Personality PSYU/X2234 Lecture 10: Wellbeing PDF

PERSONALITY PSYU/X2234 Lecture 10: Personality & wellbeing A/Prof Simon Boag email: [email protected] 1 Readings (suggested) Ryan, RM & Deci, EL (2000). Self- determination theory & the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, & wel...

PERSONALITY PSYU/X2234 Lecture 10: Personality & wellbeing A/Prof Simon Boag email: [email protected] 1 Readings (suggested) Ryan, RM & Deci, EL (2000). Self- determination theory & the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, & well-being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78 Seligman, ME & Csikszentmihalyi, M (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5-14 2 Outline 1. Introduction Humanistic & Positive psychology Types of wellbeing 2. Self-determination theory Intrinsic/extrinsic motivation Psychological needs & mental health 3. Other personality variables & subjective wellbeing Repressive defensiveness & the FFM 3 1. Introduction Humanistic Ψ: “Third force” (cf. psychoanalysis & behaviourism) Focus on humanity & ‘higher’ end of human experience Carl Rogers: fully-functioning person Abraham Maslow: self-actualisation Criticisms: Poor scientific methodology Encouraged self-centredness (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000) 4 Positive Psychology A science of positive subjective experience Focus on strengths & rather than simply weaknesses Focus on increasing wellbeing Subjective well-being: what we think & feel about our lives 5 Types of well-being Hedonic approach: Attaining pleasure & avoiding pain Focus on happiness Subjective wellbeing (SWB): life satisfaction, +/- affect (Diener, 1984) Eudaimonic approach: Focus on meaning & fulfilment Degree to which a person is fully functioning Human flourishing 6  Subjective wellbeing & the importance of meaning Jebb et al. (2020): Survey across 166 nations b/w 2005-2016 (N = 1,709,734) Positive predictors of SWB: Marriage Employment Prosociality (altruism) ‘Purpose or meaning in life’: strong, consistent association with SWB across all regions & ages Jebb, et al. (2020). Subjective well-being around the world: trends & predictors across the life span. Psychological Science, 31, 293-305 7 2. Self-determination Theory (Ryan & Deci) Criticisms of classical motivation theory Classical model of motivation: external reward & punishment (eg. BF Skinner) Extrinsic motivation: done to attain consequences (eg. get reward) DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY 8 Warneken, F., & Tomasello, M. (2014). Extrinsic rewards undermine altruistic tendencies in 20-month-olds. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1785- 1788 9 Self-determination Theory Intrinsic motivation: doing activities for satisfaction, interest, curiosity, core values Done for the inherent satisfaction of activity Enjoyable & valued activities eg. children’s play Continues across the lifespan but influenced by many factors Related to satisfying basic psychological needs 10 11 Basic psychological needs SDT: Satisfaction of psychological needs essential for psychological growth, integrity & wellbeing Psychological needs are: natural rather than acquired universal rather than culturally specific not necessarily consciously valued When satisfied, well-being & social development are optimised 12 Basic psychological needs 1) Need for belongingness (‘love’) Feeling cared for; sense of belongingness; being able to contribute 2) Need for competence (‘work’) Sense of mastery 3) Need for autonomy (‘choice’) Self-endorsed actions; behaving in accord with values & interests 13 Are these needs universal?  Within-Country Correlations of Basic Need Satisfaction with Subjective Well-being Country US Russia Korea Turkey (n) (n = (n = (n = (n = 94) 195) 159) 111) Psychologi.72**.60**.62**.71** cal Need Satisfactio n Chirkov, et al. (2003). Differentiating autonomy from individualism & independence: A self-determination theory perspective on internalization of cultural orientations & well-being. Journal of Diener et al (2010): survey of 132 nations N = 136,830 (Average 1,061 Ss per nation) Diener et al. (2010). Wealth & happiness across the world: Material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 16 Wellbeing, motivation & performance SDT applied to Education, Organisational & human performance, Psychotherapy/Health care & adherence, Exercise & physical activity motivation Meta-analysis: school, work, sport (Cerasoli et al., 2014; 183 studies over 40 years; N = 212,468) Intrinsic motivation medium to strong predictor of performance Intrinsic motivation predicts quality of performance Extrinsic predicts quantity of performance Cerasoli et al. (2014). 40-year meta-analysis. Psych. Bull., 140, 980-1008 17 Wellbeing, motivation & performance Ryan et al. (2022): Meta-review of meta-analyses (Review of 60 meta-analyses) Testing SDT theory & application in Education, Organisational & human performance, Psychotherapy/Health care & adherence, Exercise & physical activity motivation; Psychological health/problems Broad support for all SDT propositions & applications Ryan et al (2022). We know this much is (meta-analytically) true: A 18 meta-review of meta-analytic findings evaluating self-determination Domínguez et al (2013). Providing choice increases children’s vegetable intake. Food Quality & Preference, 30, 108-113 19 3. Other personality variables & subjective wellbeing DeNeve & Cooper (1998): meta-analysis looking at SWB & 137 personality traits Findings: most important predictors of SWB: Health, Personality, SES FFM: Neuroticism (r = -.27), Extraversion (r =.17), Agreeableness (r =.17) Gutiérrez et al (2005): N, E & O Anglim et al. (2020): N, E & C DeNeve, K. M., & Cooper, H. (1998). The happy personality: a meta-analysis of 137 personality traits & subjective well- 20 being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197-229 Other personality variables & subjective wellbeing DeNeve & Cooper (1998): However… Most important personality predictors: Lack of Control (r = -.34) Trust (r =.37) Emotional stability (r =.36) Repressive defensiveness (r = -.40) DeNeve, K. M., & Cooper, H. (1998). The happy personality: a meta-analysis of 137 personality traits & subjective well- being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197-229 21 Personality & SWB Repressive defensiveness & SWB? Pauls (2007): Mixed-findings; eg. repressors report highest scores in life satisfaction (Furnham et al., 2002) Erskine et al. (2015): Repressors report being happier than non- repressors Pauls, C. A. (2007). Is a repressive-defensive coping style really so bad? Comment on DeNeve & Cooper (1998). Psychological Bulletin, 133, 907–909 DeNeve, K. M. (2007). Repressive defensiveness & subjective well-being: Reply to Pauls (2007). Psychological Bulletin, 133, 910 22 Repressive defensiveness & SWB? Why mixed findings? Baziliansky & Cohen (2021): many factors need consideration Short/long term effects? Repressive coping “may be temporarily advantageous, but may result in lasting negative effects on one’s physical & mental health” (Shadlow, et al. 2018) Denial of negative emotions Baziliansky, S., & Cohen, M. (2021). Emotion regulation & psychological distress in cancer survivors: A systematic review & meta‐analysis. Stress & Health, 37, 3-18 Shadlow, et al. (2018). Repressive adaptive style across 23  Questions? 24