There are people who do not finish their tasks by the deadline, who do not start or finish a task because they might not achieve very high standards, for who only the perfect is good enough, who are afraid of failure because they are unable to keep their goals, or wait for a “good time” to work, etc. These features are examples of procrastinators’ behavioural signs. In the current research we want to focus on how procrastinating behaviour appears in the academic settings. The new system of Hungarian higher education – the credit system – gives bigger freedom for students in organizing of their studies. The study schedule of the institutions has got less pressure or determined path prescribed till the end of the studies. Now there is less extrinsic motivation, simpler control of proficiency and changed penalty to who fall behind with their studies. Recently, a new phenomenon, the postponing of studies has appeared in the Hungarian higher education. What is procrastination? The tendency to delay initiation or completion of important tasks (Lay, 1986) or delay tasks to the point of discomfort. (Solomon & Rothblum, 1984) The avoidance of doing a task which needs to be done – postponing something until tomorrow that can be done today. Procrastination does not only affect the person’s work but also commonly involves feelings such as guilt, inadequacy, self-disgust, stress and depression. (DeQuincey, 2004)

Procedure Sample The examination took place at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. 210 students (155 males, 65 females) took part voluntarily in the procedure from several faculties. The methods: Personality was measured with the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (Hungarian version), and procrastinating behaviour with the Questionnaire of Procrastination Types and Lay’s Trait Procrastination Questionnaire.

By statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests) the results show a significant difference between males and females. Higher values are found in the female group in terms of self-awareness, empathy, interpersonal relationship, while among the male’s self-regard, independence, stress tolerance and impulse control scale values are higher. If we compare the results between procrastinators and non-procrastinators we get a very interesting analysis. We expected that two groups would have differences between independence, reality testing, problem solving, stress tolerance and optimism. But in this study we got several differences in other scales: they were assertiveness and self-regard. The assertiveness in this questionnaire is composed of three basic components: the ability to express feelings the ability to express beliefs and thoughts openly the ability to stand up for personal rights At first I thought in this meaning assertiveness does not have very big importance either for procrastinator or non-procrastinator persons. But the results show differently, thus it needs to be further examined, compared with other factors. Self-regard belongs to self-image, this difference is not so surprising, some procrastinators have failed because they do not believe in their abilities, knowledge and qualities. But contrary to our hypothesis we did not find any difference in optimism. We came to these conclusions: the procrastinating behaviour ruins productivity, the person’s relationships, the ability and possibility of work.