This study explores how gay Christian men in the pentecostal/charismatic movement reinterpret their spirituality as a reaction to the discourse about homosexuality in this movement. The spiritual experience of gay men is contextualized within the particular emphasis on individual experience found in pentecostal/charismatic spirituality. Practical theological research is conducted within a postmodern discourse set in context of a Participatory Action Research project. A narrative therapeutical approach served to identify harmful discourses and encourage the continuing deconstruction of such discourses. The extent to which power/knowledge relationships affect gay Christians' spiritual relationships became apparent. Conflict between the church's discourse about homosexuality and the gay Christian appears to start a process of deconstruction of fundamentalist pentecostal/charismatic hermeneutical approaches to the Bible. The research process facilitated a process of reconstruction of gay spirituality and created opportunities for spiritual and social growth. This research may inspire gay Christian voices in pentecostal/charismatic circles to become heard. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.

The research on "The healing touch of Nature in the context of pastoral therapy" illustrated the role of Nature in bringing healing to individual people in an urban context in South Africa. The role Nature plays in connecting the participants with God and how this positively affects their daily lives, has been central in the research. Through their interaction with Nature, the participants lead richer, more meaningful lives and experience a greater sense of well-being. Nature stimulates and elicits response as the digital world is set against the calm energy and "warmth of the earth". Through connection with God in Nature, the participants translate the healing metaphor into more tangible "language" – the "beautifying effect" of Nature. It is not the words that captivate, but the thoughts which the words carry. Mostly the research tells the story of the experiential knowledge of living in the intimate presence of God and the healing power of God‘s presence. This narrative is about a kind of knowing that can only come through Nature. The research offers a way of seeing Nature that could influence pastoral care today. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

This thesis examines the influence of state identity narratives on regional cooperation frameworks in Central Asia. It applies the perspectives of ontological security theory to the self-articulation of state identities of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan to decipher socialization mechanisms in each of the cases. Consequently, it traces the routinization of the state narratives of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan toward the region and regional organizations. Ontological security theory argues that, in addition to physical security, states seek ideational security, security of identity and security of being. Using a grounded theory approach to study the formation of the state narratives of Kyrgyzstan and of Turkmenistan and utilizing official and media sources and interviews conducted during fieldwork, the thesis analyzes the process of routinization of state identity narratives, showcasing the narrators, the narratives and the processes of self-articulation. The key process that is traced is the routinization of the state narratives, i.e. the sequence of repeated actions (inter-textualized through speech acts and textual references) that transform the self-articulated stories of the states into the realm of the habitual. This process of routinization is then analyzed within the regional context, examining how these routinized narratives influence inter-state cooperation in Central Asia. As such, the thesis contributes to two main bodies of literature: the growing literature on the ideational aspects of regional cooperation in Central Asia; and existing research on the role of state identification practices in the foreign policies of Central Asian states.

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Dentro dessa tendência mais ampla, estudos têm sido voltados para a revisão do modelo tridimensional do comprometimento proposto por J. Meyer e N. Allen, guiados pelo argumento de que esse modelo reúne mais de um tipo de vínculo. Um dos principais pontos de análise tem sido a pertinência da dimensão de continuação, que apresenta base teórica e comportamento semelhante ao entrincheiramento organizacional. A presente pesquisa buscou percorrer um caminho metodológico que possibilitasse alcançar maiores compreensão, precisão e delimitação desses construtos. Após a revisão e refinamento das medidas do entrincheiramento organizacional e do comprometimento de continuação, foram comparados seus modelos explicativos. Os resultados apontaram para o mesmo padrão de relação quando confrontados os modelos do entrincheiramento e da base de continuação, evidenciando validade convergente. Confirmada a hipótese de que a base de continuação é sobreposta ao entrincheiramento, e de que ambos se distinguem do comprometimento afetivo, foram identificados e discriminados quatro grupos com diferentes níveis de entrincheiramento e comprometimento organizacional: sentinela de oportunidades (níveis medianos dos vínculos), transeunte organizacional (níveis baixos dos vínculos), cidadão livre (alto comprometimento e baixo entrincheiramento) e prisioneiro colaborativo (alto comprometimento e alto entrincheiramento). Desses grupos, foram extraídos casos representativos para uma investigação qualitativa da dinâmica dos vínculos com a organização, com base em narrativas profissionais. Após as análises detalhadas de cada caso, foi elaborado um modelo teórico que reúne variáveis pessoais e organizacionais, além das trajetórias percorridas, que contribuem para a formação das diferentes configurações de vínculo. Conclui-se que o entrincheiramento e o comprometimento são vínculos distintos, que podem ser combinados em diferentes padrões, construídos com base em características pessoais e em experiências vivenciadas na organização. Esses padrões demonstraram a capacidade de ampliar o poder explicativo dos vínculos em comparação ao seu tratamento isolado. Ao término deste estudo, verifica-se o alcance de maior delimitação teórica e empírica do comprometimento e do entrincheiramento. As estratégias metodológicas aqui empregadas poderão ser retomadas e incrementadas em estudos futuros, contribuindo para maiores avanços teóricos e aplicações práticas dos vínculos com a organização. On the current agenda of research on organizational attachments, efforts have been made in order to review concepts which have accumulated theoretical and empirical issues, therefore, threatening the validity of the results of several of these studies. Following a broader perspective, other studies have revised the three-dimensional model of commitment proposed by J. Meyer e N. Allen. These other studies have been guided by the argument that this model included more than one type of bond. One of the key issues is the pertinence of the continuance commitment, which is characterized by similar behavior and theoretical basis, if compared to organizational entrenchment. This research intended to follow a methodological pathway which would enable the researcher reach a better understanding, precision and delimitation of these constructs. After reviewing and refining the measures of organizational entrenchment and continuation commitment, their explanatory models were compared. Results indicated the same pattern of relationship between the models of entrenchment and continuance dimension, evincing a convergent validity. Therefore, not only the hypothesis that the continuance dimension overlaps entrenchment was confirmed, but also that both are distinct from affective commitment. Four groups in different levels of entrenchment and organizational commitment were identified and discriminated: sentinel of opportunities (average levels of attachment), organizational passerby (low levels of attachment), free citizen (high level of commitment and low entrenchment) and collaborative prisoner (high level of commitment and high entrenchment). Representative cases were taken from these groups for a qualitative investigation of the dynamics of bonds in the organization, based on the narratives of the professionals. After a detailed analysis of each case, a theoretical model including personal and organizational variables, and also trajectories lived - which have contributed to the formation of different settings of bonds - was elaborated. It was concluded that entrenchment and commitment are distinct bonds, which can be combined in different patterns, built based on personal characteristics and experiences lived in the organization. These patterns demonstrate the ability of this study to increase the explanatory power of bonds, when compared to their isolated treatment. At the end of this study, the significance of a major theoretical and empirical delimitation of commitment and entrenchment was verified. The methodological strategies used here may be incorporated and improved in future studies, contributing to greater theoretical advances and practical applications of attachments in the organization.

The research study, Caught between Christianity and the hard rock: A narrative study, presents, explores and discusses the stories of Christian hard rock musicians from a predetermined Christian hard rock band, comprising of four members. The study takes a narrative approach at exploring and discussing the participants’ stories, which comprise the qualitative data for the study. The stories were collected by means of four individual semi-structured interviews and a group unstructured interview. The interviews sought to ask the participants certain questions to hear and collect their stories pertaining to the various narratives interplaying in their lives as Christian hard rock musicians. Following collection and transcription of these stories, the stories were analysed according to interpretive narrative analysis, according to Riessman, with reference to Labov’s 6 elements of transcription. Such stories were subsequently reported and discussed within the research study from a narrative theoretical point of departure. This allows for the reader to gain an understanding of the various narratives interplaying in the lives of Christian hard rock musicians, and the significance of such narratives and their experiences, which ultimately is assumed to influence the participants’ daily lives. Ultimately, the study facilitates for the participants to tell their stories as they wished to tell them, in terms of how they may be “caught between Christianity and the hard rock” music genre. Subsequently the study also serves for the reader to gain a narrative understanding as to how the band members understand themselves and their band to be in the world. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Psychology / unrestricted

This research explores constructions and understandings of fluctuating or recurring impairments in Higher Education in the UK. It considers ways in which institutional discourses within one UK University have shaped policy and provision for disabled students, and how students with fluctuating or recurring impairments negotiate and enact identities in this context. For many students, impairments such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), epilepsy or diabetes, for example, have the potential to vary in intensity, and thus impact, on participation in learning activities and on self-perception/ identity. With increasing disclosure, yet limited recognition, of such types of impairment comes a need for institutions to better understand changing impact in terms of inclusion and in observing anticipatory aspects of legislation, as well as furthering insight into how student identities are negotiated and constructed in an educational context. This research uses a social constructionist framework to explore constructions and subjectivities as regards fluctuating or recurring impairments, and comprises both staff and student perspectives. The staff perspective is based on the thematic narrative analysis of interviews with three members of staff, and is presented in conjunction with an example of institutional policy to highlight discourses drawn upon in constructing disability and disabled students. The impact of these discourses on institutional constructions and practice is key to the analysis. The student perspective is based on two phases of data collection: firstly, 24 semi-structured interviews with students who self-described a fluctuating or recurring impairment; and secondly, five students’ responses to six bi-weekly emails over the course of one academic trimester (January – April 2011). Summary data from the first phase is used to frame discussion on issues raised by students regarding institutional constructions and support. A ‘hybrid’ narrative analysis framework incorporating positioning analysis as well as both ‘big’ and ‘small stories’ has been used in analysing the phase two data. The approach considers the influence of institutional discourses on how students are positioned institutionally and position themselves, as well as ways in which performances of identity may be shaped. The thesis concludes by considering the implications of the research outcomes for Higher Education. In so doing, it notes the significance of policy implementation and cultural change, and makes recommendations for areas of focus in raising institutional awareness of fluctuating or recurring impairments within existing constructions of disability.

With this essay, I’m reviewing with a narrative analysis, describing in what way the standards of feminism, bisexuality and non-monogomy is being represented in the movie Puccini for beginners. I’m reviewing this in support of a queer and straight time. As a complement for queer and straight time, I’m presenting different theoretical concepts, which are useful for the analyze of feminism, bisexuality and non-monogamy. The analyze is based on the categories of Labov. In which way the narritve is constructed, as well as in what way feminism, bisexuality and non-monogamy are being represented. Finally I’m summing-up how I answered my questions regarding straight and queer time in perspective of feminism, bisexuality and non-monogamy.

During the past ten years the changing sociopolitical context in South Africa challenged mental health services to re-position themselves in order to stay relevant to specific contextual demands. The field of psychology has also been introduced to the application of postmodern principles in counselling and training practices internationally and nationally, which promised exciting alternative avenues for many practitioners and clients. In reading the literature on the possible opportunities of applying postmodern principles to psychological and educational practices, it became clear that the relationship between counsellors/clients and trainers/students can be a collaborative co-construction of knowledge production. Existing literature on current training practices however reflects a fragmented picture, in which the orientation, content and pedagogy are not consistently aligned with an epistemology and practice. Postmodern literature on the notion of “identity/self” as the narration of a multilevelled construct is used to conceptualise training contexts as contexts that provide students with certain narratives with which they can construct their counsellor identities. The aim of the research is to story the construction of counsellor identity through the application of narrative therapy within a learning model. Text production was imbedded in a referential research context which is defined as a context of the following relational positionings: narrative counsellor, trainer, researcher, students and participants. The contribution of this context towards the construction of counsellor identity is explored through engaging in and narrative analysis of written conversations, journals and visual projects of students who engaged in a training context. Through the narrative analysis process, temporal dimension story grids were developed for the written conversations and training journals and the visual projects were analysed according to denotational and higher signification inventories. Narratives that were co-created in the training context include that of uncertainty, self-awareness, growth, change, hope and respect for individual life narratives, which also contributed to the process of the construction of counsellor identity. These are all familiar narratives that exist in the South African context as we live in a country that is in a continuous process of change and where certainty is an elusive concept. On the basis of the narrative themes that emerged, guidelines were developed for creating training contexts that could facilitate the construction of a counsellor identity that is of relevance within the changing South African context. These guidelines include a repositioning in the trainer/student relationship; using externalising language practices to facilitate the co-construction of knowledge through a critical engagement with the learning material and a conceptualisation of evaluation as a process based activity rather than an outcome based activity. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

Hymnus Paradisi (1938), a large-scale choral and orchestral work, is well-known as an elegiac masterpiece written by Herbert Howells in response to the sudden loss of his young son in 1935. The composition of this work, as noted by the composer himself and those close to him, successfully served as a means of working through his grief during the difficult years that followed Michael's death. In this dissertation, I provide linear analyses for Howells' Hymnus Paradisi as well as its predecessor, Howells' Requiem (1932), which was adapted and greatly expanded in the creation of Hymnus Paradisi. These analyses and accompanying explanations are intended to provide insight into the intricate contrapuntal style in which Howells writes, showing that an often complex musical surface is underpinned by traditional linear and harmonic patterns on the deeper structural levels. In addition to examining the middleground and background structural levels within each movement, I also demonstrate how Howells creates large-scale musical continuity and shapes the overall composition through the use of large-scale linear connections, shown through the meta-Ursatz (an Ursatz which extends across multiple movements creating multi-movement unity). Finally, in my interpretation of these analyses, I discuss specific motives in Hymnus Paradisi which, I hypothesize, musically represent the crisis of Michael's death. These motives are initially introduced in the "Preludio," composed out on multiple structural levels as Hymnus Paradisi unfolds, and, finally, I argue, are transformed as a representation of the process of healing, and ultimately, catharsis.

<p>This dissertation, broadly, examines how power dynamics manifest during clinical interactions related to vague and gendered medical symptoms, such as pelvic pain. To examine this issue, I approach my research questions through multiple methods including a critical discourse analysis of the medical discourse on pelvic pain, a survey experiment administered to healthcare workers in the US, and a narrative analysis of pelvic pain patient experiences. While the focus of this research is on pelvic pain, the analyses presented here reach far beyond ideas of power dynamics and pelvic pain. Rather, the findings from this research speak to theoretical discussions medical sociologists have been having for decades. Specifically, findings provide new insight on: 1) the limits of evidence-based medicine as a biomedical paradigm, 2) how fundamental causes of health inequality intersect with each other as well as other factors, such as gender, important in predicting health outcomes and 3) how discussions of metamechanisms in fundamental cause theory can inform our understanding of the accumulation of cultural health capital. In providing such insight, this dissertation uses the case of pelvic pain to integrate multiple perspectives and theories in medical sociology to drive the field forward in a way that acknowledges the many ways power is simultaneously constituted in the clinical interaction. From the role of gender, race, and class in power relations, to the ways medical knowledge, discourse, and authority dictate the clinical interaction, this research covers a wide range of sociological theories and concepts. In doing so, this dissertation sheds new light on current understandings of power in the clinical interaction and its relationship to inequitable health outcomes in the US.</p>