Ndividual Differences In Rational-Experiential Thinking Styles And Their Relationship To Social Problem Solving Among College Students

Based on Epstein’s Cognitive-experiential self-theory (CEST), the present study attempted to explore the individual differences in rational and experiential thinking styles and their relationships to social problem solving. Three series of studies were conducted:In study1, reliability and validity of the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI-40) were tested. We administered a college students sample (N=451) with the Chinese version of the Rational-Experiential Inventor (REI-40) as the main measurement scale, and the Chinese version of the MBTI revised by Huajian Cai(2001) as a criterion. Results suggested:(1) the internal consistency of the whole scale is0.816, and above0.60for the4subscales;(2) A confirmatory factor analysis was preformed to confirm the2-factors structure of the REI, with the model fit were:x2/df=1.97, GFI=0.85, AGFI=0.87, CFI=0.65, RMSEA=0.067;(3) REI was shown to have a significant relationship with the sensing/intuition (S/N) and thinking/feeling (T/F) subscales. These results indicated that the REI was acceptable, and it suited for the Chinese collage students.In study2, individual differences in rational and experiential thinking styles were investigated. With the Chinese version of REI, and the Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and a demographic statistics, we administered a questionnaire survey to a sample of269among college students. Results were as follows:(1)There was a significant difference in the rational and experiential thinking styles, men score significant higher than women on the rational ability and rational engagement.(2)The major difference was observed, science and engineering students score higher than arts students on the rational ability and rational engagement scale, while no observed difference in the experiential thinking style.(3)The grade differences was not remarkable, except the score on rational ability of the senior students was higher than freshmen and senior students.(4)A rational thinking style was most strongly and directly related to Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and an experiential thinking style was most strongly directly related to Openness, Conscientiousness.In study3, relationship between these two thinking styles and the social-problem-solving was explored. We administered the REI and the Chinese vision of Short Form of the C-SPRI-R inventory to a college students sample (N=191). The results indicated that the rational thinking style accounted for a significant amount of variance in Positive problem orientation and be a negative predictor to impulsive/careless style and the avoidance style, while the experiential thinking style had weak association to the problem orientation or problem solving styles.