Behavior of Coping the Crisis and its Relation to Some Personality Traits

"A Study of Differences between Social Standards in Different Environments"

BY

Hayam Abdel Rashid Gamil

B.A. English Department, Ain Shams University, 2004

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements of the Master Degree In Environmental Sciences

Department of Human Sciences Institute of Environmental Studies and Research Ain shams University

2010
APPROVAL SHEET

Behavior of Coping the Crisis and its Relation to Some Personality Traits
"A Study of Differences between Social Standards in Different Environments"

BY Hayam Abdel Rashid Gamil B.A. English Department, Ain Shams University, 2004

This Thesis Towards a Master Degree in Environmental Science Has Been Approved by:
Name
1 Prof. Dr./ Zakaria Yehia Afifi Mohamed 2 - Prof. / Sawsan Ismail Abdel Hady 3 Prof. Dr. / Nabila Amin Abu Zeid 4 Major-general Prof. / Gamal El Din Ahmed Hawwash

Signature

2010

Behavior of Coping the Crisis and its Relation to Some Personality Traits
"A Study of Differences between Social Standards in Different Environments"

BY Hayam Abdel Rashid Gamil B.A. English Department, Ain Shams University, 2004

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements of the Master Degree In Environmental Sciences Department of Human Sciences

Under The Supervision of:

1 Prof. / Sawsan Ismail Abdel Hady 2 Major-general Prof. / Gamal El Din Ahmed Hawwash

2010

Abstract The name of the researcher: - Hayam Abdel Rashid Gamil Title: - Behavior of Coping the Crisis and its Relation to Some Personality Traits "A Study of Differences between Social Classes in Dissimilar Environments" A Thesis submitted for Fulfilling the Requirements of Acquiring the Master Degree in Environmental Sciences
- This study aims to identify differences in behavioral responses shown by a sample of the Egyptian people from different social and environmental classes and their approach towards the crisis of rising food prices and its relationship to some personality traits. - The Study used "The Descriptive Correlative Comparative Approach" - The study sample The researcher selected a stratified random sample of 180 breadwinner or head of a family from males and females distributed as follows: 60 breadwinner or head of a family from a high socio-economic level (half male and half female), 60 breadwinner or head of a family from an average socio-economic level (half male and half female), 60 breadwinner or head of a family from a low socioeconomic level (half male and half female). - The researcher used the following tools: "Environmental, Economic and Social variables form" (prepared by the researcher), "Eysenck Personality intelligence" (Arabized by Ahmed Abdel-Khalek 1991), "Behavior of coping the crisis scale" (prepared by the researcher). - Results of the study: - There are significant differences in the behaviors of aggression and agitation, withdrawal and isolation, surrendering and accepting the status quo in favor of the average and low social levels compared to high level. - There are significant differences in the traits of psychoticism and neuroticism in favor of the average and low social levels compared to high level. - There is a significant positive correlation between the traits of psychoticism and neuroticism and negative coping behaviors, such as aggression and agitation,

withdrawal and isolation, surrendering and accepting the status quo and escape and daydreams. - There are significant differences between males and females in the psychoticism and extraversion in favor of males, and lie in favor of females. - There are significant differences in the behavior of resorting to God in favor of females. - The results showed that there are significant differences in favor of high social level in the trait of lie or social desirability. - The results showed that the common behavior for coping life crises in a sample of Egyptians from different social and environmental classes is resorting to God. - Negative behaviors for coping the crisis came at the top four places in a sample of Egyptian citizens from dissimilar environments.

Introduction: -

Psychologists have taken care of life events as an introduction to study the psychological crises that are reflected on the physical, the psychological and the emotional state for everyone. Disturbing or traumatic events may lead to surprising and non-calculated physical, psychological and social changes, as well as negative behavioral changes in the lives of individuals. The resulting psychological damage and negative impacts may be severe in many dimensions, as they accelerate the emergence of some mental and health disorders, particularly in individuals who are predisposed to infection. If crises occur in every time and place; the contemporary world -after it became a unit politically, economically, culturally and socially close- any of its entities has become subject to crises that beset it, from time to time, and affect its societies with mixed effects.

Problem of the study:

In April 2008 a number of countries in the world - Egypt, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Mozambique, Senegal, Indonesia and Uzbekistan have witnessed protests over food shortages due to high world prices of food. As a result of rising wheat prices in world markets, Egypt has confronted a real bread crisis that left the Egyptians in psychological and social turmoil, and the matter of managing the nutritional needs became the concern of every citizen in the land of Egypt. That's why we find it necessary to pay attention to such a crisis greatly controlling the lives of the Egyptians and study one of its aspects which is the differences in the behavior of coping the crisis and its relation to personality traits on a sample of Egyptian from different environmental, economical, and social classes.

Importance of the study: The importance of research is divided into:

(A) Theoretical Importance:

The current study will provide theoretical information about personality traits as well as behavior of coping the crisis, will also provide information about the differences in the behavior of coping the crisis between the social classes in dissimilar environments and thus enrich the Arabic library in this area and address the deficiencies found in previous studies.

(B) Applied Importance:

In the light of what will result from the study findings and recommendations, the study seeks to draw the attention of researchers and planners to one of the psychological aspects associated with the behavior of coping the crisis, specifically the food rising prices crisis facing the world and Egypt at this time and which greatly influences the Egyptian citizen, and its relation to some personality traits.

Study objectives and questions: - Objectives of the study:

The present study aims to identify: 1 - Differences in the behavior of coping the crisis according to sex and socioeconomic level. 2 - Differences in personality traits according to sex and socio-economic level. 3 - The relationship between the behavior of coping the crisis and personality traits. 4 The common behavior for coping life crises among a sample of the Egyptian citizens from different economic, social, and environmental classes.

- The research seeks to answer the following questions:

(1) Are there statistically significant differences in the behavior of coping the crisis and the personality traits attributed to sex? (2) Are there significant differences in the behavior of coping the crisis and the personality traits attributed to socio-economic level? (3) What is the relationship between behavior of coping the crisis and personality traits? (4) What is the common behavior for coping life crises among a sample of Egyptian citizens from different socio-economic, and environmental classes?

The most important terms used in the study are: The concept of coping, the
lexical definition of the crisis, the definition of the crisis as distinguished from other terms, the concept of crisis in social sciences, the concept of crisis for those interested in the affairs of the environment, the linguistic meaning of personality, the concept of personality as stated in the encyclopedias of psychology, the definition of personality, the definition of traits for Eysenck.

Methodology: The researcher used the descriptive correlative comparative method for its relevance for the nature of this study, which aims to identify the differences in some personality traits between social classes in dissimilar environments and its relationship to the behavior of coping the crisis. This approach is characterized by describing what is found and interpreting it, is also interested to determine the circumstances and relationships that exist between the facts and common and prevailing practices. The descriptive method do not collect and compile data only, but interpret it also after the use of measurement methods, classification, interpretation and organization of data and analysis, and then extracts the results of significant meaning for the problem at hand.

- Sample: The researcher selected a stratified random sample of 180 breadwinner or head of a family of males and females distributed as follows: - 60 breadwinner or head of a family from high socio-economic level (half female and half male). - 60 breadwinner or head of a family from average socio-economic level (half female and half male). - 60 breadwinner or head of a family from low socio-economic level (half female and half male).

Study tools:
1- "Environmental, Economic and Social variables form" (prepared by the researcher).2- "Eysenck Personality Intelligence" (Arabized by Ahmed Abdel-Khalek 1991).3- "Behavior of Coping the Crisis Scale" (prepared by the researcher).

Statistical methods: The researcher used the following statistical methods: The Arithmetic Average, The Standard Deviation, (T) Test for Independent Samples, Pearson Correlation Coefficient.

Results of the study:

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1 - There are significant differences in the behaviors of aggression and agitation, withdrawal and isolation, surrendering and accepting the status quo in favor of both the average and low social levels compared to high level. 2 - There are significant differences in the traits of psychoticism and neuroticism in favor of both average and low social levels compared to high level. 3 - There is a significant positive correlation between the traits of psychoticism and neuroticism and negative coping behaviors, such as aggression and agitation, withdrawal and isolation, surrendering and accepting the status quo, and escape and daydreams. 4 - There are significant differences between males and females in the traits of psychoticism and extraversion in the direction of males and lie in the direction of females. 5 - There are significant differences between males and females in the behavior of resorting to God in favor of females. 6 - The results showed that there are significant differences in the direction of the high level in the trait of lie or social desirability. 7 - The results showed that the common behavior for coping life crises for Egyptians is resorting to God. 8 - Negative behaviors for coping the crisis came in the first four places on a sample of Egyptian citizens from dissimilar environments.

Recommendations:
- Need to understand the behavior of individuals so that their management would be in a successful manner with minimal problems and obstacles, as human behavior varies from one individual to another, and the individual's reactions differs from one situation to another. - Need for good planning to deal with the food crisis so as not to cause sudden and non- calculated psychological and social changes if the crisis escalated again. - The need to have constant contact and continuous dialogue between the leaders of the crisis and the masses, and find a way for positive interaction with them. - State must work to increase agricultural production and investment, raise production efficiency and encourage the initiatives of farmers, since the achievement of food

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security is always considered the safety valve to avoid the repercussions of the negative effects of global crises. - The study raise the alarm and warn of the coming hungry revolution, which introductions appeared in the negative behaviors of coping used by the majority of respondents in dealing with the crisis. These behaviors may lead to sudden and noncalculated consequences if the crisis escalated again.

Proposed researches and studies:

- Study the impact of cultural differences on the trait of lie or social desirability. - Study some personality traits and their relationship to suicidal thoughts. - Study the impact of stressful life events and certain personality traits on deviation. - Study stressful life events and mental health. - Study personality traits and career pressures of the leaders of the crisis. - Study the personal and social variables and belonging loss.

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