M.A. (Psychology) / Research investigating the connection between Functional Hemispherical Asymmetry (FHA) and perception of affect in clinical as well as normal populations, is characterised by contradictory findings with regard to the role of the different hemispheres, especially as regards the perception of various valencies of emotions. Although a majority of studies indicates that the right hemisphere (RH) is superior in the perception of all valencies and emotions - positive as well as negative - there are numerous studies indicating a possible differential processing of positive and negative emotions by the hemispheres. Although various researchers try to lay the above contradictory findings and the general lack of consensus at the door of methodological problems/inequalities or error variances, the literature is increasingly pointing to the existence of evidently reliable individual differences between people as regards their hemispherical functioning. The problem investigated in the current study, is to determine the possible role of the organismic variables in FHA, i e variables seated in the individual who is making the observation. In this study, the focus is specifically on the role of sex and the temperament dimension of introversion-extraversion. The objectives of this study are to determine whether there are significant differences in the direction of these hemispherical differences, as well as the relative performance, of groups divided according to sex and temperament characteristics, and whether the relevant organismic variables offer a possible means of explaining the contradictions in research results on FHA and the perception of emotion. In this study, the measuring of FHA is operationalised in terms of the differential performance, measured in terms of accuracy and speed of observation (response latency) of the hemispheres in the perception of different valencies of emotional stimuli (positive versus negative, and approach versus avoidance emotions).. The subject population comprised a group of students selected in terms of sex and temperament (introversion-extraversion). Selection in terms of introversion-extraversion was done on the basis of subjects' performance in the Personality Questionnaire Form B (Schepers, 1991): persons falling in the lower and upper three stanines of the scale respectively were identified as introverts and extraverts. Only right-handed subjects with no history of brain injury were used for the study. Differential hemispherical performance in terms of response accuracy and latency was determined by means of the Divided Visual Field Technique (DVFT). Although the reliability data of this technique are generally not entirely satisfactory when measured in terms of psychometric test standards, an effort was made to enhance the reliability of the technique in this study by controlling specific stimulus and response variables (inter alia the exposure time and the use of both hands for a response) during the experimental design.

The current study examined the relationships among attachment styles to parent, peer, and romantic partner, ability to regulate emotion, as well as engagement in sexual behaviors and substance use. Attachment theory and previous research suggests that an individual learns how to manage emotions through the modeling of appropriate techniques and a stable sense of self-worth. These two aspects develop through a secure attachment bond with an important figure. When an individual does not have a secure attachment bond in which to practice adaptive affect regulation strategies, he/she may attempt to manage emotions through external means, such as sexual behaviors or substance use. Overall, results supported these associations, with some notable exceptions. Across attachment sources a secure attachment style was related to lower levels of psychological distress and less engagement in substance use. In contrast to the findings from earlier studies, affect regulation did not mediate the relationship between attachment and substance use, and engagement in sexual behaviors was not significantly related to either attachment style or affect regulation.

This research was undertaken to analyse and evaluate the nature and quality of the role of parents in terms of the development of emotional intelligence in their adolescents. The results of this study indicate that emotional intelligence does appear to be higher in adolescents who have been exposed to a caregiver whose predominant style of parenting is that of an emotion coach. Parenting style therefore, appears to be related to a nurturant interaction with open communication and empathy. The adolescents who displayed less of the characteristics of emotional intelligence and experienced a low self-concept, perceived their primary caregivers as less empathetic, as communicating their emotions less effectively and as less able to put strategies into place to deal with their emotions. The researcher recognised limitations of the research and made recommendations on ways in which parents and adolescents can create more suitable environments for the development of emotional intelligence. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This research was undertaken to analyse and evaluate the nature and quality of the role of parents in terms of the development of emotional intelligence in their adolescents. The results of this study indicate that emotional intelligence does appear to be higher in adolescents who have been exposed to a caregiver whose predominant style of parenting is that of an emotion coach. Parenting style therefore, appears to be related to a nurturant interaction with open communication and empathy. The adolescents who displayed less of the characteristics of emotional intelligence and experienced a low self-concept, perceived their primary caregivers as less empathetic, as communicating their emotions less effectively and as less able to put strategies into place to deal with their emotions. The researcher recognised limitations of the research and made recommendations on ways in which parents and adolescents can create more suitable environments for the development of emotional intelligence. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of how Grahamstown teenagers are affected by the label ʹdyslexiaʹ; by providing a space in which their feelings about being labelled dyslexic and their experiences can be voiced. Historically much international and local research has focussed on causation and remediation of dyslexia and has neglected the social aspects of the diagnosis. Causation and remediation are categories which form part of the medical or educational models. A social model of dyslexia needs to be applied. Due to the paucity of South African literature on the social experiences of dyslexic teenagers, this research thesis aims to add to the body of knowledge and hopefully provide an avenue for more research within the context of Sociology. This is a micro study, situated in Grahamstown Eastern Cape, South Africa, and the author recognizes that responses cannot be generalized to the greater dyslexic population. All human environments consist of objects which are given meaning through social interaction. Meaning is central to human behaviour and therefor explains the ways in which humans conduct their lives based on these meanings. For this reason George Herbert Mead’s (1934) and Herbert Blumers (1969) symbolic interactionist positions have framed the theoretical approach to this research. Qualitative methods of interviewing provide an opportunity for dyslexic individuals to discuss the meaning dyslexia gives to them, from their perspective and in their own words. The following conclusions have been arrived at: Educational psychologists in Grahamstown are reticent to diagnose individuals as dyslexic. This lack of identification hinders early intervention which can be very detrimental to individuals struggling with reading, writing and spelling as well as the associated co-morbid conditions of dyslexia. Teenagers who have had early diagnosis and intervention with support structures in place identify with their dyslexic identity more positively as they are able to make sense of their struggles of a dyslexic nature.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Emosionele intelligemsie is nag nie bevredigend binne die Sielkundige Opvoedkunde beskryf nie. Die begrip emosionele intelligensie .is deur sosiale wetenskaplikes aanvaar en word as een van die intelligensies van menswees beskou. Emosionele intelligensie word beskou as die vermoe om • eie emosies te herken, te verstaan en op aanvaarbare wyse uit te leef, • ander se emosies te herken en te verstaan en • die vermoe om die self te motiveer. Die doel van die ondersoek was om emosionele intelligensie (EK) binne Sielkundige Opvoedkundige terme te beskryf en adolessente wat emosionele probleme beleef s.e EK-profiele te ontleed. 'n Bestaande EK-instrument, di.e Q-Metricsvraelys, is vir hierdie ddel aangepas en ge'lmplementeer. Die slotsom waartoe gekom is, is dat adolessente met emosionele probleme onder andere depressief, aggressief en emosioneel ongeletterd is. Die opvoedkundige sielkundige kan die EK-instrument as diagnoseringsmiddel aanwend en terapiebeplanning hiervolgens doen. / Emotional intelligence has not been described in satisfactory Psychological Educational terms. The concept emotional intelligence is accepted by social scientists and is regarded as one of the intelligences of being human. Emotional intelligence can be described as the ability to • recognise and understand one's own emotions and to express it in an acceptable way, • to recognise and understand others' emotions and • being able to motivate the self. The aim of this study was to describe emotional intelligence in Psychological Educational terms and to analyse the EQ profiles of adolescents who experience emotional problems. An existing EQ instrument, the Q-Metrics Questionnaire, has been adapted and implemented for this purpose. The final conclusion is that adolescents who experience emotional problems, are amongst other things depressed, aggressive and emotionally illiterate. The educational psychologist can use the EQ instrument as a diagnostication instrument and can plan therapy sessions according to these results. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Emosionele intelligemsie is nag nie bevredigend binne die Sielkundige Opvoedkunde beskryf nie. Die begrip emosionele intelligensie .is deur sosiale wetenskaplikes aanvaar en word as een van die intelligensies van menswees beskou. Emosionele intelligensie word beskou as die vermoe om • eie emosies te herken, te verstaan en op aanvaarbare wyse uit te leef, • ander se emosies te herken en te verstaan en • die vermoe om die self te motiveer. Die doel van die ondersoek was om emosionele intelligensie (EK) binne Sielkundige Opvoedkundige terme te beskryf en adolessente wat emosionele probleme beleef s.e EK-profiele te ontleed. 'n Bestaande EK-instrument, di.e Q-Metricsvraelys, is vir hierdie ddel aangepas en ge'lmplementeer. Die slotsom waartoe gekom is, is dat adolessente met emosionele probleme onder andere depressief, aggressief en emosioneel ongeletterd is. Die opvoedkundige sielkundige kan die EK-instrument as diagnoseringsmiddel aanwend en terapiebeplanning hiervolgens doen. / Emotional intelligence has not been described in satisfactory Psychological Educational terms. The concept emotional intelligence is accepted by social scientists and is regarded as one of the intelligences of being human. Emotional intelligence can be described as the ability to • recognise and understand one's own emotions and to express it in an acceptable way, • to recognise and understand others' emotions and • being able to motivate the self. The aim of this study was to describe emotional intelligence in Psychological Educational terms and to analyse the EQ profiles of adolescents who experience emotional problems. An existing EQ instrument, the Q-Metrics Questionnaire, has been adapted and implemented for this purpose. The final conclusion is that adolescents who experience emotional problems, are amongst other things depressed, aggressive and emotionally illiterate. The educational psychologist can use the EQ instrument as a diagnostication instrument and can plan therapy sessions according to these results. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)