Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
STUDIA PSYCHOLOGICA
Volume 37 / No. 5 / 1995
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TOLERANCE: ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEW
Vladimir SMEKAL
Psychological Institute, Philosophical Faculty, Masaryk University
Arne Novaka 1, 660 88 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract: The paper incorporates the problem of tolerance into a broader context of sociobiology and cultural anthropology. It deduces that the environmental point of view, the knowledge base of which is sufficiently convincing, is more contributory to psychology, ethics and education about tolerance.
In this paper, tolerance is defined as considerate and easy-going behavior respecting the opinions, interests and behavior of others, as long as this behavior does not threaten human freedom and dignity.
The psychological view of tolerance differentiates between tolerance as an attitude and behavior and as a personality trait and principle in life. The author is of the opinion that tolerance is not a separate trait, that in different people it can be a result of various constellations of internal dispositional conditions and opportunities of the environment.
The author emphasizes the necessity to look for limits in tolerating tolerance and refuses tolerance as a mere indifference.
Key words: Tolerance, aggression, affiliation, tolerance limits, sociobiology, cultural anthropology, ethics
pp. 289-297
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INTELLIGENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF IMPLICIT THEORIES
Imrich RUISEL
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Dubravska cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The necessity to expand the traditional research of intelligence is discussed. According to the author, implicit theories are part of reflexics, i.e. a mental process allowing for a subjective representation of cognitive activity in an individual's experiencing. The advantages and disadvantages of explicit and implicit theories are analyzed mainly with respect to the specifics of intellect functions. Another subject of discussion is the analysis of intelligence through perceived attributes and constructs similar to them (creativity, wisdom). Intercultural aspects of implicit theories are given. In the section devoted to generally accepted opinions of laymen on intelligence, the author presents his own research findings. In the conclusion, several generalizations about the advantages and limits of implicit theories of intelligence are given.
Key words: Intelligence, explicit and implicit theories, metaintelligence
pp. 299-309
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PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING COLD ACCLIMATION IN MAN
V. HOSEK¹, I. SOLCOVA², R. BAHBOUH², B. ULICNY³
¹Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
²Department of Stress Research, Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences, Mladoboleslavska, 197 06 Prague 9, Czech Republic
³Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract: Ten healthy male volunteers (mean age 23 years) participated in the study. They underwent a cold adaptation program consisting in 15 immersions into cold water (14 degrees C, for 60 min, every other day). The psychological methods included: a measure of hardiness (Personal View Survey), tapping, flicker, handwriting analysis, the Luscher test, the Szondi test, the Osgood's semantic differential, self-rating scales of actual somatic state, and a controlled interview on the strategy of managing the discomfort. After the first and the last immersion the psychological tests were repeated.
Performance tests did not detect consistent changes, whereas the introspective techniques and projective techniques appeared to be more suitable for the case where the projections of inner sensations and feelings are taking place. From our findings coupled with those obtained in an older study follows that the majority of the changes in psychological variables reflected the psychophysiological state of the subject: fatigue, lowered activity and masculinity, hormonal changes, suppression of negative bodily feelings, and a developing habituation to bodily discomfort. It can be concluded that in the process of coping with stress from cold the main demands are directed toward physiological resources. On the psychological level, the integrative and regulative roles of the mind are targeted.
Key words: Water immersion, psychological methods, introspective techniques
pp. 311-315
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THE EFFECT OF TEMPERAMENT ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE MEANING OF INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR
Liduska OSECKA, Marek BLATNY, Oliva REHULKOVA
Psychological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Veveri 97, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract: We analyzed the effect of temperament on the perception of interpersonal behavior. We presumed that individual types of temperament (defined by a combination of extroversion and neuroticism dimensions) experience social behavior of their surroundings differently and that one's own personality characteristics are projected in the meaning structure. 188 students, aged 21 years, evaluated eight verbs expressing interpersonal behavior, on 25 scales. Factor analysis of the meaning scales was carried out in individual types. Three (sanguine type) or four meaning factors (remaining types) were identified. The meaning structure is specific for individual types. The first and second factors express general dimensions of the meaning of good and strong - active. The third factor expresses understandability of behavior. The content of the fourth factors in phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric types expresses characteristics which are usually ascribed to them and which are apparently marked as specific factors of meaning. Thus in these three types, the schema of "oneself" is applied in the understanding of meaning.
Key words: Social perception, social cognition, temperament
pp. 317-323
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENDER, SEX-ROLE ORIENTATION, VOCATIONAL INTERESTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITY PREFERENCES
Jasna HUDEK-KNEZEVIC, Mladenka TKALCIC, Igor KARDUM
University of Rijeka, Faculty of Education, Department of Psychology
51000 Rijeka, J. Brusica 1, Croatia
Abstract: To gain some information whether sex typed preferences and role behaviors could be predicted from sex-role orientation and gender of subjects, interrelations between vocational interests, leisure activity preferences, sex-role orientation and gender of subjects has been carried out on a sample of 237 university undergraduate students.
The results indicate that biological gender more consistently predicts behavioral choices measured by Vocational interests scale and Leisure activities scale than sex-role orientation of subjects. It has also been found that all measured components traditionally linked to women form a more homogeneous structure in comparison to the components traditionally linked to men.
The results are discussed in the context of the multiple-components approach to measuring gender stereotypes. They suggest that employment of the multiple-components approach is more useful for masculinity than for femininity.
Key words: Gender, sex-role orientation, vocational interests, leisure activity preferences
pp. 325-334
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CREATIVITY AND CONFORMITY: PROSOCIAL ASPECTS OF CONFORMIST BEHAVIOR
Daniela KUSA
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Dubravska cesta 9, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The study is focused on creativity and conformity in adolescents. The tendency toward prosocial and antisocial behavior under peer pressure was compared, where relationships to 1) the creativity indicators and to 2) the rating of creative adolescents in a peer group were studied. The sample was formed from 17-year old students from Bratislava high-schools (24 boys, 24 girls), divided into high-creative and low-creative subgroups according to their performance on the Torrance Figural Creativity Test. Significant relationships between indicators pursued were found in the high-creative group only. The developmental aspects of the relationship between creativity and conformity are discussed with a specific emphasis on the role of fluency and flexibility.
Key words: Creativity, prosocial behavior, conformity, peer group
pp. 335-343
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CHANGES INDUCED IN SOME MENTAL PROCESSES BY THE PRE-START STATE
Iva SOLCOVA, Jaroslav SYKORA
Stress Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences
Mladoboleslavska, 197 00 Prague 9, Czech Republic
Abstract: The present study represents a pilot investigation of the changes induced in some mental processes by the pre-start state. 7 healthy male volunteers, rowers, participated in the study. Mood adjective checklist and performance tests were administered in the steady condition and in the pre-start condition (approx. 24 hours prior to the races). The pre-start state was characterized by (1) the elevated level of anxiety tension, (2) elevated level of cortex activation represented by significantly increased perception capacity, flicker fusion threshold and performance in the attention task.
Key words: Pre-start state, anxiety tension, flicker fusion threshold, perception capacity, attention
pp. 345-350
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALCOHOLICS AND THEIR HEALTHY EQUIVALENT PAIRS - PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Jasminka BOBIC, Lukrecija PAVICEVIC, Mirko DRENOVAC
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health,
2 Ksaverska cesta, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract: The effects of long-term alcohol abuse on intellectual functions were studied on 30 alcoholics in phases of reduced tolerance to alcohol and 30 equivalent-pair healthy subjects. The results showed statistically significant differences in performance between the alcoholics and control subjects for all test variables. Predicted group membership (alcoholics - non-alcoholics) reaches 90% on the basis of applied test procedures. Some evidence of a stronger non-verbal impairment in alcoholics were found.
Key words: Alcoholics, psychological testing, intellectual deterioration, laterality
pp. 351-356
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SOCIOMETRIC STATUS OF THE SCHOOL BULLIES AND THEIR VICTIMS
Pavel RICAN
Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Husova 4, 110 00 Praha, Czech Republic
Abstract: In a sample of Czech children, bullies and victims were identified by peer nomination method and their sociometric status was assessed. Relationships between bully- and victim-scores on one side, and sociometric measures on the other side, were examined. Both the bullies and the victims were less accepted and rejected more than other children. The opinion expressed in literature that sociometric status of bullies is higher than that of their victims was fully confirmed as far as girls are concerned. Contrary to expectation, however, the sociometric status of male bullies was lower than that of the victims.
Key words: Bullying, school, sociometry
pp. 357-364