College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University: DigitalCommons@CSB/SJUNot a member yet
8817 research outputs found
Sort by
The Political Personality of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin
Get PDFThis paper presents the results of an indirect assessment of the personality of Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.
Psychodiagnostically relevant data regarding President Putin were extracted from open-source intelligence and synthesized into a personality profile using the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with Axis II of DSM-IV.
The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed on the basis of interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality Styles manuals. Putin’s primary personality patterns were found to be Dominant/controlling (a measure of aggression or hostility), Ambitious/self-serving (a measure of narcissism), and Conscientious/dutiful, with secondary Retiring/reserved (introverted) and Dauntless/adventurous (risk-taking) tendencies and lesser Distrusting/suspicious features. The blend of primary patterns in Putin’s profile constitutes a composite personality type aptly described as an expansionist hostile enforcer.
Dominant individuals enjoy the power to direct others and to evoke obedience and respect; they are tough and unsentimental and often make effective leaders. This personality pattern comprises the “hostile” component of Putin’s personality composite.
Ambitious individuals are bold, competitive, and self-assured; they easily assume leadership roles, expect others to recognize their special qualities, and often act as though entitled. This personality pattern delineates the “expansionist” component of Putin’s personality composite.
Conscientious individuals are dutiful and diligent, with a strong work ethic and careful attention to detail; they are adept at crafting public policy but often lack the retail political skills required to consummate their policy objectives and are more technocratic than visionary. This personality pattern fashions the “enforcer” component of Putin’s personality composite.
Retiring (introverted) individuals tend not to develop strong ties to others, are somewhat deficient in the ability to recognize the needs or feelings of others, and may lack spontaneity and interpersonal vitality.
Dauntless individuals are adventurous, individualistic, daring personalities resistant to deterrence and inclined to take calculated risks.
Putin’s particular blend of personality patterns suggests a foreign policy orientation best described as that of a deliberative high-dominance introvert.
Putin’s major personality-based strengths in a political role are his commanding demeanor and confident assertiveness. His major personality-based shortcomings are his uncompromising intransigence, lack of empathy and congeniality, and cognitive inflexibility
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Latino Immigrants
Get PDFMore than one out of ten people of Mexican descent has diabetes, which is twice the rate of the general population. People of Latino descent score less on health eating questionnaires and report less physical activity per week than people of non-Hispanic descent. Poor nutrition and exercise habits can contribute to elevated blood glucose and undesirable lipid profiles, leading to increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Mexican Consulate of St. Paul offers a course for recent Latino immigrants to encourage healthy diet and lifestyle behaviors to lower the risk of developing diabetes. Purpose: To assess if nutrition education and pedometer use improve weight, body composition, blood glucose, and lipid profile in recent Latino immigrants to lower risk for type 2 diabetes. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University and informed consents were signed in Spanish. Fourteen Latino immigrants (n = three males, eleven females) agreed to participate and nine completed the study (n= one male, eight females). Participants were recruited from a class called, “I CAN prevent diabetes.” A survey designed to measure diabetes knowledge, nutrition habits, and activity levels was given to class participants on the first and the last day of the class. Study participants received pedometers to track their activity levels and participated in nutrition education once a week for six weeks. Fasting blood glucose level, lipid profile, and weight were measured for each individual before and after the study to determine the effect of pedometer use and nutrition education. Paired t-tests and a one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: Nutrition education and pedometer use resulted in significant improvements in fasting blood glucose levels (p = 0.03). Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol improved marginally, but not significantly (p = 0.192 and 0.065, respectively). HDL cholesterol decreased over the course of the study (p = 0.001). Activity levels increased gradually the first three weeks then declined the fourth and final week. Weight decreased marginally but not significantly (p = 0.60). In the post study survey regarding diet, 66% participants reported decreasing their serving size, 55% reported increasing vegetable intake, 66% reported eating fewer tortillas, 55% reported drinking more water, and 44% reported eating less sweets and desserts. Conclusions: Nutrition education and pedometer use is effective at improving dietary and activity habits in the selected Latino population. Contact with participants was limited and behavior change takes time. Positive results were shown, but a longer period and a greater number of participants would be necessary to obtain statistically significant results and sustained habits
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University HLC Quality Initiative Summary Report
Get PDFThis Quality Initiative (QI) sought to identify more systematically how the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) structures, programming, curriculum, and environments promote or inhibit healthy gender development among CSB and SJU students. CSB, a Catholic Benedictine residential liberal arts college for women, and SJU, a Catholic Benedictine residential liberal arts college for men, share a common academic program, while maintaining separate residential life and student development offices. Gender is a central component of our missions. As single-sex institutions working in partnership with each other, we have a unique obligation and opportunity to focus on gender development. The project sought to 1. Examine the current status of gender development on campus; 2. Examine the impact of gender-related policies (or lack thereof) on gender development and gender inclusion on campus; and 3. Examine the gender development impact of several high impact academic programs. The project involved hundreds of CSB and SJU faculty, staff, and students across multiple disciplines and institutional areas in designing and conducting six distinct projects to address the research goals. The Primary Investigators (PI) established connections among the various projects and shared findings with internal and external communities throughout the course of the QI project