Call number: LD2668 .R4 1976 S93

research examines associations between perfectionism and acceptance for the self and towards others, alongside their link with psychological health. Reported beliefs are compared with underlying implicit beliefs, as measured by response latencies on the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP; Barnes-Holmes et al., 2006). Ninetynine native English-language speaking university students completed measures of selforiented and other-oriented perfectionism, unconditional self-acceptance, acceptance of others and general health; together with the IRAP computer task. Self-perfectionism scores were observed to be significantly higher than other-perfectionism scores on both explicit and implicit measures. Acceptance of others was significantly higher than selfacceptance on explicit measures; however the two were non-significantly different as recorded by the IRAP. This suggests that participants may have under-reported selfacceptance levels or over-reported their acceptance of others. Possible reasons for this are explored. In addition, all explicit measures demonstrated no significant associations with implicit findings; meaning that participants‟ responses to the assessment tasks appeared to be driven by different processes. Low levels of explicit self-acceptance were the biggest predictor of psychological distress. As such, this research provides further support for the move towards acceptance-based strategies in the treatment of clinical perfectionism.

The demand and need for alternative obstruction marking has become a significant challenge for the wind power development in Sweden. While the development of wind turbines pushes for higher heights, the need to denote them as possible obstacles for aviation increase. To reduce undesired effects of the aviation warning lights in the landscape, various technologies for reducing the light emitted have been developed. One of these technologies control the lights’ output by dimming them based on measurements of the prevailing visibility in the vicinity of the wind farm.Visibility controlled obstruction lighting has not yet been used in Swedish wind farms. This thesis will investigate how a system can be applied from different viewpoints and what would be gained in a wind farm in northern Sweden.By reviewing literature, interviewing key-persons, studying a case with application of Finnish regulations and estimating the performance during different conditions, and discussing the results, conclusions could be drawn. The findings are general recommendations for acceptance, an aviation risk that need to be considered, indications of preferable regulation applications and approximations of the performance and possible gain.

Background and Aims: Whilst bereavement is a generally a normal process of adjustment, for some individuals the outcome can be more serious. Current bereavement research has produced inconclusive results to date and been criticised on many levels. A gap has been identified between research and the practice of bereavement therapy.The aim of this thesis is to examine a relatively new and under researched approach to the treatment of grief, namely the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It is proposed that this approach could provide an empirically sound model on which therapists could base their interventions. Method: Firstly a conceptual review examines the key components of ACT and their applicability to grief work. Secondly, a qualitative piece of research uses interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences of both therapists and clients who have used the approach. Results: The conceptual review finds a good degree of fit between the components of the ACT therapeutic model and the needs and aims of bereavement work. The qualitative study provides preliminary support for the application of the model in the treatment of grief, indicating positive experiences for both therapists and clients particularly in its valuing of the individual nature of grief, its ability to put suffering into a positive context and its strength in dealing with emotional and thought related issues. Implications: The thesis provides a theoretical underpinning and an exploration of practice in the treatment of grief which may be useful for therapists considering a new approach to grief work or those developing services for the bereaved.

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Introduction Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has developed from traditional behavioural theory and seeks to reduce experiential avoidance and increase psychological flexibility. It is argued to be distinct from cognitive therapy and has been used to treat a variety of mental health problems in addition to chronic pain. ACT is linked to Relational Frame Theory and the research developments associated with this. One central process of ACT is termed ‘cognitive defusion’ and this process is used to encourage individuals to become less identified with the content of their cognitions. It is important to measure the extent to which individuals become ‘fused’ with their cognitions and a Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) has been developed to do this. The current studies build upon earlier research by subjecting the CFQ to further reliability and validity testing and assessment of its factor structure. Method A community sample was used throughout. The majority of participants took part online, however, some participants completed paper copies of the questionnaires. Study one had a sample of 47 and focused on construct validity of the CFQ where participants completed this measure and also measures of similar and distinct constructs. The other measures included a mindfulness questionnaire, a measure of experiential avoidance and a social desirability questionnaire. Study two concerned the test-retest reliability of the CFQ. There were 82 participants in this study who completed the CFQ on two occasions, one month apart. In this study, participants also completed a measure of anxiety and depression symptoms. Study three had 144 participants and assessed the factor structure of the CFQ. Results Results from study one indicate that the CFQ negatively correlates with a measure of mindfulness and positively correlates with a measure of experiential avoidance. This study also found that the CFQ has no relationship with a measure of conscious attempts to appear more desirable. Results from study two show that there is a strong positive correlation between scores on the CFQ at testing time one and testing time two. The CFQ was also found to correlate positively with a measure of anxiety and depression symptoms and to mediate the relationship between anxiety scores at testing time one and testing time two. Confirmatory factor analysis was used in study three to assess the factor structure of the CFQ and found a two factor model was the best fit for the data. Discussion The results are considered in relation to relevant research. Limitations of the current studies are assessed and possibilities for future research discussed. In particular, cognitive fusion is discussed in relation to anxiety and depression symptoms. The similarities between the CFQ and a measure of experiential avoidance are discussed and the different aspects of measurement are reflected upon.

Psychological adjustment to chronic pain has been recently explored within three separate frameworks: a behaviour-focused account of chronic pain acceptance within the broader remit of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; an emotion-focused approach with various research programs investigating the role of anger, fear, depression and also shame and positive emotions in chronic pain; and a cognitionfocused perspective more recently reframed in terms of illness perceptions as part of a wider model of response to health threats, the Self-Regulatory Model. Although these frameworks have broad areas of overlap, limited research has been directed at integrating acceptance, emotions and illness perceptions into a common, comprehensive account of psychological adjustment to chronic pain. Such an account would be beneficial both for providing a parsimonious approach that would guide further research and for developing pain management interventions that would take advantage of existing research from all three domains. The aim of the present thesis was to explore the possibility of integrating these separate areas by studying the relationships between the main concepts (acceptance, emotions, and illness perceptions) in the context of chronic pain. Based on a review of the relevant conceptual and methodological issues of each domain, a theoretical analysis of the similarities and differences between them was developed, with particular emphasis on the potential of existing models to support an integrative account. This analysis provided specific hypotheses regarding each domain and the interrelationships between them, which were investigated in a longitudinal study on a heterogeneous sample of 265 chronic pain patients using the services of the NHS Lothian Pain Clinic and several patient support organisations. Data were collected via postal and online questionnaires at 3 time points, at 41/2-month intervals (21% attrition rate). Validated questionnaires were used to measure the relevant constructs, with additional questions obtaining information regarding health status, medical history and demographics. The confirmatory analysis (employing a variety of statistical procedures, from correlation to multiple regression, factor analysis, cluster analysis and structural equation modeling) largely confirmed the expected relations within and between domains and was also informative regarding the most suitable data reduction methods. A detailed psychometric analysis of the questionnaires used offered a complementary view on the theoretical and methodological issues involved. An additional exploratory analysis focused on identifying the comparative characteristics of acceptance, emotions, and illness perceptions in predicting health status indicators, controlling for contextual factors such as medical history and demographics. Although no significant longitudinal changes were identified in most parameters (confirming the clinical observation of chronic pain as a stable condition), the longitudinal data allowed an analysis of the stability of the concepts and of the magnitude of their relationships in this patient sample. The analysis of intra- and interpersonal variation via hierarchical longitudinal modeling confirmed the stability of the data, highlighted the necessity of studying variation at both levels, and revealed interesting moderation effects, explained via the proposed concept of ‘discrimination ability’ and several alternative mechanisms. These results can be considered as first steps towards an integrative model of psychological adjustment to chronic pain. It is proposed that the behavioural, cognitive and emotional aspects need further conceptual clarification and these future efforts can be supported by the Cognitive-Affective Model of the Interruptive Function of Pain, within the wider framework of the Self-Regulatory Model.

The UK micro/SME (known here as SME) retail sector is very important to the economic well being of the country. Its ability to generate jobs as well as income makes it a key part of the drive towards economic growth, and as such it is supported by government through a variety of initiatives. One initiative in 2003 aimed to energise and invigorate practitioners into using internet based technologies more fully in their business practices. This supported the widely held belief that the internet can and does enhance and improve business efficiency. It also suggests that SMEs were not fully engaging with the technology and that the government felt that it was not at the desirable level. This thesis looks at the issues surrounding technology acceptance for the SME and in particular internet adoption in the retail sector. This work explains technology acceptance and the main determinants and moderators connected with this in an organisational setting providing the practitioner with insight into why some technologies are embraced and others underutilised, or not adopted at all. Previous academic work in this area has tended to focus on the larger organisation. This thesis uses the technology acceptance literature to explore the situation of the SME. Through qualitative and quantitative research the specifics of the SME situation relating to technology acceptance are explored with the determinants and moderators being evaluated and changes made where appropriate. The specific internet based technology of online procurement is used to measure levels of acceptance and the issues relating to it. The result is an adapted model that better reflects the technology acceptance situation of the SME retail organisation. In the model three of the original constructs remain, however the moderators have been changed to reflect the SME and the relationships the constructs have with the moderators are also developed. As a new addition to the field it can be seen from the developed model that the frequency of re-ordering is an important determinant not only of online procurement but technology acceptance in general. This work will benefit practitioners in SME retail and also the wider SME field when it comes to evaluating whether or not to accept a new technology and how this is best achieved.

Reconciliation is generally studied from the perspective of how the process affects the individual. This study on the contrary, seeks to explain how the individual expectation of the process affects its outcome by investigating the relationship between motives to participate and the outcome of acceptance for your former adversary. A research gap has been identified in studying individual motives for participating in reconciliation processes between social factors as a facilitator for reconciliation and the actual joining of a process. Studying this gap has resulted in support for the hypothesis that individuals with the motive to tell the truth in a process experience high levels of acceptance towards their former adversaries, compared to individuals who participate in a process with the motive of holding the other party accountable for past sufferings. Using the method of in-depth interviews in Cambodia and thematic analysis reveals the main finding that acceptance is facilitated by the mechanisms of acknowledgment and understanding of the other party in combination with active interaction between the parties. This study presents three main recommendations for future ideas and reconciling establishments.

Using longitudinal peer and self-report data (n = 1490; 10th to 12th grade), changes in relational and overt aggression were each regressed onto social acceptance, close friendships, and their interaction. Links between social acceptance, close friendships and overt or relational aggression were dependent upon whether adolescents or their peers assessed their friendships and aggression. For both genders, peers were more likely to see adolescents with many friends and close friendships as being more overtly and relationally aggressive. In contrast, self-reports of close friendship and social acceptance were either unrelated or negatively related to peer-reported overt and relational aggression. When predicting peer-reported overt aggression, self-reported close friendships and self-reported social acceptance interacted such that males who believed they had close friendships and were socially accepted were more likely to be rated by peers as overtly aggressive. No connections between friendship and aggression were found when adolescents rated their own overt aggression and friendship / Graduate