Florin Alin SAVA este profesor de Psihologie la Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara, unde este cadru didactic din 1999. A absolvit doctoratul la Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai (2005) și studiile de licență la Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara (1998). Interesele sale de cercetare vizează psihologia personalității, psihologia clinică și psihometria.
În viața profesională, îi place mai mult să facă cercetări. A dezvoltat cu succes noi instrumente psihologice care sunt utilizate în prezent în practica psihologică pe scală largă. La un nivel mai fundamental, el este interesat de mai multe aspecte precum (i) investigarea mecanismelor cognitive din spatele vulnerabilității emoționale și a proceselor de învățare asociate acesteia, cu accent pe trăsătura de nevrotism; (ii) interacțiunea dintre credințe și trăsăturile de personalitate (disfuncționale); (iii) interacțiunea dintre control și automatism în comportamentele noastre; (d) utilizarea noilor tehnologii (de exemplu, e-sănătatea) pentru a schimba modul în care evaluăm și asistăm psihologic oamenii. Pasiunea sa pentru cercetare a fost răsplătită printr-o bună vizibilitate națională și internațională, reușind să atragă până acum pentru UVT granturi în valoare totală în jurul a 3.000.000 de euro.
În viața personală, îi place să meargă cu bicicleta (off-road), excursiile la munte, să vizioneze filme științifico-fantastice, să călătorească cu familia și să fie un tată mândru. Îi place, de asemenea, să dezbată (ca un fost debater) și să practice ocazional mindfulness.

CV complet

Domenii de interes ştiinţific
Psihologia personalității; Psihologie socială experimentală; Psihopatologie experimentală; Psihologie clinică; Psihometrie

Direcții de cercetare:
(a) neuroticism și emergența tulburărilor mentale - o abordare funcțional-cognitivă 
(b) distorsiuni cognitive / de procesare a informației specifice trăsăturilor de personalitate sau tulburărilor de personalitate
(d) intervenții comportamentale validate științific (de preferință, livrate online)

Articole Web of Science sau Scopus (+60)

* Autor correspondent și/sau prim autor

Early Access (In Press & Accepted Manuscripts)

Crișan, I., & Sava, F.A. (in press). Validity assessment in Eastern Europe: cross-validation of the Dot Counting Test and MODEMM against the TOMM-1 and Rey-15 in a Romanian mixed clinical sample. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acad085

Dudău, D.P., Chitez, M., & Sava, F.A. (accepted). Elucidating the emotional persona in the Romanian university students' academic discourse: A corpus-based exploration. Frontiers in Psychology https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1514795

2024

Avram, L. Ciumăgeanu, M., Sava, F.A. (2024). Written language: a promising gateway to anxiety disorders assessment. Sage Open, 14(2), https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241241420

Baranski, E., Gardiner, G., Shaman, N., Shagen, J., Lee, D., … Sava, F.A., …. & Funder, D. (2024). Personality and conceptions of religiosity across the world’s religions. Journal of Research in Personality, 110, e104496 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104496

Bunghez, C., De Houwer, J., Rusu, A., & Sava, F. A. (2024). Exploring the association between neuroticism and negativity bias in evaluative counterconditioning. Learning and Motivation, 88, e102039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2024.102039

*Bunghez, C., Rusu, A., De Houwer, J., Perugini, M., Boddez, Y., & Sava, F. A. (2024). The moderating role of neuroticism on evaluative conditioning: evidence from ambiguous learning situations. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 15(6), 717-728. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506231191861

*Isbășoiu, A.B., Sava, F.A., Larsen, T.M.B., Anderssen, N., Rotaru, T.Ș., Rusu, A., Sălăgean, N., Tulbure, B.T. (in press).  An Internet-based Intervention to increase the ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual people to cope with adverse events: Single-group feasibility study. JMIR Formative Research, 8, e56198,  https://doi.org/10.2196/56198

*Lupuleac, C., & Sava, F.A. (2024).  Romanian Version of the Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS). A preliminary validation on a non-clinical sample. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 42, 544-557  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-023-00531-0

Latu, I., Sălăgean, N., Larsen, T., Isbășoiu, A., Sava, F.A. (2024). Testing the effectiveness of an intervention to improve Romanian teachers’ LGBT+ related attitudes, cognitions, behaviors, and affect: A randomized control trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13, e54254, https://doi.org/10.2196/54254

2023

Crişan, I., Maricuţoiu, L. P., & Sava, F. A. (2023). Strategies to detect invalid performance in cognitive testing: An updated and extended meta-analysis. Current Psychology, 42(4), 3236-3257 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01659-x

Crișan, I., Sava, F. A., & Maricuțoiu, L. P. (2023). Strategies of feigning mild head injuries related to validity indicators and types of coaching: Results of two experimental studies. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 30(6), 705-715  https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2021.1973004

Casini, E., Richetin, J., Sava, F.A., Perugini, M. (2023). The moderating role of neuroticism on evaluative conditioning: New insights on the processes underlying this relationship. Collabra: Psychology, 9(1), e: 74820 https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.74820

De Houwer, J., Perugini, M., Boddez, Y., Sava, F. (2023). A roadmap for future interactions between research on personality and learning.  Collabra: Psychology, 9(1), e: 88334 https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.88334

Gwendolyn, G., Lee, D.I.,...Sava, F.A., Thi Thu Bui, H. (2023). The economic well-being of nations is associated with positive daily situational experiences. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, e: 100088 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100088

Marian, Ș., Costantini, G., Macsinga, I., Sava, F.A. (2023). The dynamic interplay between anxious and depressive symptoms in a sample of undergraduate students. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 45(1), 150-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-022-10014-8

Marian, Ș., & Sava, F.A. (2023). Identifying central negative thoughts using experience sampling and network analysis. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 47(5), 707-719 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10400-w

*Samfira, E.M., & Sava, F.A. (2023). The effectiveness of a rational-emotive intervention on teachers' unconditional self-acceptance, perfectionism, and pupil control ideology. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, e: 1240269 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1240269

2022

Imhoff, R., Zimmer, F., …Sava, F.A…. & van Prooijen (2022). Conspiracy mentality and political orientation in 26 countries. Human Nature Behaviour, 6(3), 392-403, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01258-7

Crişan, I., Sava, F. A., Maricuţoiu, L. P., Ciumăgeanu, M. D., Axinia, O., Gîrniceanu, L., & Ciotlăuş, L. (2022). Evaluation of various detection strategies in the assessment of noncredible memory performance: Results of two experimental studies. Assessment, 29(8), 1973-1984, https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911211040105

Dudău, D. P., & Sava, F. A. (2022). The development and validation of the Romanian version of Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count 2015 (Ro-LIWC2015). Current Psychology, 41(6), 3597-3614 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00872-4

Marian, Ș., Sava, F.A., Dindelegan, C. (2022). A network analysis of DSM-5 avoidant personality diagnostic criteria. Personality and Individual Differences, 188, e 111454, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111454

Popa, C. O., Sava, F. A., Muresan, S., Schenk, A., Cojocaru, C. M., Muntean, L. M., & Olah, P. (2022). Standard CBT versus integrative and multimodal CBT assisted by virtual reality for generalized anxiety disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1008981

2021

* Samfira, E. M., & Sava, F. A. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral correlates of pupil control ideology. PloS One, 16(2), e0246787.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246787

* Dudău, D. P., & Sava, F. A. (2021). Performing multilingual analysis with Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count 2015 (LIWC2015). An equivalence study of four languages. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:570568. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.570568

*  Isbășoiu, A.B., Tulbure, B.T., Rusu, A., Sava, F.A. (2021). Can we boost treatment adherence to an online transdiagnostic intervention by adding self-enhancement strategies? Results from a randomized controlled non- inferiority trial. Frontiers in Psychology https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752249

Tripa, L., Sava, F. A., Paloș, R., Măgurean, S., & Macsinga, I. (2021). Evaluating the outcomes of „Resilient left behind children”–A social-emotional learning and mindfulness group counseling program. Cognition, Brain, Behavior, 25(1), 33-53.  https://doi.org/10.24193/cbb.2021.25.03

Petrisor, A., Maricutoiu, L., & Sava, F. A. (2021). The do’s and don’ts of supervisor behavior. Supervisor personality as predictor for subordinate’s job insecurity and citizenship behaviors. Psihologia Resurselor Umane, 19(1), 6-16.  https://doi.org/10.24837/pru.v19i1.478

Crișan, I., Maricuţoiu, L. P., & Sava, F. A. (2021).  Effectiveness of immediate vs. delayed recall in detecting invalid performance in coached and uncoached simulators: Results of two experimental studies. Romanian Journal of Applied Psychology, 23(2), 32-39. https://doi.org/10.24913/rjap.23.2.02

Baranski, E., Sweeny, K., Gardiner, G., Guan, Y., ... Sava, F.A. ... & Funder, D. C. (2021). Who in the World is Trying to Change Their Personality Traits? Volitional Personality Change Among College Students in 56 Countries. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 121(5), 1140-1156  https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000389

Baranski, E., Sweeny, K., Gardiner, G., ... Sava, F.A. ... & Funder, D. C. (2021). International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries. Journal of Personality, 89(2), 288-304. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12582

2020

* Sava, F. A., Payne, B. K., Măgurean, S., Iancu, D. E., & Rusu, A. (2020). Beyond contingency awareness: the role of influence awareness in resisting conditioned attitudes. Cognition and Emotion, 34(1), 156-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2019.1652146

* Sava, F. A., Dindelegan, C., & Sălăgean, N. (2020). The utility of the Personality Clinical Form Indicators of Response Distortion: Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis. Romanian Journal of Psychology, 22(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.24913/rjap.22.1.01

Dudău, D.P., Sava, F.A., Rusu, A., Cervicescu, V. (2020). Detecting Individuals High in Neuroticism based on the Color Features of the Facebook Profile Picture. 22nd International Symposium on Symbolic and Numeric Algorithms for Scientific Computing (SYNASC), 286-293, https://doi.org/10.1109/SYNASC51798.2020.00053

Tripa, L., Sava, F. A., Palos, R., Măgurean, S., & Macsinga, I. (2020). Adult psychological outcomes of former left behind children in Romania. Romanian Journal of Psychology, 22(2), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.24913/rjap.22.2.04

Gardiner, G., Lee, D., Baranski, E., Funder, D., & International Situations Project. (2020). Happiness around the world: A combined etic-emic approach across 63 countries. PloS One, 15(12), e0242718. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242718

Lee, D. I., Gardiner, G., Baranski, E., International Situations Project, & Funder, D. C. (2020). Situational experience around the world: A replication and extension in 62 countries. Journal of personality, 88(6), 1091-1110. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12558

2019

Curşeu, P. L., Ilies, R., Vîrgă, D., Maricuţoiu, L., & Sava, F. A. (2019). Personality characteristics that are valued in teams: Not always “more is better”?. International Journal of Psychology, 54(5), 638-649. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12511

2018

Tulbure, B. T., Rusu, A., Sava, F. A., Sălăgean, N., & Farchione, T. J. (2018). A web-based transdiagnostic intervention for affective and mood disorders: randomized controlled trial. JMIR mental health, 5(2), e8901. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.8901

2016

Neguţ, A., Matu, S. A., Sava, F. A., & David, D. (2016). Task difficulty of virtual reality-based assessment tools compared to classical paper-and-pencil or computerized measures: A meta-analytic approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 414-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1144793

David, O., Ionicioiu, I., Imbarus, A., Sava, F.A. (2016). Coaching banking managers through the financial crisis: effects on stress, resilience, and performance. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 34(4), 267-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-016-0244-0

Măroiu, C., Maricuțoiu, L.P., Sava, F.A. (2016). Explicit self-esteem and contingencies of self-worth: The moderating role of implicit self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 99, 235-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.05.022 

Neguț, A., Matu, S.A., Sava, F.A., David, D. (2016): Virtual reality measures in neuropsychological assessment: a meta-analytic review, The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 30(2), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2016.1144793

Măgurean, S., Constantin, T., & Sava, F.A. (2016). The indirect effect of evaluative conditioning on smoking. Journal of Substance Use, 21(2), 198-203. https://doi.org/10.3109/14659891.2015.1005183

Maricuţoiu, L. P., Sava, F. A., & Butta, O. (2016). The effectiveness of controlled interventions on employees’ burnout: A meta‐analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 89(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12099

2014

Vîrgă, D., Curșeu, P., Maricuțoiu, L., Sava, F.A., Macsinga, I., Măgurean, S. (2014). Personality, relationship conflict, and teamwork-related mental models. PLoS One, 9(11), e110223, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110223

2013

Sulea, C., Fine, S., Fischmann, G., Sava, F.A., Dumitru, C. (2013). Abusive supervision and counterproductive work behaviors. The moderating effects of personality. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 12(4), 196-200. https://doi.org/10.1027/1866-5888/a000097

Crașovan, D., Sava, F.A. (2013). Translation, adaptation, and validation on the Romanian population of the COPE questionnaire for coping mechanisms analysis. Cognition, Brain, Behavior. An Interdisciplinary Journal, 17(1), 61-76

2012

* Sava, F.A., Maricuțoiu, L.P., Rusu, S., Macsinga, I., Vîrgă, D., Cheng, C.M., & Payne, B.K. (2012). An Inkblot for the implicit assessment of personality: The Semantic Misattribution Procedure. European Journal of Personality, 26(6), 613-628. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.1861

Sulea, C., Virga, D., Maricutoiu, L.P., Schaufeli, W., Zaborila Dumitru, C., Sava, F.A. (2012). Work engagement as mediator between job characteristics and positive and negative extra-role behaviors. Career Development International, 17(3), 188-207. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620431211241054

Maricuțoiu, L.P., Rusu, S., Vîrgă, D., Macsinga, I., & Sava, F.A. (2012). Images of the self: Prediction of peer-evaluations of one’s personality, using implicit and explicit self-assessments. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 33, 682-686. https://doi.org/j.sbspro.2012.01.208

Gavița, O.A., Freeman, A., Sava, F.A. (2012). The development and validation of Freeman-Gavita Prescriptive Executive Coaching (PEC) multi-rater assessment. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 12(2), 159-174.

Maricuțoiu, L.P., Macsinga, I., Sava, F.A., Rusu, S., Vîrgă, D. (2012). Adaptation and validation of Self-Worth Scale on a Romanian sample. Cognition, Brain, Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 16(1), 121-138

2011

* Sava, F.A., Maricuțoiu, L.P., Rusu, S., Macsinga, I., Vîrgă, D. (2011). Implicit and explicit self-esteem and irrational beliefs. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 11(1), 97-111.

2009

* Sava, F.A., Yates, B.T., Lupu, V., Szentagotai, A. & David, D. (2009). Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(1), 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20550

* Sava, F.A. (2009). Maladaptive schemas, irrational beliefs, and their relationship with the five-factor personality model. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, 9(2), 135-147.

2006

* Sava, F.A., Sperneac, A.M. (2006). Sensitivity to reward and sensitivity to punishment rating scales: A validation study on the Romanian population. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(8), 1445–1456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.04.024

2002

* Sava, F.A. (2002). Causes and effects of teacher conflict-inducing attitudes towards pupils: a path analysis model. Teaching and Teacher Education, 18, 1007-1021, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-051X(02)00056-2

2000

* Sava, F.A. (2000). Is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder an exonerating construct? Strategies for school inclusion. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 15(2), 149-157, https://doi.org/10.1080/088562500361583

• 2017, Cel mai bun cercetător din științe sociale și politice, Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara, Valoare premiului – 5000 lei
• 2009, Premiul II, categoria “Profesorul universitar al anului”, Gala Premiilor în Educație, Fundația Dinu Patriciu, Valoarea premiului – 5000 Euro
• 2009, Cel mai bun tânăr cercetător din Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara

Contact

Birou: 155
E-mail: florin.sava@e-uvt.ro