Electronic Library of Scientific Literature - © Academic Electronic Press
Volume 44 / No. 2 / 2002
Jurij PLANINSEC
University of Maribor, Faculty of Education, 160 Koroska, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia, E-mail: jurij.planinsec@uni-mb.si
Abstract: The aim of this study is to analyze developmental changes of relations between motor performance and fluid intelligence of boys (N = 550, age: 10, 12 and 14 years). A battery of 26 tests was used for estimating motor performance. Intelligence testing was implemented with the TN-20 test. Motor variables were treated in manifest and latent space, while the motor factor was established using factor analysis and relations between motor performance and fluid intelligence were estimated with the multiple regression analysis. The results showed that a connection does exist between motor performance and fluid intelligence. The closest connection in all age groups was found to be that between intelligence and motor tasks requiring an ability to coordinate movement in rhythm, while with tasks involving the speed of movement it was slightly less significant. Correlation between motor performance and fluid intelligence was highest in the 12-year- and lowest in the 10-year-olds. It has been confirmed that the developmental changes have a significant influence on the relations between motor performance and fluid intelligence.
Key words: motor performance, fluid intelligence, developmental changes, relations, boys
pp. 85-94
Viliam BÍRO, Róbert ŠTUKOVSKÝ †
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The study follows up certain psychophysiological specificities in the behavior of addicts to drugs, alcohol and heroin, in contrast to a control group. Use was made of an original technology in the research process, standard mathematico-statistical data processing with a quantitative-qualitative analysis of the results. A different adaptive ability and adjustment to stress situations were noted, as well as a post-stress coping with an increased intrapsychic tension and this both within the group of drug addicts and among the controls. As expected, the control group showed a higher adaptability than alcohol and heroin addicts. It was established that beside psychophysiological specificities manifest in the various groups, also such variables come to the forefront as identification with one's role, consonance between imageries and reality, as well as length of abstinence in drug contaminated groups.
Key words: stress, drugs, neuropsychic processes
pp. 95-105
Nadege SOUBIALE1, Nicolas ROUSSIAU2
1 Department of Psychology, University of Reims Champagne
Ardenne, 57, Rue Pierre Taittinger, 51 096 Reims, France, E-mail:
nadege.soubiale@univ-reims.fr
2 Department of Psychology, University of Rennes
Abstract: Cognitive approaches to stereotypes deal mostly with their stability. However, some interest has developed in their possible modification. The main aim of this study was to specifically manipulate factors in the categorization system that might weaken the stereotyped perception of some social groups (here ethnic and religious groups). The results show some impact of these factors, but our hypothesis was only partly confirmed, because the stereotypes of some categories, although not as strong after the intervention, kept their major orientations.
Key words: social categorization, racial and ethnic stereotypes (and change in), subtyping
pp. 107-123
Ladislav LOVAŠ1, Richard WOLT2
1 Faculty of Public Administration, University of P. J. Šafarik,
Moyzesova 50, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic
2 Department of Psychology, Philosophical Faculty of the Prešov
University, Ul. 17. novembra 1, 080 78 Prešov, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The aim of the research was to find out the relation between sensitivity to injustice and other personality traits. The authors based their view on the definition of sensitivity to injustice as a personality trait and some research findings regarding the reactions toward events considered as unjust. In order to obtain the relevant data the authors developed a questionnaire measuring the frequency of occurrence of unjust events in the classroom. To measure the personality traits use was made of the FPI. The research was conducted on a sample of 128 secondary school students. It was found that students who are more aggressive, egocentric, suspicious, mistrustful, immersed in their own thoughts and introspective, harboring feelings of misunderstanding and unfair treatment, are more sensitive to injustice.
Key words: sensitivity to injustice, personality trait, aggression
pp. 125-131
Karl PELTZER1, Anton J. DIJKER2
1 Health Behavior Research Unit, University of the North,
Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa, E-mail:
PeltzerK@unin.unorth.ac.za
2 Department of Health Education & Promotion, Maastricht
University, The Netherlands
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes toward people with AIDS (PWAs) among 760 first-year African black university students (351 male, and 409 female) from four African countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe), in the age range of 17 to 44 years (M = 23.6, SD = 4.3). Results indicate that from the three emotional reactions studied 'irritation' and 'pity' but not 'fear', and 'having had AIDS education' or 'personally knowing someone with HIV/AIDS' were predictors for readiness to have personal contact with PWAs. Regarding cognitive variables only risk perception was a negative predictor for contact readiness with PWAs. Implications for secondary HIV prevention interventions in African countries are discussed.
Key words: attitudes, people with AIDS, university students, four African countries
pp. 133-141
Peter HALAMA
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: Meaning in life is generally considered as a multidimensional phenomenon. Reker and Wong's model of personal meaning postulates three components: cognitive, motivational and affective. In the present study, the interrelations between these components are analyzed on a sample of 168 university students. Personal Meaning Index (PMI) and dimension Framework from Life Regard Index - Revised (LRI-R) were used as measures for the cognitive component, Hope Scale and dimension Will/Tenacity to Purpose from Test Noo-dynamic (TND) for the motivational component, and dimension Fulfillment from Life Regard Index - Revised (LRI-R) with Acceptance of life from Test Noo-dynamic for the affective component. The analysis with structural equation modeling showed the important role of the motivational component, which acts as a partial mediator of influence between the cognitive and the affective component.
Key words: meaning in life, components of meaning
pp. 143-154
Agnieszka KULIK, Leszek SZEWCZYK
Department of Clinical Psychology of Children and Youth, Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Raclawickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Abstract: The ability to meditate is characteristic of every human being.
It takes place as a result of experiencing the fragility of human nature,
feeling of alienation and the like. The effects of meditation vary considerably.
Aim: In modern times two major modes of meditation prevail: The Christian and
the Oriental trend. Both forms have elements that are common but also such as
diverge. Of interest appears an answer to the question whether these forms can
be combined and which of them carries meaning for mental live.
Group: A study has been carried out on group of young people voluntarily
pursuing the Christian form of meditation (28 persons belonging to the Light -
Life Movement) and a similar group of persons pursuing the Oriental form (23
persons practicing Transcendental meditation - Zen, yoga, who followed the
course of Sylva's Meditation and attended the Institute of Identity Knowledge).
Method: The following methods were
used in the research: the
"Purpose in Life Test" by J.C.
Crumbaugh and K.T. Maholik, the "Hostility - Guilt Inventory" by A.H.
Buss and A. Durkee, The Hopelessness Scale by A.T. Beck and "The I.P.A.T.
Anxiety Scale" by R.B. Cattell.
Results: Persons pursuing the Christian or the Oriental form of meditation
revealed no significant differences with regard to the intensity of the sense of
meaning of life. The basic difference between the groups appears in the type of
answers which refer to the attitude towards oneself and others (e.g., death,
coping with problems due to alcohol and drugs, the role of sickness and
suffering).
Our study has revealed a distinct decrease in aggressive tendencies, a higher
level of anxiety, lower resistance towards frustrations and a slight sense of
hopelessness among the meditating subjects. It shows that both forms of
meditation exert a similar influence on the emotional reactions.
Key words: meditation, sense of life, emotions, young people
pp. 155-166
Nicolas GUÉGUEN
Université de Bretagne-Sud, IUT de Vannes- Département TC, Laboratoire
GRESICO, 8 rue Montaigne, BP 561 - 56017 Vannes, France,
E-mail: Nicolas.Gueguen@iu-vannes.fr
Abstract: It has been demonstrated on many occasions that touch exerted a positive effect on compliance with requests coming from strangers. Yet, few studies have been carried out on the significance that could be attributed to touch in the field of a request. Therefore, an experiment was made in which some men and women were approached at random in the street by confederates and asked for money. In some cases, the request was made without any contact (control group). In others, touch was aimed at emphasizing the need of help (the arm was held for 2 seconds) and lastly in others, touch was aimed at "drawing attention" (someone's shoulder was given a tap twice). The results brought to light that touch increases compliance and that touch "for need" is much more efficient than touch to "draw attention". Nevertheless, there seems to be an interaction between the kind of touch and the gender of the experimental subject. This interaction is discussed within the scope of studies on helping and the reactions to tactile contact according to the individual's gender.
Key words: touch, tactile contact, gender, request, compliance
pp. 167-172
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