Abstracts Psychology

Psychological optimisation and training competence

by Cecilia Maria Schultz

Psychological optimisation is discussed and its personality profile is constructed, in terms of intrapersonal (cognitive, affective and conative) and interpersonal characteristics. Training competence is discussed and its personality profile is constructed, in terms of knowledge, attitudes, values and skills. These two personality profiles are integrated and it is found that there is a theoretical relationship exists between psychological optimisation and training competence. This leads to the research hypothesis. The empirical study is conducted among 106 lecturers at a tertiary institution. The Personal Orientation Inventory (POl) and in-depth interviews are used to measure psychological optimisation and training competence respectively. The results confirmed the hypothesis indicating that a competent trainer is a person having strong self-actualising tendency and characteristics of objectivity, self-sensitivity, internal locus of control and accommodating interpersonal relationships. Recommendations are made in order to optimise training competence.