A Critical Review of Maslow’s Theory of Spirituality

Self-actualization and B-values: Development and validation of two instruments in the Brazilian context

Self-actualization is a complex psychological construct within Maslow's motivation theory, characterized by numerous gaps in the empirical and measurement spectrums. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to develop, validate, and cross-verify measures for self-actualization attributes and B-values, focusing on job context and theoretical congruence with innovative behavior and human values related to the self-actualization construct (suprapersonal subfunction). This study involved a diverse sample of 621 Brazilian participants from 25 different professions, indicating the broad applicability of the findings. The proposed instruments underwent content and semantic validity assessments, followed by verification of factor validity and internal consistency. Results showed satisfactory content, semantic and factor validity and internal consistency parameters. The study reveals that self-actualization attributes can be understood through achieving one's own potential and work meta-motivation, consistent with the adoption of B-values. Relationships with suprapersonal values (maturity, knowledge, and beauty) and innovative work behavior were also demonstrated, suggesting convergent validity evidence. The validation of SAAS and BVI contributes to understanding self-actualization and B-values in varied Brazilian contexts, offering insights for psychological assessment and intervention.

Modeling the city-level synergistic effect of low-carbon economic development in China's Yangtze River Delta

The development of a low-carbon economy has been the focus of attention from all walks of life in recent years. Using data from 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2005 to 2019, this study constructed a low-carbon economic development coupling and coordination degree model and indicator system to measure the synergistic effect. Starting from the resource, economy, society, and innovation system, it was found that the coupling degree of low-carbon economic development in the YRD region has increased steadily. Generally, it is in a running-in period, and the improvement rate shows a high trend in the west and a low trend in the east. Also, the YRD is in a moderate incoordination stage, but the synergy effect has improved. Among these cities, Shanghai and Hangzhou had higher synergy efficiency in 2019 compared to other cities. Regarding city heterogeneity, the synergy effect of non-resource-based cities is significantly higher than that of resource-based cities but a narrowed gap. The research provides a theoretical and factual basis for the design of a path toward low-carbon economic development in the YRD region.

The impact of Covid-19 on organisational commitment with mediating role of satisfaction among the Iraqi auditors

Purpose

The study seeks to examine the effect of the Covid-19 on organisational commitment with the mediating role of job satisfaction of Iraqi auditors to determine the impact the Corona has on the organisational commitment of Iraqi auditors with the mediating role of job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study's statistical population consists of those auditors working in the auditing organisations and private sector auditing institutions in Iraq. The number of respondents was 1,500 and 305 questionnaires were collected and analysed using Cochran's formula. Data were collected using the Covid1-19 questionnaire developed by the researcher, Minnesota Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (1967) and Allen and Meyer (1990) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire. In this study, the components of individual fear, collective fear and the transition from a feeling of security to insecurity with 29 questions for the impact of Covid-19 and job satisfaction components derived from the Minnesota Model, which includes six components (payment system, nature of job, progress opportunities, organisational atmosphere, leadership style and physical condition) is based on 19 questions. The components of organisational commitment are based on three types of emotional commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment with 24 questions. Structural equation modelling using Smart-PLS software was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results showed that the Covid-19 effect variable was not significant on organisational commitment but was significant considering the mediating role of job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The paper has covered a very interesting topic nowadays and the results may give great insight to auditors in a challenging condition due to COVID 19.

A "Viral Epistolary" and Psychosocial Spirituality: Restoring Transcendental Meaning During COVID-19 Through a Digital Community Letter-Writing Project

This article outlines the results of a three-month-long community letter-writing and letter-sharing project called "Viral Epistolary" (VE), which we completed online in Italy during the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns. In it, we collected 340 digital letters from all over the country and connected thousands of people through epistolary exchanges. We used the genre of letters as a mediating, meaning-making, and (auto)biographical tool whereby people could share their experiences of domestic isolation and physical distancing, thus creating a community of support. Based on a well-documented understanding of meaning-making as a core human endeavor, especially in times of social disruption and personal crisis, this article frames sense-making as a transcendental and even spiritual process that yields broad principles for organizing life. Thus, the research adopts a psychosocial perspective on spirituality and applies thematic analysis to qualitatively analyze written narratives. The results reveal that many respondents underwent a three-part, not-necessarily-sequential process of collapsing, self-distancing, and transcending during lockdown, which allowed them to rearrange themselves according to the new total social fact of the pandemic. Through this process, respondents negotiated themes of semiotic crisis, striving for meaning, and beyond meaning (the essential). Finally, the article discusses the role of meaning as a transcendental component of psychosocial meaning-making coping processes and tries to highlight how shared writing experiences can stimulate personal and communal healing processes in the wake of social crises.