The scientific study of wisdom is a contentious field. There is little agreement among dominant research programs concerning how to conceptualize and measure the elusive phenomenon of wisdom. The current study argues for a narrative analysis of this concept given that autobiographical stories offer a contextually rich vista into real-life manifestations of wisdom. Presented here is a qualitative investigation of autobiographical wisdom narratives from 8 individuals distributed across parameters of age, gender, and degree of wisdom. Results point to the possibility that relatively wise persons define wisdom more elaborately, participate in more sophisticated autobiographical reasoning processes, and engage with master narratives in a more evaluative and critical manner than relatively unwise individuals. These features did not appear to differ across levels of age and gender. This study validates a narrative approach to the science of wisdom, and suggests that stories may be central to advancing our understanding of this concept.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 290-300).

The title of this thesis is: Connection: A Hermeneutical Inquiry of an Autobiographical Text. It is based on the following thesis question: What is the significance of connecting with another in teaching? The following quote set the stage for the writing: "All places have names and stories, and wisdom sits in (those) places" (Chambers, 2003,p.233). Hermeneutics -- the art of interpretation -- is used to inform an autobiographical fragment. This autobiographical fragment is a fictional rendering of two days of teaching told in a narrative format. the thesis is designed around Gadamer's text Truth and Method. Gadamer's work is supplemented with the work of Martin Heidegger, F.D.E. Schleiermacher, Georg Hegel, as well as modern curriculum scholars such as Cynthia Chambers, David Smith, David Jardine and Max Van Manen. The writing begins with a methodology which grounds the writing, and then is developed through three voices in the form of a literature review, a narrative fragment, and text interpretation. The literature review is guided by questions such as Why use autobiographical narrative? What is the site of the inquiry? and Is narrative still relevant in a postmodern world? Time is also spent on the questions: Who were the great hermeneutical thinkers? and Who speaks for hermeneutics now? After the literature review, a narrative fragment is given. In the last third of the thesis, the narrative is deconstructed using Truth and Method and curriculum scholarship articles to structure the reflections. The "voice" shifts between the three sections. In the first third of the thesis the voice is intended to be academic. The voice in the narrative is personal. The third voice is interpretive and plays back and forth between academic reference and personal reflection. The major themes evolved as the writing progressed. The theme of authoritarianism as antithetical to connection was explored. Alienation acted as a foil to connection. There is an analysis of connection in the context of proper conversation, which includes guidelines for mutual respect and codes of moral conduct. The thesis provides a commentary on the power of hermeneutics to inform the teaching process. It then concludes with a series of questions pertaining to the significance of hermeneutical exploration in teacher preparation and classroom teaching. / viii, 127 leaves ; 29 cm.

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Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show variable impairment in autobiographical memory function, source memory function and reduced integrity in the brain’s default mode network (DMN). There is overlap between the DMN, such as the medial posterior cortical hub, and brain regions that are active when participants recall autobiographical memories. To assess the association between autobiographical memory and the DMN, 14 MCI and eleven age and education-matched healthy control participants were assessed using the autobiographical memory interview (AMI) and underwent resting state fMRI scans. The same participants underwent a test of source memory which assessed both recognition and source memory. The MCI group showed significantly increased semantic as well episodic memory impairments using the AMI, evident across the lifespan for episodic memory but not for childhood semantic memory. Significantly poorer DMN connectivity, using a goodness of fit index (GOF) of the DMN template, was evident in the MCI group. MCI participants showed poorer performance on both recognition and source memory relative to HC participants. A modest association between AMI semantic memory (r=0.4) scores, but not episodic memory scores (r=0.09), and DMN connectivity was found in these participants. For future study the predictive value of MR imaging in the DMN of MCI participants should be explored.

Bakgrund: I Sverige är övervikt och fetma ett folkhälsoproblem. Detta tenderar till att bli allt större vilket kan ge en ökad risk för bl.a. hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar samt diabetes typ 2. En allmänsjuksköterska möter överviktsopererade patienter varhälst i vårdsektorn hon/han arbetar. Därför är det viktigt att känna till hur dessa människor upplever sin nya vardag för att på bästa sätt kunna erbjuda dem en optimal, hälsofrämjande vård. Syftet: Syftet med denna studie var att belysa människors upplevelser av vardagen efter en överviktsoperation. Metod: En självbiografisk kvalitativ studie baserat på sju böcker. Resultat: Ur analysen av datamaterialet identifierades tre huvudteman ”Ett bättre liv”, ”Kroppsliga och själsliga besvärligheter” samt ”Den nya livssituationen” samt nio subteman vilka alla belyser individers upplever av vardagen efter en överviktsoperation. Diskussion: Individer som genomgår en överviktsoperation har svårt att anpassa sig till sin nya livsstiuation trots att de samtidigt upplever ett stort välbefinnade över att bland annat ha nått sitt mål. Ett förändrat bemötande från omvärlden är ibland svår att hantera vilket leder till en osäkerhet inför den egna kroppen och kroppsuppfattning. För sjuksköterskan är det viktigt att förstå att förändringen efter en överviktoperation inte endast är fysisk utan även i allra högsta grad psykisk. Slutsats: För att livsstilsförändringen ska fortgå efter en överviktsoperation krävs att individen känner meningsfullhet i sin nya situation. Genom utbildning, inför och efter det kirurgiska ingreppet, är det lättare att leva med denna livsstilsförändring. Med tanke på att livet kan förlängas med tio år genom kraftig viktreducering och därmed även frånvaro av överviktsrelaterade sjukdomar, bör ämnet om hälsobefrämjande åtgärder för fetmadrabbade individer inkluderas i sjuksköterskans grundutbildning. / Background: Overweight and obesity is a public health problem in Sweden. This tends to become larger and may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes type 2. A general nurse meet patients who had undergone bariatric surgery wherever in the health sector, she/he is working. Therefore, it is important to know how these people feel about their new living in order to offer them an optimal health care. Aim: The aim of this study was to highlight people's experiences of everyday life after obesity surgery. Method: An autobiographical qualitative study based on seven books. Result: The analysis of the data identified three main themes; "A better life", "The physical and emotional discomforts” and "The new life situation” together with nine subthemes that illustrates how individuals experience their everyday lives after an bariatric surgery. Discussion: For individuals who undergo bariatric surgery has it been difficult to adapt the new life situation, even though they often experience a feeling of well-being as well as a feeling of that they have reached their goal. The changed attitude from the ‘outside world’ is sometimes difficult to manage. This leads to uncertainty about the own bodie and body image. As a nurse, it is important to understand that the difficulties after bariatric surgery are not only physical but also a mental distress and discomfort. Conclusion: To achieve that the new lifestyle should proceed after bariatric surgery it requires that the individual feel meaningfulness in their new situation. Through training before and after surgery, it is easier to live with this change. Given that life can be extended with ten years due to severe weight reduction and thus the absence of sequelae, it may be recommended that education of health promotion among obesity affected individuals should be included in the nurse’s education.

Although well documented in terms of historical significance, very little is known about South African slaves’ experience of slavery. Except for a few accounts by slaves such as Emilie Lehn and Katie Jacobs, South African slave narratives (unlike their American counterparts) never received much attention. This can be ascribed to, among other things, the prominence of apartheid on the South African social scene and the shame associated with a slave past or being of slave ancestry. As a result of the lack of information regarding the experience of these slaves, fictional narratives such as The Slave Book by Rayda Jacobs and Philida by André Brink have succeeded in filling this gap by making use of historical documents, such as court documents and slave registers, to create stories of slaves. Yvette Christiansë’s Unconfessed makes a notable contribution to South African literature, both in terms of subject matter and narrative technique. This novel directs the reader’s attention to a part of South African history that has been neglected in literature and society. It addresses oppression, racism, hypocrisy and sexual abuse, to name but a few,. It challenges the traditional concept of genre by combining different elements of the traditional autobiography, with the confessional and testimonial modes of literature. The combination of these modes creates a striking and vivid narrative, which relates Sila’s experiences from her own perspective. Furthermore, this fragmented narrative, allows the reader a glimpse into Sila’s mind and thoughts regarding her past, present and future. / Thesis (MA (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Although well documented in terms of historical significance, very little is known about South African slaves’ experience of slavery. Except for a few accounts by slaves such as Emilie Lehn and Katie Jacobs, South African slave narratives (unlike their American counterparts) never received much attention. This can be ascribed to, among other things, the prominence of apartheid on the South African social scene and the shame associated with a slave past or being of slave ancestry. As a result of the lack of information regarding the experience of these slaves, fictional narratives such as The Slave Book by Rayda Jacobs and Philida by André Brink have succeeded in filling this gap by making use of historical documents, such as court documents and slave registers, to create stories of slaves. Yvette Christiansë’s Unconfessed makes a notable contribution to South African literature, both in terms of subject matter and narrative technique. This novel directs the reader’s attention to a part of South African history that has been neglected in literature and society. It addresses oppression, racism, hypocrisy and sexual abuse, to name but a few,. It challenges the traditional concept of genre by combining different elements of the traditional autobiography, with the confessional and testimonial modes of literature. The combination of these modes creates a striking and vivid narrative, which relates Sila’s experiences from her own perspective. Furthermore, this fragmented narrative, allows the reader a glimpse into Sila’s mind and thoughts regarding her past, present and future. / Thesis (MA (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Objective. Previous research has implicated personality and cognitive factors in the experience of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. On the basis of two psychological models of suicide (Escape from Self; Baumeister, 1990; Cry of Pain, Williams, 1997), this thesis investigated an integrative model involving the relationship between perfectionism, motivation, and autobiographical memory recall to predict psychological distress (hopelessness, depression/anxiety, suicide ideation). Methodology. Four inter-related, but independent, prospective studies were conducted to address a number of research questions in both university students (Studies 1,2 & 3) and parasuicide patients (Study 4). Results. The main findings of this thesis are that slow or over-general recall of negative and positive memories moderates the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress. Furthermore, it was found that perfectionism serves as a mediator in the relationship between behavioural inhibition motivation (BIS) and psychological distress. Overall, the results suggest that much knowledge can be gained from investigating the psychological processes underlying suicidal behaviour, and we highlight the utility of employing integrative psychological models. The results are discussed in terms of their therapeutic implications, as well as their implications for future research.

This thesis consists of two parts: an autobiographical documentary film and a written exegesis. The film, My Lovers Both, is a record of two journeys back to my native South Africa wherein I confront aspects of my past. These two trips offer a means to explore a personal history around the experiences of immigration, displacement and exile. In the exegesis, I argue that autobiography is changing and rather than offering catalogues of public achievement, contemporary personal histories deal with sites of trauma and challenge dominant narratives of official memory. Likewise, the New Documentary is embracing fictional strategies and moving towards increased subjectivity and introspection. As a consequence, new forms are created that generate novel insights into causality and time. The exegesis goes on to examine the major influences on my work as a filmmaker and then articulates a reflective analysis of the creative process which produced My Lovers Both.