Contact information
Mailing Address: Institute for Population and Human Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Department of Psychology
1113 Sofia, BULGARIA, “Acad. G. Bonchev” Str., Block 6
Phone: + 359 2 979 30 56
E-mail: z.totkova@gmail.com, z.totkova@iphs.eu, z.totkova@iphs.bas.bg
Research Interests
Transport Psychology, Individual Differences, Driving Behavior, Personality Traits
Education
2011-2014 – PhD in Psychology, Institute for population and human studies, BAS
2009-2010 – Master in Applied Psychology, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
2004-2009 – Bachelor in Psychology, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
Academic Positions
01.2024 – present – Chair of the General Assembly of Scientists at the Institute for Population and Human Studies – BAS
09.2024 – present – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”
11.2023 – present – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, IPHS, BAS
2015-2023 – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, IPHS, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2011-2014 – PhD Student, Department of Psychology, Institute for Population and Human Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Research Projects (last 5 Years)
1. Project “Personality and risky driving behavior”. The project aims to study the relation
between personality characteristics and risky driving. Planned research topic. Funded by
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences main budget. November 2016 – November 2019.
2. Project “Development of policies towards Bulgarians living abroad”. The projects aims to
analyse the reasons for emigration and the models of adaptatioof the bulgarian communities
worldwide as well as to propose to the government policies toward the bulgarians living
abroad. It is delegated by CMD № 315, State gazette, issue 107/28. December 2018 – June
2020.
3. Project “Driving style and risky driving behaviour”. The purpose of the study is to
conceptualize the construct driving style and to adapt a method for assessment of driving
style. Funded by Young Scientists Program, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. August 2017 –
April 2019
4. Project “Enhancement of the level of road safety via establishment of new methodology for
psychological assessment of drivers”. The goal of the project is to construct new methods for
assessment of psychological aptitude to drive. Funded by “Transport and transport
infrastructure program 2014-2020”, Ministry of Transport, Information technology and
Communication. June 2017 – December 2018.
5. Project “Research on the mechanisms, forms and motives for aggression and violence at
schools”. The project aims to study the reasons for aggression at school. Funded by Ministry
of Education and Science. October 2017 – February 2018
Selected Publications (10 in the last 10 Years)
1. Z. Totkova, “Research directions of contemporary transport psychology in Bulgaria,” Papers of BAS, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 73–87, 2024, ISSN (print) 2367-6248, ISSN (online) 2603-4832.
2. Z. Totkova, “Subjective assessment of traffic rules compliance in Bulgaria: Role of personality and driving style,” Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, vol. 106, pp. 370–384, 2024, ISSN: 1369-8478, doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2024.07.013.
3. R. Racheva, Z. Totkova, and B. Andreev, “Nonverbal Intelligence and negative driving outcomes in addicts,” Bulgarian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 20–27, 2024, ISSN: 2367-881X.
4. Z. Totkova, Transport Psychology. Personality and Driving Behavior. Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of BAS, 2023, ISBN 978-619-245-293-3 (Print), ISBN 978-619-245-294-0 (Online).
5. Z. Totkova, “The effect of driving anger on negative road outcomes in Bulgaria,” Proceedings of the XXII International Scientific Conference Applied Psychology – Opportunities and Prospects, University Publishing House of Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, pp. 185–197, 2023, ISSN: 1314–0507.
6. Z. Totkova, “Driving style – gender and age differences,” Proceedings of the Jubilee International Scientific Conference Psychology – Tradition and Modernity, University Publishing House “St. Kliment Ohridski”, pp. 216–226, 2022, ISBN: 978-954-07-5611-0.
7. Z. Totkova, “Interconnection between Driving Style, Traffic Locus of Control, and Impulsivity in Bulgarian Drivers,” Behav. Sci., vol. 10, p. 58, 2020, doi: 10.3390/bs10020058.
8. Z. Totkova and R. Racheva, “The Bulgarian Version of the Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory: Psychometric Properties,” Behav. Sci., vol. 9, p. 145, 2019, doi: 10.3390/bs9120145.
9. R. Racheva and Z. Totkova, “Reliability and Validity of a Method for Assessment of Executive Functions in Drivers,” Behav. Sci., vol. 10, p. 37, 2020, doi: 10.3390/bs10010037.
10. Z. Totkova and R. Racheva, “A Multidimensional Method for Assessing Personality Characteristics Related to Risky Driving Behavior,” Psychological Research, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 746–775, 2019.