Judith L. Johnson

Vengefulness: Relationships with Forgiveness, Rumination, Well-Being, and the Big Five

Because forgiveness theory has tended to neglect the role of dispositional factors, the authors present novel theorizing about the nature of vengefulness (the disposition to seek revenge following interpersonal offenses) and its relationship to forgiveness and other variables. In Study 1, vengefulness was correlated cross-sectionally with (a) less forgiving, (b) greater rumination about the offense, (c) higher negative affectivity, and (d) lower life satisfaction. Vengefulness at baseline was negatively related to change in forgiving throughout an 8-week follow-up. In Study 2, vengefulness was negatively associated with Agreeableness and positively associated with Neuroticism. Measures of the Big Five personality factors explained 30% of the variance in vengefulness.

The impulsive client: Theory, research, and treatment.

Offers an anthology of research and theories on impulsive behaviour and explores why people differ in impulsivity and the implications for psychological treatment. The study includes the chaos theory and treatment of impulsive behaviour in eating disorders and substance abuse.

An analysis of the contribution of the five factors of personality to variance in academic procrastination

Abstract The construct of procrastination has been investigated in terms of task approach and performance or through the perspective of personality and individual differences. Recent articles have addressed the role of the three-factor theory of personality in procrastination. However, little information is known regarding the five-factor model of personality and procrastination. The present investigation involves a comprehensive evaluation of this relationship. Undergraduate students (N = 202) completed the NEO-PI-R and Aitkens Procrastination Inventory. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that Conscientiousness accounted for a significant portion of the unique variance of procrastination scores. The procrastination scores were inversely related to Conscientiousness and were also significantly correlated with Neuroticism. The factors of Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Agreeableness were not significantly correlated with procrastination scores. Stepwise multiple regression of the Conscientiousness and Neuroticism factor facets indicated that lack of Self-Discipline and Impulsiveness accounted for most of the variance of procrastination scores. Implications for continued theoretical development and intervention are discussed.

Personality and chronic procrastination by university students during an academic examination period

Abstract The relation of neuroticism, extraversion and psychoticism with study-related attitudes, affects and behaviors is investigated in a group of chronic university student procrastinators immediately prior to a period of academic examinations. Neuroticism was associated with anxiety regarding exams and lack of confidence in preparation. Extraversion and psychoticism were associated with confidence in preparation. Extraversion also was associated with interference in examination studying due to preplanned social activities, while both extraversion and psychoticism were associated with impulsive and unplanned study distractions. Psychoticism was also associated with a dislike of academic coursework. Treatment implications are discussed.

The effect of warning on malingering on memory and motor tasks in college samples

The effect of a warning regarding detection of simulated cognitive and motor deficits on the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R; Wechsler, 1987) and Grooved Pegboard (Klove, 1963; Matthews & Klove, 1964) was examined. Undergraduates (N = 87) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: simulators without warning, simulators with warning, and controls. It was predicted that warning participants that simulation efforts will be detected would reduce malingering behavior and this hypothesis was generally supported. Analyses indicated simulators with warning frequently approximated control group performances and were significantly better than simulators without warning on some measures. Stepwise discriminant function analysis accurately classified 57% of all participants. Results provide support for effectiveness of warning in reducing malingering behavior on selected measures and are discussed in terms of the use of warning as an adjunct to existing procedures, role of the neuropsychologist, and informed consent for assessment in personal injury litigation.

Borderline personality disorder and laboratory-induced cold pressor pain: Evidence of stress-induced analgesia

Behavioral neuroscience findings regarding stress-induced analgesia may be an appropriate model for the paradoxical effects of self-mutilative pain of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). We hypothesized that BPD patients would show an exaggerated antinociceptive effect from an uncontrollable cold pressor stress, compared to persons with other personality disorders or to a nonpsychiatric control group. This hypothesis was supported. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

The role of neuroticism and social support in older adults with chronic pain behavior

Abstract The current investigation ascertains the role of Neuroticism and satisfaction with social support on pain behavior in the older patient with chronic pain. Forty-seven patients with chronic pain (mean age of 65.3 years) participated in the study. Measures included a Neuroticism score, a satisfaction with social support score, and a quantifiable score of pain behaviors. A multiple regression analysis was performed with Neuroticism and social support satisfaction as predictors and pain behaviors as the criterion. The analysis indicated that the personality facet of Neuroticism was a significant predictor of observable pain behavior in the older adult. There was no significant relationship between satisfaction with social support and pain behavior. Further, there was no interaction between Neuroticism and social support on pain behaviors. The current investigation supports the contention that Neuroticism is related to behavioral manifestations of pain in the older patient with chronic pain.

Clinical assessment of long-term cognitive and emotional sequelae to world war II prisoner-of-war confinement: comparison of pilot twins

Using twin study methodology, we assessed late-life psychological outcomes of World War II flight combat exposure among identical-twin pilots raised, educated, and trained together but discordant for combat exposure and war imprisonment. We hypothesized that the prisoner of war (POW) survivor would exhibit psychopathology attributable, in part, to nonshared environmental events, specifically war trauma. Differences were evident in reported psychological symptoms, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profile patterns, psychiatric diagnoses, and intellectual performances. Assigned a lifetime diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, the former POW showed deficits in visuospatial analysis and organization, planning, impulse control, concept formation, and nonverbal memory

EFFECT OF WARNING ON FEIGNED MALINGERING ON THE WAIS-R IN COLLEGE SAMPLES

Research indicates claimant malingering of cognitive deficits to be common in personal injury litigation. Efforts have been made to either detect such tendencies or deter efforts at malingering. The present study examined whether warning people that feigned malingering efforts would be detected results in more valid profiles on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised. Undergraduates (N = 48) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: feigned malingerers without warning, feigned malingerers with warning, and controls. Analysis indicated both feigned malingerer groups performed significantly worse than the control group; however, feigned malingerers with warning did not perform significantly better than those without warning. Unlike previous research using the Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised, results did not support effectiveness of warning in reducing feigned malingering scores.

Epilogue as Prologue

Throughout this volume, emphasis has been placed on reporting empirical findings and on the extension of these findings to clinical and counseling intervention. In addition, trait procrastination has been discussed from a wide variety of perspectives, and promising directions for research have been presented. Thus, as one of the few books on procrastination, the work in this volume represents a systematic effort to present and integrate often disparate psychological areas.