The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the complementary concepts of stability and change could manifest during the therapeutic process, specifically with clients showing the symptom of dependency. The study is guided by a literature study on systems/cybernetic theory with a focus on the cybernetic complementarity of stability and change. A brief description is provided of the symptom of dependency from a more traditional lineal perspective as well as a non-lineal (systemic) perspective. A single case study is utilized to describe how both stability and change could manifest in the therapeutic process. From this description the relevance and usefulness of addressing both stability and change during the therapeutic process emerge and are outlined. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science Mental Health)

This study focuses on the cybernetic complementarity of stability and change in family therapy. Stability and change involve both the client and therapist, and is a selfreferential process where the observer is part of that which is observed. One couple was involved in ten therapy sessions. During the action research cycles of planning, acting and reflecting, the principles of systems theory, cybernetics and second cybernetics were implemented. A team consisting of one lecturer and two students were actively involved throughout all the phases of the research process. During therapy, the therapist focused on stability to facilitate change in the structure of the couple's organizational system. The research served as a good example of how punctuation of two complementarity processes (stability and change) can enable and empower clients to autonomously reflect on their own behaviour, and to make decisions regarding patterns they would like or feel ready to change. / Social Science (Mental Health) / Thesis (M. Soc. Science)--University of South Africa, 2001. / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Two important trends have been noted in humankind's thinking of the world. These are increasing dissatisfaction with the rigid, dichotomous views of the Cartesian-Newtonian paradigm, and an increasing awareness of humankind's gpirituality. This dissertation broaches both these trends by exploring the new paradigm, that of cybernetic epistemology, which is a far more holistic and spiritual perspective. This is done as follows. Certain concepts from cybernetics are discussed in terms of their implications and meanings. These are then discussed from a spiritual perspective, (specifically Christian), according to how they fit with the Biblical understanding of God and His creation. The aim was to see if and how cybernetics and Christianity meet - how their basic assumptions about the world and life compare. The conclusion is that the relationship between cybernetics and Christianity is that they are both similar and different and this dissertation is about the pattern that connects the two. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Submitted by Ana Carla Almeida (ana.almeida@ucsal.br) on 2016-10-03T15:05:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos,JDS-2016.pdf: 1652212 bytes, checksum: d2c5ba8abe099c74559b04fabbb01e4b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rosemary Magalhães (rosemary.magalhaes@ucsal.br) on 2016-10-06T18:35:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos,JDS-2016.pdf: 1652212 bytes, checksum: d2c5ba8abe099c74559b04fabbb01e4b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-06T18:35:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos,JDS-2016.pdf: 1652212 bytes, checksum: d2c5ba8abe099c74559b04fabbb01e4b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-28 / A velhice apresenta-se como um contexto existencial singular, o que justifica a expressão utilizada por Norbert Elias: “a solidão dos moribundos”, observada para grande número de pessoas idosas. A caracterização desse sentimento dar-se-ia pela fragilidade biológica, emocional e psicológica dos idosos. Dessa forma os idosos convivem com a passagem do tempo e a inexorável finitude de nossa existência, adquirindo uma percepção temporal mais sensível com o passar dos anos. Por outro lado, seria possível, diante desse quadro de finitude humana e aumento de fragilidades, permanecer feliz e encontrar sentido existencial, ou um motivo para ser feliz, na acepção de Frankl (1984)? Tal questionamento motivou a realização de um estudo qualitativo, baseado em histórias de vida, cujo objetivo foi analisar a percepção sobre o sentido da vida na velhice de educadoras idosas (aposentadas) residentes em cidades do interior da Bahia, maiores de 60 anos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de pesquisa qualitativa através de entrevistas narrativas abertas. A compreensão em maior profundidade oferecida pela entrevista qualitativa pode fornecer informação contextual valiosa para ajudar a explicar achados específicos (Bauer, 2003). Assim, foram feitas as seguintes perguntas disparadoras: O que é envelhecer para você? Como é estar aposentada? Fale-me sobre momentos felizes de sua vida. Fale sobre momentos difíceis que teve de enfrentar, e como você os superou. Coerentemente com a abordagem de história de vida (Oliveira, 2008), registrou-se fielmente, em áudio, a fala dos sujeitos, transcrita verbatim. As participantes do estudo são seis senhoras que foram educadoras e hoje estão aposentadas, residentes em cidades do interior da Bahia, pertencentes à classe média e praticantes do catolicismo com idades entre 60 e 92 anos. Cada participante foi entrevistada em sua própria residência. Os transcritos geraram categorias temáticas, discutidas com base na abordagem da psicologia cultural de base semiótica Zittoun (2004) do Sentido da Vida de Viktor Frankl (1984). Foram especialmente relevantes, para a interpretação dos dados, os seguintes aspectos: análise das trajetórias desenvolvimentais a partir do evento aposentadoria e viuvez, tomados como pontos de ruptura e transição; a vivência de valores sob os quais o ser humano encontra sentido em suas ações como criador: são os valores de criação; quando se entrega à experiência de algo que recebe do mundo: são os valores de vivência; e quando escolhe por atitudes afirmativas diante do sofrimento: são os valores de atitude. Essas análises permitiram a identificação de recursos materiais e simbólicos utilizados pelas participantes para enfrentarem a velhice, aposentadoria e viuvez. Nas conclusões, destaca-se a presença da vivência dos valores propostos por Frankl com a identificação de sentido de vida e inteireza existencial. / Old age is presented as a singular existential context, which justifies the expression used by Norbert Elias, "the loneliness of the dying", seen for many older people. The characterization of this feeling would give the biological fragility, emotional and psychological elderly. Thus, the elderly live with the passage of time and the inexorable finitude of our existence, acquiring a more sensitive time perception over the years. On the other hand, it would be possible, given that human finitude frame and increased fragility stay happy and find existential meaning, or a reason to be happy in the sense Frankl (1984). Such questioning led to performing a qualitative study, based on life stories, aimed to analyse the perception of the meaning of life in old age of older teachers (retired) residents in cities in the interior of Bahia, over 60 years. Data collected through qualitative research through open narrative interviews. The understanding in greater depth provided by qualitative interview can provide valuable contextual information to help explain specific findings (Bauer, 2003). Thus triggering the following questions asked. What is stale you? As is to be retired. Tell me about happy moments of your life. Talk about hard times faced and how you overcame them. In line with the life story approach (Oliveira, 2008), it faithfully recorded, audio, speech of subjects, transcribed verbatim. Study participants are six ladies who were educators and are now retired, living in cities in the interior of Bahia, belonging to the middle class and Catholicism practitioners aged between 60 and 92 years. Each participant interviewed at his own residence. Transcripts generated themes discussed based on the approach to cultural psychology semiotic base Zittoun (2004) Sense of Viktor Frankl Life (1984). They were particularly relevant to the interpretation of the data. The analysis of the developmental pathways from the retirement and widowhood event, taken as break and transition points. The experience of values in which human beings find meaning in their actions as creator: are the creation of value; when delivery to the experience of something that gets in the world: it is the experience of values; and when you choose to affirmative attitudes of suffering: it is the attitude values. These analyses allowed the identification of material and symbolic resources used by the participants to face old age, retirement and widowhood. The conclusions clearly the presence of living the values proposed by Frankl as the identification of meaning of life and existential integrity.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T13:56:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CinthiaSO_TESE.pdf: 4439176 bytes, checksum: 4a9fb3c961f80971e11ea214049dd828 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-17 / This paper presents the theoretical-methodological possibilities of the French philosopher and sociologist Henri Lefebvre, for the discipline of architecture and urbanism in an effort to overcome the fragmentation imposed by the institutionalization of science in general. From Du rural ? l'urbain (Lefebvre, 1970) compilation, it brings the author's other works from the period between 1968 and 1974, indicating the conduits for reflection and their interrelationships with methods, types of analyses and other procedures to treat the space-time urban. The methodology involves a research on the author s 'today and yesterday' in the scientific field, a research and analysis of his procedures in highlight of philosophical, social, economic and political aspects, the historical context of his references and provides significant and possible elements for the study, research and extension in the area in question / Este trabalho apresenta possibilidades te?rico metodol?gicas do fil?sofo e soci?logo franc?s, Henri Lefebvre, para a disciplina de arquitetura e urbanismo, no esfor?o de ultrapassar a fragmenta??o imposta pela institucionaliza??o das ci?ncias de modo geral. A partir da compila??o Du rural ? l urbain (LEFEBVRE, 1970), abrange outras obras do autor do per?odo entre 1968 e 1974, indicando condutas para a reflex?o e suas inter-rela??es com m?todos, categorias de an?lises e outros procedimentos para tratar o espa?o-tempo de vida urbana. A metodologia envolve pesquisas sobre o ontem e o hoje do autor no meio cient?fico, investiga??es e an?lises dos seus procedimentos ? luz de aspectos filos?ficos, sociais, econ?micos e pol?ticos, a contextualiza??o hist?rica de suas refer?ncias e apresenta elementos significativos e poss?veis para o estudo, a pesquisa e a extens?o na ?rea em quest?o

The main goal of this thesis was to obtain an understanding of the way in which accounting practices that are constantly in transition generate the information that is disclosed in corporate annual reports (CARS). The study shows that CARS may be seen as a product of two main interrelated information processing systems, the first being the mandatory financial information system (MFIS) and the second the discretionary information system (DIS). The MFIS uses accounting practices such as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which include International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Accounting Standards (IASs), JSE regulations and the Companies' Act requirements, in producing the information disclosed in CARS. The needs of users to reduce the uncertainty and risks in their decision making have an influence on the constantly evolving accounting practices. Standard-setting bodies play a major role in the development and refinement of GAAP. On the other hand, the DIS, in order to provide a complete picture of business entities, uses discretionary accounting practices to produce the contextual information contained in CARS. These discretionary accounting practices are also currently in transition. They cater for the production of information on the business environment, and provide an operating and financial review, overview of strategy, forward-looking information, key performance indicators and information on corporate governance and transparency. Standard-setting bodies may be able to use the contextual information contained in CARS to develop and refine the GAAP used by the MFIS. / Thesis (DComm(Accounting Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Financial Management / DCom / unrestricted

This study articulates the lived experiences regarding drug adherence by adolescents in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe to aid understanding the experiences the adolescents go through as they try to live as normal a life as possible despite them having the most stigmatised condition in the country in particular and the world at large. A phenomenological inquiry was undertaken using Wertz’s (1983, 2005, 2011) empirical psychological reflection approach for data analysis, after utilizing purposive, convenience and criterion sampling techniques to select thirteen (13) adolescents who were on ART and were in good health and also willing to take part in the study. Data were generated using in-depth qualitative interviews and the interviews continued until data redundancy was reached. The interview proceedings were digitally audio-recorded in addition to taking field notes and these were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis occurred at idiographic and nomothetic levels according to the principles of Wertz’s empirical psychological reflection. Thematic analysis of the research data revealed six (6) themes namely:  Treatment fatigue.  Delay in getting to know own HIV status.  Stigma  Disability (visual impairment).  Lack of support.  Religious beliefs (church). Wholeness emerged as the single most encompassing and accommodating concept that united the various themes and categories. It further grounded adolescents’ experiences regarding drug adherence and coping with challenges associated with HIV. The findings add substantial knowledge about how adolescents experience drug adherence. Important recommendations are made and guidelines that may be used to increase adolescents’ resilience to challenges of being HIV infected are suggested. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Nursing)

The purpose of this study is to see how preschool playgrounds offer children anenvironment that inspires them to movement and physical activity in terms of size,material, and vegetation.Previous research shows that children that have access to a preschool playground that isat least 3000 sqm or 40 sqm per child and that have a variation of vegetation is morelikely to engage in physical activity than children that have a preschool playground that isless than 3000 sqm and that have none or very little vegetation. The research also showsthat preschool playgrounds need to have space for the children to be able to get up tospeed and have materials that are of a movement-inspiring nature and which does notcontribute to sedentary or stationary. We have linked this study to the outdoorpedagogical perspective because it looks at the possibilities of the environment and to thetotality between place material and its interplay.We have gathered information by making observations and by contacting officials in thetargeted areas which we have chosen in Stockholm to collect data about the sizes of allpreschool playgrounds in the area. In order to make the observations we made a checklistof what we needed to observe to get the most accurate results. To know which preschoolsto observe we analyzed the data we collected from the officials in the target areas. Wepicked the preschools with the smallest and the biggest preschool playgrounds in thetarget areas and began our observations.During our observations we could see that our formulated questions are consistent withthe results. The result shows that the larger the preschool playground is, the morepossibility of movement and physical activity it offers to children. We could also see thatthe farther away the preschools were from the city, the bigger they got, and morevegetation was integrated in the environment. We could also see that in comparisonbetween the smaller and the larger preschool playgrounds, the material was moreinspiring to movement and physical activities in the larger ones.

The research on "The healing touch of Nature in the context of pastoral therapy" illustrated the role of Nature in bringing healing to individual people in an urban context in South Africa. The role Nature plays in connecting the participants with God and how this positively affects their daily lives, has been central in the research. Through their interaction with Nature, the participants lead richer, more meaningful lives and experience a greater sense of well-being. Nature stimulates and elicits response as the digital world is set against the calm energy and "warmth of the earth". Through connection with God in Nature, the participants translate the healing metaphor into more tangible "language" – the "beautifying effect" of Nature. It is not the words that captivate, but the thoughts which the words carry. Mostly the research tells the story of the experiential knowledge of living in the intimate presence of God and the healing power of God‘s presence. This narrative is about a kind of knowing that can only come through Nature. The research offers a way of seeing Nature that could influence pastoral care today. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

This dissertation demonstrates and illustrates the challenges involved in the construction of new realities when Duhl's (1983) idea of using metaphor to apply the ecosystems concept of wholeness of systems, was exercised in two ways. Firstly, the study was written in the form of an imaginary conversation between the author in the role of researcher and an imaginary peer consultant, about making sense of ways of thinking. Through presenting her observations to other observers, who are actually herself, a new reality was constructed for the author. Secondly, new individual and group realities were constructed by a group of social workers in the SANDF, who encountered their own ways of thinking through metaphorical means such as sculpting. Recommendations, co-constructed by the author, the imaginary peer consultant and two more imaginary colleagues, suggest possible uses of the ecosystems perspective in social work including in settings such as the SANDF. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))