Självkänsla är den grund som människan bygger sin uppfattning om sig själv och hur hon ser sig själv genom andra. Teorier finns att högre självkänsla kan resultera i riskfyllt beteende och övermod. Andra teorier talar om att en högre självkänsla ger större tillfredställelse med livet och är en grund till lycka. Syftet med undersökningen är att se om och hur individen själv kan påverka och stärka sin egen självkänsla. Undersökningen utfördes genom kvalitativa intervjuer av sju stycken utbildade terapeuter, psykologer och psykoterapeuter. Resultatet visar att självkänslan går att påverka och reparera men att det är en krävande process i form av emotionellt arbete och självacceptans. Självkänsla visade sig definieras olika vilket har gett ett brett men åtskilt resultat.

My thesis is an attempt to approach Anna¡¦s predicament in Doris Lessing¡¦s The Golden Notebook from the angle of identity crisis. Charles Taylor maintains that in configuring the picture of self-identity, we actually answer the questions of existence. Identity crisis thus expresses the feeling of disorientation and uncertainty about the meaning of life. In The Golden Notebook, Anna is strained under her identity crisis which culminates in the mental collapse. In order to recover from the breakdown, Anna must re-answer the questions of her existence. In the introductory chapter, I give a brief sketch on the concept of the self, focusing on its transition from the Romanticism to the postmodernism. In the postmodern world, the romantic vocabulary of wholeness and personal significance gives way to the postmodern expressions of fragmentation and meaninglessness. Against these two poles, I try to analyze Lessing¡¦s attitudes. This chapter aims to offer the background against which the heroine¡¦s struggle and solution can be better realized. In Chapter One, I survey the concept of self as narrative and elucidate the three dimensions¡Xtemporal, moral, and social¡Xof the self. The main point is that the self is produced in the narrative, and in daily routines the textual identity is confirmed and reinforced. Thus the daily performance serves as the most solid prop to uphold the picture of self-identity. In Chapter Two, I trace the sources of Anna¡¦ identity crisis in light of the collapse of the practical involvements and highlight her syndrome of identity crisis with the aids of the theoretical discussion of the three dimensions. Chapter Tree deals with Anna¡¦s search for the true self, the presence of which presumably can solve her identity problem. The quest for the true self takes the route of her sessions with the therapist Mrs. Marks and the scribbling in the four notebooks. Both fail to produce the true self-narrative. If the self is created in the narrative as the concept of self as narrative suggests, the failure to produce the true self-narrative announces the absence of the true self. In Chapter Four, I examine Saul Green¡¦s features and Anna¡¦s intercourse with him to bring out the hazards of her situation and her reconciliation with the inaccessibility of the true self. By invoking the figure of the boulder-pusher, Anna substitutes the responsible self for the true self. She finally breaks out of the shackle of despair and recovers from her mental breakdown. In conclusion, I emphasize that Lessing is a strongly committed writer. Therefore, Anna¡¦s salvation can be considered as Lessing¡¦s suggestion for those who suffer out of a similar cause how to maintain themselves in the postmodern fragmentary world.

Research has shown that desirable responding can be detrimental to social relationships, achievement and health. This study used an experimental design to (a) induce an increase in desirable responding through threat to self-image and then (b) compare the effectiveness of self-compassionate and self-affirming writing in attenuating that increase. Control groups included no threat exposure, threat exposure alone and threat exposure plus neutral writing. Desirable responding was measured along two dimensions: self-enhancement and exaggerated virtue. Results show the threat did not result in the predicted increase in desirable responding so the effectiveness of the two strategies with regards to attenuating increases in desirable responding could not be examined and compared. However, results do reveal a difference in the mechanism of these two strategies. Engaging in self-compassionate writing resulted in a significant decrease in exaggerated virtue whereas being self-affirmed resulted in a significant increase, suggesting a possible benefit of a self-compassion strategy.

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国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2008.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-166).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1975. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 451-492).

No description available.