This dissertation consists of two essays that focus on the topics related to asset pricing with jump risks. The first essay explores the effect of disaster risk on the beliefs and portfolio choices of ambiguity-averse agents. With the introduction of Cressie-Read discrepancies, a time-varying pessimism state variable arises endogenously, generating time-varying disaster risk. In the event of a disaster, agents heighten their pessimism, anticipating subsequent disasters to arrive sooner. Within this framework, we deduce optimal consumption and portfolio choices that are robust to model misspecification. Additionally, our measure of pessimism aids in understanding the stylized facts derived from Vanguard’s retail investor survey data, as reported in Giglio et al. (2021). In the second essay, I construct a novel measure to assess the impact of macro announcements on investors’ risk expectations using S&P 500 index and Treasury futures options. This measure corrects the systematic downward jumps in the option- implied variance measure and isolates innovations of investors’ risk expectations after macro-announcements. Applied to key economic releases, including FOMC meetings, GDP, PPI, and Employment data announcements, this measure reveals that macro announcements significantly increase investors’ risk expectations compared to pre-announcement levels. Furthermore, I show investor sentiment significantly declines following macro-announcements with heightened risk expectations, and tail risk positively correlates with risk expectations.

No / The tilt aftereffect (TAE) has been used previously to probe whether contours defined by different attributes are subserved by the same or by different underlying mechanisms. Here, we compare two types of contours between texture surfaces, one with texture orientation contrast across the edge (orientation contrast contour; OC) and one without, commonly referred to as a subjective contour (SC). Both contour types produced curves of TAE versus adapting angle displaying typical positive and negative peaks at ~15 and 70 deg, respectively. The curves are well fit by difference of Gaussian (DoG) functions, with one Gaussian accounting for the contour adaptation effect and the other accounting for the texture orientation adaptation effect. Adaptation to OC elicited larger TAEs than did adaptation to SC, suggesting that they more effectively activate orientation-selective neurons in V1/V2 during prolonged viewing. Surprisingly, both contour types adapted a luminance contour (LC) as strongly as did an LC itself, suggesting that the second-order orientation cue contained in the texture edge activates the same set of orientation-selective neurons as does an LC. These findings have implications for the mechanisms by which the orientations of texture edges and SCs are encoded

Critically examining the Lacanian and Althusserian theories of the subject, this thesis explored the theoretical problems and methodological premises of a converged version of both theories. The central argument the present thesis seeks to demonstrate is that the Lacanian-Althusserian dialectic provides a more comprehensive and effective account of the process of the subject formation than a purely psychoanalytical or structuralist Marxist analysis of the term. After a critical study of the way the subject is positioned between language and ideology in contemporary critical theory the thesis proceeds to investigate the subject-object relation in the Cartesian and Hegelian subjects. Conceived of as the convergence of lack and material, the Lacanian-Althusserian dialectic focuses on the close affinity between the Lacanian notion of linguistic alienation and the Althusserian concept of ideological interpellation. The subject’s alienation with what is called in the thesis ‘ideological signifier’ is considered as the result of direct and dramatic modes of interpellation in both language acquisition process and the mature phase. The major theoretical premises of this model include the following: first, identity functions through, and because of, the ‘inter-subjective dialectic’ and an ‘intra-subjective lack.’ Identity is never fully constituted because of this antagonism, and thus remains ‘incomplete.’ Secondly, the subject is ideologically constituted through language. The mechanism through which both language and ideology construct a subject never permits the subject enjoying a state of full identity with ideological signifiers. Thirdly, the subject’s identity is represented in the language exposed to and, later, reproduced by him/her. In order to demonstrate a practical reading of subjectivity formation in terms of this critical approach the present research applies it to James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). The process of the subject formation has been analysed through the subject’s alienation/interpellation by the ISAs. Also, the inter-subjective dialectic between different subjectivities of the subject’s identity has been investigated. The thesis demonstrates that identity reconstruction represented in the novel is a complicated and ongoing process, which begins with disillusionment, goes through materialization of epiphany, and ends with inventiveness in language. This process has been represented as a move from ideological to non-ideological subjectivity through artistic creativity. The exploration of the aesthetics of language is crucial to the analysis of the reconstruction of Stephen Dedalus’ identity in that it happens in and through language.

Dans la partie introductive (Partie A), le Chapitre 1 présente la schizophrénie et la prise en compte encore rare de la qualité de vie subjective dans cette population. La fiabilité de l’appréciation subjective de la qualité de vie a longtemps été critiquée compte tenu des fréquents troubles de l’insight relevés dans cette population. Ce chapitre souligne un paradoxe, où, d’un côté, les politiques d’empowerment encouragent l’intégration du sujet comme acteur de sa prise en charge, alors que, d’un autre côté, les troubles de l’insight peuvent limiter voire empêcher l’engagement thérapeutique.Le Chapitres II et III présentent les conceptualisations classiques de l’insight clinique dans la schizophrénie (définitions, évaluations, modélisations). Parmi les modélisations classiques, les prédicteurs sont essentiellement personnels (ex. ressources cognitives) et cliniques (symptômes). Les travaux ont progressivement intégré des variables modératrices ou médiatrices, n’ayant pas toujours relevé de relation directe entre ces facteurs classiques et l’insight. Cependant, les modélisations tiennent essentiellement compte des capacités propres au sujet, en omettant de relever le processus éminemment interactif en jeu dans l’insight ou dans son évaluation. Le Chapitre IV présente les études ayant porté sur les relations entre insight et certains indicateurs centraux du soin. Ce chapitre permet de situer le débat encore vif autour de la balance potentielle bénéfices/coûts d’une intervention thérapeutique centrée sur l’insight. Là encore, les résultats des études demeurent contradictoires. Ils laissent supposer que les facteurs interpersonnels pourraient apporter des informations cruciales pour préciser les conditions d’une intervention centrée sur l’insight. Le Chapitre V décrit les quelques études internationales sur l’insight ayant inclus des facteurs interpersonnels. Seules les caractéristiques personnelles impliquées dans les relations interpersonnelles (cognition sociale) ont été étudiées comme variables explicatives de l’insight. Les caractéristiques de l’environnement proche impliquées dans les relations interpersonnelles ont été partiellement interrogées afin d’expliquer les relations insight-corrélats cliniques. Plus rares encore sont les études ayant porté sur les variables interpersonnelles expliquant les relations insight et qualité de vie subjective. Le Chapitre VI présente les deux objectifs de cette thèse. Dans le cadre d’une étude transversale, il s’agissait d’explorer la pertinence de l’inclusion de facteurs interpersonnels i) dans les modèles explicatifs de l’insight, et ceci selon le mode auto ou hétéro-évaluatif ; ii) dans l’explication des relations insight et qualité de vie subjective. La Partie B décrit en détail la méthode utilisée, avec la procédure et les différentes analyses réalisées afin d’explorer ces questions. La Partie C présente les caractéristiques de l’échantillon constitué et les résultats significatifs aux différentes analyses conduites, en les resituant face aux recherches internationales. Les facteurs interpersonnels permettent d’améliorer la qualité des modèles classiques de l’insight, quelle que soit la méthode d’évaluation (auto versus hétéro-évaluation). Cependant, les facteurs interpersonnels isolés sont différents pour chacune de ces méthodes. Enfin, les résultats suggèrent que certains facteurs interpersonnels modèrent la relation insight-qualité de vie subjective. La Partie D discute les résultats principaux de cette thèse, en insistant sur les limites de la recherche et les perspectives qu’elles ouvrent en conséquence. Quatre points d’intervention spécifique autour de l’insight sont développés, chacun propre à considérer et intégrer les facteurs interpersonnels comme leviers thérapeutiques. / In the Part A, the Chapter 1 presents schizophrenia and the subjective quality of life, rarely considered in this population. The reliability of subjective quality of life assessment has been frequently criticized because of the frequent lack of insight in schizophrenia. This chapter highlights the following paradox. On one hand, the empowerment policies induce the consideration of the subject as playing an active role with regard to the treatment that they receive, whereas, on the other hand, the lack of insight can limit or prevent therapeutic engagement. Chapters II and III present classical conceptualizations of clinical insight in schizophrenia (definition, assessment, models). Among the classical models, predictors of insight have been mostly investigated in terms of personal (e.g. cognitive resources) and clinical factors (symptoms). These studies have gradually integrated moderating or mediating factors since data about linear relationships between insight and classical factors were inconsistent. However, models are essentially based on the subject abilities, without taking into account the interactional process involved in insight. The Chapter IV presents studies investigating associations between insight and clinical outcomes. This chapter highlights the debate still active on the cost/benefit potential balance of a therapeutic intervention focused on insight. Here again, consensus is lacking. Interpersonal factors might also give crucial information to define more thoroughly the conditions of interventions focused on insight. The Chapter V describes the few international studies dealing with insight and interpersonal factors. Only personal characteristics involved in interpersonal relationships (e.g. social cognition) have been studied as predictors of insight. The close environment characteristics that are involved in interpersonal relationships have been partially questioned in order to explain relationships between insight and clinical outcomes. Very few studies have been focused on interpersonal variables that could explain relationships between insight and subjective quality of life. The Chapter VI presents the two main objectives of this work. Through a cross-sectional study, we explored whether including interpersonal factors i) in explanatory models of insight, ii) in explanation of relationships between insight and subjective quality of life could be relevant. The Part B gives details about the method, the procedure and the different analyses that have been conducted in order to explore these questions. The Part C presents sample characteristics and significant results of analyses. These results are compared to those of international research. Interpersonal factors significantly improved the quality of classical insight models, whatever the assessment method (self-reported versus expert-rated insight). However, depending on the assessment method, distinct interpersonal factors were identified. Finally, results suggest that several interpersonal factors moderate the relationships between insight and subjective quality of life. Finally, the Part D discusses the main results of this work, insisting on the limits of the present research and giving some perspectives for future research. Four points for clinical interventions on insight are developed, each integrating interpersonal factors as therapeutic lever.

La fibromyalgie est un trouble qui intéresse la médecine somatique, dont le principal signe relève des douleurs chroniques et diffuses qui s’additionnent ou se déplacent dans l’ensemble du corps et de ses organes. L’absence de possibilité d’imagerie médicale à l’assise de ce trouble rend la parole du patient nécessaire pour l’établissement de son diagnostic.Nous nous intéressons à l’équivoque de cette parole, notamment avec le principe de l’assertion subjective. Dans ce contexte, la théorisation psychosomatique sera critiquée dans la réduction qu’elle autorise entre les sphères psychique et somatique. Nous questionnons également la dynamique transférentielle, au travers de la distinction entre l’angoisse et l’effroi.La parole du patient et le contexte médical de la fibromyalgie invitent à interroger la théorisation lacanienne des quatre discours. Il n’en reste que deux : celui du médecin sur le mode universitaire – il a créé le maître comme une ombre factice – et celui du patient sur le mode hystérique – dont l’analyste se fait l’écho. Nous détournons également les dimensions Réel-Symbolique-Imaginaire en restituant leur ordonnancement I.S.R. au fil de l’histoire du patient. / The fibromyalgia is a disorder which interests the somatic medicine, of which the main sign raiseschronic and diffuse pains which add up or move in the whole of the body and of its organs. The absence of possibility of medical imaging in the basis of this disorder returns the word of the patient necessity for the establishment of its diagnosis.We are interested in the ambiguity of this word, in particular with the principle of the subjective assertion. In this context, the psychosomatic theorization will be criticized in the reduction which it authorizes between the psychic and somatic spheres. We also question the transférentielle dynamics, through the distinction between the anxiety and the dismay.The word of the patient and the medical context of the fibromyalgia invite to question the Lacanian theorization of four speeches. There is there only two: that of the doctor on the university mode - He(it) created master as an artificial shadow - and that of the patient on the hysteric mode - which the analyst echoes. We also divert the dimensions Réel-Symbolique-Imaginaire by restoring their sequencing I. S. R. in the course of the story of the patient.

This study aims to describe the quality of life of Turkey in comparison with the European Union Member States including the other candidate countries Bulgaria and Romania. The main question in the study is to determine where Turkey stands in terms of quality of life domains in the membership process to the European Union. For this aim, &ldquo / The European Quality of Life Survey&rdquo / that has been launched in 2003 including 28 countries in Europe has been used. The survey consists of eight life domains including different objective and subjective indicators to measure the quality of life in these countries. The findings revealed that although Turkey displays similar patterns with the other candidate countries, it lags behind the European Union Member States in most of these eight quality of life domains.

Disertaciniame darbe nagrinėjama depresija sergančių asmenų savijauta ir subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu, šių reiškinių sąsaja bei pokyčiai gydymo metu. Siekiama atskleisti subjektyvaus asmens savo ligos ir sveikatos vertinimo svarbą prognozuojant sveikimo nuo depresijos rezultatus. Darbe siekiama detaliai išanalizuoti depresija sergančių asmenų savijautos struktūrą, taip pat patikrinti prielaidą, kad subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas gali būti laikomas psichikos sveikatos išteklių rodikliu. Teorinėms darbo prielaidoms patikrinti gydymo pradžioje ir pabaigoje buvo ištirti 195 depresija sergantys asmenys besigydantys psichiatrijos stacionare, naudojant klausimyną depresijos pokyčiams vertinti (Pranckevičienė, Goštautas, 2007), Pasaulinės sveikatos organizacijos gyvenimo kokybės klausimyną (PSOGK – Trumpas) ir kitas papildomas metodikas. Statistinė rezultatų analizė atskleidė, kad depresija sergančių asmenų savijauta yra daugiakomponentė ir psichologinių bei somatinių savijautos komponentų išskyrimas yra naudingas analizuojant depresija sergančių asmenų sveikimą stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu. Subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas neprognozuoja gydymo rezultatų, tačiau yra tinkamas subjektyvus visuminės sveikatos matas, nes gerai parodo funkcines ir kognityvines depresijos pasekmes, t.y. pasikeitusį suvokimą. Tyrimas iliustruoja psichologinės pagalbos svarbą stacionarinio depresijos gydymo laikotarpiu. / The study analyses patients’ subjective complaints and subjective evaluation of life, and seeks to evaluate changes and relationships of these phenomena during inpatient treatment of depression, stressing the importance of subjective experience in understanding the burden of the illness, resources for recovery and treatment outcomes. The study seeks to analyze the structure of depressed patients’ subjective complaints, as well as to evaluate the utility of the subjective evaluation of life for treatment outcome evaluation. 195 depressed inpatients were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and at the time of discharge, using measures of subjective depressive complaints (Pranckevičienė, Goštautas, 2007), subjective quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) and other clinical and social-demographic data. The results of the study show that additional attention to psychological and somatic components of patients’ subjective complaints is useful and compliments the analysis of depressed inpatients’ recovery process. The subjective evaluation of life should be interpreted as a more generic measure of consequences of depression, but not as a measure of depressed inpatient’s recovery resources. The results validate the need of psychological interventions during inpatient treatment.

The study analyses patients’ subjective complaints and subjective evaluation of life, and seeks to evaluate changes and relationships of these phenomena during inpatient treatment of depression, stressing the importance of subjective experience in understanding the burden of the illness, resources for recovery and treatment outcomes. The study seeks to analyze the structure of depressed patients’ subjective complaints, as well as to evaluate the utility of the subjective evaluation of life for treatment outcome evaluation. 195 depressed inpatients were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and at the time of discharge, using measures of subjective depressive complaints (Pranckevičienė, Goštautas, 2007), subjective quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) and other clinical and social-demographic data. The results of the study show that additional attention to psychological and somatic components of patients’ subjective complaints is useful and compliments the analysis of depressed inpatients’ recovery process. The subjective evaluation of life should be interpreted as a more generic measure of consequences of depression, but not as a measure of depressed inpatient’s recovery resources. The results validate the need of psychological interventions during inpatient treatment. / Disertaciniame darbe nagrinėjama depresija sergančių asmenų savijauta ir subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu, šių reiškinių sąsaja bei pokyčiai gydymo metu. Siekiama atskleisti subjektyvaus asmens savo ligos ir sveikatos vertinimo svarbą prognozuojant sveikimo nuo depresijos rezultatus. Darbe siekiama detaliai išanalizuoti depresija sergančių asmenų savijautos struktūrą, taip pat patikrinti prielaidą, kad subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas gali būti laikomas psichikos sveikatos išteklių rodikliu. Teorinėms darbo prielaidoms patikrinti gydymo pradžioje ir pabaigoje buvo ištirti 195 depresija sergantys asmenys besigydantys psichiatrijos stacionare, naudojant klausimyną depresijos pokyčiams vertinti (Pranckevičienė, Goštautas, 2007), Pasaulinės sveikatos organizacijos gyvenimo kokybės klausimyną (PSOGK – Trumpas) ir kitas papildomas metodikas. Statistinė rezultatų analizė atskleidė, kad depresija sergančių asmenų savijauta yra daugiakomponentė ir psichologinių bei somatinių savijautos komponentų išskyrimas yra naudingas analizuojant depresija sergančių asmenų sveikimą stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu. Subjektyvus gyvenimo vertinimas neprognozuoja gydymo rezultatų, tačiau yra tinkamas subjektyvus visuminės sveikatos matas, nes gerai parodo funkcines ir kognityvines depresijos pasekmes, t.y. pasikeitusį suvokimą. Tyrimas iliustruoja psichologinės pagalbos svarbą stacionarinio depresijos gydymo laikotarpiu.

The aim of this thesis was to develop a questionnaire for cognitive functioning, which could possibly be used as a screening instrument for early signs of dementia in the future. The introduction discusses the often made distinction between subjective and objective measures. A background to the four articles is provided, focussing on findings of weak relationships between self-report- and laboratory measures of memory/cognition. Studies I and II provided results and conclusions that guided instrument development and validation in Studies III and IV. All studies were based on data from participants in the Betula Prospective Cohort Study. Study I investigated predictors of scores on an established self-report instrument for memory failures (PRMQ). Candidate predictors were memory performance on laboratory tests, age, depressive symptoms, and personality traits. There was no relation to age, and test performance did not predict self-reported memory, but depressive symptoms and personality did. Given the finding of a lack of a relation to age, and a bulk of research articles claiming that memory complaints are common in the elderly or increase with age, Study II used a global rating of problems with memory, and reports of perceived causes. In contrast to Study I, problems ratings were related to age, such that increasing age meant higher severity of problems. Furthermore, perceived causes of memory problems differed across age. The elderly reported aging while the young reported stress and multitasking as primary causes. With these results as a background, the purpose of Study III was to develop a new instrument (the Cognitive Dysfunction Questionnaire - CDQ) with the explicit aim that scores should be related to laboratory test performance. A global construct of cognitive functioning with an emphasis on memory systems was adopted, and an item pool was generated. Based on exploratory principal components analysis and correlations with criterion measures (laboratory test performance), twenty items in six domains were selected. Preliminary psychometric evidence showed that the CDQ was reliable, and related to age and objective measures, but not to depressive symptoms. In Study IV, twenty additional items were constructed, and the CDQ was responded to by participants in independent samples. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the factor structure derived from Study III, and refinement was undertaken by collapse of two domains and exclusion of items. The final factor structure was cross-validated. Competing models and measurement invariance across age and sex was tested. Psychometric properties were investigated for the final 20-item version.

Le droit international, dans son rôle de « vigie » ou de « vigile » de la sécurité internationale, est parfois éprouvé par la délicate équation du défi de la paix en Afrique. En effet, depuis que ce continent est devenu « [acteur] de sa propre histoire », - avec le nouveau décor international occasionné par la fin de la période bipolaire -, paradoxalement, il est également devenu un terrain fertile en conflits. En dépit des mutations ou des « dynamiques du droit international », opérées par les Organisations internationales dans la pratique du maintien de la paix, la dynamique évolutive des conflits et leur nature irrégulière, posent bien de difficultés. Et c’est le nœud de ces rapports ambigus entre les Organisations internationales et les conflits en Afrique qu’il convient de tenter de défaire, en en appréhendant tour à tour, leur implication, puis leur contribution à la résolution desdits conflits. De cette double appréhension, émerge le besoin, dans les stratégies de résolution des conflits, d’une prise en compte aussi bien de la violence visible que de la violence invisible ; celle-ci suppose une réelle connaissance des vrais déterminants conflictuels. D’où la nécessité d’un droit régional africain de maintien de la paix car, la paix objective doit être accompagnée de la paix subjective / International law, in its role of "watchdog" or "vigil" of international security, is sometimes felt by the delicate equation of the challenge of peace in Africa. Since that this continent has become "actress of her own history" - with the new international backdrop caused by the end of the bipolar period - paradoxically, it has also become a breeding ground for conflicts. Despite mutations or "dynamic of international law", carried out by international organizations in the practice of peacekeeping, the evolutionary dynamics of conflict and their irregular nature pose many difficulties. And that is the crux of the ambiguous relationship between international organizations and conflict in Africa should try to undo in apprehending turn, their involvement and their contribution to the resolution of such conflicts.This double apprehension emerges the need, in conflict resolution strategies, taking into account both the visible violence of invisible violence; it implies real knowledge of true conflicting determinants. Hence the need for an African regional law peacekeeping because the objective peace must be accompanied by the subjective peace