Do lie scales measure faking or substantive dimensions of personality

Skale laganja još uvek imaju široku upotrebu u psihologiji bez obzira na brojne empirijske dokaze koji ukazuju na neefikasnost pomenutih skala u poboljšanju validnosti samoprocena. S tim u vezi cilj ovog rada je bio da utvrdi da li skale laganja mere laganje ili supstantivne dimenzije ličnosti. U radu su prikazane tri studije urađene na tri različita uzorka ispitanika. Prva studija je ispitivala da li postoji slaganje između samoprocena na skali laganja i procena grupe vršnjaka koja je ocenila ispitanika na istoj skali. U drugoj, longitudinalnoj studiji koja je trajala 7 godina, različite mere ličnosti i ponašanja, kao i skala laganja administrirane su više puta, a prikupljene su procene od grupe vršnjaka na merama ličnosti. U trećoj studiji primenjena je eksperimentalna indukcija lažiranja pod instrukcijom „prikaži se boljim“, kao i procene grupe vršnjaka na skali procene nemorala relevantnog za školski kontekst. Rezultati su pokazali da je skor skale laganja značajno povezan sa skorom procena grupe vršnjaka na istoj skali laganja, interklasni koeficijenti korelacije su pokazali visoku test-retest stabilnost u vremenu. Skale laganja su povezane i sa merama ranih dečjih interesovanja koja su prikupljena čak sedam godina pre poslednjeg zadavanja skale laganja. U studiji eksperimentalno indukovanog lažiranja skale laganja nisu pokazale efikasnost u detekciji lažiranja. U svim studijama korelacije između samoprocena i procena grupe vršnjaka su veće ukoliko se samoprocene ne koriguju za vrednost skala laganja, što znači da skale laganja sadrže supstantivnu informaciju o ispitaniku. Generalni zaključak naših studija je u suprotnosti sa tretiranjem skala laganja kao mera strategije u odgovaranju. Naši rezultati ukazuju da su predmet merenja skala laganja stvarne individualne razlike u ličnosti koje su najviše povezane sa visokom saradljivošću, a delom i sa visokom savesnošću i niskom sklonosti ka amoralnosti.Lie scales are still widely used in psychology despite the amount of empirical evidence indicating their inefficiency in strengthening the validity of self-reporting. Therein, the aim of this dissertation has been to determine as to whether lie scales measure a respondent’s dishonesty or their own substantive personality dimensions. This work presents three studies conducted on three independent samples. The first study examines whether a consensus exists in self-reporting on lie scales as well as peer reports for the same lie scale. The second is a longitudinal study which was carried out over a period of seven years during which different measures of personality and behaviour, as well as lie scales, were administered repeatedly, from which peer reports on personality measures were obtained. The third study applied experimental induced faking under the instruction “to fake good” as well as peer reports on scales assessing immorality within a high school academic context. The results have indicated that the self-report score obtained on the lie scale significantly correlates with those on the peer report for the same scale; the intraclass coefficient correlations indicate a high-test - retest reliability over time. The lie scales have been found to be related to factors of early child interest, which were obtained even seven years prior to the final administration of the scale itself. In the study of experimentally induced faking, the lie scales were found not to demonstrate their efficacy in detecting faking. All studies conducted consistently found that the correlations obtained between self-reports and peer reports are, in most cases, higher when the lie scales had not been partialized out from the self- reports, thereby indicating that lie scales contain substantive information about the respondent. The general conclusion of the dissertation comes in opposition to using lie scales as a measure of strategy in answering. The results point to the content of lie scales for true individual differences in personality which are most strongly related to high agreeableness, but relating to high conscientiousness and low tendency to amorality

Supercritical carbon dioxide hop extraction

The hop of Magnum cultivar was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SFE-as extractant). Extraction was carried out in the two steps: the first one being carried out at 150 bar and 40°C for 2.5 h (Extract A), and the second was the extraction of the same hop sample at 300 bar and 40°C for 2.5 h (Extract B). Extraction kinetics of the system hop-SFE-CO2 was investigated. Two of four most common compounds of hop aroma (α-humulene and β-caryophyllene) were detected in Extract A. Isomerised α-acids and β-acids were detected too. a-Acid content in Extract B was high (that means it is a bitter variety of hop). Mathematical modeling using empirical model characteristic time model and simple single sphere model has been performed on Magnum cultivar extraction experimental results. Characteristic time model equations, best fitted experimental results. Empirical model equation, fitted results well, while simple single sphere model equation poorly approximated the results

Anxiety sensitivity

Uvod: Osetljivost na anksioznost je strah od anksioznosti zasnovan na uverenju da anksioznost ima oštećujuće fizičke, psihološke i socijalne posledice. Mnogobrojna istraživanja ukazuju da ova osetljivost predstavlja značajan faktor rizika za razvoj anksiozne i druge patologije. Najčešće korišćena mera konstrukta osetljivosti na anksioznost jeste verzija od 16 stavki Indeksa osetljivosti na anksioznost (ASI). Cilj: Osnovni cilj ove studije jeste da pruži inicijalnu psihometrijsku evaluaciju Indeksa osetljivosti na anksioznost na srpskom uzorku, koja je do sada izostala. Uključeni su ispitivanje pouzdanosti, faktorska analiza, poređenje kliničke i nekliničke grupe prema stepenu osetljivosti na anksioznost, i utvrđivanje da li osetljivost na anksioznost predviđa crtu anksioznosti. Metod: Uzorak čine dve grupe ispitanika: klinička grupa (N=104) kod koje je dijagnostikovan neki od anksioznih poremećaja i neklinička grupa (N=102) koja je sa prethodnom ujednačena po polu i uzrastu. Većina ispitanika u uzorku (70.4%) je ženskog pola, prosečnog uzrasta 36.23 (SD=9.47). Zadati su Indeks osetljivosti na anksioznost i Spilbergerov inventar anksioznosti kao crte. Rezultati: Rezultati ukazuju da je Kronbahov alfa koeficijent za skalu u celini veoma visok (vrednost alfe 0.923). Dobijena je trofaktorska struktura koju čine strahovi u vezi sa fizičkim, psihološkim i socijalnim aspektima anksioznosti i ustanovljen jedan faktor višeg reda. Takođe je utvrđena značajna razlika između kliničkog i nekliničkog uzorka na celoj skali, kao i na svakom faktoru. Regresiona analiza pokazala je da fizička i psihološka zabrinutost predstavljaju značajan prediktor crte anksioznosti dok socijalna zabrinutost nema udela. Zaključak: Karakteristike Indeksa osetljivosti na anksioznost koje su ustanovljene u našoj sredini odgovaraju nalazima prethodno obavljenih studija u inostranstvu. Ovaj instrument predstavlja adekvatnu meru ovog konstrukta u našoj populaciji tako da se može koristiti u kliničkom setingu i daljim istraživanjima.Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity is fear of anxiety based on belief that anxiety has damaging physical, psychological and social effects. Numerous researches point to the fact that this sensitivity represents a significant risk factor for the development of anxious and other pathologies. The most often used measure of the construct of anxiety sensitivity is version of 16-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Objective: This study aims to make initial psychometric evaluation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index on a Serbian sample, which has not been carried out so far. Reliability testing, factor analysis, the comparison of a clinical and non-clinical group by anxiety sensitivity level and establishing whether anxiety sensitivity may predict trait anxiety are included. Method: The sample comprises two groups of subjects: a clinical group (N=104) diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and a non-clinical group (N=102) of the same sex and age as the former. The majority of the subjects in the sample (70.4%) are female and their average age is 36.23 (SD=9.47). The Anxiety Sensitivity Index and Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory have been set. Results: The results indicate that the Chronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale is very high (the value of alpha being 0.923). A three-factor structure composed of fears in relation to physical, psychological and social aspects of anxiety has been obtained and a higher-order factor has been established. Moreover, a significant difference between the clinical and the non-clinical sample has been observed on the entire scale as well as on each factor. Regression analysis has shown that physical concern and psychological concern are significant predictors of trait anxiety, while social concern does not play a part. Conclusion: The characteristics of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index which have been established in our environment correspond to the results of studies previously carried out abroad. This instrument is an adequate measure of this construct in our population and thus it can be used in the clinical setting and further research

The role of irrational beliefs and personality in cognitive reactivity to sad mood

Jedan od najznačajnijih savremenih konstrukata u objašnjenju nastanka i odražavanja depresije je kognitivna reaktivnost na tužno/disforično raspoloženje koji se može definisati kao sklonost osobe da na tugu ili disforiju reaguju produkcijom negativnih misli, karakterističnih za depresiju. O formiranju ovakve reaktivnost još uvek se malo zna osim što se ovakva sklonost povezuje sa prethodnim depresivnim epizodama. Cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrđivanje uloge i odnosa iracionalnih uverenja i bazičnih dimenzija ličnosti u objašnjenju kognitivne reaktivnosti na tužno/disforično raspoloženje. Istraživanje je sprovedeno na prigodnom uzorku od 207 studenata i učenika srednjih škola, uzrasta: AS=22.05, SD=6.93. Faktorskom analizom Leiden indeksa kognitivne reaktivnosti na tužno raspoloženje izolovali smo 3 faktora: 1. Negativna procena, 2. Izbegavanje rešavanja problema, 3. Pokušaj prevazilaženja. Rezultati pokazuju da kognitivna reaktivnost na tužno raspoloženje može da se posmatra kao opšta tendencija da se bude pojačano senzitivan na negativne emocije. Korelacije između kognitivne reaktivnosti na tužno raspoloženje i depresivnosti i anksioznosti su veoma slične i značajne. Za razumevanje pojedinačnih faktora kognitivne reaktivnosti visoki skorovi na Neuroticizmu i Otvorenosti pokazali su se kao najvažnije varijable dimenzija ličnosti, a Samoobezvređivanje, Zahtev za lagodnošću i Obezvređivanje drugih pokazali su se kao najvažnije od varijable iracionalnih uverenja. Pokazalo se da iracionalna uverenja imaju značajan i nezavistan doprinos u objašnjenju kognitivne rekativnosti na tužno raspoloženje u odnosu na ličnost merenu petofaktorskim modelom.One of the most important contemporary constructs in the explanation of the appearance and sustainment of depression is cognitive reactivity to sadness/dysphoria, which can be defined as one's inclination to produce negative thoughts that are characteristic of depression when reacting to such moods. Little has yet to be known about the formation of this reactivity outside of the fact that this manner of inclination is tied to previous episodes of depression. The aim of this study is the confirmation of the role and relationship of irrational conviction and fundamental dimensions of personality in the explanation of cognitive reactivity to sadness/dysphoria. This study has been undertaken on an appropriate sample of 207 high school and college students, aged: AS=22.05 SD=6.93. Through factor analysis of the Leiden index of cognitive reactivity to sad moods, three factors were isolated: 1: a negative assessment; 2. the avoidance of solving problems; and 3. the attempt of coping. The results demonstrate that cognitive reactivity to sad moods can be considered to be a general tendency to be overly sensitive to negative emotions. Correlations between cognitive reactivity to sad moods and symptoms of depression and anxiety are quite similar and all significant. To understand particular factors of cognitive reactivity, the high scores on neuroticism and openness have been shown to be the most important factors of personality and self-demeaning beliefs, need for comfort, and other demeaning beliefs have been shown as the most important variables of irrational beliefs. It has been therein demonstrated that irrational beliefs have a significant and independent part in the explanation of cognitive reactivity to sad moods in comparison to personality as measured by the five factor model of personality

Depressive symptoms, exposure to aggression and delinquency proneness in adolescence: Impact of two decades of war and political violence on adolescent mental health

Traumatic experiences in Serbia in the last two decades have caused significant psychological consequences in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms, exposure to aggression and delinquency proneness among high school and elementary school students in Belgrade, Serbia. The participants were 899 students (51.8% were female) with no prior treatment for psychological problems, with a mean age of 16.70±1.95. All used instruments were taken from the modified Social and Health Assessment (SAHA). Our findings show that delinquent behavior or exposure to delinquency was significantly related to depressive symptoms. The strongest predictors of depression were variables concerning legal consequences, affiliation with delinquent peers, victimization by community violence and peer victimization. This study confirmed a strong correlation between depression and exposure to violence. Identifying adolescents with depressive symptoms is important for prevention of serious mental health consequences

Distribution of immorality in attitudes of students towards school misbehaviour

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of immorality in attitudes of students towards school misbehaviour (codes of behaviour at school) and whether the intensity of agreement with school misbehaviour is relative to student age. The research was conducted on the territory of Serbia and included 11 primary schools, 12 secondary schools and 2 faculties. The sample consisted of 1847 students (the gender was almost evenly distributed), who were administered the School Misbehaviour Scale. The scale showed a high reliability. We examined the following misbehaviours at school: attitudes towards exam cheating, truancy, answer whispering, falsifying school documents, rationalising violence towards teachers, bribery and corruption, school nepotism and general attitudes towards misbehaviour. The results showed that a great number of students agreed with school misbehaviour; exam cheating and answer whispering are the most common misbehaviours agreed with by students. Significant age differences in the agreement with school misbehaviour were established; the development line of approval of school misbehaviour is fairly equal for all types of school misbehaviour and shows that fourth grade students in primary school least approve of school misbehaviour, followed by sixth grade students. Seventh grade figures as the period when agreement with almost all types of school misbehaviour starts to increase. This is an upward and continuous trend during the eighth grade, as well as in the first and second grade of secondary school. In the third grade, agreement with misbehaviour starts to decrease and this trend continues through the fourth grade of secondary school and at the faculty

Faking amoralism: An ability elusive to both measures of substance and style

Much controversy exists regarding the phenomenon of faking questionnaires. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of personality, intelligence and the social desirability scale (SDS) in detecting faking, where the possible interfering variables of gender and prior knowledge of psychology are explored. The sample consists of two independent groups: (1) undergraduate psychology students and (2) high-school students. The results indicate that score changes under instruction to fake good occur in both desirable and undesirable directions, as well as that different variables predict successful and unsuccessful faking. Personality dimensions, intelligence, and SDS are also pointed to as having a weak effect on the ability to fake (related more to faking transparent items), as well as that failure to fake is found to be linked to low intelligence scores. The most significant variables to predict successful faking on virtually all amorality scales were found to be "psychology student" and "male". These final results demand further empirical evidence and review as they are not sufficiently representative in the literature thus far

Consumption of fish oil supplement alters erythrocyte fatty acid composition in overweight, hypercholesterolemic, middle-aged Serbians

The population of Serbia is characterized by very low fish intake and a similarly inadequate intake of other natural dietary sources of n-3 fatty acids (FAs). On the other hand, the use of fish oil dietary supplements has increased as well as the number of different commercially available products with fish oil. The effect of fish oil supplement use under real-life conditions on the erythrocyte total FA profile was investigated in this study. Fifteen middle-aged participants without acute health problems but with slightly increased body weight and mild hyperlipiderma were chosen as representatives of the average fish oil supplement consumers in Serbia. For 8, weeks participants were supplemented with fish oil in doses that are commonly used among supplement consumers: 2 fish oil capsules per day, each with a declared content of 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (20:50) and 120 mg docosahexacnoic acid (22:60). Erythrocyte lipids were extracted and then analyzed for FA composition by gas chromatography. A significant decrease was observed in oleic and 20:3n9 FAs (P lt .05), whereas an increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (0.8 +/- 0.17 to 1.1 +/- 0.59) and docosahexaenoic acid (2.7 +/- 0.87 to 3.5 +/- 1.09) was noted. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 FAs significantly decreased after fish oil supplementation (P lt .05). Our findings support the practice of moderate fish oil supplement use in the middle-aged slightly overweight and hypercholesterolemic individuals based on its effect on erythrocyte total FA profile

Uticaj suplementacije ribljim uljem na status polinezasićenih masnih kiselina membrane eritrocita kod pacijenata na hemodijalizi

IV Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 29. novembar – 2. decembar 2006 godine, Beogra