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Cette thèse repose sur une recherche longitudinale portant sur l’évolution de la résilience chez des adultes confrontés à un risque de mort, évalués à 4 reprises : deux mois après le traumatisme puis après 9 mois, 17 mois et 24 mois. La résilience biologique est évaluée par l’évolution des dosages de cortisol analysés par prélèvement salivaire. La résilience psychologique a fait l’objet d’une évaluation multifactorielle à l’aide d’une échelle de résilience (Wagnild), d’échelles cliniques permettant de s’assurer de l’absence de séquelles sur le plan de l’angoisse (STAY de Spielberger), de la dépression (BDI 2), du syndrome post- traumatique (Traumaq) et du fonctionnement intrapsychique (Rorschach). L’analyse des résultats portant sur 30 sujets étudiés permet de développer une réflexion clinique comparative sur les paramètres et processus impliqués dans la construction de la résilience ou de son échec, en mettant en relation la dimension neurobiologique avec la dimension psychologique / This thesis is based on a longitudinal survey of the evolution of resilience for adults who faced a risk of death. Resilience has been measured 4 times: two months after the trauma, after 9 months, 17 months and 24 months. Biological resilience is measured by monitoring salivary cortisol. Psychological resilience was assessed multifactorially using the Wagnild scale ; several clinical scales to ensure absence of anxiety (Spielberger’s STAY), depression (BDI 2), post-traumatic syndrome (Traumaq) and intrapsychic functioning (Rorschach). Analysis of the results for 30 subjects allows to develop a comparative clinical thinking on the parameters and processes involved in the construction of resilience or its failure, linking the neurobiological dimension with the psychological dimension

This thesis explores the behaviour of participants taking an associative approach to a task-cueing paradigm. Task-cueing is usually intended to explore controlled processing of task-sets. But small stimulus sets plausibly afford associative learning via simple and conditional discriminations. In six experiments participants were presented with typical task-cueing trials: a cue (coloured shape) followed by a digit (or in Experiment 5 a symbol) requiring one of two responses. In the standard Tasks condition (Monsell Experiment and Experiments 1-3), the participant was instructed to perform either an odd/even or a high/low task dependent on the cue. The second condition was intended to induce associative learning of cue + stimulus-response mappings. In general, the Tasks condition showed a large switch cost that reduced with preparation time, a small, constant congruency effect and a small perturbation when new stimuli were introduced. By contrast the CSR condition showed a small, reliable switch cost that did not reduce with preparation time, a large congruency effect that changed over time and a large perturbation when new stimuli were introduced. These differences may indicate automatic associative processing in the CSR condition and rule-based classification in the Tasks condition. Furthermore, an associative model based on the APECS learning algorithm (McLaren, 1993) provided an account of the CSR data. Experiment 3 showed that participants were able to deliberately change their approach to the experiment from using CSR instructions to using Tasks instructions, and to some extent vice versa. Experiments 4 & 5 explored the cause of the small switch cost in the CSR condition. Consideration of the aspects of the paradigm that produced the switch cost in the APECS model produced predictions, which were tested against behavioural data. Experiment 4 found that the resulting manipulation made participants more likely to induce task-sets. Experiment 5 used random symbols instead of numbers, removing the underlying task-sets. The results of this experiment broadly agreed with the predictions made using APECS. Chapter 6 considers an initial attempt to create a real-time version of APECS. It also finds that an associative model of a different class (AMAN, Harris & Livesey, 2010) can provide an account of some, but not all, of the phenomena found in the CSR condition. This thesis concludes that performance in the Tasks condition is suggestive of the use of cognitive control processes, whilst associatively based responding is available as a basis for performance in the CSR condition.

The general aim of this research was to determine the theoretical elements of positive coping behaviour and operationalise these into a reliable and valid measurement scale, the Positive Coping Behaviour Inventory (PCBI). Positive coping behaviour was conceptualised in the context of employee wellness in the contemporary world of work. The literature review guided the development of a theoretical model comprising four constructs denoting positive coping behaviour: cognitive, affective, conative and social coping behaviour. Scale development protocols were followed in generating items for each dimension. The empirical study (research scale development) employed a non-probability, purposive sampling technique. The empirical study targeted the total population of N = 525 employees working in Omnia. The Omnia Group comprises a balanced and diversified range of complementary chemical service businesses with a broad geographic spread. The sample was diverse in terms of age, gender and race, overall mood description and general health. The respondents were purposefully selected based on the requirement that respondents had to be working and aged between 19 and 65 years. The empirical research provided evidence of the factorial (multidimensional) validity, unidimensionality, internal consistency reliability and structural and intra-test construct validity of the PCBI. Construct equivalence of the PCBI across age, gender and race groups was also confirmed. The statistical analyses provided evidence of the PCBI being anchored in a strong theoretical foundation with the scale having the potential to provide researchers and practitioners with a reliable instrument to measure the positive coping behaviour of adult workers. Furthermore, the PCBI contributes to the field of positive psychology and industrial and organisational psychology in terms of better understanding of the behavioural dimensions that constitute positive coping behaviour. As a valid theoretical framework, the PCBI dimensions provide useful information on measuring individuals’ positive coping behaviour in a holistic manner by focusing on a broad spectrum of positive psychological constructs in terms of cognitive, affective, conative and social behavioural elements / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)