Numerous research studies have offered evidence that I-sharing (perceived subjective similarity) facilitates interpersonal connection (e.g. Huneke & Pinel, 2016; Pinel, Long, Landau, Alexander, & Pyszczynski, 2006; Pinel & Long, 2012). Despite this research, no interventions currently exist to foster I-sharing between individuals, thereby leaving interventionists and others unable to utilize I-sharing to nurture authentic connections. The current dissertation takes an important step in the direction of developing usable interventions based on I-sharing research. Specifically, I examine the effectiveness of a technique designed to foster I-sharing genuinely between individuals. Building on I-sharing theory, which specifies that people most confidently believe that they I-share when they react simultaneously and identically to the same stimulus (Pinel et al., 2006), I randomly assigned participants either to experience novel, emotionally-arousing stimuli that provoke predictable reactions in a context in which participants could also experience each other's in-the-moment subjective experiences (the Fostered I-sharing condition), or in a condition in which they could not fully experience each other's experiences (the comparison condition). To investigate whether I-sharing also proves effective for people who see themselves as dissimilar on an important self dimension, I also manipulated perceived value similarity of the other participant prior to the I-sharing intervention. Participants either learned of an unshared value, learned of a shared value, or did not receive any value information. Results showed that the I-sharing intervention significantly increased feelings of subjective similarity, but only increased liking and interpersonal behavior when participants also initially learned that they shared a similar value. I discuss potential explanations for results, and means of intervention improvement.

L’objectif de ces travaux était de tester la capacité d’une simulation numérique à prédire la vision subjective, dans différents conditions d’aberrations comparables aux optiques multifocales. Nous avons tout d’abord qualifié la vision subjective par la profondeur de champ, définie comme la zone de vision considérée comme acceptable par les sujets. Le calcul de critères de qualité d’image (i.e. simulation numérique) ne permettait pas de prédire la profondeur de champ (r² < 0.35). Le calcul d’images simulées, qui, contrairement aux critères de qualité d’image, demandait une réponse des sujets, a permis de démontrer que le modèle d’œil permettait de rendre compte de l’optique, mais pas de l’acceptabilité d’une cible par les sujets. Face au manque de finesse de la prédiction de ce critère de vision subjective, nous avons évalué la qualité de vision de façon continue : les sujets avaient pour tâche de noter des images sur une échelle de gradation. Les sujets notaient ainsi leur vision à différentes proximités et dans différentes conditions d’aberration. La prédiction de la vision subjective par ce critère était plus précise (r² = 0.92). Cependant, cette corrélation tendait à diminuer pour les qualités d’image très faibles. Il semblerait donc que la prédiction de la vision subjective passerait par l’utilisation de différents critères de qualité d’image, permettant de qualifier aussi bien une bonne qu’une mauvaise qualité de vision. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the capacity of a numerical simulation to predict the subjective vision, with the addition of aberrations similar to multifocal optics. We first qualified the subjective vision as the depth-of-field, defined as the range of focus for which the vision was still judged acceptable. Image quality metrics (i.e. numerical simulation) failed to predict the depth-of-field(r² < 0.35). We calculated simulated images, which, in opposition to image quality metrics needed an answer from the subjects. We thus showed that the numerical simulation could predict the optic but could not take in account the acceptability of an image. The lack of accuracy of the prediction of depth-of-field led us to the measurement of a continuous image assessment: subjects had to evaluate the quality of images on grading scales. Subjects could grade images for various defocuses and aberration conditions. The numerical simulation gave good prediction of this subjective assessment (r² = 0.92). However, the correlation was lower for lower image quality. Thus, the prediction of subjective vision should be obtained with combination of multiple image quality metrics to be able to anticipate good quality of images as well as poor ones.

À partir d’une pratique clinique au sein d’un Service Médico-Psychologique Régional d’une maison d’arrêt, cette thèse vient interroger la question de la perversion chez la femme. Si on constate de nombreuses controverses sur ce sujet, faut-il pour autant dire que la femme échappe à la perversion ? Souvent considérées comme victimes passives, le rôle de ces femmes dans le scénario criminel est perçu comme secondaire, au service d’un autre, de son compagnon par exemple. Si dans nos imaginaires, la perversion est associée aux hommes, la part de destructivité chez la femme a longtemps été niée, alors qu’historiquement et cliniquement, elle est manifeste. Par leurs mises en acte, ces femmes témoigneraient d’une impasse quant à leur construction subjective. C’est pourquoi nous nous intéresserons tout d’abord aux enjeux et aux incidences de la période préoedipienne sur leur devenir-femme. Leur soumission à un Autre ouvrira une réflexion sur la notion de complicité comme véritable statut, avec l’importance de la présence du regard d’un Autre à provoquer ou à angoisser. À travers la présentation de situations cliniques, je vais tenter d’aborder différentes figures féminines de la perversion. Du meurtre d’enfant aux violences sexuelles commises par des mères, en passant par la passion amoureuse et la séduction perverse, nous nous confronterons également à la violence barbare de jeunes adolescentes.La diversité des cas cliniques souligne la complexité de cette question de la perversion chez la femme. La place de la haine, du sacrifice à un Autre, et enfin de la perversion des idéaux seront interrogés, avec notamment la mise en évidence comme hypothèse, l’impossibilité de constituer un fantasme matricide structurant chez ces femmes qui ont alors recours, dans le réel, à des passages à l’acte pervers. / From a clinical practice in a Regional Medical Psychological department in a prison, this thesis is questioning about female perversion. Even if we can notice many controversies about this subject, does it mean that women can escape perversion? Often considered as passive victims, these women have in the criminal scenario a role seen as secondary, in the service of someone else, for example of their partners. If in our imagination,perversion is linked to men, the part of destructiveness among women has been denied for a long time even if it is evident historically and clinically. By acting, these women would show an impasse concerning their subjective construction. That’s why, firstly, we will be interested in the issues ans impacts of the preoedipean period on their woman becoming. Their submission to an other will make people think about the notion of complicity as a real status, with the importance of the presence of an Other to provoke or distress. I’m going to talk about many different perversion female figures through the presentation of clinical situations. From the child murder to the sexual abuse committed by mothers, from love passion to perverses eduction, we will also be confronted with the barbarous violence of young female teenagers. The diversity of clinical cases underlines the complexity of the woman perversion. We will question about the importance of hatred, of sacrifice to an other and finally about ideals perversion, emphasizing as hypothesis the impossibility of constituting aformative matricide fantasy among these women who are really doing perverse actions.

Subjective well-being when on neuroleptic treatment (SWBN), has been established as a good predictor of adherence, early response and prognosis in patients with schizophrenia(1, 2). The 20-item subjective well-being under neuroleptic treatment scale (SWN-K 20) is a self-rating scale that has been validated to measure SWBN(3). However, the SWN-K20 has not been previously used in a Low- and Middle-income country (LMIC). Aims and Objectives: This study explored the psychometric properties of SWN-K20 in a sample of Xhosa speaking African patients with schizophrenia, and investigated factors associated with SWBN in this population. Methods: As a part of a large genetic study, 244 study participants with a confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia completed the translated SWN-K 20 scale. Internal consistency analysis was performed, and convergent analysis and exploratory analysis were conducted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA).Varimax rotation method was selected as we did not assume any correlation of the factors(4). Linear regression methods were used to determine predictors of SWBN in the sample population. Results: The PCA extracted 4 components which cumulatively explained 52.21% of the total variance. The internal consistency of the SWN-K 20 was 0.86 and those of the sub-scales ranged between 0.47 and 0.59. The total scores of the SWN-K 20 demonstrated moderate correlation r= 0.44 with GAF scores. The sub-scale scores had lower correlations ranging between r=.41 and r=.30 with the GAF scores. The total scores on SWN-K20 scale were used to explore factors influencing SWBN. There was a significant correlation between overall subjective well-being score with higher education level, increased illness severity and GAF scores. Discussion and Conclusion: The isiXhosa version of the SWN-20 scale can be used for clinical and research purposes in LMICs but predictors of SWBN in this population differed from those previously established in (high income countries) HICs. The individual sub-scales of the SWN-K20 were less reliable when translated into isiXhosa and hence the subs-scales were not a meaningful measure of specific domains of wellbeing . These findings merit evaluation to determine whether cultural and linguistic specific sub-cales might provide further insight and recommendations for use in South African context. Predictors of SWBN in this LMICs population were not comparable to those in HICs setting(5, 6). Older patients with lower baseline level of education, poor global functioning and less severe symptoms were noted to have lower SWBN and hence at risk of poor compliance. This information could provide guidance for clinicians, researchers and interventions that aim at improving compliance and the treatment experiences of this patient group.

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Abstract artikkel 1 Subjective well-being (SWB) is an upcoming concept that has caught the attention of the scientific community and society in general. Although much has been learned about the nature of “happiness” both the definition and measurements are still a work in progress. The current paper aimed to examine how global subjective well-being best can be measured based in the current theoretical understanding of the definition and assessment methods. SWB is by Diener (2009) considered to have three main components: positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction. The concept is complex with many interconnecting dimensions and correlates. The choice of SWB measurement method or instrument should be based on an understanding of the nature of SWB in addition to the study’s design and purpose. Self-report measures are the most utilized and generally shows good psychometric properties. This paper primarily recommends using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen &amp; Griffin 1985) combined with Scale of Positive And Negative Experience (SPANE; Diener et al. 2009) to measure SWB. Abstract artikkel 2 The interest and knowledge of subjective well-being (SWB) and its applicability has the latest decades grown both socially and scientifically. Assessment instruments validated for different languages and cultures can assist in the further development of the SWB concept as well as provide a base for monitoring communities’ fluctuations in SWB levels and operate as a social indicator index. Objective: The following study aimed at translating and validating four acknowledged SWB instruments on a Norwegian sample. Participants: Self-completion questionnaires were administered to convenience samples of senior citizens and university students in Trondheim, Norway. n = 254, 154 females, age 19-96. Design: Psychometric properties such as internal consistency, normative data, factorial structure and convergence validity were examined using independent sample t-tests and principal component factor analyses.  Results and conclusions: The findings were overall consistent with previous findings. Overall no major divergences from the scales established psychometric standards were found which suggests that the questionnaires are fit for use on Norwegian samples. Furthermore, the study supports the scales as having good psychometric properties.

Background: Given that individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) report a change that is not yet measurable with standard neuropsychological assessment measures, they are thought to be the earliest along the cognitive continuum between healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current study used a neuroimaging approach to examine differences in brain function and structure between individuals with SCD and healthy controls (HC). Method: 3T resting state functional MRI and high resolution anatomical images were retrieved from 23 individuals with SCD (mean age = 72.9 years, SD = 5.4, 12 females) and 23 HC (mean age = 74.3 years, SD = 5.0, 12 females) from the screening time point from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative database. All data were processed using the FMRIB Software Library. Seed-based analyses of the default mode network (DMN) were used to compare differences in brain function between SCD and HC groups (Z > 2.3; cluster significance: p < 0.05, corrected). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to examine differences in grey matter volume between the SCD and HC groups. Results: The SCD and HC groups were not significantly different in age or education level. Results revealed significantly greater activity in the DMN including the bilateral precuneus cortex, bilateral thalamus, and right hippocampal regions in individuals with SCD relative to controls. Conversely, those with SCD showed decreased activation in the bilateral frontal pole, caudate, angular gyrus, lingual gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, right occipital pole, right superior temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus in the posterior division, left precuneus cortex, left precentral gyrus, left occipital fusiform gyrus, left temporal pole, and left cerebellum compared to HC. Finally, VBM results did not show significant differences in grey matter volume between the groups. Conclusion: Findings revealed changes in brain function but not structure between individuals with SCD and HC. Overall, this study represents a crucial step in characterizing individuals with SCD, a group recognized to be at increased risk for AD. It is imperative to identify biomarkers prior to significant decline on clinical assessment, so that disease-delaying interventions may be delivered at the earliest possible time point. / Graduate / 2020-08-15

This paper investigates how the immigration ratio affects the subjective well-being of native-born Canadians. I use microdata from the Canadian Community Health Survey during the period 2009 to 2010 and employ ordered probit and OLS models to examine this question. The results show that the geographic concentration of immigrants in Canada has a negative effect on native-born Canadians’ subjective well-being. Specifically, an increase of one standard deviation in the immigrant share in each health region is estimated to decrease life satisfaction by 1.28 standard deviation unit for natives. In addition, the effect of the immigration ratio on the life satisfaction of immigrants is significantly negative as well. Results indicate that the current immigrant selection policy in Canada does not benefit both natives and immigrants in the context of subjective well-being. / the effect of immigration on the life satisfaction of native-born Canadians.

The central objective of this thesis was to explore relationships between personal values, and depressed mood and subjective wellbeing, and to determine if the notion of values can be more useful in the fields of clinical and positive psychology. An initial literature review of values identified the potential importance of values in relation to mood and wellbeing, but also showed that more research was required to clearly establish such links. Two survey studies using Schwartz’s model of values (Schwartz, 1992), and one longitudinal study investigating relational aspects of values, were conducted to explore these relationships. Study 1 was a New Zealand paper-based study and investigated links between the importance of, and satisfaction with, values and depressed mood and subjective wellbeing. Study 2 was a larger international internet-based study which sought to replicate important findings from Study 1 and investigate links between people’s knowledge of their values and the extent to which they were living in alignment with values. Study 3 consisted of a sub-sample of participants from Study Two who completed a subset of Study 2 assessment measures six months later. This study explored how relational aspects of values (knowledge of values, living in alignment with values) related to changes in depressed mood and SWB over time. Cumulatively the results from these studies re-orientate our thinking towards an increased utility for the notion of values in the areas of clinical and positive psychology. Regarding depressed mood, these studies found links between greater depressed mood and lesser importance of Self-Direction, Stimulation and Hedonism value types. The importance of values as a whole was not associated with depressed mood; however being satisfied, knowing values, and living in alignment with values were associated with less depressed mood. Regarding subjective wellbeing, these studies found links between greater subjective wellbeing and greater importance of Self-Direction, Stimulation, Hedonism, and Benevolence value types. The importance of values as a whole was not associated with subjective wellbeing; however being satisfied, knowing values, and living in alignment with values were associated with greater subjective wellbeing. A causal relationship was found between living in alignment with values and latter subjective wellbeing, but not for knowledge of values and later subjective wellbeing. In addition, no major deviations in the coherence of values’ systems between individuals with and without depressed mood, or for individuals with and without high subjective wellbeing, were found. Strengths, implications, and limitations of the studies are noted for the fields of clinical and positive psychology, and suggestions for future research are made.