Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1992. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [102]-109).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1977.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-72).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-114).

The aim of this research is to develop a range of procedures for enhancing conversational skills. From a review of theoretical analyses of social encounters a model of conversational process is developed to describe mechanisms by which interactants construct, maintain and revise cognitive models of their social environment. From this model, three dimensions of conversational competence are derived and a training paradigm devised incorporating the process of cognitive reflection by which functional properties of models are displayed to interactants. This paradigm provides a rationale for discrete intervention strategies to effect changes on each dimension of competence. Preliminary studies report attempts to implement the first intervention strategy in a friendship relationship and workshop group. Using the "conversational cycle" and repertory grid techniques, procedures are developed to exhibit critical interpersonal events and their relationship to modelling processes. The main studies investigate the second and third intervention strategies by developing serial repertory grid methods to exhibit the functional properties of centrality to self-cognition and stability of construction. The training paradigm is elaborated to include these properties at three levels of organisation, and a sequential Bayesian analysis is developed to determine the extent of centrality and stability of construction. The training paradigm is tested in two case-studies and evidence of increases in insight, centrality and elaboration of personal construction are found. This methodology is extended to incorporate repertory grids produced by two interactants yoked by element sample and tested in a case-study of a married couple. Evidence of increased insight and self-partner reconstruction is found, but predictions concerning increased self-partner distinctiveness are contraindicated. These findings suggest that evaluative criteria may not be coincident with subjective strategies, and alternative evaluation methodologies are proposed.

Previous research attests to the relationship between social support and positive health outcomes while linking social isolation or aggression/hostility with negative health outcomes. Several studies examining atherosclerosis with either genetic or behavioral origins, have reported decreased disease severity in socially supportive environments. In order to identify and understand the mechanism responsible for decreased disease, the current study examined physiological differences in New Zealand White rabbits within unstable, stable, and isolated social environments and observed whether functional hormonal changes were apparent over time and as a response to behavior characteristic of these environments. Results indicated that animals within the unstable condition displayed increased agonistic behavior, increased cortisol and epinephrine, decreased body weight, epididymal fat, and retroperitoneal fat, as well as larger spleens. Cortisol values positively correlated with measures of agonistic behavior for all animals, while the reverse relationship was found for affiliative behavior. The novel finding of an increase in oxytocin in animals in the unstable condition within the first ten minutes of pairing that was noticeably distinct from the other two groups suggests that plasma oxytocin levels are related to acute stress. Limitations and interpretations of these findings are discussed. Future work is still needed to help further explain the physiological response to social stress and affiliation and to elucidate the mechanism by which a supportive social environment appears to protect against progression and severity of heart disease.

Aims: To identify factors, which were related to being smoke-free and snus-free, respectively, among adolescents in relation to adolescents who were smoking and/or using snus, and de-termine if there were any sex differences. Me- thods: A questionnaire study was performed among students in year two in upper secondary schools (17-years-old) in southern Sweden in 2009. More than 2200 students completed the questionnaire regarding health and living habits anonymously. The variables were tested by χ²-test, before selection into the logistic model. Because of the salutogenic approach in the study, the results of the logistic regression analyses were expressed as Positive Odds Ratio (POR). Results: The prevalence of being smoke- free was 75.6 percent for girls and 70.2 percent for boys, whilst the prevalence of being snus- free was 95.1 percent for girls and 70.2 percent for boys. Having a tobacco-free best friend was the most important factor that correlated with being smoke- and snus-free as an adolescent, for both boys and girls. Good living habits, such as drinking less alcohol, were also central to being smoke-free and snus-free. Conclusions: The results show that a tobacco-free environ-ment has a great influence on whether or not adolescents stay tobacco-free. As the environ-ment has a big impact, the school has a big challenge to work with the school environment and policies but also with family responsibility, norms and attitudes to tobacco.

Modification(MOD) is a term generally applied to personal computer games, especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and require the user to have the original release in order to run. We use Creativity Theory as the study framework, and divide it into four parts- Domain-Relevant Skills, Creativity-Relevant Processes, Task Motivation, and Social Environment to analyze. We collect the MOD creators¡¦ thoughts and reflections as text. From this thesis we can learn: 1. What computer games are popular that game players would like to create the modifications with it in Taiwan and China ? 2. What kinds of themes that MOD creators would like to use? 3. What are the MOD creators¡¦ internal and external motivations? 4. How the social environment influences the MOD creators? Finally, We will discuss the effect of social environment on domain-relevant skills, creativity-relevant processes and task motivation. Modifications can help original computer games to continue life and even improve the richness of the game content. It would become the trend that game company supports the game editor in the future. The cost of game development could be reduced by creating with MOD creators and test with MOD players.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the possible importance of factors from the social environment for the development of depression. As a theoretical framework, Engel's biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1980), based on systems theory, has been applied. Proceeding from the single individual (characterized by experience, personality, behaviour) as the highest level of the organismic hierarchy the following system levels have been taken into account: dyads, family, community, culture-subculture. The depressive patients (n=lll) showed to be living in a narrowed social network and to lack confiding relationships compared with a non-psychiatric control sample (n=98). The personality characteristics (e.g. anxiety, detachment, suspicion) of the patients were related to experienced loneliness, contact difficulties, social network features and leisure activities. By means of a discriminant analysis 83% of the subjects could be correctly classified. In a study of perceived parental rearing, depressives showed to have experienced lack of emotional warmth. As regards social class an overrepresentation of social class III in the subgroups of unipolar, bipolar and unspecified depression was observed. Finally, implications for treatment are discussed in favour of a combination of drug and cognitive psychotherapy. Future research strategies are also suggested. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1985, härtill 8 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.