The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological and social processes of regular physical exercise use by women who consider themselves "exercisers." In using grounded theory method, the primary objective of this study was to generate a substantive theory that described (a) the experiences of women who self-identified as exercisers and engaged in regular physical exercise, (b) the contextual factors that influenced their participation, and (c) explained the experience of participating in regular exercise, considering both the positive and negative effects of exercising, and the process of change through its use. Twenty-two women (age range, 21 to 60 years) were interviewed about their exercise experience. Twenty participants self-identified as exercisers. Two other participants, a former exerciser, and a nonexerciser, were interviewed in order to explore theory limits. A middle-range theory of "shaping self through exercise" was identified as the basic process of these women's experience of regular physical exercise. The process involved the reciprocal connection between two intrapersonal phases: "shaping up" and "experiencing self as shaped." Through interactions among the subprocesses of shaping up ("talking to self," "experiencing exercise," "diverting from self" and "feeling good about self") exercisers in this study experienced self as shaped through "growing into self," "grounding self in exercise," and "expressing self through exercise." Influenced by personal meaning and contextual conditions (one's personal exercise background, current life context, and socialcultural environment), exercisers frequently re-experienced both phases. Aspects of each conceptual element of the theoretical model are identified and illustrated by narrative data. This grounded theory provides insight into the complexity of women's physical exercise experience. To appreciate this experience it is necessary to view the social-psychological process from an interactionist perspective. Findings suggest that women's exercise may be more than physical movement in reaction to environmental and personal influences, but may also be an intrinsically motivated endeavour towards self-growth, self-care, and selfexpression. Awareness of the complexity of this process, including personal and contextual influences, may provide guidance towards more successful adoption and maintenance of exercise. Implications include future research directions to extend theoretical boundaries and specificity.

This thesis will partly compare the approaches of two pioneers in Islamic philosophy to the soul-body problem: the philosophical psychology of Mulla Sadra (Sadr al-Muta'allihin Shirazi 975-1050/1571-1640) and that of Ibn Sina (370-428/980-1037). Our main concern will be with the former, the founder of "trancendent theosophy", particularly his ideas regarding the corporeal generation of the soul. / A brief historical background of the problem is presented in the first chapter. In order to evaluate the real philosophical value of Mulla Sadra's doctrine, the thesis will investigate the soundness of Mulla Sadra's novel psychological findings. "Substantial motion" (al-harakah al-jawhariyyah) and the "gradation of existence" (al-tashkik fi maratib al-wujud) are the two main philosophical principles formulated and implied by our philosopher regarding the elaboration of his theory on the soul's developmental process. / In our study, we discuss the nature of the soul-body relationship, the evidence which indicates their mutual interaction, and finally, the various forms of this relationship. In the final chapter, we focus on the developmental process of the soul's substantial motion up to the stage of union with the active intellect. Our analytical discussion is centered on whether or not the theory of the corporeality of the soul's generation yields a meaningful conception of the soul's evolution from materiality to immateriality. / Considering the serious challenges and unsolved difficulties that still remain, it is an open question whether Sadra's theory, particularly its emphasis on the corporeality of the soul's generation, can adequately account for the soul's developmental process up to the stage of unity with the world of intellects.

Elements of heuristic inquiry and interpretive interactionism were used to investigate how four master body psychotherapists came to adopt body psychotherapy and how they approach their practice, with the underlying purpose of re-examining the notion of credibility. Co-participants were purposefully selected from four body psychotherapy models: Bodynamics, Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing ® (SE) and Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP). Each co-participant described the experience of a transformative epiphany, either major or cumulative, that compelled her to adopt body psychotherapy as a way of practice. The analysis of the metatheme "approach to practice" was informed by Lang and Taylor's (2000) concept of artistry in practice and Jarvis's (1999) concept of the practitioner researcher. Co-participants blended the art and science of psychotherapy in their approach to practice, and acknowledged the critical role that scientific research plays as body psychotherapy continues to establish its credibility and legitimacy within the broader domain of psychotherapy.

No description available.

Thesis (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-10, Section: A, page: 3596. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-149).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 2000. / Bibliography : leaves 267-287.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, December 2006.

Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on July 1, 2008). Department of English, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Missy Dehn Kubitschek, Jennifer Thorington Springer, Tom Marvin. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-114).