published_or_final_version / abstract / Humanities / Master / Master of Philosophy

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This research examined automatic evaluation of body-related stimuli in female undergraduates using an affective priming task. Automaticity was tested by varying the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) and valence congruence of the prime and target pairs. The prime to target interval (SOA) was either short or long, and the valence of the paired items was either the same (congruent) or different (incongruent). Automaticity was indicated by faster responses to congruent pairs than to incongruent pairs at the short SOA (parsimonious criterion) but not at the long SOA (classic criterion). Individual differences in thin internalisation, appearance schematicity, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint were assessed as potential moderators. Automatic evaluation of body-related images, but not words, was demonstrated in Study 1B and Study 1A, respectively. In Study 2A, automatic evaluation of nonbody-related words was obtained and this was extended to body-related words (Study 2B). In Study 3, automatic evaluation of normatively-selected body words was examined and body image schema activation was tested as a function of level of appearance schematicity. There was a trend toward automaticity and schematicity did not moderate schema activation. Overall, elevated body image concerns did not influence automatic evaluation in Studies 1A to 3 (with the exception of Study 1B). The role of extreme levels of appearance schematicity on automaticity and schema activation was examined in Studies 4A and 4B for normative and idiographic primes. Automatic evaluation was demonstrated in Study 4A and a trend was obtained in Study 4B. Schematicity did not moderate affective processing or schema activation. Automatic evaluation of body-related images was replicated in Study 5 but it was not moderated by prime strength or individual differences. Overall, the research suggests that most female undergraduates, irrespective of differences in body image concerns, automatically evaluate body-related stimuli. The final chapter provides an overview of the findings and discusses the theoretical and practical implications.

Much of the public debate surrounding new technologies and techniques in assisted reproductive technology (ART) is caught up in the speculative nature of imagined futures of 'science-fictive' proportions. This thesis, by contrast, examines a 'naturalized' ART donor insemination, discussing the manner in which couples (and occasionally single women) construct distributive and kinship networks as they move through the processes of fertility treatment and the selection of donor sperm. / This thesis follows a marketing trail for sperm from scientific journal, to the web, to conference floor. In doing so it examines and contrasts the information that is offered by companies distributing donor sperm and drawn upon by those making selective choices. It argues that the process of donor gamete selection---as mediated by Internet technologies---is characterized by a juxtapositioning of two trends: 'eugenic' promise, and expansion kinship networks based on 'like kinds'. This paper strives to explore these desires, beliefs and motivations at play in the commodification, distribution and consumption observed in the online marketing and sale of gametes. / This thesis contributes to the body of anthropological theorizing on gifting and commodification, and kinship, by arguing that donor sperm---in the context of current exchange practices---challenges a dichotomous categorization of gift/commodity, and is best understood as a hybrid item of exchange. Following Appadurai, the commodity candidacy of donor sperm, and the context of its commodification is explored, noting the manner in which kinship networks are extended and negotiated in the process.

This thesis is an analysis as to whether or not Subcultural Theory may be utilized to understand how self-identification is configured within a subculture such as rave. Typically, subcultural membership requires various performative rites that express and maintain a group sensibility and identity. Rave, however, is a subculture that involves a relationship to space and technology that changes the nature of group affiliation within the subculture. This thesis focuses on how a body immersed in subcultural practices, and organized around varying technologies, must look toward an analysis of individual and subjective adaptations of those technologies. In essence, rave allows for identification that is shaped and altered by the participant, but only at each moment of interaction with the technologies of the club. Highly individualistic, dynamic, and technology-driven, the rave subculture offers the potential to examine the body as the site for identification, and escape, within an abstracting technological world.

This research examined automatic evaluation of body-related stimuli in female undergraduates using an affective priming task. Automaticity was tested by varying the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) and valence congruence of the prime and target pairs. The prime to target interval (SOA) was either short or long, and the valence of the paired items was either the same (congruent) or different (incongruent). Automaticity was indicated by faster responses to congruent pairs than to incongruent pairs at the short SOA (parsimonious criterion) but not at the long SOA (classic criterion). Individual differences in thin internalisation, appearance schematicity, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint were assessed as potential moderators. Automatic evaluation of body-related images, but not words, was demonstrated in Study 1B and Study 1A, respectively. In Study 2A, automatic evaluation of nonbody-related words was obtained and this was extended to body-related words (Study 2B). In Study 3, automatic evaluation of normatively-selected body words was examined and body image schema activation was tested as a function of level of appearance schematicity. There was a trend toward automaticity and schematicity did not moderate schema activation. Overall, elevated body image concerns did not influence automatic evaluation in Studies 1A to 3 (with the exception of Study 1B). The role of extreme levels of appearance schematicity on automaticity and schema activation was examined in Studies 4A and 4B for normative and idiographic primes. Automatic evaluation was demonstrated in Study 4A and a trend was obtained in Study 4B. Schematicity did not moderate affective processing or schema activation. Automatic evaluation of body-related images was replicated in Study 5 but it was not moderated by prime strength or individual differences. Overall, the research suggests that most female undergraduates, irrespective of differences in body image concerns, automatically evaluate body-related stimuli. The final chapter provides an overview of the findings and discusses the theoretical and practical implications.

Bibliography: pages 195-202. / This study is an investigation of some psycho-social implications in adulthood of being born with a congenital anomaly. The congenital anomalies - oesophageal atresia, Hirschsprung's disease and high anorectal malformations are surgically corrected at birth, but can be associated with residual problems. These problems could put patients at risk for psycho-social maladjustment. The three anomaly groups were seen to represent varying degrees of severity. The oesophageal atresia respondents represented the no to mild disability/residual problems group. Those who had Hirschsprung's disease represented the moderate disability/residual problem group. The high anorectal malformation respondents' represented the severe disability/residual problem group. The research hypothesis is that the severity of residual problems and psycho-social functioning will be directly proportional to each other, i.e. the more severe the handicap, the poorer the psycho-social functioning. A research study was conducted on 38 adult patients whose congenital anomalies were surgically corrected at The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The research methods used were a descriptive survey method and a case-study method. The former involved three self-administered questionnaires. Information obtained concerned demographic, socio-economic, family background, medical and psycho-social problem data. An in-depth case-study was conducted with one respondent from each anomaly group. Information was obtained concerning the effect that residual problems had had on various aspects of patients' lives. Data was analysed descriptively. The findings of the study supported the research hypothesis, the medical prognosis and on the whole agreed with the literature. Severity of residual problems was found to be directly related to psycho-social functioning. Patients with severe disability/residual problems were experiencing the most psycho-social problems, those who had moderate disability/residual problems were found to have some psycho-social disability/residual problems, whereas those with mild disability/residual problems were found to have few or no psycho-social problems. Self-esteem, depression, interpersonal relationships and restricted social functioning were the psycho-social aspects found to be most affected by residual problems. The study revealed gaps in both medical and social work services for these patients in terms of ongoing follow-up services. Recommendation to improve these services have been proposed.

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Zhang, Chunni. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-128). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries