Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-118). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Psychology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

xvii, 103 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational relationships between trauma, dissociation, and emotion. Short and long term consequences of betrayal trauma on cognitive and emotion coping strategies in a sample of 67 mother-child dyads were explored. Group comparison, correlation, and regression strategies were used to examine relationships between the following variables: maternal and child trauma histories, maternal and child dissociation, maternal alexithymia, and child emotion coping strategies in response to distressful events. Experiences of high betrayal trauma were found to be related to higher levels of dissociation in both children and mothers. Furthermore, mothers who experienced high betrayal trauma in childhood and were subsequently interpersonally revictimized in adulthood were shown to have higher levels of dissociation than a group of mothers who had experienced high betrayal trauma in childhood but were not revictimized in adulthood. This may indicate that dissociation from a history of childhood betrayal trauma involves a persistent unawareness of future threats in the environment. Additional evidence consistent with this hypothesis was found. Maternal revictimization status was related to child interpersonal trauma history, suggesting that a dissociative unawareness for threats may extend to children. More generally, an association was found between maternal interpersonal trauma history and child interpersonal trauma history. Maternal dissociation was also predictive of maternal alexithymia. This relationship was examined because mothers high in alexithymia were hypothesized to display deficits in emotion socialization that could put their children at greater risk for dissociation. Evidence consistent with a relationship between maternal alexithymia and child dissociation was found. Furthermore, a significant association between maternal alexithymia level and child emotion coping strategy was revealed. Children with highly alexithymic mothers displayed higher levels of passive emotion coping strategies on a task assessing their reactions to a distressful parent-child event. This study provides evidence that the experience of parental trauma has intergenerational effects on children. It is an important first step towards longitudinal studies that can provide additional clarification of the nature of the relationships between these variables, as well as parent-child intervention studies that may help to prevent child trauma exposure and reduce symptomatology. / Committee in charge: Jennifer Freyd, Chairperson, Psychology; Jennifer Ablow, Member, Psychology; Philip Fisher, Member, Psychology; Debra Eisert, Outside Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:46:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 buchianeri_lgc_dr_assis.pdf: 427890 bytes, checksum: b69c24604ad5af2fe659d09f81f02536 (MD5) / O mundo hipercinético da atualidade toca profundamente a subjetividade, fazendo emergir na superfície da conduta formas de ser e agir típicas, resultantes de elaborações cognitivas, emocionais e afetivas, que processam a experiência de tal aceleração da vida e ampliação do espaço. Dentre as subjetivações da velocidade, no mundo contemporâneo, destacamos o tédio como uma das principais, ainda que ele esteja sendo confundido com a depressão, por manter com ela uma sintomatologia semelhante, embora seja bem distinto quanto à sua gênese e dinâmica psicológica. Neste trabalho, além das considerações acerca do tédio, na adolescência, há também reflexões a respeito da noção de trauma. O conceito de trauma, que foi tão útil e iluminador em tempos outros, já não possui o mesmo valor heurístico, porque os processos de subjetivação, na atualidade, não carregam, como outrora, as marcas de embates, contradições, conflitos ou choques brutais. O mundo atual não se funda mais na lógica do conflito e do confronto, como ocorreu com a modernidade do século XVIII até o final do século XX, e, apesar de ser um mundo supermovimentado e acelerado, por isso mesmo, potencialmente capaz de produzir colisões, desenvolve mecanismos de ordenação e controle das mobilidades extremamente sofisticados, evitando “acidentes de trânsito”, especialmente no plano do trânsito psicológico (emocional, afetivo, dos vínculos e relacionamentos). O mundo que admitia ou até cultuava o sacrifício e o sofrimento cedeu lugar para um mundo que cultua o prazer, a felicidade e a frivolidade da vida. Há uma tendência ao esmaecimento do trauma, para seu deslocamento como experiência fundante do sujeito e do mundo... / The hyperkinetic world of today deeply touches the subjectivity, bringing out to the surface of the behavior typical forms of acting and being, resulting from cognitive, emotional and affective elaborations, which process the experience of such life and accelerating expansion of the space. Among the subjectivations of speed, in the contemporary world, we point out the boredom as one of the major. Although boredom is being confused with depression, for keeping with it similar symptoms, they are quite different as to their genesis and psychological dynamics. In this work, in addition to considerations about the boredom in adolescence, there are also considerations about the notion of trauma. The concept of trauma, so helpful and enlightening in other times, no longer has the same heuristic value, because the processes of subjectification, at present time, do not carry, as then, marks of struggle, contradictions, conflicts and brutal shock. The world today is no longer on the logic of conflict and confrontation, as it happened with the modernity of the eighteenth century until the late twentieth century. Moreover, despite being a super busy and fast-paced world, therefore, potentially able to produce collisions, develops mechanisms for ordering and control of highly sophisticated mobility, preventing traffic accidents, especially in terms of psychological traffic (emotional, affective bonds and relationships). The world that worshiped or even admitted sacrifice and suffering has given way to a world that worships... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

M.A. / Despite the fact that the helping professions in the SAPS make use of a multi-professional team approach to provide a service with regards to trauma intervention, statistics confirm that there is still a high occurrence of stress-related problems amongst police officials'. The aim of this study is to explore and describe the police officials' experience of trauma and the trauma intervention programmes in the SAPS, in order to create guidelines and to make certain recommendations with regard to client-focussed programmes for police officials' attached to the high-risk units in the Eastern Cape. The aims of this study were best realised by the exploratory and descriptive goals of fundamental research as expounded by de Vos et al. (1998). The exploratory and descriptive goal ofthe problem is best achieved by combining the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, as proposed by Cresswell (1994). For the purposes of this study, the researcher has first made use of a qualitative approach to research. The population with regards to this phase of the study consisted of the police officials' attached to the high risk units in Port Elizabeth. The researcher made use of the purposive sampling method in order to select the participants of the focus group. A semi-structured interview schedule, consisting of four pre-designed questions, was employed in order to obtain maximum information on the subject. The four questions are as follows: experience of trauma, impact on and reaction to trauma, coping with trauma and the experience of trauma intervention programmes. The themes arising from the findings are divided into eleven categories including the classification of their respective sub-categories. The categories are as follows: 1) the concept trauma, 2) traumatic incidents, 3) trauma reinforcers, 4) post traumatic events, 5) post traumatic stress disorder, 6) social support, 7) avoidance/denial, 8) problem-focussed coping, 9) consumer orientation, 1 0) consumer satisfaction and 11) a core marketing strategy. A quantitative approach was used during the second phase of the study, whereby the themes that resulted from the findings of the focus group interview, were distributed amongst the police officials' representing the high risk units in the Eastern Cape. The latter was done in order to explore the extent of the items arising from the focus group in the population. For the purposes of the second phase of the study, the researcher employed the simple random sampling method, whereby 10% of the population was selected. The researcher made use of the group administered method whereby respondents were involved in a group and were thereby provided with an opportunity to complete the questionnaire. The social workers responsible for the high risk units in the various areas in the Eastern Cape were trained as field workers in order to facilitate the completion of the questionnaire by means of the group administered method. The following conclusions were drawn from the findings. Firstly, it is concluded that the police officials' attached to the high risk units in the Eastern Cape are exposed to a variety of traumatic incidents. The latter vary with regards to occurrence and intensity. The nature, frequency and intensity of the incident have an influence on the extent to which police officials' experience these incidents as traumatic, and this also influences the cumulative impact thereof on the individual. The internal and external stress factors which police officials' are exposed to on a daily basis in the carrying out of their duties, also plays an important role in the extent to which police officials' are capable of coping with trauma. In some cases it is experienced so intensely that it leads to a traumatic reaction by some police officials'. Secondly, it is concluded that police officials' generally react differently, depending on their exposure to trauma. These reactions are generally similar to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder. Thirdly, the conclusion is reached that police officials' reveal different coping styles. These vary with specific reference to social support, avoidance/denial and problem focussed coping mechanisms. Lastly, it is concluded that the trauma intervention programmes are not consumer orientated as a thorough needs assessment is not done and police officials' individual needs, expectations, perceptions and preferences are not taken into consideration most of the time. Police officials' are also greatly dissatisfied with the programmes because the elements of the marketing strategy, with specific reference to product, place, cost and promotion as expounded by Terblanche (1993), do not live up to their expectations and perceptions of the programme. Finally, the findings were compared with each other, whereafter certain conclusions were reached and a number of recommendations were made.

D.Ed. / Art lecturers affiliated to a tertiary institute observed the occurrence of negative emotional content and expression in the artwork of their students. These students are also inclined to manifest negative behavioural and interaction patterns. The lecturers appealed for this research as a method to determine what the content of the expressed artwork indicate. The request was for the research methods to proceed within an art framework in order for it to be applied as a class project. The research proceeded with the use of art as a projection medium, applied during the process of facilitative interaction. The aim was to determine the degree to which the projected content in the young adults' artwork correlate with their personal life- and experiential world. The young adults were requested to write spontaneous sketches depicting the story of their life. The information was passed on to a graphologist for the analysis of their handwriting. The findings of the graphologist was later applied as external triangulation in order to verify the identified themes obtained from the analysis. With the aid of art as projection medium during facilitative interaction, it has been determined that the young adults struggle with unresolved trauma as a result of abuse. The exposure to abuse resulted in barriers influencing their relationships with others as well as themselves. The barriers manifest as experiences of pain and confusion; mistrust and isolation; aggression and depression. The research resulted in the development of a model for educational psychologists equipping them to identify and address unresolved trauma with young adults through the use of art as projection medium during facilitative interaction. The development of the model proceeded in four stages. During stage one concepts were identified, defined and classified after completion of the fieldwork. The sample included 30 respondents from different cultures ranging from ages 18 to 24. The collection of data proceeded with the use of art as projection medium involving the following - a Gestalt-therapeutic exercise: the drawing of a rosebush, in-depth interviews, the analysis of cartoons and the writing of spontaneous sketches on unlineated paper for graphological analysis. The model of Guba was used to ensure trustworthiness in qualitative methodology. This refers to the credibility, transferability, reliability and verification of the research. In step two the relationship between concepts was drawn, after which step three followed, involving the description of the model. Guidelines in operationalising the model, are stated in step four. The model aims at the empowerment of young adults suffering from unresolved childhood trauma, with the use of art as projection medium during facilitative interaction. During this process the young adults are guided to an enhanced self-awareness in order for self-insight and self-empowerment to develop so that mental health can be obtained. The power of the model lies in the continuous plotting taking place through the use of art as projection medium during facilitative interaction.

South Africa as a country is known for its high crime rate which produces an ongoing traumatising environment for its multicultural nation. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the general South African population is thought to be more prevalent than most international norms which make this topic both relevant and important. Cultural diversity is seen to play a role in the experience of PTSD which means that it has become important to gain an understanding of the potential effect of the individual’s cultural background on the processing of a traumatic experience and the symptoms related to the experience. The proposed research focused on appraisals of the traumatic event and symptoms (in schematic and cultural terms). An interpretive (with current cognitive conceptions of the disorder as guiding theory) phenomenological approach was used. The sample consisted of eight isiXhosa-speaking adults that qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD with no prior psychiatric diagnosis. Data was gathered using a semi-structured interview and analysed using the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Results indicated that participants understood their PTSD symptoms in a functional manner but struggled to make sense of their traumatic event. Not understanding their traumatic event was the variable that maintained their PTSD diagnosis. Most of the interpretations made by these participants were fairly universal and there were very few links to content that can directly be attributed to a traditional African worldview. Practitioners may not need to completely reinvent the wheel as far as treatment strategies for PTSD for isiXhosa-speaking individuals in an urban setting go.

The false/ recovered memory debate has highlighted the complexities involved in assessing the validity of memories for emotional childhood events. This dissertation begins by tracing the history of the dominant school of thought on memory, the spatial perspective, as well as far less conspicuous reconstructive views, and challenges influential modern spatial views (e.g., repression) in light of a more defensible reconstructive model. The empirical component of this dissertation was designed to compare the nature of real, created, and fabricated childhood memories for emotional events within individuals. The critical issues being addressed in the experiment were: (1) whether people could come to remember false ("created") memories for emotional events; (2) if so, whether differences existed between created memories and real and/or intentionally lied about (fabricated) memories, and; (3) whether there were individual differences in susceptibility to created memories. Using a variation of an approach developed by Hyman, Husband, and Billings (1995), a questionnaire was forwarded to participants' parents inquiring about six categories of negative emotional events (serious medical procedure, serious animal attack, getting seriously hurt by another child, serious indoor accident, serious outdoor accident, and getting lost) which the participant may or may not have experienced between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Parents were asked to describe each event which had occurred and to give a number of specific pieces of information relating to the event. Based on the questionnaire information (85% response rate), 77 participants were interviewed about each of a: (1) real event; (2) false event; and (3) fabricated event, in three weekly-spaced interviews. Over the three interviews, the interviewers attempted to implant a created memory for the false emotional event using encouragement, context reinstatement, guided imagery, and instructing daily recall attempts. In the first interview, participant were asked about the real event and the false event (counterbalanced), each introduced as a true event. They were provided the event tide and four specific pieces of information to cue their memories (their age, location, season/ month, and people present), based on questionnaire information (contrived for the false events). In the second interview, participants were re-interviewed about their memories for the false event followed by the implantation procedure. In the third interview, participants were again interviewed about the false event with the same interview approach. Finally (after the last attempt at recalling the false event), they were provided written instructions to fabricate a childhood memory, again with an event category and four information clues, given preparation rime and a monetary incentive, and interviewed about the fabricated event with the same format as the other two memory types. Following transcription of the two or three (if a created memory had emerged) final memory reports, the memories were compared on several dependent measures, collectively designated the Memory Assessment Procedure (MAP), relating to their subjective and presentation characteristics. Participants were then asked to complete a Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) questionnaire to examine if susceptibility to created memories was related to a general dissociative cognitive pattern. Results indicated that twenty (26%) of participants created complete memories for the false emotional events (seven animal attacks, five instances of getting seriously hurt by another child, four serious outdoor accidents, three episodes of getting lost, and one medical procedure). Furthermore, 29.9% of participants reported some false information pertaining to the false event ("partial" memories), for a total of 55.9% of participants recalling information relating to the false event. The remaining participants (44.2%) reported no information pertaining to the false event. There were several interesting differences among the three memory types, including stress ratings, vividness/ clarity ratings, confidence ratings, coherence, number of details, repeated details, and memory failures. For example, when relating a created memory, participants were less confident and the memories were less vivid and detailed compared to the other memory types, but similar in sensory components and relevancy. On the other hand, participants were highly confident in their fabricated memories which were rated as highly stressful and vivid, and the memories were detailed. However, when relating a fabricated memory, participants repeated details and were less willing to admit lacking memory, relative to real memories. Other findings are reported on the origin of the created memories, age factors, memory perspective, reasons provided for first forgetting the false event, and post-interview confidence in the created memories. On the DES , participants who had come up with a partial or a created memory scored, on average, about twice as high as those participants who had recalled no false information, indicating that susceptibility to memory distortion may be related to a general dissociative pattern. This was the largest scale created memory study to date and the first to look at a variety of emotional childhood events and the content of the memories. Implications of the findings for the false memory debate and memory assessment in forensic contexts are discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Charles Baxter, in his essay “Dysfunctional Narratives: or: ‘Mistakes Were Made,’” implies that all trauma narrative is synonymous with “dysfunctional narrative,” or narrative that leaves all characters unaccountable. He writes: “In such fiction, people and events are often accused of turning the protagonist into the kind of person the protagonist is, usually an unhappy person. That’s the whole story. When blame has been assigned, the story is over.” For Baxter, trauma narrative lets everyone “off the hook,” so to speak. He would say that we write about our bitter lemonade to make excuses for our poor choices, and “audiences of fellow victims” read our tales, because their lemonade and their choices carry equal bitterness, and they require equal excuses. While trauma narrative can soothe us, as can other narrative genres, we should not dismiss trauma fiction because of a sweeping generalization. Trauma fiction also allows us to explore the missing parts of our autobiographical narratives and to explore the effects of trauma—two endeavors not fully possible without fiction. As explained in more detail later, the human mind requires narrative to formulate an identity. Trauma disrupts this process, because “trauma does not lie in the possession of the individual, to be recounted at will, but rather acts as a haunting or possessive influence which not only insistently and intrusively returns but is, moreover, experienced for the first time only in its belated repetition.” Because literature can speak what “theory cannot say,” we need fiction to speak in otherwise silent spaces. Fiction allows us to express, analyze, and comprehend what we could not otherwise.

Lion in Summer & Other Beasts is an investigation into point of view, place and the fragment. Many of the characters are searching for a sense of home outside of their birthplace, in cities such as New York City, Charleston, Portland and Tel Aviv. Major themes include alienation, love and trauma.