Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. "Reaction time tasks designed to measure static and dynamic imagery processes in both vision and audition were tested with two adult samples ... and one sample of 5-year-old children"--P. iv. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 244-264). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Many consumers are now considering the effects of general corporate behavior (e.g., political views, charitable contributions, environmental disasters) and of the product's manufacture, consumption or disposal (e.g., animal testing, ecological harm) on society's overall well-being. These situations involve the issue of individual social responsibility and are good examples of complex decisions that are not readily explained by traditional decision theories. Abstract attributes (e.g., product "greenness" or lack of harm to the environment) and the active role of the decision maker's values, principles, and ethics are problematic. The primary purpose of this research is to develop a conceptual framework for consumer decision making in the presence of a social responsibility issue. The secondary purpose of the study is to assess the value of image theory for explaining the decision process. Image theory (Beach and Mitchell 1987; Beach 1990), a relatively recent development in decision making, provides a compatible decision framework for these types of decisions due to its emphasis on an individual's values and on the screening of alternatives using value-laden attributes. Survey methodology and consumer preference tasks are utilized, and the hypothesized models are tested by structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that image theory provides a credible explanation of socially responsible consumer choice. In terms of this study's context, a consumer who has a strongly held social responsibility principle, values a clean environment, has a high level of environmental concern, and believes that his/her actions make a difference, is more likely to be committed to a pro-environmental plan of action and to use certain decision processes. These specific processes are screening alternatives to eliminate those that are not environmentally friendly and weighting the greenness attribute heavily in evaluating options. Using image theory's terminology and structure, social responsibility and environmental value form the value image. Environmental concern and perceived consumer effectiveness form the trajectory image. The strategic image is reflected in the plan (commitment to pro-environmental behaviors) and tactics (using the social responsibility attribute in the decision process). This research demonstrates that enduring values and principles guide consumer behavior involving social responsibility issues.

The majority of adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Gauteng complained of being tired of 1'talk therapy" . This study used imagery as a technique in the treatment of two adolescents suffering from MDD. The initial identification was based on the results of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). After a number of sessions of implementing imagery techniques, the BDI was readministered. To determine the long-term effectiveness of imagery, the BDI was again administered a month-and-a-half after completion of the sessions. The results before and after indicate a reduction in the severity of depression. The results at the month-and-a-half follow-up session indicated a further reduction in the level of depression in both cases. This indicates the long-tenn effectiveness of imagery in treating depression. Further research is required, but there are significant indications that imagery may be an effective technique in the treatment of depressed adolescents under psychiatric supervision. / Educational studies / M.Ed (Guidance and Counseling)

In this study the role played by metaphor in psychotherapy is investigated. Issues discussed, included the formulation of a definition of metaphor as well as an adequate theory of metaphor. The place metaphor holds in thought and learning; as well as how it has found its expression within some psychotherapeutic traditions are also discussed. The primary aim of the dissertation is to illustrate the versatility of metaphor, enabling it to be a significant and powerful tool in the hand of the psychotherapist. The application of various forms of metaphor is illustrated through case studies which offer a discussion of how the specific type of metaphor had been applied in psychotherapy. In conclusion, some recommendations are made with regard to further research within the fields of psychotherapy and neuropsychology. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Alcoholism is a major health problem, and current methods of treatment have been only partially successful. One treatment approach is to teach coping skills for dealing with problematic situations. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of imagery techniques in teaching coping skills. There were two major objectives of this study. The first objective was to determine whether covert skills training would produce positive changes in alcoholics in terms of their effectiveness in responding to stressful situations, their self-concept, and selected personality characteristics. The second objective was to determine whether alcoholics subjectively experience the imagery approach as beneficial. The statistical design also evaluated whether the effectiveness of the treatment fluctuated as a function of age, education, chronicity of alcohol problem, number of rehabilitation attempts, and environmental support as measured by the presence of a family or job awaiting the alcoholic's return.

Esta dissertação aborda a história da loucura e a representação literária da doença na obra Canto dos malditos, escrita por Austregésilo Carrano Bueno e publicada em 2004. O objetivo principal da pesquisa é a discussão da loucura subjacente à narrativa do livro de Carrano Bueno, da perspectiva do imaginário social. Para a elaboração da pesquisa foi utilizado o método comparativo, fundamentado em conhecimentos da história, da sociologia, do jornalismo e da crítica literária. Nesta dissertação, o leitor encontra uma possível história da loucura e dos hospitais psiquiátricos no Brasil, uma análise do imaginário criado em torno da loucura e um estudo da representação dos papéis sociais (família, médico e equipe de enfermagem) envolvidos nos processos de internação de doentes e supostos doentes mentais, e também os interesses das instituições. A pesquisa é fundamentada nas teorias do imaginário social, por isso os autores principais que sustentam teoricamente esta dissertação são Michel Maffesoli, Bronislaw Baczko e Cornelius Castoriadis. O filósofo Michel Foucault nos traz a perspectiva histórica da loucura. A pesquisa reflete a exclusão das pessoas que tinham a sua imagem ligada à loucura do convívio social. Essa dissertação justifica-se pois são poucas as pesquisas existentes que abordam o tema da loucura, principalmente a sua representação no imaginário social. / This dissertation deals with the history of madness and the literary representation of the disease in Canto dos malditos, written by Austregésilo Carrano Bueno and published in 2004. The main aim of the research is the discussion of madness underlying the narrative of Carrano Bueno’s book, from the perspective of the social imaginary. In order to carry out the research the comparative methodology was used based on knowledge of history, sociology, journalism and literary review. In this paper the reader finds a possible history of madness and psychiatric hospitals in Brazil, an analysis of the imaginary created around the madness and a study of the representation of the social roles (family, doctor and nursing team) involved in the process of hospitalization of ill and supposedly mentally ill patients, as well as the interests of the institutions. The research is based on theories of social imaginary, therefore the main theoretical authors that support the dissertation are Michel Maffesoli, Bronislaw Baczko and Cornelius Castoriadis. The philosopher Michel Foucault brings us the historical perspective of madness. The research reflects the exclusion of people who had their image linked to the madness of social life. This dissertation is justified because there are few existent researches that approach the subject of madness, especially its representation in the social imaginary.

M.Tech. / OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the extent of the benefit of combining psychological intervention, in the form of guided imagery, with spinal manipulative therapy, in the treatment of mechanical chronic lower back pain. The guided imagery functioned to address the psychosocial factors playing a role in the experience, maintenance and exacerbation of chronic pain (Turk, Swanson & Tunks, 2008), while the chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy functioned to address the dysfunctional biomechanics which cause the biological and neurological aspects of the chronic pain. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: 30 subjects between the ages of 18 and 40, presenting to the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic day clinic with chronic lower back pain, participated in the trail. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, which both underwent 6 treatments. During the initial consultation, both groups had their lumbar range of motion measured with the digital inclinometer, and were asked to complete the Oswestry Pain and Disability Index (Appendix G), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (Appendix H), and Perceived Stress Scale (Appendix I). This was followed for group A by spinal manipulative therapy to the restricted segments. Group B was treated with spinal manipulative therapy and a guided imagery session, performed by a registered psychologist. The participants were instructed on how to perform the guided imagery on their own, and were asked to perform it at home 3 times per week for the duration of the treatment. During the 2nd consultation, both groups received spinal manipulative therapy, and their progress was noted throughout on a SOAP note. During the 3rd consultation, both groups again had their lumbar range of motion measured, and were asked to complete the Oswestry Pain and Disability Index, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Treatment followed as per the initial consultation for both groups. During the 4th and 5th consultations, both groups received spinal manipulative therapy. During the final consultation, both groups were again treated with spinal manipulative therapy, followed by lumbar range of motion measurements, and final completion of the Oswestry Pain and Disability Index, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in overall lumbar range of motion for both groups throughout all degrees of freedom respectively. It is interesting to note that both in extension as well as rotation the inter-group measurements were statistically significantly different at treatment outset, but due to greater improvement in group B over group A, became statistically comparable on completion of the trials. There was also a significant overall improvement and decrease in subjective symptoms of perceived pain, disability and stress for both groups, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in results, due to greater improvement of group B over group A. CONCLUSION: The subjective and objective results between participants of the same group, demonstrated that both spinal manipulative therapy alone, as well as spinal manipulative therapy in conjunction with guided imagery was effective in treating chronic mechanical lower back pain. When comparing results between the two groups, the combined protocol group showed statistically significant improvement above the purely chiropractic group in 3 out of 6 objective measures, and 1 out of 3 subjective measures. There is thus limited evidence as to the advantage of combining guided imagery with the chiropractic treatment protocol of chronic mechanical lower back pain, however unfortunately not sufficient evidence to draw a definitive conclusion.

M.A. / It is well known that high levels of anxiety and/or depression often accompany the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Literature from various sources, but in particular from the fairly new field of research, Psychoneuroimmunology, also provides ample evidence that excessive anxiety and/or depression can be immunosuppressive. It makes sense, therefore, that any intervention restoring balance to the immuno-regulatory system, thereby allowing the body’s innate healing processes to focus on eliminating cancer, is highly desirable. In line with current thinking based on the mind-body connection as well as cognitive behavioural techniques utilised in many therapeutic settings, various psychological interventions have been found to help the patient gain a better sense of control over distressing symptoms and side-effects of cancer. Some of these include: basic cognitive restructuring, hypnotherapy, relaxation-meditation techniques, art and music therapy, and guided imagery. Substantial international research was found illustrating the beneficial affect that the psychological intervention, guided imagery, provided in such diverse settings including work, sport and health. In this regard, it was decided to run a pilot study to ascertain whether a specifically designed tape recording with relaxing music and dialogue aimed at helping patients manage and cope with negative symptoms of cancer, could significantly reduce anxiety and/or depression levels in women with breast cancer. To operationalise the above, 40 women, aged between 30 and 60, with Stages 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, who are about to commence adjunctive chemotherapy, were randomly selected to a treatment and a control group. A quasi-experimental design was applied to this study whereby the treatment group was subjected to pre- and post chemotherapy Hospital Anxiety & Depression (HAD) Scale and blood pressure measurements on their 1st, 3rd and final cycle of treatments. The HAD Scale is a well-researched and respected, quick, self-diagnostic assessment utilised abroad and in this country. The measurement of a person’s blood pressure is provided as a physiological backup to the psychometric assessment of the individual’s anxiety levels. For the intervention, each participant was supplied with her own copy of Healing Imagery for Cancer CD or audiotape, produced by a South African medical doctor, specialising in the “wellness” field. The participant was requested to listen to this tape as often as possible, but particularly during her chemotherapy treatments. The control group was tested pre-1st cycle of chemotherapy and post-6th cycle of chemotherapy. The main hypothesis of this pilot study was that there would be statistically significant decreases in levels of anxiety and depression as a result of the intervention of guided imagery tape recording in women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the guided imagery intervention correlated with a decrease in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) measurements, as well as depression and anxiety over a six-cycle period of chemotherapy. The most significant decrease was correlated with the anxiety variable. This pilot study revealed some methodological weaknesses but at the same time results are sufficiently encouraging to warrant further in-depth research regarding the use of guided imagery as a cost-effective, relatively easy method for individuals with cancer to learn and utilise as part of their integrative treatment regimen.

This dissertation seeks to advance our understanding of how marketing principles can be used to improve the process of new product design. Specifically, it examines the potential of a specific cognitive process, visual mental imagery, as a tool to help designers maximize the appeal of new products in the eyes of their customers. A conceptual framework is presented that describes a process through which visual mental imagery might influence the customer appeal of a design output. This is followed by two experiments which test the hypotheses that flow from this model. The experiments manipulate both the type of visual imagery utilized, and the incorporation of the customer in the imagery invoked (content of the imagery), in order to examine their effects on the usefulness, originality, and customer appeal of the resulting design. Consistent with the proposed framework and its hypotheses, visualization of the customer, as part of the imagery process, proved to enhance design usefulness when this imagery was imagination-based, but not when it was memory-based. Furthermore, use of imagination-based imagery resulted in more original designs than pure memory-based imagery. Finally, and most importantly, the use of customer visualization in combination with imagination-based imagery led to designs that were significantly more appealing to the customer. An analysis of covariance subsequently revealed that this improvement in customer appeal was mediated both by the perceived usefulness of the design, and by its degree of originality. The dissertation concludes with the integration of the experimental findings, and a discussion of the potential of visual imagery as a tool in the new product design process. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

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