DEAR READERS,

We would like to introduce the reader to the articles within this edition 
of the International Journal of Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach. 
The article “Clinical Decision-Making of Anesthesiology Residents in Emer-
gency Medical Care” presents interesting findings related to the way anes-
thesiology residents solved case vignettes with the provision of emergency 
medical care. Results of the study indicated an increase in anchoring and 
adjustment heuristics and decrease in the use of availability as the anesthe-
siology residents become more experienced. Besides, the researchers dem-
onstrated one-third of anesthesiology residents to have heuristic thoughts. 

The article “Psychological Capital, Self-Compassion and Life Satisfac-
tion of Unemployed Youth” revealed the relation between life satisfaction 
and positive individual resources, e.g. psychological capital, when examin-
ing unemployed youth. Researchers found that unemployed youth who are 
highly satisfied with life have higher levels of psychological capital and self-
compassion. The results also indicated that young unemployed people with 
higher compassion levels also have higher levels of psychological capital, 
gratitude, and self-compassion. 

Authors of “Personality Traits of Teachers in Lithuania: Do Preschool 
and Comprehensive School Educators Differ?” reported interesting findings 
that displayed some differences existing in the personality traits exhibited 
by educators in Lithuania. Results suggested educators with a university de-
gree were associated with higher scores of social boldness while younger 
teachers were observed to have higher levels of liveliness and emotional 
stability. Preschool and comprehensive school teachers differed in emo-
tional stability. These are interesting findings and could be attributed  
to personality characteristics that are more effective in teaching students  
of different ages.

Article named “Relationship with Authority in Narcissism” presents 
findings from an extensive literature review which included the analysis of 
psychological concepts of relationship with authority and its part in inner 
dynamics of narcissism. The results of this analysis led to distinguishing 

International Journal of Psychology:  
Biopsychosocial Approach 2016 / 19 
ISSN 1941-7233 (Print), ISSN 2345-024X (Online) 
http://dx.doi.org/10.7220/2345-024X.19 

EDITORIAL

6



characteristic motives of a narcissistic relationship with authority, such as 
aggrandizement or depreciating one’s own authority; fright, anger with  
regard to or fight against authority; abusive authoritative stance or exces-
sive submissiveness; and idealization or devaluation of authorities. These 
findings become important to understand and notice the need to work with 
authority in narcissism. 

The final article “Catastrophizing of Pain as a Predictor of Pre- and 
Acute Postoperative Pain in a Sample of Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syn-
drome” focused on evaluating the level of pain before and one day after 
surgery reported by patients. Results revealed that the level of reported pain  
decreased significantly one day after the surgery, however, no significant 
correlations were found between pain catastrophizing and the average 
level of pain before and after the surgery. This study suggests that catastro-
phizing of the pain is not a significant predictor of pre- or acute postopera-
tive pain in carpal tunnel syndrome patients. 

We would like to thank all the authors who have contributed their 
scholarly work to the journal and encourage readers to explore each of the  
articles included. 

Tammi Ohmstede Beckman

7