Selection, evocation, and manipulation.

This article proposes three key mechanisms by which personality and social processes are intrinsically linked. Selection deals with the manner in which individuals choose to enter or avoid existing environments. Evocation is defined by the ways in which individuals unintentionally elicit predictable reactions from others in their social environments. Manipulation deals with the tactics that individuals use intentionally to alter, shape, exploit, or change the social environments they inhabit. Empirical findings from 57 dating couples (undergraduates), and previous research within social, personality, and developmental psychology, are used to illustrate the heuristic value of this framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social density and perceived control as mediators of crowding stress in high-density residential neighborhoods.

In this study we examined the relation of social density and perceptions of control with stress symptomology in high-density urban environments. We hypothesized that social density and perceived control would account for much of the stress associated with densely populated urban environments. Fifty-seven residents of an urban community participated in this field study. Differences in social density were obtained by comparing residents of blocks with commercial establishments with residents of blocks with no commercial establishments. Questionnaires were used to measure perceived control and neighborhood characteristics including social density. We used a multidimensional stress-measurement strategy that included self-report, behavioral, and biochemical indices. Relative to residents on blocks without stores, residents of blocks with stores reported more crowding, less ability to regulate social interactions, and lower perceptions of control. In addition, they evidenced higher stress levels across domains of measurement, including more somatic and emotional distress and less persistence on a behavioral task, and they showed elevations in urinary catecholamines. Social density and perceived control accounted for a significant amount of the variance in each stress measure. These findings underscore the important role of psychological factors, particularly perceived control, in mediating stress associated with high-density environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of antisocial personality characteristics on anger management treatment for veterans with PTSD.

Using multilevel modeling, the authors examined the impact of antisocial personality characteristics on the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral anger management group treatment among 86 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. A wide range of forms of anger, as well as use of physical aggression, decreased during treatment. As predicted, antisocial personality characteristics were associated with smaller decreases in trait anger, anger expression, and use of physical aggression during treatment. Conversely, these characteristics were associated with a greater decrease in state anger. Mechanisms of action and implications for the role of anger and antisocial personality in treatment are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relations between parents’ Big Five personality factors and parenting: A meta-analytic review.

To investigate the association between Big Five personality factors and three dimensions of parenting—warmth, behavioral control, and autonomy support—the authors conducted meta-analyses using 5,853 parent–child dyads that were included in 30 studies. Effect sizes were significant and robust across mother and father reports and across assessment methods of parenting (self-report versus observations) but were generally small in magnitude. Higher levels of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness and lower levels of Neuroticism were related to more warmth and behavioral control, whereas higher levels of Agreeableness and lower levels of Neuroticism were related to more autonomy support. Several factors moderated the relationship between specific personality dimensions and parenting: child and parental age, reliability of observational assessment of parenting behavior, and study design. Taken together, these results indicate that personality can be seen as an inner resource that affects parenting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emotional conditions disrupt behavioral control among individuals with dysregulated personality traits.

The current study directly examined emotion-induced behavior dyscontrol among individuals scoring high on dysregulated tendencies, represented by impulsive-antisocial and borderline personality traits, using an emotional–linguistic go/no-go laboratory paradigm (Goldstein et al., 2007). We specifically examined the effects of these personality traits and emotional context on (a) overall behavior dyscontrol (slower reaction times [RTs] to emotional blocks relative to neutral blocks) and (b) duration of the dyscontrol (persistence or habituation of the effect of emotional context on behavior across blocks). We hypothesized that individuals high on borderline-antisocial traits would exhibit greater behavioral dyscontrol (slower RTs or lack of habituation across blocks) when responding during blocks of negative emotional cues. We also examined whether this emotional effect on behavioral control would be exacerbated by exposure to particularly salient emotional stimuli (diagnostically relevant negative affective words; e.g., abandon). Results indicated that high borderline-antisocial individuals showed greater initial behavioral control difficulties (slower RTs) to general negative affective words than to other word contents during the first block of trials, but this effect habituated by the second block. Importantly, slowed responses to diagnostically relevant word blocks persisted across time among high borderline-antisocial individuals, whereas low scorers showed habituated behavioral responses to emotional words across time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persons versus situations in the real-life functioning of chronically institutionalized mental patients.

Examined the "person vs situation" controversy regarding the contribution to variance of behavior in real-life environments of 34 severely disabled psychiatric patients, using reliable and valid observational assessment of both patient behavior and dimensions of situations. Components-of-variance analyses were performed on data for 2 different behavior domains (cognitive dysfunction and social interaction) across 2 dimensions of situations (physical settings and psychological demand) on 2 occasions within 2 differing treatment environments. The relation of level of functioning to behavioral consistency was investigated by correlational analyses. Results indicate that behavioral consistency was a complex function of behavior domains assessed, differing psychological demand within situations, and the overall situational characteristics of the treatment environments in which the patients lived. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence tactics and objectives in upward, downward, and lateral influence attempts.

Two studies were conducted to replicate and extend previous exploratory research by D. Kipnis et al (see record 1980-33577-001) on influence tactics and objectives in organizations. A new questionnaire was developed that included measures of important influence tactics and objectives omitted in the earlier research. Whereas the earlier research used only agent self-reports of influence behavior, the present research used both agent and target reports. Differences in downward, lateral, and upward influence attempts were replicated more for data from agents than for data from targets. Direction of influence had a stronger effect on influence objectives than on influence tactics. Despite some differences due to data source and direction of influence, the relative frequency of use for the 8 influence tactics was remarkably similar across conditions. Consultation and rational persuasion were the tactics used most frequently, regardless of the direction of influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex, power, and influence tactics in intimate relationships.

Examined the influence of sex, sex-role orientation, structural power, and interpersonal dependence on the use of influence tactics in 75 homosexual couples, 62 lesbian couples, and 98 heterosexual couples. Ss rated the frequency of 24 influence tactics on a 9-point scale, from which 6 dimensions of influence tactics were identified: manipulation, supplication, bullying, autocracy, disengagement, and bargaining. Several patterns of the effect of interpersonal power on influence tactics were found: Positions of weakness increased the use of supplication and manipulation, both "weak" strategies. Positions of strength somewhat increased the likelihood of bullying and the use of autocratic tactics, both "strong" strategies. Patterns of bargaining and the use of disengagement were more complex and varied across couple types. Both sex and sex-role orientation had consistent effects on influence dynamics, but these effects were limited primarily to the use of weak tactics. These effects of sex do not appear to be mediated either by interpersonal dependence or by structural power. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intraindividual stability in the organization and patterning of behavior: Incorporating psychological situations into the idiographic analysis of personality.

In nomothetic analyses, the cross-situational consistency of individual differences in social behavior, assessed in vivo in a camp setting, depended on the similarity in the psychological features of situations. As predicted by the social-cognitive theory of personality, idiographic analyses revealed that individuals were characterized by stable profiles of if… then…, situation–behavior relationships that formed "behavioral signatures" of personality (e.g., he aggresses when warned by adults but complies when threatened by peers). Thus, the intraindividual organization of behavior variation across situations was enduring but discriminatively patterned, visible as distinctive profiles of situation–behavior relationships. Implications were examined for an idiographic reconceptualization of personality coherence and its behavioral expressions in relation to the psychological ingredients of situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are there inherited behavioral traits that predispose to substance abuse?

Research findings suggest that alcoholism and drug abuse may be predisposed by inherited behavioral propensities or temperaments. These inherited predispositions, through interaction with the physical and social environments, shape the development of personality. As discussed herein, there is strong evidence linking certain personality characteristics, specifically antisocial and neurotic traits, with the risk for substance abuse. Thus, personality and its precursor, temperament, comprise an important diathesis. However, an adverse outcome also depends on a variety of developmental and environmental factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences and similarities in the personality correlates of adolescent alcohol problems.

The personality traits of behavioral undercontrol (BU) and negative emotionality (NE) are associated with alcohol problems. The authors examined gender differences in the associations of BU and NE with alcohol problems in 710 adolescents (aged 11.9–19.7 yrs) recruited from community and treatment sources. Multiple measures were used to characterize each construct, and the specified 2-factor model provided a reasonably good fit to the data. ANCOVAs were used to examine each construct by gender across four groups: never-regular drinkers, regular drinkers, and those with DSM-IV alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Males had significantly higher BU and lower NE than did females. BU and NE both increased with degree of alcohol problems. However, there was not a significant Gender * Alcohol Group interaction for BU or NE. Although there are gender differences in levels of BU and NE, mechanisms of alcohol involvement related to these 2 personality traits may operate similarly in adolescent males and females. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genotype€nvironment interaction in personality development: Indentical twins reared apart.

The focus of this study is to identify specific genotype–environment (GE) interactions as they contribute to individual differences in personality in later life. In behavioral genetics, GE interaction refers to the possibility that individuals of different genotypes may respond differently to specific environments. A sample of 99 pairs of identical twins reared apart, whose average age is 59 years, has been studied as part of the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to detect interactions between personality and environmental measures after the main effects of genotype and environment were removed. Analyses yield evidence for 11 significant interactions that provide the first evidence for GE interaction in human development using specific environmental measures. Thus, in addition to the main-effect contributions of heredity and environment, GE interactions contribute to individual differences in personality as measured in the second half of the life course. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The enigma of androgyny: Differential implications for males and females?

A program of studies, comprising a total population of 1,404 college students, tested the hypothesis that psychological androgyny (i.e., a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics) permits greater behavioral flexibility and consequently leads to better adjustment. A variety of methods were used to compare androgynous with sex-typed and opposite sex-typed Ss (determined by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory) along several attitudinal, personality, and behavioral dimensions. Contrary to expectation a pattern of findings replicated across measures of attitudes toward women's issues, gender identification, neurosis, introversion–extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, problems with alcohol, creativity, political awareness, confidence in one's own ability, helplessness, and sexual maturity indicated that flexibility and adjustment were generally associated with masculinity rather than androgyny for both males and females. Feminine Ss, independent of gender, would prefer to become more masculine were that possible. These results are interpreted as suggesting an alternative to S. L. Bem's theory of androgyny. Additional analyses indicated few differences between the additive and the original definitions of androgyny. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality and status profiles of peer counselors and suicide attempters.

3 groups of 20 female college students-peer counselors, suicide attempters, and a control group of nonsuicidal Ss-were compared for personality characteristics and family background, using the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and a questionnaire. The control group consisted of Ss who thought about suicide frequently, but had never attempted it (high thinkers) and Ss who thought about suicide infrequently or not at all (low thinkers). The peer counselors presented a personality profile similar to high thinkers or attempters, but they thought about suicide infrequently, and unlike the attempters, they had more stable family backgrounds and showed more adaptive modes on the behavioral items measured. Peer counselors are therefore regarded as especially effective helpers for suicide attempters. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A cognitive-affective system theory of personality: Reconceptualizing situations, dispositions, dynamics, and invariance in personality structure.

A theory was proposed to reconcile paradoxical findings on the invariance of personality and the variability of behavior across situations. For this purpose, individuals were assumed to differ in (a) the accessibility of cognitive–affective mediating units (such as encodings, expectancies and beliefs, affects, and goals) and (b) the organization of relationships through which these units interact with each other and with psychological features of situations. The theory accounts for individual differences in predictable patterns of variability across situations (e.g., if A then she X, but if B then she Y), as well as for overall average levels of behavior, as essential expressions or behavioral signatures of the same underlying personality system. Situations, personality dispositions, dynamics, and structure were reconceptualized from this perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modifying the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern.

Compared 3 treatments for modifying the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern (TABP). Comprehensive behavior therapy (CBT), emphasizing self-control procedures, and group support (GS), encouraging change in TABP targets but without behavioral techniques, were contrasted to brief information (BI), a minimal treatment control simulating "usual care." At posttreatment, results with 38 26–50 yr old healthy male executives showed many TABP components (e.g., Jenkins Activity Survey) were significantly reduced by CBT and GS. Generally, these groups exceeded BI. Ratings of self-reported change in stress reactions showed a similar pattern of reduction, as did free fatty acids reactivity assessed as a response to an experimental stressor task. No changes were found on other characteristics thought to be associated with TABP (e.g., trait anxiety, life satisfaction), or on condition-related differences in heart rate and blood pressure. Unexpectedly, serum cholesterol increased significantly across all conditions, though CBT showed significant reduction in triglyceride. Results show that TABP components, especially specific reactions of anger and impatience are useful treatment targets and that change in them may not require more generalized personality modification. Comparable effects of CBT and GS are discussed in terms of sample characteristics and shared treatment elements. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality as traits.

Personality traits have been challenged as unimportant determinants of behavior, but evidence suggests that traits may carry as much variance as experimental manipulations. Asking whether traits or manipulations control more variance is useless because researchers can plan paradigms that favor one or the other. When traits and manipulations complement each other there are several major kinds of interaction. The trait–manipulation dichotomy is analogous to the person–environment dichotomy, and both are related to active versus passive models of behavior. Trait variance is increased by aggregating across responses, situations, and time. Underlying aggregation are the issues of units and classes of behavior. Individual responses are on a continuum of breadth that extends successively upward to response classes, personality traits, and higher order traits. Broad and narrow traits each have advantages and disadvantages. Recent research has led to novel personality traits and to knowledge about the origin and maintenance of traits. If there is to be a specialty called personality, its unique and therefore defining characteristic is traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring gene–environment interactions: Socioregional moderation of alcohol use.

Examples of gene–environment interaction in human behavioral data are relatively rare; those that exist have used simple, dichotomous measures of the environment. The authors describe a model that allows for the specification of more continuous, more realistic variations in environments as moderators of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Using data from a population-based Finnish twin study, the authors document strong moderating effects of socioregional environments on genetic and environmental influences on adolescent alcohol use, with nearly a five-fold difference in the magnitude of genetic effects between environmental extremes. The incorporation of specific environmental measures into genetically informative designs should prove to be a powerful method for better understanding the nature of gene–environment interaction and its contribution to the etiology of behavioral variation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)