Pre-literate children experience written text as a meaningless material object, the word-object, but the compulsory and institutional aspects of reading pedagogy make this an experience from which they cannot escape. Some children begin to associate their own negative experiental sense with the word-object before they are able to learn to read. As reading pedagogy continues, these children begin to read back experiental sense which prevents them from converting the word-object to meaningful text. Experiental sense is repressed because it is psychically painful. It retains qualities of phenomena repressed from childhood: it is active and intractable to reason. The result is an intractable illiteracy which may be interpreted as biologically based �dyslexia.� Further attempts at reading pedagogy in childhood and adulthood generally result in reproduction of the inability because this pedagogy requires learners to attempt to read linguistically which elicits experiental sense. As these children become adults, their avoidance of reading sometimes structures their social relations to accommodate and compound their problems. The method to overcome the problem replaces experiental sense with positive feelings about written language. The power of language to denote emotions of pleasure and affirmation from learners� lives is used. These emotions are enhanced through a technique of affirmative intersubjectivity. Short spoken affirmative texts are made by learners, tape recorded and reproduced as written texts by the literacy worker. Through allowing learners control and autonomy over their spoken and written texts, the positive emotions in them are associated by learners with the written texts. Exercises on the affirmative written texts are used to demonstrate regularities about written language. Learners then progress to reading suitable independent texts and other activities. There are suggestions about how to enhance learners� feelings as competent readers and writers. The thesis uses a methodology of action research and includes five case studies of adults with literacy problems. Concepts from social theory, psychoanalysis and object relations theory are used and adapted to understand written language, schooling and illiteracy.

Pre-literate children experience written text as a meaningless material object, the word-object, but the compulsory and institutional aspects of reading pedagogy make this an experience from which they cannot escape. Some children begin to associate their own negative experiental sense with the word-object before they are able to learn to read. As reading pedagogy continues, these children begin to read back experiental sense which prevents them from converting the word-object to meaningful text. Experiental sense is repressed because it is psychically painful. It retains qualities of phenomena repressed from childhood: it is active and intractable to reason. The result is an intractable illiteracy which may be interpreted as biologically based �dyslexia.� Further attempts at reading pedagogy in childhood and adulthood generally result in reproduction of the inability because this pedagogy requires learners to attempt to read linguistically which elicits experiental sense. As these children become adults, their avoidance of reading sometimes structures their social relations to accommodate and compound their problems. The method to overcome the problem replaces experiental sense with positive feelings about written language. The power of language to denote emotions of pleasure and affirmation from learners� lives is used. These emotions are enhanced through a technique of affirmative intersubjectivity. Short spoken affirmative texts are made by learners, tape recorded and reproduced as written texts by the literacy worker. Through allowing learners control and autonomy over their spoken and written texts, the positive emotions in them are associated by learners with the written texts. Exercises on the affirmative written texts are used to demonstrate regularities about written language. Learners then progress to reading suitable independent texts and other activities. There are suggestions about how to enhance learners� feelings as competent readers and writers. The thesis uses a methodology of action research and includes five case studies of adults with literacy problems. Concepts from social theory, psychoanalysis and object relations theory are used and adapted to understand written language, schooling and illiteracy.

I create art, not out of a deep understanding of the world around me, but out of a lack of one. Human psychology, motives, behaviors, stressors, intentions and identity are the themes that boggle me the most. Therefore, it is only natural that my work would be fueled by the questions these themes pose. In the past I sought to understand what pushes people to make certain choices and how can the world around us affect the formation of identity. Currently I wonder about identity in terms of what do people use to form and reinforce identity both real and fabricated. In addition to this I am working through the question of what creates worth for an object; it’s function or its fabricated identity. Through the use of photography, video, sculpture and installation I explore the possibilities of questions and also understandings that my work can create.

Empirical investigation of the tenets of Object Relations Theory is recent. This study of the theoretical convergence between Object Relations Theory and Personal Construct Theory brought a new direction to the empirical investigation. It was hypothesized that individuals who displayed a well developed level of object relations, as measured by Object Relations Theory, would also display a highly adaptive blend of cognitive complexity and ordination, as described by Personal Construct Theory, and vice versa. A correlational analysis of personality measures on 136 college students approached but did not attain statistical significance. Results indicated no significant theoretical convergence between Object Relations Theory and Personal Construct Theory. Further research is warranted only if greater variability in sample age, life experience, and psychopathology is assured.

This research study explores how the use of a selection of vocal activities in group music therapy may provide institutionalised individuals with CP opportunities for self-expression and social interaction. In addition, the manner in which self-expression is related to social interaction, in this context, is investigated. The study falls into the interpretive paradigm and uses a qualitative approach. A case study design is utilised. A total of eight sessions were conducted over a period of eight weeks, with a group comprising five individuals with CP, ranging from 9-17 years of age. Each individual presented with communication and cognitive impairments, resulting in an inability to verbally communicate. The study makes use of two sources of naturally-occurring data, including four selected video excerpts and in-depth clinical session notes. Coding, categorising and theme identification are utilised in the analysis of the video excerpts and corresponding session notes. My role as music therapy intern in facilitating the vocal activities was key to this process, in terms of providing the individuals with opportunities for self-expression and social interaction. My role in facilitating the vocal activities contributed towards the development of a therapeutic relationship with myself and the group members, which in turn, created the capacity for the ability to socially interact with one another in the group, paralleled with certain stages of relating as theorised within Object Relations Theory. Through my engagement with the group members and because of the existing therapeutic relationship between us, a capacity was created for the individuals to interact and engage with others, enhanced by my role in providing, holding and containing the individuals in order for them to feel safe and confident to interact with others in the group. Copyright / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Music / unrestricted

The present study examined whether perceptions of parents, peers, romantic partners and God were predictive of eating disorder symptom severity among women in treatment for eating disorders. The sample included 417 women (ages 12 to 56 years) at an inpatient treatment facility for eating disorders. Participants completed a battery of assessment measures at intake and discharge. Change scores were also computed on all measures. Measures included indices of eating disorder symptomology, parental relationships, peer relationships, romantic partner relationships, and religious well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed perceptions of peers and romantic partner to be significant predictors in all analyses; however perceptions of God failed to predict eating disorder symptom severity in all but one analysis. Differences between perceptions of mothers and fathers were also found. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

HIV/AIDS research has proven crucial in an effort to prevent and manage this epidemic. However, there is little research being done in an attempt to understand the internal worlds of those living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this research was to begin to explore the relationship that exists between the person living with HIV/AIDS and the virus, as an internal object, inside them. This study focused on 6 women who were on Anti-Retroviral Medication (ARVs), and who have been diagnosed for at least one year. The participants’ mental representations of the virus as an object inside them was explored, as well as how they experienced and viewed the triangular relationship that exists between themselves, the HI Virus, and the ARVs. This exploratory research utilised a qualitative framework in order to understand and explore these relationships and perceptions, with psychoanalytic theory being used a lens through which to view the data that emerged. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, and the corpus of data was analyzed using a thematic content analysis. In addition, the participants were asked to draw the virus inside their bodies. These were analyzed using a technique devised by Paola Luzzatto (1987) in a study exploring the internal world of drug-abusers. For the purpose of this study, a variation of the same art therapy technique was used in that the participants were asked the ‘draw the virus in their bodies’. Whilst the drawings allowed for insight into the internal worlds of the participants, the drawings were also used as a point of departure. For most of the women, HIV was drawn using a red crayon, whilst the ARVs were drawn in either yellow or green. As depicted in the drawings, post diagnosis the HIV/red seemed to cover most of the body, but later when the ARVs/green was added, more of a balance was achieved. Results show that for these women, HIV was often perceived as dangerous and criminal, whilst the ARVs were often associated with security. From the perspective of Kleinian theory, the perception of the HIV and the ARVs seemed to be dependent upon the position from where they were functioning: either a paranoid-schizoid or a depressive position.

O personagem principal da presente tese é William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, psicanalista escocês que viveu entre 1889 e 1965 em Edimburgo, na Escócia e dedicou toda uma vida a mapear as repercussões das experiências traumáticas precoces no processo de constituição da estrutura psíquica. Fairbairn fez parte, junto com Winnicott, Balint e alguns outros, do que viria a ser conhecido dentro da tradição da psicanálise inglesa como Middle Group, ao mesmo tempo em que foi muito influenciado pelo pensamento kleiniano. Por ser alguém que vivia a milhas de distância dos principais centros de formação psicanalítica, produzia sua obra em relativo isolamento, proclamava-se como alguém que tornou superado o modelo teórico proposto por Freud e mesmo assim, continuava sendo reconhecido como psicanalista pelas instituições oficiais, Fairbairn ocupava um lugar único na cena psicanalítica da época. Na presente tese, buscamos dar o destaque devido para os singulares e refrescantes sentidos que Fairbairn confere à dimensão das forças libidinais, ao afirmar que o movimento primordial do humano não visaria o alivio das tensões, como propusera Freud, mas o estabelecimento de ligações amorosas com os objetos. Além disso, discutimos o modelo de mente proposto por Fairbairn, que incorpora em sua própria estrutura uma concepção do desenvolvimento inicial primitivo que não é encontrada nos escritos de nenhum dos principais teóricos da psicanálise do século XX (Ogden, 2010). Ao mesmo tempo em que damos o devido destaque para as grandes contribuições do autor à tradição psicanalítica, também nos propomos a garimpar as construções mais inacabadas dele sobre os processos intersubjetivos, que são muito pouco conhecidas, mas nem por isso são menos relevantes ou menos férteis. A partir disso, defendemos que o autor trouxe para a psicanálise, de modo rudimentar, contribuições originais sobre a brincadeira e a arte. Também se permitiu recriar o setting psicanalítico de modo a adaptá-lo às necessidades emocionais de seus pacientes. Lançou novas luzes para a discussão sobre a experiência de perda e o sentimento de culpa. Propôs, a partir de sua experiência pessoal, um novo modo de compreender a repercussão das experiências traumáticas na relação do sujeito com o seu corpo. A nosso ver, ao enfatizarmos as construções mais rudimentares da obra de Fairbairn, que surgem nas brechas do grande sistema teórico que ele estava construindo, o nosso esforço é de criar um autor muito menos sólido do que ele se pretendia, muito menos consolidado. Esse trabalho de criar um autor nos exigirá um esforço detido de leitura de todo e qualquer texto de Fairbairn, principalmente daqueles que pareçam menos relevantes, de modo que a nossa tarefa será a de criar um autor que, paradoxalmente, sempre esteve lá, a espera de ser criado / The main character of this work is William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, a psychoanalyst who lived between 1889 and 1965 in Edinburgh, Scotland and who devoted a lifetime to describe the impact of early traumatic experiences in the formation process of the psychic structure. Together with Winnicott and Balint, Fairbairn was a member of what would be known as the Middle Group in the British psychoanalytic tradition. At the same time, he was influenced by Kleins ideas. Fairbairn occupied a unique place in the psychoanalytic scene because he was someone who lived miles away from his colleagues, who produced his work in relative isolation, who used to proclaim himself as the one who surpassed Freud and, despite all this, he was still recognized as a psychoanalyst by the official institutions. Throughout the present work, we highlight the unique and refreshing meaning proposed by the author to the libido forces, according to which the primary human intention is not to seek relief from tension, as proposed by Freud, but to establish affectionate bonds with objects. Beside this, we discuss the model of the mind proposed by Fairbairn, which incorporates into its very structure a conceptualization of early psychic development that is not found in the writings of any other major 20th century psychoanalytic theorist (Ogden, 2010). Inasmuch as we intend to shed light on the great contributions of the author to the psychoanalytic tradition, we endeavor to research his unfinished and very unknown constructions about the intersubjective processes, which are equally relevant and fertile. From this, we argue that the author brought to psychoanalysis original contributions to playing and arts. He also recreated the psychoanalytic setting in order to adapt it to his patients emotional needs. He cast new light on the discussion about the experiences of loss and guilt. He proposed a new way of understanding the impact of traumatic experiences on the subject\'s relation to his body. In our view, by emphasizing the most rudimentary constructions of Fairbairn´s work that arise in the gaps of the great theoretical system he was building, our effort is to create an author less solid and consolidated than he intended to be. This work of creating an author will require from us an effort of reading carefully all of Fairbairn´s texts, especially those that seem less relevant, so our task will be to create an author who has always been there, waiting to be created

O personagem principal da presente tese é William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, psicanalista escocês que viveu entre 1889 e 1965 em Edimburgo, na Escócia e dedicou toda uma vida a mapear as repercussões das experiências traumáticas precoces no processo de constituição da estrutura psíquica. Fairbairn fez parte, junto com Winnicott, Balint e alguns outros, do que viria a ser conhecido dentro da tradição da psicanálise inglesa como Middle Group, ao mesmo tempo em que foi muito influenciado pelo pensamento kleiniano. Por ser alguém que vivia a milhas de distância dos principais centros de formação psicanalítica, produzia sua obra em relativo isolamento, proclamava-se como alguém que tornou superado o modelo teórico proposto por Freud e mesmo assim, continuava sendo reconhecido como psicanalista pelas instituições oficiais, Fairbairn ocupava um lugar único na cena psicanalítica da época. Na presente tese, buscamos dar o destaque devido para os singulares e refrescantes sentidos que Fairbairn confere à dimensão das forças libidinais, ao afirmar que o movimento primordial do humano não visaria o alivio das tensões, como propusera Freud, mas o estabelecimento de ligações amorosas com os objetos. Além disso, discutimos o modelo de mente proposto por Fairbairn, que incorpora em sua própria estrutura uma concepção do desenvolvimento inicial primitivo que não é encontrada nos escritos de nenhum dos principais teóricos da psicanálise do século XX (Ogden, 2010). Ao mesmo tempo em que damos o devido destaque para as grandes contribuições do autor à tradição psicanalítica, também nos propomos a garimpar as construções mais inacabadas dele sobre os processos intersubjetivos, que são muito pouco conhecidas, mas nem por isso são menos relevantes ou menos férteis. A partir disso, defendemos que o autor trouxe para a psicanálise, de modo rudimentar, contribuições originais sobre a brincadeira e a arte. Também se permitiu recriar o setting psicanalítico de modo a adaptá-lo às necessidades emocionais de seus pacientes. Lançou novas luzes para a discussão sobre a experiência de perda e o sentimento de culpa. Propôs, a partir de sua experiência pessoal, um novo modo de compreender a repercussão das experiências traumáticas na relação do sujeito com o seu corpo. A nosso ver, ao enfatizarmos as construções mais rudimentares da obra de Fairbairn, que surgem nas brechas do grande sistema teórico que ele estava construindo, o nosso esforço é de criar um autor muito menos sólido do que ele se pretendia, muito menos consolidado. Esse trabalho de criar um autor nos exigirá um esforço detido de leitura de todo e qualquer texto de Fairbairn, principalmente daqueles que pareçam menos relevantes, de modo que a nossa tarefa será a de criar um autor que, paradoxalmente, sempre esteve lá, a espera de ser criado / The main character of this work is William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, a psychoanalyst who lived between 1889 and 1965 in Edinburgh, Scotland and who devoted a lifetime to describe the impact of early traumatic experiences in the formation process of the psychic structure. Together with Winnicott and Balint, Fairbairn was a member of what would be known as the Middle Group in the British psychoanalytic tradition. At the same time, he was influenced by Kleins ideas. Fairbairn occupied a unique place in the psychoanalytic scene because he was someone who lived miles away from his colleagues, who produced his work in relative isolation, who used to proclaim himself as the one who surpassed Freud and, despite all this, he was still recognized as a psychoanalyst by the official institutions. Throughout the present work, we highlight the unique and refreshing meaning proposed by the author to the libido forces, according to which the primary human intention is not to seek relief from tension, as proposed by Freud, but to establish affectionate bonds with objects. Beside this, we discuss the model of the mind proposed by Fairbairn, which incorporates into its very structure a conceptualization of early psychic development that is not found in the writings of any other major 20th century psychoanalytic theorist (Ogden, 2010). Inasmuch as we intend to shed light on the great contributions of the author to the psychoanalytic tradition, we endeavor to research his unfinished and very unknown constructions about the intersubjective processes, which are equally relevant and fertile. From this, we argue that the author brought to psychoanalysis original contributions to playing and arts. He also recreated the psychoanalytic setting in order to adapt it to his patients emotional needs. He cast new light on the discussion about the experiences of loss and guilt. He proposed a new way of understanding the impact of traumatic experiences on the subject\'s relation to his body. In our view, by emphasizing the most rudimentary constructions of Fairbairn´s work that arise in the gaps of the great theoretical system he was building, our effort is to create an author less solid and consolidated than he intended to be. This work of creating an author will require from us an effort of reading carefully all of Fairbairn´s texts, especially those that seem less relevant, so our task will be to create an author who has always been there, waiting to be created

The text of Beloved will be analyzed with a Kleinian and Freudian approach in order to show how the characters see each other as good or bad objects. This essay begins with an explanation of terms and a short presentation of psychoanalysis and object relations theory. Thereafter, each main character and their relation to Beloved will be examined and discussed as well as their relation to each other.