No description available.

Paper [I] theoretically analyzes how the level and uncertainty of future prospects affect incentives to abstain from sexual risk taking in the presence of HIV. The results suggest that, for individuals with limited access to HIV treatment, uncertainty of future health may be an important factor driving unsafe sex practices and support the empirical finding of a weak link between sexual behavior, HIV prevalence, and HIV knowledge in poor countries; therefore suggesting that AIDS policy needs to be calibrated in order to fit within different social contexts. Paper [II] empirically tests the link between uncertainty of future prospects and sexual risk taking in a group of young adults in Cape Town, South Africa. The findings indicate that expected income and health and future uncertainty are significant determinants of current patterns of sexual risk taking. However, the empirical results only provide limited support to a link between expected health and sexual risk taking. Paper [III] theoretically analyzes effects of affect and defensive denial on incentives to engage in sexual risk taking related to HIV. The results of the theoretical analysis suggest that the effect of rationalization of personal risk depends on the risk of being HIV positive. Although rationalization causes excessive risk taking behavior for individuals with a relatively low lifetime risk, it may prevent fatalism among individuals whose lifetime risk of HIV is perceived as overwhelming. Paper [IV] theoretically analyzes the role of identity conflict for the evolution of female labor supply over time. The results suggest the fear of becoming an outsider in society may have prevented a complete transition of women from housewives to breadwinners. In addition, our analysis shows that not recognizing that the weights attached to different social identities are endogenous may imply that the long-run effects on labor supply of a higher wage may be underestimated.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of mindfulness and task-relevant attentional focus on running performance. WKU psychology undergraduate students were assigned to one of two conditions: task-relevant attentional focus experimental training and no training control. Participants in the experimental condition received training designed to optimize the use of attentional focus strategies in a running context. Trait level mindfulness was examined as a covariate. Participants were compared on two mile run times and the use of attentional focus strategies. Differences were expected to reveal the effectiveness of the training by showing faster running times in the experimental group, and higher use of task-relevant attentional focus strategies. Only higher use of task-relevant attentional focus strategies, specifically focus on bodily sensation was supported by the data. Explanations of the results as well as exploratory analyses are provided in addition to suggestions for future research.

The factors of psychological training of athletes are researched not sufficiently enough. Many authors underline that psychological training of athletes is a complicated process, without which the enhancement of modern sports is impossible. The problem of the study is that data, which would reveal the influence of psychological training on the self-regulation and self-control of the athletes, is still lacking. Ability to control precipitation states can be characterised by indicators: self-regulation and self-control. This study is meant to analyse the peculiarities of self-confidence, self-control and self-regulation among basketball players of Lithuanian student‘s basketball league. The scientific problem is that we still lack information of how psychological skills training programs could help elite basketball players' train their psychological skills. During the research it was tried to unfold if there is a statistically reliable difference between female and male basketball players. The purpose of this study is to establish the peculiarities of self-confidence, self-control and self-regulation among basketball players of Lithuanian student‘s basketball league. Objectives: to establish the peculiarities of self-confidence and it‘s components, self-control and self-regulation among athletes. The following research methods have been applied in the study: P. Kelly, M. Snaider and J. J. Kiseliov questionnaires, data has been analysed by means of the mathematical statistics... [to full text]

No description available.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether self-regulated learners are developed in Grade 8 mathematics classrooms. The research was conducted at Khula High School, which is situated at Magabheni, near Umkomaas in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Data was collected through the observation of one Grade 8 mathematics class. A total of eight mathematics lessons were observed and a semi-structured interview was conducted with the mathematics teacher. The findings of the study reveal that the educator did try to develop self-regulated learners through the use of teaching strategies that match the requirements of Outcomes Based Education. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

This dissertation investigates the psychological processes relevant to consumers relinquishment of decision control to surrogates (e.g., physician, financial advisor). While the first essay investigates the antecedents of relinquishing decision control to surrogates, the second essay focuses on the consequences of such relinquishment of control. The first essay proposes that a key reason for consumers reluctance to relinquish the control of their decisions to expert surrogates is that such relinquishment contradicts their inherent motivation to experience an internal perceived locus of causality (PLOC) for their decisions. Based on this, I hypothesize that consumers become more likely to relinquish decision control either (1) when their motivation to maintain an internal PLOC is weakened or (2) when contextual factors specific to the decision itself are present that shift the anticipated PLOC for it from internal to external. Evidence from three studies provides strong support for this theoretical framework. I show that consumers willingness to relinquish decision control increases when an external PLOC is induced directly (Study 1), when an external event restricts the set of available alternatives (Study 2), and when an incentive to choose a particular alternative is present (Study 3). Based on the self-regulatory strength model and prior research on self-esteem threats, the second essay predicts and shows that delegating decisions to surrogates depletes consumers limited self-regulatory resources more than making the same decisions independently, thus impairing their subsequent ability to exercise self-control. This is the case even though decision delegation actually requires less decision making effort than independent decision making (Study 1). However, the resource depleting effect of decision delegation vanishes when consumers have an opportunity to affirm their belief in free will (Study 2). Moreover, remembering a past decision that one delegated impairs self control more than remembering a decision that one made independently (Studies 3 and 4). The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. / Marketing

Thesis (M.I.T.)--The Evergreen State College, 2010. / Title from title screen (viewed 7/7/2010). Includes bibliographical references (leaves [116]-120).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999. / Title from title page screen, viewed July 18, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Laura E. Berk (chair), Paul T. Shallaert, Jayne E. Bucy, Matthew S. Hesson-McInnis, Mark E. Swerdlik. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-126) and abstract. Also available in print.

No description available.