While much research has been devoted to the study of personality, the separate construct of “workplace personality” is beginning to gain empirical attention. The current study takes a closer look at the factor structure of the Workplace Personality Inventory, a measure used to describe workplace personality using sixteen different scales measuring traits associated with positive job performance. This study also uses correlation analyses to determine the relation between workplace personality, personality traits, and self-efficacy. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) emphasizes the unique and important contribution of self-efficacy to career development and exploration. The present study determines the relationship between personality as measured by the NEO-FFI and workplace personality as it is measured by the WPI. The present study also uses self-efficacy scores and indicators of the Big Five personality factors (as measured by the NEO-FFI) to predict workplace personality. Results show that despite some logical correlations between scales on the NEO-FFI and the WPI, the measures are not redundant, showing the WPI to assess aspects of personality that the NEO-FFI does not. Further, in support of SCCT, self-efficacy was shown to significantly correlate with workplace personality. Practical implications and limitations of the study are also discussed.

Att utveckla atleter bygger på förmågan att som ledare kunna skapa goda relationer till sina atleter. En viktig del i att skapa goda relationer handlar om att kunna individanpassa sitt bemötande, beroende på den enskilda individens behov. Syftet var att studera sambandet mellan föredraget ledarskapsbeteende och personlighet, kön, ålder samt typ av idrott (lag- och individuell idrott). Idrottare N=113, 25st män och 88st kvinnor svarade på en online-enkät innehållande demografisk information, Leadership Scale for Sports och NEO Five-factor Inventory. Personlighetsegenskapen Trevlighet hade positivt samband med Autokratiskt ledarskapsbeteende och negativt samband med Positiv Feedback, Demokratiskt- samt Socialt stödjande ledarskapsbeteende. Neuroticism hade ett positivt samband med Autokratiskt ledarskapsbeteende och Extroversion hade ett negativt samband med Instruerande ledarskapsbeteende. Kvinnor föredrar Socialt stödjande ledarskapsbeteende mer än män och män föredrar Demokratiskt ledarskapsbeteende mer än kvinnor. Äldre personer föredrar Socialt stödjande ledarskapsbeteende mer än yngre. I föreliggande studie finns inget entydigt resultat eller distinkt samband mellan flera individuella faktorer, som pekar på att någon av de fem olika ledarskapsdimensionerna skulle vara mer föredraget framför de andra. De individuella faktorerna kan förklara vissa behov hos atleter, men dess betydelse behöver först identifieras av både atleten själv och ledaren, för att därefter kunna tillämpa ett passande beteende. / Developing athletes is based on the ability as a leader to create good relationships with their athletes.!An important part of creating good relationships is about being able to adapt one's attitude to the individual, depending on the individual's needs. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between preferred leadership behaviour and personality, gender, age and type of sport (team and individual sport). Athletes N=113, 25 men and 88 females answered an online-survey containing demographic information, Leadership Scale for Sports and NEO Five-factor Inventory. Agreeableness had a positive correlation with Autocratic leadership and a negative correlation with Positive Feedback, Democratic leadership and Social support. Neuroticism had a positive correlation with Autocratic leadership and Extroversion had a negative correlation with Instructive Leadership. Women prefer Social support more than men and men prefer Democratic leadership more than women. Older people prefer Social support more than younger people. In the present study, there is no unambiguous result or distinct relationship between several individual factors, which indicates that one of the five different leadership dimensions would be more preferred over the others. The individual factors may explain certain needs of athletes, but their meaning must first be identified by both the athlete and the leader, in order to apply an appropriate behavior.

Personality neuroscience is a rapidly expanding field of study fueled by a growing interest in understanding the structural brain correlates of individual differences in personality. Data on the structural brain correlates of personality are especially lacking from large-scale studies, and are nearly nonexistent in the adolescent age group. Furthermore, the role of sex differences in structural brain changes associated with personality are rarely considered. To address this gap in knowledge, this thesis investigates the structural brain correlates of personality and sex differences in structure at age fourteen. A large sample of adolescents (N = 2000) were drawn from the IMAGEN project. Data on adolescents’ puberty status, IQ, and personality were collected through adolescent-reported questionnaires and interviews. The structural brain correlates of personality were examined utilizing personality variables from the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM). Our results showed few correlations between any dimension of the NEO-FFI and regional grey matter volume (GMV). In the total sample, a negative correlation was found for agreeableness and bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), which was also present in the male subsample. The female sample showed a significant negative correlation between extraversion and the right SMA, and a positive correlation in the left cerebellum. A non-linear effect of extraversion positively correlated with the right precuneus in females. The present study suggests personality traits are not strongly reflected in GMV during adolescence. This thesis includes a discussion on future directions and suggestions for assessing the brain correlates of personality.

Denna studie undersökte relationen mellan karaktärsdragen i The Big Five och Health Locus of Control (HLC). Testen NEO-FFI och MHLC användes för att mäta karaktärsdragen och dimensionerna i HLC. 130 studenter vid Växjö universitet deltog i studien. Resultatet visade en relation mellan Conscientiousness och dimensionen Intern HLC. Extraversion hade en något svagare relation till IHLC. Studenter med en högre grad av Conscientiousness eller Extraversion hade generellt en högre grad av IHLC. Neuroticism hade en relation till dimensionen Powerful others (PHLC). Studenterna med en högre grad Neuroticism hade också i allmänhet en högre grad av PHLC. De funna relationerna kan tyda på att karaktärsdragen tillsammans med HLC möjligen kan påverka faktorer som inverkar på hälsan.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan graden av extraversion och narcissism, och hur man använder Facebook. I studien deltog 114 ungdomar, varav 70 kvinnor och 44 män. För skattning av extraversion användes en del av NEO-FFI. För skattning av narcissism användes delar av NPI. Ett eget instrument konstruerades för skattning av aktivitet på Facebook. Statistisk metod var ANCOVA och korrelationstest. Signifikanta samband uppvisades mellan extraversion och hög grad av aktivitet på Facebook. Extroverta personer hade fler vänner och foton, samt använde chatt- och evenemangsfunktionen mer. Narcissistiska personer skattade den egna profilbild som mer attraktiv. / The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of extraversion and narcissism, and Facebook usage. In the study 114 adolescents participated, 70 women and 44 men. One part of the NEO-FFI was used to estimate the level of extraversion. Parts of the NPI were used to estimate the level of narcissism. A new test was constructed for Facebook usage. ANCOVA and correlational tests were used. There was a significant correlation between extraversion and high level of Facebook usage. Extrovert individuals had more friends and photos, and used the functions for chat and events more frequently. Narcissistic individuals estimated their profile picture as more attractive.

<p>Denna studie undersökte relationen mellan karaktärsdragen i The Big Five och Health Locus of Control (HLC). Testen NEO-FFI och MHLC användes för att mäta karaktärsdragen och dimensionerna i HLC. 130 studenter vid Växjö universitet deltog i studien. Resultatet visade en relation mellan Conscientiousness och dimensionen Intern HLC. Extraversion hade en något svagare relation till IHLC. Studenter med en högre grad av Conscientiousness eller Extraversion hade generellt en högre grad av IHLC. Neuroticism hade en relation till dimensionen Powerful others (PHLC). Studenterna med en högre grad Neuroticism hade också i allmänhet en högre grad av PHLC. De funna relationerna kan tyda på att karaktärsdragen tillsammans med HLC möjligen kan påverka faktorer som inverkar på hälsan.</p>

A stable and healthy personality is a requirement to deal effectively with the different stressors and demands that are part and parcel of a profession in education. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that prospective teachers present well balanced personality profiles, which will enable them to become good teachers. Against the abovementioned background, this research study had the aim to: • by means of a literature study, determine the criteria that are generally used in the selection process of prospective education students nationally and internationally, and to determine the role and function of a personality assessment in the selection of prospective education students; • by means of a literature study, determine the characteristics of the desired personality profile of a teacher by applying the Five Factor Model of personality; • empirically determine the characteristics of the personality profiles of full-time registered education students at a higher education institution; • empirically determine whether there are differences between the personality profiles of 1) male and female education students; 2) education students in the different education phases; 3) education students with different home languages; 4) education students at different academic levels; and 5) education students who indicated education as first choice of study, and those who did not; and • to determine what the application possibility of the NEO-FFI is in the selection of prospective education students. The literature study produced the following results: • Academic criteria are mostly used in selecting education students, nationally and internationally and personality assessment does not play a role in the selection of education students in South Africa. • The desired personality profile of teachers, according to the Five Factor Model of personality, renders low scores on Neuroticism and high scores on Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. The empirical study produced the following results: • The group of education students generally presented the characteristics of the theoretical preferred personality profile with regard to Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, but they presented relatively low mean raw scores for Openness to Experience. • No meaningful differences were found between the personality profiles of education students with regard to the education phase, home language, academic year and education as study choice, however, there were meaningful differences between male and female education students pertaining Agreeableness, where female education students presented higher mean raw scores than their male counterparts. Stanines were calculated to develop norms which can be used for personality assessment in the selection of prospective education students. Gender-specific norms were developed for this purpose. On grounds of the results of the investigation, it is recommended that personality assessment form an integral part of the selection process of prospective education students and that the NEO-FFI appears to be fruitful in this regard. / Thesis (MEd (Educational Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

A stable and healthy personality is a requirement to deal effectively with the different stressors and demands that are part and parcel of a profession in education. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that prospective teachers present well balanced personality profiles, which will enable them to become good teachers. Against the abovementioned background, this research study had the aim to: • by means of a literature study, determine the criteria that are generally used in the selection process of prospective education students nationally and internationally, and to determine the role and function of a personality assessment in the selection of prospective education students; • by means of a literature study, determine the characteristics of the desired personality profile of a teacher by applying the Five Factor Model of personality; • empirically determine the characteristics of the personality profiles of full-time registered education students at a higher education institution; • empirically determine whether there are differences between the personality profiles of 1) male and female education students; 2) education students in the different education phases; 3) education students with different home languages; 4) education students at different academic levels; and 5) education students who indicated education as first choice of study, and those who did not; and • to determine what the application possibility of the NEO-FFI is in the selection of prospective education students. The literature study produced the following results: • Academic criteria are mostly used in selecting education students, nationally and internationally and personality assessment does not play a role in the selection of education students in South Africa. • The desired personality profile of teachers, according to the Five Factor Model of personality, renders low scores on Neuroticism and high scores on Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. The empirical study produced the following results: • The group of education students generally presented the characteristics of the theoretical preferred personality profile with regard to Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, but they presented relatively low mean raw scores for Openness to Experience. • No meaningful differences were found between the personality profiles of education students with regard to the education phase, home language, academic year and education as study choice, however, there were meaningful differences between male and female education students pertaining Agreeableness, where female education students presented higher mean raw scores than their male counterparts. Stanines were calculated to develop norms which can be used for personality assessment in the selection of prospective education students. Gender-specific norms were developed for this purpose. On grounds of the results of the investigation, it is recommended that personality assessment form an integral part of the selection process of prospective education students and that the NEO-FFI appears to be fruitful in this regard. / Thesis (MEd (Educational Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Background. Resilience is the capacity of individuals to resist mental disorders despite exposure to stress. Little is known about its neural underpinnings. The putative variation of white-matter microstructure with resilience in adolescence, a critical period for brain maturation and onset of high-prevalence mental disorders, has not been assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Lower fractional anisotropy (FA) though, has been reported in the corpus callosum (CC), the brain’s largest white-matter structure, in psychiatric and stress-related conditions. We hypothesized that higher FA in the CC would characterize stress-resilient adolescents. Method. Three groups of adolescents recruited from the community were compared: resilient with low risk of mental disorder despite high exposure to lifetime stress (n = 55), at-risk of mental disorder exposed to the same level of stress (n = 68), and controls (n = 123). Personality was assessed by the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Voxelwise statistics of DTI values in CC were obtained using tract-based spatial statistics. Regional projections were identified by probabilistic tractography. Results. Higher FA values were detected in the anterior CC of resilient compared to both non-resilient and control adolescents. FA values varied according to resilience capacity. Seed regional changes in anterior CC projected onto anterior cingulate and frontal cortex. Neuroticism and three other NEO-FFI factor scores differentiated non-resilient participants from the other two groups. Conclusion. High FA was detected in resilient adolescents in an anterior CC region projecting to frontal areas subserving cognitive resources. Psychiatric risk was associated with personality characteristics. Resilience in adolescence may be related to white-matter microstructure.

Burnout is a psychological syndrome caused by occupational stress, which often manifests in mental health professionals who experience demanding and emotionally charged relationships with clients. Guided by the equity theory, this study examined the relationship between spiritual transcendence and burnout in psychologists and social workers who work with severely mentally ill patients after accounting for specific personality traits. Constructs were measured via the Spiritual Transcendence scale (STS), Maslach Burnout inventory (MBI), and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Sixty eight psychologists and social workers were selected from psychiatric hospitals, community centers, and private practice in Nevada to participate in the study. A quantitative approach using hierarchical regression was used for statistical analysis. The results suggest that, after controlling for the NEO-FFI scales, STS was not significantly related to burnout. The results also suggest that, as the personality factor of neuroticism increases, burnout rates also increase and as the personality factors of extraversion and agreeableness increase, burnout tends to decrease. The social change implication of this research is identifying personality factors that contribute to, or are protective factors of, burnout. For example, individuals who score high on neuroticism scales can be aware of their susceptibility to burnout, and those with high scores on agreeableness and extraversion can be conscientious of those factors and potentially put protective factors in place. These findings are beneficial to employers of mental health professionals, program developers, and mental health professionals themselves.