The central aim of this study was to contribute to the clarification of the nature of self-insight in psychotherapy by means of a qualitative research design. A pilot study provided direction by suggesting a psychologically relevant focus that was experientially specific; that is, the kind of therapeutic self-insight that carries a greater sense of freedom. A phenomenological research method was used to describe and interpret in depth the experiences of eight clients who had been in psychotherapy. Their experiences were explicated to yield a psychologically relevant general description of the phenomenon. The results indicated ten central constituents of the experience. Such themes included, amongst others, the role of language in providing perspective, the increased understanding of personal agency, the achievement of a more complex self-image, and the ability to express existing desires and motives within a more flexible or creative behavioural context. The general description also indicated how phenomena such as memory, feeling, motive, metaphor, dreams and present behaviour interact in the co-constitution of this kind of therapeutic self-insight. After dialoguing the results of the study with relevant literature, the thesis concluded with reflections on the intrinsic value of therapeutic self-insight, as revealed in this study, in relation to the spirit of technology.

A qualitative empirical phenomenological study was undertaken to determine the self-experience of procrastinating behaviour. Five students each gave an account of an occasion when they procrastinated. The resultant protocols were analysed and the Situated Structure of each individual’s experience was reported. From these, the General Structure of procrastinating behaviour was determined. A further, novel step was added to the standard methodology, whereby ‘themes’ were extracted from participant protocols and a ‘Composite Reality’ of everyday-life procrastination was rendered. Participants’ accounts suggest they are concerned the results of intellectual tasks they undertake will be seen as equivalent to their quality of being-as-an-individual: poor work results will be interpreted by important-others as evidence of participants’ poor quality of self – which is to be avoided. This study suggests that procrastination is a ploy used by individuals to avoid criticism, by deflecting assessment of their capacity to complete a task well, to instead, what they are capable of when only a limited time is available. Conclusions drawn by the important-others of participants’ true ability are thereby confounded. The results achieved in the phenomenological study were compared with others originating from various quantitative studies, and considerable overlap was found. The experiential richness of the phenomenological results point to a worthwhile methodological strategy for future procrastination research.

M.Phil. / The hypothesis of the research essay was that people experience a lack of meaning or purpose in their lives. The general aim of this research essay was to define why self-transcendence is an important component in a balanced person's life and how it can contribute to adding meaning to a person's life. The contribution of Personal and Professional Leadership to the development and/or improvement of self-transcendence, was also investigated. The research methodology used in the research essay includes hermeneutic and descriptive strategies. The research methods that were used include a word and concept analysis, in order to clarify concepts central to the title of the research essay. A literature study was also conducted, to clarify self-transcendence from the perspective of various philosophers and their theories, within an existential and Personal and Professional Leadership paradigm. The following were important findings of the research essay: • Self-transcendence refers to the desire within a person to give more of himself to others. This will not only have an influence on the legacy that he leaves behind, but also on his own perceptions, self-awareness and potential platform. • The key elements of self-transcendence are: the ability to make a free choice with one's own free will, self-awareness, true north values, selfactualisation; and to have service-orientated relationships with others. • Self-transcendence plays a very important role in a person's life, by influencing a person's quality of life, legacy and ultimately the meaning of his life. • Personal and Professional Leadership plays a very important role in improving and developing self-transcendence, by creating an awareness of the continuous growth process towards enhancing selftranscendence. This could assist a person in becoming more proactive, by wanting to become more self-transcendent. • Servant Leadership can play an important role in self-transcendence. • Self-transcendence can enable a person to gain greater control over his life, which in turn will create a sense of meaning. • Self-transcendence can give a person a sense of belonging and purpose in his life, and also give a feeling that after his death, a part of him will continue to live on. • The research essay concludes by indicating that self-transcendence can, therefore, play a very important role in giving meaning to a person's life.

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No description available.

In contemporary transpersonal theory, women‟s experiences of transformation have largely been overlooked. This study seeks to answer the question, what are women‟s lived experiences of the path of transformation through self-other relationships? In setting the stage for the study, the researcher identifies two transpersonal theorists, Wilber and Almaas, and describes their models of consciousness development. She then outlines the feminist critique of existing psychological literature and the need for exclusively female research. Following is an inclusion of themes that have been extracted from the existing literature, themes which represent the biases of the researcher in what she expected to encounter in the current research. Further is a description of existentialism and the role it plays in inviting women to embark on a journey of transformation. The methods employed by the researcher were qualitative phenomenological-hermeneutics. Seven females participated in a three-stage interview process, whereby information was gathered via interviews, then further transcribed and interpreted. This information was then synthesized and presented in a thematic analysis where women‟s experiences were categorized into four separate stages. Finally, the sub-themes of each stage were compared to the stages of development as illustrated by Wilber and Almaas. Ultimately it is concluded that women‟s experiences are highlighted by the relational nature of self-development, and the cyclical process of the journey itself. / ix, 218 leaves ; 29 cm

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of marathon group counseling and traditional group counseling in producing certain growth changes in their particular group members. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of these two group counseling methods and their relationship in producing changes in self-actualization, self-concept, and level of dogmatism.

D.Phil. / Education in South Africa is currently in a process of transformation. The transformation is aimed at facilitating equal opportunities for all learners. All educational institutions are primarily involved in the realisation of the human potential of each and every prospective citizen of this diverse country. This research was conducted with the ultimate aim of determining whether Biology as subject could unlock processes of thought in learners, resulting in the development of certain essential skills. The attainment of these mentioned skills might contribute to the optimal cultivation of human potential. A comprehensive study, in which relevant literature was scrutinised, was conducted in order to explore concepts concerning the field of human potential, as well as aspects concerning the discipline of Biology as subject. Qualitative- and quantitative research methods were used. The qualitative research entailed interviews with a focus group. For the purpose of the comparative study, a questionnaire was developed. This represented the quantitative component of the research. The questionnaire was designed to determine to what extent skills of grade 12 Biology learners were developed regarding the following domains: • Cognitive- and psychomotor domains • Affective- and ethical-normative domains • Social domain The results obtained from the empirical study indicated significant statistical differences concerning the extent of skills development in learners studying Biology as opposed to learners not studying Biology as a subject. It can be concluded that the extent of the development of cognitive-, psychomotor-, ethical-normative- and affective skills of Biology learners statistically exceeds those of the non-Biology learners. The extent of development of skills regarding the social domain did not reflect statistically significant differences between the two groups. Regarding the development of additional essential skills, the Biology learners selected Biology in particular as the specific subject contributing extensively towards the development of these additional skills. Post-hoc statistical analysis indicated disparities regarding schools with different languages of instruction. The extent of development of skills of Biology learners attending schools with Afrikaans as medium of instruction significantly exceeds the level of development of learners attending English schools. Results of this research confirm the fact that Biology as subject develops skills in learners across a broad spectrum of domains. With the proposed implementing of the 2006 Further Education and Training (FET)-Curriculum it is imperative that the training of teachers, teaching methods, the positioning of Biology/Life Sciences in the curriculum and the selection of curriculum content are amongst the important issues which have to be addressed. In conclusion it can be stated that, according to the judgement of the learners, Biology as a subject develops an exceptional range of skills and thus contributes to cultivating essential aspects of human potential. The skilful and effective application of the subject Biology can enhance self-discovery in learners and aid them in fostering positive prospects concerning their future.

"April, 2002." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-109). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.