Risk factors for depression have long been identified. However, it remains unclear what are the mechanisms whereby these risk factors lead to depression. Therefore the current research examined cognitive and neurophysiological functioning in a sample of high risk vs. low risk never-depressed young adults. Risk for depression was defined by high neuroticism (N) scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Results indicated that, compared to low N volunteers, high N volunteers show widespread negative biases across emotional processing tasks, including self-referent words categorization and memory, facial expression recognition, and emotion potentiated startle. The neural substrates of these negative biases were further illustrated by our brain-imaging experiments using fMRI. In these studies, high N is associated with increased neural signals for negative self-referent personality attributes and fearful facial expressions in a distributed network known to be involved in emotional processing, including the fusiform-amygdala circuitry, anterior cingulate, and the superior parietal cortex. By contrast, these neurocognitive biases did not seem to be accompanied by impairments in more global executive function or disturbances in biological response to stress measured by awakening salivary cortisol. Consistent with the idea that emotional processing biases represent key mechanisms underlying vulnerability to depression, our final longitudinal study showed that depression symptoms in high N volunteers were well predicted (up to 91%) at an 18 month follow up by a combination of these negative biases and stressful life events. Taken together, the current investigations therefore suggest that neurocognitive biases in emotional processing are trait vulnerability markers for depression prior to illness onset.

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is whether or not dogmatism and neuroticism in supervisors of sheltered workshops is related to changes in the self-concept of handicapped employees. The measurements of dogmatism and neuroticism were accomplished through the use of Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale, (form E) and Winne's Neuroticism Scale. Pitt's Tennessee Self Concept Scale was used to measure the self-concept of the handicapped employees.

The thesis deals with the differences between Female-to-Male (FtM) and Male-to-Female (MtF) transsexuals, focusing on their intelligence and personality traits. The aim of the study was to compare the results between male and female transsexuals in these two areas and to recognize if the distribution of given personality traits corresponds more to their biological sex or to the gender identity. In the theoretical part of the work, studies about males and females in the population are presented and put into a broader context of the studies concerning FtM and MtF transsexuals, while using all accessible literature. The research comprises of data comparison of 200 transsexuals (100 MtF and 100 FtM) using Raven's Progressive matrices and DOPEN questionnaire. The results were evaluated by the statistical analysis and were later compared to the norms for men and women in population. There were found no differences in intelligence in both groups of transsexuals. Both groups' intelligence (IQ 117) is slightly above-average. Using the Raven's Progressive matrices, higher variability of results was measured in the MtF group. Male-to-Female transsexuals reached significantly higher scores in neuroticism compared to Female-to-Male group. This scale was identified as significantly higher in both groups when...

Problembakgrund: Ett relativt nytt forskningsområde inom den finansiella världen är Cultural Finance. Cultural Finance tog fart som forskningsområde då de traditionella finansiella modellerna misslyckades med att förklara verkligheten. Forskningsområdet undersöker effekter som nationell kultur kan ha på individers ageranden inom det finansiella området. Det finns många olika definitioner på begreppet kultur och i detta arbete förklaras kultur som de värderingar och den gemensamma historian samt geografin som styr en social grupps tankar och handlingar. För att undersöka kulturens påverkan avser denna studie att undersöka aktieprisvolatilitet. Volatilitet är ett riskmått som, med fördel, kan tas hänsyn till vid fattande av finansiella beslut. Problemformulering: Förekommer det kulturella skillnader i form av religion, legalt system och grad av neuroticism i aktieprisvolatilitet på olika europeiska och västerländska aktiemarknader? Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om kulturella aspekter kan förklara volatiliteten i marknadsindex på europeiska och västerländska marknader. De kulturella aspekterna som behandlas i studien är religion, grad av neuroticism och legalt system. Teori: De teorier som berörs i studien och som används för att tolka resultatet är den effektiva marknadshypotesen, volatilitet, Behavioral Finance, Cultural Finance, den adaptiva marknadshypotesen och prospektteorin. Metod: För att undersöka om kulturella effekter har en påverkan på aktieprisvolatilitet har författarna använt en kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats. Det finns många kulturella aspekter som kan tänkas påverka volatiliteten på aktiemarknaden. I denna studie har författarna valt religion, grad av neuroticism samt legalt system som förklarande variabler. Studien har utförts under perioden 2012-2016, där index från respektive land från urvalet har valts som studieobjekt. Resultat/Analys: Studiens resultat har visat att kulturella skillnader verkar ha en påverkan på volatiliteten. Både utförda tester där de valda kulturella aspekterna har testats var för sig och där de har testats tillsammans har visat signifikanta resultat. I analysen kopplar författarna resultatet till den teoretiska referensramen och tidigare forskning. Slutsats: Resultatet visar att kulturella aspekter tenderar att påverka volatiliteten under den valda tidsperioden. Därmed styrker denna studie det nya forskningsområdet Cultural Finance samt Behavioral Finance. Vidare anser författarna att resultatet ska tolkas försiktigt och att fortsatt forskning krävs för att stärka kunskapen om kulturens påverkan på aktiemarknaden.

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Events in the life history of an individual such as childhood stressful events alter the strategies that guide behavior, specifically sexual strategies. Evolutionary Developmental Psychology suggests that development must be studied through the integration of various aspects, such as Attachment, Sexual strategies, and Personality. Important and stable part of psychology, personalitys factor Neuroticism reflects how people react to stress. Considering this, in the present thesis we analyzed the relationship between childhood stressful life events, neuroticism and adult attachment. We interviewed 173 people, 99 women and 74 men, aged from 18 to 45 years old (M= 29.51; SD= 7.3), that had a family income range from 1 to 3 Brazilian MW. We applied a Stressful Events Inventory, a Neuroticism Test, and an Attachment Scale. It was found an average of 16,59 of occurrence of stressful events (SD = 5.82). In addition to this high frequency, it was found that the greater the number of stressful events, the greater the perceived stress; and participants perceived the events as more stressful than expected. There were sex differences, with men experiencing more events related to violence and authority, and women, more events that are social. Women also tended to perceive all events as more stressful and to have higher Neuroticism. 42% of the sample had a secure attachment style, less than expected. Lastly, occurrence of stressful events, neuroticism, age, and income explained 46% of variance of this sample attachment style. A structural model analysis showed that neuroticism mediates the relationship between occurrence of stressful events and attachment, without the role of perception. This means that Neuroticism has a much larger role than previously credited, and its study in research on development can explain the high variation found when examining the relationship between childhood and adulthood / Eventos na história de vida de um indivíduo, tais como eventos estressores da infância alteraram as estratégias que orientam o comportamento, especificamente as estratégias sexuais. A Psicologia Evolucionista do Desenvolvimento sugere que o desenvolvimento deve ser estudado através da integração de vários aspectos, como apego, estratégias sexuais, e personalidade. Parte importante e estável da psicologia, o fator de personalidade Neuroticismo reflete como as pessoas reagem a eventos de vida. Considerando isso, na presente tese foi analisada a relação entre eventos estressores da infância, neuroticismo e apego adulto. Foram entrevistadas 173 pessoas, 99 mulheres e 74 homens, com idades entre 18 a 45 anos (M = 29,57; DP = 7,35), com renda familiar de 1 a 3 SM. Foi aplicado o Inventário de Percepção de Eventos Estressores, a Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo, e a Escala de Estilo de Relacionamento. Foi encontrada uma média de 16,59 eventos estressores ocorridos (DP= 5,82). Além dessa alta frequência, encontrou-se que quanto maior o número de eventos estressores, maior foi o estresse percebido, e os participantes perceberam os eventos como mais estressantes do que o esperado. Houve diferenças sexuais, com homens relatando mais eventos ligados à violência e autoridade, e as mulheres, mais eventos sociais. Elas também tendiam a perceber todos os eventos como mais estressantes e a ter escores mais altos de Neuroticismo. 42% da amostra tinha um estilo de apego seguro, menos do que o esperado. Por fim, a ocorrência de eventos estressores, o neuroticismo, idade, e renda explicaram 46% da variância do estilo de apego desta amostra. Uma análise de modelo estrutural mostrou que o neuroticismo mediava a relação entre ocorrência de eventos estressores e apego. Isso significa que o Neuroticismo tem um papel muito maior do que o anteriormente creditado, e seu estudo em pesquisas com desenvolvimento pode explicar a alta variabilidade encontrada quando se examina as relações entre infância e vida adulta

Events in the life history of an individual such as childhood stressful events alter the strategies that guide behavior, specifically sexual strategies. Evolutionary Developmental Psychology suggests that development must be studied through the integration of various aspects, such as Attachment, Sexual strategies, and Personality. Important and stable part of psychology, personalitys factor Neuroticism reflects how people react to stress. Considering this, in the present thesis we analyzed the relationship between childhood stressful life events, neuroticism and adult attachment. We interviewed 173 people, 99 women and 74 men, aged from 18 to 45 years old (M= 29.51; SD= 7.3), that had a family income range from 1 to 3 Brazilian MW. We applied a Stressful Events Inventory, a Neuroticism Test, and an Attachment Scale. It was found an average of 16,59 of occurrence of stressful events (SD = 5.82). In addition to this high frequency, it was found that the greater the number of stressful events, the greater the perceived stress; and participants perceived the events as more stressful than expected. There were sex differences, with men experiencing more events related to violence and authority, and women, more events that are social. Women also tended to perceive all events as more stressful and to have higher Neuroticism. 42% of the sample had a secure attachment style, less than expected. Lastly, occurrence of stressful events, neuroticism, age, and income explained 46% of variance of this sample attachment style. A structural model analysis showed that neuroticism mediates the relationship between occurrence of stressful events and attachment, without the role of perception. This means that Neuroticism has a much larger role than previously credited, and its study in research on development can explain the high variation found when examining the relationship between childhood and adulthood / Eventos na história de vida de um indivíduo, tais como eventos estressores da infância alteraram as estratégias que orientam o comportamento, especificamente as estratégias sexuais. A Psicologia Evolucionista do Desenvolvimento sugere que o desenvolvimento deve ser estudado através da integração de vários aspectos, como apego, estratégias sexuais, e personalidade. Parte importante e estável da psicologia, o fator de personalidade Neuroticismo reflete como as pessoas reagem a eventos de vida. Considerando isso, na presente tese foi analisada a relação entre eventos estressores da infância, neuroticismo e apego adulto. Foram entrevistadas 173 pessoas, 99 mulheres e 74 homens, com idades entre 18 a 45 anos (M = 29,57; DP = 7,35), com renda familiar de 1 a 3 SM. Foi aplicado o Inventário de Percepção de Eventos Estressores, a Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo, e a Escala de Estilo de Relacionamento. Foi encontrada uma média de 16,59 eventos estressores ocorridos (DP= 5,82). Além dessa alta frequência, encontrou-se que quanto maior o número de eventos estressores, maior foi o estresse percebido, e os participantes perceberam os eventos como mais estressantes do que o esperado. Houve diferenças sexuais, com homens relatando mais eventos ligados à violência e autoridade, e as mulheres, mais eventos sociais. Elas também tendiam a perceber todos os eventos como mais estressantes e a ter escores mais altos de Neuroticismo. 42% da amostra tinha um estilo de apego seguro, menos do que o esperado. Por fim, a ocorrência de eventos estressores, o neuroticismo, idade, e renda explicaram 46% da variância do estilo de apego desta amostra. Uma análise de modelo estrutural mostrou que o neuroticismo mediava a relação entre ocorrência de eventos estressores e apego. Isso significa que o Neuroticismo tem um papel muito maior do que o anteriormente creditado, e seu estudo em pesquisas com desenvolvimento pode explicar a alta variabilidade encontrada quando se examina as relações entre infância e vida adulta

A presente Tese de Doutorado foi composta por um capítulo introdutório e três estudos, todos eles empíricos apresentados em formato de artigos. Os artigos objetivaram investigar as variáveis satisfação de vida, rede de relações, coping e neuroticismo nos grupos estudados. A amostra do primeiro artigo foi composta por um grupo não-clínico de estudantes (n = 502) e a do segundo, por um grupo clínico de portadores do HIV (n = 45), todos procedentes da Grande Porto Alegre e com idades entre 14 e 23 anos. No terceiro estudo participaram os jovens do grupo clínico e 494 jovens do grupo não-clínico. Em todos os três, os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário de dados sócio-demográficos, Escala Multidimensional de Satisfação de Vida para Adolescentes – EMSV-A, Inventário de Rede de Relações – IRR, Inventário de Estratégias de Coping e Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo – EFN. Para a análise dos dados dos dois primeiros estudos foram realizadas MANCOVAS e MANOVAS e análises de regressão múltipla e para o terceiro estudo, análises discriminantes entre os grupos para cada um dos instrumentos. Tanto os resultados do primeiro quanto do segundo estudo indicaram que os jovens participantes utilizaram um número variado de estratégias de coping e apresentaram um bom nível de satisfação de vida, porém para o grupo clínico houve declínio na satisfação com as amizades. As relações com amigos e com a figura materna mostraram-se como aspectos importantes. Verificou-se, ainda, que o melhor preditor do nível de Satisfação de Vida Total de ambas amostras foi o fator Depressão do EFN. No terceiro estudo foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos em todos os instrumentos. Evidenciou-se também uma perda do sentido vital no grupo clínico, principalmente pelos achados da EFN. Os resultados contribuíram para o conhecimento acerca da adolescência, assim demonstraram a necessidade de se criar intervenções para a promoção do bem-estar de portadores e não portadores do HIV. / The present doctoral consists of an introductory chapter and three studies, all of them empirical and presented in article format. The papers aimed to investigate the variables life satisfaction, network of relationships, coping and neuroticism. The first study’s sample was non-clinic and consisted of students (n = 502) and the second study’s sample was clinic, formed by HIV patients (n = 45), all of them from metropolitan Porto Alegre. The clinic sample and 494 students from the non-clinic sample took part of the third study. The instruments used were: questionnaire of sociodemographic data, Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Adolescents (MLSS- A), Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Coping Strategies Inventory and Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In order to analyze the data from the two first studies it was used MANCOVAS and MANOVAS and multiple linear regression analyses. Discriminant analyses between the clinic and non-clinic samples for each of the instruments were developed to analyze the data from the third study. The results of the first and the second study showed that the participants revealed a varied number of coping strategies and presented a good level of life satisfaction, although there is a fair decrease in the satisfaction with friendships. The relationships with friends and the maternal figure proved to have a important influence on the youths. Moreover, it was verified that the best predictor of Total Life Satisfaction of the sample was the factor Depression of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In the third study the findings revealed differences between the groups in all of the measures. It was also evidenced a loss of the vital sense in the clinic group, especially through the findings of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. The results contributed to increase the knowledge about adolescence and showed the importance of developing intervention programs to promote wellbeing in HIV carriers and non-carriers.

Suicidal behavior, including ideation and attempts, is a significant public health problem. Due to the complexity of suicidal behavior, it is necessary to consider an array of factors that could serve as risk and protective factors. Previous research has shown that deficits in social problemsolving ability are associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation and attempts; conversely, problem solving strengths are associated with reduced risk. This dissertation project, consisting of 3 individual manuscripts, was designed to explore the relationship between social problemsolving ability and suicidal behavior in low-income primary care patients. Furthermore, additional constructs including health related quality of life, interpersonal needs, neuroticism, and hopelessness were also explored as they related to social problem solving and suicidal behavior. In a sample of 220 primary care patients ages 19-79 (M = 44.08; SD = 12.11), we examined the following: 1) health related quality of life as a mediator of the relationship between social problem solving and suicidal behavior, 2) interpersonal needs as a mediator of the relationship between social problem solving and suicidal behavior, and 3) the potential mediating role of hopelessness on the relation between neuroticism and suicidal behavior and the moderating role of social problem-solving ability on these associations. Participants completed self-report questionnaires including the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised-Short Form, Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Short-Form 36, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, NEO-Five Factor Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Scores were analyzed using bootstrapped mediation and moderated mediation techniques. In Manuscript 1 mediating effects were found for mental health related quality of life. In Manuscript 2 thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness mediated the relationship between social problem solving and suicidal behavior. Finally, in Manuscript 3 there was a significant indirect effect of neuroticism on suicidal behavior through hopelessness, and this indirect effect was moderated by social problem-solving ability. Our findings indicate that social problem-solving ability serves as both a risk and protective factor for suicidal behavior and impacts other variables that influence suicide risk among primary care patients. Interventions that bolster social problem-solving ability may reduce suicide risk in primary care.

Personality variables have been shown to be significant predictors of job performance (Barrick & Mount, 1991; Tett, Jackson, & Rothstein, 1991). Recent advances in methodology for analyzing personality-job performance relationships indicate that interactions among traits may yield incremental validity. Job types in which performance has been shown to relate to trait interactions include clerical jobs, jobs with high interpersonal components, and jobs in realistic and conventional contexts, (Witt, Burke, Barrick, & Mount, 2002; Burke & Witt, 2002; and Burke & Witt, 2004). This study examined the validity of trait interactions for the prediction of managerial job performance. Hypotheses included a main effect for Conscientiousness, an interaction between Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, an interaction between Extraversion and Neuroticism, and finally, a three-way interaction between Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness. An archival dataset from Personnel Decisions, International (n=680 managers) containing GPI personality scores and supervisor-rated performance scores was analyzed to test the hypotheses. Correlations and moderated hierarchical linear regressions were performed to estimate the relationships of the predictors to the criterion, and to learn whether examination of trait interactions contributes incremental validity to the single trait scales. A main effect for Conscientiousness on managerial job performance was found. No trait interactions explained incremental variance in performance scores. Therefore, Conscientiousness is the recommended personality scale to use for selecting managers. This finding is consistent with previous research on the relation of Conscientiousness to job performance in managers (Barrick & Mount, 1991). Managers from diverse organizations and industries comprised the sample, increasing the generalizability of the results. Directions for future research include the examination of other trait interactions, more specific criteria such as competencies rather than overall managerial job performance, and effects of the hierarchical level of the manager in the organization.