Phenol-Rich Food Acceptability: The Influence of Variations in Sweetness Optima and Sensory-Liking Patterns

The consumption of phenol-rich foods is limited by their prominent bitterness and astringency. This issue has been addressed by adding sweet tastes, which suppress bitterness, but this is not a complete solution since individuals also differ in their preference for sweetness. In this study, we aimed at identifying groups of consumers differing in sweetness optima and sensory-liking patterns. To this end, increasing concentrations of sucrose were added to a chocolate pudding base. This allowed us to (1) investigate if individual differences in sensory responses are associated with different sweet liking optima in a product context, (2) define the psychological and oro-sensory profile of sweet liker phenotypes derived using a product context, and (3) assess if individuals differing in sweet liking optima differ also in consumption and liking of phenol-rich foods and beverages as a function of their sensory properties (e.g., sweeter vs. more bitter and astringent products). Individuals (1208; 58.4% women, 18–69 years) were characterised for demographics, responsiveness to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), personality traits and attitudes toward foods. Three clusters were identified based on correlations between sensory responses (sweetness, bitterness and astringency) and liking of the samples: liking was positively related to sweetness and negatively to bitterness and astringency in High and Moderate Sweet Likers, and the opposite in Inverted U-Shaped. Differences between clusters were found in age, gender and personality. Furthermore, the Inverted-U Shaped cluster was found to have overall healthier food behaviours and preferences, with higher liking and consumption of phenol-rich vegetables and beverages without added sugar. These findings point out the importance of identifying the individual sensory-liking patterns in order to develop more effective strategies to promote the acceptability of healthy phenol-rich foods.

Download Full-text

Pathological Personality Traits and Utilitarian Moral Judgments

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1521/jscp.2018.37.3.182 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 182-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Virgil Zeigler-Hill ◽

Avi Besser ◽

Sinead Cronin ◽

Jennifer K. Vrabel

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Moral Judgment ◽

Personality Trait ◽

Negative Affectivity ◽

Moral Judgments ◽

Self Report ◽

Community Members ◽

The Individual ◽

Pathological Personality Traits

Recent research has highlighted important individual differences in moral judgment. The present study extends these findings by examining the associations between pathological personality traits and utilitarian moral judgments. This was accomplished by asking 2,121 Israeli community members to complete self-report measures concerning their pathological personality traits and evaluate the acceptability of utilitarian moral judgments in various sacrificial dilemmas (is it acceptable to intentionally kill one person in order to save several other people?). The results showed that the pathological personality traits of antagonism and disinhibition were positively associated with the endorsement of personal utilitarian moral judgments (i.e., those decisions requiring the individual to directly inflict harm on the would-be sacrificed individual), whereas negative affectivity was negatively associated with personal utilitarian moral judgments. Antagonism was the only pathological personality trait associated with impersonal utilitarian moral judgments (i.e., those decisions that did not require the individual to directly inflict harm on the would-be sacrificed individual). Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for understanding the associations between pathological personality traits and moral judgments.

Download Full-text

Do you see the “face”? Individual differences in face pareidolia

Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology ◽

10.1017/prp.2019.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Liu-Fang Zhou ◽

Ming Meng

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Face Perception ◽

Clinical Applications ◽

Neural Mechanisms ◽

Developmental Factors ◽

The Face ◽

The Individual ◽

The Brain

Abstract People tend to see faces from non-face objects or meaningless patterns. Such illusory face perception is called face pareidolia. Previous studies have revealed an interesting fact that there are huge individual differences in face pareidolia experience among the population. Here, we review previous findings on individual differences in face pareidolia experience from four categories: sex differences, developmental factors, personality traits and neurodevelopmental factors. We further discuss underlying cognitive or neural mechanisms to explain why some perceive the objects as faces while others do not. The individual differences in face pareidolia could not only offer scientific insights on how the brain works to process face information, but also suggest potential clinical applications.

Download Full-text

Differences in Decision Time between Extraverts and Introverts under the “Task-Oriented Situation” and the “Ego-Oriented Situation”

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1978.42.2.563 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 563-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kunio Shiomi

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Decision Time ◽

Personality Inventory ◽

Conflict Situations ◽

The Social ◽

The Individual ◽

Task Oriented

The individual differences in decision time for conflict situations were investigated chiefly in the contexts of extraversion and introversion measured by the Maudsley Personality Inventory and the Social Extraversion scores of Yatabe-Guilford Personality Inventory. Under “task-oriented instruction” introverts decided faster than extraverts but with “ego-oriented instruction” extraverts decided faster than introverts. These results were discussed in terms of personality traits of introverts and extraverts.

Download Full-text

Psychometric properties of the embodiment scale for the rubber hand illusion and its relation with individual differences

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84595-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daniele Romano ◽

Angelo Maravita ◽

Marco Perugini

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Body Representation ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Healthy People ◽

Rubber Hand Illusion ◽

Body Ownership ◽

Rubber Hand ◽

The Individual

AbstractThe Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) opened the investigation of the sense of body ownership in healthy people. By putting in slight contrast vision touch and proprioception, healthy people embody a fake hand in one's body representation. The easiness of the procedure, typically measured with a set of questions that capture the subjective experience, favoured its blooming. However, validation studies of embodiment questionnaires are lacking, and the individual differences that contribute to the embodiment received little attention. In our study, 298 participants underwent an RHI procedure following both synchronous and asynchronous (control) visuo-tactile stimulations. The study had multiple aims: (a) to explore the psychometric structure of a 27-items questionnaire largely used in the literature; (b) to build a psychometrically efficient scale to measure embodiment-related phenomena; (c) to explore whether and how individual differences (empathy, self-esteem and mindfulness) are associated with the experience of illusion. We found a relatively simple structure consisting of three components: embodiment of the rubber hand, disembodiment of the biological hand, physical sensations experienced during the procedure. The scales designed were psychometrically reliable and theoretically meaningful, encompassing 18 of the original items. Finally, by adopting a network analysis approach, we found that the embodiment is directly related to empathy and self-esteem, while disembodiment and physical sensation are unrelated to individual personality traits. The study provides substantial evidence to use the embodiment scale as a standard questionnaire for future RHI studies. Additionally, the correlations with personality traits suggest that the embodiment induced by the RHI deeply integrates with the complexity of the individuals and their differences.

Download Full-text

Associations between Personality Traits and Basal Cortisol Responses in Sailing Athletes

European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education ◽

10.3390/ejihpe11030058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 804-812

Author(s):

Pierpaolo Limone ◽

Maria Sinatra ◽

Flavio Ceglie ◽

Lucia Monacis

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Test Analysis ◽

Basal Cortisol ◽

Cortisol Responses ◽

Physiological Profiles ◽

The Individual ◽

Selection Of

There is a paucity of literature regarding the psycho-physiological profiles of sailors on board. This study aimed at providing empirical evidence on the individual differences between bowmen and helmsmen taking into account a biopsychological perspective. To this purpose, sailors’ profiles were examined by focusing on the association between personality traits and basal cortisol. The sample was composed of 104 athletes (Mage = 21.32, SD = 0.098; F = 35%), who fulfilled a self-reported questionnaire including a socio-demographic section and the Big Five questionnaire. Cortisol samples were collected on the day before the competition, within 30 min after awakening. T-test analysis showed significant differences on cortisol levels: bowmen obtained higher levels on cortisol responses compared to helmsmen. No differences emerged on personality traits between athletes’ roles. Bivariate associations showed positive associations of cortisol responses with extraversion and conscientiousness in bowmen, whereas no significant associations of cortisol with personality traits were found in helmsmen. Regression analyses confirmed that sex and extraversion predicted higher level of cortisol responses. Results were discussed in terms of a bio-psychosocial theoretical approach and provided findings on the relationships between personality trait and the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal (HPA) system in dinghy sailors. Suggestions for a more suitable selection of sailor roles were given to coaches in order to improve athletes’ performance.

Download Full-text

Individual Differences in Students' Preferences for Lecturers' Personalities

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001.26.4.176 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 176-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Adrian Furnham ◽

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Student Ratings ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Personality Profile ◽

Similarity Effect ◽

Intelligence Scores ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. This study examines the relationship between students' personality and intelligence scores with their preferences for the personality profile of their lecturers. Student ratings (N = 136) of 30 lecturer trait characteristics were coded into an internally reliable Big Five taxonomy ( Costa & McCrae, 1992 ). Descriptive statistics showed that, overall, students tended to prefer conscientious, open, and stable lecturers, though correlations revealed that these preferences were largely a function of students' own personality traits. Thus, open students preferred open lecturers, while agreeable students preferred agreeable lecturers. There was evidence of a similarity effect for both Agreeableness and Openness. In addition, less intelligent students were more likely to prefer agreeable lecturers than their more intelligent counterparts were. A series of regressions showed that individual differences are particularly good predictors of preferences for agreeable lecturers, and modest, albeit significant, predictors of preferences for open and neurotic lecturers. Educational and vocational implications are considered.

Download Full-text

Investment Traits and Intelligence in Adulthood

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000101 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 82-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sophie von Stumm

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Fluid Intelligence ◽

Need For Cognition ◽

Openness To Experience ◽

Intelligence Tests ◽

Crystallized Intelligence ◽

New Knowledge ◽

The Relationship ◽

Over Time

Intelligence-as-knowledge in adulthood is influenced by individual differences in intelligence-as-process (i.e., fluid intelligence) and in personality traits that determine when, where, and how people invest their intelligence over time. Here, the relationship between two investment traits (i.e., Openness to Experience and Need for Cognition), intelligence-as-process and intelligence-as-knowledge, as assessed by a battery of crystallized intelligence tests and a new knowledge measure, was examined. The results showed that (1) both investment traits were positively associated with intelligence-as-knowledge; (2) this effect was stronger for Openness to Experience than for Need for Cognition; and (3) associations between investment and intelligence-as-knowledge reduced when adjusting for intelligence-as-process but remained mostly significant.

Download Full-text

Personality change and environmental concerns

10.31234/osf.io/jk94r ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher James Hopwood ◽

Ted Schwaba ◽

Wiebke Bleidorn

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Personality Change ◽

Environmental Concerns ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

German Population ◽

Individual Level ◽

Sustainable Behavior ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Individual ◽

Over Time

Personal concerns about climate change and the environment are a powerful motivator of sustainable behavior. People’s level of concern varies as a function of a variety of social and individual factors. Using data from 58,748 participants from a nationally representative German sample, we tested preregistered hypotheses about factors that impact concerns about the environment over time. We found that environmental concerns increased modestly from 2009-2017 in the German population. However, individuals in middle adulthood tended to be more concerned and showed more consistent increases in concern over time than younger or older people. Consistent with previous research, Big Five personality traits were correlated with environmental concerns. We present novel evidence that increases in concern were related to increases in the personality traits neuroticism and openness to experience. Indeed, changes in openness explained roughly 50% of the variance in changes in environmental concerns. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the individual level factors associated with changes in environmental concerns over time, towards the promotion of more sustainable behavior at the individual level.

Download Full-text

Influence of κ-Carrageenan, Modified Starch and Inulin Addition on Rheological and Sensory Properties of Non-fat and Non-added Sugar Dairy Dessert

Current Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.2174/1573401315666190301152645 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 462-469

Author(s):

Zhaleh Sheidaei ◽

Bahareh Sarmadi ◽

Seyede M. Hosseini ◽

Fardin Javanmardi ◽

Kianoush Khosravi-Darani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Storage Modulus ◽

Loss Modulus ◽

Viscoelastic Behavior ◽

Textural Properties ◽

Complex Viscosity ◽

Sensory Properties ◽

Modified Starch ◽

Consumer Health ◽

Added Sugar ◽

Textural Parameters

Background: The high amounts of fat, sugar and calorie existing in dairy desserts can lead to increase the risk of health problems. Therefore, the development of functional and dietary forms of these products can help the consumer health. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of κ-carrageenan, modified starch and inulin addition on rheological and sensory properties of non-fat and non-added sugar dairy dessert. Methods: In order to determine the viscoelastic behavior of samples, oscillatory test was carried out and the values of storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), loss angle tangent (tan δ) and complex viscosity (η*) were measured. TPA test was used for analysis of the desserts’ texture and textural parameters of samples containing different concentrations of carrageenan, starch and inulin were calculated. Results: All treatments showed a viscoelastic gel structure with the storage modulus higher than the loss modulus values. Increasing amounts of κ-carrageenan and modified starch caused an increase in G′ and G″ as well as η* and a decrease in tan δ. Also, firmness and cohesiveness were enhanced. The trained panelists gave the highest score to the treatment with 0.1% κ-carrageenan, 2.5% starch and 5.5% inulin (sucralose as constant = 0.25%) and this sample was the best treatment with desirable attributes for the production of non-fat and non-added sugar dairy dessert. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the concentration of κ-carrageenan and starch strongly influenced the rheological and textural properties of dairy desserts, whereas the inulin content had little effect on these attributes.

Download Full-text

A meta-analysis on individual differences in primary emotional systems and Big Five personality traits

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84366-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Davide Marengo ◽

Kenneth L. Davis ◽

Gökçe Özkarar Gradwohl ◽

Christian Montag

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Big Five Personality Traits ◽

Self Report ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Affective Neuroscience ◽

Emotional Systems

AbstractThe Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) were constructed as a self-report assessment to measure individual differences in Jaak Panksepp’s cross-species primary emotional systems: SEEKING, PLAY, CARE (positive emotions) and FEAR, SADNESS, ANGER (negative emotions). Beginning with the first published work on the ANPS in 2003, individual differences on the ANPS measures of these six primary emotional systems have been consistently linked to Big Five personality traits. From a theoretical perspective, these primary emotional systems arising from subcortical regions, shed light on the nature of the Big Five personality traits from an evolutionary perspective, because each of these primary emotional systems represent a tool for survival endowing mammalian species with inherited behavioral programs to react appropriately to complex environments. The present work revisited 21 available samples where both ANPS and Big Five measures have been administered. Our meta-analytical analysis provides solid evidence that high SEEKING relates to high Openness to Experience, high PLAY to high Extraversion, high CARE/low ANGER to high Agreeableness and high FEAR/SADNESS/ANGER to high Neuroticism. This seems to be true regardless of the ANPS inventory chosen, although much more work is needed in this area. Associations between primary emotional systems and Conscientiousness were in the lower effect size area across all six primary emotions, thereby supporting the idea that Conscientiousness rather seems to be less directly related with the subcortical primary emotions and likely is the most cognitive/cortical personality construct out of the Big Five. In sum, the present work underlines the idea that individual differences in primary emotional systems represent evolutionarily ancient foundations of human personality, given their a) meaningful links to the prominent Big Five model and b) their origins lying in subcortical areas of the human brain.

Download Full-text