bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Politics in Serbia 1990-2002: A cleavage of world views
Authors: Todosijevic Bojan
Published: July 2008

The paper analyzes socio-psychological sources of political divisions in post-communist Serbia. Following the argument that authoritarianism is intrinsically associated with the opposition to pro-democratic political change, it is hypothesized that authoritarianism is associated with the support for the former communists, and increasingly over time for radical nationalists. The data analysis utilizes three data sets, from 1990, 1996 and 2002, that is from periods that represent three crucial stages in the development of the Serbian post-communist politics. Discriminant analysis of party preferences showed that preferences for authoritarian political options and ideological orientations were tied to authoritarianism as an individual difference variable and specific socio-structural characteristics. The paper offers an interpretation of the Serbian politics throughout 1990s in terms of a cleavage of world views.
Social distance and stereotypes of Roma at the primary school age
Authors: Francesko Mirjana , Mihic Vladimir , Kajon Jelena
Published: July 2008

The sample of the research presented in this paper consisted of 575 children age 10 and 11 from four of Novi Sad`s primary school. 58 of them were Roma and the rest were Serbs, Hungarians, Croats, etc. The paper deals with the social distance toward the six ethnic groups (Roma, Serbs, Croats Hungarians, Slovaks and Ruthenians), as well as stereotypes of Roma both in Roma and non-Roma children. Sample has also been divided in two by the criteria of Roma children attending the same classes as the children in the sample or not. The results show that social distance toward the Roma is higher than any other social distance in this sample. Also, we were not able to find any significant differences in this social distance between children who attend the school with the Roma children and those who do not. As could be expected, the auto stereotypes were more positive than the hetero stereotypes.
Effects of bombing after five years: Development of early maladaptive cognitive schemas in children
Authors: Nikoloski-Koncar Natasa , Zotovic Marija , Hautekèete Marc
Published: July 2008

The main aim of the study is to examine effects of bombing on development of early maladaptive schemas in children who live in directly bombed towns in comparison with children who live in towns not directly exposed to bombing. The subjects were twelve years old at the moment of testing (February 2005) meaning that they were at the age of seven during the bombing. Additional aim was to examine gender differences in development of early maladaptive schemas. The theory of Young (1990) provided framework for the study. According to the theory, early maladaptive cognitive schemas, which present basis for psychological disorder later in life, begin to develop in childhood in connection with traumatic experiences and/or other aversive circumstances. The results showed that the early maladaptive schemas are more frequent in children from directly exposed towns; and in male subjects comparing with females.
Relations between psychological separation and adaptation of adolescents
Authors: Vukelic Marija
Published: July 2008

The object of this research is a problem of relations between psychological separation-individuation as well as adaptation to secondary and boarding school and differences in separation and adaptation. Explorative research was performed on the sample of 586 adolescents aged 14-16. The instruments used were: The Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI, Hoffman, 1984), and The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ, Baker & Siryk, 1984). The results showed that adolescents from boarding schools, comparing to those who are not separated from parents during secondary school, have significant higher level of separation of both parents, but discriminate analysis showed that adolescents from boarding schools express nostalgia for their parents and wants more contacts and support from them. Adolescent from boarding school showed general better adaptation, but lower emotional adaptation comparing to not separate adolescents. Discriminate analysis showed that adolescents from boarding schools express low satisfaction with life in boarding school. The results confirm hypothesis of connection between psychological separation from parents and adaptation in adolescence. Canonical correlation analysis showed two statistically significant canonical factors. First factor shows significant connection of lower independence and better adaptation, with 23% explained variance. Second factor indicates connection of lower functional, emotional and attitude independence and better adaptation, with 12% of explained variance. Results are argued in light of theory separation-individuation and importance of meaning of separation from their parents for adolescents for adaptation on request for adaptation on secondary school and boarding school.
Structure and sociodemographis characteristics of the family climate in Vojvodina
Authors: Mihic Ivana , Zotovic Marija , Jerkovic Ivan
Published: July 2008

Research presented in this paper aimed to investigate psychometric characteristics and factor structure of Family Climate Inventory (FCI Kurdek et al., 1995), as well as the sociodemographic correlates of the quality of family environment operacionalized by this scale. The research sample consisted of 561 adolescents (average age 16). Four factores were extracted.Total variance explained by these four factors was 62. 29%. First factor has been defined as Acceptance, the second (Autonomy) considers the estimated level of independence between family members. The third factor Conflicts implies frequency and influence of conflict situations and relations within the family. The fourth isolated factor- Supervision, was the dimension of original FCI scale, but has shown poor metric characteristics in our sample, and has been excluded from further analysis. The reduced Family Climate Inventory consists of 18 items, and has good psychometric characteristics (Cronbah a =.94). Family climate is assessed as better in dual earning families with egalitarian division of parental roles and household labor. Adolescents from rural families describe their family environment as better in quality.
Parents’ mediation of formal thinking: A try of operationalization
Authors: Stepanovic Ivana
Published: July 2008

One possible way of examining parents? mediation of formal thinking has been presented. The specific goal was to construct a scale which represents specific means of parents? mediation that appear in their everyday communication with children. Piaget?s theory i.e. main characteristics of formal operations and concepts from Vygotsky?s paradigm, especially mediation means concept, served as theoretical background for scale constructing. The similarities between final stages of cognitive development within these two approaches have been analyzed. The research was conducted in which Crombach?s alpha was examined as an indicator of scale quality as well as correlation between children?s answers on the scale and their achievement on formal operations test. The most relevant aspects of parents? mediation were extracted and analyzed.
The structure of the Emotions Profile Index
Authors: Kurbalija Dragan
Published: July 2008

In order to evaluate the factor structure of the Emotions Profile Index (EPI) 217 first-year students accommodated in the school?s dormitory were examined. The data was analyzed with Beelzebub algorithm for comparative confirmative and exploratory component analysis. The results show that the empirical structure of EPI can be related with 4 bipolar factor structure proposed in the scoring key, although the relation is far from indubitable. The structure of hypothetical dimension Distrustful vs. Trustful has a solid empirical foundation, correlations between orthoblique and hypothetical factors of theoretical dimensions Gregarious vs. Depressed and Timid vs. Aggressive are acceptable while, on the other hand, the structure of the hypothetical dimension Controlled vs. Dyscontrolled requires revising, not only because the Adventurous trait is used to describe both of their poles but for numerous other reasons. The paper suggests a few ways of improving the characteristics of the test.
Theoretical assumptions underlying discursive and narrative approaches in psychology
Authors: Pavlovic Jelena , Dzinovic Vladimir , Milosevic Nikoleta
Published: July 2008

There has been a significant increase in the research interest for the discursive and narrative approaches over the last two decades. Currently, these approaches hold a leading position within qualitative research methods. Philosophical and theoretical assumptions underlying these approaches have been discussed in this paper from their very foundations to the conceptual considerations and introduction of the basic characteristics of particular types of discourse and narrative analysis. A special attention has been paid to the discursive psychology, the Foucauldian discourse analysis, the archeology of knowledge and the life story research. This text represents one of many interpretations of targeted methods of the new paradigm.
A comparative analysis of the image of man and woman in illustrations of textbooks for first grade children
Authors: Pesikan Ana , Marinkovic Snezana
Published: July 2008

In the paper we present the results of comparative analyses of the image of man and woman in the series of various editions/versions of the textbooks The world around us for first grade children. One analysis was made in 1999, and analysis of three new alternative textbooks for first grade children was made 2005. The patriarchal model of genders existed in the old generation of textbooks. In the new generation of textbooks there is a much more balanced treatment of different genders. However, the social context and reality are very important for interpretation of the results.
Heritability of dimensions of Eysenck's pen model and the alternative five-factor model of personality
Authors: Smederevac Snezana , Colovic Petar , Mitrovic Dusanka , Nikolasevic Zeljka , Djekic Branka
Published: July 2008

The main aim of this study is to estimate the heritability of AFFM and PEN dimensions, including 67 pairs of twins (34 monozygotic and 33 dizygotic) of both genders, aged 18 - 44. The heritability has been estimated by the biometric method, two full (ACE and ADE) and three reduced (AE, DE and CE) models tested for each personality trait. Taking into consideration the AFFM dimensions, additive genetic factors and a non-shared environment contribute the most significantly to the phenotypic variation of activity, sociability and the impulsive sensation seeking; anxiety and aggressiveness are best accounted for by the dominant genetic effects. In the PEN domain, fit indicators suggest that ACE and the reduced AE models provide the best explanation for the phenotypic manifestations of neuroticism, while ACE and CE models account for the variation of L scale. Although the fit indicators calculated for extraversion and psychotic behavior are somewhat problematic, the parameter estimates show that extraversion is best accounted for by the additive genetic variance, shared environmental effects, and the non-shared environment, whereas psychotic behavior is the most adequately explained by both shared and non-shared environmental effects.
Structure of the clinical and geriatric depression: Similarities and differences
Authors: Novovic Zdenka , Colovic Petar , Babic Maja , Misic-Pavkov Gordana
Published: July 2008

Studies demonstrating the uniqueness of depression in old age are numerous, but conclusions on the fact if the problems of the elderly people cause depression or if they are a part of depression are not unique. The aim of this paper is to compare the structure of depression of old people without the history of mental illness and middle-aged people treated for depression. The sample consists of 82 healthy inmates of different Homes for the Aged and 78 patients diagnosed with some sort of affective disorder. A depression has been assessed with the shorten version of the MMPI D-scale. The structure of the geriatric and clinical depression has been compared with the method of maximum likelihood, over the matrix of co-variances of answers on the items on the depression scale. The results point out to the statistically significant difference in the structure of depression of the old and clinically depressed individuals. However, half of the items of the D-scale have significant loadings on the factor of depression in both groups. The essence of the depression in both samples is made of cognitive subject matters, depressive affect, decline of motivation and a negative estimate of one's basic abilities. Symptoms concerning low self-esteem, experiencing cognitive deficit, energy and impaired physical health have been significant in describing the clinical depression, while a feeling of reduced positive stimulation and the affective liability is typical for the depression of geriatric sample. The conclusion is that, despite the differences, there is a common core of symptoms that makes the essence of depression, apart from the samples.
Taxometric analyses in psychological research and in classification of mental disorders
Authors: Dragovic Milan
Published: July 2008

The issue of whether manifest psychological variables comprise a latent taxonic or dimensional structure is essential to the contemporary psychology and psychiatry. Fortunately, this issue can be adequately addressed by using several taxometric procedures, all developed over the last few decades. This paper describes five of the most commonly used analyses, as follows: Mean-Above-Mean-Below-A-Cut (MAMBAC), Maximum Covariance (MAXCOV), Maximum Eigen-Value, (MAXEIG), Latent Mode (L-Mode), and Maximum Slope (MAXSLOPE). In addition, this paper briefly outlines Paul Meehl?s diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia and highlights the practical importance of taxometric procedures in both contemporary psychology and in the classification of psychiatric disorders.
Conceptual thinking of uneducated adults
Authors: Pavlovic Zoran
Published: July 2008

The starting point of this paper is Vygotsky's thesis that the prerequisite of conceptual thinking and concepts in general is the systematic influence upon the child effectuated by his/her inclusion into the process of education. The aim of this work is to examine characteristics of conceptual thinking of people who have not attended school, by which they have been devoid of formative role of education. Four different methods for examination of conceptual development have been used on the sample consisting of seventeen respondents who have not attended school. The results state that the majority of respondents have not demonstrated that they master the concepts on the highest level of development in none of these four methods. However, some respondents in some tests and some individual tasks within the tests show some characteristics of the high level of the conceptual thinking development.
Intellectual abilities and personality traits as the predictors of success of the secondary school pupils gifted in mathematics
Authors: Stula Jasmina
Published: July 2008

The central problem of the paper deals with the success of the secondary school pupils gifted in mathematics to master the mathematics domain at the secondary school level, where the two aspects of the problem have been discussed. In the first part of the research, the stress is put on the structure establishment of success in mathematics, while the second part deals with finding out the most appropriate model of the variable prediction, on the basis of the intellectual abilities and personality traits. A variable of the success in mathematics has been implemented through three groups of indicators: 1. Grades from the relevant subjects, 2. Participation and rewards at the competitions, 3. Teacher?s evaluation of the performance quality. The predictor variables have been implemented through the attainment at the cybernetics battery of the KOG 3 intelligence tests and the basic dimensions and specific personality traits of the Five-factor model. The obtained results suggest composite nature of the variable success in mathematics in the context of giftedness, where, on the basis of the latent structure of the variable, it would be appropriate to discuss the existence of its two levels marked as: "a success in mathematics of higher rank" and "a success in mathematics of lower rank". When it concerns the prediction of both levels of the variable success in mathematics, particular variable constellations of the intelligence and personality domain appeared to be appropriate for predicting the variance of both a success in mathematics of higher rank and a success in mathematics of lower rank.
Relationship between secularly defined spiritual experiences and two different measures of religiousness
Authors: Todorovic Ana , Knezevic Goran
Published: July 2008

Numerous authors agree on the existence of a positive correlation between spiritual experiences and religious beliefs. The strength of this relationship, however, is amplified by the method of construction of scales measuring spirituality. Items in these scales typically consist of both descriptions of spiritual experiences, and accounts of those experiences as originating by way of the supernatural. In this article, we have created instruments measuring spirituality without including interpretations of spiritual experiences, as well as modifying two most commonly used scales, Piedmont?s Spiritual Transcendence Scale and Cloninger?s Self-Transcendence Scale, so that they also consisted exclusively of descriptions of spiritual experiences with no interpretations added. None of such conceived measures correlate with the two different measures of religiousness in our study - neither with religious beliefs, nor with religious practice.
Contemporary assumptions on human nature and work and approach to human potential managing
Authors: Vujic Dobrila
Published: July 2008

A general problem of this research is to identify if there is a relationship between the assumption on human nature and work (Mcgregor, Argyris, Schein, Steers and Porter) and a general organizational model preference, as well as a mechanism of human resource management? This research was carried out in 2005/2006. The sample consisted of 317 subjects (197 managers, 105 highly educated subordinates and 15 entrepreneurs) in 7 big enterprises in a group of small business enterprises differentiating in terms of the entrepreneur?s structure and a type of activity. A general hypothesis "that assumptions on human nature and work are statistically significant in connection to the preference approach (models), of work motivation commitment", has been confirmed. A specific hypothesis have been also confirmed: ?The assumptions on a human as a rational economic being are statistically significant in correlation with only two mechanisms of traditional models, the mechanism of method work control and the working discipline mechanism. ?Statistically significant assumptions on a human as a social being are correlated with all mechanisms of engaging employees, which belong to the model of the human relations, except the mechanism introducing the adequate type of prizes for all employees independently of working results. ?The assumptions on a human as a creative being are statistically significant, positively correlating with preference of two mechanisms belonging to the human resource model by investing into education and training and making conditions for the application of knowledge and skills. The young with assumptions on a human as a creative being prefer much broader repertoire of mechanisms belonging to the human resources model from the remaining category of subjects in the pattern. The connection between the assumption on human nature and preference models of engaging appears especially in the sub-pattern of managers, in the category of young subjects, as it has been expected.
Constraints on probability distributions of grammatical forms
Authors: Kostic Aleksandar , Bozic Milena
Published: July 2008

In this study we investigate the constraints on probability distribution of grammatical forms within morphological paradigms of Serbian language, where paradigm is specified as a coherent set of elements with defined criteria for inclusion. Thus, for example, in Serbian all feminine nouns that end with the suffix "a" in their nominative singular form belong to the third declension, the declension being a paradigm. The notion of a paradigm could be extended to other criteria as well, hence, we can think of noun cases, irrespective of grammatical number and gender, or noun gender, irrespective of case and grammatical number, also as paradigms. We took the relative entropy as a measure of homogeneity of probability distribution within paradigms. The analysis was performed on 116 morphological paradigms of typical Serbian and for each paradigm the relative entropy has been calculated. The obtained results indicate that for most paradigms the relative entropy values fall within a range of 0.75 - 0.9. Nonhomogeneous distribution of relative entropy values allows for estimating the relative entropy of the morphological system as a whole. This value is 0.69 and can tentatively be taken as an index of stability of the morphological system.
Perceptual dimensions of style in paintings
Authors: Markovic Slobodan , Jelic Ana
Published: July 2008

The main purpose of this study is to specify the basic perceptual dimensions underlying the judgments of the physical features which define the style in paintings (e.g. salient form, colorful surface, oval contours etc.). The other aim of the study is to correlate these dimensions with the subjective (affective) dimensions of the experience of paintings. In the preliminary study a set of 25 pairs of elementary perceptual descriptors were empirically specified, and a set of 25 bipolar scales were made (e.g. uncolored-multicolored). In the experiment 30 subjects judged 24 paintings (paintings were taken from the study of Radonjic and Markovic, 2004) on 25 scales. Factor analysis revealed the four factors: form (scales: precise, neat, salient form etc.), color (color contrast, lightness contrast, vivid colors), space (voluminosity, depth and oval contours) and complexity (multicolored, ornate, detailed). Obtained factors reflected the nature of the phenomenological and neural segregation of form, color, depth processing, and partially of complexity processing (e.g. spatial frequency processing within both the form and color subsystem). The aim of the next step of analysis was to specify the correlations between two groups of judgments: (a) mean judgments of 24 paintings on perceptual factors and (b) mean judgments of the same set of 24 paintings on subjective (affective) experience factors, i.e. regularity, attraction, arousal and relaxation (judgments taken from Radonjic and Markovic, 2005). The following significant correlations were obtained: regularity-form, regularity-space, attraction-form and arousal-complexity (negative correlation). The reasons for the unexpected negative correlation between arousal and complexity should be specified in further studies.
Denotative and connotative meanings of paintings
Authors: Vasic Sandra , Markovic Slobodan
Published: July 2008

In this study the relationships between judgments of paintings denotative and connotative meanings was investigated. Denotative domain was defined as motif (represented object, e.g. portrait, landscape etc.) and message (information carried by paintings, e.g. celebration of patriotism). Connotative domain was defined as subjective experience, i.e. affective or metaphoric impression produced by painting (e.g. feeling of pleasure, impression of dynamics, and so on). In preliminary study the list of 39 motifs was specified empirically. The four dimensions of pictorial message were taken from the previous study (Markovic, 2006): Subjectivism, Ideology, Decoration and Constructivism vs. Realism. The four dimensions of paintings subjective experience were taken from the previous study as well (Radonjic and Markovic, 2005): Regularity, Attraction, Arousal and Relaxation. In Experiment 1 subjects were asked to associate 39 motifs with 18 paintings. In Experiment 2 subjects were asked to judge 24 paintings on four dimensions of pictorial message. Results form Experiment 1 have shown that dimensions of paintings subjective experience were significantly correlated with only five motifs (e.g. everyday life was negatively correlated with Arousal, battle was negatively correlated with Relaxation, and so on). Results from Experiment 2 have shown that Subjectivism and Constructivism are negatively correlated with Regularity, and positively correlated with Arousal. Decoration is negatively correlated with Arousal and positively with Attraction and Relaxation.
Assessment of grammar comprehension: Adaptation of TROG for Serbian language
Authors: Andjelkovic Darinka , Krstic Nadezda , Savic Maja , Toskovic Oliver , Budjevac Nevena
Published: July 2008

In this study we present our adaptation and preliminary standardization of Test for Reception of Grammar TROG (Bishop, 1989) for Serbian language. TROG is a receptive test of grammatical structures, constructed primarily for an assessment of grammatical development and detection of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). Due to the lack of standardized tests for language development in our clinical community, TROG is selected for adaptation as a test which includes two components relevant for discrimination of children with language difficulties: a) measure of receptive abilities and b) distinguishing knowledge of grammar from semantic aspect of comprehension. Preliminary standardization was done on a sample of 335 participants between 4 and 7 years of age, divided into 8 age subsamples. Since dynamic of language change at early ages is faster, age samples covered range of 3 months at the ages 4;0-4;2, 4;3-4;5, 4;6-4;8, 4;9-4;11, and range of 6 months at the ages 5;0-5;5, 5;6-5;11, 6;00-6;05, 6;06-6;11. Analyses have revealed that the first version of Serbian TROG is discriminative for the differences between age samples, but discrimination is smaller then it was expected. The test discriminates three age-samples (4;0-4;8, 4;9-5;5, and 5;6-6;11). It is easier for the children older then 5 years, which causes statistical significance of discrimination to tilt within a narrow margin around 0,05. Reliability of the whole instrument is estimated very high - between 0,86 and 0,91, depending on the method of estimation. However, reliability estimated for particular blocks (grammatical structure) revealed that internal consistency of blocks is not homogeneous. This finding prevents reliable estimation of competence for particular structures, and makes difficult to define which contrast is understood by a child and which is not. Furthermore, internal inconsistency of blocks may also be additional source of low discrimination of test for children older then 5. Further improvement of test, balancing of items and inclusion of additional grammatical structures in order to get a wider range of age discrimination is required. This will be done in future research.
The effect of family size on processing Serbian nouns
Authors: Djeric Snezana , Kostic Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

In two lexical decision experiments the effect of family size was investigated for Serbian nouns. In the first experiment there were 15 nouns of low and 15 nouns of high family size, while in the second experiment 50 nouns that cover the whole range of family size spectrum were presented. In both experiments family size accounts for significant proportion of explained variance of response latencies. In multiple regression the effect of family size is significant over and above word frequency and word length, while frequency and word length do not account for significant proportion of variance over and above family size.
The dynamics of change in decision making under risk
Authors: Milicevic Aleksandar , Pavlicic Dubravka , Kostic Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

The goal of this study was to investigate the dynamics of decision making under risk. In three experiments this dynamics have been explored with respect to probability of outcome and with respect to frame, i.e. the way the outcomes of the alternatives have been specified. The process of decision making was explored within a framework of expected utility and Prospect theory. The outcomes of alternatives as well as their probabilities were quantitatively specified (so that the expected value of a risk alternative was equal to the value of a non-risk alternative). The results of experiments indicate that the attitude towards risk (risk-proneness vs. risk-averseness) depends on the outcome probability and the way the outcomes were specified (i.e. positive/negative frame). It was also demonstrated that content strongly affects the choices made in decision making. This outcome is somewhat unexpected and requires additional empirical evaluation.
Construction and co-construction in cognitive development
Authors: Jovanovic Vitomir , Baucal Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

The main goal of the research was to study how children develop new competencies within social interaction with more competent peers and adults. The pretestposttest experimental design was used. In the pretest phase 100 Grade 3 students were assessed by the Raven progressive matrices, and based on the results three equal groups for treatment phase were formed (15 students each). In the treatment phase students from the three groups solved 5 items from the zone of proximal development (ZPD) under three different conditions: collaboratively with a more competent peer, collaboratively with an adult, and individually. The post test included assessment by the Raven test after two months. The qualitative analysis showed that all three groups progressed equally, although students who collaborated with an adult were somewhat more successful with items from the ZPD. The qualitative analysis suggested that new competences are developed in different ways depending on with whom student collaborated. The successful peer interaction was marked by higher degree of symmetrical collaboration including higher level of joint critical thinking, and the successful interaction with an adult was marked by higher level of adult guidance as well as more elaborated task analysis, argumentations, and justifications. Based on the results, it is concluded that: (a) children could develop new competences based on both construction and co-construction mechanisms, and (b) the development of new competences through social interaction depends on the partners and the kind of dialog they build during collaboration. .
Construct validity of multidimensional personality questionnaire (MPQ)
Authors: Mitrovic Dusanka , Smederevac Snezana
Published: July 2008

The paper presents two studies aimed at the examination of the factor structure of The Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) and joint factor structure of the scales of MPQ and SPSRQ (The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire). In the first research conducted on the sample of 1127 participants of both sexes, age 18 to 67, the results of the principal component analysis of the MPQ scales point to the existence of three higher-order dimensions, named General Adaptedness, Psychopathic Tendencies and Negative Emotionality. These dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the Eysenck?s PEN model to the greater extent than they achieve the assumed similarity with the dimensions of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. In the second study conducted on the sample of 199 respondents of both sexes, age 18 to 59, the results of the joint principal component analysis of the MPQ and SPSRQ scales point to the existence of three higher order dimensions, which correspond to the Tellegen?s Positive Emotionality, Negative Emotionality, and Constraint. .
Evaluation of the Holland model of the professional interests in Croatia and Serbia
Authors: Hedrih Vladimir , Sverko Iva
Published: July 2008

The RIASEC structure has been tested in Croatian and Serbian sample. The Holland's Self-directed Search was applied on a sample of 746 high-school pupils (384 coming from Croatia and 362 from Serbia). The adequacy of hexagonal model has been analyzed with Hubert and Arabie's randomization test, Myors' test and Multidimensional scaling procedure. Although the analyses have shown somewhat different results, generally the similar fit of the hexagonal model to both samples was found. The theoretical two-dimensional underlying solution was tested with principal components analysis and in both samples two very similar underlying dimensions were found. Thus, the RIASEC structure in Croatia and Serbia was found to be very similar, both with respect to the hexagonal structure and the underlying dimensions. .
Relation between stages of change and motivation in the treatment of psychiatric patients1
Authors: Gavrilov-Jerkovic Vesna
Published: July 2008

Main aim of this research was to investigate the relation between psychiatric patients? motivation for their participation in treatment and a stage of change they were in. Hypothesis on relation quality of examined variables have been defined from the perspective of transtheoretical model created by Prochaska and associates. Decision balance, specific and general self-efficacy and inclination to relapse have been examined as indicators of motivation. One hundred and twenty-nine psychiatric patients with diagnosis of neurosis or personality disorders have been examined in this research. Results have shown that stages of changes are significantly related to inspected motivational variables. Patients in higher stages of readiness express specific motivational profile characterized by the proactive optimism, which means that they rely on their own resources and expect positive outcome of the treatment. Patients in lower stages of readiness express motivational profile characterized by passive resignation receptiveness, by inclination towards demoralization and low trust in their own strength. Results of this research are in conformity with the basic hypothesis of transtheoretical model of change. .
Methodological problems in Rorschach research
Authors: Djuric-Jocic Dragana
Published: July 2008

Comprehensive System of Rorschach interpretation is considered as nomotetic system that makes possible using of projective method in research projects. However, research use of Rorschach method besides of appropriate knowledge of assign procedures and interpretation rules, means a knowledge of specific methodological issues. The Rorschach indicators are nor independent, as they are a part of specific net, so in some research it is necessary to control basic variables not to get artifacts in our research. This is basically relied on researches where we compare groups, as well as in normative studies where through cross-cultural we compare Rorschach indicators. .
Negative feedback, beliefs and personal goals in prediction of dysfunctional emotions
Authors: Popov Boris , Novovic Zdenka
Published: July 2008

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) demonstrates good results in evaluation therapy researches. However, some of its basic concepts, as well as theory as a whole itself, did not receive satisfactory empirical support so far, in comparison to other cognitive models (Beck, Lazarus etc.). Quasiexperimental study was designed to test the role that (1) negative feedback (A) and (2) irrational beliefs (B) both play in formation of dysfunctional negative emotions, in the context of significant personal goals (in our case value of potential award - G). ABC theoretical model received limited support: statistically significant three-times interaction A x B x G was found in predicting general negative emotional state, as well as anger. In contrast with that, ANOVA showed only main effect of irrational beliefs (as continuous variable) to be significant in predicting emotions of anxiety and depression. Findings are discussed in the context of REBT theory of emotions, as well as their possible practical applications. Limitations of the study were also mentioned. .
Raven's colored progressive matrices (CPM) - basic metric characteristics and norms
Authors: Fajgelj Stanislav , Bala Gustav , Tubic Tatjana
Published: July 2008

Principal measuring characteristics and norms of Raven?s colored matrices were determined on the sample of 2.334 children from Vojvodina at the age of 3.5 and 11. The basic metric characteristics were determined according to classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). By testing a dimensionality it was showed that the test had one main object of measuring. The norms were also evaluated in terms of their precision in statistical and psychometric sense. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference in solving the test requirements between boys and girls at any age, nor was there any significant interaction of gender and age. Reliability of the test at the age group of 6 - 11 was over 0.85, at the age of 5 it was 0.75, whereas at the youngest age it was only 0.59. The complete test was too easy at older ages due to the Flynn?s effect. It is owing to this reason that a conclusion can be drawn that there?s a big question mark over its application at the age of 11,and even 10. It is recommended that standard Raven?s matrices should be used at that age. .
Violence in primary schools in Serbia: Forms and prevalence
Authors: Popadic Dragan , Plut Dijana
Published: July 2008

A questionnaire study of 26,228 pupils of grades 3 through 8 in 50 primary schools across Serbia, conducted in spring 2006, indicated that in a three-month period, 65.3% of the pupils stated that they experienced some form of peer violence (the percentage varies by school, between 48% and 80%). An analysis of repeated violence cases identifies 20.7% of the pupils as victims, 3.8% as perpetrators of violence, and 3.6% as victims/perpetrators. Adult violence is reported by 35.7% of the pupils, while 42% have witnessed verbal aggression of pupils towards teachers. The most frequent forms of peer violence reported were insults (45.6%) and plotting (32.6%). Boys declared themselves as perpetrators of violence somewhat more frequently than girls, and they were somewhat more often exposed to peer and adult violence. Older pupils were more frequently violent and more often reported adult violence, while age differences in exposure to violence were minimal. .
Structure of personality psychology based on cocitation analysis of prominent authors
Authors: Jevremov Tanja , Pajic Dejan , Sipka Pero
Published: July 2008

Traditional Author Cocitation Analysis was applied in order to map the personality psychology as a research field. A group of 25 authors were selected from the Haggbloom (1999, 2002) lists of the most cited and prominent psychologists, judged to be the main contributors to the field. All of their cocitations identified in the three year volumes of SSCI were downloaded to be analyzed by cluster analysis and MDS. The analysis resulted in four clusters comprising (1) theorists of individual differences amalgamated with authors of biological orientation with R. Cattell positioned centrally, (2) behaviorists joined by socio-cognitive theorists led by M.E.P. Seligman and A. Bandura, and (3) the group of psychoanalytic (dynamic) theorists with A. Adler in the middle. In fourth cluster G. Allport, H. Murray, K. Lewin, W. Mischel, and D. Buss were found mixed together to make a rather heterogeneous group. In two-axes representation one of the dimensions was understood as reflecting methodological and the other one content-specific differences among the authors, although this interpretation is not univocal. The same procedure was repeated on citations given to the same authors in SocioFakt - the Serbian Citation Index for Social Sciences, revealing a reduced picture of the domain. At this portrait, some important authors are missing as a result of their low citation rate, suggesting that in the Serbian personality psychology entire research fields don?t exist. .
Key psychological issues in the study of religion
Authors: Petrovic Olivera
Published: July 2008

The current article considers the role of scientific (experimental) psychology in the study of religion and argues that many of the questions central to the history, sociology and anthropology of religion are often psychological and hence require the use of appropriate psychological methods. Psychological study of religion differs from those other disciplines by virtue of its (a) definition of religion (in terms of individual mental states rather than culturally transmitted teachings and socially acquired behaviors), (b) methods of research (designed to elicit and examine relevant mental states), and (c) explanatory aims (concerned with the origin and development of specific cognitive events). Whilst the distinction between individual and social origin of concepts is central to psychological accounts of religion, non-psychological accounts of religion actually dwell on an interaction between the two. It is further argued that some of the key issues in the study of religion -- origin of religious concepts, core religious beliefs, and universality of religious beliefs -- can be most adequately tackled within the framework of cognitive developmental psychology. Possible explanations are suggested for hitherto insufficient involvement of those psychological approaches in the study of religion. .
Figuring out the figurative: Individual differences in literary metaphor comprehension
Authors: Altaras-Dimitrijevic Ana , Tadic Marija
Published: July 2008

This paper explores the cognitive and affective-conative correlates of metaphor comprehension. We first introduce the concept of metaphor by describing its essential features and functions. Then, we give a short review of key findings derived from cognitive and developmental studies of metaphor comprehension. Finally, we discuss individual differences in metaphoric skill and sensitivity and present the results of an empirical investigation in which we sought to determine the relationship between literary metaphor comprehension, the subjective experience of metaphors and the readers? verbal intelligence and personality traits. On the basis of our research findings, it is argued that metaphoric ability represents a central facet of intelligence and that the Test of Literary Metaphor Comprehension designed in our study may be viewed as a valid measure of verbal ability. .
Group acceptance and emotional competence of preadolescent children
Authors: Petrovic Jelica , Zotovic Marija
Published: July 2008

This study examines contribution of emotional competence on socially competent behavior of preadolescents. The following emotional competencies were registered in 397 children: emotion recognition, emotional regulation, empathy and style of coping with aversive emotions. Discriminant analysis was conducted in order to identify emotional competencies that differentiate among the groups of participants with different levels of social preference. The data showed that groups of popular children, rejected children, and children of average sociometric status significantly differ with respect to their emotional competence. Children rejected by their peers displayed the lowest level of emotional competence. .
State depression: Mood or syndrome?
Authors: Novovic Zdenka , Biro Miklos , Nedimovic Tanja
Published: July 2008

A State Depression Scale was developed in order to register variations of depressive mood. The Scale has satisfactory reliability, as shown by its internal homogeneity and temporal stability. Concurrent validity of the Scale indicated that the Scale correlates with a POMS-D scale (r = 0.41; p < 0.00), and with the Depressive Personality Scale (r = 0.36; p < 0.00). Divergent validity of the Scale was tested by Scale's correlation with the two measures of state anxiety (STAI-S and POMS-A) and was shown to be unsatisfactory since it was as high as the Scale's correlation with scales of depressive affect. Principal Component Analysis extracted four factors: two broader factors, which included depressive-affective contents combined with anxious and depressive-cognitive symptoms, respectively; and another two factors which related to motivational and behavioral characteristics. Sensitivity of the Scale was tested in an experimental setting involving induction of depressive and euphoric mood. The Scale showed high ability to register changes following induction of depressive mood. .
Psychological factors and coronary heart disease
Authors: Hadzi-Pesic Marina , Todorovic Jelisaveta , Brajovic-Car Kristina
Published: July 2008

Coronary heart disease (CAD) results from an interaction of different somatic, environmental and behavioral risk factors. Commonly, development of CAD is associated with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, sedentary life style and the like. Psychological factors in their own sake or in combination with other risk factors are also important for genesis of CAD. In this study, 170 people that were diagnosed with CAD and 170 healthy controls of corresponding sex and age were compared for anxiety, aggressiveness and Eysenck's two personality dimension. The data indicate that patients with CAD have very low level of anxiety and aggressiveness and very high level of neuroticism relative to the controls. .
Aberrant behavior and cognitive ability in preschool children
Authors: Bala Gustav , Hosek-Momirovic Ankica , Golubovic Spela
Published: July 2008

The sample included 712 preschool boys and girls at the age of 4 to 7 years (mean 5.96 decimal years and standard deviation .96) from preschool institutions in Novi Sad, Sombor, Sremska Mitrovica and Backa Palanka. Information concerning 36 indicators of aberrant behavior of the children were supplied by their parents, whereas their cognitive ability was tested by Raven?s progressive colored matrices. Based on factor analysis (promax method), four factors i.e. generators of aberrant behavior in children were singled out: aggression, anxiousness, dissociation, and hysteria, whose relations with cognitive functioning and age were also analyzed by factor analysis. Aberrant behavior and cognitive abilities show significant interrelatedness. Owing to orderly developed cognitive abilities, a child understands essence and reality of problems, realizes possibilities and manners of solving them, and succeeds in realizing successful psycho-social functioning. Developed cognitive abilities enable a child to recognize and understand her/his own reactions in different situations and develop manners of reacting, which leads to strengthening psycho-social safety and adapting behavior in accordance with her/his age and abilities.
Separate effects of background and illumination on lightness
Authors: Zdravkovic Suncica
Published: July 2008

Four experiments attempted to establish an effect of context on lightness. Lightness is one of the dimensions of color and it varies from black to white. Most of our stimuli were inspired by simultaneous lightness contrast illusion. First two experiments contrast the size of an effect produced by the change of background color vs. the change in illumination. The third experiment deals with different type of illusions, where the effect is obtained through the appearance of multiple illumination levels. The last experiment takes into account the ratio of the target and the background. The results reveal the size of effects produced separately by the background color and illumination level and suggest the prime importance of background. Also there are other factors such as reflectance range in the scene, incremental and decremental targets, and 2D vs. 3D representation.