No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 313-330).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, San Diego State University, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

No description available.

The present study involved the development of an objective paper-and-pencil measure of McClelland's personalized power theory of alcoholism. This theory proposes that alcoholics have a high personalized power need that they satisfy by drinking alcohol. Need for personalized power is characterized by a desire to prove oneself by defeating an opponent in one-to-one combat. Since they are unable to satisfy this need directly, alcoholics drink alcohol, the physiological and psychological effects of which are interpreted by the individual as strengthening, therefore satisfying the personalized power need. The study consisted of two phases. The first phase was designed to establish the applicability of the personalized power theory to alcoholics and developing a questionnaire to measure personalized power. The second phase was involved with cross-validating the instrument, establishing the reliability and comparing it with what is currently the most frequently utilized screening instrument for alcoholism. Alcoholic subjects came from the population in treatment at the Alcohol Treatment Unit of the Tucson, Arizona Veterans Administration Medical Center. The control group was composed of outpatients at the same facility. The results of Phase I indicate that alcoholics have high personalized power needs. In addition, an instrument was developed to measure personalized power. The instrument was developed using a composite approach from four already established instruments (the MacAndrews Alcoholism Scale, the Personal Reaction Inventory, the Machiavellianism IV Scale and the F Scale). In Phase II the instrument showed high reliability across a two week test-retest interval. Additionally, the instrument showed high concurrent validity, accurately categorizing 86% of the Phase II sample as alcoholic or control. There were significant differences between the sample's responses on this measure. The construct validity of the instrument was established primarily by the logic of its development and, to a lesser extent, by the method of internal consistency. The instrument, hereafter referred to as the Gingras-Kahn Inventory of Personalized Power (G-KIPP), compared very favorably with the most frequently used screening instrument, the MacAndrews Alcoholism Scale. The G-KIPP exceeded the MacAndrews on every measure and was more efficient at screening the alcoholics from the controls in the sample. The study also included a drinking pattern questionnaire. This questionnaire revealed that alcoholics suffered in more than one area because of their drinking. Most alcoholics reported suffering psychologically, physically, socially, economically and legally because of their drinking. The typical alcoholic had a 20-year history of drinking before realizing that he had a problem and then spent eight more years before seeking treatment. Alcoholics also liked different aspects of drinking than did controls. The controls liked the taste, the social aspects and the relaxation associated with drinking. Alcoholics were more likely to report liking the sensation of being inebriated and liked being able to forget as a result of drinking. The relationships of these findings to the theory of personalized power was discussed. These findings were discussed in relationship to the theory of personalized power and in relationship to the treatment program that is based on this theory. The advantages of theoretically-derived instruments were discussed compared to empirically-derived instruments.

This qualitative study explored the process of recovery from alcoholism as experienced by individuals who recovered from alcoholism without formal treatment or intervention. This study sought to reveal those factors that initiated recovery and those that maintained and supported it, including some of the strategies and skills used by respondents in self-resolution of their alcoholism. Limitations of the study are discussed, as are the requirements for future studies of natural recovery. It is hoped that understanding some of the natural processes involved in recovery from alcoholism may lead to developing more informed and creative treatment approaches which will harness the strengths, knowledges and abilities of individuals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants and their families across a broad range of age, gender, race and socio-economic status. Participants were selected from those individuals who responded to an article in the daily newspapers in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. South Africa and who fitted the criteria of being alcoholics who had achieved two or more years of sobriety without formal treatment. This study seemed to indicate that natural recovery was the preferred choice of some individuals struggling with an alcohol problem. This choice appeared to have been made because of negative associations with and perceptions of treatment, combined with a belief in the individual's ability to solve their own problems. Reasons for stopping varied, but seemed to be underpinned by a process of cognitive self-evaluation that precipitated abstinence. Maintenance of sobriety was achieved by a variety of skill s, strategies and processes that corresponded, in the main, with similar international studies. There appears to be a strong relationship with spirituality in all stages of the natural recovery process. Finally. it appeared that individuals who possess a variety of personal and social resources appeared to be best suited to and equipped for the natural recovery process, although some exceptions were noted. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

This study examines the problems relating to alcohol abuse in the workplace. The factors investigated include workplace safety, absenteeism and tardiness, productivity, and job satisfaction. Questions were also included to ascertain the individual's alcohol consumption patterns, both current (past 30 days) and over the past year. Finally, questions pertaining to the organisations' rules and policies on alcohol consumption were asked. The survey was undertaken in three organisations, two of which were private, and the third was a government department. The research sample of 280 subjects was drawn using the cluster sampling method. The data obtained from the sample was quantitatively analysed, by making use of various descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data analysis was also conducted. Results indicated that a mere 2.5% of the subjects were notified by their organisations about the problems of alcohol abuse in the workplace. It is essential that organisations provide adequate information to their employees, both on the organisations' rules and policies on alcohol consumption, and on the workplace consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, a recommendation which follows from the results is that the organisations should implement an alcohol and drug abuse programme, which would ideally consist of a written policy on alcohol consumption at work, and the establishment of an Employment Assistance Programme (EAP), in addition to testing for alcohol levels at work. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2000.