Within the psychological literature two main approaches can be identified as influential factors in the increase of well-being, defined in this thesis as Hedonic (SWB) vs. Eudaimonic Well-Being (PWB). One of the key qualities of the human mind is its ability to think about and act upon the future. The first approach emphasises the role of psychological strengths related to the utilisation of foresight and planning in such a way as to influence the consequences of current actions. The second approach focuses on the function of basic personality traits in the setting of goals and mental functioning. To integrate these approaches, this thesis brings together two lines of research: future-orientation and personality traits. Two longitudinal studies investigate the predictive qualities of future-orientated constructs in relation to personality traits, while also focusing on their contribution to the setting and attainment of goals and the perception of well-being. In the first study two cognitive-motivational scales, Hope and Personal Growth Initiative (PGI), were administered to measure two hundred and sixty four participants’ future-orientation. The first aim of this study was to examine the distinctiveness of these two scales in predicting well-being. Results from factor analyses cast doubt on the uniqueness of Hope and PGI, while regression analyses demonstrate Hope to be the strongest, most significant predictor of PWB and SWB. A further aim of the study was to ascertain if future-orientation could account for additional variance in the prediction of well-being, after the influence of the Eysenck’s Personality traits have been controlled for. It was indicated that individuals’ Hope levels do account for residual variance in PWB and SWB. The last aim of the study was to determine if future-orientation could contribute to long-term goal attainment and well-being. The results indicate that participant’s Hope levels did not significantly contribute to long-term goal attainment, however it had a direct, significant effect on long-term PWB. The second study, utilising 117 participants, replicated prior findings that demonstrate Hope, instead of PGI, to be the strongest, most significant predictor of both PWB and SWB. The study also extents prior research by utilising the Big-Five traits in the prediction of PWB and SWB. Factor analyses results indicate Hope to share an underlying factor structure with Openness and Conscientiousness, while PGI share an underlying factor structure with Agreeableness. It was further indicated that participants’ Hope, but not PGI, accounts for residual variance in the prediction of PWB, after controlling for the Big-Five traits. Conversely, Hope and PGI did not account for any residual variance in the prediction of SWB, instead almost 60% of the variance can be attributed to the Big-Five personality traits. Extending the first study, the aim of the second study was to ascertain attainment through independent verification and not participant self-assessment. The results indicate that participants who demonstrate greater levels of Openness and PGI tend to set higher quantitative goals. Although not predictive of goal attainment, participants with greater Openness showed higher performance on the goals. Overall, the results question the distinctiveness of Hope and PGI in the prediction of well-being. It adds to our knowledge of how psychological strengths such as future-orientation can contribute variance to the prediction of well-being after basic personality traits have been controlled for. Finally the results also add to our understanding of how personality traits, as well as, Hope and PGI independently contribute to the setting of goals.

The aim of this research is to show theoretical similarities between emotional intelligence and self-actualisation. The empirical results give evidence of the relationship between these two concepts. An assessment battery consisting of the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (BarOn EQ-i), an emotional intelligence instrument and the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), a self-actualisation instrument was used to measure the concepts of emotional intelligence and self-actualisation. A sample of 71 employees was assessed using psychometric tests and a biographical questionnaire. The data was collected over a period of four months. The statistical methods used in this research focus on quantitative measurement. Calculations are mainly done with t-tests and Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient. The empirical results of this research give partial evidence of the correlation between emotional intelligence and self-actualisation. Positive relationships between various factors of emotional intelligence and self-actualisation were found. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A.(Industrial Psychology)

A presente tese agrupa quatro estudos que objetivam investigar as relações dos recursos pessoais com os índices de bem-estar dos indivíduos. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura sobre a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal, a fim de compreender em profundidade o construto de iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal. Posteriormente, foram desenvolvidos três estudos empíricos. O primeiro artigo empírico refere-se ao estudo de adaptação e avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Escala de Iniciativa ao Crescimento Pessoal – II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II, PGI-II). Foi observado que a versão brasileira da PGI-II constitui-se como um instrumento confiável para investigar os índices de disponibilidade para mudança, planejamento, comportamento intencional e uso de recursos, apresentando uma estrutura de quatro fatores de primeira ordem. O segundo artigo empírico avaliou se as relações das dimensões da iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal com os níveis de bem-estar subjetivo eram mediadas pela presença de sentido de vida. Foi observado que a presença de sentido de vida media o impacto das dimensões planejamento e comportamento intencional sobre os níveis de satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos não estiveram relacionadas aos índices de presença de sentido de vida. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos estiveram negativamente associadas aos níveis de bem-estar subjetivo. O terceiro artigo empírico avaliou se as relações entre otimismo, pessimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos eram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Os resultados demonstraram que as relações entre o otimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, afetos positivos e negativos foram parcialmente mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Entretanto, as relações dos índices de pessimismo com estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos não foram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Estudos futuros devem avaliar se as relações dos recursos pessoais com bem-estar subjetivo e estresse são replicáveis a outras amostras. A principal contribuição desta tese foi disponibilizar uma escala para investigar a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal no contexto brasileiro. Além disso, os resultados deste estudo avançam o conhecimento sobre as relações entre os recursos pessoais e as dimensões de bem-estar. / This thesis join up four studies that aims to investigate the relationship of levels of personal resources with well-being of individuals. A literature review on the personal growth initiative was carried out in order to understand in depth the construct of personal growth initiative. Later, three empirical studies were developed. The first empirical paper refers to the study of adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II, PGI-II). It was observed that the Brazilian version of PGI-II was established as a reliable instrument to investigate the levels of readiness for change, planfulness, intentional behavior and using resources, with a four first-order factor structure. The second empirical research evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of the dimensions of personal growth initiative with subjective well-being. It was observed that the presence of meaning in life measured the impact of dimensional planning and intentional behavior on levels of satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were not related to levels of presence of meaning in life. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were negatively associated with levels of subjective well-being. The third empirical research has evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of optimism, pessimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect. The results showed that the relationship between optimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, positive affect and negative were partially mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. However, the relations of pessimism with stress, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative were not mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. Future studies should evaluate if the relations of personal resources with subjective well-being and stress are replicable to other samples. The main contribution of this thesis was to provide a scale to investigate the initiative to personal growth in the Brazilian context. In addition, the results of this study advance the understanding of the relationship between personal resources and well-being.

This thesis deals with development of personal, but mainly physical and motor skills of people with mental disabilities by application of yoga movement therapy. My research has aimed to find out if an intensive week-long programme of yoga relaxation exercises can lead to improvement of fine motor skills, mobility, and the overall physical condition of mentally-disabled people of the 1st to 3rd level of disability. The research was conducted during the week-long school stay in nature. The participants were tested both the first and last day of their stay. The research sample was composed of six women and four men from the school for persons with special needs in Česke Budějovice. The methods utilised during the research were direct observation, evaluation and questioning to detect changes in indicators of physical condition and fine motor skills (including grasping reflexes of participants and familiarisation with new expressions). The results show positive change in these indicators. The therapy regimen resulted in the improvement in movement coordination, fine subtle skills of arms in everyday{\crq}s patient{\crq}s self-care activities; and the positive influence of yoga was also observed on psychological well-being of participants. The research project was beneficial for the participants and can serve as a model for further utilisation in the field applications of yoga exercises for people with mental disabilities.

El mundo y el Perú viene pasando un momento crítico contra la pandemia Covid-19, ocasionando muchos cambios en el día a día de las personas debido al cambio de trabajo presencial hacia el trabajo remoto, así como también, el hecho que la economía se vio afectada en muchas familias por una la baja del salario o simplemente porque la empresa donde laboraban suspendió sus actividades. Este comportamiento incrementó un problema en la salud mental de jóvenes y adultos en el Perú. Para determinar si era factible seguir con el modelo de negocio se realizó una entrevista de profundidad a 20 personas de los distritos de San Isidro, Santiago de Surco, Miraflores, Chorrillos, Barranco, La Molina entre las edades de 25 a 55 años de los niveles socioeconómicos A, B y C. Es por ello que, se crea Centro de Bienestar Psicológico AyudArte, la cual cuenta con psicólogos especialistas en la materia para dar un servicio las 24 horas del día los 7 días de la semana, a través de consultas presencial, virtual y a domicilio. El Centro de Bienestar Psicológico AyudArte, tiene un plan de expansión de mercado a todo el Perú y a nivel Latinoamérica. / The world and Peru has been going through a critical moment against the Covid-19 pandemic, causing many changes in people's daily lives due to the change from face-to-face work to remote work, as well as the fact that the economy was seen affected in many families by a drop in wages or simply because the company where they worked suspended its activities. This behavior increased a problem in the mental health of youth and adults in Peru. To determine if it was feasible to continue with the business model, an in-depth interview was conducted with 20 people from the districts of San Isidro, Santiago de Surco, Miraflores, Chorrillos, Barranco, La Molina between the ages of 25 to 55 years of the levels socioeconomic A, B and C. AyudArte Psychological Wellbeing Center was created, which has psychologists specializing in the matter to provide a service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through face-to-face, virtual and home consultations. AyudArte Psychological Wellbeing Center has a market expansion plan to all of Peru and Latin America / Trabajo de investigación

No description available.

This study aims to explore the impact of negative life events on identity development through a qualitative systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis. The research seeks to understand how negative life events trigger identity crises and influence self-perception. Method: A systematic search was conducted in the PsycInfo and PubMed databases, resulting in the selection of 12 relevant studies for analysis. Themes were identified through qualitative content analysis to elucidate the effects of negative life events on identity. Results: The analysis revealed that negative life events can lead to both identity challenges and personal growth. The findings underscore the importance of supporting individuals experiencing identity crises for authentic identity development. Conclusion: Understanding the complexities of identity formation in the face of adversity is crucial for providing effective support and interventions. Further research in this area is essential for enhancing our knowledge of how individuals navigate identity development amidst negative life events.

The main aim of this study was to attempt to establish by the use of an environmental specific Personal Growth Programme, whether it is possible to assist students towards a more ‘holistic’ personal formation. It also aimed to investigate whether a move away from traditional education in the form of alternative or parallel programmes, would assist in bringing about an integrated individual, who is more capable of dealing with life as a whole (Krishnamurti 1953). The research was undertaken with adult students between the ages of 21 and 60, at the multi-cultural and extremely diverse residential theological College of the Transfiguration, in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. An overview of Holistic and Mainstream education was explored in this study, which included also the challenges and influences which each type of education faces. The study then went on to investigate whether it is possible to bridge the gap that exists between holistic and mainstream education using various methods of alternative education. In the qualitative study, the Personal Growth Programme Annual Review Questionnaire was used to obtain feedback from the students to assess the usefulness of the Personal Growth Programme in their journey towards wholeness. This, together with the student’s responses from the in-depth interviews were used to ascertain the study’s limitations, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.

TITLE: Natural communication with the horse and the possibilities of human - horse interaction AUTHOR: Bc. Lenka Volfová DEPARTMENT: Department of Biology and Enviromnental Studies (Katedra biologie a enviromnentálních studií) SUPERVISOR: PhDr. Kateřina Jančaříková, Ph.D. ABSTRACT: This thesis explores interspecies communication and, specifically, natural communication between the man and the horse. Through comparative research based on a programme developed by Ing. Josef Liška (Liška Solutions) for the assessment of the participant's personality, employing several exercises with a horse from the ground, the thesis aims at introducing ways in which horses can be used for the purposes of personal growth. For the purposes of this thesis, volunteers from three groups were assessed under this programme using the method of direct observation: teachers, business executives and people who work with animals. The assessment was carried out by marking down points and comments. On the basis of the results obtained, the above three groups were subsequently compared among one another. The research shows that teachers excelled in six out of seven observed personal competencies while, compared to business executives, there is still space for improvement in terms of their energy. The results shown in relation to the...

本研究主要是對教育部公費留學返國人員進行調查研究，以探討教育部公費留學制度四個基本目標達成的程度、公費留學經驗與公費留學生個人發展的關係並歸納公費留學生對教育部公費留學制度的看法與建議。研究目的有六：(一)從教育部公費留學返國人員的角度來分析教育部公費留學制度四個基本目標達成的程度。(二)瞭解教育部公費留學返國人員不同的「背景變項」在「留學經驗」上的差異情形。(三)瞭解教育部公費留學返國人員同的「背景變項」在「個人發展」上的差異情形。(四)瞭解教育部公費留學返國人員的「留學經驗」與「個人發展」的關係。(五)瞭解「背景變項」對「個人發展」的預測能力。(六)瞭解教育部公費留學返國個人員對教育部公費留學制度的看法及建議。最後，本研究再根據研究結果提出建議，以作為興革教育部公費留學制度的參考。 本研究以自編之「教育部公費留學調查問卷」及 Treiman(1977)的「國際職業聲望量表」為研究工具，針對已返國並可得知其服務機關的公費留學生進行問卷調查，共發出有效問卷 789 份，回收 380 份，回收率 47.6%。統計方法係採用描述性統計分析、單因子變異數分析、薛費法事後比較、積差相關以及多元逐步迴歸分析。 研究結果如下： 一、在留學國別的限定及留學學門的規劃上，公費留學生轉換國別及學門的比例極低，公費留學生返國服務的比例上也明顯的高於自費留學生，且公費留學制度的確提供給清寒且優秀的青年學子更大向上的發展機會。所以，教育部公費留學制度可以說已達成其應有的目標。 二、26-30 歲出國的公費留學生，在語言能力的進步、個人能力、態度、觀點的改變及職業發展上顯著的高於 36 以後才出國者；而 21-35 歲間出國的留學生，在學業經驗上也顯著的優於 36 歲以後才出國的留學生。 三、取得博士學位的公費留學生在學業經驗、文化的學習經驗、回國後的留學生國語言能力、語言能力的進步上、個人能力、態度、觀點的改變及職業的發展上都顯著的高於博士後研究人員。 四、留學 3 年以上的公費留學生，其留學經驗都顯著的優於只留學 1 或 2 年的留學生。國外留學時間 5 年以上的留學生，個人能力、態度、觀點的改變及職業發展也顯著的大於只留學 1 或 2 年者。 五、在職業的取得上，「性別」及「考上的年代」造成了顯著的差異。男性及較早期出國的公費留學生認為公費留學經驗有助於在回國後取得第一份且令人滿意的職業。 六、公費留學生出國前的留學國語言能力，以讀的能力最佳，說的能力最差，且其平均數的分布偏向中低的程度，顯示出國前的語言能力待加強。 七、出國前的留學國語言能力在諸變項中最為重要，因為它是在出國時就已決定，且可以利用許多方法來加以增進，若留學生能在出國前具有較佳的語言能力，則愈容易擁有良好的留學經驗及個人發展。 八、若出國前具有良好的留學國語言能力，則回國後會有較佳的留學國語言能力。 九、公費留學生若在國外有較好的文化的學習經驗、學業經驗及語言能力的發展，則其在個人能力、態度、觀點的改變上會愈顯著。 十、公費留學生在留學其間若具有較好的文化學習經驗及學業經驗，則其回國後的職業發展會愈好。 十一、本研究回收的樣本中，有 86% 的公費留學生任教於大專院校。 根據研究結果，本研究提出以下建議： 一、改革教育部公費留學制度的建議 (一)維持提供全額補助，以取得博士學位為主的公費留學型態。 (二)公費留學年限至少三年。 (三)加強出國前的語文能力及學校教育中第二外國語的訓練。 (四)將短期進修的對象，擴及到國內博士班研究生。 (五)學門規劃透明化。 (六)可與企業界合作辦理，由雙方共同負責人才培育的工作及費用。 (七)教育部駐外單位應主動與公費留學生聯繫。 (八)設置導師制。 (九)建立公費留學生人才資料庫。 二、對未來相關研究的建議 (一)在研究樣本上：取得完整的返國公費留學生樣本，以再進行深入研究。 (二)在研究方法上：增加質的研究，以分析產生留學結果的過程及因素。 (三)在研究內容上：將取得學位的公費留學型態與短期進修性質的留學型態做一區分，釐清各自的目標和功能，並探討現有得教育部公費留學制度是否能有效的達成各自特有的目標和功能。