Electronic Library of Scientific Literature




STUDIA PSYCHOLOGICA



Volume 38, No 3, 1996

 

 


HOW DO WE APPROACH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF FAMILY

Veronika KOVÁLIKOVÁ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: The considerable expansion of psychological research dealing with family problems and the efforts to concentrate this research under the name of Family Psychology leads to questions about the state of the research in this field.
The article is based on a sketch of the aims of family psychology and concentrates chiefly on three problems which need to be clarified if the greatly dispersed research is to reveal findings which could be considered as psychological knowledge in this field and which could be used as a base for theories and further research. It involves a) the problem of stating the basic questions for psychological research of family, b) problem of defining basic terms: family and healthy/functional family and c) methodological problem of research approach.
The article is written in a framework of the problems concerning responsibility of scientists and thus it is critical toward the lack of attention paid to these problems in many studies and fundamental methodological bases.

Key words: Family psychology, family research, family therapy, systems theory research, methodological approaches, psychological finding, psychological knowledge
pp. 121-130


COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

O¾ga ÁROCHOVÁ, Alena POTAŠOVÁ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: In behavioral-toxicology research, there still persists the problem of constructing or selecting the appropriate methods which would be able to detect in children small decreases in performance in basal cognitive tasks, caused by long-term exposure to slight amounts of toxins in the environment. The presented contribution discusses the performance of children from the affected group (AG) (n = 78, aged 11-12 yrs.) in memory learning tasks, in the Stroop Test and in the Semantic Decision Making Tasks. The results showed a significant decrease of performance in the children from the AG compared to the control group (children from a relatively clean environment). The study points to the possibilities of using experimental and cognitive psychology methods in applied research.

Key Words: Behavioral toxicology, cognitive methods, memory, Stroop effect
pp. 131-140


MESO-ENVIRONMENT AS PERCEIVED BY THE INHABITANTS OF SOME SLOVAKIAN REGIONS: FIRST INFORMATION

Damián KOVÁÈ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: A survey concerning the every-day life environmental influences was administered to adults living in ecologically different regions of Slovakia (n = 284). Only two multidimensional items are analyzed here: the contentment with the change the S's locality during the last five years and the attitude toward the built environment (mainly industry) nearby. Generally, a dissatisfaction prevails, especially with the increase of life expenses, crime increase (how safe people feel on the streets) and air and water pollution. The Ss expressed an evident anxiety as regards possible natural and industrial catastrophes, factory accidents, chemical additives in products, etc.; they are ready to attend relevant training courses to cope with critical environmental situations.

Key words: Built environment, anxiety, threat from the industry, quality of life
pp. 141-145


ANXIETY AND MALADJUSTMENT SYMPTOMS IN SLOVAK GIRLS

Alexandra PROKOPÈÁKOVÁ
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: Research focuses on the effect of anxiety on adjustment problems in adolescent girls. The Symptoms questionnaire, STAI 1 and STAI 2 were administered to 15-year old girls (n = 162). Based on the factor analyses we chose 5 indicators of adjustment problems: psychosomatic, emotional, antisocial, parental and peer ones. The results indicate some positive correlations between anxiety and the studied adjustment problems except the antisocial ones.

Key words: Adjustment problems, state anxiety, trait anxiety
pp. 147-152


STATUS OF PROFESSIONS AS AN INDICATOR OF IMPLICIT THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE IN ADOLESCENTS

Imrich RUISEL
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: The Intel-Prof List, the author's own scale was, administered to a sample of 167 Ss. The subject's task was to evaluate the role intellect abilities play in a successful performance in 48 different professions using a five point scale. Based on the findings, the author composed an order of placement of various professions. Using cluster analysis according to Ward's method, two basic profession clusters were identified - one with mental dominance and the other with physical dominance. The basic cluster of professions with mental dominance comprises three smaller clusters representing teaching-engineering, teaching-artistic and medical-humanities professions. The second basic cluster group seems to be much more heterogeneous, it combines manual-physical professions. Professions focusing on various trades make up smaller clusters (these have relatively the lowest social status). Based on the analysis of cluster groups, we are presuming that through their assessment of intellect potential the Ss that we studied have a more adequate representation of the status of the mentally dominated professions than the physically dominated ones.

Key words: Intelligence, implicit theories, status of professions, adolescents
pp. 153-162


STYLES OF HANDLING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT IN VARIOUS SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

Alessandra POKRAJAC-BULIAN, Igor KARDUM, Zoran SUŠANJ
University of Rijeka, faculty of Education, Department of Psychology, 51000 Rijeka, J. Brusiæa 1, Croatia

Abstract: The questionnaire of styles of handling interpersonal conflicts in two different types of social interaction with a marital partner and with a colleague at work, was presented to a sample of 307 employed subjects. The results obtained show a certain level of stability in handling interpersonal conflicts in both types of interactions. In the interaction with a partner, integrating proved to be the most frequently used style followed by obliging, avoiding and dominating, while in the interaction with a colleague the order is reversed for avoiding and obliging. Furthermore, avoiding is significantly more frequently used in interaction with a colleague than with a partner, while for the other styles no differences were found among referential roles investigated.
The differences obtained in the use of various styles for handling interpersonal conflicts with regard to gender, age and educational level of subjects are discussed.

Key words: Conflict handling styles, interpersonal conflict, partner, co-worker
pp. 163-176


SOCIOMETRIC STATUS OF GYPSY CHILDREN IN ETHNICALLY MIXED CLASSES

Pavel ØÍÈAN
Institute of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husova 4, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic

Abstract: Children in ethnically mixed classes of elementary and special schools (N = 2128, 14% of them Gypsies) were examined by peer nomination method. Additional data were obtained from teachers. In elementary schools, the hypothesized tendency not to accept and to reject children of the other ethnos was confirmed. In special schools, interethnic relationships were found much better. Both Gypsies and non-Gypsies also preferred same-sex children of their own as well as of the other ethnos.

Key words: Sociometry, Gypsies, school
pp. 177-184


ATTENTION LEVEL OSCILLATIONS DURING VISUAL PERCEPTION OF MOVING STIMULI

Vladislav ZIKMUND, Fedor JAGLA
Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) pursuit phase velocity oscillations were studied in seven undergraduates during repeated 4 min presentation of optokinetic stimuli. The following variable parameters of the stimuli motion were used with each subject: horizontal direction, angular velocity (AV), and frequency-to-velocity ratio. AV of the OKN pursuit phases was found to decrease markedly within the first 30 sec of stimuli presentation with its successive increase and variously marked oscillations. Gradual decrease of the AV of OKN pursuit phases was observed at the end of the whole examination as compared to its beginning already within 4 min presentation of the moving stimuli. The results are discussed from the point of view of the arousal, and the activation components of visual attention.

Key words: Optokinetic nystagmus, attention, central fatigue, functional brain asymmetry
pp. 185-192


DIRECTIONALITY IN CIRCLE DRAWING: POSSIBLE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS

O¾ga ZÁPOTOÈNÁ
Department of Social and Biological Communication, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Abstract: Directionality in drawing circles in the Torque Test (Blau, 1977) was followed longitudinally in a group of 33 right-handed and 19 left-handed children. The task was administered at the age of school entry and repeated at the end of the 3rd grade, i.e. after three years of writing instruction. The data seem to support the handedness hypothesis of directional tendencies in drawing, rather than that of environmental or writing habit explanations. Some further mechanisms of directionality are discussed.

Key words: Directionality, handedness, writing-practice
pp. 193-198


A NOTE ON ITEM HOMOGENEITY DEFINED BY MULTIVARIATE SYMMETRY

J. ROST, R. LANGEHEINE
IPN-Institute for Science Education, Olshausenstr. 62, D-24098 Kiel, Germany

Abstract: Starting from the Lienert and Raatz (1981) model of multivariate axial symmetry for a set of binary items, this note shows that this model is equivalent to a restricted Rasch model having constant item parameters, to the binomial (test) model, to what is called interchangeability by Madansky (1963) and what is called complete symmetry in sociology, while the classical Rasch model is equivalent to the model of quasi symmetry. For items having more than two categories this generalizes to the multidimensional Rasch model and restricted versions thereof.

Key words: Contingency tables, item homogeneity, (quasi) symmetry models, Rasch models, log-linear representation
pp. 199-202


A PERSON AND AN ORGANISM

Emil KOMÁRIK
Comenius University, Faculty of Education, Karpatské nám.15, Bratislava, 831 05 Slovak Republic

Abstract: The basic question in the debate on human nature is the problem of the organism-person relationship within the human individual. The work presents a paradigm based on the hypothesis that whole world of multicell organisms can be seen as an actualization of the aggregatory potential endowed in the eukaryont cell. The abundance of human forms of life can be seen in a similar way, as an actualization of the language potential endowed in the human biosocial community. The creative potential of an individual arising from language and membership in the family can be called a person. The person is the breaking point from organizmicity to humanity. The cultural, personal and spiritual systems of existence are created on the basis of that potential. Personality is considered the paramount point of the regulatory side of a human being. In the process of self-actualization, personality acts with and within all systems of human existence consuming, preserving and innovating them. The social and cultural world are not seen as external forces but as a part of human existence. The external worlds of the possible (true, right, future, wished, endangering, and so on) and the world of ultimate realities are the real external environments of personality.

Key words: Human nature, living system, multilevel system, organism, person, personality, potential
pp. 203-210