Prof. Robert Joseph Taormina
Emeritus Professor

E-mail: taormina@emeritus.um.edu.mo

Academic Qualifications

  • Ph.D. (Social Psychology) University of California
  • M.A. (Experimental Psychology) California State University
  • M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) Boston University
  • B.A. (General Psychology) Boston University
  • Chartered Psychologist (Organizational Psychology) British Psychological Society
  • Psychologist Practicing Certificate, British Psychological Society

Editorial Board

  • Editorial Board Member, Leadership
    Leadership is an international, peer-reviewed SAGE Publications journal based in the UK.

  • Editorial Board Member, Advances in Applied Sociology
    Published by Scientific Research Publishing, Irvine, California, USA.

Professional Affiliations

  • The Academy of Management
  • The British Psychological Society

Teaching Areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Cross-Cultural Studies
  • Leadership
  • Management & Organization
  • Research Methods

Current Research

  • Organizational Socialization
  • Social Psychology
  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Adult Personal Resilience
  • Leadership Behavior & Leadership Excellence
  • Managerial & Organizational Psychology
  • Cross-Cultural Comparisons
  • Applied Systems Research

Selected monographs

Taormina, R.J. (2018). Costruire l’economia Italiana: Una proposta per il rinascimento dei comuni Italiani.
Full Text (PDF File)

Selected publications

  • Taormina, R.J. (2023). Motive, Means, and Opportunity: JFK Assassination Mystery Solved! (2nd Edition). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/taormina-2023-jfk-assassination-mystery-solved-2nd-edition-pdf  [Full Text (PDF File)] 
  • Taormina, R. J., Gao, J. H., & Kuok, A. C. H. (2022). Measuring specific traditional Chinese values in relation to satisfaction of the five Maslow needs. Psychological Thought, 15(1), 132-164. [Please see the PDF attached]
  • Taormina, R. J. (2021). The Real Origins of the Universe and Gravity: Mysteries Solved! Generis Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-63902-691-3. Publisher’s Webpage / Amazon Book Page
  • Taormina, R.J., & Urbano, L.S. (2020). Building the Italian economy: A proposal for the renaissance of the Italian municipalities. Advances in Applied Sociology, 10(8), 299-312. [Full Text (PDF File)]
  • Taormina, R.J. (2019). Plato as prophet. Open Journal for Studies in Philosophy, 3(2), 25-36.  [Full Text (PDF File)]
  • Taormina, R. J. (2019). Helping shy employees with career success: The impact of organizational socialization. Psychological Thought, 12(1), 41-62. [Full Text (PDF File)]
  • Taormina, R. J. (2018). The Lightning Theory of the Origin of the Universe: With explanations of space, time, and the creation of gravity. Scholar’s Press, ISBN: 978-6202310550. [Amazon Books Page]
  • Taormina, R.J. (2017). Adherence to Chinese traditional values: Correlates and determinants. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 7(9), 612-617. http://www.ijssh.org/vol7/894-SE1015.pdf
  • Kuok, A.C., & Taormina, R.J. (2017). Work engagement: Evolution of the concept and a new inventory. Psychological Thought, 10(2), 262-287. https://psyct.psychopen.eu/article/view/236
  • Taormina, R.J., & Shamionov, R.M. (2016). A new measure of traditional values across cultures: China and Russia compared. Psychological Thought, 9(2), 197-221. https://psyct.psychopen.eu/article/view/202
  • Taormina, R.J. (2016). Social and psychological challenges of the 21st Century and beyond. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 6(11), 884-891.
    http://www.ijssh.org/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=81&id=1120
  • Taormina, R.J. (2015). Adult personal resilience: A new theory, new measure, and
    practical implications. Psychological Thought, 8(1), 35-46. http://psyct.psychopen.eu/article/view/126
  • Taormina, R.J., & Chong, B.K.H. (2015). Cognitive dissonance among Chinese gamblers: Cultural beliefs versus gambling behavior. Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 33-52.
    http://iafor.org/journal-of-psychology-and-the-behavioral-sciences-volume-i-issue-i/
  • Taormina, R.J., & Sun, R. (2015). Antecedents and outcomes of psychological insecurity and interpersonal trust among Chinese adults. Psychological Thought, 8(2), 173-188.
    http://psyct.psychopen.eu/article/view/143/html
  • Kuok, A.C., & Taormina, R.J. (2015). Conflict between affective versus continuance commitment among casino dealers. Evidence-Based HRM: A Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, 3(1), 46-63.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2014). International psychology and scientific psychology: At the crossroads for the future of psychology. International Annual Edition of Applied Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice. ISSN-Online 2313-4097, http://interpsy.sgu.ru/en/articles/international-psychology-and-scientific-psychology-at-the-crossroads-for-the-future-of
  • Taormina, R.J., & Gao, J.H. (2014). Make presentations with confidence: The essentials for Asian scholars (让演讲充满自信:亚洲学者必备). Beijing: China National Social Sciences Press & University of Macau (joint publication). [Book] ISBN: 978-7-5161-4125-0.
  • Taormina, R. (2014) Social harmony in decision making: Costs and benefits in Chinese society. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2(5), 128-134. DOI: 10.4236/jss.2014.25026.
  • Wei, W., & Taormina, R.J. (2014). A new multidimensional measure of personal resilience and its use: Chinese nurse resilience, organizational socialization, and career success. Nursing Inquiry, 21(4), 346-357.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Gao, J.H. (2013). Maslow and the motivation hierarchy: Measuring satisfaction of the needs. American Journal of Psychology, 126(2), 155-177.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Ho, I.K.M. (2012). Intimate relationship quality: Predictors across genders for dating, engaged, and married individuals. Journal of Relationships Research, 3(1), 24-43.
  • Taormina, R.J., Kuok, A.C., & Wei, W. (2012). Social capital as dehumanizing terminology. Advances in Applied Sociology, 2(1), 143-148. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=20183
  • Chang, K., & Taormina, R.J. (2011). Reduced secondary trauma among Chinese earthquake rescuers: A test of correlates and life indicators. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 16(6), 542-562.
  • Wei, W., & Taormina, R.J. (2011). Factors influencing work efficiency in China. Advances in Applied Sociology, 1(1), 56-63.
  • Taormina, R.J. & Gao, J.H. (2010). A research model for guanxi behavior: Antecedents, measures, and outcomes of Chinese social networking. Social Science Research, 39(6), 1195-1212.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2010). The art of leadership: An evolutionary perspective. International Journal of Arts Management, 13(1), 41-55.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Chong, K.Y. (2010). Purchasing counterfeit and legitimate products in China: Social and psychological correlates and predictors. Journal of East-West Business, 16(2), 118-145.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2009). Social and personality concomitants of gambling attitudes and behavior among Chinese residents in the casino economy of Macau. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(8), 1047-1071.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Kuok, A.C. (2009). Factors related to casino dealer burnout and turnover intention in Macau: Implications for casino management. International Gambling Studies, 9(3), 275-294.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2009). Organizational socialization: The missing link between employee needs and organizational culture. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 24(7), 650-676.
  • Taormina, R.J. & Gao, J.H. (2009). Identifying acceptable performance appraisal criteria: An international perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 47(1), 102-125.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2008). Interrelating leadership behaviors, organizational socialization, and organizational culture. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 29(1), 85-102.
  • Taormina, R.J. & Gao, J.H. (2008). A comparison of work enthusiasm and its antecedents in two Chinese cultures. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 2(2), 13-22.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2007). Voyages of discovery: Sailing the research ocean to discover new worlds! (Positivist perspectives on educating researchers in psychology). The Psychologist, 20(11), 687.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Lao, K.M. (2007). Measuring Chinese entrepreneurial motivation: Personality and environmental influences. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 13(4), 200-221.
  • Taormina, R.J., Gao, J.H., & Lasker, G.E. (Eds.). (2006). The applied psychology of values, ethics,
    and management in organizations. Ontario, Canada: IIAS. ISBN 1897233701.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Toraskar, K.V. (2006). The effects of individual differences, perceived distance,
    and hierarchical status on ethical decision making. In Taormina, R.J., Gao, J.H., & Lasker, G.E. (Eds.), The applied psychology of values, ethics, and management in organizations. Ontario, Canada: IIAS. ISBN 1897233701.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2006). Cultural differences in psychological reactions to imposed restrictions on individual freedom. Special Symposium on Individual Freedom and Individual Responsibility. 18th International Conference on Systems Research. Baden-Baden, Germany.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Selvarajah, C. (2005). Perceptions of leadership excellence in ASEAN nations. Leadership, 1(3), 299-322.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Gao, J.H. (2005). Effects of organizational socialization on work enthusiasm in two Chinese cultures. 65th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. Honolulu, USA.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2005). Developing leadership excellence to meet future challenges. Invited Keynote Address. 2nd International Symposium on Strategic Planning for the Future: Visions and Challenges. Franzensbad, Czech Republic.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2005). When cultures collide: Antecedents and consequences of unethical behavior across cultures. Special Symposium on Ethics. 17th International Conference on Systems Research. Baden-Baden, Germany.
  • Gao, J.H. & Taormina, R.J. (2005). Factors influencing work dedication among Chinese employees.
    5th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management and Human Resource Management and Development in a Transitional Economy. Nanjing, China.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2004). Convergent validation of two measures of organizational socialization. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 15, 76-94.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2003). Meta-ethics East and West: Ethical decision making across cultures. In I. Smit, & W. Wallach (Eds.), Cognitive, emotive, and ethical aspects of decision-making. Windsor, Canada: IIAS.
  • Taormina, R.J. (2001). Cultures as systems. In G.E. Lasker (Ed.), Advances in systems research and cybernetics. Windsor, Canada: IIAS.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Bauer, T.N. (2000). Organizational socialization in contrasting cultures: Results
    from the United States and Hong Kong. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 8(3), 262-289.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Law, C.M. (2000). Approaches to preventing burnout: The effects of personal
    stress management & organizational socialization. Journal of Nursing Management, 8(2), 89-99.
  • Taormina, R.J. (1998). Employee attitudes toward organizational socialization in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 34, 468-485.
  • Taormina, R.J. (1997). Organizational socialization: A multidomain, continuous process model. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 5(1), 29-47.
  • Taormina, R.J. (1994) The Organizational Socialization Inventory. International Journal of Selection
    and Assessment, 2(3), 133-145.
  • Williams, S., & Taormina, R.J. (1992). Group polarization on business decisions in Singapore. Journal
    of Social Psychology, 132(2), 265-267.
  • Taormina, R.J., Messick, D., Wilke, H., & Iwawaki, S. (1988). Cross Cultural perspectives on foreign aid deservingness decisions. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 19(4), 387-412.
  • Taormina, R.J., & Messick, D. (1983). Deservingness for foreign aid: Effects of need, similarity and estimated effectiveness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 13(5), 371-391.

Courses Taught

  • Doctoral Thesis Supervision (DYBA999)
  • Leadership in Organizations (IMBB111)
  • Graduate Research Methodology (IMBB106)
  • Masters Thesis Supervision (IMBB999)
  • Business Research (MGMT315)
  • Cultural Influences on Management (MGMT407)
  • Introduction To Psychology I (PSYC101)
  •  Introduction To Psychology II (PSYC102)
  •  Research Method I In Psychology (PSYC201)
  • Research Method II In Psychology (PSYC202)
  • Organizational Psychology (PSYC302)
  • Senior Thesis Research I (PSYC401)
  • Senior Thesis Research II (PSYC402)
  • Research Thesis I (PSYG798)
  • Research Thesis II (PSYG799)
  • Applied Social Psychology And Management (PSYC405)