Electronic Library of Scientific Literature - © Academic Electronic Press
Volume 44 / No. 3 / 2002
Miluše A. SOUDKOVÁ*
107 McCormick Drive, DeKalb, Illinois 60115, USA
* (Prof. Emer. of the Northern Illinois University, DeKalb,
Illinois 60115, USA)
Abstract: Transpersonal psychology is recognized as the fourth force in Western psychology, the previous three forces having been psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and humanistic psychology. The historical, social, and cultural contexts of the first three major psychological schools of thought in the United States are presented. Their main focus is viewed with respect to the origins and developments of the transpersonal movement. Among the antecedents of transpersonal psychology, the pertinent ideas and influences are those of William James, Carl G. Jung, Roberto Assagioli and Abraham Maslow. After discussing the professional beginnings and developments in the transpersonal field, the scope, subject matter, and methodologies of transpersonal psychology are introduced. The consciousness research of Stanislav Grof and the integral view of Ken Wilber are examples of specific approaches to transpersonal theory, research, and practice. The article discusses major areas of interest in transpersonal psychology, with respect to its spiritual, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary orientation. Some critical approaches to transpersonal theory and practice are also examined. In the area of clinical practice the article introduces the concept of spiritual emergency and stresses the significance of the inclusion of religious and spiritual issues in the fourth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association. The conclusion addresses the importance of transpersonal psychology for the development of psychological science.
Key words: transpersonal psychology; origins and development; theory, research and practice; spiritual, cross-cultural and iterdisciplinary orientation; history in the United States
pp. 175-200
Damián KOVÁČ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: A theoretico-methodological confrontation of the psycho-regulatory concept with certain theses of transpersonal psychology. It proceeds along three lines of thought. Transpersonal psychology narrows down psychological reality to experiencing, which is in contradiction with the widely accepted deductions of evolution theories. This also implies a whittling down of methodological approaches that do not lead to verifiable facts in human behavior. Ultimately, it is essential to keep in mind the principal inference from our "chelovekoznaniye" (knowledge of man), viz. that man in his fullness is a bio-psycho-socio-cultural-spiritual being.
Key words: personality psychology, psychological reflection, psychological regulation, man, psychological interventions
pp. 201-206
Emil ŠIŠKA
Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Physical Culture, Department of Adapted Physical Activities, tř. Míru 115, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Abstract: This paper describes some possibilities of adopting the latest methods of the autonomic nervous system examination (especially spectral analysis of heart rate variability) in the field of laboratory stress research. Stroop color-word test was used as an experimental stressor. We can confirm that during its administration to our subjects (n = 91) the autonomic modulation of heart activity exhibits changes which are indicative of the evident decrease in parasympathetic activity and the increase in sympathetic activity.
Key words: heart rate variability, stress, psychosomatic medicine
pp. 211-218
Emília FICKOVÁ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: Coping with stressful situations and the preference of coping strategies in adolescents are influenced by positive/negative affectivity and negative emotionality. Results obtained using the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Scale; Watson et al., 1988) and NEM (Negative Emotionality Scale; Waller et al., 1996) were analyzed according to two coping scales - KIDCOPE (Spirito et al., 1988) and CSCY (Coping Scale for Children and Youth; Brodzinsky et al., 1992). The assumption of a significantly different preference of coping strategies in adolescents with high level of negative affectivity and emotionality has been verified. Adolescents, girls and boys with high scores in state and trait positive affectivity prefer more coping strategies focused on the problem. In high negative affectivity/emotionality, they prefer to use mainly avoidance and emotion-focused strategies.
Key words: affectivity, emotionality, coping with stress, adolescents
pp. 219-226
Zdena RUISELOVÁ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: An analysis is made of the relationship between sense of coherence (Antonovsky) and personality traits - the Big Five, internality-externality, further of curiosity, anxiety, aggressivity and depression (Spielberg) and level of self-esteem (Rosenberg) in elderly women - attending a University of the Third Age - mean age 62.4 years. A part of the results were compared with those from a similar study on adolescent girls. These results support findings of a negative relation between effective coping and neuroticism, frequently reported by other authors. A higher level of conscientiousness and openness was found, as also higher internality, self-esteem and curiosity, together with a lower level of anxiety, aggressivity and depression, and a higher SOC in elderly persons of this specific sample.
Key words: sense of coherence, personality traits, ageing, women
pp. 227-233
Tomáš KOVÁČ1, Silvester KURUC2
1 Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology,
Trnavská cesta 112, 821 02 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
2 Department of Psychology of the Philosophical Faculty, St.
Cyril and Methodius University, J. Herdu 2, 917 00 Trnava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The study is concerned with a subjective evaluation of an individual's quality of life by using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, K. Urban's Creativity Test and Eysenck's Personality Inventory. The results correspond to the preliminary study of D. Kováč (2001a). The quality of life domains are mutually interconnected. Neuroticism negatively influences the positive evaluation of the quality of life in both sexes. The females in the present study have more problems in the psychological and environmental domains of the quality of life and on the other hand, males have to struggle more in the area of the physical way of life. Creativity is an important positive factor influencing the subjective evaluation of the quality of life.
Key words: quality of life domains, personality, extroversion, neuroticism, creativity
pp- 235-242
Ján FERJENČÍK, Peter BURGER, Peter ČISÁRIK, Vanda LIESKOVSKÁ
Faculty of Business Economy, University of Economics, Tajovského 11, 041 32 Košice, Slovak Republic, E-mail: ferjencik@hotmail.com
Abstract: The study examines the predictive validity of admission procedures applied in the selection of future students of economy. Results based on data analysis from 910 students of economy point to a rather low predictive power of indicators recently used for selection. From other variables examined as possible predictors, gender and mainly high school grades exhibit a significant relationship to subsequent achievements at university. The necessity is stressed to search for other, more valid and not only cognitive predictors.
Key words: predictive validity, academic achievement, admission
pp. 243-251
Prahbhjot MALHI, Surjit SINGH
Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India
E-mail: apcpgi@glide.net.in
Abstract: The study examined the mediating effects of parental emotional distress and family support on the psychological adaptation of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Thirty five children with JRA aged 6 to 14 and their parents attending the Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology Clinic in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India were recruited for the study. Parental distress was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and the trait form of the State Trait Anxiety Scale. Family support was assessed by the Family Relationship Index of the Family Environment Scale. The child's psychosocial functioning was measured by the Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule. Results indicated that demographic and disease related factors were not correlated with the psychopathology scores of children. Higher levels of parental depression and anxiety were associated with higher psychopathology, and higher levels of family support were related to lower psychopathology scores among children with JRA. Multiple regression analysis, however, revealed that family conflict was the only significant predictor and accounted for 32% of variance in child's psychosocial adjustment. These findings are consistent with the stress - support - psychological adjustment relationship that has received empirical support in studies on children with chronic illnesses. The findings highlight the need to provide comprehensive care for children with chronic illnesses, which addresses both their physical and mental health needs.
Key words: psychosocial adaptation, parental distress, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
pp. 253-259
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