The current study contributes to the science of biology in that it describes different methods of measuring stress in animals and distinguishes between different types of stress that animals are exposed to. The main aim of this type of research is to obtain as much information as possible on what more specifically elephants require from their environment in order to create a more suitable habitat under conditions that vary considerably from the environment in which the elephant evolved in. Two types of possible stress for elephants on small reserves were investigated: social stress and stress caused by direct human disturbances (for example tourists on game drive vehicles in fenced reserves without wilderness areas). The study group of elephants which were introduced to the study reserve ten years earlier as a group of unrelated juveniles from culling operations differed significantly according to social role play and behaviour from normal elephant societies as described by literature. None of the adult elephants from the study group initiated change of activity more than the other adult elephants on the reserve and although one of the female cows was dominant over all the other adult female cows she was dominated by the twenty-year-old bull on the reserve. The twenty-year-old bull was with the cowherd for most of the time and was aggressive towards other cowherd members when present. All the stress parameters used to monitor the influence of direct human disturbances also changed significantly in the presence and absence of game drive vehicles in the elephant's environment. The group of elephants moved more and clustered together more, individual elephants showed more behaviours associated with stress and vocalized more and adult female elephants secreted more from their temporal glands in the presence of game drive vehicles compared to periods when game drive vehicles were absent. Stress hormone metabolite levels in the dung of elephant differed significantly among individuals being highest for the twenty-year-old bull on the reserve. One section area on the reserve with the highest load of human activity also produced the highest levels of stress for elephants when group mobility, group spacing and faecal stress hormone metabolite levels were used as stress parameters. Social stress for the study group of elephants may have enhanced stress response of elephants towards direct human disturbances. Small fenced reserves hosting elephants should monit.or and control game drive vehicle activity around elephants and should consider expanding their property in order to first of all provide wilderness areas to where animals can escape to when stressed by direct human disturbances and secondly to be able to introduce older female and male elephants to control and lead young animals if not present. Implementation of stress monitoring programs as part of the elephant management plan of a reserve may reduce and possibly prevent any future incidences of aggression from elephants towards humans and other species. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Not many children report relationships with friends that are both close and conflictual. There is a paucity of research examining the trajectory of children's relationship closeness and conflict together over time. This is unfortunate because contentious relationships are related to cardiovascular problems, at least in young adults and because the trajectories of these two aspects of children's relationship quality over time is not understood. Therefore, two longitudinal data sets with younger (mean age 7.5 years at Time 1; four data points over 2 years) and older (mean age 9.9 years at Time 1; two data points over 1 year) children were studied. In both cohorts, measures of friendship quality and peer nominations of liking/disliking as well as overt and relational (older cohort) aggression were completed. Children who reported relationships high in both closeness and conflict were generally satisfied with their friendships; they were not more likely to end their friendships than were children who reported different levels of closeness and conflict (younger cohort). Both boys' and girls' relationship closeness increased over time according to growth curve analyses. The relationships of girls who remained in the same friendship, and who therefore provided ratings on the same friend at each time point, tended to increase in closeness at a different rate over time than the relationships of girls who provided ratings on different friends (younger cohort). Children who reported relationships high in closeness and in conflict were not more aggressive over time than were children who reported different levels of relationship closeness and conflict. However, girls' closeness and overt aggression tracked each other (increased) over time (younger cohort). Girls who reported low social support and negative interactions in their friendships increased the most in overt aggression over time (older cohort). Aggressive and nonaggressive children generally reported similar friendship quality (both cohorts), but the friendship closeness of chronically aggressive boys decreased over time (younger cohort). There were negligible friendship quality differences amongst the sociometric groups. The discussion centers on friendship quality changes in children's continuing friendships, the potential dire effects of turbulent friendships and the friendships of aggressive as well as controversial children.

Orientador: Eliane Gonçalves de Freitas / Banca: Elisabeth Criscuolo Urbinati / Banca: Marcelo Simão da Rosa / Banca: Silvia Mitiko Nishida / Banca: Marisa Fernandes de Castilho / Resumo: Tilápia-do-nilo, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), é uma das espécies de peixes que utilizam o substrato para construir ninho. Porém, muitas vezes são mantidas em tanques ou aquários sem substrato. Em estudo anterior, foi verificado que a presença de substrato reduz o desenvolvimento das gônadas, aumenta a agressividade, mas não afeta o crescimento. Assim, foi avaliada a escolha do peixe por diferentes substratos (areia, areia + concha, pedra e vazio - sem substrato removível) para medir o bem-estar e o efeito de tais substratos no comportamento reprodutivo e agressivo da tilápia-do-nilo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: testar a escolha de substrato para a construção de ninho na tilápia-do-nilo (Estudo I); testar o efeito do substrato sobre o desempenho reprodutivo (freqüência e latência para construção de ninho, freqüência e latência para a desova e índice gonadossomático) e indicadores bioenergéticos (taxa de crescimento específico e índice hepatossomático) (Estudo II); e testar o efeito do tipo de substrato no desafio social por meio dos níveis de esteróides sexuais (testosterona (T) e 11-cetotestosterona (11KT)), e no cortisol plasmático como um indicador de estresse (Estudo III). A escolha de substrato foi testada em grupos (1 macho e 2 fêmeas) formados por animais adultos. Os machos escolheram o substrato de areia para a construção do ninho. Os indicadores reprodutivos e bioenergéticos também foram avaliados nos mesmos substratos utilizados no Estudo I, mas cada tipo de substrato foi colocado em aquários separados, consistindo 4 tratamentos. Em cada réplica foram utilizados 2 machos e 3 fêmeas, mantidos durante 12 dias ou até 48 horas após a primeira desova. A freqüência de desova foi maior no substrato de areia do que no sem substrato removível. Já a freqüência de construção de ninho, foi menor no substrato... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of fish species which use build nest on bottom substrate. However this species are usually reared in tanks or aquarium without substrate. We verified the influence of substrate on reducing of gonad development, enhance aggressiveness, but growth is not affected. Thus, we tested the fish choice for different substrates (sand, sand + shell, stone and empty - without substrate) in order to access welfare and the effects of such substrates on reproductive and aggressive behavior of Nile tilapia. Our goals in this study were: test the substrate choice to nest building (Study I); test the substrate effect on the reproductive fitness (frequency and latency to nest building, frequency and latency to spawning and gonadossomatic index) and on the bioenergetic indicators (specific growth rate and hepatossomatic index) (Study II); and test the influence of substrate type on the social challenge by analyzing sexual steroid levels (testosterone (T) and 11 - ketotestosterone (11KT)), and serum cortisol as a stress indicator (Study III). The substrate choice was tested in groups made by 1 male and 2 females adult fish. Sand substrate was significantly chosen by males to built nest. The reproductive and bioenergetics indicators were also evaluated for the same substrate used in the Study I, but each substrate type was kept in separated aquaria, performing 4 treatments. Groups of 2 males and 3 females were kept until 12 days or until 48 hours after the first spawning. The frequency of spawning was higher in the sand substrate than in no substrate treatment. The frequency of nesting was lower in the stone substrate than in sand and sand + shell substrates. The others reproductive and energetic indicators were similar between the treatments. The social contest and hormone levels were tested in the four substrates used in the former experiments... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Not many children report relationships with friends that are both close and conflictual. There is a paucity of research examining the trajectory of children's relationship closeness and conflict together over time. This is unfortunate because contentious relationships are related to cardiovascular problems, at least in young adults and because the trajectories of these two aspects of children's relationship quality over time is not understood. Therefore, two longitudinal data sets with younger (mean age 7.5 years at Time 1; four data points over 2 years) and older (mean age 9.9 years at Time 1; two data points over 1 year) children were studied. In both cohorts, measures of friendship quality and peer nominations of liking/disliking as well as overt and relational (older cohort) aggression were completed. Children who reported relationships high in both closeness and conflict were generally satisfied with their friendships; they were not more likely to end their friendships than were children who reported different levels of closeness and conflict (younger cohort). Both boys' and girls' relationship closeness increased over time according to growth curve analyses. The relationships of girls who remained in the same friendship, and who therefore provided ratings on the same friend at each time point, tended to increase in closeness at a different rate over time than the relationships of girls who provided ratings on different friends (younger cohort). Children who reported relationships high in closeness and in conflict were not more aggressive over time than were children who reported different levels of relationship closeness and conflict. However, girls' closeness and overt aggression tracked each other (increased) over time (younger cohort). Girls who reported low social support and negative interactions in their friendships increased the most in overt aggression over time (older cohort). Aggressive and nonaggressive children generally reported similar friendship quality (both cohorts), but the friendship closeness of chronically aggressive boys decreased over time (younger cohort). There were negligible friendship quality differences amongst the sociometric groups. The discussion centers on friendship quality changes in children's continuing friendships, the potential dire effects of turbulent friendships and the friendships of aggressive as well as controversial children.

<p>On a daily basis drivers have to share the roads with a great number of other road users. To make the driving task possible every driver has to take the intentions and behaviours of other road users into account. In other words, the road users have to interact with each other. The general aim of this thesis was to examine factors that regulate and influence the interaction between road users. To do so, three studies, applying a social psychological approach to driving, were conducted. In the first study it was investigated how the rules of priority, the design of the intersection, and the behaviour of other drivers influence yielding behaviour in intersections. The second study examined driver irritation and its relationship with aggressive behaviours. Finally, in the third study drivers’ attributions of their own and other drivers’ behaviour were investigated in relation to driver irritation. The thesis also includes a minor field study, aiming at examining to what extent informal traffic rules are used in intersections and in roundabouts, as well as measuring the validity of self-reports. The results indicate that, in addition to the formal rules, drivers rely on informal rules based on road design and on other drivers’ behaviour. Drivers also differ with respect to strategies of yielding behaviour. Irritability and aggressive behaviour on the roads appear largely to depend on drivers’ interactions and drivers’ interpretation of the behaviour of others. Some aggressive behaviour is an expression of irritation and may provoke irritation of other drivers. This means that an irritated driver might start a chain reaction, spreading irritation and aggressive behaviour from driver to driver. To diminish irritation and aggressive behaviour on the roads it is necessary to change drivers’ behaviour either by changing the road design or, which is probably a more possible remedy, by changing their general attitudes about driving. By providing drivers with insight into the cognitive biases they are subject to when judging other road users’ behaviour, both driver irritation and aggressive behaviours on the roads probably would decrease.</p>

On a daily basis drivers have to share the roads with a great number of other road users. To make the driving task possible every driver has to take the intentions and behaviours of other road users into account. In other words, the road users have to interact with each other. The general aim of this thesis was to examine factors that regulate and influence the interaction between road users. To do so, three studies, applying a social psychological approach to driving, were conducted. In the first study it was investigated how the rules of priority, the design of the intersection, and the behaviour of other drivers influence yielding behaviour in intersections. The second study examined driver irritation and its relationship with aggressive behaviours. Finally, in the third study drivers’ attributions of their own and other drivers’ behaviour were investigated in relation to driver irritation. The thesis also includes a minor field study, aiming at examining to what extent informal traffic rules are used in intersections and in roundabouts, as well as measuring the validity of self-reports. The results indicate that, in addition to the formal rules, drivers rely on informal rules based on road design and on other drivers’ behaviour. Drivers also differ with respect to strategies of yielding behaviour. Irritability and aggressive behaviour on the roads appear largely to depend on drivers’ interactions and drivers’ interpretation of the behaviour of others. Some aggressive behaviour is an expression of irritation and may provoke irritation of other drivers. This means that an irritated driver might start a chain reaction, spreading irritation and aggressive behaviour from driver to driver. To diminish irritation and aggressive behaviour on the roads it is necessary to change drivers’ behaviour either by changing the road design or, which is probably a more possible remedy, by changing their general attitudes about driving. By providing drivers with insight into the cognitive biases they are subject to when judging other road users’ behaviour, both driver irritation and aggressive behaviours on the roads probably would decrease.

This thesis challenges media claims that adolescent girls in New Zealand are becoming more aggressive and are therefore behaving like boys. Most early studies of aggression ignored girls entirely or presented them as a subset of boys. Although later studies did address issues around girls’ aggressive behaviour, these were largely focused on adults’ views of girls’ relational or social aggression. This doctoral study therefore used a small case study to explore adolescent aggression from the perspective of six adolescent girls whose behaviour had been described by their schools as aggressive. The girls’ accounts of their experiences and beliefs about gender-specific aggression were gathered via a series of individual conversational interviews, and initially analysed through the theoretical perspective of role theory and psychological perspectives on aggression. However, as the study progressed, the limitations of that approach became apparent and the girls’ transcripts were revisited via the lens of poststructural theory, using the tools of discourse analysis. The study found that these girls’ behaviours and beliefs did not fit the description of severe adolescent female aggression as described in the literature. Nor did the risk factors most commonly associated with aggression at adolescence appear to have affected them. Conversely, it would appear that their physicality influenced how they positioned themselves and how others positioned them; as “sporty girls”, “tomboys”, “loving daughters and siblings”, or as “righteous aggressors”. Their behaviours frequently challenged the dominant discourse of conventional schoolgirls. None of them thought that girls were becoming more aggressive and all stated that girls could behave how they wanted without being labelled de facto boys. This study was limited in terms of the number of participants and the range of cultures represented, therefore no generalisations can be drawn from it. Nevertheless, it does have some important implications for policy makers and practitioners: particularly that interactions of culture, class and gender impact on the way that individuals constitute themselves and others. Interpretations of behaviour are determined by the discursive context and the experiences and belief systems of both “actor” and “audience”.

Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2004.

[pt] Este trabalho possui como principal propósito a utilização da teoria dos jogos para modelar interações estratégias entre participantes de atos de bullying. Primeiramente, exporemos tópicos e conceitos importantes no campo da teoria dos jogos, tais como jogo, classificação de estratégias, formas de encontrar soluções dos jogos, dentre outros. Em seguida, abordaremos de forma introdutória aspectos referentes a temática do bullying, particularmente quanto a definição e estatísticas de ocorrência. Finalmente, os jogos modelados são apresentados, onde os comportamentos dos jogadores são avaliados em diferentes cenários, uma vez que esses possuem diferentes características que variam em função do grau de atenção que as autoridades escolares atribuem ao bullying. / [en] This work has as main purpose the use of game theory to model strategic interactions between participants in acts of bullying. To begin with, we will expose important topics and concepts in the field of game theory, such as games, classification of strategies, and ways to find game solutions, among others. Then, we will exhibit in an introductory way aspect related to the theme of bullying, particularly regarding the definition and statistics of occurrence. Finally, the modeled games are presented, where the behaviors of the players are evaluated in different scenarios, since they have different characteristics that vary according to the degree of importance that the school authorities attribute to bullying.

This thesis is aimed at aggressive and violent behaviour of patients towards general nurses. Theoretical part of this thesis contains chapters which are dealing with direct aggression, its' causes and also with possible defences, preventive elements and principles, which are necessary to be used in contact and communication with conflicting patient. Because this research is focused on general nurses, one chapter is also dedicated to this profession and its' difficulties. The practical part was realized by means of quantitative research. Created questionnaire was placed on the webpage of České Budějovice hospital where it could be filled by nurses for a period of one month. Data obtained from respondents were subsequently processed into tables and graphs and statistically evaluated. The aim of this thesis was to map the problem of violence and aggression of patients towards general nurses in their profession at České Budějovice Hospital a. s., to describe the problematics of patient aggression in healthcare and through method to find out the experience of general nurses with aggressive behaviour of their patients. According to this research, 95 % of respondents encountered aggressive behaviour of the patient during the last year. 94,5 % of respondents encountered aggressive behaviour of verbal character and 70 % with aggressive behaviour of physical character. According to the research, it was also found that respondents had more experience with aggressive behaviour from male population than from female population. Respondents from the hospital are regularly trained in dealing with conflicting patient. However, the research showed that the respondents would welcome a greater intensity of training on this subject. More than half of respondents perceive the deficit in training in communication with a conflicting patient.