Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology
- P-ISSN1229-0653
- KCI
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Vol.39 No.2
Abstract
This study aimed to translate the Authenticity Scale into Korean. The Authenticity Scale assesses an individual's authenticity through three subfactors: self-alienation, accepting external influence, and authentic living. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis confirmed the original three-factor structure, with no cross-loading items, resulting in the final selection of 12 items. In Study 2, a confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated satisfactory model fit. Additionally, measurement invariance across gender groups was examined, confirming configural invariance, metric invariance, and scalar invariance. To assess convergent validity, the relationship between authenticity and self-identity was analyzed. The Korean version of the Authenticity Scale showed positive correlations with exploration in breadth, commitment making, exploration in-depth, identification with commitment, and consolidated identity, while demonstrating negative correlations with ruminative exploration, disturbed identity, and lack of identity. Concurrent validity was examined by analyzing relationships between authenticity, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and affect. The results indicated that authenticity was positively correlated with self-esteem, life satisfaction, and positive affect, while negatively correlated with negative affect. This study presents a reliable and valid Authenticity Scale that can be used in Korean cultural contexts.
Abstract
This study aims to comparatively analyze the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised), widely used within the criminal justice system in South Korea, through expanded models of structure. While the PCL-R, an interview-based tool for assessing psychopathy, has traditionally utilized a 4 factor structure, previous research has suggested that a 3 factor structure, excluding the antisocial factor, may be more appropriate. To evaluate this within a Korean sample, data from 1,092 incarcerated individuals across 38 correctional facilities nationwide were analyzed by comparing 14 models based on the PCL-R’s four- and three-factor structures (CFA, BI-CFA, H-CFA, ESEM(target), ESEM (Geomin), H-ESEM, BI-ESEM). The findings revealed that the four-factor model did not meet acceptable fit criteria for certain indices and that items associated with the antisocial factor loaded onto the lifestyle factor in the four-factor ESEM (Geomin) model. Additionally, inter-factor correlation analysis showed that the antisocial and lifestyle factors were indistinguishable. Conversely, the three-factor structure demonstrated acceptable model fit, proper item loadings, and clear factor distinctions in BI-CFA, ESEM (target), ESEM (Geomin), and H-ESEM models. Based on the findings of this study, the three-factor structure of the PCL-R appears to be more appropriate and reliable for the Korean incarcerated population. Although the antisocial factor is closely related to psychopathy, it may not represent a core component of the psychopathic construct.
Abstract
Extreme income inequality and limited social class mobility are among the most pressing social issues of our time. While existing research suggests that subjective perceptions of income inequality may exert a stronger influence on individuals’ lives than objective inequality, relatively little is known about the psychological factors that shape these perceptions. This study aimed to examine whether upward mobility, defined as attaining a higher socioeconomic status than one’s parents, is associated with lower perceptions of income inequality, and whether this association is mediated by essentialist beliefs about social class. Data from two studies conducted in the United States (Study 1: N = 399) and South Korea (Study 2: N = 1,000) showed that individuals with experiences of upward mobility tended to perceive lower levels of income inequality (Studies 1 & 2). Furthermore, this relationship was mediated by weaker essentialist beliefs about social class (Study 2). These findings provide novel psychological insights into how personal mobility experiences shape perceptions of socioeconomic systems and highlight the diverse psychological responses to inequality. Broader theoretical and societal implications are discussed in the General Discussion.
Abstract
Criminogenic cognition refers to specific cognitive, emotional, and attitudinal patterns that facilitate illegal and antisocial behavior by narrowing the gap between moral standards and actual unlawful actions, thereby blunting feelings of guilt or responsibility. Recognized as a critical dynamic risk factor influencing offenders’ recidivism, criminogenic cognition has drawn significant attention internationally. However, assessment tools for this construct remain scarce in South Korea. To address this gap, the present study adapted and validated the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale (CCS), originally developed in the United States, for use in Korean correctional settings. In Study 1, data were collected from male inmates (N = 495) at three correctional facilities, and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. The results revealed 16 items encompassing five factors: Failure to Accept Responsibility, Notions of Entitlement, Negative Attitudes towards Authority, Short-Term Orientation, and Insensitivity to Impact of Crime. In Study 2, data were obtained from male inmates (N = 364) at five different correctional facilities, and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed to verify the structural validity of the 16 items and five sub-factors. The model fit indices met the generally recommended criteria, confirming the stability of the proposed structure. Additionally, total and subscale scores of criminogenic cognition were positively correlated with aggression, the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism), and materialism. Notably, Failure to Accept Responsibility factor showed the strongest correlation with legal and behavioral indicators such as the number of admissions to correctional institutions, prior convictions, disciplinary actions, and risk of reoffending, suggesting its potential significance as a key predictor of recidivism. Overall, this study provides foundational data for the assessment and management of dynamic risk factors among offenders in South Korean correctional contexts.
Abstract
Suicide notes, as messages left by individuals prior to death, have been regarded as important materials offering insights into the life and psychological state of the deceased. While previous studies have explored the authenticity, thematic content, and generalizability of suicide notes, this study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of suicide notes left by individuals who died by suicide in South Korea by considering the context and characteristics of the data. For this purpose, suicide note data archived in the Police Agency's death records were analyzed using topic modeling and semantic network analysis. As a result, three main topics were derived: “apology and forgiveness,” “reflection on life,” and “posthumous requests and instructions,” based on their representative keywords. Central keywords for each topic were further analyzed and visualized through semantic networks to better understand the structure of the deceased’s thoughts and emotions. This study is meaningful in that it moves beyond pre-defined theories or categorical frameworks and instead adopts a data-driven, exploratory approach to reveal the subjective experiences and emotions expressed in suicide notes. It is anticipated that future research on suicide notes will continue to diversify in its aims and methodological approaches.
Abstract
Each culture holds shared knowledge regarding the timing and sequence of major life transitions. This study constructed a list of normative life events in Korean society—referred to as “cultural life scripts”—based on responses from Korean adults aged 20 to 60, and addressed the following research questions. First, the degree of alignment between the cultural life script and individuals’ personal life stories was defined as life normativity, and its relationship with psychological well-being was examined. Second, the study investigated whether the alignment between the age at which individuals experienced normative life events and the socially expected age predicted psychological well-being. Third, cultural life scripts were constructed by age groups, and the association between life normativity and well-being was explored across these groups. The findings revealed that cultural life scripts include events that reflect culturally specific experiences in Korea, such as college entrance exams and job preparation. Life normativity was positively associated with life satisfaction and the presence of meaning, but not with the search for meaning or psychological richness. Subsequently, only those who experienced normative life events earlier than the socially expected age showed a significant association with life satisfaction, such that the earlier the events occurred, the lower their life satisfaction. Additionally, cultural life scripts revealed age-specific normative life events unique to each age group. Notably, life normativity among individuals in their 30s was significantly associated with multiple dimensions of psychological well-being, whereas other age groups showed associations with fewer dimensions. Based on these findings, the study discusses its implications, differences in results across age groups, and suggestions for future research.