This study explored potential linkages between personal projects (Little, 1983) and possible selves (Markus, 1986), two mid-level units of analyses in personality research. The primary goal of this research was to bridge participants' current project as state volunteer ombudsmen for care facilities, to their future, hoped-for selves. This relationship was examined under the framework of Developmental Systems Theory (Ford & Lerner, 1992) using multiple linear regression and correlational analyses. It was theorized that participants' personal project ratings on the volunteer role should be related and congruent with their possible selves. It was also hypothesized that participants who reported a relatedness between their personal project and possible self would indicate they were more satisfied with their ombudsman role. The ombudsman role was specifically identified in 25% of the participants' hoped-for selves. Ombudsman hoped-for selves were also the second most frequently reported selves. The presence of an ombudsman hoped-for self was significantly correlated with two personal project ratings, progress and visibility. Contrary to prediction, the possible selves rating of relatedness was insignificantly correlated with satisfaction. Furthermore, the presence of an ombudsman self was not related to satisfaction. Time devoted to the ombudsman role however, was a significant predictor of satisfaction. Among participants who identified an ombudsman self, the possible selves rating of relatedness was significantly correlated with three personal project ratings, enjoyment, visibility, and challenge. These three variables significantly predicted relatedness. Among all participants, the possible selves rating of relatedness was significantly correlated with one personal project rating, value congruency. The overall domains of meaning and stress were not significant predictors of relatedness. / Graduation date: 2003

Goal: The aim of the current studies was to evaluate the ability of individual defenses to differentiate Antisocial (APD) and Borderline (BPD) personalities. Because multiple defense measures were utilized, Study 1 was dedicated to evaluating the convergent validity between the measures used: Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), Defense-Q, and Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM). Studies 2, 3, and 4, then evaluated the ability of the defenses to differentiate APD and BPD groups. Method: In Study 1, participants completed all defense measures and correlations were conducted between the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, groups of nonclinical participants were divided into APD and BPD groups based on scores from the Personality Assessment Inventory. They also completed the DSQ (Studies 2, 3, & 4), the Defense-Q (Study 3), and/or the DMM (Study 4).The groups were then examined for differences on defenses using MANOVA and DFA analyses. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed no significant correlations between the measures for any of the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, DSQ and Defense-Q results revealed that defenses were able to differentiate the APD and BPD groups, but the DMM results did not replicate these findings. Univariate analyses showed that many defenses differed between the groups (e.g., Acting Out, Denial, and Turning Against Self), while others showed no differences (e.g., Idealization). Conclusion: The results were discussed in relation to previous theory and research. The findings provided support for many theoretical expectations. For example, the results supported: Kernberg (1984) who posited both groups would use primitive defenses (e.g., Splitting, Denial); Perry and Cooper (1986) who posited BPD groups would internalize negative views towards the self; and Gacono and Meloy (1988) who believed Denial was characteristic of APD. Overall, the results suggested that APD and BPD groups demonstrated differences in defense use.

This is an observational study concerning relationships between personality openness and attitudinal openness. 209 volunteers from two samples, participated in this study. The Ohio sample contained data from 36 self-identified feminists (age 18-65) at the Annual National Women Studies Conference in Akron, Ohio, 1990. The Oregon State university (OSU) sample contained data from 173 undergraduates (age 18-52). Personality openness was assessed by the short form of "Openness to experiences" sub-scale from NEO (Neurosis Extraversion Openness) Personality Inventory (Costa and McCrae, 1985); attitudinal openness was assessed by the Feminism scale (Dempewolff, 197 4). The results suggested that the correlation between openness and feminism was significantly positive across all samples. Feminism attitudes were found to be correlated with course selection, gender, and class standings. On the other hand, personality openness was found to be fairly stable regardless of course selection, age, gender, or class standing. The findings are consistent with a personality construct of openness as a stable disposition, and with feminism as an accumulated attitude that is influenced by experiences, beliefs, and values. / Graduation date: 1993

Goal: The aim of the current studies was to evaluate the ability of individual defenses to differentiate Antisocial (APD) and Borderline (BPD) personalities. Because multiple defense measures were utilized, Study 1 was dedicated to evaluating the convergent validity between the measures used: Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), Defense-Q, and Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM). Studies 2, 3, and 4, then evaluated the ability of the defenses to differentiate APD and BPD groups. Method: In Study 1, participants completed all defense measures and correlations were conducted between the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, groups of nonclinical participants were divided into APD and BPD groups based on scores from the Personality Assessment Inventory. They also completed the DSQ (Studies 2, 3, & 4), the Defense-Q (Study 3), and/or the DMM (Study 4).The groups were then examined for differences on defenses using MANOVA and DFA analyses. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed no significant correlations between the measures for any of the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, DSQ and Defense-Q results revealed that defenses were able to differentiate the APD and BPD groups, but the DMM results did not replicate these findings. Univariate analyses showed that many defenses differed between the groups (e.g., Acting Out, Denial, and Turning Against Self), while others showed no differences (e.g., Idealization). Conclusion: The results were discussed in relation to previous theory and research. The findings provided support for many theoretical expectations. For example, the results supported: Kernberg (1984) who posited both groups would use primitive defenses (e.g., Splitting, Denial); Perry and Cooper (1986) who posited BPD groups would internalize negative views towards the self; and Gacono and Meloy (1988) who believed Denial was characteristic of APD. Overall, the results suggested that APD and BPD groups demonstrated differences in defense use.

The purpose of this study was to determine if personality fit between NASCAR drivers and their major sponsors affects the sponsorship outcomes of consumer attitudes toward the sponsor, attitudes toward the brand, and purchase intentions during a NASCAR event. Moreover, fan identification and product involvement were examined as moderators between personality fit and the three sponsorship outcomes. A cross-sectional, non-experimental, exploratory study was conducted at a NEXTEL Cup event in April 2007, the NASCAR Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Several hundred paper-and-pencil questionnaires were distributed to willing participants prior to the start of the race. A total of 385 questionnaires were distributed during the event, and 347 were completed and useable for data analysis, resulting in a 90% response rate. The demographic variables analyzed in this study showed that there were approximately 58% males and 38% females (percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding or missing responses). The majority of the sample was Caucasian (82%) and married (62%). Respondents at this event were fairly evenly distributed according to age with 11.2% in the 18-24 range, 25.6% in the 25-34 range, 33.7% in the 35-44 range, 18.2% in the 45-54 range and 7.5% in the 55 and older age range. Finally, most of the respondents were high school graduates (31%) or had some college experience (23%). Data analyses conducted in the study included a factor analysis, descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies, means, and standard deviations), bivariate correlations, and hierarchical moderated regression analyses. Results indicated that there were three personality dimensions present among the NASCAR drivers and their major sponsors: (1) Excitement/Ruggedness, (2) Competence/Sophistication, and (3) Sincerity. Personality fit on all dimensions had a positive effect on each of the three dependent variables: attitude toward the sponsor, attitude toward the brand, and purchase intentions, with personality fit on Dimension 1 having the strongest overall impact. Fan identification moderated the relationship between personality fit and all three dependent variables. Product involvement had a significant direct effect on all three dependent variables, but had only a slight moderating effect on personality fit and attitude toward the sponsor.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1974. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-40).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-55). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-55). Also available on the Internet.

What is the best way to account for the variety of human experience? The range of ways to understand individuals has been debated across myriad domains of study without consensus. Rarely have the solutions involved the role of the observable behaviors of daily life; instead inferences are made from traits, opinions, beliefs, or needs. The current dissertation proposes assessing personality through the lens of time, focusing on individual differences in the objective, real world transactions of everyday behaviors. To accomplish this goal an inventory was created to closely approximate the totality of everyday behavioral life and explore its relation to traditional measures of personality. Study 1 analyzed the structure of behaviors in the American Time Use data as an aid in item generation within a narrowed, but comprehensive scope of the behavioral landscape. A thorough set of criteria were then applied to tailor the inventory towards measuring objective, high incidence, quotidian behaviors of psychological interest. In Study 2, the assembled 78-item behavioral inventory was administered to a large, diverse sample to explore the structure of everyday behaviors; the stability of behaviors over time; individual differences in everyday behaviors; the relationship of everyday behaviors to various measures of personality; and, the covariance of the behaviors with the language of everyday life. Six major dimensions of everyday behaviors were identified and found to be internally consistent and reliable over time. The dimensions demonstrated unique variance as a function of age, sex, and personality. The self-report format of this method of assessing everyday behaviors was shown to be construct valid in that analyses of open-ended linguistic descriptions of routine weekend behaviors paralleled the patterns of activity reported. The broader implications of assessing personality by way of everyday behaviors are discussed in that behaviors can be thought of as an enduring signature that implicitly incorporate our values, attitudes, beliefs, and overall means of expression. / text