Public service motivation (PSM) encompasses self-sacrifice (SS), compassion (COM), commitment to public values (CPV), and attraction to public participation (APP) as part of a public service ethic. The public and non-profit sectors are purported to consist of individuals possessing other-directed, communal values, rather than self-directed, agentic values characterizing private sector organizations. However, PSM’s positive, or prosocial bias often discounts self-interested motives and mixed motives. Garnering insights from personality psychology may further the development of PSM from multidisciplinary angles. Malevolent personalities in organizations have been evidenced by decades of research in the private sector. Yet, similar efforts delineating malevolent types in public and non-profit organizations remain lacking. While a battery of personality scales access general personality disorders, none has been administered across sectors to determine if disordered individuals are more likely to be found employed in a particular sector. The communal narcissism scale is distinct from other malevolent scales because it measures communal traits as a function of domain specificity. Unlike the agentic version of narcissism, in which self-aggrandizement is almost immediately apparent to others, in communal narcissism, the self-aggrandizement component is hidden by a ‘saint-type bias’ and self-proclaimed other-orientation. Some communal narcissism traits may mimic dimensions of the PSM scale. If a malevolent personality can mimic public service motivation, then this research would be among the first to illustrate a dark side of PSM, as recently suggested by PSM scholars. This research found that CNI was, indeed, associated with PSM, particularly the self-sacrifice, public participation, and compassion dimensions. Additionally, PSM was positively associated with the non-profit sector and negatively associated with the private sector. CNI, in contrast, was indirectly influenced by sector. Specifically, CNI was positively associated with non-profit sector and negatively associated with the private sector. An empirical analysis of two studies is presented and future research directions are discussed. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

M.A. / The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits, attitudes towards the Internet, and Internet use. This study was regarded as important because the Internet is increasingly becoming an important part of everyday life, and is changing society as we know it. 224 third year psychology students participated in the study. The existing literature indicated that the personality traits of Extraversion and Openness to Experience were likely to influence Internet use. Attitudes could also be expected to influence volitional behaviour, such as voluntary Internet use. Other research has also found exposure to be positively related to attitudes. A self-constructed questionnaire collected information relating to computer and Internet use, as well as attitudes towards the Internet. A short personality measure, namely the Saucier (1994) 40-ltem Mini-marker set, was used to measure the personality traits of participants. Examination of the results obtained through correlational and multiple regression techniques supported the existing theory. The personality traits of Extraversion and Openness to Experience were found to predict Internet use in certain situations, with Openness emerging as particularly important in understanding computer and Internet use. Attitudes formed by exposure to the Internet, as measured by the self-constructed Internet exposure scale, was found to correlate positively with time spent on the Internet. The study support previous studies which found that the personality traits of Extraversion and Openness influence media use, and suggest that this influence is also present in relation to Internet use. It also supported the theory that a positive relationship exists between attitudes towards the Internet, specifically attitudes formed by exposure, and frequency of Internet use.

Time-series data that reflect a periodic pattern are often used in psychology. In personality psychology, Brown and Moskowitz (1998) used spectral analysis to study whether fluctuations in the expression of four interpersonal behaviors show a cyclical pattern. Spline smoothing had also been used in the past to track the non-periodic trend, but no research has yet been done that combines spectral analysis and spline smoothing. The present thesis describes a new model which combines these two techniques to capture both periodic and non-periodic trends in the data. / The new model is then applied to Brown and Moskowitz's time-series data to investigate the long-term evolution to the four interpersonal behaviors, and to the GDP data to examine the periodic and non-periodic pattern for the GDP values of the 16 countries. Finally, the extent to which the model is accurate is tested using simulated data.

Psychobiography can be viewed as the re-writing of an individual‟s life story previously undetected. In general, it consists of a combination of two central elements: biography and psychological theory, which aim to explain the particular individual‟s psychological development. This particular study serves to explore the extraordinary life of renowned singer and songwriter, Ian Kevin Curtis (1956-1980), who died by suicide at the early age of 23. The basis for this investigation will take the form of notable biographical accounts of the subject‟s life, together with the application of Thomas Joiner‟s (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide which identifies factors that lead to suicidal ideation - in an attempt to understand the psychological circumstances that contributed to Curtis‟s suicide. In doing so, Adler‟s (1929) theory of Individual Psychology was applied to the life of Curtis in an attempt to build on Joiner‟s theory. This led to the concept of control being introduced and contributed to the development of an intake form to identify those at risk for suicide. It is hoped that exploring the psychological circumstances that contributed to Curtis‟s suicide and their interpretation by the subject will bring about an understanding of the risk factors that may induce suicide and, by extension, will highlight the relevance of this psychobiographical study as a tool for investigating and promoting preventative measures concerning suicide. The psychobiographical data collection and analysis for this research thesis will be guided by Yin‟s (2003) theory of „analytic generalisation‟ which uses a theoretical framework in selecting relevant data which develops a matrix as a descriptive framework for organising and integrating that data, and Alexander‟s (1988) analytical model which focuses on lifting out themes through principal identifiers of salience.

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The thesis is in two parts. Part I examines the possibility of a humanistic science of persons. The failure of the psychometric approach to personality research is described. It is argued that psychometrics denies the common-sense, everyday-life basis of its procedures. Then, with the aim of constructing a true science of persons, some of the concepts of a philosophy of the person are introduced. Finally, it is suggested that a science of persons would be a science of interpretation. A methodology for such a science is set out, along with the examples of research which has exploited these methods. In Part II, a programme of substantive research is presented. The aim is to investigate those experiences which individuals claim lead to their personal 'growth'. Two 'growth' movements - Transcendental Meditation and encounter groups - are studied as social-psychological phenomena. The methods used are personal accounts and participant observation. These activities are described as constituting unique identifiable 'regions of social reality'. It is concluded that they resemble forms of art such as novels or films more than forms of therapy or education. The implications of this conclusion are explored in a final Chapter.

A Life Complexity Scale (LCS) and Life Diversity Scale (LDS) were developed to assess the richness and diversity of experiences in individuals. In study 1, three hundred and fifty mTurk workers completed the LCS and other standard measurements of personality to assess the scales validity and correlation. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were used to look into the structure of the scale. Four factors were selected according to Scree plot solution and theoretical framework including: complexity, basic, uncertainty, and complicated. In study 2, four hundred mTurk workers completed the LDS along with other measurements of personality, depression, and social support. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were used to explore the structure of the scale finding a single factor solution. The results indicate that both scales have good reliability LCS (Omega total = 1.02) and LDS (Omega total = .8). The associations with other personality traits are explored and recommendations for future research are signaled. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Maritime pilots provide a vital service in facilitating the safe and efficient passage of vessels into and out of ports and waterways worldwide. Lack of effective selection of maritime pilots can jeopardize the welfare of people, property, and marine ecosystems. Based on Edwards' conceptualization of person-job fit theory, this quantitative, ex post facto study was an examination of whether personality traits, as measured by the Personality Research Form E (PRF-E), could predict maritime pilot selection. The research questions were: (a) Is there a significant relationship between respondents' PRF-E scale ratings and selection for a maritime pilot job and (b) How significant is the relationship between each of the 22 PRF-E scale ratings and selection for a maritime pilot job. Using a sample of 328 maritime pilot applicants, binary logistic regression was conducted to determine if any of the PRF-E variables were significant predictors of pilot selection. The results of the logistic regression analysis illustrated a significant predictive relationship between 9 of the 22 PRF-E scales and maritime pilot selection, specifically the traits of abasement, achievement, change, cognitive structure, dominance, harmavoidance, sentience, desirability, and infrequency. Future research should examine the relationship between selected maritime pilots' personality traits and job performance. Potential contributions to positive social change include improving the capability of maritime pilot commissions and associations to make more informed and effective selection decisions. The continued assessment of maritime pilot candidates' personality traits could support the prevention of future vessel accidents, ecological damage, human injuries, and fatalities.

M.A. / There is a critical lack of local, clinical research into this growing problem which threatens to affect all of our lives, either directly or indirectly. The last government-sanctioned study on substance abuse in South Africa was conducted in 1970, and very limited research reports have been published that have reflected on the etiology, maintenance and treatment of the problem, either from a social or therapeutic perspective. This dissertation sets out to address the clinical, therapeutic issues of Substance Abuse disorder, including alcohol, within a South African context. The assumption of the author is that pathological personality styles and disorders underlie the problem of substance abuse in South Africa, as has been established in countries with similar substance abuse issues around the world. As will be seen in the following chapter, a distinct relationship has been established between the disorder of substance abuse, on Axis I and the personality disorders of Axis II, according to the DSM III-R. 4 A review of the literature will demonstrate the different findings surrounding this relationship, and describe the role that pathological personality patterns play in the development and maintenance of Substance Abuse disorder. These pathological personality styles and disorders are then discussed in detail, from the perspective of Millon's theory of personality. It is felt by this author that Millon's theory of personality provides a comprehensive framework for the discussion of the underlying personality issues associated with addiction. The extensive description of Millon's personality styles and disorders, their close association to the personality disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals, and their easy quantification through the MCMI II make Millon's theory, coupled with his test of personality the most well suited theory to form a foundation for the discussion and integration of an understanding of the problems associated with substance abuse in South Africa. In order to determine the relevance of foreign- based studies in a South African context, a study into the personality profiles of South African substance abusers was conducted at three rehabilitation centers within the Gauteng province of South Africa.

Psychobiographies offer the illuminating experience of uncovering the story of an individual’s life through the lens of a psychological theory. Psychobiographies offer the chance to gain a deeper understanding of what makes that individual unique. This study aimed to explore and describe the emotional intelligence of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu according to Goleman’s (1998) theory of Emotional Intelligence. Tutu was chosen as a subject for this study because of his extraordinary life and accomplishments, and because he is regarded as a prominent figure of moral leadership in South Africa. A qualitative psychobiographical research method was utilised. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources to enhance internal validity, and was then analysed according to Miles and Huberman’s (1994) approach. The findings suggest that Tutu applied all of the twenty five emotional intelligence capacities during his life, and that at times, some were used more extensively than others. This study is groundbreaking in that it is the first psychobiography on Desmond Tutu, and it is the first psychobiography undertaken at the University of Fort Hare. Psychobiographies offer an opportunity to evaluate the psychological theory which is applied. It was found that Goleman’s (1998) theory of Emotional Intelligence is supported by this study.