Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Study of the relationship between superego and metacognition of male and female students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Koorosh Parviz 1
Hamid-Reza Aghamohamadian-Sharbaf 2
Mahmoud Dehghani 3
Bahram-Ali Ghanbari-Hashemabadi 2
1 Ph.D. student of psychology, Faculty of education and psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Professor of psychology, Faculty of education and psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/jfmh.2017.8291
Abstract
Introduction: Superego and metacognition consider as two important constructs within the psychodynamic and cognitive psychology domain. The aim of this research is to examine the link between superego and metacognition among students at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
 Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a correlational design conducted among students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 1395. A sample of 206 male and female students was recruited from target population through convenience sampling and completed metacognitive inventory as well as Superego questionnaire. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 23 statistical package. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means, & standard deviations as well as inferential statistics including Pearson correlation and independent t-test are applied on variables of current study.
 Results: The results indicate that there is a negative relationship between superego and metacognition (r=0.38, P< 0.001). In addition, data present a significant positive correlation between one of the superego’s subscales, conscience, and metacognition (r=0.65, P<0.0001). With regard to the superego, the results show a significant difference between men and women (t = -2.36, P=0.05). This result suggests that women have more inflexible yet powerful superego than men. Also there is a significant difference between men and women’s conscience (t=2.05, P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Metacognition is weaker among those individuals holding stronger superego and therefore, they are more susceptible to neurotic disorders. With respect to the important role of metacognitive abilities on learning and education, it can be assumed that learning and education are also influenced by superego because of its impact on metacognition.
Keywords
Conscience
Gender
metacognition
Superego
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 19, Issue 2
March and April 2017
Pages 70-76