The aim of this thesis is to analyse and examine the debate on prenatal testing in Western countries, with a special focus on my own country, Sweden. In the near future it might be possible for a pregnant woman to profile the DNA of her foetus with a simple blood test early in pregnancy. This method of prenatal testing – Non Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis (NIPD) – could potentially detect the genetic causes of almost every disease. I will argue that prenatal testing should be offered by society to all pregnant women, not only to those at highest risk of giving birth to children with severe conditions. I will do that from a perspective of reproductive freedom. Furthermore, I will argue that offering prenatal testing for some conditions (such as Downs’s syndrome) and not for others, is conflicting with the autonomous choice of the pregnant woman.

The main problem addressed in animal ethics is on what grounds and to what extent we owe animals moral consideration. I argue that many animals deserve direct moral consideration in virtue of their agency, selfhood and autonomy. I start by providing an account of agency and selfhood that admits of degrees, from minimal to complex, among animal species that is supported by current research on consciousness and the mental capacities of animals. I posit that agency and selfhood are morally valuable as they allow for subjective mental experiences that matter to conscious individuals. I then develop a view of autonomy that corresponds to my view of agency and selfhood, whereby the degree to which an individual is self-aware indicates the degree to which that being is autonomous. I argue that autonomy not only consists in the rational and reflective capacities of humans, but also at a more minimal level where autonomy is simply the ability to make choices. I support this view of autonomy as choice with an account of ???naturalized autonomy??? and explain some of the implications of this view for animals. After considering the views of Peter Singer, Tom Regan and Bernard Rollin on animal ethics, I analyze the flaws in their reasoning and argue that my own view provides a stronger account for the direct moral consideration of animals. This is due to my inclusion of agency, selfhood and autonomy, which these philosophers mainly neglect. I review some current reinterpretations of Kant???s moral arguments that claim animals ought to be considered ends-in-themselves. I present reasons why the inclusion of selfhood would strengthen this claim and further develop my argument for respecting the autonomy of animals. I conclude that a theory of animal ethics based on agency, selfhood and autonomy provides the strongest account for the direct moral consideration of animals, as it is empirically informed and provides a moral middle path between animal welfare and animal rights.

College serves as a venue for development, where one aim is to produce autonomous students. In this process of developing towards autonomy difficulty and challenges occurs, and thus some students choose to seek counselling. Based on this it has been desirable to gain a deeper understanding of how college students experience this process. Hence, the research question of this thesis is: How do college students who seek counselling experience their development towards autonomy? This thesis is conducted by using Q methodology. 14 college students who have been to counselling participated in this research. Based on the research question the participants sorted 36 statements in accordance with their recognition of themselves in them, from least like me to most like me. The statements were produced with the help of Fisher’s balanced block design. The research design includes theory about self-efficacy, self-awareness in a developmental perspective, and the counselling relation. Based on an analysis of the participants’ Q sorts, a four-factor solution appeared. The factors represent different viewpoints existing among the college students who seek counselling, related to the development towards autonomy. These were further interpreted and given names. Factor 1: Others make me feel strong, but I do not do what is required to succeed. Factor 2: All the expectations make me lack a feeling of control. Factor 3: I take responsibility for personal development, but not necessarily in school. Factor 4: Although I work hard I need others to believe in me. The factors were discussed in relation to theory. What emerged was an understanding that the factors represent different points along the journey towards autonomy. At the same time, all of the students also have a tendency to prevent themselves from full potential of development. An increased self-awareness is believed to be necessary to overcome this, which can be attained with the help of counselling.

Syftet var att med hjälp av en enkätstudie undersöka om det fanns någon skillnad i upplevd autonomi mellan högskolestudenter som upplevde sig ha lägre grad av stress i vardagslivet och de studenter som upplever sig ha högre grad av stress i vardagslivet. Studiens syfte var även att undersöka om det fanns skillnader i upplevd autonomi mellan män och kvinnor. Resultatet visade att det förekom en huvudeffekt mellan deltagarnas upplevda stress och autonomi. Resultatet visade att det inte fanns någon huvudeffekt av kön och inte någon interaktionseffekt mellan kön och stress. / The aim was to use a questionnaire study to examine whether there was any difference in perceived autonomy among college students who perceived themselves to have lower levels of stress in daily life and the students who perceived themselves as having higher levels of stress in everyday life. Another purpose was to investigate whether there are differences in perceived autonomy between men and women. The results showed that there was a main effect of the participant’s perceived stress and autonomy. The results showed that there was no main effect of gender and no interaction effect between gender and stress.

Current planetary rover localization techniques are lacking in autonomy and accuracy. An autonomous method of globally localizing a rover is proposed by matching features extractedvfrom a 3D orbital elevation map and rover-based 3D lidar scans. Localization can be further improved by including odometry measurements as well as orientation measurements from an inclinometer and sun sensor. The methodology was tested with real data from a Mars-Moon analogue site on Devon Island, Nunavut. By tying 23 real scans together with simulated odometry over a 10km traverse, the algorithm was able to localize with varying degrees of accuracy. Output uncertainties were large due to large input uncertainties, but these could be reduced in future experimentation by minimizing the use of simulated input data. It was concluded that the architecture could be used to accurately and autonomously localize a rover over long-range traverses.

Current planetary rover localization techniques are lacking in autonomy and accuracy. An autonomous method of globally localizing a rover is proposed by matching features extractedvfrom a 3D orbital elevation map and rover-based 3D lidar scans. Localization can be further improved by including odometry measurements as well as orientation measurements from an inclinometer and sun sensor. The methodology was tested with real data from a Mars-Moon analogue site on Devon Island, Nunavut. By tying 23 real scans together with simulated odometry over a 10km traverse, the algorithm was able to localize with varying degrees of accuracy. Output uncertainties were large due to large input uncertainties, but these could be reduced in future experimentation by minimizing the use of simulated input data. It was concluded that the architecture could be used to accurately and autonomously localize a rover over long-range traverses.

People experience autonomy when they perceive their behaviour to be volitional and they feel controlled when their behaviour is driven by external demands or internal pressures. Gaine and La Guardia (2009) developed the Motivations for Relational Activities (MRA) scale to assess the extent to which romantic partners feel autonomous and controlled in a variety of specific relational activities. In a sample of mostly non-married individuals, Gaine and La Guardia (2009) found that the more willing and the less pressured individuals feel to engage in relational activities, the greater their relationship well-being. Study 1 examined whether autonomous and controlled activity motivations have similar implications for relationship well-being for married individuals. Results replicated the results from the non-married sample (Gaine & La Guardia, 2009). Study 2 assessed the relational activity motivation of both partners in married and common-law relationships and examined how one’s own motives relate to one’s own relationship well-being and one’s partner’s relationship well-being. Results suggested that one’s own motivations toward relational activities predict one’s own relationship well-being but not one’s partner’s well-being, with the exception of men’s relationship satisfaction, which was positively predicted by women’s autonomous activity motivation. Study 2 also employed daily diaries to examine the implications of each partner’s activity motivations for partners’ daily relational functioning and well-being. Results showed that when individuals are more willing and less pressured to engage in relational activities, they experience greater daily relationship well-being. Further, when individuals are more willing and less pressured in their relational activities, they are observed by their partner to be more engaged and responsive on a day-to-day basis. Finally, women’s willing engagement of relational activities emerged as a particularly important predictor of their own as well as men’s relational functioning and wellness.

This thesis assesses several theories about the social basis of the Quebec independence movement. The most prevalent of these theories locates the core of support for Quebec independence in the Francophone new middle class. The Marxist perspective offers a closely related hypothesis, according to which the independence movement is based in the Francophone new petite bourgeoisie. A third theory sees the new class as at the helm of the new social movements, among which is the Quebec independence movement. Finally, a fourth hypothesis is that the Francophone intellectuals and professional intelligentsia are the foremost separatists. / The results of tabular and logistic regression analysis of data on referendum support for sovereignty-association refute the new middle class and new petite bourgeoisie hypotheses. The analyses indicate considerable support for sovereignty-association among a narrow variant of the new class. Within this narrow new class, or professional intelligentsia, support for sovereignty is most heavily concentrated among the Francophone intellectuals. The most discriminating predictor of separatism is not class, but the opposition between those in intellectuals vs. the business/managerial occupations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The connection between intrinsic motives and positive psychological outcomes has been widely demonstrated, and has been extended to Self-Determination Theory concepts of the self-determination continuum and the three basic needs. However, only a small amount of literature has looked at this connection in relationships, especially with friends. Therefore, this study sought to investigate Self-Determination Theory in relationships with friends and partners. The main hypothesis was that selfdetermination and the three basic psychological needs' fulfillment in relationships, would be positively correlated with relationship satisfaction. / Thesis (MPsy(Specialisation)--University of South Australia, 2003.

Thesis (MPsy(Clinical))--University of South Australia, 2001.