This study is designed to investigate individual differences in response to emotional and sexual infidelity and by doing so place the Big-5 model of personality in another important social context.

The aims of the present thesis were two fold. The first aim was to investigate the relationship between self-referential and emotional processing. The second aim was to investigate the extent to which self-referential processing is altered as a function of mood. In order to address these two aims, a variety of behavioural and physiological measures were recorded and a new methodology was employed in the following experimental chapters. The aim of experiment one was to investigate how non-dysphoric and dysphoric individuals evaluate the emotional valence and self-referential content of word stimuli at a behavioural level. A self-positivity bias was identified in non-dysphoric individuals, positive words were rated as self-referential and negative words were rated as non-self-referential. Compared to non-dysphoric individuals, dysphoric individualsâ evaluations of self-reference but not emotional valence were altered. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were employed in experiment two to investigate self-referential processing at a neural level. A two stage model of processing was identified in which, an evaluation of emotional valence was found to occur prior to an interaction between self-reference and emotional valence. A self-positivity bias was identified in the ERP component known as the N400. ERP waves were more negative going to self negative and non-self-positive words when compared to self-positive and non-self-negative words. This bias was explained in terms of the semantic mismatch hypothesis. The aim of experiment three was to investigate how the neural processing of self-referential and emotional information is altered as a function of mood. Differences between nondysphoric and dysphoric individuals were identified during the early stages of ii processing in an emotion task. Between group differences were identified during the later stages of processing in a self-reference task, around 400 ms. Skin conductance and heart rate were employed in experiment four to examine autonomic responses during self-referential and emotional processing in healthy individuals. Both decision-making tasks were found to elicit similar physiological responses. These findings were taken to suggest that a large component of self-referential processing involves the processing of emotional information. Finally, the aim of experiment five was to investigate if person-referent processing was altered during the experience of a negative mood. The behavioural and neural responses of non-dysphoric and dysphoric individuals were compared across self-referent and other-referent decision-making tasks. Between group differences were specific to the self-reference task at the behavioural level. However, group differences were identified in both the self-referent and other-referent tasks at the neural level. The results provide partial support for the hypothesis that negative mood is associated with specific impairments in self-referential processing. Overall the results of the present thesis illustrate that the processing of emotional information plays a large role in self-referential decision-making. Furthermore, the N400 was found be involved in this type of decision-making at the semantic level. Negative mood was associated with greater changes in self-referential processing than in other forms of emotional or person-referent processing. In the final chapter, a two stage model is proposed to account for self-referential processing. The implications of this model are discussed in terms of two macro-cognitive theories, interacting cognitive subsystems (ICS) and SPAARs. Finally, the limitations and future directions for developing this line of research are outlined.

Univ., Diss.--Freiburg (Schweiz), 2000.

M.A. (Psychology) / Research investigating the connection between Functional Hemispherical Asymmetry (FHA) and perception of affect in clinical as well as normal populations, is characterised by contradictory findings with regard to the role of the different hemispheres, especially as regards the perception of various valencies of emotions. Although a majority of studies indicates that the right hemisphere (RH) is superior in the perception of all valencies and emotions - positive as well as negative - there are numerous studies indicating a possible differential processing of positive and negative emotions by the hemispheres. Although various researchers try to lay the above contradictory findings and the general lack of consensus at the door of methodological problems/inequalities or error variances, the literature is increasingly pointing to the existence of evidently reliable individual differences between people as regards their hemispherical functioning. The problem investigated in the current study, is to determine the possible role of the organismic variables in FHA, i e variables seated in the individual who is making the observation. In this study, the focus is specifically on the role of sex and the temperament dimension of introversion-extraversion. The objectives of this study are to determine whether there are significant differences in the direction of these hemispherical differences, as well as the relative performance, of groups divided according to sex and temperament characteristics, and whether the relevant organismic variables offer a possible means of explaining the contradictions in research results on FHA and the perception of emotion. In this study, the measuring of FHA is operationalised in terms of the differential performance, measured in terms of accuracy and speed of observation (response latency) of the hemispheres in the perception of different valencies of emotional stimuli (positive versus negative, and approach versus avoidance emotions).. The subject population comprised a group of students selected in terms of sex and temperament (introversion-extraversion). Selection in terms of introversion-extraversion was done on the basis of subjects' performance in the Personality Questionnaire Form B (Schepers, 1991): persons falling in the lower and upper three stanines of the scale respectively were identified as introverts and extraverts. Only right-handed subjects with no history of brain injury were used for the study. Differential hemispherical performance in terms of response accuracy and latency was determined by means of the Divided Visual Field Technique (DVFT). Although the reliability data of this technique are generally not entirely satisfactory when measured in terms of psychometric test standards, an effort was made to enhance the reliability of the technique in this study by controlling specific stimulus and response variables (inter alia the exposure time and the use of both hands for a response) during the experimental design.

The mother-child relationship is the first basic relationship with which any human being is confronted. The temperaments of mother and child play an important role in this relationship. The aim of this study is to explore the perception of mothers with regards to temperaments. This study uses a qualitative approach, which is explorative and descriptive, to gain insight into the influence of temperaments in the mother-child relationship. Seven mothers were selected by purposeful sampling to participate in the group work as research process. Group work progresses through the following three phases: awareness, exploration and personalisation. Naive sketches were used to determine the perception of the mothers during the awareness and personalisation phases. A focus group interview was utilised in the exploration phase. Finding showed that the mother-child relationship plays an important role in the optimal development of the child and his or her mother. This study confirmed the importance of understanding temperaments in the mother-child relationship. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance & Counseling)

Text in Afrikaans with t.p. and summaries in Afrikaans and English / Limited research concerning a child's association between emotion and color is available, both in terms of the amount of research studies done as well as the generalization of the results for the purposes of the five year-old. This study's aim was to explore the individual, unique, symbolic meaning between the experiencing of emotion and color of the five year-old. Color was used as an expedient to facilitate the identification of emotion. The test sample consisted out of five, five year-old Afrikaans speaking children. The researcher developed a technique and used it to explore the above. The results of this study showed that the associations that five year-olds draw between emotions and color can't be generalized. The study further showed that color can be very helpful in the identification process of emotions when working with the five year-old child. The results of this study were compared to relevant previous research results and at the end the researcher made certain recommendations for further research concerning the subject. / Bestaande navorsing oor die assosiasie wat die kind vorm tussen emosie en kleur is beperk, beide in terme van die aantal navorsingstudies en in die veralgemeenbaarheid van die resultate ten opsigte van die vyfjarige kind. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die individuele, unieke, simboliese betekenis te ondersoek tussen die belewing van emosie en kleur by die vyfjarige kind. Dit het behels dat kleur as 'n hulpmiddel aangewend is, ten einde die identifisering van emosie te vergemaklik. Die steekproef het bestaan uit vyf, vyfjarige Afrikaans-sprekende kinders. 'n Tegniek, deur die navorser ontwikkel, is gebruik om die bogenoemde te ondersoek. Die resultate van hierdie studie het getoon dat kinders van vyfjarige ouderdom se assosiasies tussen emosies en kleur nie veralgemeen kan word nie. Die studie het verder getoon dat kleur 'n bruikbare hulpmiddel is in die identifisering van emosies by die vyfjarige kind. Die resultate van die studie is met vorige relevante navorsingsbevindinge vergelyk en bepaalde aanbevelings is gemaak vir toekomstige navorsing rakende hierdie onderwerp. / Psychology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans with t.p. and summaries in Afrikaans and English / Limited research concerning a child's association between emotion and color is available, both in terms of the amount of research studies done as well as the generalization of the results for the purposes of the five year-old. This study's aim was to explore the individual, unique, symbolic meaning between the experiencing of emotion and color of the five year-old. Color was used as an expedient to facilitate the identification of emotion. The test sample consisted out of five, five year-old Afrikaans speaking children. The researcher developed a technique and used it to explore the above. The results of this study showed that the associations that five year-olds draw between emotions and color can't be generalized. The study further showed that color can be very helpful in the identification process of emotions when working with the five year-old child. The results of this study were compared to relevant previous research results and at the end the researcher made certain recommendations for further research concerning the subject. / Bestaande navorsing oor die assosiasie wat die kind vorm tussen emosie en kleur is beperk, beide in terme van die aantal navorsingstudies en in die veralgemeenbaarheid van die resultate ten opsigte van die vyfjarige kind. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die individuele, unieke, simboliese betekenis te ondersoek tussen die belewing van emosie en kleur by die vyfjarige kind. Dit het behels dat kleur as 'n hulpmiddel aangewend is, ten einde die identifisering van emosie te vergemaklik. Die steekproef het bestaan uit vyf, vyfjarige Afrikaans-sprekende kinders. 'n Tegniek, deur die navorser ontwikkel, is gebruik om die bogenoemde te ondersoek. Die resultate van hierdie studie het getoon dat kinders van vyfjarige ouderdom se assosiasies tussen emosies en kleur nie veralgemeen kan word nie. Die studie het verder getoon dat kleur 'n bruikbare hulpmiddel is in die identifisering van emosies by die vyfjarige kind. Die resultate van die studie is met vorige relevante navorsingsbevindinge vergelyk en bepaalde aanbevelings is gemaak vir toekomstige navorsing rakende hierdie onderwerp. / Psychology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The mother-child relationship is the first basic relationship with which any human being is confronted. The temperaments of mother and child play an important role in this relationship. The aim of this study is to explore the perception of mothers with regards to temperaments. This study uses a qualitative approach, which is explorative and descriptive, to gain insight into the influence of temperaments in the mother-child relationship. Seven mothers were selected by purposeful sampling to participate in the group work as research process. Group work progresses through the following three phases: awareness, exploration and personalisation. Naive sketches were used to determine the perception of the mothers during the awareness and personalisation phases. A focus group interview was utilised in the exploration phase. Finding showed that the mother-child relationship plays an important role in the optimal development of the child and his or her mother. This study confirmed the importance of understanding temperaments in the mother-child relationship. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance & Counseling)

The study of people's capacity to remain healthy when exposed to constant stressors has long been the focus of research. Stress resistance research has focussed on the adaptive worth of successful coping strategies, certain personality characteristics as well as social support. Two concepts which have gained eminence as contributing to an individual's ability to deal effectively with life's stressors are: (1) Sense of coherence; and (2) Emotional intelligence. The aim of this study was to determine the possible relationship between sense of coherence and emotional intelligence. A once-off cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample population consisted of 54 South African marine officers serving in the merchant navy. The SOC-29 and the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Inventory (BarOn EQ-i) were used as measuring instruments. · Sense of coherence was positively related to emotional intelligence. The results showed that there is a correlation of large effect between total sense of coherence and total emotional intelligence (r = 0,73) in marine officers. The results also showed that there are correlations of large effect between the subscales of the SOC-29 and the BarOn EQi / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

The study of people's capacity to remain healthy when exposed to constant stressors has long been the focus of research. Stress resistance research has focussed on the adaptive worth of successful coping strategies, certain personality characteristics as well as social support. Two concepts which have gained eminence as contributing to an individual's ability to deal effectively with life's stressors are: (1) Sense of coherence; and (2) Emotional intelligence. The aim of this study was to determine the possible relationship between sense of coherence and emotional intelligence. A once-off cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample population consisted of 54 South African marine officers serving in the merchant navy. The SOC-29 and the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Inventory (BarOn EQ-i) were used as measuring instruments. · Sense of coherence was positively related to emotional intelligence. The results showed that there is a correlation of large effect between total sense of coherence and total emotional intelligence (r = 0,73) in marine officers. The results also showed that there are correlations of large effect between the subscales of the SOC-29 and the BarOn EQi / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)