Each year, psychology departments across South Africa are faced with the arduous task of selecting the most suitable candidates to fill their Clinical, Counselling, Educational, and Industrial Psychology master’s coursework programmes. Although various criteria are considered in this process, personality has long been considered an important variable in the screening and selection of master’s psychology applicants, and some sort of personality assessment is commonly utilized by selection committees as part of the screening and selection procedures. While there are many different theoretical perspectives on personality and various personality assessment measures available, the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality has gained considerable attention over the last decade as a comprehensive and universal conceptualization of a broad trait structure for human personality. Currently, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) is considered to be one of the best commercially available measures of the personality traits proposed by this model. The NEO PI-R provides a comprehensive measure of adult personality, has been extensively researched, and has demonstrated its utility across many different cultures, languages, and contexts. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the personality profiles of short-listed master’s psychology applicants at a higher education institution in South Africa, using the NEO PI-R, in an effort to explore the use of NEO PI-R profiles in the selection of master’s psychology applicants. The study was exploratory descriptive in nature and employed a quantitative research method. The sample of 247 participants was selected according to non-probability convenience sampling and was sourced from an archival research database. As part of the application process at the higher education institution, applicants were required to complete various tests, tasks, and questionnaires. The questionnaires selected for this study included a biographical questionnaire, used to describe the biographical variables of the sample, and the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), used as a measure of personality. The NEO PI-R has been found to have good validity and reliability, with reliability in particular having being established in the South African context. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlations, cluster xiv analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), were utilized to analyze the data. Key findings revealed that overall, the group of short-listed master’s psychology applicants could be described as being emotionally well-adjusted and sociable, which is in line with previous national and international research. In addition, a cluster analysis revealed three significantly different personality subgroups within the total sample, thus highlighting the heterogeneous nature of this sample of applicants. Each of the three personality subgroups exhibited significantly different personality traits which were judged to be more or less suitable for potential psychologists-in-training. Clusters 1 and 2 exhibited the most desirable personality characteristics in relation to selection into a master’s psychology programme, while Cluster 3 exhibited the least desirable traits. Various classification functions were derived which classified applicants into “selected” and “not selected” groups as well as the three personality subgroups, which could aid selection committees in the future to screen out potentially unsuitable candidates earlier in the selection process. It was concluded that the use of NEO PI-R personality profiles could aid the screening and selection of short-listed master’s psychology applicants.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-135). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR51707

Researchers emphasize the role of cognitions in sex offenders' molesting behaviors. Although cognitions are important, little research has examined child molesters' thoughts about themselves in relation to their engagement in treatment. In this study, the NEO-Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) was administered to 67 child molesters. Child sexual offenders rated themselves and their view of a typical child molester using two NEO-PI-R versions. The degree to which child sex offenders identify themselves with their view of a typical child molester, and this agreement's relation with engagement in treatment, were investigated. The view that child sex offenders hold about themselves in relation to a typical child molester showed no relation to treatment engagement or length of time in treatment. However, this self-perception was related to the number of children abused.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1992. / Bibliography: leaves 73-78.

Thesis (Ph.D. in counseling)--Liberty University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

The current trend in psychiatric health care is towards comprehensive primary healthcare for all South Africans. This has been has been achieved by the restructuring of the National Health System (NHS) into national, provincial, district, and community levels, which provide outpatient and inpatient care at primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels. Assessment and treatment in the form of physical and psychosocial interventions form an integral part of psychiatric care. The value of personality assessment and, in particular, the potential for matching patient personality types with effective treatment options, may play a role in facilitating effective health care in the future. An overview of the literature indicates that little research has been done regarding the area of personality traits of psychiatric patients in South Africa. This study aims to explore and describe the personality traits or profile of individuals attending a private psychiatric day care facility in The Nelson Mandela Metropole (i.e., Parkwood Day Clinic). The sample consisted of 196 participants (104 male and 92 female) who attended a group programme from April 2000 to April 2001. As part of the programme, patients were required to com plete a series of pencil-and-paper measures. The questionnaires selected for this study included a biographical questionnaire, which was used to describe the biographical variables of the sample with regard to gender, age and marital status, and The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) (Costa & McCrae, 1992a), which was used as a measure of personality. The NEO PI-R is considered a concise measure of the five major domains of personality and some of the more important traits that define each domain. Together, the five domains Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E), Openness (O), Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C), and the six facets within each domain, allow for a comprehensive assessment of adult personality. xiv An exploratory, descriptive method was used in the study, and the data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlations, cluster analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance. Key findings include the following: Results from the NEO PI-R domains showed a personality profile of very high scores for N, and average scores for E, O, A, and C. Within the sample, cluster analysis revealed five distinct personality profile clusters. For the biographical variable gender, significant differences were found between males and females on N, with the majority of males scoring in the category of Very High and High, and the majority of females scoring in the Average category. For the variable age, the results indicated significant differences on A, with participants in the young adulthood group scoring significantly lower on A than participants in the middle adulthood group. For marital status, on the domain of O, significant differences were found between the divorced or widowed and the married, with the married scoring in the Low category and the divorced or widowed in the Average category. On the domain of C, significant differences were noted between the singles group and the currently or previously married groups, with the single group tending to score lower on C than both other groups. These findings reveal a need for further research into personality traits and psychiatric samples, as consideration of personality traits based on the profile established, may be useful in matching patients’ characteristics with optimal treatment options.

O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) tem um impacto negativo na vida de seus portadores. Conhecer os traços de personalidade mais preponderantes nas pessoas com TEPT pode auxiliar no sucesso do tratamento, tornando possível planejar intervenções mais adequadas. A terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) é considerada um dos tratamentos mais eficazes para este transtorno; entretanto, nem todos aqueles que completam a terapia evoluem para uma melhora significativa. Uma das razões pode ser encontrada nas características individuais de personalidade de cada pessoa. Portanto, o presente estudo busca explorar a relação existente entre os domínios e traços de personalidade que estão associados à melhora do paciente que realizou a TCC. Método: 66 pacientes com diagnóstico de TEPT, segundo o DSM-IV-TR, com idade entre 18 e 60 anos participaram do estudo. Instrumentos: Para avaliar os traços de personalidade foi utilizado o instrumento NEO-PI-R. Para avaliar a gravidade e melhora da doença foi utilizada a escala de Impressão Clínica Global (CGI). Procedimento: Os pacientes passaram por avaliação psiquiátrica para assegurar o diagnóstico de TEPT. Após aceitarem participar do estudo, responderam ao NEO-PI-R e foram avaliados por médicos quanto a gravidade da doença, utilizando o CGI. Os participantes passaram por 13 sessões de TCC realizadas por profissionais devidamente treinados. Ao final, foram reavaliados para verificar se houve melhora após tratamento. Resultados: Quanto ao perfil de personalidade 71,2% apresentaram neuroticismo (N) alto, 75,8% relataram escore elevado em extroversão (E) e 45,5% eram baixos em conscienciosidade (C). Já os traços amabilidade (A) e abertura para experiência (O) apresentaram pontuações na média. As análises também demonstraram que os participantes que apresentavam o domínio de personalidade denominado consicienciosidade (C) foram associados ao resultado favorável do tratamento. Estima-se que a chance de melhora cresça 3,77 vezes se o paciente apresentar esse traço, quando comparado com os demais que não possuem essa característica. Duas facetas (assertividade e ações variadas) também foram correlacionadas com a melhora no tratamento. Conclusão: Embora a amostra do presente estudo seja limitada, os resultados apontam para a importância de se avaliar a personalidade do paciente. Acessar a personalidade é importante com a finalidade de tentar predizer qual o melhor tipo de tratamento terapêutico para cada um. As terapias breves (frequentemente administradas nos hospitais públicos) possuem um tempo limitado de tratamento, de modo que informações sobre as variáveis de personalidade podem ser particularmente muito útil / The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has a negative impact on the patients lives. Get to know their personality traits can help on the treatment success, by making possible to plan most appropriate interventions. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered a first line treatment for PTSD. However, treatment response is not universal. One reason may be found in personality characteristics. The present study aims at investigating the association between personality dimensions and traits associated with improvement of patients who underwent CBT. Method - 66 PTSD patients diagnosed according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria were included in the study. The patients included were aged 18 to 60 years old. Instruments - We employed the NEO-PI-R instrument for the evaluation of personality dimensions and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) for evaluation of clinical outcome. Procedure - Patients were assessed by Psychiatrists to ensure the diagnosis of PTSD. After accepting to participate of the study, they answered the NEO-PI-R Scale and were assessed by doctors to know the disease severity, using the CGI scale. Participants underwent 13 CBT sessions and were reassessed at the end of treatment. Results - The personality profile showed that 71.2% were high in neuroticism (N) and 75.8 reported low Extraversion. 45.5 were low in conscientiouness and the Agreableness (A) and openess (O) factors presented average scores. The analysis also showed that patients presenting the Conscientiousness (C) personality dimension showed a higher chance of improvement (OR=3.77). Two facets other dimensions (Assertiveness and Varied Actions) were also associated with better clinical outcome. Conclusion - determining predictors of outcome such as a patient\'s personality dimensions may point to the use of therapeutic treatment options with the higher odds of success, without too much therapeutic treatment experimentation. As therapies become briefer, information on personality variables may be particularly useful

O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) tem um impacto negativo na vida de seus portadores. Conhecer os traços de personalidade mais preponderantes nas pessoas com TEPT pode auxiliar no sucesso do tratamento, tornando possível planejar intervenções mais adequadas. A terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) é considerada um dos tratamentos mais eficazes para este transtorno; entretanto, nem todos aqueles que completam a terapia evoluem para uma melhora significativa. Uma das razões pode ser encontrada nas características individuais de personalidade de cada pessoa. Portanto, o presente estudo busca explorar a relação existente entre os domínios e traços de personalidade que estão associados à melhora do paciente que realizou a TCC. Método: 66 pacientes com diagnóstico de TEPT, segundo o DSM-IV-TR, com idade entre 18 e 60 anos participaram do estudo. Instrumentos: Para avaliar os traços de personalidade foi utilizado o instrumento NEO-PI-R. Para avaliar a gravidade e melhora da doença foi utilizada a escala de Impressão Clínica Global (CGI). Procedimento: Os pacientes passaram por avaliação psiquiátrica para assegurar o diagnóstico de TEPT. Após aceitarem participar do estudo, responderam ao NEO-PI-R e foram avaliados por médicos quanto a gravidade da doença, utilizando o CGI. Os participantes passaram por 13 sessões de TCC realizadas por profissionais devidamente treinados. Ao final, foram reavaliados para verificar se houve melhora após tratamento. Resultados: Quanto ao perfil de personalidade 71,2% apresentaram neuroticismo (N) alto, 75,8% relataram escore elevado em extroversão (E) e 45,5% eram baixos em conscienciosidade (C). Já os traços amabilidade (A) e abertura para experiência (O) apresentaram pontuações na média. As análises também demonstraram que os participantes que apresentavam o domínio de personalidade denominado consicienciosidade (C) foram associados ao resultado favorável do tratamento. Estima-se que a chance de melhora cresça 3,77 vezes se o paciente apresentar esse traço, quando comparado com os demais que não possuem essa característica. Duas facetas (assertividade e ações variadas) também foram correlacionadas com a melhora no tratamento. Conclusão: Embora a amostra do presente estudo seja limitada, os resultados apontam para a importância de se avaliar a personalidade do paciente. Acessar a personalidade é importante com a finalidade de tentar predizer qual o melhor tipo de tratamento terapêutico para cada um. As terapias breves (frequentemente administradas nos hospitais públicos) possuem um tempo limitado de tratamento, de modo que informações sobre as variáveis de personalidade podem ser particularmente muito útil / The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has a negative impact on the patients lives. Get to know their personality traits can help on the treatment success, by making possible to plan most appropriate interventions. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered a first line treatment for PTSD. However, treatment response is not universal. One reason may be found in personality characteristics. The present study aims at investigating the association between personality dimensions and traits associated with improvement of patients who underwent CBT. Method - 66 PTSD patients diagnosed according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria were included in the study. The patients included were aged 18 to 60 years old. Instruments - We employed the NEO-PI-R instrument for the evaluation of personality dimensions and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) for evaluation of clinical outcome. Procedure - Patients were assessed by Psychiatrists to ensure the diagnosis of PTSD. After accepting to participate of the study, they answered the NEO-PI-R Scale and were assessed by doctors to know the disease severity, using the CGI scale. Participants underwent 13 CBT sessions and were reassessed at the end of treatment. Results - The personality profile showed that 71.2% were high in neuroticism (N) and 75.8 reported low Extraversion. 45.5 were low in conscientiouness and the Agreableness (A) and openess (O) factors presented average scores. The analysis also showed that patients presenting the Conscientiousness (C) personality dimension showed a higher chance of improvement (OR=3.77). Two facets other dimensions (Assertiveness and Varied Actions) were also associated with better clinical outcome. Conclusion - determining predictors of outcome such as a patient\'s personality dimensions may point to the use of therapeutic treatment options with the higher odds of success, without too much therapeutic treatment experimentation. As therapies become briefer, information on personality variables may be particularly useful

Assertiveness is a learned fundamental interpersonal communication skill that helps individuals to meet the social demands of society. Although various personality factors associated with assertiveness have previously been studied, no recently published studies were identified in the review of assertiveness literature. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between assertiveness and the five factors of personality (extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), self-esteem, social anxiety, and shyness to update past research findings. Participants completed the College Self-Expression Scale, the IPIP representation of the NEO PI-R, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale. It was hypothesized that assertiveness would correlate positively with extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and self-esteem. Assertiveness was further hypothesized to correlate negatively with neuroticism, social anxiety, and shyness. Results revealed direct relationships between assertiveness and self-esteem, extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness, as well as inverse relationships to neuroticism, shyness, and fear of disapproval. No significant relationship was found between assertiveness and agreeableness. This study aimed to advance the understanding of the complex personality structure of low-assertive individuals.

Bien que le travail soit bénéfique et souhaité par une majorité de personnes aux prises avec un trouble mental grave (TMG), les études réalisées auprès de cette clientèle montrent des taux d’emploi d’environ 10 à 20%. Parmi les services visant le retour au travail, les programmes de soutien à l’emploi (PSE) se sont montrés les plus efficaces avec des taux de placement en emploi standard oscillant entre 50 et 60%, sans toutefois garantir le maintien en emploi. Plusieurs études ont tenté de cerner les déterminants de l’obtention et du maintien en emploi chez cette population sans toutefois s’intéresser à la personnalité, et ce, bien qu’elle soit reconnue depuis toujours comme un déterminant important du fonctionnement des individus. De plus, peu de questionnaires d’évaluation de la personnalité selon le modèle de la personnalité en cinq facteurs (FFM) ont été utilisés auprès d’une clientèle avec un TMG et ceux-ci ont montré des propriétés psychométriques ne respectant pas des normes reconnues et acceptées. Cette thèse porte sur les liens entre la personnalité et l’intégration au travail chez les personnes avec un TMG. La première partie vise la validation d’un outil de mesure de la personnalité selon le FFM afin de répondre aux objectifs de la deuxième partie de la thèse. À cet effet, deux échantillons ont été recrutés, soit 259 étudiants universitaires et 141 personnes avec un TMG. Des analyses factorielles confirmatoires ont mené au développement d’un nouveau questionnaire à 15 items (NEO-15) dont les indices d’ajustement, de cohérence interne et de validité convergente respectent les normes établies, ce qui en fait un questionnaire bien adapté à la mesure de la personnalité normale dans des contextes où le temps d’évaluation est limité. La deuxième partie présente les résultats d’une étude réalisée auprès de 82 personnes aux prises avec un TMG inscrites dans un PSE et visant à identifier les facteurs d’obtention et de maintien en emploi chez cette clientèle, particulièrement en ce qui concerne la contribution des éléments normaux et pathologiques de la personnalité. Les résultats de régressions logistiques et de régressions de Cox (analyses de survie) ont démontré que l’historique d’emploi, les symptômes négatifs et le niveau de pathologie de la personnalité étaient prédictifs de l’obtention d’un emploi standard et du délai avant l’obtention d’un tel emploi. Une autre série de régressions de Cox a pour sa part démontré que l’esprit consciencieux était le seul prédicteur significatif du maintien en emploi. Malgré certaines limites, particulièrement des tailles d’échantillons restreintes, ces résultats démontrent la pertinence et l’importance de tenir compte des éléments normaux et pathologiques de la personnalité dans le cadre d’études portant sur l’intégration au travail de personnes avec un TMG. De plus, cette thèse a permis de démontrer l’adéquation d’un nouvel instrument de mesure de la personnalité auprès de cette clientèle. Des avenues futures concernant la réintégration professionnelle et le traitement des personnes avec un TMG sont discutées à la lumière de ces résultats. / Although work is a central component of the recovery of individuals with a severe mental illness (SMI), studies have shown employment rates ranging from 10 to 20% among that population. Among different services aimed at integrating people with a SMI to the labour market, supported employment programs (SEP) are the most effective with 50 to 60% of their participants getting a competitive employment, without however offering job tenure. Several studies have investigated which factors impact job acquisition and tenure among that population but personality has never been considered, although it has been recognized as an important determinant of functioning. Furthermore, few questionnaires aiming at evaluating personality according to the Five-Factor Model of personality (FFM) have been used with a SMI population and those questionnaires have demonstrated psychometric properties that do not satisfy commonly accepted and recognized criteria. This thesis focuses on the link between personality and work integration of people with a SMI. The first part aims at validating a personality questionnaire according to the FFM in order to achieve the objectives of the second part of the thesis. For this purpose, two samples were recruited: one of 259 university students and one of 141 people with a SMI. Confirmatory factor analyses led to the development of a new 15-item questionnaire (NEO-15) presenting with strong fit indices, internal consistency and convergent validity, which makes it well suited to measure normal personality in time-limited settings. The second part of this thesis presents the results of a study conducted with 82 people with a SMI enrolled in a SEP and aiming at investigating which variables predict job acquisition and tenure, with a special focus on normal and pathological personality variables. Results from logistic regressions and Cox regressions (survival analyses) demonstrated that prior employment, negative symptoms and level of pathological personality were predictive of competitive employment acquisition and delay to such acquisition. Additional series of Cox regressions showed that tenure of a competitive job was only predicted by conscientiousness. Although presenting some limits, restricted sample sizes in particular, our results demonstrate the relevance and the importance of considering normal and pathological personality in studies on work outcomes of people with a SMI. Furthermore, this thesis revealed the suitability of a new personality questionnaire to the SMI population. Future directions regarding the work integration and treatment of people with SMI considering these results are discussed.