The purpose of this research was to identify the contributors to optimal sexual experiences. At present, there is a lack of clinical knowledge, research knowledge and in-depth public discourse concerning the nature of healthy sexuality. The theoretical and research literature in this area has focused almost exclusively on defining and conceptualizing sexual dysfunctions with little attention paid to either normal or satisfactory experiences. Very little theory exists on the nature and components of optimal sexuality. To date, no empirical investigations have been done to determine the contributors to optimal sexual experiences. In order to identify the contributors to optimal sexual experiences, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 individuals who reported having experienced “great sex”. A phenomenologically-oriented content analysis was performed on interview transcripts to determine the contributors to optimal sexual experiences. Analysis led to the identification of seven major contributors, two pathways towards optimal sexual experiences and two minor contributors. The major contributors included developmental contributors, individual qualities overall, individual qualities in-the moment, skills, relationship qualities overall, relationship qualities in-the-moment and environmental, situational and preparatory contributors. Each of these larger themes was also characterized by a variety of more specific themes. The two pathways that led to optimal sexual experiences included individual qualities that facilitated relationship qualities and relationship qualities that facilitated individual qualities. Finally, the minor contributors consisted of personal proclivities and miscellaneous contributors. Noteworthy findings of this investigation are discussed and then compared and contrasted with existing research and theory. The implications of this work for the general public, sex therapy, sex education, theory and research are considered as well as the strengths and limitations of this study.

The objectives in the study were to examine: (1) factors that contributes to successful athletic performance across career stages; (2) factors that contributes to poor athletic performance across career stages. The theoretical frameworks included: model of psychological preparation for peak performance (Hardy, Jones, & Gould, 1996); the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes (Wylleman & Lavallee, 2004). Ten participants took part of the study (N=10) and consisted of five individual sport athletes and five team sport athletes from local to international competitive level. Semi-structured interviews were conducted derived from the semi-structured interview guide specially created for this study, which was based on the theoretical frameworks. The results are presented in three parts, and 8 category profiles describing the factors contributing to successful and poor athletic performance on the initiation-, development-, mastery- and maintenance stage. The results showed a list of factors contributing to both successful and poor athletic performance across different career stages for example, social support, family, coach, teammates, athletic ability, athletic experience and, athletic achievements. The results also showed that the factors seems to play a different role depending on the different athletic career stage for instance, supportive significant others and sporting environment turned out to be a more important contributing factor to athletes successful athletic performance on the initiation stage, where athletic ability turned out to be a more important contributing factor to athletes successful athletic performance on the mastery stage. The results are discussed based on the theoretical frameworks and previous research. Suggestions on future research and implications are given. / Syftena med föreliggande studie var att undersöka: (1) faktorer som bidrar till framgångsrika idrottsprestationer genom idrottskarriären, (2) faktorer som bidrar till dåliga idrottsprestationer genom idrottskarriären. De teoretiska ramverk som ingår i studien är: model of psychological preparation for peak performance (Hardy, Jones, & Gould, 1996); the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes (Wylleman & Lavallee, 2004). Tio deltagare deltog i studien (N=10) och bestod av fem individuella idrottare och fem lag idrottare från lokal till internationell tävlingsnivå. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördes utifrån en framtagen intervjuguide speciellt skapad för denna studie, som byggde på teoretiska ramverk. Resultaten presenteras i tre delar, och 8 kategori profiler beskriver de faktorer som bidrar till framgångsrika och dåliga idrottsprestationer i inledningsstadiet-, specialiseringsstadiet-, toppstadiet- och underhållsstadiet. Resultaten visade att faktorer som bidrar till både framgångsrik och dåliga idrottsprestationer förekom under olika skeden av idrottskarriären som, t.ex. socialt stöd, familj, tränare, lagkamrater, idrottslig förmåga, idrottsliga erfarenheter och idrottsprestationer. Resultaten visade också att de olika faktorerna verkade spela olika betydelse beroende på det specifika karriärsteget inom idrotten. Ett exempel är stödjande närstående och idrottsmiljö som visade sig ha störst betydelse för bidragandet av framgångsrika idrottsprestationer i inledningsfasen. Idrottslig förmåga visade sig ha störst betydelse för bidragandet av framgångsrika idrottsprestationer i toppfasen av idrottskarriären. Resultaten diskuteras utifrån teoretiska ramverk och tidigare forskning. Förslag på framtida forskning samt implikationer ges.

Characterizing probability distribution function for the input of a communication channel that achieves the maximum possible data rate is one of the most fundamental problems in the field of information theory. In his ground-breaking paper, Shannon showed that the capacity of a point-to-point additive white Gaussian noise channel under an average power constraint at the input, is achieved by Gaussian distribution. Although imposing a limitation on the peak of the channel input is also very important in modelling the communication system more accurately, it has gained much less attention in the past few decades. A rather unexpected result of Smith indicated that the capacity achieving distribution for an AWGN channel under peak constraint at the input is unique and discrete, possessing a finite number of mass points. In this thesis, we study multiple access channel under peak constraints at the inputs of the channel. By extending Smith's argument to our multi-terminal problem we show that any point on the boundary of the capacity region of the channel is only achieved by discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points. Although we do not claim uniqueness of the capacity-achieving distributions, however, we show that only discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points can achieve points on the boundary of the capacity region. First we deal with the problem of maximizing the sum-rate of a two user Gaussian MAC with peak constraints. It is shown that generating the code-books of both users according to discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points achieves the largest sum-rate in the network. After that we generalize our proof to maximize the weighted sum-rate of the channel and show that the same properties hold for the optimum input distributions. This completes the proof that the capacity region of a two-user Gaussian MAC is achieved by discrete input distributions with a finite number of mass points.

No description available.

Characterizing probability distribution function for the input of a communication channel that achieves the maximum possible data rate is one of the most fundamental problems in the field of information theory. In his ground-breaking paper, Shannon showed that the capacity of a point-to-point additive white Gaussian noise channel under an average power constraint at the input, is achieved by Gaussian distribution. Although imposing a limitation on the peak of the channel input is also very important in modelling the communication system more accurately, it has gained much less attention in the past few decades. A rather unexpected result of Smith indicated that the capacity achieving distribution for an AWGN channel under peak constraint at the input is unique and discrete, possessing a finite number of mass points. In this thesis, we study multiple access channel under peak constraints at the inputs of the channel. By extending Smith's argument to our multi-terminal problem we show that any point on the boundary of the capacity region of the channel is only achieved by discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points. Although we do not claim uniqueness of the capacity-achieving distributions, however, we show that only discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points can achieve points on the boundary of the capacity region. First we deal with the problem of maximizing the sum-rate of a two user Gaussian MAC with peak constraints. It is shown that generating the code-books of both users according to discrete distributions with a finite number of mass points achieves the largest sum-rate in the network. After that we generalize our proof to maximize the weighted sum-rate of the channel and show that the same properties hold for the optimum input distributions. This completes the proof that the capacity region of a two-user Gaussian MAC is achieved by discrete input distributions with a finite number of mass points.

No description available.

No description available.

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No description available.