Thesis (Ed.D.)--Liberty University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rowan University, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 1920. / "From the Psychological laboratory of Cornell University." "Reprinted from the American journal of psychology, July, 1921, vol. XXXII."

The present study sought to improve on previous studies of open-heart surgery patients by taking a broad view of outcome/recovery. A group of male coronary artery vein graft ('CAVG') patients were followed through from time of referral to six months post-surgery and changes in physical, psychological and social functioning were monitored. The relationships between the different areas of functioning were also examined. Two aspects of psychological function, namely intellectual performance and mood, and three aspects of social function, namely social/leisure, family and work activities, were assessed. Additionally, the beliefs and experiences of the subjects and their spouses relating to the development of heart disease and to recovery from surgery were explored. A single-case research design was used in order to examine and, where possible, explain individual differences in terms of specific patterns of functioning before and after surgery. For the group as a whole, pre- to post-surgery improvements were found in physical functioning and in mood, whereas social/leisure, family and work functioning were apparently unaffected. Post-operative intellectual performance, as measured with a battery of standardised neuropsychological tests, was unimpaired in most cases. There was scare variation in outcome, however, and close examination of the individual cases revealed the importance of such factors as family relationships, social 'buffers', denial and 'hopelessness' in determining the reaction of the individual to the surgery. The findings of the present study were considered to have implications for both further research and for pre- and post-operative interventions with this patient group.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The ‘after tears’ party seems to be a popular occurrence in South African’s urban townships. This study is an exploratory investigation of the urban township communities’ experiences and the meaning of the ‘after tears’ party using a phenomenological approach. The available literature outlined the rituals and practices of various ethnic groups in South Africa and Africa performed in the event of the death of a loved one such as the slaughtering of the beast, the mourning dress, mourning period and the cleansing ceremonies. While some of the death rituals and practices are still adhered to in urban townships of South Africa, others are adapted and new practices have emerged. One such is the practice of the ‘after tears’ party. Within an African context, the dead are regarded as ancestors and they are treated with great respect as they are believed to have a special relationship with the living. Proper rites and ceremonies performed following the death of a loved one reflect this belief. Any deviation from the above could be perceived as a sign of disrespect for the ancestors and bad luck could befall anyone who does not adhere to the stipulated practices. The respondents in this study are South African township dwellers who do not practice strict traditional mourning rituals anymore. Individual respondents and focus groups were interviewed on their experiences and the meaning they attach to the practice of the ‘after tears’ party. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Insights generated from the findings of the current study highlighted the significant perceptions, meanings and feelings about the ‘after tears’ parties. While it is perceived as a celebration, the important functions of this party were indicated as comforting and supporting the bereaved and helping them to cope with the impact of loss of a loved one. On the other hand others condemned the practice as totally disrespectful and that it is insensitive of the people to hold a party while other people are still in mourning. It hurts the bereaved and delays the chances of recovery from grief. The ‘after tears’ party can be an effective coping strategy if it was conducted in a more respectful manner. The respondents’ experiences of the ‘after tears’ party and the meaning attached to it could serve as guidelines to explore the psychological needs of the bereaved in urban societies.

The McCollough Effect is an orientation specific colored aftereffect. That is, following prolonged viewing of a vertical grid on orange ground alternated with a horizontal grid on blue ground, a yellow-orange hue is perceived on an achromatic horizontal grid, and a bluish hue on a vertical grid. McCollough suggested that the colored aftereffect may depend upon color adaptation of a population of neural elements specific to colored edges of a particular orientation. Accordingly vertical edge detectors sensitive to orange adapt during inspection such that when vertical edges are presented on an achromatic ground only those non-adapted color-line detectors respond creating the perception of blue. Similarly, horizontal edge detectors specific to blue adapt such that response to achromatic edges creates the perception of yellow-orange. In a subsequent study McCollough and Clark used left and right diagonal inspection patterns and observed that the aftereffect of orange and right diagonal was influenced by the left diagonal color that was alternated with it. The aftereffect of orange right diagonal tended toward blue when the orange stimulus was alternated with a blue left diagonal stimulus pattern and tended toward green when the orange stimulus was alternated with a green left diagonal pattern. On the basis of the color coded edge detector theory McCollough and Clark suggested the effect was induced by wavelength adaptation of wavelength sensitive edge detectors which may influence the hue of the• aftereffect on the orthogonal test pattern. A test of McCollough's model of color coded edge detectors was made by presenting a colored field (no lines) to S before the presentation of the color-line stimulus. If wavelength and edge stimuli were processed by a population of neural elements sensitive to both, then the aftereffect would not be affected by the presentation of an unlined color field. If color and line stimuli were processed separately, then the "effective" color component of the lined stimulus pattern would be that portion of the spectrum not stimulated by the preceeding color field. The color of the aftereffect would be approximately complementary to the non-adapted population of color receptors stimulated by the lined inspection pattern. In the experiment 28 college juniors observed two inspection conditions. In condition 1 orange vertical alternated with blue horizontal and the aftereffect created was measured via a colorimeter. The same stimulus patterns were employed in condition 2 where each was preceeded by a plain color field that stimulated a portion of the spectrum illuminated by the following lined stimulus. The aftereffect observed was compared with the aftereffect on condition 1. Color matches were measured by three photometer readings indicating percent transmittance of red, blue, and green in each match. These readings were translated into CIE x, y coordinates and the means plotted on a chromaticity diagram. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that the color matches in condition I and condition 2 were significantly different and varied as predicted. While McCollough and Clark attributed the variation in the hue of the colored aftereffect to the relative spectral properties of the lined inspection patterns employed in their experiment, the present study shows that the results may be due to the state of color adaptation resulting from the preceeding stimulus pattern. The adapting color stimulus is not necessarily a lined color pattern. It may indeed be a plain color field. The results suggest that the colored line-contingent aftereffect is created by at least two levels in the visual system: color receptors independent of slope analysers. The color coded edge detector model is not adequate to account for the McCollough Effect.

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