Raffaella Nori

The present study investigated whether relativism accounted for the association between openness to experience and two distinct forms of creativity: positive creativity, defined as original and beneficial ideas, and negative creativity, defined as original ideas that may unintentionally result in harm. A sample of 200 participants (M_age = 21.79 years, SD_age = 2.64 years; 146 females) completed the Openness to Experience subscale of the HEXACO Personality Inventory–Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) and the Relativism subscale of the Ethics Position Questionnaire (EPQ-5). Positive and negative creativity were evaluated by two independent judges using a modified Cartoon Caption Task, in which participants generated captions for five New Yorker-style cartoons. Results indicated that relativism accounted for only the association between openness to experience and negative creativity. Specifically, individuals higher in openness to experience tend to produce more ethically ambiguous creative captions when they also endorse a flexible, context-dependent moral perspective. By contrast, positive creativity was more directly associated with dispositional curiosity and imagination. These findings contribute to research on the adaptive and maladaptive sides of creativity by suggesting that moral reasoning may be associated with the ethical valence of creative ideation. The study also highlights the importance of integrating personality and ethical perspectives into creativity research and provides implications for educational programmes aimed at fostering responsible, socially constructive innovation. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

This study examined the relationship between attachment styles and spatial navigation abilities in college students. While spatial orientation is crucial for human survival and environmental navigation, the influence of early attachment relationships on spatial skills remains understudied. We hypothesized that secure attachment would correlate with superior spatial navigation due to enhanced emotional stability and environmental exploration. Conversely, anxious-ambivalent attachment was expected to predict poorer navigation skills, as individuals may prioritize relationships over spatial engagement. Avoidant attachment was predicted to show minimal effects or potential advantages in autonomous spatial tasks, with anxiety mediating the attachment-spatial performance relationship. We have recruited 290 college students (208 females, M age = 21 years) who completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS 21), Familiarity and Spatial Cognitive Style scale (FSCS), and Computerized Ecological Navigational Battery (LBS). Regression analyses explored connections between attachment dimensions, anxiety, and spatial abilities. Results revealed that secure attachment positively correlated with self-perceived navigation skills, while anxious-ambivalent dimensions (Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships) negatively associated with self-reported abilities. Avoidant traits showed complex patterns with different spatial strategies. Objective performance assessments, through LBS, demonstrated that insecure attachment dimensions negatively influenced navigation efficiency, with anxiety partially mediating these relationships. Models explained 4.42-10.01% of navigation performance variance. These findings support integrating attachment theory with cognitive research, suggesting that early relational experiences influence long-term spatial cognitive development and environmental interaction.

Background: Road traffic accidents continue to be a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Psychological and behavioural factors play a crucial role in traffic safety and are not yet fully understood. Among these, the relationship between individuals and road rules plays a key role in driving behaviour and risk perception. We introduce and validate the MORDE (Moral Disengagement in Road Driving Evaluation) scale, a novel instrument designed to assess the specific cognitive mechanisms through which drivers morally justify risky or rule-violating behaviours. Methods: The scale was developed and validated through a three-step process involving 1336 licensed drivers. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test its factorial structure, and internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Convergent and predictive validity were assessed using self-reported measures of traffic violations and road safety attitudes. Results: The final 14-item version of the MORDE scale shows a robust two-factor structure: (1) Normative Justification of Transgressive Driving and (2) Attribution of Blame and Displacement of Responsibility. The instrument demonstrates strong internal reliability and significant predictive power for driving behaviours and road safety attitudes, beyond what is explained by general moral disengagement. The MORDE scale thus shows good psychometric properties and incremental validity. Conclusions: By identifying psychological risk factors that contribute to unsafe and unsustainable driving, the MORDE scale provides a validated tool that can support educational interventions, traffic safety campaigns, and behaviour change programs. Its use may contribute to the promotion of a safer, more responsible, and environmentally sustainable road culture.

To evaluate others’ actions objectively, one must integrate the actor’s mental states with the potential consequences of his actions. However, consequences can distort the perception of intentionality. The Knobe effect, or “side-effect effect,” demonstrates that individuals attribute greater intentionality to negative than positive foreseen yet unintended side effects. This study explores how reasoning styles and abilities influence these judgments. A sample of 172 college students completed validated reasoning style questionnaires, including the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI) and the Actively Open-Minded Thinking scale (AOT), a syllogistic reasoning task, and scenario-based tasks in a randomized, between-subjects design (negative vs. positive side effect). Our findings reveal that a more deliberative reasoning style and longer response times both reduce bias in attributing intentionality to negative side effects, highlighting two distinct pathways through which response times mediate the influence of reasoning style on reducing biased judgments. We explore how reasoning affects our attributions of intentionality leading to a more balanced consideration of an actor’s mental state and the consequences in moral judgment.

Background/Objectives: The use of virtual reality (VR) solutions in design has rapidly increased globally. However, it remains unclear to what extent these technologies enhance people’s cognitive abilities. Understanding the impact of such technologies is essential for assessing their validity and effectiveness. In this controlled study, we investigated how HMD and non-immersive VR museum environments affect the ability to learn about the environment and the perception of the experience. Methods: A total of 87 college students (46 females) were randomly assigned to either HMD or non-immersive VR museum environments. Subsequently, they had to answer questions related to the sense of immersion and pleasantness of the museum experience, as well as their willingness to repeat similar museum experiences. Results: The results indicated that the HMD setting was preferred for its greater sense of immersion, pleasantness, and intention to repeat a similar experience. Conclusions: The data are discussed in the context of fostering appreciation and promoting the preservation of cultural heritage.

Research in museum studies, heritage science, and cultural tourism highlights the “care theory” as a key framework for understanding the relationship between citizens and cultural heritage. Assessing the “sense of care” toward cultural objects and sites can provide valuable insights for museums, education, and public policy. However, visitor studies lack suitable assessment tools. This study fills the gap by introducing the Scale for the Assessment of Caring for Cultural Heritage (CHARE), developed using the Rasch model. A preliminary 16-item questionnaire on visitors’ “caring behaviours” was designed through a literature review and expert focus groups, then tested on young adults: statistical analysis confirms the model’s reliability. While the study serves as a starting point for future research and further validation is needed, CHARE already offers a practical tool for museum practitioners to assess young visitors’ engagement and caring attitudes toward cultural heritage.

Research in museum studies, heritage science, and cultural tourism highlights the “care theory” as a key framework for understanding the relationship between citizens and cultural heritage. Assessing the “sense of care” toward cultural objects and sites can provide valuable insights for museums, education, and public policy. However, visitor studies lack suitable assessment tools. This study fills the gap by introducing the Scale for the Assessment of Caring for Cultural Heritage (CHARE), developed using the Rasch model. A preliminary 16-item questionnaire on visitors’ “caring behaviors” was designed through literature review and expert focus groups, then tested on young adults: statistical analysis confirms the model’s reliability. While further validation is needed, CHARE already offers a practical tool for museum practitioners to assess young visitors’ engagement and caring attitudes toward cultural heritage

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of the Familiarity and Spatial Cognitive Style Scale (FSCS) and the short Computerized Ecological Navigational Battery (LBS) in predicting navigational performance by comparing self-reported scores with actual results; (ii) investigate the FSCS’s potential as a screening tool for Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD), which affects about 3% of youth, focusing on early detection; and (iii) examine gender differences in self-reported data versus real-world performance to understand how stereotypes affect self-assessment. Methods: The study involved 185 college students (125 female), aged 18–35 years, who completed the FSCS and performed navigation tasks using a new version of the LBS. Participants’ performances were analysed using MAD-based z-scores to identify potential DTD cases, with scores below the fifth percentile flagged for further investigation. The relationship between self-reported abilities and actual performance was assessed through correlation analyses and robust linear regressions. Results: The SOD subscale of FSCS emerged as a comprehensive predictor of navigation performance, correlating significantly with accuracy across multiple tasks. The study identified a 5.42% prevalence of DTD using FSCS criteria, aligning with previous research, while LBS identified 11.96% of participants with navigational difficulties. Gender differences were observed in Survey Knowledge and Landmark Ordering tasks, with males showing higher performances. Only two participants were flagged as DTD cases by both assessment methods, suggesting they may evaluate distinct aspects of navigational ability. Conclusions: The findings validate FSCS as an initial screening tool for DTD while highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment using multiple tools. The study suggests the existence of at least two distinct forms of DTD: one affecting navigational memory (detectable by both FSCS and LBS) and another impacting perceptual navigation aspects (more readily identified by LBS). These results emphasise the importance of developing a detailed DTD taxonomy and implementing personalised interventions based on specific navigational challenges.

Developmental topographical disorientation (DTD) is more common than expected in healthy populations and can cause psychological disorders, leading to feelings of frustration and failure due to poor navigation. Due to the strict relation and the frequent association between DTD and psychological disorders, it is crucial to understand the impact of spatial anxiety and specific phobias, such as driving-related fear (DRF), on one's ability to autonomously navigate in the environment. Here, we report the case of a girl with DTD and DRF who struggled to learn driving routes due to her phobia. Her score in learning a computerized environment (The short version of the Computerized Ecological Navigational Battery:LBS) was low, and her performance in the other rating scales was below the cutoff, confirming the presence of DTD. However, after receiving psychological treatment for her DRF, she became faster in moving through LBS, but the assessment of navigational skills still indicated the presence of DTD, suggesting the independence of the two disorders. When addressing both DTD and psychological disorders, clinicians must prioritize which issue to tackle first. Here are some suggestions to help decide when to prioritize one aspect over the other to provide the best possible care for the patient.

Background/Objectives: Life expectancies have increased in most countries, leading to a higher accident rate among older drivers than their younger counterparts. While numerous studies have analyzed the decline in cognitive abilities and physical limitations as contributing factors, there are other considerations. For instance, younger male drivers tend to take more risks than younger female drivers. However, there is a lack of research and evidence regarding the role of gender in risk-taking among individuals over 65. Given this gap, our current study aims to investigate the relationship between gender and risk propensity in this particular age group. The primary goal was to determine if driving experience affects the gender gap in risk attitude; Methods: We studied risk behavior in both car drivers and pedestrians. Our sample included 200 individuals (101 women), all over 65, with the same weekly driving times. After a brief demographic and anamnestic interview, they completed the Driver Road Risk Perception Scale (DRPS) and the Pedestrian Behavior Appropriateness Perception Scale (PBAS) questionnaires. They also provided information about traffic violations and road crashes; Results: Our research revealed that older male drivers continue to tend to risky behavior, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve risk awareness, especially among older men; Conclusions: Our findings suggest that road safety messages should specifically target male drivers as they are less likely to view responsible driving actions, such as observing speed limits, as desirable.