Student personality differences are related to their responses on instructor evaluation forms

The relation of student personality to student evaluations of teaching (SETs) was determined in a sample of 144 undergraduates. Student Big Five personality variables and core self-evaluation (CSE) were assessed. Students rated their most preferred instructor (MPI) and least preferred instructor (LPI) on 11 common evaluation items. Pearson and partial correlations simultaneously controlling for six demographic variables, Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness showed that SETs were positively related to Agreeableness and CSE and negatively related to Neuroticism, supporting the three hypotheses of study. Each of these significant relations was maintained when MPI, LPI or a composite of MPI and LPI served as the SET criterion. For example, the MPI-LPI composite correlated .28 with Agreeableness, .35 with CSE and –.28 with Neuroticism. Similar correlations resulted for MPI and LPI. Hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that the CSE was an independent predictor of MPI ratings, Agreeableness was an independent predictor of LPI ratings, and both the CSE and Agreeableness were independent predictors of MPI-LPI composite ratings. Neuroticism did not emerge as an independent predictor because of the substantial correlation between CSE and Neuroticism (r = .53) and because CSE had greater predictive capacity. This is the first study to incorporate the CSE construct into the SET literature.     

Effect of Weight Training on Self-Concept: A Profile of those Influenced Most

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of weight training on the self-concepts of college males. Another purpose was to identify the types of males, relative to measures of extroversion, neuroticism, body cathexis, somatotype, and muscular strength, who experience the most improvement in self-concept during a lifting program. Subjects of the experimental group (n = 113) trained with weights twice each week for 16 weeks, while controls (n = 127) were educated relative to personal health concepts. The results revealed significant posttest differences in global, internal, and external self-concept between the groups, confirming the hypothesis that regular weight training is positively associated with the improvement of self-concept. Pretest body cathexis, self-concept, and neuroticism scores were significant predictors of global self-concept change from the pretest to the posttest, whereas pretest measures of extroversion, somatotype, and muscular strength were not. Changes in neuroticism, body cathexis, and muscular strength scores were significant predictors of self-concept change, while extroversion change was not, indicating that the positive association between weight training and self-concept enhancement is multivariately determined, and that some types of males experience more improvement of self-concept than others during a weight training regime.     

Sources of differences in communication apprehension between Chinese in Taiwan and Americans

This study investigated whether cross‐cultural differences in communication apprehension (CA) can be explained with regard to cultural orientations, personality traits and component theory. To this end, a total of 618 undergraduates, studying in Taiwan (n = 298) and the United States (n = 320), participated in this study. Participants filled out the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension along with Self‐Construal Scale, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, Fear of Negative Evaluation, and Self‐Perceived Communication Competence scale. The results indicated that Chinese in Taiwan scored significantly higher in communication apprehension than Americans. The influence of culture on CA was mediated by independence self‐construal, neuroticism, extroversion, fear of negative evaluation, and communication competence. The strongest mediating effect was found for self‐perception of communication competence. The implications of these findings were further discussed.     

两种人格理论:艾森克与格雷

艾森克与格雷都是人格特质理论研究的杰出代表,艾森克以各种唤醒水平作为核心,而格雷强调的是行为的抑制与激活。对相关研究进行简要的回顾与总结,围绕中枢神经系统、边缘神经系统等方面进行探讨。     

Development of an instrument measuring student teachers’ perceived stressors about the practicum

The Stressors about Practicum Inventory, a self-report measure of perceived stressors about the practicum, was designed to provide those responsible for the training of primary school teachers with an informative, inexpensive and psychometrically sound tool. The present study describes the development and validation of the 94-item inventory in a sample of 138 Greek primary student teachers. It also investigates its initial factor structure and reliability. The scale was administered both before and after a four-week period of practicum. Content validity was examined using a panel of experts and student teachers, whereas convergent validity was assessed with the use of a measure of neuroticism. Factor analyses revealed four sources of perceived stress. No gender differences were found. However, the experience of the practicum significantly reduced student teachers’ perceived stress. All perceived stressors were moderately correlated with neuroticism, but after the practicum the size of the correlations was reduced.     

An empirical test of a communibiological model of trait verbal aggressiveness

The purpose of this study was to test Beatty and McCroskey's communibiological model of trait verbal aggressiveness. In general, this model views trait verbal aggressiveness as an expression of temperament; specifically, that trait verbal aggressiveness represents low thresholds for the fight or flight (FFS) neurobiological system. This model further contends that behavioral inhibition circuitry (BIS) moderates FFS activation by tempering aggressive impulses, otherwise FFS activation would manifest itself in the form of physical rather than verbal attacks. Beatty and McCroskey (1997) propose that low thresholds for stimulating the behavioral activation system (BAS) should be related to trait verbal aggressiveness to the extent that the construct involves a proactive rather than a purely reactive interpersonal function. Because previous research indicated that psychoticism (P), neuroticism (N) and extroversion (E) represent psychological manifestations of the FFS, BIS, and BAS systems, respectively, hypotheses linking P, N, and E to trait verbal aggressiveness (VAS) were tested. A multiple regression equation based on disattenuated correlations explained approximately 46% of the variance in VAS scores. Specifically, (1) the results for P and N were consistent with predictions derived from Beatty and McCroskey's model, and (2) the results for E were indicative of a purely reactive function of trait verbal aggressiveness. Implications for theory and research are discussed.     

Examining the role of social relationships in the association between neuroticism and test anxiety – results from a study with German secondary school students

The current study investigates the mediating role of student–student relationships (SSRs) and teacher–student relationships (TSRs) in the association between neuroticism and test anxiety. Gender differences in these associations were examined. A total of 513 adolescent girls and boys from secondary schools in Berlin, Germany completed questionnaires on test anxiety, personality and quality of SSRs and TSRs. As expected, the results of group comparison analysis indicated that girls showed higher mean levels of test anxiety and neuroticism as compared to boys. Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between test anxiety and TSR for girls only. Structural equation modelling revealed a positive relationship between neuroticism and test anxiety, which was mediated by the SSRs, but not by the TSR. The results highlight the importance of a high quality SSR for both girls and boys, especially as this relationship was found to mediate the association between neuroticism and test anxiety in schools and therefore might contribute to lower anxiety in learning environments. Practical implications of these findings are outlined.     

Neuroticism and Depressive Symptomatology: The Mediating Influence of College Student Floccinaucinihilipilification

This study tested a mediation model between depression and neuroticism on 209 college students. Previous research suggests that students who appraise their lives as having no value or worth, which is known as floccinaucinihilipilification (flocci), may be prone to depressive symptoms because of a neurotic disposition. Results found flocci domains targeted at the self and relationships partially mediated the neuroticism–depression relation. Implications and recommendations for professionals are discussed.     

高中生的人格、情绪及其关系的研究

本研究采用问卷调查方法,对高中生的人格、情绪及其关系进行研究。结果发现高中男女生在精神质上存在显著差异(t=-2.857,p=.005),而在神经质、外倾性、说谎量表上的得分均没有差异。高中生的积极情绪显著多于消极情绪,在积极情绪方面男女之间存在显著差异(t=2.89,p=.004),男性的积极情绪显著多于女性(M男=29.75,M女=27.73),而消极情绪男女之间不存在差异(t=.60,p=.55)。人格与情绪密切相关,神经质是和消极情绪相联系的,而外倾性是和积极情绪相联系的。     

内倾等于不幸福吗?

外倾与积极情感的正相关是幸福感研究领域中较为明确的结论之一。不过,这个正相关并不意味着内倾者是不幸福的,也不意味着内倾者难以变得幸福。这一正相关在一定程度上是由外倾者的行为方式所致;此外,在控制了神经质的影响后,外倾与积极情感的正相关处于低水平,而且自我欺骗也会影响这一相关。更重要的一点是,内倾者与外倾者的幸福感差异不仅仅是量上的差异,在质上也存在差异。