This dissertation defends the so-called 'agency-approach' to causation, which attempts to ground the causal relation in the cause's role of being a means to bring about its effect. The defence is confined to a conceptual interpretation of this theory, pertaining to the concept of causation as it appears in a causal judgement. However, causal judgements are not seen as limited to specific domains, and they are not exclusively attributed to human agents alone. As a methodological framework to describe the different perspectives of causal judgments, a method taken from the philosophy of information is made use of - the so-called 'method of abstraction'. According to this method, levels of abstraction are devised for the subjective perspective of the acting agent, for the agent as observer during the observation of other agents' actions, and for the agent that judges efficient causation. As a further piece of propaedeutic work, a class of similar (yet not agency-centred) approaches to causation is considered, and their modelling paradigms - Bayesian networks and interventions objectively construed - will be criticised. The dissertation then proceeds to the defence of the agency-approach, the first part of which is a defence against the objection of conceptual circularity, which holds that agency analyses causation in causal terms. While the circularity-objection is rebutted, I rely at that stage on a set of subjective concepts, i.e. concepts that are eligible to the description of the agent's own experience while performing actions. In order to give a further, positive corroboration of the agency-approach, an investigation into the natural origins and constraints of the concept of agency is made in the central chapter six of the dissertation. The thermodynamic account developed in that part affords a third-person perspective on actions, which has as its core element a cybernetic feedback cycle. At that point, the stage is set to analyse the relation between the first- and the third-person perspectives on actions previously assumed. A dual-aspect interpretation of the cybernetic-thermodynamic picture developed in chapter six will be directly applied to the levels of abstraction proposed earlier. The level of abstraction that underpins judgments of efficient causation, the kind of causation seemingly devoid of agency, will appear as a derived scheme produced by and dependent on the concept of agency. This account of efficient causation, the 'objectification of agency', affords the rebuttal of a second objection against the agency-approach, which claims that the approach is inappropriately anthropomorphic. The dissertation concludes with an account of single-case, or token level, causation, and with an examination of the impact of the causal concept on the validity of causal models.

Background: For decades, gender representation in advertising has occupied the attention of researchers, where especially advertising that depicts women sexually has been well examined. However, relatively few research works have investigated the sexualization and objectification of men in advertising, although it is starting to change. Research Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze Swedish male's perspectives of male representations in fashion advertising, specifically, sexualized, and objectified male representations and its effects on brand image. Methodology: For this study, a qualitative research method with a deductive approach was applied. The data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, using a topic guide based on the proposed analytical framework by Edell & Burke. 17 stimulus in the form of advertisements were chosen from internationally well-known brands as well as Swedish brands within the time frame of the last ten years, from 2013-2019. 17 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Swedish male adults between the ages of 25-57 were conducted. Findings: The findings, in relation to RQ1, showed that the aspects emphasized by Swedish male adults in discussing sexually objectifying images of men in advertising are: “lack of reality”, “body focus and lack of purpose”, “lack of new-thinking” and “lack of inclusion and self-identity with brands”. The findings, in relation to RQ2 showed that the men’s negative feelings, judgements, beliefs and attitudes about and towards most of the brands and advertisements resulted in a negative or ambivalent brand image. An exception to this was the men’s positive feelings, judgements, beliefs and attitudes towards the American Eagle and Dressman which resulted in mostly a positive brand image. Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings of this thesis confirms firstly that the aspects emphasized by Swedish male adults in discussing sexually objectifying images of men in advertising are: “lack of of reality”, “body focus and lack of purpose”, “lack of new thinking” and “lack of inclusion and self-identity with brands”. Secondly, Swedish men’s attitudes towards sexually and objectified males in fashion advertisements resulted in a positive, negative, or alternatively, an ambivalent brand image being created, depending on the context the brand image was analyzed from. Theoretical Contributions: This thesis contributes in several ways theoretically to literature on the topic of advertising, gender stereotyping and sexualizatiom in relation to the advertising of males. Firstly, it highlights a modern phenomena which has been overlooked in previous research. Secondly, it contributes to new areas of consumer attitudes, in this case Swedish male adults, which has not previously been thoroughly investigated. Lastly, this thesis contributes with updated, descriptive as well as specific information on the phenomena and ultimately creating and generating a better understanding of the phenomena: sexualized and objectified men in fashion advertising and the effects it has on brand image.

The first aim of this study was to develop a research based, integrated, secondary prevention programme, called the Weight Over-concern and Well-being (WOW) programme, for the reduction of Subclinical Eating Disorder (SED) symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states, and the promotion of psychological well-being (PWB) in female students. Consequently the second aim was to determine the effectiveness of the WOW-programme on its own, in comparison with a combined Tomatis Method of sound stimulation (Tomatis, 1990) and WOW-programme, regarding the reduction of SED-symptoms, associated traits and negative mood states; the promotion of PWB; and outcome maintenance. The last aim was to obtain a deeper understanding and "insiders' perspective" of the lived experience of SED, through an interpretative phenomenological inquiry (Smith & Osborn, 2003). The motivation for the current study is a need for research based, integrated, risk-protective, secondary prevention programmes from a social-developmental perspective for female university students (Garner, 2004; Phelps, Sapia, Nathanson & Nelson, 2000; Polivy & Herman, 2002), given their risk status (Edwards & Moldan, 2004; Senekal, Steyn, Mashego & Nel, 2001; Wassenaar, Le Grange, Winship & Lachenicht, 2000). Concurrently in-depth descriptions from an "insiders' perspective" on the lived experience of SED are non-existent and require interpretative phenomenological study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006). Consequently this thesis consists of three articles, namely: (i) Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder, (ii) A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation; and (iii) Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions. The research context comprised Subclinical Eating Disorder, secondary prevention and Positive Psychology. The first article, Development of a secondary prevention programme for female university students with Subclinical Eating Disorder (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007a), is qualitative in nature, and narrates a process of participatory action research followed to develop the WOW-programme. This social process of knowledge construction, embedded in Social Constructivist theory (Koch, Selim & Kralik, 2002), gradually revealed best clinical practice, and in retrospect, evolved over four phases. Phase One comprised experiential learning based on personal experiences with SED as undergraduate student and interaction with "participant researchers" as scientist practitioner (Strieker, 2002), resulting in a provisional risk model of intervention. Phase Two, a formal pilot study (Du Plessis, Vermeulen & Kirsten, 2004), afforded an evaluation of ideas generated in Phase One through a three-group pre-post-test design. Outcomes of Phase Two informed Phase Three, an integration of prior learning with Positive Psychology theory and clinical practice, resulting in a risk-protective model of prevention. Theoretical assumptions previously constructed were integrated and operationalised during Phase Four, into the final 9-session WOW-programme. In conclusion the process of knowledge construction was rigorous, despite the small overall sample size (n=28), since data saturation occurred within that sample. Although the multitude of aims involved in each session of the WOW-programme could be seen as unrealistic, in some direct or indirect way, they were addressed by means of relevant interventions due to the integrative approach. Thus future refinement is essential. Finally, despite aforementioned concerns, the WOW-programme proved to be robust on its own in reducing SED-symptoms and associated traits and enhancing PWB, as described in the second article of this thesis. The second article, A secondary prevention programme for female students with Subclinical Eating Disorder: a comparative evaluation (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007b), describes the outcomes of the WOW-programme on its own, evaluated comparatively with a combined Tomatis sound stimulation and WOW-programme. In this article the research aims were to determine: (i) whether participation in the combined sound stimulation and WOW-programme (Group 1); and (ii) participation in a WOW-programme only (Group 2), would lead to statistically significant reductions in SED-symptoms, psychological traits associated with eating disorders and negative mood states, and enhancement of PWB; (iii) whether results of Groups 1 and 2 would exceed results of a non-intervention control group (Group 3) practically significantly; and (iv) whether programme outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 would be retained at four-month follow-up evaluation. A mixed method design (Creswell, 2003; Morse, 2003) was used, including a three-group pre-post-test (n=45) and multiple case study (n=30) design. Various questionnaires measuring SED-symptoms, associated traits, negative mood states and PWB were completed. Qualitative data were obtained by means of metaphor drawings, letters to and from the "SED-problem", focus group interviews, the researchers' reflective field notes and individual semi-structured feedback questionnaires (Morse, 2003). Participation in Groups 1 and 2 proved effective, since decreases in SED-symptoms, associated traits, most negative mood states, and increases in PWB differed practically significantly from the results of Group 3. Outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 were maintained at four-month follow-up evaluation. Qualitative findings provided depth, support and trustworthiness to quantitative findings in light of the small sample size, and highlighted the value of using a mixed method design in prevention programming. It was concluded that the WOW-programme on its own, was an effective secondary prevention programme, since it led to reduced SED-symptoms, associated psychological traits and enhanced PWB, with retention of gains at four-months follow-up evaluation. The combined programme involving Tomatis stimulation and WOW-intervention proved to be even more effective, thus the complimentary role of Tomatis stimulation was demonstrated. However, the cost-effectiveness and comparative brevity of the WOW-programme rendered it the programme of choice regarding individuals with SED. Findings showed that conceptually, pathogenic and salutogenic perspectives can be successfully combined into a risk-protective model of secondary prevention. Lastly, the WOW-programme may even prove useful as an enrichment programme for female students in general. The third article, Lived experiences of Subclinical Eating Disorder: female students' perceptions (Kirsten, Du Plessis & Du Toit, 2007c), provides a qualitative, in-depth perspective on the lived experience of SED of 30 white, undergraduate females, purposively sampled. In this interpretative phenomenological, multiple case study (Brocki & Wearden, 2006), Groups 1 and 2 of the aforementioned primary study in the second article were used, since they fitted the criteria of "good informants" and were able to answer the research question (Morse, 2003). Further sampling was deemed unnecessary since data saturation occurred within their written and verbal responses and no negative cases were found. Rich individual qualitative data, further clarified through focus groups, emerged from graphic colour representations of lived SED, explanatory written records and "correspondence" with and from their "SED problem" (Gilligan, 2000; Loock, Myburgh, & Poggenpoel, 2003; White & Epston, 1990). Four main categories, characterised by serious intra-, interpersonal, existential and body image concerns were subdivided into seven subcategories, namely: Personal Brokenness, Personal Shame, Perceived Personal Inadequacy and Enslavement, Existential Vacuum, Perceived Social Pressure, Perceived Social Isolation and Body-image Dysfunction. Results were indicative of underestimation of SED-severity, its comprehensive detrimental impact on participants' PWB and high risk for escalation into full-blown eating disorders. It was concluded that the lived experiences of SED depicted the severity of SED-symptoms; descriptions resonated well with most of their pre-programme mean scores; and their risk status and need for contextually and developmentally relevant secondary prevention programmes were highlighted by the findings. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Submitted by Mariana Lima (mariana.lima@fgvmail.br) on 2015-11-26T21:02:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mariana Braga de Lima Mex2014.pdf: 14412514 bytes, checksum: c1117481eece896b474e8ef644ae0f52 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Janete de Oliveira Feitosa (janete.feitosa@fgv.br) on 2015-12-07T12:00:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mariana Braga de Lima Mex2014.pdf: 14412514 bytes, checksum: c1117481eece896b474e8ef644ae0f52 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Almeida (maria.socorro@fgv.br) on 2015-12-09T18:52:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mariana Braga de Lima Mex2014.pdf: 14412514 bytes, checksum: c1117481eece896b474e8ef644ae0f52 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-09T18:52:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mariana Braga de Lima Mex2014.pdf: 14412514 bytes, checksum: c1117481eece896b474e8ef644ae0f52 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-10 / When exploring new perspectives on the impact of non-idealized vs. idealized body image in advertising, studies have focused mainly on body size, i.e., thin vs. heavy (Antioco et al., 2012; Smeesters & Mandel, 2006). Age remains largely unexplored, and the vast majority of ads in the market depict young models. The purpose of this research is therefore to investigate which images in advertisements – young or mature models – are more persuasive for older women (40+ years old). In this investigation, two studies were conducted. The first part was an exploratory analysis with a qualitative approach, which in turn helped to formulate the hypothesis tested in the subsequent experiment. The results of the in-depth interviews suggested a conflict over notions of imprisonment (need to follow beauty standards) and freedom (wish to deviate). The results of the experiment showed essentially that among older consumers, ads portraying older models were as persuasive as ads portraying younger models. Limitations and future research are discussed.

Kvinnors kroppar används ofta i reklam som dekorativa föremål. De skildras ofta iundergivna roller och framställs vanligen som om deras uppgift är att tillfredsställamannen. Det här gör då att kvinnor i reklam ofta objektifieras eller sexualiseras, ochden här typen av reklam har ökat sedan 60-talet. Sexualiseringen i reklam gerkonsekvenser på kvinnors välmående och kan innefatta bland annatsjälvobjektifiering, ätstörningar och depression m.fl. Den här studiens syfte är,utefter problematiseringen med sexualisering, att förstå konsumenters kunskap ochattityd mot reklam riktad till män där kvinnor sexualiseras, samt konsekvensernasom de innefattar. För att undersöka detta har en kvalitativ metod använts i form aven enkätstudie. Sammanlagt 438 studenter vid Högskolan Dalarna har svarat påfrågor som utgått från ett teoretiskt ramverk inom attityd beträffande känslor,beteende och uppfattning. Resultaten visar en hög grad av kunskap och medvetenhetkring ämnet. Det framkommer även att majoriteten av konsumenterna har en negativattityd gentemot sexualiserade kvinnor i reklam riktad till män. En skillnad kan dockutläsas i hur män och kvinnor uppfattar reklam med sexualisering där kvinnortenderar att ha en mer negativ attityd än män. / Women’s bodies are often used in advertising as decorative objects. They are oftendepicted in submissive roles and are usually presented as if their task is to satisfymen. This means that women in advertising are often objectified or sexualized, andthis type of advertising has increased since the 1960s. But this type of advertisinghas consequences. The sexualized ads can affect women's well-being and may implyself-objectification, eating disorders and depression, etc. The purpose of this studyis to understand consumers’ knowledge and attitude toward advertising directed tomen in which women are sexualized, as well as the consequences they include. Tostudy this, a qualitative method has been used in the form of a survey. A total of 438students at Högskolan Dalarna have answered questions based on a theoreticalframework within attitude regarding emotions, behavior and perception. The resultsdemonstrate a high level of knowledge and awareness about the subject. It alsoappears that the majority of consumers have a negative attitude towards sexualizedwomen in advertising directed to men. However, a difference was observed in howmen and women perceive advertising with sexualization where women tend to havea more negative attitude than men.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-01-13T13:28:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 7112207 bytes, checksum: e8f8af69bf568b38cb069e7865217e5b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-13T13:28:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 7112207 bytes, checksum: e8f8af69bf568b38cb069e7865217e5b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / It being understood that the subjects inserted in a society of speeches increasingly ephemeral, submissive liquidity of postmodernity, find in the practice of tattooing a return place to yourself,the general objective of this thesis is to analyze how the tattooed subject is constituted and how he is produced in the Inked Magazine in the period from 2010 to 2012. This problematic isanchored on the following question: why the subjects inserted in a society of speeches, which dissolve faster than the time it takes to mold them, mark their bodies with tattoos that will accompany them for a lifetime? Do these subjects, at all the moment disciplined, standardized by social control mechanisms, areable by self to subjective the practice of tattooing? To answering such questions, It analyzes a corpus of utterances with syncretic materiality (verb-visual) in nine covers of Inked and in some sections of the magazine, linking them to other materiality that enter, interdiscursively, inside the archive in purpose to discuss how the games of truth are produced that, subtly, teach and propose the subject ways of behaving. Methodologically, this research is characterized as documentary and bibliographic, of descriptive and interpretative character. It subsidizes the analyses on the theoretical reference of Discourse Analysis, in particular that support in arch genealogical Foucault study around the constitution of the subject, who are affected by the relations of power-knowledge. Moreover, it is guided in the contributions of the fields of Historical Semiology, with Jean-Jacques Courtine, as well as at the field of Sociology, especially with Zygmunt Bauman ideas and still it refers to the field of Cultural Studies to discuss the issue of identity in a socio-cultural and discursive perspective and the practice of tattooing in the media. This media acting as an institution that fixes, keeps and give a new meaning to the identities. The results show that the modes of objectification/ subjectivation of tattooed in the magazine that is on the agenda are produced for several tecnology of the self and that them are crossed by official discourses and ratified by the discursive practices of biotechnologies directed to the body. This discoursivity, without repressive connotation, opens each more time space for pratices of freedom and self-goverment in processes of subjectivation of the tattooed at contemporanity. / Tendo como pressuposto que os sujeitos inseridos em uma sociedade de discursos cada vez mais efêmeros, submissos a liquidez da pós-modernidade, encontram na prática da tatuagem um lugar de retorno a si mesmo, o objetivo geral desta tese é analisar como o sujeito tatuado se constitui e é produzido na revista Inked no período de 2010 a 2012. Essa problemática se ancora nas seguintes questões: por que os sujeitos inseridos em uma sociedade de discursos que se dissolvem mais rápidos que o tempo que leva para moldá-los, marcam seus corpos tatuagens que o acompanharão por toda a vida? Será que, tais sujeitos, a todo momento, disciplinarizados, normativizados por mecanismos de controle social, conseguem se subjetivar pela prática da tatuagem? Para responder aos tais questionamentos, analisa-se um corpus composto por enunciados com materialidade sincrética (verbo-visual) em nove capas da Inked e em algumas seções da revista, articulando-os a outras materialidades que se inscrevem interdiscursivamente no interior do arquivo, a fim de discutir como são produzidos os jogos de verdade que, sutilmente, ensinam e propõem ao sujeito modos de se comportar. Metodologicamente, esta pesquisa caracteriza-se como documental e bibliográfica, de caráter descritivo e interpretativo. Subsidiam-se as análises no referencial teórico da Análise do Discurso, em especial, naquele apoiado no estudo arquegenealógico foucaultiano em torno da constituição do sujeito, afetados pelas relações de saber-poder. Além disso, pauta-se nas contribuições dos campos da Semiologia Histórica, com Jean-Jacques Courtine, assim como nas do campo da Sociologia, sobretudo com as ideias de Zygmunt Bauman e, ainda, recorre-se ao campo dos Estudos Culturais para discutir a questão da identidade numa perspectiva sócio-cultural e discursiva e a prática da tatuagem na mídia. Esta atuando como instituição que fixa, mantém e ressignifica identidades. Os resultados evidenciam que os modos de objetivação /subjetivação do tatuado na revista em pauta são produzidos por várias tecnologias do eu, atravessados por discursos oficiais e ratificadas pelas práticas discursivas de biotecnologias direcionadas ao corpo. Esta discursividade, sem conotação repressora, abre, cada vez mais, espaço para práticas de liberdade e governo de si em processos de subjetivação do tatuado na contemporaneidade.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-08-31T11:35:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2136822 bytes, checksum: a122274b64c2bca9063e2642d3fe5797 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-08-31T11:57:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2136822 bytes, checksum: a122274b64c2bca9063e2642d3fe5797 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-08-31T11:58:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2136822 bytes, checksum: a122274b64c2bca9063e2642d3fe5797 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-31T11:59:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2136822 bytes, checksum: a122274b64c2bca9063e2642d3fe5797 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The objective of this research was to analyze how the exchanges in the relationship applications collaborate to the objectification of the consumers in order to understand how the value can be co-created among the actors involved in this service. The netnographic research was developed in Tinder which is currently one of the most popular relationship applications in Brazil and worldwide. The data were collected through 19 interviews with Tinder consumers, carried out from May 2015 to November 2016, as well as the diary record with the main experiences that I lived in the application from October 2014 to December 2016. The Research results show that value co-creation has greater participation of users than the institution and the value of the application is attributed phenomenologically by the experiences in the exchanges. Relationship applications, in general, allow relationships between users analogous to consumer relationships and in Tinder, there is a sense that the next option may be more interesting favoring the accumulation of matches and the discarding of those that do not meet expectations, such as product that is returned by default. Research responds to social perspectives, specifically on the dynamics of relationships through connections; and managerial skills as you discuss possibilities for improvement in the application. It is concluded that in order to guarantee the value creation in the light of the Service- Dominant Logic, institutional control over the exchanges is necessary to avoid deviations in the use of Tinder. On the other hand, it must be considered that the dynamics that favor objectification is that which maintains the popularity of the application and any limitation of use, could cause Tinder to lose strategic benefits. In this case, it must be considered that the autonomy of cyberspace, in itself, requires institutional flexibility in regulations or even absence of them. So while some users have a negative perception of Tinder, others see opportunities to escape from the social routine with a lot of switching possibilities, and it is these uncontrolled exchanges that keep users active in the application and ensure their survival. / O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar como as trocas nos aplicativos de relacionamento colaboram à objetificação dos consumidores de forma a entender como o valor pode ser cocriado entre os atores envolvidos neste serviço. A investigação netnográfica, foi desenvolvida no Tinder que atualmente é um dos aplicativos de relacionamento mais populares no Brasil e no mundo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de 19 entrevistas com consumidores do Tinder, realizadas de maio de 2015 a novembro de 2016 além do registro em forma de diário com as principais experiências que vivi no aplicativo no período de outubro de 2014 a dezembro de 2016. Os resultados da pesquisa mostram que a cocriação de valor tem maior participação dos usuários que da instituição e o valor do aplicativo é atribuído fenomenologicamente pelas experiências nas trocas. Os aplicativos de relacionamento, de modo geral, permitem relações entre usuários análogas a relações de consumo e no Tinder, há a sensação de que a próxima opção pode ser mais interessante favorecendo o acúmulo de matches e o descarte daqueles que não atenderem às expectativas, como produto que se devolve por defeito. A pesquisa atende às perspectivas sociais, especificamente sobre a dinâmica dos relacionamentos por conexões; e gerenciais à medida que discute possibilidades de melhoria no aplicativo. Conclui-se que para garantir a cocriação de valor à luz da Lógica Dominante do Serviço, é necessário o controle institucional sobre as trocas que evitem desvios na utilização do Tinder. Por outro lado há que se considerar que a dinâmica que favorece a objetificação é a que mantém a popularidade do aplicativo e qualquer limitação de uso ao usuário, poderia fazer com que o Tinder perdesse benefícios estratégicos. Nesse caso, deve-se considerar que a autonomia do ciberespaço, em si, requer flexibilidade institucional em regulações ou mesmo ausência destas. Assim, enquanto alguns usuários têm uma percepção negativa do Tinder, outros veem oportunidades de fuga da rotina social com diversas possibilidades de troca, e são essas trocas, não controladas, que mantém os usuários ativos no aplicativo e garantem a sobrevivência dele.

Denna studie, skriven av Natalia Sener och Linnéa Johnson, ämnar undersöka hur unga kvinnor upplever att deras kroppar blir sexualiserade och hur de uppfattar att fenomenet avspeglas i sociala medier. Empirin är insamlad genom sex stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med unga kvinnor som delar med sig av egna tankar och erfarenheter kring sexualisering och sociala medier och hur dessa aspekter påverkar varandra. Studien utgår från en teori gällande objektifiering av Fredrickson och Roberts, Youngs modell för förtryck samt West och Zimmermans teori om könspraktiker. Studiens resultat visar att unga kvinnor påverkas av ideal och sexualiserade kroppar på sociala medier i stor omfattning. Respondenterna anser att kvinnors kroppar granskas och bedöms av utomstående personer. Sociala medier blir här en arena för att upprätthålla de rådande strukturerna men samtidigt synliggöra dem för att kunna motverka dem. En del av respondenterna har till och med tagit aktiva val för att undvika att exponeras för sexualiserat material. Vidare belyser resultatet hur kvinnor idag, i ett motsatsförhållande, använder sociala medier för att med hjälp av sina kroppar motverka ideal och normativa trender vad gäller utseende. / This study, written by Natalia Sener and Linnéa Johnson, aims to investigate how young women experience their bodies being sexualized and how the phenomenon is reflected in social media. The empirics are collected through six semi structured interviews with young women who share their own thoughts and experiences about sexualization and social media and how these affect each other. The study is based on a theory of objectification by Fredrickson and Roberts, Young's model for oppression, and West and Zimmerman's theory of gender practices. The study results show that young women are widely influenced by ideals and sexualized bodies on social media. Respondents consider that women's bodies are examined and judged by third parties. Social media becomes an arena for maintaining existing structures, but at the same time visualizing them in order to counteract them. Some respondents have even taken active choices to avoid being exposed to sexualized material. Furthermore, the result illustrates how women today, in opposition, use social media to counteract ideals and normative trends regarding their appearance.

Cette thèse, inspirée des travaux sur le développement du jeune enfant en conditions de vie défavorisées (Zaouche Gaudron, 2005), traite de la subjectivation d’enfants d’Afrique subsaharienne dans leurs rapports à l’eau. La subjectivation est ici le procès par lequel les enfants produisent leur singularité subjective dans le rapport aux réalités objectives de leur environnement (Malrieu, 2003). Notre approche revient sur la question, classique en psychologie, de l’activité du sujet sur l’objet. L’alternative des objectivations nous permet de montrer que les objets ne sont pas seulement déterminants pour les sujets mais peuvent, dans et par la médiation sociale, devenir des sujets (Marx, 1867 ; Vygotsky, 1930 ; Wallon, 1945 ; Meyerson, 1948, Sève, 2008). Le processus de subjectivation chez l’enfant ne nous renvoie donc pas directement à l’activité des enfants, mais aux objectivations sociales à partir desquelles, dans leurs rapports aux objets, ils deviennent sujets singuliers. Notre échantillon d’étude est constitué de 68 enfants, âgés de 4 à 7 ans, qui vivent dans les localités rurales de Bogué et de Bakel proches du fleuve entre la Mauritanie et le Sénégal puis à Tomè au Togo près de la rivière Egbi. Notre recherche a été menée à partir d’entretiens semi-directifs à destination des parents ou adultes significatifs, et de planches figuratives destinées aux enfants et permettant, à partir de scènes d’eau, d’en faire l’objectivation en trois phases successives : en situations "naturelle", concertée et rémanente. Nos principaux résultats montrent que lorsque les adultes s’impliquent dans l’objectivation de l’eau, en situation concertée, l’eau devient un objet social dans le rapport auquel les enfants sont davantage en état de réaliser leurs subjectivations. Le rapport à l’eau propice au développement des enfants se révèle alors irréductible à l’effet des déterminations naturelles, c’est-à-dire de leur zone d’habitation. Néanmoins, nos résultats spécifiques, par localités, mettent en évidence des disparités entre celles-ci dans le rapport à l’eau indiquant que l’implication sociale nécessaire à un rapport à l’eau propice au développement des enfants, est encore à construire et à développer en Afrique subsaharienne. Les résultats obtenus permettent de proposer des perspectives de recherche et des pistes d’intervention quant au rapport des enfants aux objets, notamment ceux de première nécessité et en milieux défavorisés. / This thesis is inspired by the work on the development of children growing up in disadvantaged living conditions (Zaouche Gaudron, 2005). It treats the subjectification of the African Sub-Saharan children in their relationship with water. In this study, subjectification is the process by which children produce their subjective uniqueness based on the relationship with objective realities in their environment (Malrieu, 2003). Our approach comes back to the classical question in psychology, about the Subject’s activity on the Object. The alternative of the objectification allows us to show that Objects are not only determining factors toward Subjects but, through social mediation, they could become Subjects themselves (Marx, 1867; Vygotsky, 1930; Wallon, 1945; Meyerson, 1948, Sève, 2008). The process of child subjectification does not refer directly to children activity, but to their social objectification, allowing them, through their relationship to objects, to become singulars subjects. Our study sample consists of 68 children, between 4 and 7 years old, who are living in the rural communities of Bogué and Bakel close to the river between Mauritania and Senegal as well as in the rural community of Tomè in Togo close to the river of Egbi. Our research has been based on semi-structured interviews targeting parents or significant adults, and figurative boards targeting children that allow, through water scenes, to be exploited as objectification of three successive phases: “natural” situation, concerted and retentive. Our main results show that when adults are involved in water objectification, through the concerted situation, water becomes a social object intervening in the relationship enabling children more and more to realize their subjectification. The relationship between suitable water and children's development proves that is irreducible to the impact of natural determinations, for example the areas where they live. However, our specific results for each community, highlight the disparities between them regarding to water. These results indicate that the necessary social implication in the relationship between the suitable water and the children development is yet to be built and developed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The obtained results allow to open up research perspectives and intervention areas regarding to the relationship between children and objects, notably those of basic needs for children living in disadvantaged environments.

This dissertation deals with various gender aspects of playing computer games. It describes how gender stereotypes are connected with the level of production, content, and with the players themselves. In this sense, it shows that games are still created mainly by homogeneous male teams, in order to attract male players, they contain mainly male characters, while the female ones are created to be attractive to these ideal male players. However, the primary goal of this dissertation is to describe the different ways and intensities of the relationship with the avatar, the playable character in the game. The analytical part consists of two illustrative case studies, one concerning female heterosexual players, the other male heterosexual players. The basic premise is the fact that the player "plays gender" - that is, performs it similarly to social reality. However, this performance is not just a reconstruction and confirmation of hypothetically stable gender identities, but on the contrary their deconstruction ("playing with gender"). In this sense, the work pays particular attention to situations where the player and the avatar have different genders and the heterosexual player, therefore, identifies with the avatar but also objectifies him/her. This dissertation aims to emphasize the uniqueness of...