Violeta Cardenal

Componentes y correlatos del autoconcepto en la escala de Piers-Harris

Resumen Se han realizado dos estudios sobre autoconcepto en adolescentes con la escala de Piers-Harris (PH). Se examinaron las relaciones que las distintas subescalas de PH presentan con otras variables, en primer lugar, con la imagen y aprecio que los adolescentes tienen respecto a su propio cuerpo y asimismo con circunstancias objetivas como sus logros académicos y el nivel socioeconómico de la familia a que pertenecen, y, finalmente, con variables personales ligadas a una decisión de los sujetos: su nivel de aspiración y su disposición a un comportamiento de ayuda. Los resultados confirman las asociaciones previstas aunque sólo en parte. En el caso de la variable de conducta de ayuda no sólo no las confirman, sino que van en opuesta dirección: esa conducta aparece asociada negativamente con la autoestima. En consecuencia, será oportuno investigar en esa otra dirección o quizá trabajar con otros instrumentos de medición de la conducta de ayuda.

MULTIAXIAL EVALUATION OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS

A multiaxial assessment and personality evaluation was performed on a group of 70 people (65 men and 5 women) who were recently incarcerated in Málaga, Spain for having committed violent crimes, such as murder and sex-based violence. Analysis of scores on the MCMI indicated that there were chiefly two clearly differentiated personality profiles related to two personality disorders present in the group, the antisocial and the dependent personality disorder with compulsive traits. The “antisocial-psychotic group” presented a clear relation with clinical syndromes, specifically alcohol and drug abuse with delusional disorder, and they had committed a higher proportion of murders. On the Big Five Questionnaire, the “dependent-compulsive group” scored higher than average on Emotional Stability and Agreeableness, whereas the antisocial-psychotic group scored lower than average on Emotional Stability. These findings are in accord with those of Megargee, who concluded that violent criminals can be divided into two categories, the undercontrolled (antisocial) and the overcontrolled (dependent).

Spanish and Chilean Standardizations of the Personality Assessment Inventory: the Influence of Sex

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial eta-square between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed.

IMPACT ON PERSONALITY LOSS OR SEPARATION FROM LOVED ONES

ABSTRACT The purpose of this work was twofold: (a) using a set of 29 psychological variables to study the personality traits, emotions, and coping styles that emerge with more force in the stressing situation of losing a loved one and (b) determining whether there are significant differences between divorced and widowed persons. The results revealed a profile predominated by emotional instability, introversion, a disorganized lifestyle, anxiety, anger, and maladaptive strategies. This configuration was more pronounced in the group of widowed people because of their notable isolation, lack of motivation, and strong emotional reactions of depression, which, together with their high rate of negative coping behaviors (e.g., ceasing to seek solutions and social support), are risk factors for depression, mood disorders, and anxiety as well as avoidant or depressive personality traits.