AFSOC aircrew and female civilians on four of the five NEO Personality Inventory domains: Neuroticism (M 74.9 vs. M 87.1), Extraversion (M 123.7 vs. M 112.8), Openness to Experience (M 122.6 vs. M 111.0), and Conscientiousness (M 136.0 vs. M 120.6), respectively. The comparison between female AFSOC aircrew and male AFSOC aircrew revealed significant differences across three of the five domains: Neuroticism (M 74.9 vs. M 65.1), Openness to Experience (M 122.6 vs. M 115.0), and Agreeableness (M 119.6 vs. M 112.7), respectively.DISCUSSION: Implications for assessment and interpretation of psychological testing are discussed. This paper provides a unique perspective and insight into those who pursue and excel in this career field. Identifying specific personality traits in our AFSOC female aircrew allows for tailored care and support when evaluating readiness in special operations aircrew for optimizing performance.Chappelle W, Shadle AH, Martinez RN, Reardon LE, Goodman T, Spencer H, Thompson W. Personality traits that distinguish special operations female aircrew. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(4):240247.


2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412095355
Author(s):  
Sylvain Laborde ◽  
Sebastian Gerlach ◽  
Robert Vaughan

After a decrease in its practice, the interest in hitchhiking is currently renewed. However, so far, very little is known about the personality characteristics of hitchhikers. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between hitchhiking and personality traits, with the Big Five and emotional competences. Five hundred and seventy-eight travellers (452 hitchhikers, Mage = 28.4 years old; and 126 non-hitchhikers, Mage = 27.7 years old) took part in the study. Participants completed an online survey including hitchhiking behaviour, the Big Five Inventory, and the Profile for Emotional Competences. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, hitchhiking was found to be positively associated with openness, and negatively associated with neuroticism. No associations were found with emotional competences. These findings improve our understanding of the personality characteristics associated with hitchhiking, however longitudinal studies are required to understand how hitchhiking is related to personality.


1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Thorson

The purpose of this research note is to comment upon a study by Jayne Patrick that appeared in the Summer, 1991, issue of this Journal (“Personality Characteristics of Male and Female Pastoral Candidates,” 19 [2], 186–196), suggest some alternative norms for comparisons for part of the data she presented, and provide additional data for purposes of comparison.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wolska ◽  
Alicja Malina

Background: The subject of psychological research all over the world is to understand the factors conditioning relationships between healthy people and people with mental disorders. Authors analysing attitudes towards people with mental disorders emphasize the importance of two types of determinants: personality factors and demographic and social variables. Aim: The aim of the research was to determine the interdependencies between personality traits and attitudes towards people with mental disorders, taking into account the moderating role of social distance and demographic and environmental variables. Method: Polish version of Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) – Kwestionariusz Postaw (KP) was used to measure attitudes towards people with mental disorders. Personality traits were measured using the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (FFI) Personality Inventory by Costa and McCrae–Polish Adaptation, and the polish version of the Social Distance Scale was used to measure the declared social distance. In all, 204 people participated in the research: 133 women and 71 men, aged 18–65 years, living in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Greater Poland voivodeships. Results: The results showed that there is a relationship between personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness and an attitude towards people with mental disorders. Social distance, as the proposed moderator, did not significantly change the relationship between the variables. Conclusion: The results of the research have confirmed the important role of personality factors for attitudes, what should be remembered to exploration of presented phenomenon.


Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo S. Carlsson ◽  
Peter B. Samuelsson ◽  
Pär G. Jönsson

Statistical modeling, also known as machine learning, has gained increased attention in part due to the Industry 4.0 development. However, a review of the statistical models within the scope of steel processes has not previously been conducted. This paper reviews available statistical models in the literature predicting the Electrical Energy (EE) consumption of the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). The aim was to structure published data and to bring clarity to the subject in light of challenges and considerations that are imposed by statistical models. These include data complexity and data treatment, model validation and error reporting, choice of input variables, and model transparency with respect to process metallurgy. A majority of the models are never tested on future heats, which essentially renders the models useless in a practical industrial setting. In addition, nonlinear models outperform linear models but lack transparency with regards to which input variables are influencing the EE consumption prediction. Some input variables that heavily influence the EE consumption are rarely used in the models. The scrap composition and additive materials are two such examples. These observed shortcomings have to be correctly addressed in future research applying statistical modeling on steel processes. Lastly, the paper provides three key recommendations for future research applying statistical modeling on steel processes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
María de las Olas Palma-García ◽  
Isabel Hombrados-Mendieta

The goal of the study was to explore the relationship between personality characteristics and the development of resilience in the context of social work. To do this, combining the transverse and longitudinal approaches, we investigated 479 students and professional social workers. For students, the within-subject analysis shows that this group, while pursuing a university degree, are reaching greater openness, accountability, extraversion and kindness and, by contrast, are reducing their levels of neuroticism, which is the personality trait that acquires smaller presence on the professional stage. The regression results also confirmed the influence and predictive ability of personality traits on the resilience of students and social workers.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document