As explicações centradas em discursos sobre o cérebro ganham cada vez mais espaço em nosso coletivo, produzindo uma multiplicação no prefixo “neuro” nas mais diversas áreas, como neuropsicologia, neurolinguística ou neuroeducação. A prevalência das explicações neurocientíficas sobre outras perspectivas parece estar relacionada à criação de um plano biológico capaz de conectar objetos das Ciências Humanas e das Ciências Naturais produzindo um apagamento das fronteiras entre as duas através de uma sobreposião do Natural. Essa tese se insere no debate das relações entre psicologia e neurociências cognitivas. Nosso objetivo é propor através de conceito de políticas cognitivas uma forma de discutir as relações entre psicologia e neurociências evitando uma hierarquia pré-definida. Divimos a tese em duas partes. A primeira opera uma discussão histórica a respeito da temporalidade moderna e do progresso como forma de pensar a relação entre teorias, bem como discute a institucionalização das ciências da cognição. Sugerimos bifurcação e acontecimento como conceitos que nos permitem pensar a trajetória científica em outros termos, assim como mostramos que como campo multidisciplinar as ciências cognitivas só foram possíveis por uma oscilação entre a unidade e a multiplicidade da cognição. A segunda parte desenvolve o conceito de políticas cognitivas e o contraste com outras formas de pensar a multidisciplinaridade nas ciências da cognição e em seguida, apresenta diferentes políticas que se organizam ao redor da consciência de si, considerando por fim, como a relação entre essas políticas não precisa se estabelecer a partir da objetividade. Nas conclusões propomos algumas condições para relacionar diferentes políticas, bem como sugerimos uma postura ética necessária para a discussão. / Explanations centered on concepts about the brain gain more and more space in our collective, producing a multiplication in the prefix "neuro" in the most diverse areas, such as neuropsychology, neurolinguistics or neuroeducation. The prevalence of neuroscientific explanations over other perspectives seems to be related to the creation of a biological speech capable of connecting objects of the Human Sciences and Natural Sciences producing a blurring of the boundaries between the two through an overlap of the Natural. This thesis is inserted in the debate of the relations between cognitive psychology and cognitive neurosciences. Our objective is to propose through concept of cognitive politics a way of discussing the relations between psychology and neurosciences avoiding a pre-defined hierarchy. We divided the thesis into two parts. The first operates a historical discussion on modern temporality and progress as a way of thinking the relation between theories, as well as discusses the institutionalization of the cognitive sciences. We suggest bifurcation and event as concepts that allow us to think the scientific trajectory in other terms, just as we showed that as a multidisciplinary field the cognitive sciences were only possible by an oscillation between the unity and multiplicity of cognition. The second part develops the concept of cognitive politics and the contrast with other ways of thinking the multidisciplinarity in the sciences of cognition and then presents different politics that are organized around the self-awareness, considering finally how the relationship between these politics need not be established from objectivity. In the conclusions we propose some conditions to relate different politics, as well as we suggest a necessary ethical stance for the discussion.

La thèse se propose d’analyser la structure esthétique de l’expérience cinématographique. On part d’une définition du film comme flux (audio-)visuel qui a un début, un déroulement et une fin. Partant du constat de ce principe constructif, la thèse entend montrer comment la structuration temporelle des films engendre des différences cognitives dans l'expérience spectatorielle. La notion de « structuration temporelle » renvoie à l'ordonnancement des plans et des sons dans leur durée en succession et/ou en simultanéité, tandis que l'adjectif « cognitif » fait référence aux processus d'acquisition et d'usage de nos connaissances. L’étude se fonde sur l'esthétique de Kant, la phénoménologie de Husserl, l'analyse du cinéma de Deleuze, l'Intentionnalité chez Searle, ainsi que la théorie esthétique et la théorie cognitive de la fiction de Schaeffer, dans une perspective interdisciplinaire et en prenant appui sur les données empiriques des sciences cognitives. La thèse déploie une analyse comparative du déroulement des processus de la réception cinématographique – la perception, l'attention et la compréhension – et rend compte des différents temps de cette réception, c’est-à-dire de la relation entre l'objet film et les spectateurs. L’objectif est double : il s’agit, d’une part, de mettre au jour les implications cognitives de la technique cinématographique dans l'expérience spectatorielle, en considérant notamment la fonction de cette technique et les principes, issus de l’Intentionnalité des auteurs, qui y sont inscrits ; et, d’autre part, d’évaluer la portée de ces principes constructifs et Intentionnels dans le cinéma contemporain, les dernières décennies ayant été marquées par une radicalisation progressive du rythme des films. Le cinéma devient à ce titre un exemple des structures temporelles qui soutiennent notre relation au monde réel. / The aim of this thesis is to analyze the aesthetic structure of the cinematographic experience. We depart from a definition of film as an (audio)visual flux with a beginning, an evolution, and an end. From the evidence of this constructive principle, this thesis intends to show how the temporal structure of films generates cognitive differences in the spectators' experience. The notion of “temporal structure” is related to the ordering of shots and sounds within their durations in succession and/or in simultaneity, while the adjective “cognitive” refers to the acquisition process and use of our knowledge. This study is based on Kant's aesthetics, Husserl's phenomenology, Deleuze's cinema analysis, Searle's Intentionality, and Schaeffer's aesthetic and fiction cognition theories, in an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on cognitive sciences empirical data. It is a comparative analysis of the unfolding of the cinematographic reception process – perception, attention and comprehension – and takes the different times of this reception into account, that is, the relation between the object film and the spectators. The objective is twofold: on the one hand it is a question of uncovering the cognitive implications of the cinematographic technique for the spectators' experience through close consideration of the functions of this technique and the principles which the authors’ Intentionality have inscribed upon it; on the other hand, it is a question of evaluating the scope of these constructive and Intentional principles on contemporary cinema, as recent decades have emphasized the progressive radicalization of filmic rhythm. Cinema becomes as such an example of the temporal structures that uphold our relation to the real world.

<p>Distinctions between set- and element-level compatibility have been made regarding stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) effects. Prior research has revealed a relationship between these two types of compatibility such that an increase in set-level effects results in an analogous increase in element-level effects. There are different ways that location information can be conveyed visually: location-words (“left” and “right”), directionalarrows (pointing left and right), and physical-locations (stimuli appearing in the left or right areas of the visual field). Set-level compatibility is higher for location-words paired with vocal “left”-“right” responses than for the other two stimulus modalities, and vice versa for pairings with left-right keypress responses, and the element-level compatibility effects differ in size accordingly.<br></p><p>My dissertation research focused on examining set- and element-level compatibility effects within the saccadic eye-movement system. These effects were considered within the dimensional overlap framework proposed by Kornblum, Hasbroucq, and Osman (1990), according to which the element-level mapping effects are an increasing function of set-level compatibility. All experiments were conducted using introductory psychology students. <br></p><p>In Experiment 1, participants responded using a left-right unimanual joystick movement or eye movement to a location-word or physical-location stimulus. In addition to an analysis of variance (ANOVA) of mean reaction time (RT) and response accuracy for the respective conditions, compatibility effects across the RT distribution were investigated by dividing trials into quantiles. Experiment 1 produced a set-level compatibility effect for the congruent mapping: Eye-movement responses (rather than joystick movements) were found to be relatively more compatible with physical-location stimuli than with location-word stimuli. In addition, the high set-level compatibility conditions exhibited a larger element-level mapping effect than the low set-level compatibility conditions. RT distribution analysis showed that both eye- and joystickmovements yielded a steadily increasing element-level mapping effect across bins, except for physical-location stimuli mapped to joystick responses, for which the function was flat. <br></p><p>In Experiment 2, the location-word stimuli used in Experiment 1 were replaced by directional-arrow stimuli. Eye movements (and not joystick movements) showed larger set- and element-level SRC effects when paired with physical-location stimuli than with directional-arrows. As in Experiment 1, the physical-location stimuli paired with eyemovement responses demonstrated an increase in the element-level mapping effect across the RT distribution. However, for the three other three set-level pairings, the elementlevel mapping effects were relatively constant across the RT distribution. This pattern further indicates a preferential benefit for eye movements paired with physical-location stimuli.<br></p><p>Experiment 3 directly compared the location-word stimuli used in Experiment 1 and the directional-arrow stimuli used in Experiment 2. The element-level mapping effect was larger for location-words than for directional-arrows, but both types of stimuli produced similar interaction patterns regarding the set-level manipulation. That is, the differences between each response modality and stimulus type produced similar patterns of element-level mapping effect differences. The location-word stimuli produced consistently large effects and served as a driving factor across the set-level comparisons. The location-words showed a large increase in element-level mapping effect across the RT distribution compared to only a small increase for the directional-arrows, which in both cases did not differ between eye- and joystick-movement responses.<br></p><p>Together the three experiments provide support for the hypothesis that eyemovement responses to physical-location stimuli are a unique, highly optimal set-level pairing relative to location-words or directional-arrows denoting spatially relevant location. In the context of a continuum outlining the relative position of different response and stimulus pairings, the results imply that eye-movement responses are similar in compatibility to joystick movements, except for the specific pairing with physical-location stimuli. <br></p><p>The results offer some support for Kornblum et al.’s (1990) account that suggests a tightly coupled relationship between set- and element-level compatibility effects. Not only do the results provide understanding about the existence of compatibility effects within the saccadic system, they allow for some considerations about how attention is allocated preferentially to certain stimuli rather than others. They also enable predictions about similar underlying mechanisms that might be involved in saccadic and manual response modalities. Taken together, it seems that the eye-movement system adheres to conventional notions about motoric behavior; however, it also has its own unique properties that make it highly tuned to exogenously guided stimuli. <br></p>

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to develop a better understanding of the process of behaviour change and factors which contribute to an increased level of fruit and vegetable intake (F&V) among men in New Zealand. The study aims to determine the impact of psychosocial and contextual factors integrated into an extended stage model. As a more parsimonious continuous model maybe sufficient for understanding F&V intake, the study also plans to evaluate the impact of psychosocial and contextual factors on behaviour, and whether intentions is the mechanism by which the psychosocial factors influence behaviour. Design. Data was collected using a self administered questionnaire in a mail survey from N = 518 men aged 18 years and over randomly selected from the electoral roll. Mean differences in factors across the stages of change were assessed with one way ANOVAs and Games Howell post hoc tests, and trend analyses assessed linear and non-linear components of trend. The independent impact of factors on intentions and behaviour was assessed with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Measures. Stage of change was assessed with a single item measure, F&V intake with a 7-item food frequency questionnaire, and food insecurity with items used in the 1997 National Nutrition Survey. Previously developed measures were used to assess the pros, cons, self efficacy, self identity, and susceptibility to disease. Scales were developed and adapted for F&V intake for control, descriptive and subjective norms. Results. In total, 51% of men were in the action/maintenance stage and 32%, 10% and 7% in the precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages respectively. Mean F&V intake was 3.92 (SD = 2.08) servings a day and 30.4% were eating at least 5 servings. All factors differed significantly across the stages of change. The predictor variables collectively explained R² = 43% (42% adjusted) in intentions and 40% (38% adjusted) in behaviour. The impact of self efficacy and intentions on behaviour depended in part on household food insecurity status. Discussion. Similar conclusions were reached using the stage and continuous model. To increase intentions of eating 5 or more servings of F&Vs a day in the future, interventions should modify perceived norms, self efficacy, pros and cons, and awareness of F&V guidelines. Interventions targeting those with high food insecurity may also be required to help translate their intentions into action.

Using the Internet during work time for personal interest is defined as personal web use (PWU), yet only limited knowledge is available on why people engage in varying degrees in this activity. To address this shortcoming, this research project tested a heavily moderated theoretical model of thirteen psychological and workplace attributes expected to influence differences in individuals’ PWU: moral norms, boredom, workgroup norms, workload, use of the ‘ledger neutralisation strategy’, certainty about PWU rules, attitude towards work, reactance, supervisor treatment, attitude towards PWU control, status, tenure and social loafing risk. Five facets of PWU were measured as separate criterion variables: past frequency, habitual PWU, duration, and two PWU activity types. Data for the model testing was gathered through an extensive on-line questionnaire. The responses of 267 participants with varying demographics and work situations were used to test the theoretical model, using moderated regression analyses. Significant interactions were explored further through the Modgraph procedure. The model testing results showed that PWU was more common in respondents who morally approved of PWU and who were bored at their work. How often people engaged in PWU (either out of habit or in general), for how long and in what types of activities, was influenced by specific combinations of the remaining attributes. Only four of the hypothesised twelve interactions played statistically significant roles, only habitual PWU was influenced by workload; and only information-seeking activities were influenced by workgroup norms. Attributes with ‘revenge’ connotations were noticeably absent as significant influences. The findings are discussed in some detail. To further explore the context of PWU, thematic analysis was undertaken of answers to two open-response questions provided by a sub-sample of 119 participants. Results supported the role of workplace boredom in PWU situations, specified the moral issues of PWU approval, and suggested that PWU is best understood and examined in the wider context of organisational culture. The thesis concludes with synthesis and discussion of statistical and qualitative analyses results, identifying the contributions the research has made to the field of study. Suggested practical applications of the findings, limitations of the research project and suggestions for future studies conclude the documentation.

To be successful, social network sites need continual activity to flourish and grow. One of the most important challenges faced by designers of social network sites, is to encourage contribution from community members. ‘Self-sustainability’ is critical to the survival of networked communities and is dependent on community members adding content in a sustained way over time. Motivating community members to take it upon themselves to freely contribute information is the key to the success of any social network environment (Powazek, 2002; Ling et al., 2005). This thesis aims to investigate whether persuasion techniques can be used to inform the design process in order to motivate members of a social network community to contribute content. While persuasion theories have been effective in influencing target behaviour outside of the online environment, traditionally they have not been utilised by digital media designers. With the advent of social media, the application of social psychology is becoming more valuable in the development of features and strategies for the online environment. Recently the field of Captology has begun to systematically investigate computers as persuasive technology. Within this field, this thesis has investigated using the ‘Elaboration Likelihood Model’ (ELM) as a strategic framework and ‘Social Proof’ as a motivating influence to develop peripheral elements designed to encourage user online contribution, and to design a site that is visually appealing and functional. This is essential in establishing the credibility of the site without which the influences of persuasion are unable to function. This Masters ‘research through design’ project engages an existing community group of water sports enthusiasts in a trial of a live prototype website. The website was designed to utilise the internet as a medium and social networking as a tool, in order to gather individual knowledge, give it a context, and to create a self-sustaining collective knowledge base of locations, optimum conditions and user experiences. Users were divided randomly into two groups – the test and the control. Using ELM, the peripheral and central routes of processing communication were identified, and used to build the framework on which to develop the test environment. Both groups were exposed to the same fundamental design and functionality, however the test group was presented with additional peripheral elements designed using the principles of Social Proof. The research charted user contributions over the course of 82 days, with a survey undertaken with both groups at the completion of the test period. Results indicated a significant difference between the two test groups with users exposed to the influences of Social Proof more motivated to contribute content and visit the website more often than users from the control group. The findings of this study show that motivating contribution can be achieved using ELM and Social Proof to design persuasive elements in a social networking environment. The synthesis of graphic design, interface design and the theories of social science can guide designers in the creative process of developing networked environments for social media, and lead to a more engaging user experience.

The present research aims to obtain a more complete view of couple relationships. In particular, it investigated the manner in which attachment styles (and more specifically the combination of attachment styles to one’s partner and one’s primary caregiver, such as the mother) are related to conflict beliefs, conflict resolution styles, relationship satisfaction and communication accuracy. Two studies were conducted to explore these relationships. In Study 1 individuals in couples relationships (N = 83) were asked to participate in an online questionnaire regarding primary caregiver and partner attachment, conflict resolution, and conflict beliefs. Study 2 saw the recruitment of twenty-two couples from public advertisements. Couples were asked to participate in a ten minute videotaped discussion around a major disagreement. The discussion exercise and accompanying self-report questionnaires indicated each couple’s communication accuracy. Trained post-graduate raters also coded the observable conflict styles of the couples on a scale developed for the purpose of this research. These were compared with self-reported conflict resolution styles. Couples were also asked to complete questionnaires individually to identify their parent and partner attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, conflict resolution styles and conflict beliefs. Qualitative questions around attachment and conflict resolution provided a more in-depth perspective of more and less securely attached individuals’ relationships. Results from both studies indicated that there is some difference between ongoing influence from current models of primary caregiver attachment and the influence from current models of partner attachment on relationship variables. Relationship satisfaction and conflict beliefs were influenced by specific attachment to the partner. Conversely, conflict resolution styles, in particular positive problem solving, withdrawal and compliance, were heavily influenced by more general current conceptualizations of primary caregiver attachment. Additional results regarding quantitative and qualitative findings, including gender differences are discussed in the thesis. Finally, limitations regarding both studies are noted, and suggestions for future research are made.

A one-group pre-test post-test design (including 6- and 12-month follow-up), supplemented with benchmarking analyses, was employed to assess the effectiveness of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for youth displaying antisocial behaviours in New Zealand. An additional aim of the current study was to assess for predictors and moderators of outcome. The predictor variables assessed included: Client satisfaction, therapeutic and supervisory alliance, therapist and supervisor adherence, therapist and supervisor allegiance, and therapist and supervisor accountability. Seventy-three youth and their families completed the MST program (M = 162 days) and the present study’s measures. Youth and their families experienced improvements in ultimate outcomes (offending frequency, offending seriousness, and days in out-of-home placements) and instrumental outcomes (youth positive and negative behaviour, parent well-being and psychopathology, parent ability, and family functioning) following MST treatment. With a few exceptions, these gains were largely maintained up to 12 months following treatment. Benchmarking analyses indicated that the completion rate and effect sizes were comparable with those from previous MST studies both in New Zealand and the United States. The predictor variables of service satisfaction, therapeutic alliance, and therapist adherence predicted higher levels of change in most instrumental outcomes as expected. However, of significant importance, higher supervisor adherence and supervisory alliances were associated with significantly lower therapist adherence, therapeutic alliance, and some client outcomes. Furthermore, the few significant interactions between predictor variables produced mixed findings, many of which contradicted widely held assumptions. As MST has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for youth offenders in New Zealand, continuing dissemination and ongoing evaluation of MST in New Zealand is recommended. In particular, given the negative impact of supervision variables on therapist adherence, therapeutic alliance, and some client outcomes, this would include research aimed at assessing various quality control functions of supervision, including supervisor training, mechanisms of supervision related to therapist and client variables, and the potential value of more closely monitoring the process of supervision.

Low back pain is characterised by loss of ability to carry out everyday tasks, the disruption of life plans, and psychological distress as well as pain. This study examined the adaptation of individuals with low back pain. In a departure from established models used to study and understand illness representation and adjustment, this study used a personal projects approach to examine the relationship between individuals' appraisals of projects and their functional adaptation to low back pain in the context of their day-to-day goal-directed activities. A functional personal project system was proposed; specifically, those individuals whose project dispositions were highly concordant and socially oriented would have better function and health. For people dealing with low back pain, it was expected that these dispositions, and personal competency, would enhance adaptation. Conversely, poor adaptive abilities, such as difficulties with physical function, social function, and poorer health, would be associated condition-specific perceptions of pain and negative appraisals of project stress[.] The results showed there was a relationship between personal project dispositions and functional ability, well-being, and perceived general health of individuals with low back pain. The results did not confirm that a functional project system possessed adaptive benefits. However, the appraisal of pain as salient to the progress and success of projects and stressfulness of personal projects were predictive of limited function and poorer health. Notably, all aspects of function, both social and physical, were associated with pain-salience cognition. Furthermore, pain salience cognition was still predictive of function after traditional predictors of low back pain disability, pain severity or pain-related fear, were included in the analysis. The significance of the relationship of pain and negative appraisals of the effect of pain on performance supports functional self-efficacy and pain-related fears models used to explain disability level in individuals with low back pain. Since this personal projects analysis was an integrated assessment of individuals' dispositions in the context of participants' everyday lives, it was concluded that pain salience and stressfulness of projects outweighed any advantages offered by their other dispositions in negotiating the participant's personal projects.

Recent theoretical developments both within and outside the clinical literature have stressed the complex interactions between biological and environmental risk in relation to psychopathology development. They have also highlighted the importance of cognitive dimensions, especially those related to control perceptions, in the developmental path towards anxiety and mood disorders in children. Few studies have investigated these cognitive dimensions in relation to risk and protective factors. In light of these considerations, the present study evaluated structural models investigating the relationship of perceived control and competence to child temperamental risk, parent personal risk, family environmental risk and anxious and depressed feelings. It was hypothesised that temperamental, and psychological risk in relationship to family environment would be mediated by the cognitive dimensions of perceived control and competence. It was further hypothesised that family environment, would mediate the relationship between child temperamental risk and anxious and depressed feelings. A school sample of 293 New Zealand children aged between 8 and 11 and their parents was assessed using a cross-sectional design. Overall results indicated that in the face of temperamental and family adversity, feeling in control of emotions and social interactions and feeling socially competent afforded children protection from anxious or depressed feelings. In addition, a sensitive, accepting family environment was seen to protect a temperamentally vulnerable child from distressed feelings. In contrast, distress was more likely to occur when a temperamentally vulnerable child lived in a family characterised by parental psychological control and conflict than one characterised by less cohesion and parental rejection. Results also indicated that, in terms of cognitive features, perceptions of social competence were particularly important in protecting a child from having anxious or depressed feelings. These findings are discussed in relationship to Barlow's and other recent integrated aetiological theories of distress disorder. Findings are also considered in relation to implications for identification, intervention and prevention strategies for distressed children in both clinical and school populations. Further results, limitations and proposals for future research are also discussed.