The goal of this thesis is to define what globalization is, how the people across the world react to it based on their local context, how the reactions change under the conditions of economic crises and finally how the reactions are reflected in consumption. I answer these goals both from the theoretical and practical perspective. Based on my review of theory I define globalization (1) in economic terms as a recurring phenomenon related to changing power structures of world economy when new economic centers emerge and (2) in cultural terms as localized human experience determined by both one's worldview and one's local circumstances. I further hypothesize that the worldview underlying this localized experience changes during economic crises from modernism to traditionalism and postmodernism. Since Consumption then reflects our worldview in a culturally specific way. In the practical part I further test these findings through a netnographic study focused on Czech beer enthusiasts. The key finding is that the beer enthusiasts express a need to return to traditional brewing methods. However, there appears to be no correlation between economic crisis and the emergence of traditionalism among beer enthusiasts but rather the traditionalism erupst due to clash between modernist worldview of beer enthusiasts and perceived destruction of beer industry by capitalism. Finally, the traditionalism doesn't seem to be replacing modernist worldview of beer enthusiasts but rather serves as a resource for this worldview.

Historically, any stigma surrounding sexuality places a burden on individuals who do not self-identify as heterosexuals collectively referred to as "sexual minority". Sexual minority university students possess multiple identities due to experiences of discrimination and victimization on university campuses (Mays & Cochran, 2000). These minority groups appear to have higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance use disorders and suicidal behaviour when compared to heterosexual students. This stigrnatisation and victimisation has led to the current study focusing on the psychological wellbeing, identity crisis and resilience of sexual minority students in a South African University. The researcher followed a narrative oriented design within the qualitative research approach. Data was collected through a narrative oriented design that allowed the researcher to dig deeper into the life experiences of the students from both individual and collective perspectives. Data was analysed thematically and feelings, values and meanings were connected through ideas and personal view points. Snowball sampling was used. The sample consisted of 11 African students, 4 gays and 7 lesbians with an age range between 19 and 24 years were recruited from different faculties and levels of study. Three major themes were extracted during analysis and the principal outcome of the study was that homosexuals have a major challenge in their future in the work industry. The results also indicated a poor psychological wellbeing with the students, some identity crisis and moderate resilience. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.(Clinical Psychology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2014

My thesis is an attempt to approach Anna¡¦s predicament in Doris Lessing¡¦s The Golden Notebook from the angle of identity crisis. Charles Taylor maintains that in configuring the picture of self-identity, we actually answer the questions of existence. Identity crisis thus expresses the feeling of disorientation and uncertainty about the meaning of life. In The Golden Notebook, Anna is strained under her identity crisis which culminates in the mental collapse. In order to recover from the breakdown, Anna must re-answer the questions of her existence. In the introductory chapter, I give a brief sketch on the concept of the self, focusing on its transition from the Romanticism to the postmodernism. In the postmodern world, the romantic vocabulary of wholeness and personal significance gives way to the postmodern expressions of fragmentation and meaninglessness. Against these two poles, I try to analyze Lessing¡¦s attitudes. This chapter aims to offer the background against which the heroine¡¦s struggle and solution can be better realized. In Chapter One, I survey the concept of self as narrative and elucidate the three dimensions¡Xtemporal, moral, and social¡Xof the self. The main point is that the self is produced in the narrative, and in daily routines the textual identity is confirmed and reinforced. Thus the daily performance serves as the most solid prop to uphold the picture of self-identity. In Chapter Two, I trace the sources of Anna¡¦ identity crisis in light of the collapse of the practical involvements and highlight her syndrome of identity crisis with the aids of the theoretical discussion of the three dimensions. Chapter Tree deals with Anna¡¦s search for the true self, the presence of which presumably can solve her identity problem. The quest for the true self takes the route of her sessions with the therapist Mrs. Marks and the scribbling in the four notebooks. Both fail to produce the true self-narrative. If the self is created in the narrative as the concept of self as narrative suggests, the failure to produce the true self-narrative announces the absence of the true self. In Chapter Four, I examine Saul Green¡¦s features and Anna¡¦s intercourse with him to bring out the hazards of her situation and her reconciliation with the inaccessibility of the true self. By invoking the figure of the boulder-pusher, Anna substitutes the responsible self for the true self. She finally breaks out of the shackle of despair and recovers from her mental breakdown. In conclusion, I emphasize that Lessing is a strongly committed writer. Therefore, Anna¡¦s salvation can be considered as Lessing¡¦s suggestion for those who suffer out of a similar cause how to maintain themselves in the postmodern fragmentary world.

The aim of this thesis is to understand the presentations of characters¡¦ identity problems in Jonathan Swift¡¦s Gulliver¡¦s Travels and Daniel Defoe¡¦s Robinson Crusoe in relation to their respective genre and to see how the presentations reflect the social ambience and the cultural development in eighteenth-century England. This thesis consists of five chapters. In chapter one, I will briefly summarize the social conditions in eighteenth-century England. This summary of social conditions will show eighteenth-century England as a society of conflicts and contrasts between old and new values. Two key words here, old and new values, will allude to the development of literary genres in eighteenth-century England. Novel is a term which first appears around this time in the history of literary writing and which refers to a new type of genre. As people have varieties of life styles, so do authors have a new genre to work with. However, this newness, either in a social or cultural context, coexists with the old values. In the context of literary writing, the novel, as a genre, has to compete and cooperate with one of its precursors, the genre of satire. In chapter two, I will try to understand the relationship between novel and satire in the light of another genre, utopia. Even though the utopian element in satire is a counterpoint, meaning the dystopian stance, of utopian traditions, there still is a strong sense of community in satirical writings. Compared with satire, the sense of individuals is the core of the genre of the novel. Realism, marked by Ian Watt, is a new trend in novel writing and it is highly connected with the idea of individualism instead of the sense of community. In order to see this difference, Swift¡¦s Gulliver¡¦s Travels and Defoe¡¦s Robinson Crusoe are the two texts that I will use in chapter three and four for detailed discussions. As for the second part of chapter two, I try to single out the idea of travel with the intention to see its importance in eighteen-century England. In chapters three and four, my concern turns to characters¡¦ identity problems in the two travel narratives: Gulliver¡¦s Travels and Robinson Crusoe. Compared with each other, the characters of the two travel narratives have different identity problems and this difference is important in the way of symbolizing the different concerns of each genre: satire for a sense of community and novel for individualism. Moreover, in terms of the different endings in the two travel narratives, Gulliver and Crusoe¡¦s experiences of their identity problems also suggest an important social condition, which is the different possibilities of life, in eighteenth-century England. In conclusion, I will give an overall review of the whole thesis.

This study examines how the credentialing process for foreign-trained engineers implemented by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) affects newcomers from the former Soviet Union and Russia seeking to re-enter the profession. Applying critical sociological theory to its analysis of data generated through qualitative methods, it highlights how the ethnic, racial, and educational background of applicants shapes their encounters with the PEO and the outcome of their applications. It sheds light on the crises of identity and in social and family relations experienced by these individuals, as well as the lack of supporting services to address such crises. This study contributes to existing literature on the subject by taking a new approach to the credentialing of foreign-trained engineers in Ontario, focusing on the perspective of individual applicants rather than structural factors. It concludes with specific recommendations on how the process could be improved and the regulatory body itself reformed.

This study examines how the credentialing process for foreign-trained engineers implemented by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) affects newcomers from the former Soviet Union and Russia seeking to re-enter the profession. Applying critical sociological theory to its analysis of data generated through qualitative methods, it highlights how the ethnic, racial, and educational background of applicants shapes their encounters with the PEO and the outcome of their applications. It sheds light on the crises of identity and in social and family relations experienced by these individuals, as well as the lack of supporting services to address such crises. This study contributes to existing literature on the subject by taking a new approach to the credentialing of foreign-trained engineers in Ontario, focusing on the perspective of individual applicants rather than structural factors. It concludes with specific recommendations on how the process could be improved and the regulatory body itself reformed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / The problem of this dissertation was to identify major implications for religious education in Erikson's study of the identity crisis in adolescence. The primary methods employed in this study were library research, critical analysis, and logical deduction. [TRUNCATED]

L’identité en crise est le thème majeur des romans d’Isabelle Hausser, particulièrement dans les quatre romans suivants : ‘’Les magiciens de l’âme’’, ‘’Une comédie familiale’’, ‘’La table des enfants’’ et ‘’Le passage des ombres’’. Dans l’univers romanesque de cet auteur, les héros s’interrogent en permanence non seulement sur l’identité de leur entourage mais aussi sur la leur. Ils sont tombés dans une situation angoissante et très perturbée dans laquelle ils découvrent la destruction irrésistible de leur ancienne image d’eux-mêmes, celle dont ils ne doutaient jamais. A partir de ce moment là, la confiance dans l’unité de soi n’existe plus pour ces personnages. Plus que jamais, face à un monde instable et plein de doutes, ces hommes de notre temps ne ‘’sauront jamais toute la vérité’’. Ils sont condamnés à vivre avec la remise en question des certitudes. Alors, l’homme moderne devient parfois pitoyable et mélancolique. D’ailleurs, dans ses romans, Isabelle Hausser souligne remarquablement le processus de la prise de conscience par ses personnages de leur crise identitaire. Elle esquisse aussi l’espoir qu’ils ont de connaître un peu leur identité à travers l’amitié, la musique, et elle suggère une attitude raisonnable : accepter la vie telle qu’elle est. Cette idée pourrait être considérée comme une marque de sagesse dans l’œuvre mélancolique d’Isabelle Hausser. / The identity crisis is one of the major themes in the novels of Isabelle Hausser, particularly in these four novels '' The magicians of the soul'','' A family comedy'','' The kids' table’ 'and ''The passage of the shadows''. In the fictional universe of the author, her characters are continuously questioning both their identity and the world around them. They fall into a distressing situation and are upset when they discover the inevitable demolition of their former self-image, which they had never doubted before. From this moment, the confidence of these characters no longer exists. People face an unstable world full of doubts where they “will never know the whole truth” and they must live with “the knowledge that they have not understood”. So they become sometimes pitiful and melancholy. Moreover, in her novels, Isabelle Hausser remarkably emphasizes the process of understanding in her characters their identity crisis and the hope of recognizing their identity through friendship, music and especially the attitude of accepting life as it is. This idea could be considered as a little wisdom in the melancholy novels of Isabelle Hausser.

La détresse des Hommes en fin de vie constitue le sujet de cette thèse doctorale de psychologie. La détresse est un défi pour les soins palliatifs. Elle interpelle, convoque les soignants dans leurs limites à supporter la souffrance d’autrui. Elle devient l’enjeu de débats pour la société avec des réponses telles que l’euthanasie et l’altération de la vigilance encore appelé sédation. Cette étude a pour objectif d’étudier cette détresse à travers la rencontre des psychologues avec leurs patients. Elle vérifie en particulier l’hypothèse d’une articulation de la détresse avec une crise d’identité générée par la maladie létale. Elle étudie la participation éventuelle du mécanisme de la dissociation à la co-existence de la détresse et du bien-être. Plus largement elle analyse la fonction thérapeutique des entretiens psychologiques proposés aux patients. Méthode : pendant un an, 14 psychologues analysent leurs accompagnements au moyen d’un livret. Pour contrôler les résultats, un second groupe de 12 psychologues répartis en France réitère l’expérience. L’analyse statistique est réalisée avec STATA 10.0 et la partie libre avec Alceste. Résultats : 801 entretiens réalisés auprès de 237 patients âgés en moyenne de 67 ans (33-95) démontrent que la maladie létale génère une crise identitaire dont le vécu est la détresse. L’évolution longitudinale des entretiens démontre une métamorphose identitaire possible et une réduction de la détresse. Discussion : L’intersubjectivité des entretiens restaure le sentiment d’être soi même à proximité du décès. Conclusion : La détresse peut se résilier si un cadre thérapeutique est proposé pour accompagner les ruptures du sentiment d’être soi et sa métamorphose. / The plight of Men in late life is the subject of this doctoral thesis in psychology. Distress is a challenge for palliative care. It questions caregivers in their limits to bear the suffering of others. It becomes a burning issue in society and raises debates with answers such as euthanasia and induced coma (also called sedation). This study aims at investigating this distress through the encounter of psychologists with their patients. It verifies in particular the assumption of a link between distress and an identity crisis generated by the lethal disease. It studies the possible participation of the dissociation mechanism to the co-existence of distress and well-being. More broadly this thesis analyzes the therapeutic function of psychological interviews offered to patients. Method: for one year, 14 psychologists analyze their accompaniments using a booklet. To check the results, a second group of 12 psychologists throughout France reiterates the experience. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA 10.0 and the free part with Alceste. Results: 801 interviews conducted among 237 patients aged 67 years (33-95) demonstrate that the lethal disease generates an identity crisis which is experienced by the patients with a feeling of distress. The longitudinal course of the interviews shows a possible identity transformation and distress reduction. Discussion: intersubjectivity interviews restore a sense of self even near death. Conclusion: The distress may terminate if a therapeutic framework is proposed to accompany the ruptures in the sense of self and its metamorphosis.

Thesis advisor: Celeste Wells / This essay investigates the experience of Latin American international students at Boston College (BC) and how their preconceived notions impact both their experience pre and post arrival to college. Boston College culture, language barriers, academic pressure, housing arrangements and American norms are all factors that fuel the identity crisis that Latin American students experience at Boston College. These factors either drive Latin American students to engage in Boston College culture or, on the contrary, impel students to isolate themselves from American culture and from befriending other Americans. As seen through the conversations with students, the latter experience can often lead to dissatisfied outlooks and the longing to return to the students’ host countries. This study highlights the thoughts and experiences of Latin American students at Boston College while also providing solutions on how to improve the International Assistant Program (IAP) at Boston College. The solutions put forward in this study aim to encourage other universities across the globe to improve their immersion programs so that the needs of international students can be met. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Arts and Sciences Honors Program. / Discipline: Communication.