Theorists and researchers studying narcissism have increasingly argued that significant variability exists in its clinical presentation, with converging evidence suggesting distinct grandiose and vulnerable types. The present study investigated implicit self-esteem, explicit self-esteem, and shame in analogue populations of grandiose narcissists, vulnerable narcissists, and non-narcissistic controls. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) was administered to a large college student population (n = 2,790), from which a final sample of grandiose types (n = 51), vulnerable types (n = 51), and controls ( n = 53) were identified and recruited for the core study. Participants completed several measures of self-reported (explicit) self-esteem and shame, and completed two versions of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to measure implicit self-esteem. Grandiose types reported more overall explicit self-esteem, more self-liking and self-competence, and more actual/ideal self congruency than vulnerable types. Grandiose types reported less shame than vulnerable types. Grandiose types and controls did not differ on any of the explicit self-esteem measures or on shame. There were no significant differences between groups on the IAT. Results further substantiate the existence of the vulnerable narcissistic type, but do not provide evidence for the existence of a fragile core in the personality of the grandiose narcissist. The lack of group differences on the IAT raises questions about the efficacy of the IAT as a valid measure of implicit self-esteem. In addition, caveats regarding the use and interpretation of explicit self-esteem measures are discussed.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation is linked to physical health problems and several psychiatric disorders, but is not well documented for social anxiety disorder (SAD). SAD often emerges in adolescence and precedes several other psychiatric disorders. Therefore, HPA-axis responses to a negotiation stress task between romantic partners in 18 SAD older adolescents and 18 matched controls were examined. The SAD group displayed significant anticipatory cortisol reactivity and significantly delayed recovery after the task. There were no significant group differences in cortisol reactivity to the task. The SAD group's average cortisol levels tended to be lower across all measurement times and this was significant for SAD males. Exploratory analyses revealed positive associations between subjective stress and cortisol—particularly for the SAD group.

Although evidence suggests that long term illness in a child is a significant stress on family members, few studies of family adaptation to childhood illness have assessed how ill children's healthy siblings understand and respond to this unique life stress. The present study investigated whether the experience of living with a chronically ill sibling was related to young adults' beliefs regarding locus of control of health, perceptions of vulnerability to illness, and attributions concerning causes and prevention of illness. Twenty-seven experimental and 27 control subjects were assessed with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Likelihood of Illness Scale, Vulnerability to Illness Questionnaire, and the Concept of Illness Task. In addition, experimental subjects were assessed with descriptive measures regarding their retrospective and current perceptions of the impact of chronic sibling illness on their lives. Results of both quantitative and qualitative data analyses indicated that living with a chronically ill sibling during childhood has a powerful effect on young adults' conceptualizations of illness and goals for the future. Healthy siblings of chronically ill children demonstrated a stronger belief in chance determining health and illness than did matched individuals who had not lived with an ill sibling. The experience of living with an ill sibling was also associated with young adults' beliefs in the prevalence of illness in the general population as well as with differential attributions for the causes and prevention of illness. In addition, the experience of caring for an ill sibling was associated with choosing majors in college which would prepare young adults for "helping" professions. These findings were discussed in relation to previous research by the author examining latency age siblings' responses to childhood illness. A comparison of both studies revealed the specific burdens that chronic illness places on family members as well as a complex interplay of adaptive strategies utilized by the well sibling and the family. Implications of findings on the developmental changes in well siblings' response to chronic childhood illness were discussed in regard to future research and intervention.

The author, a psychotherapist, has been integrating the practice of acupuncture into his clinical approach for several years. This dissertation explores and evaluates the value of a knowledge of acupuncture theory and practice for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Chapter I states the background for this project and defines basic terms. Chapter II reviews the theoretical orientation particularly Yin and Yang theory including the eight principles and adaption of the theory to differential diagnosis. Yin and Yang are further examined in relation to mental health and Western pathology. Analogies are drawn with the work of Perls, Freud, Reich and Lowen. Chapter II reviews the research on acupuncture for schizophrenia and acupuncture for drug addiction. The number of studies is relatively small with positive aggregate results. Chapter IV discusses the author's utilization of acupuncture and includes a section on the psychological effects of points. Included also is a comparative review of depression and an evaluation of acupuncture and spiritual practice. Chapter V presents seven case studies from the author's clinical practice. All had previous experience with psychotherapy, which they deemed of little value and all responded positively, in varying degrees, to acupuncture intervention. Chapter VI explores the social, political and cultural difficulties in introducing and promoting acupuncture in the West and concludes with five hypotheses on the effects of acupuncture for mental health: (1) Acupuncture is very effective with anxiety states; (2) Acupuncture often is of value in the treatment of depressive states; (3) Acupuncture has positive value in the treatment of paranoid states and related personality disorders; (4) Acupuncture has promise for the treatment of major affective and cognitive disorders; (5) Acupuncture may help control the aversive side-effects of antipsychotic medications. There are two appendices: (A) The Elements of Acupuncture and (B) A Short History of Acupuncture.

The aim of this study was to examine student-therapists' experiences of psychotherapy supervision. It was hypothesized that each of four elements would discriminate between helpful and unhelpful supervision experiences. These included: (1) the learning alliance--the initial working relationsh

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-121. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR29486

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-118).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.