The application of personality assessment techniques for clinical and personnel decisions has always been a major activity for psychologists all over the world. In South Africa personality assessment tools are often used for purposes of selection, placement, determination of job satisfaction and development. Psychological testing in South Africa was originally initiated with white test-takers in mind, and currently none of the available personality questionnaires used in South Africa have been found to provide a reliable and valid picture of personality for all cultural (language) groups. Since 1994 South Africa has had a new constitution and there are stronger demands for the cultural appropriateness of psychological tests. In this study, the implicit perspectives of personality of Sesotho-speaking South Africans are being determined in order to develop a more culturally fair personality assessment tool for South Africans. A qualitative research design was used with an interview as data-gathering instrument. A Sesotho-speaking fieldworker was recruited to interview 120 Sesotho-speaking South Africans from the Free State Province. The study population was purposely drawn from different sections of the Sesotho-speaking population. A total of 4873 Sesotho-speaker personality descriptors were obtained from the participants and then translated into English. Content analysis was used to analyse, interpret and reduce these descriptors to a total of 94 personality characteristics, which highlights the most important perspectives of personality for Sesotho-speaking individuals. The personality characteristics were divided into seven categories, namely sociability, interpersonal relatedness, emotionality, meanness, conscientiousness, dominance and other. The majority of the characteristics are representative of communalism or the collective consciousness in African communities. Sesotho-speaking persons are socially active and are sympathetic, caring and tolerant towards others, they are willing to become involved in the feelings, problems and welfare of others. The findings of this study were compared to the Five Factor Model and evidence were found for the extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism and agreeableness factors, but not for the openness to experience factor. In comparison with the Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory support were found for 17 of the 22 personality scales. Characteristics such as admonitory, resourcefulness, religion, humour, fair, judgemental and discriminating can be seen as characteristics indigenous to the Sesotho culture. Limitations in the research are identified and recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The application of personality assessment techniques for clinical and personnel decisions has always been a major activity for psychologists all over the world. In South Africa personality assessment tools are often used for purposes of selection, placement, determination of job satisfaction and development. Psychological testing in South Africa was originally initiated with white test-takers in mind, and currently none of the available personality questionnaires used in South Africa have been found to provide a reliable and valid picture of personality for all cultural (language) groups. Since 1994 South Africa has had a new constitution and there are stronger demands for the cultural appropriateness of psychological tests. In this study, the implicit perspectives of personality of Sesotho-speaking South Africans are being determined in order to develop a more culturally fair personality assessment tool for South Africans. A qualitative research design was used with an interview as data-gathering instrument. A Sesotho-speaking fieldworker was recruited to interview 120 Sesotho-speaking South Africans from the Free State Province. The study population was purposely drawn from different sections of the Sesotho-speaking population. A total of 4873 Sesotho-speaker personality descriptors were obtained from the participants and then translated into English. Content analysis was used to analyse, interpret and reduce these descriptors to a total of 94 personality characteristics, which highlights the most important perspectives of personality for Sesotho-speaking individuals. The personality characteristics were divided into seven categories, namely sociability, interpersonal relatedness, emotionality, meanness, conscientiousness, dominance and other. The majority of the characteristics are representative of communalism or the collective consciousness in African communities. Sesotho-speaking persons are socially active and are sympathetic, caring and tolerant towards others, they are willing to become involved in the feelings, problems and welfare of others. The findings of this study were compared to the Five Factor Model and evidence were found for the extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism and agreeableness factors, but not for the openness to experience factor. In comparison with the Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory support were found for 17 of the 22 personality scales. Characteristics such as admonitory, resourcefulness, religion, humour, fair, judgemental and discriminating can be seen as characteristics indigenous to the Sesotho culture. Limitations in the research are identified and recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The problem of this dissertation is to examine William James's concept of the self and to evaluate his view in the light of selected contemporary theories of the self. Because James was the first great American psychologist to show sustained interest in the self, this paper examines his view of the self for possible relationships and similarities to current theories, specifically those of Gordon Allport, Carl Rogers, and the organismic and the phenomenological theories of the self. The method employed by the dissertation has involved analysis and comparison of the various theories and an evaluation of differences. The dissertation first offers an expository analysis of James's concept of the self, followed by similar expositions of theories by Allport and Rogers and those of the organismic and phenomenological schools. For James, the subject-object self is a phenomenal experience of the organism. The unifying stream of thought, each new thought inheriting all that the preceding thought possessed, constitutes the consistent identity of the self, eliminating the need for any other explanation of the coherence and continuity of the self. The self is capable of growth and change and has constituent aspects of a material, social and spiritual nature which generate feelings and actions. The constituent facets of the self are hierarchically arranged, creating an inner harmony which is purposive in character. For Allport, the term self is applied to the gradually evolving central aspects of one's existence, the bodily sense, continuing self-identity, self-esteem, self-extension, the self-image, the self as rational coper, and the self as goal-seeker. Having unity and continuing identity, the self is an object of knowledge. It is also a knowing self and, though this aspect remains undefined, is definitely not an homunculus. For Rogers, the self is gradually differentiated from the organism's total experience and is a unique value structure resulting from interpersonal relationships. This value system and the drive toward self-preservation, maintenance, and enhancement provide for consistency and unity in the self. The sovereign drive makes growth and change possible. The self is thus a process as well as a system. Organismic theory emphasizes the unity, integrity, coherence, and consistency of the self-actualizing organism. Inherent potentiality is stressed rather than environmental effects and pressures. The object of concern is the whole person rather than part functions. Phenomenological theory sees the self as a developmental social product, capable of change and centered around its fundamental need: the sense of adequacy. The self is both object (self-experiences) and process (an aspect of the phenomenal field which determines all behavior). In comparison with Allport and Rogers, James says little about the origin and development of the self, presents no coherent, unified, motivational theory, gives little insight into the way change occurs in the self and, though in agreement with Allport and Rogers regarding the self as object, he reduces the self as knower to passing thoughts phenomenally perceived as intra-cephalic movements and sensations. The successive states of consciousness also account, functionally, for the unity and identity of the self. Because of its unsystematic nature, internal inconsistency and omissions, James's theory was seen to be lacking in explicitness and structural detail. On the basis of the analysis and comparison, certain conclusions seem warranted: (1) In its broadest terms and particularly in the spirit of its approach, James's theory was judged viable; (2) Its chief values, theoretically and practically, are its broad perspective, its tentativeness, and its emphasis on phenomenological method rather than its specific content; (3) Though viable in its perspective and spirit, James's theory was considered to be lacking in clarity and focus to the point of ambiguity. / 2031-01-01

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Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This research deals with personality and biographical factors in absenteeism. The literature review looks at personality traits and absenteeism. The following question must then be asked: Can the construct ”personality” be analysed and described within the context of the work environment, and can the relationship between personality, biographical factors and absenteeism be studied empirically. The empirical study focuses on measuring the relationship between personality and absenteeism. The construct ”personality” is presented within the dimensional or trait perspective. The empirical investigation is presented within the functionalistic paradigm (quantitative approach). The chosen measuring instrument, namely, the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF SA 92) was administered by means of a random sample to 72 Aviation Security Officers. The reliability of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire was determined using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient method. To determine if personality is a predictor of absenteeism, stepwise regression analysis was done. The results indicate that the degree (category) of absenteeism is associated only with marital status and number of dependants. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Comm. (Industrial Psychology)

This research deals with personality and biographical factors in absenteeism. The literature review looks at personality traits and absenteeism. The following question must then be asked: Can the construct ”personality” be analysed and described within the context of the work environment, and can the relationship between personality, biographical factors and absenteeism be studied empirically. The empirical study focuses on measuring the relationship between personality and absenteeism. The construct ”personality” is presented within the dimensional or trait perspective. The empirical investigation is presented within the functionalistic paradigm (quantitative approach). The chosen measuring instrument, namely, the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF SA 92) was administered by means of a random sample to 72 Aviation Security Officers. The reliability of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire was determined using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient method. To determine if personality is a predictor of absenteeism, stepwise regression analysis was done. The results indicate that the degree (category) of absenteeism is associated only with marital status and number of dependants. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Comm. (Industrial Psychology)

In this piece I have attempted to perform descriptive quantitative research in the field of Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapies in the Czech Republic. I have placed emphasis on the professional background and dog handling skills of the dog-handler. I tried not only to focus on the impact of dogs on humans, but also to emphasize the importance of the personality of the therapist. I also consider the impact of different personality theories on the personality of the handler/therapist, and the importance of theoretical background and preparation in the given area in which the handler/therapist engages with dogs. Based on the positive respondent reactions, I trust that this research will prove to be of use to people involved in human-animal positive interactions.

The main purpose of this study was to determine: * If there is a relationship between certain personality traits and participation in sport. * Whether cricket players possess certain personality traits in general and with regard to levels of play, playing positions and age. The literature study indicated that the study of personality tend to be complex and showed a relationship between personality traits and participation in sport. Furthermore the literature study showed that personality is not static, but dependant on acquired traits and responses. The empirical study revealed that certain personality traits in cricket players figure stronger than others regarding levels of play, playing positions and age, for example cricket players on club level tend to have more self control than school players and bowlers tend to show a larger tendency to disregard social rules and tend to be more enthusiastic, and greater risk-takers than batsmen and wicketkeepers. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)