Shyness is a personality trait that is stable across time and situations in some individuals. While childhood shyness is a risk factor for later mental health and emotional problems, not all shy children grow up to have these problems. This thesis examined subtypes of shyness identified based on the temporal stability of shyness and based on levels of sociability and their corresponding outcomes, as well as the roles of social and biological contextual factors. Chapters 2-4 comprise the empirical studies. In Chapter 2, I report three shyness trajectories from middle childhood to adulthood (ages 8 to 30-35). Relative to a low-stable non-shy trajectory, children with an increasing, but not a decreasing, shy trajectory were at higher risk for clinically significant social anxiety, depression, and substance use, and were hypervigilant to angry faces in adulthood. Chapters 3 and 4 then report electrocortical correlates and mechanisms during the processing of non-social auditory novelty and social exclusion across children, adolescents, and adults with varying levels of shyness and sociability. Chapter 3 established that shyness, but not sociability, was related to the P300 ERP in processing non-social auditory stimuli in both 10-year-old children and adults, in support of the notion that shyness and sociability are independent personality dimensions. Findings on subtypes of shyness also showed that children characterized by conflicted shyness (with high levels of both shyness and sociability) reported higher neuroticism, but this relation was mediated by increased P300 amplitudes to processing background stimuli. Finally, Chapter 4 reports that individuals characterized by conflicted shyness who exhibited high theta EEG spectral power to social exclusion were most fearful of negative evaluation, irrespective of age. Also, conflicted shy adolescents who showed high theta spectral power to social exclusion were most likely to engage in substance-use. These findings highlight that there is much heterogeneity in shyness, and that shyness is not directly related to adverse mental health outcomes. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Shyness is a personality trait that is stable across time and situations in some individuals. Past research suggests that shy children exhibit more internalizing problems, including anxiety and depression, compared to their non-shy counterparts. However, the development of shyness has not been studied beyond adolescence, and the biological and social factors that contribute to adverse developmental pathways and outcomes related to shyness are not well understood. The goal of this thesis was to understand the mental health outcomes of shy individuals by examining different subtypes of shy individuals. To this end, this thesis first demonstrated how shyness unfolds across the first four decades of life to shape adult mental health outcomes in a cohort of individuals. Second, this thesis examined how neural responses to threatening social and non-social contexts related to the socioemotional outcomes across children, adolescents and adults with varying levels of shyness.

This thesis explored the effects of social exclusion on the sense of control. We indexed the sense of control using the sense of agency. The sense of agency refers to the feeling of control over our actions and the outcomes of those actions. We experience the sense of agency at an implicit, pre-reflective level. In other words, we routinely make movements that impact some sort of change in the environment, and simply just know that our actions cause an effect. Experimentally, we can measure the sense of agency using the intentional binding effect. Intentional binding is a temporal illusion in which we perceive the time between our voluntary action and the outcome of that action to be shorted compared to when the same effect is caused by an involuntary action. We conducted three experiments. In experiment one, we used an episodic memory recall task to prime participants to feel socially excluded or socially included. In experiment two, we used a different manipulation of social exclusion and social inclusion called Cyberball. We found that in both experiments, intentional binding was significantly reduced following social exclusion compared to social inclusion and baseline. In experiment three, we investigated the pre-reflective sense of agency in eating disorders. Eating disorders are highly associated with chronic social exclusion experiences and an altered sense of control in life. We found that individuals with higher eating disorder symptomatology experience a lower sense of agency, compared to healthy individuals. Overall, this thesis is the first to demonstrate that social exclusion has observable effects on the sense of agency. We were able to triangulate these findings using another social exclusion manipulation as well, strengthening our original findings. Lastly, we showed that a disorder characterized, in part, by social exclusion, reduces the sense of agency / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No / During the past ten years, there has been growing interest in the health needs of young people leaving care in England and Wales. Most such young people leave care between the ages of 16 and 18 and many experience significant problems adjusting to independent living. This article fulfils two objectives. First, it examines the legislative and policy context within which practice towards such young people is now conducted. Second, it deepens our understanding of this policy context by reporting the results of a project on this subject that was undertaken in one local authority district in the north of England in 2005. The project surveyed all young care leavers within the district, analysing their health concerns and experiences. Using postal questionnaires (70 responses), face-to-face interviews (30) and focus groups (two), it sought to provide a clear picture of current needs and to inform future policy action by local health and social care professionals.

No / This paper draws on ethnographic research in Tanzania to question ideas inherent to mainstream development policy that building social capital can be readily created, used, or substituted for other missing assets, and thereby overcome poverty. The poorest experience clusters of interlocking disadvantage that make it highly unlikely that they can draw on social capital to ameliorate their poverty, or that increased association and participation at community level is necessarily beneficial to them. Moreover, social relationships, collective action, and local institutions may structurally reproduce the exclusion of the poorest. As such, a politically neutral and undersocialized policy focus on strengthening associational life and public participation of the poor is unlikely to lead to their greater inclusion, nor to significant poverty alleviation.

No / Public discourse in Britain sees teenage motherhood as a pernicious social problem where mothers, their children and society generally will all suffer. Fathers are seen as feckless. This is reflected in New Labour's teenage pregnancy strategy, which understands teenage parents as victims of ignorance, mis-information, and low expectations. But a review of the research evidence finds that the age at which pregnancy occurs has little effect on social outcomes. Many teenage mothers describe how motherhood makes them feel stronger, and marks a change for the better. Many fathers seek to remain connected with their children. For both, parenting seems to provide an impetus to take up education, training and employment. Teenage parenting may be more of an opportunity than a catastrophe, and often makes sense in the life worlds inhabited by young mothers. The paper ends by asking how we can explain this yawning gulf between the experience of teenage parenting and policy, and concludes that this largely rests on assumptions of rational choice, in turn creating a `rationality mistake'.

Tyrimo objektas – vaikų iš socialinės atskirties šeimų psichosocialinės adaptacijos ypatumai. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti 8 – 9 klasių vaikų iš socialinės atskirties šeimų psichosocialinės adaptacijos ypatumus. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. nustatyti 8 – 9 klasių vaikų iš socialinės atskirties šeimų psichosocialinės adaptacijos ypatumus. 2. palyginti vaikų, augančių socialinės atskirties šeimose ir vaikų ne iš socialinių atskirties šeimų psichosocialinę adaptaciją. 3. palyginti berniukų ir mergaičių psichosocialinę adaptaciją atskirai vaikų, augančių socialinės atskirties šeimose ir vaikų ne iš socialinių atskirties šeimų grupėse. Tyrimo metodai: kiekybinis empirinis tyrimas: apklausa raštu, naudojant uždaro tipo klausimyną (K. Rogers ir R. Dymond psichosocialinės adaptacijos klausimynas). Išvados: 1. Tyrimu atskleista, kad 8 – 9 klasių paauglių iš socialinės atskirties šeimų psichosocialinė adaptacija yra šiek tiek aukštesnė už vidutinį psichosocialinės adaptacijos lygį nurodomą šiai amžiaus grupei. Nustatyta, kad tiriamų vaikų iš socialinės atskirties šeimų psichosocialinės adaptacijos komponento „savęs vertinimas“ subskalė turi aukščiausią vidutinį balą (75,36±13,43 balai), o „polinkio dominuoti“ subskalė – žemiausią (37,81±17,92 balai). 2. Lyginant tiriamuosius nustatėme, kad tirto amžiaus vaikai iš socialinės atskirties šeimų yra linkę mažiau dominuoti (37,81±17,92 balai) nei jų bendraamžiai ne iš socialinės atskirties šeimų (46,91±17,05 balai) (p=0,03). Kitų abiejų grupių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of research – peculiarities of psychosocial adjustment of children from the families of social exclusion. The aim of research – reveal peculiarities of psychosocial adjustment of 8 – 9 form children from the families of social exclusion. The goals of research: 1. Define peculiarities of psychosocial adjustment of 8 – 9 form children from the families of social exclusion. 2. Compare psychosocial adjustment of children, growing in the families of social exclusion and children not from families of social exclusion. 3. Compare psychosocial adjustment of boys and girls, separately and in groups, growing in the families of social exclusion and not from families of social exclusion. The methods of research: quantitative empiric method: written questioning, using closed questionnaire (K. Rogers and R. Dymond questionnaire of psychosocial adjustment). Conclusions: 1. The research reveals that psychosocial adjustment of 8 – 9 form teenagers from the families of social exclusion is a bit higher than average level of psychosocial adjustment specified for this age group. It is defined that the subscale of the component „self-esteem“ of psychosocial adjustment of investigated children from the families of social exclusion has the highest average point (75.36±13.43 points), the subscale of „the tendency to dominate“ – the lowest (37.81±17.92 points). 2. Comparing the research, it was found that children of investigated age from the families of social exclusion are tend to... [to full text]

Darbo tema: Nakvynės namuose gyvenančių vaikų adaptacijos ypatumai Vilniaus miesto mokyklose (vaikų, jų tėvų ir socialinių darbuotojų vertinimas). Darbo problema ir naujumas. Vaikų iš nakvynės namų adaptacija mokykloje yra aktuali problema, nes mokinys, sunkiai adaptuodamasis mokykloje, patiria nesėkmę, dažnai netenka noro mokytis, silpnėja jo mokymosi motyvacija – tai daro neigiamą įtaką jo tolimesniam gyvenimui. Neturėdami noro ar galimybių lankyti mokyklas ir įgyti išsilavinimą, benamiai vaikai neįgyja įgūdžių ir žinių, kurie ateityje padėtų jiems išsivaduoti iš skurdo. Norint keisti tokią situaciją, labai svarbu sukaupti kuo daugiau informacijos apie tokių vaikų gyvenimo problemas, sąlygas ir šeimos gyvenimo aplinkybes bei adaptacijos problemas. Lietuvoje benamių vaikų problemoms skirtų mokslinių darbų turime nedaug. Tai dažniausiai pavieniai straipsniai, kuriuose pateikiama empirinė tyrimų medžiaga, liečianti benamių vertybes, jų asmenybės ypatumus, gyvenimo sąlygas. Konkrečių tyrimų apie nakvynės namuose gyvenančius vaikus nėra. Taigi benamių vaikų adaptacijos problema mokykloje nėra plačiai išplėtota, o statistiniai duomenys nėra aiškūs, nes dažnai tokie vaikai tik paminimi trumpai. Šio darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti vaikų, gyvenančių nakvynės namuose, adaptacijos mokykloje problemas ir ypatumus. Ginamieji teiginiai: • Nakvynės namuose gyvenantiems vaikams mokykloje būdingi maišto ir atsiskyrimo socialinės adaptacijos tipai. • Nesėkmingą nakvynės namuose gyvenančių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Subject of study: The peculiarities of children living in housing/homeless shelter adaptation in Vilnius city schools (evaluation of children, their parents and social workers). Problem and novelty of the study: the adaptation in schools of children from homeless shelters is a relevant problem because while student is heavily adapting in school, he experiences failure, often looses intention to learn, the motivation to learn also weakens so it influences the rest of his life. Since children have no intention or possibilities to go to school and to get an education therefore homeless children do not gain skills and knowledge which could help them to escape from poverty in the future. In order to change this situation it is very important to collect as much information about children life problems, conditions, circumstances of their family life and also adaptation problems. There are jus few scientific studies in Lithuania about the problems of homeless children. It is often just articles which contains empirical studies information associated with the values of homeless people, their personal peculiarities and living conditions. There are no specific studies about children living in housing/homesless shelters. Thus the problem of homeless children adaptation in schools is not widely developed and statistical data is not clear because homeless children are just slightly mentioned. The purpose of this study is to analyze problems and peculiarities of adaptation in schools of... [to full text]

Based in a sample of middle class participants from Lima city (n = 81), intergroup relations’ dynamic is analyzed. Considering the stereotypes and prejudices towards diverse ethnic groups, higher and lower status groups in the society are identified following their possibili- ties of power access. Results are analyzed in terms of social, cultural, cognitive and affective processes that mediate intergroup relations and result in social exclusion demonstrations. Finally, these results suggest that the institutionalization of exclusion practices is a culturalform of power perpetuation promoted by dominant groups. / A partir de una muestra de personas de clase media de la ciudad de Lima (n = 81), se analiza la dinámica de las relaciones intergrupales en el Perú. Basándonos en los estereotipos y prejuicios hacia diversos grupos étnicos encontramos la existencia de grupos de alto y bajo estatus, cuya situación es percibida en función a sus posibilidades de acceso al poder. Las implicancias de estos resultados se analizan en términos de los procesos sociales, culturales, cognitivos y afectivos que median las relaciones intergrupales y que derivan en la manifestación de la exclusión social. Finalmente, estos resultados nos llevan a considerar que la institucionalización de las prácticas de exclusión surge como una manera de preservar el poder de los grupos dominantes.

The diploma thesis deals with the definition and explanation of the terms primary prevention, endangered child, social exclusion and the context of social exclusion or endangerment of a child by social exclusion with primary prevention. Component part of the work is a detection tool that can help kindergarten teachers in evaluating the child and his situation, so that any problems can be detected in time. Areas that the detection tool deals with and how it has been evolved are described here. It also suggests possible procedures for solving problems based on the cooperation of the kindergarten teacher with a special pedagogue. It points out the shortcomings of the current system and suggests possible changes to the system with regard to streamlining the primary prevention of endangering children (in kindergartens). Component part of the diploma thesis is research based on qualitative and quantitative methods, especially interviews and questionnaire surveys, the aim of which was, among other things, to map the primary prevention of threats to children in kindergartens and to map compulsory preschool attendance. Primary prevention of endangering children in kindergartens is not possible, primarily for children with disabilities or at risk of social exclusion, and with regard to this issue it is...

The neighbourhood became one of the key sites for urban policy development during the previous New Labour government, and Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders were amongst their final strategies to combat “the most difficult problems faced by deprived neighbourhoods” (SEU 2000:5). This thesis explores the process of neighbourhood management in the coastal town of Ilfracombe, Devon. Ilfracombe features the characteristics of decline found in a number of coastal towns across the country, and suffers from high levels of deprivation (House of Commons Report 2006). Consequently, the neighbourhood management pathfinder ‘Transform’ was deployed in Ilfracombe in an attempt to address high deprivation. This thesis uses empirical findings collected through interviews and focus groups to examine the process of ‘Transform’, from its conception to its practical operation. It specifically considers the ‘voices’ of residents whose opinions and experiences, as targets of neighbourhood intervention are not always sufficiently documented within policy narratives. Consequently, the thesis unravels the process of neighbourhood management through findings generated by qualitative research ‘on the ground’. These are then examined through the lens of governmentality, allowing the methods, practice and outcomes of government, to be unpacked through a presentation of my empirical findings (Foucault 1991). These examinations take a particular interest in notions of community engagement and participation, partnership working, and the process of social exclusion. Here, partnership is demonstrated to be a tentative and fragile process underlined by local histories and differing temporal frameworks for action. But, this research also demonstrates that joint working can be improved through neighbourhood management which widens routes of communication to officers ‘on the ground’. However, what this thesis hopes to demonstrate most strongly is the continuing depth of problems felt by residents in Ilfracombe and that the process of ‘inclusion’ through paid work and ‘active’ citizenship, underlined in Labour’s neighbourhood renewal strategies, is not tackling some of the main problems of ‘deprived’ neighbourhoods, as experienced by the residents themselves.