The current age is characterized by having too many options. Decision-making is harder when there are numerous options to choose from. However, having a large number of options is not necessarily a problem for everyone and in this context, maximizing and satisficing tendencies are described. Yet, there is a debate about the effect of these tendencies on well-being and it has to be asked as to whether maximizing and satisficing have an adaptive or maladaptive effect on our well-being. Moreover, it raises questions regarding the conceptualization and measurement of maximizing and satisficing tendencies. In a sample of 480 subjects from the general population, a two-component model of maximizing was examined. The results show that the two-component model (maximizing as a strategy and maximizing as a goal) is an efficient way to measure maximizing tendency. The results show that maximizing as a strategy (measured as alternative search) was maladaptive (was positively related to depression and negatively related to happiness), whereas maximizing as a goal (measured as high standards) had no maladaptive effect (was not related to well-being at all). In addition, the two components were differently associated with personality factors which strengthen the need for measuring maximizing as a two-component model. In the current study, it was found that even though great effort was invested in studying maximizing tendency, satisficing tendency stayed behind and its conceptualization and measurement are unclear. Therefore, the (mal)adaptive effect of these tendencies depends on their conceptualization as well as on how these tendencies are measured, and also on their different relationship with personality factors.

There is a lively debate about the effect of maximizing and satisficing tendencies on well-being. The question is, whether maximizing and satisficing have an adaptive or maladaptive effect on well-being. There are also issues regarding the conceptualization and measurement of maximizing and satisficing tendencies. In a sample of 514 subjects from the general population in Slovakia, a two-component model of maximizing was examined. Satisficing tendency was measured as a separate construct. The results show the usefulness of a two-component model (maximizing as a strategy and maximizing as a goal) in measuring maximizing tendency. Maximizing as a strategy (measured as alternative search) turned out to be maladaptive (positively related to depression and negatively related to happiness), whereas maximizing as a goal (measured as high standards) had no maladaptive effect (no relation with well-being). In addition, the two components were differently associated with personality factors, which strengthens the need to distinguish between them. However, the satisficing tendency measured separately from maximizing tendency was not related to anything which raises a question about the conceptualization and validity of this tendency. The results of the current study, therefore, indicate that the (mal)adaptive effect of these tendencies depends on their conceptualization as well as on how these tendencies are measured, and also on their different relationship with personality factors. However, results also point to the importance of considering the cultural context that may have an effect on the relationship between maximizing and well-being. Therefore, the results may vary due to different cultures.

Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are self-destructive emotional and cognitive patterns that develop in childhood but manifest later in response to certain life situations. The most obvious are stressful life situations such as traumatic experiences. EMS are one of the core factors in the development of psychopathology. The two most common psychopathologies that develop after surviving trauma are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Thus, knowledge about how EMS are related to PTSD and depression in a trauma-exposed population is important. The present study aims to show how different EMS are differently related to PTSD, depression, and their symptoms clusters in 270 trauma-exposed persons using three different analysis approaches. The correlation analysis found that all EMS correlate moderately to strongly positively with PTSD and depression. The mistrust and self-sacrifice schemas were predictors of both PTSD and depression. Depression was also predicted by dependence and defectiveness. The network analysis revealed that both PTSD and depression were directly related to mistrust, self-sacrifice and vulnerability to harm. In addition, PTSD was found to be directly connected to enmeshment and depression to defectiveness. In the clinical picture of PTSD, mistrust was directly related to anxious arousal and negative affect, vulnerability to harm to dysphoric arousal, defectiveness to anhedonia and enmeshment to externalizing behavior. Mistrust was directly related to the affective symptoms of depression, vulnerability to harm and failure to achieve with cognitive symptoms of depression, self-sacrifice and dependence with somatic symptoms of depression. The network approach could bring insight into how EMS are related to psychopathology as well as offering a new perspective into the dynamics of EMS and different psychopathologic processes in the trauma-exposed population.

Many adolescents feel that their true self is not good enough for others, so may choose to adopt false self behavior. In the context of adolescent development, false self and low self-esteem are risk factors of depression and anxiety. This study aims to analyze relationships among false self, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, in 134 adolescents. Three hierarchical linear models with moderation effect were tested. Was found that adolescent‘s low self-esteem plays an important role in the manifestation of false-self behavior, and a higher level of anxiety amplify this relationship. The study offer that lower level of anxiety can weaken relationship between low self-esteem and false self, what may play an important role in maladaptive development in adolescents.

The traffic behaviour of drivers is determined by a mutual interaction of personal and situational variables. This interaction may be optimal, in the sense of interaction relationships, which result from the optimisation of the relationship between the subjective preconditions to solve the arising situations and the potential development of the current situations. Diversion from an optimal relationship may lead to the growth of inappropriate traffic behaviour, which can result in a road accident. This research is aimed at the search for interconnections among aggressiveness, hostility, wrathfulness, and mental performance of 137 drivers with Class C and D driving licences (truck and bus drivers). The research was carried out by means of a questionnaire for measuring aggressiveness and hostility in road traffic which monitors four scales of irritability, offensiveness, hostile attribution bias, and inhibition of aggressiveness. Another questionnaire consisting of six anger-provoking factors was used to scan provocation of anger in road traffic by other drivers and road users. To determine the intelligence of drivers, a battery for detecting comprehension, thinking in the sphere of illustrative relationships, practical intelligence, spatial intelligence, and flexibility of thinking was used as part of the research as well.