This study was conducted to investigate the extent to which affectionate physical contact (i.e., cuddling) affects preschoolers’ and parents’ abilities to engage in theory-of-mind reasoning. We explored the hypothesis that if affectionate contact affected theory-of-mind, then preschoolers and parents who cuddled would outperform those who did not. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 44 preschool aged children (3.8-4.6-year-olds) and their primary caregivers. We found that children who cuddled with their primary caregiver during a storybook reading task performed significantly better on theory-of-mind tasks compared to children who did not receive a cuddle. Importantly, our findings support the contention that affectionate contact affected children’s performance on theory-of-mind related tasks specifically, but not performance on executive functioning or non-mental representation tasks. A secondary goal of this study was to explore whether any effects of affectionate contact would be mediated by functional polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Although we were unable to obtain a sample size that was sufficient to directly test this hypothesis, we found that parents homozygous for the G allele at rs2254298 were significantly better at decoding the affective mental states of others compared to those who carried at least one A allele. Thus, our results support the hypotheses that affectionate contact promotes children’s theory-of-mind reasoning abilities and that adult’s mental state decoding skills can be predicted by allelic variations on the OXTR gene. This study offers preliminary support for the role of affectionate contact and, separately, the oxytocinergic system on tasks related to theory-of-mind reasoning. These claims are discussed with respect to possible alternative explanations for our findings, as well as future directions to directly test the extent to which such experiential and psychobiological factors can affect theory-of-mind reasoning. / Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-15 14:13:54.174

TITLE: SEXUALITY WORKPLACE ISSUES AMONG DIRECT SERVICE PERSONNEL WORKING WITH POPULATIONS WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED IN COMMUNITY INTEGRATED LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: A CASE STUDY MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Roberta Ogletree Background: The purpose of this study was to explore DSP workplace experiences, preparation, employee training, emotions, and perceptions in regards to types of sexual and affectionate behaviors exhibited by intellectually disabled adults in their care in the CILA setting. The study focused on analyzing these topics in relation to sexuality/affectionate behaviors experienced in the CILA workplace using a qualitative case study method. This analysis provided an understanding of what ideas and values DSPs brought to their roles of guiding the sexuality/affectionate behaviors of residents in their care and identified additional training needs from the DSP perspective to help them better do their jobs. Methods: Principles found in qualitative evaluation research were used to examine the influence of sexuality and affectionate behaviors and training within its naturally occurring world. The case was comprised of DSPs from the selected organization, located in a rural college town of approximately 25,000 people. Nine DSPs from five different CILA homes participated in the study. Data were generated using semi-structured interviews, observation of behaviors on interview video tapes, observation of emotional verbal cues on interview audio tapes, document analysis, and field notes. Results: Major themes were identified from data and organized around the research questions. Common categories under affectionate behaviors were dating, flirting, friendship/socialization, holding hands/hugging, media/technology, and problematic behaviors. Common categories under sexuality behaviors were groping, masturbation/females, masturbation/males, and problematic behaviors. Less common categories were affectionate behaviors-attention seeking/ego, sexuality behaviors – sexual intercourse, and sexuality behaviors – dating and marriage. Once data were categorized, each category’s responses were sorted to identify overarching theme areas for recommendations. The themes were Employee Training and Development, Socialization Needs (Affectionate Behaviors, Sexuality, and Relationships), and Language Issues (Positive, Negative, and First Person). Primary strengths identified included thinking of residents as family, the feeling of strong management support, and lack of significant conflict within the CILA homes. Elements that detracted from the DSP experience included low rate of hourly pay, employee turnover among DSP supervisors, lack of specific sexuality education for both staff and residents, limited retention of mandatory training topics, and lack of communication of sexuality policies and procedures. Conclusions were a need for additional training for DSPs and staff on the topics of human sexuality and affectionate behaviors in CILA homes; examining DSP training to increase knowledge retention in the staff; better communication of policies, procedures, and protocols regarding sexuality and affectionate behaviors that pertain to how situations are handled in CILA homes; and ensuring all training materials use first person language.

In this thesis, semi structured interviews and observations have been performed in order to offer and acknowledge pedagogical strategies and in which situations these become visible. Attachment patterns and foremost how educators relate and handle these patterns to reach an affectionate behavior has been the aim for this study. Six educators within the Early Childhood Education were interviewed. The observations were placed at three different preschools, monitoring children between the ages of three and six. The focus however, has been on the preschool teachers. The observation was narrated back to the educators, using the method stimulated recall, encouraging the teachers to reflect around their motives. In this study, we have shown the importance of making the silent knowledge that the educators possess more conscious. Through the observations some patterns where attachment is of importance has been made visible in this thesis and among these are adopting other perspectives.We have also acknowledged the importance of educators being flexible, having a close relation to the children and being available for them.

Orientador: Francisco B. Assumpção Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T17:48:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Grael_PaulaMaria_M.pdf: 2126443 bytes, checksum: 471c4789b6e83a5a65d25a5354ad4e60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Em 1943, Leo Kanner propôs a teoria psicogênica na qual enunciou a possibilidade da relação parental pouca afetiva ser fator causal do autismo do filho. Sendo assim, devido à escassez de estudos envolvendo paternidade e autismo, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os traços de personalidade em genitores masculinos com filho portador de Transtorno Autista (TA). Foram estudados 90 genitores (30 com filhos portadores de TA de baixo funcionamento, 30 com filhos portadores de síndrome de Down e 30 com filhos assintomáticos). Os critérios de inclusão dos genitores foram: brasileiro, de 25 a 60 anos, ciclo Um do Ensino Fundamental, residir no Estado de São Paulo com a genitora em união estável e com o filho entre 7 e 11 anos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Questionário socioeconômico de Pelotas, versão em português da Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) e o Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade (IFP). Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise descritiva e comparativa por teste estatístico (Fisher, Kruskal-Wallis e Qui-Quadrado) e correlacionados por meio do coeficiente de Spearman. Na amostra pesquisada foi constatado que a média do escore total obtido da TAS e dos 15 fatores do IFP em cada grupo de genitores, não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa. A predominância (N=90) foi de genitores não alexitímicos. A correlação entre os fatores da TAS e do IFP e o percentual da classificação do IFP foram também discutidos. Concluiu-se que o grupo de genitores masculinos com filho portador de transtorno autista não apresentou características específicas que poderiam estar associadas ao desenvolvimento do autismo, como as descritas por Kanner / Abstract: In 1943, Leo Kanner proposed the psychogenic theory in which he enunciated the possibility of the non-affective parental relationship as causal factor¿s of the son Autism. In so being, due to the shortage of studies involving fatherhood and Autism, this research aims to evaluate the personality traits in fathers of boys with Autism. There have been studied 90 fathers (30 with of boys with low-functioning Autistic Disorder (AD), 30 of boys with the Down Syndrome and 30 of asymptomatic boys). The inclusion criteria of the fathers were: Brazilian, aged from 25 to 60 years, Elementary School, resided in Sao Paulo State in a stable relationship with the mother and their son aged from seven to eleven years. The instruments used were: Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Pelotas Socioeconomic Questionnaire, Portuguese version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and the Personality Factorial Inventory (IFP). The data obtained were submitted to analyses descriptive and comparative by statistics test (Fisher, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi square) and correlate by means of the Spearman coefficient. In the researched population it was found that the average of the total score obtained of TAS and of the 15 factors of IFP in each group of genitors did not show significant statistics difference. The predominance (N=90) was of non-alexithymic fathers. The correlation between the factors of TAS and IFP and the percentage of the classification of the IFP were also discussed. It was concluded that the group of fathers of boys with Autistic Disorder did not present specific characteristics which could be associated to the development of Autism as described by Kanner / Mestrado / Saude Mental / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

[pt] As imensas modificações sociais ocorridas nos últimos tempos, tais como a possibilidade do divórcio e de vários recasamentos, assim como da união estável; a existência de relacionamentos não reconhecidos juridicamente, como a união de homossexuais; e as várias descobertas biotecnológicas, têm- se refletido nas famílias, provocando uma enorme alteração estrutural nas mesmas. Nas novas famílias, vínculos fortes se formam, entre pessoas que não são biologicamente ligadas e não têm vínculo jurídico reconhecido. A noção que a Lei traz de família, como sendo composta por um homem e uma mulher, unidos por matrimônio ou união estável, e os filhos a eles ligados por laços de sangue ou pela adoção, já está superada, e se faz necessária uma maior compreensão a respeito dessas novas relações e desses novos vínculos, para que se consiga, através do sistema legislativo e jurídico, atender ao melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente, princípio adotado em nível internacional como orientador em assuntos que envolvem os menores. O tema eleito para investigação foram os vínculos psicossociais existentes entre pessoas sem ligação biológica ou jurídica, entre as quais exista uma relação tal que, durante a infância/adolescência de uma delas, a outra tenha exercido funções maternas, paternas ou fraternas. Foi objetivo deste estudo descortinar a realidade desses vínculos e o nível de importância e influência que têm nas vidas e na constituição da subjetividade das crianças e adolescentes, buscando facilitar, desse modo, a compreensão dessas relações. Foram entrevistadas treze pessoas, divididas em sete duplas: duas duplas maternofiliais, duas duplas paterno-filiais, duas duplas fraternas e uma dupla homoparental-filial feminina, membros de famílias em que existiam, desde a mais tenra idade de pelo menos um deles, a convivência com outro com quem não havia nem vínculo consangüíneo, nem adotivo, mas que desempenhava, em relação ao primeiro, funções maternas, paternas ou fraternas. Da análise das entrevistas e de seu confronto com a revisão da literatura, restou fortalecida a convicção de que a genética e a legislação pouco ou nada têm a ver com a questão da família, e que vínculos familiares estão muito além da consangüinidade, sendo formados a partir das experiências e vivências compartilhadas e das funções exercidas perante os demais membros do grupo familiar. / [en] The major social changes having occurred in recent times, such as the possibility of divorce and multiple remarriages, the advent of stable unions or the existence of relationships which have no legal standing, such as those between homosexual couples; coupled with advances in biotechnology, have had a profound effect on and caused a major structural upheaval in the family. In the new family strong bons are formed between people who have no biological ties and who have no legally-recognised relationship. The notion that the law has had of the family - as being made up of one man and one woman, united by marriage or stable union, along with their children, whether these are their own or they have been adopted - is outdated and greater comprehension is required of these new relationships and ties, in order for the legislative and judicial system to be able to really serve the best interests of the child and adolescent - an internationallyadopted principle in matters involving minors. The question chosen for investigation was the psycho-social ties between persons who had neither blood ties nor legally-recognised relationships, and between whom there was a relation such as that during the childhood or the adolescence of one of them, the other had played the role of mother, father or brother. The aim of the study was to investigate the reality of these ties and the degree of importance and influence they have on the life and the formation of the child/adolescent´s subjective makeup, in order to facilitate the understanding of these relationships. Thirteen people were interviewed, divided into of seven pairs: two mother- and-child pairs, two father-and-child pairs, two sibling pairs and one homo- parent-child pair, members of families where one of them lived with the other since infancy, and with whom there were neither blood nor adoptive ties, but who nevertheless played the role of either the mother, father or brother to the other. Analysis of the interview material along with a reexamination of the literature supports the idea that neither genetics nor the law has much to do with family matters; that family ties go far beyond mere consanguinity and that the formation of such bonds is based on common life experiences and the role played with respect to the remaining family members.

[pt] A adoção tardia de uma criança é um processo complexo que suscita sentimentos ambíguos, tais como amor, desconfiança, preconceito, insegurança, medo, frustração e realização plena. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar as implicações envolvidas no processo da adoção tardia, tanto no que diz respeito a pais adotantes quanto a crianças adotivas. A coleta de dados para a elaboração dessa pesquisa foi feita com a participação de três mães adotantes, três pais adotantes e três filhos adotivos, no estado do Rio de Janeiro, entre os anos de 2009 e 2010. Os filhos adotivos tinham entre 6 e 14 anos na época de sua adoção. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as mães, os pais e os filhos, não havendo entre os participantes nenhuma relação de parentesco. A partir da técnica de análise de conteúdo, os dados foram agrupados em 5 categorias, assim nomeadas: 1) a motivação dos pais para adotar; 2) o preconceito na adoção; 3) o processo jurídico na adoção; 4) a importância dos grupos à adoção; 5) a criança na nova família. Constatou-se que, em todos os casos de adoção, a motivação preponderante foi a esterilidade de um dos membros do casal. Em princípio, todos desejavam adotar um bebê recém-nascido e, no decorrer do processo, devido à dificuldade de encontrar crianças com esse perfil, optaram pela adoção de crianças maiores. A esperança de uma realização plena que envolve o primeiro momento na busca de uma adoção sofre um impacto que, diante das dificuldades que se apresentam, assim como diante da criança real, muitas vezes frustra essa expectativa inicial. A maioria dos entrevistados, declarou ter recebido o apoio de toda a família na decisão de adotar um filho, ainda que, tenha havido manifestação de preconceito por pessoas de seu meio social. Conclui-se que, para os pais e mães adotantes assim como para os filhos adotivos, o estabelecimento do vínculo afetivo-familiar não ocorre de imediato. Há que se percorrer um longo caminho buscando constituir um futuro sólido nessa relação sem, contudo, esquecer-se do passado da criança que não pode ser apagado. A verdade é o alicerce sobre o qual se erguerá uma relação sólida entre pais e filhos. Os grupos de apoio funcionam como elemento facilitador para a construção dessa relação. / [en] The late adoption of child is a complex process that raises ambiguous feeling, such as love, mistrust, prejudice, insecurity, fear, frustration and full realization. The aim of this work is to investigate implications involved in process of late adoption, in relation to the adoption parents and to the adoption children. The data saved for the elaboration of the research has been collected with the participation of three adopting mothers, three adopting fathers, threes adopting children in the state of Rio de Janeiro, between 2009 and 2010. The adopted children were between 6 and 14 years old at the time of their adoption. Semi structured interviews with the mothers, fathers and children were held, not existing any parental relationships among the participants. Starting from the technique used to analyze the contents the contents of the research, the data was grouped into 5 categories, so named: 1) the parent s motivation to adopt; 2) The prejudice in adoption; 3) the legal process; 4) the importance of the groups to the adoption; 5) the child in the new family. It has been found that I all the adoption cases the most frequent motivation was the sterility of one member of the couple. At the beginning all wanted to adopt a newborn baby and, as the process went by, due to the difficulty to find a child who would meet that profile, then chose to adopt older children the hope for the full realization that involves the first moments in the search for adoption suffers an impact that, before the difficulties that arise and also before the real child many times frustrates the initial expectation. Most of the interviewees declared that they had received the support of the whole family by the time of their decision to adopt a child. Although, there was some prejudice from people in their social circle. The conclusion, for the adoption fathers and mothers as well as the adopted children, was that the establishment of the family bonds does not occur immediately. It s a long way to establish a safe future for that relationship. Not forgetting though the past of the child, that can not be ignored. The truth is the foundation above all and children will be raised. The support groups work as facilitators for the construction of that relationship.

[pt] A família contemporânea está em franco processo de reformulação. O divórcio e, posteriormente, o recasamento do pai e/ou da mãe, envolve a participação de novas pessoas na vida dos filhos daquele casal. Com isso, o tempo do pai com seu filho, após a separação, tende a diminuir. Em contrapartida, o convívio entre pai e filho, sem a mediação da mãe, também pode aproximá-los. Somado a essa recomposição familiar, observamos, o intercâmbio entre as funções materna e paterna, em que os pais precisam dividir seu tempo entre o trabalho e os cuidados destinados à prole. Esta dissertação visa uma investigação exploratória acerca da construção e manutenção do vínculo afetivo entre pais e filhos, após a separação. Com este intuito, realizamos entrevistas em profundidade com pais, mães e filhos, moradores da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, avaliados pela metodologia da análise de discurso. A partir das entrevistas foi possível averiguar que ao manter um bom relacionamento os pais proporcionam uma sensação de acolhimento e segurança às crianças. Dentre os principais resultados obtidos, citamos a existência de um laço afetivo entre pais e filhos, que possibilita uma relação de proximidade e intimidade entre ambos. Por fim, constatamos a crescente capacidade masculina em aprender a expressar suas emoções e lidar com elas. / [en] The family today is in an unmistakable process of change. Divorce and remarriage thereafter, brings other people into the childrens life. The father normally has less time to spend with his children after divorce. On the other hand, without the mother around, the relationship between father and children may bring them together. All of us are witnesses of a growing, interchanging course among the traditional roles of the father and the mother, who are forced to manage their time between working and caring for their children. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore and investigate the formation and preservation of the affectionate union between fathers and his children, post-divorce or separation. In order to pursue this topic, we thoroughly interviewed mothers, fathers and children, all residents of Rio de Janeiro, evaluated by discourse- analysis methodology. After interviewing, we observed that the existence of a healthy-working relationship among separated parents, greatly benefits their children. Among the most important results that we obtained was the survival of a loving bond between separated fathers and their children, with proximity and intimacy between them. In addition, we found a growing capacity among men to willingly express and deal with their emotions.

The Affectionate Gesture Planner (AGP) is a smartphone application (i.e., “app”) that aims to increase relationship satisfaction for couples in long-term relationships by prompting couples to complete loving acts for each other on a daily basis. The AGP app is informed by concepts from social exchange theory and the investment model (Rusbult, 1983), which predict that increasing the mutual exchange of beneficial investments to the relationship improves the quality and stability of the relationship. The present study is a formative evaluation on the prototype of the AGP app. Based on participant feedback, the AGP app will be improved prior to future trials. Future models of the AGP app will be used to compare the efficacy of using standardized suggestions versus personalized prompts.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:31:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vilmara Dechandt.pdf: 1838249 bytes, checksum: 32f2653fe93bb4f32d8968e5373732f0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-05-09 / Esta pesquisa trata da construção do vínculo afetivo como fator de resiliência em crianças abrigadas. A investigação foi orientada pelos seguintes objetivos: caracterizar os vínculos afetivos construídos pelas crianças durante o período que residem no abrigo; identificar as reações afetivas das crianças diante do fato de estarem em situação de abrigagem; e obter configuração pictórica sobre os sentimentos da criança em relação aos vínculos afetivos com o abrigo e a família. A pesquisa teve a duração de um ano, durante o período de 2004 a 2005. A fundamentação teórica foi obtida em Bowlby, Freud e Wallon. Contribuíram para a análise a teoria ecológica do desenvolvimento humano, de Bronfenbrenner, e a teoria psicanalítica. Os sujeitos participantes do estudo constituíram se por uma professora e treze meninos de 6 a 9 anos que freqüentavam a classe de contraturno escolar no abrigo Instituto João XXIII, na cidade de Ponta Grossa, PR. Foram utilizados como procedimentos de coleta de indicadores: observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturadas, sessões coletivas, registros fotográficos e expressão pictórica. Como instrumentos, utilizaram-se: diário de campo, roteiro de entrevistas, fragmentos das histórias de vida, fotografias e desenhos das crianças. A análise dos indicadores revelou que as crianças abrigadas estabelecem, gradativamente e em rede, novos vínculos com figuras substitutas: padre, cuidador, natureza, animais, meninos e professora. As reações emocionais referentes à situação de abrigagem mudam conforme a fase de adaptação: choro e agressividade, na fase de protesto; isolamento e indiferença, na fase da depressão; cooperação e alegria, na fase do desligamento. Sintomas psicossomáticos, dor de barriga, são freqüentes. Por outro lado, os abrigados demonstram sentimentos de segurança e proteção em relação ao vínculo com o abrigo e sentimentos de tristeza e saudade em relação ao vínculo com a família. Concluiu-se que a professora configura-se como importante figura de apego, substituta da mãe. Na conjuntura de fatores de risco que levaram à situação de abrigagem, ela é elemento de proteção e resiliência.

The growing number of investments in social projects by modern enterprises shows that they are trying to achieve competitive sustainable advantage focusing on a humanistic approach. Considering that social responsibility seems to be important nowadays not only for the companies - because of the ethical and human position adopted â but also for people who appreciate this kind of attitude, the main goal of this study is to check if â and how â adopting responsible social procedures contributes to making employees more committed to the company. The survey was applied to the Personnel (career employees) from three large companies in CearÃ, winners of the Delmiro Gouveia Award in social performance (awarded by the Local Stock Market). It was verified that social procedures may influence employeeâs behaviour and attitude and may contribute to their affectionate commitment to the company. However, it was perceived that it is less likely that these projects will have a significant effect over the employees if the company does not have social positive attitudes towards them, such as offering good promotion prospects, holding employees in high regard, contributing to their satisfaction at work, considering their dedication and performance among others. / O crescente nÃmero de investimentos em projetos sociais por parte de empresas contemporÃneas sugere que elas buscam obter vantagem competitiva sustentÃvel com base no fator humano. Considerando que a responsabilidade social se afigura importante tanto para as empresas â pela postura Ãtica e humanizante que adotam â como para as pessoas que apreciam essa atitude, o objetivo deste estudo à verificar se â e de que modo â a adoÃÃo de prÃticas socialmente responsÃveis contribui para o comprometimento do funcionÃrio com a empresa. A pesquisa foi aplicada ao pÃblico interno (433 funcionÃrios de carreira) de trÃs empresas cearenses de grande porte, ganhadoras do PrÃmio Delmiro Gouveia em Desempenho Social (conferido pela Bolsa Regional de Valores). Constatou-se que as prÃticas sociais podem influenciar o comportamento e atitude do funcionÃrio e contribuir para gerar comprometimento afetivo deste com a empresa. Concluiu-se, todavia, que à pouco provÃvel que projetos sociais tenham efeito significativo sobre os funcionÃrios, se a empresa nÃo pratica atitudes sociais positivas para com eles, como oferecer oportunidades de crescimento profissional, respeitar o funcionÃrio, contribuir para a satisfaÃÃo com o trabalho que ele realiza, reconhecer sua dedicaÃÃo e desempenho, entre outras.