Zoological institutions emphasise the importance of excelling in the areas of animal welfare, conservation, education, and research, not only to better the lives of the animals under their care, but to also influence the general population in the pursuit to conserve the natural world. As a result, zoo life is anything but simple. This research project monitored the lives of a captive group of chimpanzees over a two-and-a-half-year period, during which time we explored four research topics while assessing the development of a cognitive research programme and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) introductions in a zoo: welfare, cognition, public engagement with science, and animal management. The project’s use of touchscreen technology and on-exhibit research was the first of its kind for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo. As a result, the researchers placed a great deal of importance not only on assessing the welfare of the chimpanzees throughout training and testing phases, but also assessing the public’s perception of cognitive research being conducted through an internationally broadcast documentary about the project. In the short duration of the project, these research naïve chimpanzees did not fully grasp the concept of video selection in our free-choice activity, but overall, the introduction of a cognitive research programme did not compromise welfare, and the chimpanzees’ repeated interest suggests that chimpanzees found the research to be reinforcing. Partly funded by the BBC, the Chimpcam Project was shown in the UK (broadcast January 2010) and in a variety of other countries, including the United States and Canada (on Animal Planet in 2011). The broadcast allowed us to gather information over the internet on the wider public’s perception of conducting research with great apes in zoos, to complement data collected on visitors to the exhibit itself. Our assessment of the documentary’s impact on public perception showed that it had a positive influence on perceptions of zoo research, scientists, welfare, and the importance of choice for animals. During this research project, a new group of chimpanzees arrived in Edinburgh as part of the international breeding programme for western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). As the zoo’s focus switched to helping the two chimpanzee groups merge into one, we took the opportunity to apply psychological research to this context, namely the use of video as a research tool and the recognition of the importance of individual differences in response to challenge. The project maintained the cognition and welfare focus by using video introductions (allowing the chimpanzees to watch video footage of the individuals they were about to meet and track the formation of other sub-groups). In addition, personality ratings and chimpanzee behaviour during the visual access period (an animal management technique used prior to physical introductions where the groups could see each other without physical contact) were collected to examine the efficacy of these measures in guiding introductions in order to reduce risk. Personality ratings and behaviours observed during the video introductions could predict the chimpanzees’ behaviour during the physical introductions, however, the visual access period had no predictive power. The welfare implications of the introduction process were also assessed and suggested that: the choice of location (i.e. options of where to be) was more important than the total amount of available space; having individuals removed from your group was more stressful than having individuals added; self-directed behaviour (SDB) performance was context-specific where rubbing significantly increased during periods of uncertainty that were not necessarily negatively valenced; regurgitation and reingestion (R/R) decreased over time; and both in-group members and those of high ranks spent more time grooming others. Overall our data indicate that the chimpanzees coped well with both cognitive challenges and social upheaval during introductions. Despite being regularly studied in captivity and in the wild, chimpanzees have a great deal more to teach us about their world. In order to provide the best welfare for the chimpanzees in our care, we need to understand how research and management practices affect their lives and how the public interpret what we do as researchers. By understanding these aspects of their world, we can better serve those in captivity and influence public opinion on the importance of conserving those in the wild.

The purpose of this study was to discover and describe the structure and essential meaning of the experience of betrayal in intimate relationships. Previous and current research has directed much attention to the consequences and effects of betrayal in relationships, however the essential experience of the phenomenon of betrayal has received less attention. The experience of betrayal was approached from a Kleinian perspective. A review of the literature revealed that betrayal per se is less frequently found in psychological texts although extensive reference to the construct is found in the field of sociology, in texts on deviance (Ben-Yehuda, 2001). However, inherent aspects of the phenomenon may be recalled for the purposes of this study, notably trust and loyalty. Trust is considered to be an intrinsic variable in the phenomenon of betrayal. Loyalty appears to be an interchangeable variable and is briefly included in this study. Trust as a significant aspect in the establishment of human relationships was discussed with reference to relevant psychological paradigms. The bridge to Kleinian theory was formed using trust as a fundamental aspect of the primary mother-infant relationship. Further exploration of core Kleinian constructs and Klein’s developmental positions, were also integrated in elucidating the phenomenon of betrayal in intimate relationships. Being qualitative in nature, the experience of betrayal was explored using research principles of grounded theory (Strauss&Corbin, 1990/1998) for the purposes of data reduction, analysis and generation of theory. In addition, the qualitative research interview, proposed by Kvale (1996), was used to collect the data. In-depth interviews with five participants and a second interview with one of the participants were conducted. The participants were unknown to myself as the researcher, prior to commencing the study and they were formally approached by three fellow practising psychologists. Furthermore, the study of the experience of betrayal included verification of the transcribed interviews by the participants, prior to data reduction and analysis. In this manner, opportunities for further reflection and an enhanced understanding of the experience of betrayal were provided. The core category which emerges from this inquiry is a sense of alienation which individuals experience as a result of betrayal in intimate relationships. Therefore, contrary to Klein’s extensive emphasis on intrapsychic processes, the interpersonal nature of individuals cannot be excluded or underestimated. These findings specifically contribute to Kleinian theory, social psychology, sociology, theology and psychotherapy. In this study the participants’ experience of betrayal, the consequences for the participants themselves and the outcome of the relationships were addressed. Furthermore, the significance of cognitive processes in adulthood and the theoretical implications of the relational phenomenon of betrayal for further research were mentioned. Contributions to Klein’s theory as well as a critical review of the research methodology and a critique of the strengths and limitations of this study were also included. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

Zinchenko E.E. in her master's thesis looks as widely as possible at the virtual, as the problem appears the uncertainty of the term "virtual". The object of research is the virtual reality and the subject is related aspects of the ontology, psychology, sociology and virtual technologies. The aim is a detailed study of the different approaches to the "virtual" and develop their own unified concept of this problem based on a single modern ontology. The material for the study in addition to literature represents by specific popular computer games, as well as the reviews and opinions of real players. The first chapter is dedicated to the most elaborated concepts in the field of "virtualistics" of S.S. Khoruzhiy and N.A. Nosov, as well as developing own structure of "virtual". The second chapter is devoted to the practical implementation of appropriate technology. The theoretical framework is based on the works of K. Jung, Z. Freud, G. Gibson, I.V. Burlakov and on projects of young game designers developed their ideas to existing games. Particular attention in this chapter is on computer games as the most common means of immersion in the virtual environment. Zinchenko E.E. adheres to a neutral position on the upbeat virtual reality, considering, in particular, the positive aspect of the phenomenon of the virtual. / В своей магистерской диссертации Зинченко Е.Е. максимально широко смотрит на виртуальное, так как проблемой выступает неопределенность самого термина «виртуальное». Объектом исследования выступает виртуальная реальность, а предметом - взаимосвязанные аспекты онтологии, психологии, социологии и технологий виртуального. Целью работы является подробное изучение различных подходов к «виртуальному» и разработка собственной единой концепции данной проблематики на базе единой современной онтологии. В качестве материала для исследования помимо литературных источников используются популярные и специфические компьютерные игры, а также отзывы и мнения реальных игроков. Первая глава посвящена наиболее проработанным концепциям в области «виртуалистики» Хоружего С.С. и Носова Н.А., а также разработке собственной структуры «виртуального». Вторая глава посвящена практической реализации соответствующих технологий. Теоретическая база основана на работах К. Юнга, З. Фрейда, Дж. Гибсона, Бурлакова И.В. и на проектах молодых геймдизайнеров, реально воплощающих свои идеи в существующих играх. Особое внимание в данной главе уделяется компьютерным играм как самому распространенному средству погружения в виртуальную среду. Зинченко Е.Е. придерживается нейтрально-оптимистичной позиции относительно виртуальной реальности, рассматривая, в том числе, положительный аспект феномена виртуального.