This study attempts to clarify the meaning of the concept of alienation for political science by integrating theoretical discussions and empirical studies of alienation with research on political participation in order to assess the implications of alienation, specifically political alienation, for both political participation and political systems. To this end, the present study reviews the literature on alienation, both theoretical and empirical. This involves appraisal of the use of the concept by social philosophers, analysis of studies considering alienation as a psychological condition as well as empirical studies concerning the social sources and distribution of alienation. These studies are then related to research on political participation. The idea of alienation found expression in eighteenth century social and political criticism and is particularly evident in the writing of Jean Jacques Rousseau. Hegel was the first to give systematic consideration to the problem of estrangement; he had an important influence on Marx, who recognized Hegel’s insight, but rejected his metaphysical explanation of alienation. Hegel and Marx, in turn have had a profound influence on twentieth century discussions of alienation. A review of recent literature on alienation indicated that the most frequent meanings attached to the concept of alienation are powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation, self-estrangement, aloneness, and cynicism. Discussions of personal effectiveness, sense of political efficacy, and political cynicism were found to be related to discussions of alienation. A review of the literature also indicated that most frequently man is said to be alienated from God, nature, himself, other persons, and from society and culture. Politically, alienated man is said to be alienated from political processes. The causes of estrangement include industrialization involving technological advances, the division of labour and ownership, the transition from gemeinschaft to gesellschaft, the size of the modern state, and position in the social structure. Empirical research studies of alienation differ in terms of research objectives, assumptions about alienation and in terms of the measures and scales used. Review of empirical studies reveals serious research gaps including lack of information on the relationship between age, family cycle, residence, religion, race, and alienation. The review also found that evidence concerning the relationship between alienation and political participation tends to be contradictory, although alienation seems to affect the direction of the vote and the level of political information. More research is required on the relationship between alienation and personality. The need for comparative research is evident. The review of empirical research did find a substantial body of research which indicates that alienation decreases as socio-economic status increases, that women tend to be more alienated than men, that within an organizational context, alienation is highly related to satisfaction with the organization and that organizational structure itself affects alienation. Finally, organization members tend to be less politically alienated than non-members. In conclusion, alienation appears to be a promising concept, however, empirical evidence on the question is often lacking or inconclusive, and there is need for further research. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Traditionally, research regarding social skills training has emphasized deficits in specific skill components, rather than process skills, such as being sensitive to another's behaviour. In the present study, Human Relations Training (HRT) was adapted to the treatment of socially avoidant members of the community. Training in HRT consisted of defining, modeling and practising skills of attending, empathy, self-disclosure and respect. It was expected that training in these process-like skills would encourage a focus of attention away from the self and towards the other, which in turn, may abate anxiety and foster social effectiveness. Following a stringent screening process, 52 persons (26 male, 26 female) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Graduated exposure plus progressive relaxation (Condition I); Graduated exposure plus progressive relaxation plus HRT (Condition II); or a Waiting list condition. Subjects in the two treatment conditions received eight weekly, two-hour training sessions in groups. The results indicated that subjects in both treatment conditions improved in the predicted direction more than those in the waiting list condition, as assessed by twenty of twenty-one dependent measures. Subjects in both treatment conditions improved significantly more than those in the waiting list condition on self-reported well-being, global skill and comfort, and functional impairment. This difference was not corroborated by objective raters. Those in the HRT condition improved significantly more than those in Condition I on several self-report measures. This improvement of HRT subjects could not be clearly attributed to an other-directed focus of attention. There was no evidence of gender differences. After three months, participants had maintained positive changes made at post assessment, but had not improved significantly since then. However, those in the HRT condition reported that they were engaging in a broader range of social activities and with greater frequency than those in Condition I. It was concluded that both treatment conditions evidenced greater improvement than those who received no treatment, as assessed by self-report measures. Further, the addition of an HRT component to a behavioural strategy proved somewhat beneficial to the well- being and social effectiveness of subjects. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how societal mechanisms can impact on asylum seekers and influence their individual identity. The information for this case study was collected through comprehensive interviews with a group of asylum seekers from Söderhamn whereby the individuals expressed their perception of their current situation. From the gathered material we could see a pattern emerge which gave us the framework and the foundation for our theoretical approach. The similarity we discovered when analyzing the material was the powerlessness the individuals experienced e.g. the individuals had no possibility to influence their current situation and worse, it was impossible for the individuals to enter society even when they had the willpower to do so. According to the asylum seekers the authority’s unwillingness to assist in language development worsens the chances for the individuals to integrate into the society. Through our case study we have discovered that social exclusion and alienation are common identity experiences the asylum seekers have been through which will be our theoretical framework.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2008. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-123). Also available online in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

A measure of four types and five contexts of alienation, as well as ten personality traits, was obtained via the ·application of the Alienation Test and Howarth's Personality Questionnaire. The sample (~= 195) comprised of both high school pupils and adults drawn from the local population of English and Afrikaans speaking Whites and "Coloureds" from a town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. These six sample groups allowed for comparisons on the measures for factors such as race, age and cultural differences. The literature review showed repeated reference to the "alienation" of the "Coloured" people of South Africa in the political, social and cultural spheres. However, the research in this area has been sparse. The main object of the study, therefore, was to determine if "Coloureds" do feel alienated, as well as the contexts of this alienation, using Whites as a comparative group. possible differences in personality traits between "Coloureds" and Whites have been associated with the differences in behaviour exhibited by these two groups, but past research has failed to find many differences. The second objective of this study, therefore, was to determine if there are differences between the personality traits of "Coloureds" and Whites, and to extend the past research. Researchers have shown that there is a relationship between alienation and personality traits, but have not adequately addressed the nature of this relationship or its implications. Following from this, the third objective of the study was to examine the relationship between alienation and personality traits, as well as their ability to predict alienation. Results on the Alienation Test showed that "Coloureds" do differ significantly from Whites and exhibit far higher levels of alienation. These differences are most marked on those types and contexts of alienation reflecting a distance from the social and political environment. Results on the personality measure showed minimal differences in personality traits between the groups. Where they were evident, they could be attributed to environmental factors. Lastly, there was a relationship between alienation and certain personality traits, but these traits had limited power to predict alienation. Taking all findings of the study into account, it is evident that the social environment, and specifically a discriminatory social environment, affects feelings of alienation to a far greater extent than personality traits. In addition, the large differences in scores of the "Coloured" and White groups on the measure of alienation and the minimal differences on the measure of personality, provides evidence that what is measured by alienation and what is measured by personality traits, are two distinctly different constructs.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

This thesis is an endeavor to accurately document and define my creative process as an actor through the title role in Bertolt Brecht's Baal. My aim is to meet and overcome the challenges that are inherent in creating any role, let alone one with the magnitude and complexity that Baal provides an actor. The following chapters contain a record of the development of my acting process in this production, including research, character analysis, a rehearsal log that provides a daily track of my progress, and an evaluation of my performance and the project.

published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Philosophy