The Associations Between the Maladaptive Personality Dimensions of Neediness and Self-Criticism, Defense Styles, Selfobject Needs, and Attachment Styles in an Iranian Sample

The present study extends previous findings by examining whether defense styles, selfobject needs, attachment styles relate to Neediness and Self-Criticism, as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition in an Iranian sample. Three hundred and 52 participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire as well as the Persian forms of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, Experience of Close Relationships-Revised, Defense Style Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory—II and Selfobject Needs Inventory. Two multiple linear regression analyses, entering Self-criticism and Neediness as criterion variables, were computed. According to the results, high attachment anxiety, high immature defenses, high depressive symptoms, and high need for idealization were related to self-criticism, and explained 47% of its variance. In addition, high attachment anxiety, low mature defenses, high neurotic defenses, high avoidance of mirroring, and low avoidance of idealization/twinship were related to neediness, and explained 40% of its variance. A principal components analysis was performed, entering all the studied variables. Three factors emerged; 1 describing a maladaptive form of psychological functioning and 2 describing more mature modes of psychological functioning. The results are discussed in their implications for the understanding of neediness and self-criticism as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition

Grounded School Choice in Uganda: Community Building from the Bottom to the Top

The non-profit organization, From the Bottom to the Top, has been working with the people of west-central Uganda to rebuild the education system, develop increased access to sustainable schools, and promote community involvement in school decisions. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of students, parents, teachers, and community members related to their choice of specific schools in a rural area of Uganda, which have been working in cooperation with From the Bottom to the Top. Interviews focused on students and families’ motivations to choose the school their children attend and observations of sustainable development efforts in their communities. Results suggest that a bottom-up approach to rebuilding well-managed, self-reliant, sustainable schools plays a strong role in school choice decisions. Thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in themes related to gender equality, healthcare, and infrastructure. Empowering schools to be self-sustaining and supporting initiatives related to feminine hygiene products, sustainable potable water systems, and other community needs allows local education systems to thrive