Thesis (Ph.D.)--Bowling Green State University, 2007. / Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 160 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1986. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [171]-185.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p.137-152) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-101). Also available on the Internet.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:46:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 buchianeri_lgc_dr_assis.pdf: 427890 bytes, checksum: b69c24604ad5af2fe659d09f81f02536 (MD5) / O mundo hipercinético da atualidade toca profundamente a subjetividade, fazendo emergir na superfície da conduta formas de ser e agir típicas, resultantes de elaborações cognitivas, emocionais e afetivas, que processam a experiência de tal aceleração da vida e ampliação do espaço. Dentre as subjetivações da velocidade, no mundo contemporâneo, destacamos o tédio como uma das principais, ainda que ele esteja sendo confundido com a depressão, por manter com ela uma sintomatologia semelhante, embora seja bem distinto quanto à sua gênese e dinâmica psicológica. Neste trabalho, além das considerações acerca do tédio, na adolescência, há também reflexões a respeito da noção de trauma. O conceito de trauma, que foi tão útil e iluminador em tempos outros, já não possui o mesmo valor heurístico, porque os processos de subjetivação, na atualidade, não carregam, como outrora, as marcas de embates, contradições, conflitos ou choques brutais. O mundo atual não se funda mais na lógica do conflito e do confronto, como ocorreu com a modernidade do século XVIII até o final do século XX, e, apesar de ser um mundo supermovimentado e acelerado, por isso mesmo, potencialmente capaz de produzir colisões, desenvolve mecanismos de ordenação e controle das mobilidades extremamente sofisticados, evitando “acidentes de trânsito”, especialmente no plano do trânsito psicológico (emocional, afetivo, dos vínculos e relacionamentos). O mundo que admitia ou até cultuava o sacrifício e o sofrimento cedeu lugar para um mundo que cultua o prazer, a felicidade e a frivolidade da vida. Há uma tendência ao esmaecimento do trauma, para seu deslocamento como experiência fundante do sujeito e do mundo... / The hyperkinetic world of today deeply touches the subjectivity, bringing out to the surface of the behavior typical forms of acting and being, resulting from cognitive, emotional and affective elaborations, which process the experience of such life and accelerating expansion of the space. Among the subjectivations of speed, in the contemporary world, we point out the boredom as one of the major. Although boredom is being confused with depression, for keeping with it similar symptoms, they are quite different as to their genesis and psychological dynamics. In this work, in addition to considerations about the boredom in adolescence, there are also considerations about the notion of trauma. The concept of trauma, so helpful and enlightening in other times, no longer has the same heuristic value, because the processes of subjectification, at present time, do not carry, as then, marks of struggle, contradictions, conflicts and brutal shock. The world today is no longer on the logic of conflict and confrontation, as it happened with the modernity of the eighteenth century until the late twentieth century. Moreover, despite being a super busy and fast-paced world, therefore, potentially able to produce collisions, develops mechanisms for ordering and control of highly sophisticated mobility, preventing traffic accidents, especially in terms of psychological traffic (emotional, affective bonds and relationships). The world that worshiped or even admitted sacrifice and suffering has given way to a world that worships... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Increasingly, research studies have revealed that gratitude and psychological well-being are robustly related. In addition gratitude interventions have been successful in increasing facets of well-being in adults and early adolescents. However, less is known about the effects of gratitude on middle adolescent sample groups and their eudaimonic well-being. Further, little is known about the impact that gratitude interventions will have on adolescents living in the South African context. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a four-week gratitude intervention on the psychological well-being (PWB) of a group of middle adolescents in Gauteng, South Africa. Both state and trait gratitude were measured before the intervention as well as their levels of four facets of well-being, namely overall life satisfaction, hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and the absence of pathology. These levels were measured again after the intervention had been completed. Adolescents (N=230) from two high schools were randomly allocated to either an experimental group (n=112) or control group (n=118) based on their assigned class at school. Questionnaires measuring their levels of gratitude and psychological well-being were administered to both groups before and after the intervention. The experimental group received four gratitude exercises consecutively, over a four-week period while the control group received four neutral activities over the same time frame. The data was analysed quantitatively by conducting one-tailed t-tests. In addition, a brief follow-up qualitative study was conducted to assess the participants’ subjective experiences of the intervention. The quantitative results indicated that there were no significant differences in PWB or gratitude between the two groups after the intervention. There were also no significant differences found within the experimental group when the pre- and post-test scores were compared. The qualitative results revealed that the participants found the gratitude intervention to have been enjoyable and helpful, and expressed feeling more grateful and appreciative in general. In addition, many reported that their relationships with others had improved. These findings revealed that the gratitude intervention did not yield statistically significant results however the adolescents’ subjective experience of the intervention was positive. More research is needed to understand the effect of positive psychology interventions among South African adolescents.

A sample of 96 rural adolescents recruited from four rural communities in the Kootenay Boundary region of British Columbia completed a cross-sectional survey tapping self concept, possible selves, sense of community, and the connections among these constructs. The consideration of both present and future selves were viewed through a contextual lens where rural characteristics were considered. There were mixed sentiments regarding living in the rural communities. Youth were typically able to find support and generally liking living in their communities although many indicated ambivalence about staying in their community after leaving high school. An important connection was found between a high estimation of capability for obtaining a future hoped-for self and a high rating of self-concept. This result suggests important implications for rural and possible selves research, and implications for rural youth including building self-esteem though fostering perceptions of capability, increasing community engagement, and strengthening community connections.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Violence and aggression is a worldwide phenomenon in the sports industry, especially in team sports like hockey. Scant research has been done on the topic, namely how players of a team sport like hockey, experience aggression. This research aims to explore and describe secondary school learners' experiences of aggression in a sport like hockey. On the basis of the results, guidelines and recommendations were made to facilitate them in dealing with the aggression in the right ways. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes. Tesch's (1990) method for data analysis was used and a consensus discussion held with an independent coder. The uniqueness of this study is the exploration and description of secondary school students' experiences of aggression in a hockey team. The results clearly show that aggression is experienced on a regular basis during training or playing a game. The contributory factors include that aggression in hockey is experienced as a positive or negative incentive to achieve certain goals in the game, the coach's handling of spectators’ influence, and characteristics that contribute to hockey being a sport for discharging stress. The consequences of the aggression to players are emotional, psychological and physical in nature. It takes the form of fear, anger, frustration, powerlessness, helplessness and hopelessness. Further consequences are players’ absence from practices and games, the development of an I-do-not-care attitude and injuries. Guidelines for the managing of this phenomenon and recommendations for future research are described.

D.Litt et Phil. / The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a contemplation meditation intervention aimed at developing great compassion on the psychological well-being of a group of adolescents. A supporting aim of this study was to elucidate conceptualisations of psychological well-being and contemplation meditation (Mahayana Buddhist analytical meditation and placement meditation) theory. The subjects of happiness and well-being have been focused upon in the East for thousands of years in philosophical theorisation and methodology (e.g. Buddhism) (Gyatso, 1995, 2000, 2001a, 2002a, 2005, 2007, 2010). In the West, although comparatively lagging behind, there has been increased interest in these topics since the advent of positive psychology (Compton, 2005; Peterson & Seligman, 2004; Ryff & Singer, 2008). In the past two decades, Eastern wisdom has also become more incorporated into Western psychology. For example, mindfulness meditation has been extensively integrated into Western stress reduction and clinical therapies (e.g. Kabat-Zinn, 1982, 2003, 2009; Schroevers & Brandsma, 2010). Less is known, however, about other forms of meditation, particularly contemplation meditation. Specifically, Mahayana Buddhist theory explains that contemplation and meditation on compassion and wisdom leads to permanent inner peace and optimal happiness, which has largely been overlooked in psychology. Furthermore, regarding Western positive mental health interventions, there is still limited research on how to foster well-being specifically in adolescents. Moreover, Huebner and Diener (2008) have noted that subjective well-being research in adults exceeds subjective well-being research in youth. Additionally, there is minimal research on psychological well-being as understood from the eudaimonic perspective, in comparison to hedonic subjective well-being (Keyes, 2009). The present study thus attempts to expand knowledge on increasing psychological well-being in adolescents by also drawing on Eastern theorisation and methodology.

M. Ed. / The development of behaviour, character and social skills of people stems from and is maintained by means of interaction with other people. Actually, the most crucial stage is during late adolescence, when proficiency in work ethics, relationships and especially assertiveness should be shaped, as it has direct bearing on the situation when someone does not act in an assertive manner in the work environment. People who are able to act in a truly assertive manner are able to express their feelings, thoughts and convictions without any aggression, in a non-destructive way, and to act in a neither extremely controlling, nor inappropriately reticent fashion. It has come to the notice of the researcher that the behaviour, social skills and especially the assertiveness of a considerable number of late adolescents at a specific technical training college, given their age, appear not be appropriate when among adults, as they communicate ineffectively and are not able to verbalise their expectations regarding their needs. It seems as if late adolescents do not want to make their voices heard. With “voice” an own opinion in relation to choices is meant. The researcher was left wondering whether they would be able to communicate in an adult manner with employees, and express their needs by means of “I messages”, as well as to what extent they would be able to take a stand solely on their own behalf, when having to contend with possible problems in the work environment. The emancipation process of late adolescents often gives rise to mixed emotions in themselves. They simultaneously look forward to and fear the process of becoming adults, which then results in them withdrawing themselves. Others then tend to view them as being incompetent. As a part of their need for independence, they criticise any boundaries, which in turn involves them in conflict. They display open hostility towards others and reveal low quality problem-solving skills, relating to superficial intra- and interpersonal skills in relationships with others.