The aim of this thesis was to investigate views on the the traditional Levirate custom in modern society specifically regarding repercussions on the freedom of widows in the traditional Luo community. Qualitative research has been used this thesis, using both primary and secondary sources. Phenomenology as a principle of science has been adopted. Though much research has been done on this subject matter, this study hopes to provide a new approach by addressing the issues mentioned above. The findings of this study have shown that the Levirate custom seems to infringe on the freedom of the widows in the traditional Luo community. Evidence of male dominance due to values attached to the traditional Levirate custom has been observed.

This work represents a theoretical and empirical study of distinct subcomponents of the explicit power motive (broadly defined as conscious desires to attain control and prestige) matching distinctions between social hierarchies (e.g., hierarchies based on forced or voluntary deference). Three factor analytic studies showed a consistent three factor structure in existing and newly created questionnaire items matching the power motive definition and selected for being able to distinguish between different kinds of hierarchies. These factors represented distinct motives for dominance (i.e., the desire to coerce others), prestige (i.e., the desire to attain others’ respect), and leadership (i.e., the desire to direct others): the DoPL motives. Several further studies were conducted to provide evidence for the DoPL motives’ validity and their distinct properties. First, mostly in line with the theoretical predictions, the DoPL motives showed differential correlations with relevant personality characteristics such as the BIG 5 personality traits or self-reported anger/aggression. Second, the DoPL motives explained more than 80% of variance in two power motive scales, showing that they indeed represent constituent parts of the power motive. Third, whereas the leadership motive predicted full-time employees’ rank across different fields of work, the prestige motive predicted participants’ endorsement of moral concerns. Fourth, the dominance motive predicted the amount of money participants kept for themselves in two dictator games. Fifth, whereas the dominance motive was negatively, the leadership motive was positively related to charitable giving behaviour. Sixth, a sample of Donald Trump voters in the 2016 US election showed more agreement with accusations of unfair treatment of their candidate as a function of their dominance motive. This effect was stronger before as compared to after the election. Seventh, a study related to effort mobilisation in tasks ostensibly related to the DoPL motives found no significant effects. In conclusion, this work amplifies the importance of differentiating between subcomponents of the explicit power motive by showing their differential relationship to a range of behavioural and cognitive outcomes and other relevant characteristics.

This thesis deals with effect of phytohormonal application on apical dominance, stem anatomy and expression of PsPIN1 in garden pea (Pisum sativum) variety Paloma and from this variety derived mutant rms4. In this thesis effect of decapitation, exogenous application of auxin (IAA, in a form of lanoline paste) and strigolactone (GR24, in a form of admixture in nutrient solution) on growth activity of axillary buds from nodes 1st to 4th was studied. After decapitation (above 4th node) "wild-type" plants reacted by increased intensity of axillary buds growth in almost all observed nodes and application of IAA inhibited growth of axillary buds to level of intact plants. In rms4 plants response on decapitation was only observed in axillary buds of the 4th node along with there was observation of insensivity to IAA in other observed nodes. GR24 inhibited growth of axillary buds in a small extent in "wild-type" plants and in rms4 mutants there was no observation of this inhibitory effect of strigolactone. Furthermore this thesis deals with effect of decapitation on [3H] - IAA transport from axillary bud in to young plants stems. Polar auxin transport capacity in stem is slightly higher in rms4 mutant and after decapitation axillary buds exported more auxin compared to "wild-type" plants. De novo vascular differentiation was observed 5 days after application of IAA in stem of both genotypes. Expression of PsPIN1 increased after IAA treatment both in Paloma and in rms4 mutant. This increase was higher in rms4 mutant compared to variety Paloma.

The present study examined the effects of societal threat on levels of authoritarianism and social dominance orientation and investigated if those self-report measures were consistent or inconsistent with a measure of implicit attitudes regarding Americans and Immigrants. Exposure to societal threat was hypothesized to increase authoritarianism and social dominance orientation, as well as to increase implicit prejudicial attitudes, as measured by the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), towards out-group members. Based on prior findings, men were expected to have higher levels of social dominance orientation. As predicted, exposure to societal threat significantly increased right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. Additionally, men endorsed greater levels of social dominance orientation than did women. However, there were no statistically significant differences in implicit attitudes between the participants who were exposed to societal threat and those who were not (all p’s > .05).

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No description available.

M.A. (Psychology) / The goal of the present study was to determine whether there exist any differences in cognitive skills between left-handed dyslexic boys and righthanded dyslexic boys with left hemisphere speech representation. The comparison was made in terms of their verbal and visuo-spatial skills. The motivation for this study resulted from a hypothesis that was formulated by Geschwind and Behan (1982). The hypothesis states that there exists a difference in functional hemispheric asymmetry between left-handed and righthanded dyslexic boys with left hemispheric language representation. By virtue of their explanation of dyslexia in terms of a prenatal hyper secretion of the hormone called testosterone, Geschwind and Behan state that left-handed dyslexic boys will perform better than right-handed dyslexic boys on visuospatial tasks. An empirical study was performed in order to compare the verbal and visuospatial skills of left-handed and right-handed dyslexic boys. Twenty-six lefthanded and 26 right-handed dyslexic boys served as the experimental subjects. All the subjects had left hemispheric language representation. The selection of the experimental subjects was done by means of the dichotic listening technique as well as with the Harris test of lateral dominance. The nine subtests of the Senior South African Individual Scale-Revised served as measuring-instrument. The first five subscales represented the verbal cognitive skills. The visuo-spatial skills were measured with subtests six to nine. The data were statistically analysed by means of Hotelling's T2-test and Student's t-tests. The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between left-handed and right-handed dyslexic boys with left hemispheric language representation in terms of any of the verbal and visuo-spatial subtests. The relationship between hand preference, functional hemispheric asymmetry and dyslexia is elucidated by the present study which rejects the GeschwindBehan hypothesis that there exists a difference in functional hemispheric asymmetry between left-handed and right-handed dyslexic boys. A previous study (Hugdahl et aI., 1989) accepted this hypothesis. Further research is thus necessary in order to determine the validity of the Geschwind-Behan hypothesis.

The formulation of log-linear models within the framework of Generalized Linear Models offers new possibilities in modeling categorical data. The resulting models are not restricted to the analysis of contingency tables in terms of ordinary hierarchical interactions. Such models are considered as the family of nonstandard log-linear models. The problem that can arise is an ambiguous interpretation of parameters. In the current paper this problem is solved by looking at the effects coded in the design matrix and determining the numerical contribution of single effects. Based on these results, stepwise approaches are proposed in order to achieve parsimonious models. In addition, some testing strategies are presented to test such (eventually non-nested) models against each other. As a result, a whole interpretation framework is elaborated to examine nonstandard log-linear models in depth.

Physical and intellectual differences in the home environment of Xhosa and White children suggested that the interaction of touch and vision in situations of sensory conflict and the development of dominance may be different in children from these homes. Children aged 5-13 years were tested on apparatus which created a conflict of tactual and visual judgement about the perceived size of the stimulus. Xhosa and White subjects performed similarly except when only tactual judgement was allowed and the Xhosa group were less influenced by touch. The study concludes that for children touch and vision contribute equally to the resolution of sensory conflict when both senses are active in size-judgements and when only one mode is allowed for judging then the resolution is biased towards this mode. This outcome is different from that of experiments with adults and has implications for theories derived from them.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / The relationship between the executive and the legislature in South Africa is determined by the Constitution. The study focuses on the separation of powers in a single party-dominant system and examines the role of the Leader of Government Business in parliamentary processes. The Leader of Government Business is appointed by the President in terms of Section 91(4) of the Constitution. The role is outlined in the terms of National Assembly Rule (150), while the functions have been developed over time since 1994. Though an executive function an office in parliament was established to act as conduit between the executive and the legislature on matters relating to the legislative and oversight processes. The office mainly fulfills its role by monitoring government‟s legislative programme and ensuring that government‟s priorities are achieved. Over the past 15 years, the office of the LOGB has developed into one that performs a dual function supporting both the executive and the legislature. Parliament relies more and more on this office in executing its oversight responsibilities with regard to the functions of programming in ensuring the availability of the executive, tracking matters of executive compliance and tracking vacancies in institutions that support democracy. The study employed a combination of research methods. It used a desk top study approach by consulting relevant literature on the subject matter. Interviews were conducted with both politicians and relevant officials in the South African Parliament and the House of Commons in Britain to gauge their perceptions, knowledge and experiences in respect of the role of the executive and the legislature in the legislative and oversight processes. Reports of Portfolio and Select Committees on deliberations during the legislative and oversight processes were consulted.