Die teoretiese en empiriese verwantskappe tussen besluitneming, temperament en samehangendheidsin
- Authors: Cloete, Lynette
- Date: 2008-10-31T09:12:18Z
- Subjects: Temperament , Decision making , Coherence (Psychology)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:13933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1428
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , The aim of this study was to determine possible relationships between sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making and to explore the nature of these relationships. The study was based on the assumption that people attempt to make sense of complex environments and that differences in certain biological and psychological characteristics may lead to differences in the way that people make decisions in complex environments. Temperament was defined as a biological or physiological aspect that influences human behaviour. Sense of coherence was conceptualised as a psychological, global orientation that influences the way in which individuals understand their environments and can therefore give rise to individual differences in behaviour. Decision-making style was defined as a specific behavioural manifestation of the manner in which individuals make sense of complex environments and it was postulated that decision-making would probably be influenced by temperament and sense of coherence. In order to explore the current study’s research questions, a sample of 189 third year and Honours students in Psychology at a tertiary institution was used. The ages of the participants ranged from 19 tot 34 years and the average age was 22 years. More women (91.5%) participated in the study than men (8.5%). As a result of practicalities it was impossible to use a random sample. Three self-report measurements were used to respectively measure sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style. These were the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, Pavlovian Temperament Survey and Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire. The Pavlovian Temperament Survey measures three characteristics of the nervous system namely Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition and Mobility of the Nervous Processes. An additional sub-scale was added to measure Balance of the Nervous Processes. The Orientation to Life Questionnaire measures Comprehensibility, Manageability, Meaningfulness as well as total Sense of Coherence. The Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire measures four decision-making styles: one effective style, Vigilance and three ineffective styles, Procrastination, Hypervigilance and Buck Passing. The raw data that were collected from the completed questionnaires were subjected to several statistical analyses. The data were tested for normality of sub-scale distributions, which lead to logistical regression analyses being used to determine if temperament and sense of coherence can predict differences in decision-making style. Pearson product moment correlations as well as canonical correlations were also used. Multiple analyses of variance were used to determine whether biographical variables could account for any differences in sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style. The results indicated that differences due to language, year of study or work status did not affect scores with regard to sense of coherence, temperament or decision-making style. The sample could therefore be regarded as quite homogeneous and the effect of confounding variables could be limited. However, generalisability of the results was also compromised. It was found that Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition and Mobility of the Nervous Processes displayed relationships with Sense of coherence as well as the individual aspects of sense of coherence namely Comprehensibility, Manageability and Meaningfulness. This finding points to the possibility that physiological responses and psychological assessment of complex environments are related. Even though Balance of the Nervous Processes was not indicated as related to sense of coherence, it was found that this characteristic of the nervous system may possibly relate to decision-making. In line with these findings, the results indicated the possibility of relationships between a person’s psychological assessment of situations and behavioural outcomes as relationships were found between sense of coherence and decision-making style. It was indicated that certain temperament dimensions possibly displays an inverse relationship with decision-making styles, and especially the use of a hypervigilant decision-making style. However, the role of temperament in the use of a vigilant decision-making style is unclear. Lastly, the results indicated that the emotional assessment of stimuli as meaningful and challenging may possibly give rise to the use of a vigilant decision-making style. The assessment of situations as chaotic and unstructured could possibly relate more to the use of ineffective decision-making styles. An overall conclusion that can be made is that relationships between sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style do indeed exist but that the nature of the relationships is quite complex. It seems as if different mechanisms are at play with regard to determining the use of effective and ineffective decision-making styles. These mechanisms could possibly lie in the emotional and cognitive assessments of situations. It seems as if a healthy emotional assessment of situations as challenging and meaningful precede the use of an effective, cognitively-based decision-making style. The cognitive assessment of situations as chaotic and unstructured could possibly lead to a more emotional decision-making response and decisions may be postponed, its responsibility may be shifted or it may be handled in a panicky manner. The results of this study should be interpreted with care since the sample was quite homogeneous and not particularly large. The exclusive use of the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire to measure decision-making is also problematic and the inclusion of an objective measurement of decision-making efficiency would have been preferable. It is also unclear whether reported decision-making style is equal to true decision-making style. Lastly, it was also decided to move away from Antonovsky’s (1987) recommendations that sense of coherence be treated as one global construct and the individual sub-scales were analysed separately. Future research can make use of similar variables and statistical techniques with bigger and more diverse samples to facilitate the development of an explanatory model for behaviour within complex environments. If the same variables are used, other measurements should be included to expand the conceptual framework. Future research could also test the current findings in practice for example in training or therapy.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Cloete, Lynette
- Date: 2008-10-31T09:12:18Z
- Subjects: Temperament , Decision making , Coherence (Psychology)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:13933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1428
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , The aim of this study was to determine possible relationships between sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making and to explore the nature of these relationships. The study was based on the assumption that people attempt to make sense of complex environments and that differences in certain biological and psychological characteristics may lead to differences in the way that people make decisions in complex environments. Temperament was defined as a biological or physiological aspect that influences human behaviour. Sense of coherence was conceptualised as a psychological, global orientation that influences the way in which individuals understand their environments and can therefore give rise to individual differences in behaviour. Decision-making style was defined as a specific behavioural manifestation of the manner in which individuals make sense of complex environments and it was postulated that decision-making would probably be influenced by temperament and sense of coherence. In order to explore the current study’s research questions, a sample of 189 third year and Honours students in Psychology at a tertiary institution was used. The ages of the participants ranged from 19 tot 34 years and the average age was 22 years. More women (91.5%) participated in the study than men (8.5%). As a result of practicalities it was impossible to use a random sample. Three self-report measurements were used to respectively measure sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style. These were the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, Pavlovian Temperament Survey and Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire. The Pavlovian Temperament Survey measures three characteristics of the nervous system namely Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition and Mobility of the Nervous Processes. An additional sub-scale was added to measure Balance of the Nervous Processes. The Orientation to Life Questionnaire measures Comprehensibility, Manageability, Meaningfulness as well as total Sense of Coherence. The Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire measures four decision-making styles: one effective style, Vigilance and three ineffective styles, Procrastination, Hypervigilance and Buck Passing. The raw data that were collected from the completed questionnaires were subjected to several statistical analyses. The data were tested for normality of sub-scale distributions, which lead to logistical regression analyses being used to determine if temperament and sense of coherence can predict differences in decision-making style. Pearson product moment correlations as well as canonical correlations were also used. Multiple analyses of variance were used to determine whether biographical variables could account for any differences in sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style. The results indicated that differences due to language, year of study or work status did not affect scores with regard to sense of coherence, temperament or decision-making style. The sample could therefore be regarded as quite homogeneous and the effect of confounding variables could be limited. However, generalisability of the results was also compromised. It was found that Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition and Mobility of the Nervous Processes displayed relationships with Sense of coherence as well as the individual aspects of sense of coherence namely Comprehensibility, Manageability and Meaningfulness. This finding points to the possibility that physiological responses and psychological assessment of complex environments are related. Even though Balance of the Nervous Processes was not indicated as related to sense of coherence, it was found that this characteristic of the nervous system may possibly relate to decision-making. In line with these findings, the results indicated the possibility of relationships between a person’s psychological assessment of situations and behavioural outcomes as relationships were found between sense of coherence and decision-making style. It was indicated that certain temperament dimensions possibly displays an inverse relationship with decision-making styles, and especially the use of a hypervigilant decision-making style. However, the role of temperament in the use of a vigilant decision-making style is unclear. Lastly, the results indicated that the emotional assessment of stimuli as meaningful and challenging may possibly give rise to the use of a vigilant decision-making style. The assessment of situations as chaotic and unstructured could possibly relate more to the use of ineffective decision-making styles. An overall conclusion that can be made is that relationships between sense of coherence, temperament and decision-making style do indeed exist but that the nature of the relationships is quite complex. It seems as if different mechanisms are at play with regard to determining the use of effective and ineffective decision-making styles. These mechanisms could possibly lie in the emotional and cognitive assessments of situations. It seems as if a healthy emotional assessment of situations as challenging and meaningful precede the use of an effective, cognitively-based decision-making style. The cognitive assessment of situations as chaotic and unstructured could possibly lead to a more emotional decision-making response and decisions may be postponed, its responsibility may be shifted or it may be handled in a panicky manner. The results of this study should be interpreted with care since the sample was quite homogeneous and not particularly large. The exclusive use of the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire to measure decision-making is also problematic and the inclusion of an objective measurement of decision-making efficiency would have been preferable. It is also unclear whether reported decision-making style is equal to true decision-making style. Lastly, it was also decided to move away from Antonovsky’s (1987) recommendations that sense of coherence be treated as one global construct and the individual sub-scales were analysed separately. Future research can make use of similar variables and statistical techniques with bigger and more diverse samples to facilitate the development of an explanatory model for behaviour within complex environments. If the same variables are used, other measurements should be included to expand the conceptual framework. Future research could also test the current findings in practice for example in training or therapy.
- Full Text:
Emosionele intelligensie en akademiese sukses.
- Authors: De Korte, Annemari
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: Emotional maturity , Personality , Intellect , Intelligence tests - South Africa , Academic achievement - South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2599 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6048
- Description: M.A. , The principal aim of the study was to determine whether or not certain aspects of emotional intelligence account for the difference between students' academic success or failure. Although an in-depth study of existing literature on the topic of academic prowess soon disclosed that all aspects of an individual's functioning play a part in his or her academic performance, a flaw was uncovered in this argument in terms of the link between the individual's ability to deal with emotional processes and his or her academic functioning. The present study could, therefore, be considered to be the springboard for theory-building regarding the link between aspects of emotional intelligence and academic performance. Various studies in the domain of emotions have been undertaken with a view to study the manner in which individuals evaluate, communicate and apply emotions in their bid to solve problems and to adapt to circumstances of life. Emotional intelligence can be viewed as a meta ability that co-determines the extent to which an individual develops his or her potential, acquires and hones skills (including his or her intellect) and achieves his or her objectives. The manner in which the individual processes emotional contents could, therefore, have a profound effect on all intra and interpersonal aspects of his or her functioning, including his or her academic performance. In addition, existing literature soon discloses the multidimensional nature of the concept academic success to be a complex interchange between cognitive and non-cognitive factors. The interdependency between a number of these factors often serves to complicate any attempt to study them, however, and oft-times results in inconsistent and even contradictory findings. In the present study, the part that the individual's way of coping with emotional contents plays in his or her academic performance is subjected to close scrutiny. The experimental group selected for the purposes of the present study comprised 133 students in the age group 18 to 23 enrolled for a course in Psychology 1 at the Rand Afrikaans University. The said experimental group was deemed to represent the population of Human Sciences students at this institution. Based on their final-marks for Psychology 1, these students were divided into two categories, namely students who achieved academic success and students who failed to achieve academic success. Following, both groups of students were subjected to the Emotional Intelligence Battery of tests. Hotelling's T2-test was then used to determine whether or not the mean vectors of the two groups differed from each other. The F-test was applied to determine whether or not the variances between the two independent groups were homogeneous. Student's t-test was used to determine whether or not there be a statistically significant difference between the two means in terms of the five sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery. A stepwise discriminant analysis was conducted to determine which of the five variables (viz. the Social Translations (CBT) sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence, the Hogan Empathy Scale (HIES), the Self—Control Schedule (SCS), the Neuroticism sub-scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the total score of the Adolescent Self-Concept Scale (ASCS)) to the greatest extent contributed towards the differences between the two criterion groups (viz. academically successful students; academically unsuccessful students). The results of Hotelling's T 2-test indicated that the Emotional Intelligence Battery did indeed differentiate between students who achieved academic success and those who failed to achieve academic success in the specified population. Statistically significant differences were found in the vectors of means of Group 1 (viz. students who achieved academic success) and Group 2 (viz. students who failed to achieve academic success) with respect to the five sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery taken together. Statistically significant differences were found between the means of the two groups in respect of both the Social Translations sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence and the Hogan Empathy Scale. No statistically significant differences were, however, uncovered between the means of the two groups in respect of the rest of the sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery. The results of the stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that the variables Test 1 (the Social Translations sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence) and Test 5 (the Adolescent Self-Concept Scale (ASCS)) contributed towards the discrimination between Group 1 (academically successful students) and Group 2 (academically unsuccessful students). All in all, 64.8% of the experimental subjects was correctly classified by the two variables. In the present study, research was only undertaken in respect of the link between certain aspects of emotional intelligence and academic success. The present study could, therefore, be deemed to constitude an exploratory study, as no other study has ever been undertaken in the domain of the processing of emotional content in academic success. It is recommended that future research subject academic performance to a multidimensional scrutiny, with emotional intelligence being one of the factors. Further, it is recommended that future research be undertaken to determine the skills and abilities of experimental subjects from different cultural backgrounds and of both sexes, and that a comparison be drawn between these subjects' abilities and skills and their emotional intelligence.
- Full Text:
- Authors: De Korte, Annemari
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: Emotional maturity , Personality , Intellect , Intelligence tests - South Africa , Academic achievement - South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2599 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6048
- Description: M.A. , The principal aim of the study was to determine whether or not certain aspects of emotional intelligence account for the difference between students' academic success or failure. Although an in-depth study of existing literature on the topic of academic prowess soon disclosed that all aspects of an individual's functioning play a part in his or her academic performance, a flaw was uncovered in this argument in terms of the link between the individual's ability to deal with emotional processes and his or her academic functioning. The present study could, therefore, be considered to be the springboard for theory-building regarding the link between aspects of emotional intelligence and academic performance. Various studies in the domain of emotions have been undertaken with a view to study the manner in which individuals evaluate, communicate and apply emotions in their bid to solve problems and to adapt to circumstances of life. Emotional intelligence can be viewed as a meta ability that co-determines the extent to which an individual develops his or her potential, acquires and hones skills (including his or her intellect) and achieves his or her objectives. The manner in which the individual processes emotional contents could, therefore, have a profound effect on all intra and interpersonal aspects of his or her functioning, including his or her academic performance. In addition, existing literature soon discloses the multidimensional nature of the concept academic success to be a complex interchange between cognitive and non-cognitive factors. The interdependency between a number of these factors often serves to complicate any attempt to study them, however, and oft-times results in inconsistent and even contradictory findings. In the present study, the part that the individual's way of coping with emotional contents plays in his or her academic performance is subjected to close scrutiny. The experimental group selected for the purposes of the present study comprised 133 students in the age group 18 to 23 enrolled for a course in Psychology 1 at the Rand Afrikaans University. The said experimental group was deemed to represent the population of Human Sciences students at this institution. Based on their final-marks for Psychology 1, these students were divided into two categories, namely students who achieved academic success and students who failed to achieve academic success. Following, both groups of students were subjected to the Emotional Intelligence Battery of tests. Hotelling's T2-test was then used to determine whether or not the mean vectors of the two groups differed from each other. The F-test was applied to determine whether or not the variances between the two independent groups were homogeneous. Student's t-test was used to determine whether or not there be a statistically significant difference between the two means in terms of the five sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery. A stepwise discriminant analysis was conducted to determine which of the five variables (viz. the Social Translations (CBT) sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence, the Hogan Empathy Scale (HIES), the Self—Control Schedule (SCS), the Neuroticism sub-scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the total score of the Adolescent Self-Concept Scale (ASCS)) to the greatest extent contributed towards the differences between the two criterion groups (viz. academically successful students; academically unsuccessful students). The results of Hotelling's T 2-test indicated that the Emotional Intelligence Battery did indeed differentiate between students who achieved academic success and those who failed to achieve academic success in the specified population. Statistically significant differences were found in the vectors of means of Group 1 (viz. students who achieved academic success) and Group 2 (viz. students who failed to achieve academic success) with respect to the five sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery taken together. Statistically significant differences were found between the means of the two groups in respect of both the Social Translations sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence and the Hogan Empathy Scale. No statistically significant differences were, however, uncovered between the means of the two groups in respect of the rest of the sub-scales of the Emotional Intelligence Battery. The results of the stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that the variables Test 1 (the Social Translations sub-scale of the Four Factor Tests of Social Intelligence) and Test 5 (the Adolescent Self-Concept Scale (ASCS)) contributed towards the discrimination between Group 1 (academically successful students) and Group 2 (academically unsuccessful students). All in all, 64.8% of the experimental subjects was correctly classified by the two variables. In the present study, research was only undertaken in respect of the link between certain aspects of emotional intelligence and academic success. The present study could, therefore, be deemed to constitude an exploratory study, as no other study has ever been undertaken in the domain of the processing of emotional content in academic success. It is recommended that future research subject academic performance to a multidimensional scrutiny, with emotional intelligence being one of the factors. Further, it is recommended that future research be undertaken to determine the skills and abilities of experimental subjects from different cultural backgrounds and of both sexes, and that a comparison be drawn between these subjects' abilities and skills and their emotional intelligence.
- Full Text:
Symptomatic and functional concomitants of anterior temporal lobe surgery
- Authors: Du Preez, Kim
- Date: 2012-08-06
- Subjects: Epilepsy surgery , Clinical neuropsychology , Epileptics psychology , Anterior temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5404
- Description: Ph.D. , Epilepsy is a multidimensional disorder that extends beyond the medical implications to impact nearly every aspect of the person's life, as well as the lives of the people in the surrounding environment. Intractable epilepsy has a poor prognosis with possible worsening of seizures and cognitive decline over time. Anterior temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy provides an opportunity for the alleviation of seizures; however there are potential risks, to memory in particular. Research on surgery outcome thus far has evaluated outcome from a linear paradigm and has studied impact of surgery on isolated areas of function, the results derived from this have been largely inconsistent. So far, there has been very little research that focuses on the person as a whole, and as yet there has been no integrated approach to studying surgical outcome. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the impact of anterior temporal lobe surgery, specifically the symptomatic and functional surgical outcomes, in an integrated and holistic manner. This was done in accordance with the paradigm of complex systems theory as a critique of the previous literature in this field, and to gain a more holistic understanding of surgical outcome. A combination of methodologies was employed in order to achieve this. The sample consisted of male (n=10) and female (n=24) patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing left-sided (n=13) and right-sided (n=21) temporal lobe surgery at the Milpark Hospital Johannesburg between the ages of 14 and 58 (mean = 39 years), over a period of seven years. A pretest-posttest design was employed to obtain quantitative data (n=34). Post surgical assessments were conducted up to seven years post surgery (mean=3.6 years). Pre and post surgery assessment included neurocognitive functioning, particularly memory and language functions, by means of the Rey Complex Figure Test, Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test; as well as emotional functioning, particularly depression and anxiety, by means of the Beck Depression lnventory-11 and Beck Anxiety lnventory-11. The quantitative data was subjected to statistical analysis of the sample as a whole, as well as gender and side of surgery comparisons, and included tests of normality of distribution of the data; the paired samples t-test; the independent samples t-test; the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test; the Mann-Whitney U test; and the Wilks' Lambda test. A semi-structured interview was also conducted (n=30) in order to obtain qualitative data on the functional (psychosocial) aspects of outcome. The interview included an assessment of postoperative seizure outcome; changes in daily activity functions; the client's report on positive and negative outcomes of surgery; quality of life changes and satisfaction with surgery. The qualitative data was analysed using the methods of open coding and axial coding. The results for neuropsychological function reflected known lateralization effects with memory showing auditory-verbal memory deficits after left-sided surgery; and visual (figural) memory deficits after right-sided surgery. Gender differences reflected known neuropsychological differences with female superiority in verbal fluency and a male advantage on visual-spatial tasks. Importantly, there was no relationship between neuropsychological deficit and decrements in daily activity functions, emotional functioning or quality of life. This indicates little impact of neuropsychological deficit post surgery and may be an indication of the effectiveness of the preoperative screening procedures. The results for emotional functioning showed a statistically significant improvement in the 'moderate/severe' depression and anxiety groups from pre to post surgery. This indicates a substantial improvement in both depression and anxiety for this severity group. The qualitative results showed that surgery rendered 74% of the sample seizure free, 15% showing worthwhile improvement, and 11% no change or worse seizures. Seizure outcome however did not determine quality of life changes, even those with some improvement or no change still reported an improvement in quality of life post surgically. The functional outcomes showed little postoperative change in daily activity functions (driving, occupational functioning and marital status) but still a reported improvement in quality of life. There were far more reports on perceived positive than negative outcomes. The most positive benefit of surgery, as reported by participants, was that of increased feelings of control, decreased helplessness, and less anxiety and worry of having seizures. The overwhelming majority of participants reported improved quality of life (90%) and satisfaction with surgery (93%).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Du Preez, Kim
- Date: 2012-08-06
- Subjects: Epilepsy surgery , Clinical neuropsychology , Epileptics psychology , Anterior temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5404
- Description: Ph.D. , Epilepsy is a multidimensional disorder that extends beyond the medical implications to impact nearly every aspect of the person's life, as well as the lives of the people in the surrounding environment. Intractable epilepsy has a poor prognosis with possible worsening of seizures and cognitive decline over time. Anterior temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy provides an opportunity for the alleviation of seizures; however there are potential risks, to memory in particular. Research on surgery outcome thus far has evaluated outcome from a linear paradigm and has studied impact of surgery on isolated areas of function, the results derived from this have been largely inconsistent. So far, there has been very little research that focuses on the person as a whole, and as yet there has been no integrated approach to studying surgical outcome. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the impact of anterior temporal lobe surgery, specifically the symptomatic and functional surgical outcomes, in an integrated and holistic manner. This was done in accordance with the paradigm of complex systems theory as a critique of the previous literature in this field, and to gain a more holistic understanding of surgical outcome. A combination of methodologies was employed in order to achieve this. The sample consisted of male (n=10) and female (n=24) patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing left-sided (n=13) and right-sided (n=21) temporal lobe surgery at the Milpark Hospital Johannesburg between the ages of 14 and 58 (mean = 39 years), over a period of seven years. A pretest-posttest design was employed to obtain quantitative data (n=34). Post surgical assessments were conducted up to seven years post surgery (mean=3.6 years). Pre and post surgery assessment included neurocognitive functioning, particularly memory and language functions, by means of the Rey Complex Figure Test, Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test; as well as emotional functioning, particularly depression and anxiety, by means of the Beck Depression lnventory-11 and Beck Anxiety lnventory-11. The quantitative data was subjected to statistical analysis of the sample as a whole, as well as gender and side of surgery comparisons, and included tests of normality of distribution of the data; the paired samples t-test; the independent samples t-test; the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test; the Mann-Whitney U test; and the Wilks' Lambda test. A semi-structured interview was also conducted (n=30) in order to obtain qualitative data on the functional (psychosocial) aspects of outcome. The interview included an assessment of postoperative seizure outcome; changes in daily activity functions; the client's report on positive and negative outcomes of surgery; quality of life changes and satisfaction with surgery. The qualitative data was analysed using the methods of open coding and axial coding. The results for neuropsychological function reflected known lateralization effects with memory showing auditory-verbal memory deficits after left-sided surgery; and visual (figural) memory deficits after right-sided surgery. Gender differences reflected known neuropsychological differences with female superiority in verbal fluency and a male advantage on visual-spatial tasks. Importantly, there was no relationship between neuropsychological deficit and decrements in daily activity functions, emotional functioning or quality of life. This indicates little impact of neuropsychological deficit post surgery and may be an indication of the effectiveness of the preoperative screening procedures. The results for emotional functioning showed a statistically significant improvement in the 'moderate/severe' depression and anxiety groups from pre to post surgery. This indicates a substantial improvement in both depression and anxiety for this severity group. The qualitative results showed that surgery rendered 74% of the sample seizure free, 15% showing worthwhile improvement, and 11% no change or worse seizures. Seizure outcome however did not determine quality of life changes, even those with some improvement or no change still reported an improvement in quality of life post surgically. The functional outcomes showed little postoperative change in daily activity functions (driving, occupational functioning and marital status) but still a reported improvement in quality of life. There were far more reports on perceived positive than negative outcomes. The most positive benefit of surgery, as reported by participants, was that of increased feelings of control, decreased helplessness, and less anxiety and worry of having seizures. The overwhelming majority of participants reported improved quality of life (90%) and satisfaction with surgery (93%).
- Full Text:
The psychological effects of a parental traumatic brain injury on an adolescent offspring: a phenomenological investigation
- Authors: Harris, Donna J.
- Date: 2008-11-06T07:28:28Z
- Subjects: Brain damaged patients , Brain wounds and injuries
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14613 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1532
- Description: M.A. , As medical technology and procedures continue to improve, traumatically brain injured persons who previously would not have lived through their injuries are managing to survive. The traumatically brain-injured person must learn to cope with the profound physical, cognitive, emotional, and personality changes that are produced from brain trauma. Within the family system, the members reciprocally influence one another. Major events that occur within the family system have an immense effect on the family relationships, dynamics, roles, and expectations. A traumatic brain injury, with its sudden onset and the inherent uncertainty regarding recovery and rehabilitation, can have a devastating effect on the family as a whole, and upon its individual members. Research on the familial effects of a member’s traumatic brain injury portrays a bleak image of the family in the aftermath of TBI, and for years afterwards. Grief, anger, guilt, blame, loneliness, depression, and isolation are often reported in the literature. The literature focuses mainly on the primary caregiver, usually the spouse of the TBI person, or the parent of a TBI child. Limited research has been conducted regarding the psychological effects on the offspring of parents who sustain traumatic brain injuries. Surely, children and adolescents will feel the effects of a parent’s brain injury differently than a spouse would. However the actual experience as perceived by the offspring has been neglected in research thus far. Adolescents were the focus of the current study. Being in a time of transition between childhood and adulthood, it was thought that they would experience the effects of a parental brain injury differently than younger children or adults within the family would. The existential-phenomenological approach employed as the research methodology allowed for a rich, in depth understanding of the adolescents as beings-in-the-world interpreting their own experiences of having a traumatically brain-injured parent. Six adolescent offspring of traumatically brain-injured parents were sourced from Headway Gauteng, and interviewed for the study. The four interviews that were used for the intense phenomenological analysis were transcribed verbatim. Themes were derived from the experience of each participant, and then integrated and related to the relevant available literature and within the wider context of existential phenomenology, in order to arrive at an in-depth understanding of the adolescent experience of a parent’s traumatic brain injury. The phenomenon of parental traumatic brain injury in the lifeworlds of the adolescents was characterized by numerous themes. Adolescents experienced (to varying degrees) denial, anger, grief, guilt, and anxiety. There was a tendency towards overprotectiveness of the injured parent, resulting in the parentification of the adolescents. Loneliness and a sense that nobody could understand their feelings were particularly strong themes, perhaps exacerbated by the importance of conformity during the adolescent period. Furthermore, the adolescents experienced drastic changes in their lives following their parents’ traumatic brain injuries. Not only were family roles and dynamics affected, but also the adolescents reported extensive changes in themselves. There were sudden increases in their responsibilities alongside a sense that they were forced to mature sooner than their peers. The adolescents coped using both approach and avoidance styles of coping. Religion was a theme in the lives of all four adolescents. Despite the professed negative impact of the experience of having a traumatically brain-injured parent, the adolescents in the current study managed to find some degree of positive meaning in having to cope with such a traumatic event and its consequences. Professionals working with brain-injured clients and their families will find value in the present study. The in-depth description of the experience of adolescents with brain-injured parents will be helpful in planning support programmes and interventions following familial brain injuries. The findings of this study have also been the basis for recommendations for future empirical investigations.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Harris, Donna J.
- Date: 2008-11-06T07:28:28Z
- Subjects: Brain damaged patients , Brain wounds and injuries
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14613 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1532
- Description: M.A. , As medical technology and procedures continue to improve, traumatically brain injured persons who previously would not have lived through their injuries are managing to survive. The traumatically brain-injured person must learn to cope with the profound physical, cognitive, emotional, and personality changes that are produced from brain trauma. Within the family system, the members reciprocally influence one another. Major events that occur within the family system have an immense effect on the family relationships, dynamics, roles, and expectations. A traumatic brain injury, with its sudden onset and the inherent uncertainty regarding recovery and rehabilitation, can have a devastating effect on the family as a whole, and upon its individual members. Research on the familial effects of a member’s traumatic brain injury portrays a bleak image of the family in the aftermath of TBI, and for years afterwards. Grief, anger, guilt, blame, loneliness, depression, and isolation are often reported in the literature. The literature focuses mainly on the primary caregiver, usually the spouse of the TBI person, or the parent of a TBI child. Limited research has been conducted regarding the psychological effects on the offspring of parents who sustain traumatic brain injuries. Surely, children and adolescents will feel the effects of a parent’s brain injury differently than a spouse would. However the actual experience as perceived by the offspring has been neglected in research thus far. Adolescents were the focus of the current study. Being in a time of transition between childhood and adulthood, it was thought that they would experience the effects of a parental brain injury differently than younger children or adults within the family would. The existential-phenomenological approach employed as the research methodology allowed for a rich, in depth understanding of the adolescents as beings-in-the-world interpreting their own experiences of having a traumatically brain-injured parent. Six adolescent offspring of traumatically brain-injured parents were sourced from Headway Gauteng, and interviewed for the study. The four interviews that were used for the intense phenomenological analysis were transcribed verbatim. Themes were derived from the experience of each participant, and then integrated and related to the relevant available literature and within the wider context of existential phenomenology, in order to arrive at an in-depth understanding of the adolescent experience of a parent’s traumatic brain injury. The phenomenon of parental traumatic brain injury in the lifeworlds of the adolescents was characterized by numerous themes. Adolescents experienced (to varying degrees) denial, anger, grief, guilt, and anxiety. There was a tendency towards overprotectiveness of the injured parent, resulting in the parentification of the adolescents. Loneliness and a sense that nobody could understand their feelings were particularly strong themes, perhaps exacerbated by the importance of conformity during the adolescent period. Furthermore, the adolescents experienced drastic changes in their lives following their parents’ traumatic brain injuries. Not only were family roles and dynamics affected, but also the adolescents reported extensive changes in themselves. There were sudden increases in their responsibilities alongside a sense that they were forced to mature sooner than their peers. The adolescents coped using both approach and avoidance styles of coping. Religion was a theme in the lives of all four adolescents. Despite the professed negative impact of the experience of having a traumatically brain-injured parent, the adolescents in the current study managed to find some degree of positive meaning in having to cope with such a traumatic event and its consequences. Professionals working with brain-injured clients and their families will find value in the present study. The in-depth description of the experience of adolescents with brain-injured parents will be helpful in planning support programmes and interventions following familial brain injuries. The findings of this study have also been the basis for recommendations for future empirical investigations.
- Full Text:
The impact of psychological trauma on neuropsychological functioning in children aged 8-13
- Authors: Hosford, Donna J.
- Date: 2010-05-13T09:27:48Z
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder in children , Psychic trauma in children , Effect of psychic trauma on children , Neuropsychiatry
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381003 , uj:6802 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3237
- Description: D.Phil. , Profound psychological trauma, which may lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can continue to negatively impact the lives of its victims for years after its occurrence. Psychological trauma is seen across cultures in people of all ages, the world over, and South Africa’s high levels of crime and violence, HIV and AIDS, and road accidents, make the topic especially pertinent. The symptom clusters of PTSD, included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition – text revised (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000), namely Re-experiencing, Avoidance and numbing, and Increased Arousal can lead to significant distress and may interfere with all facets of life, including social functioning, career goals, romantic relationships, leisure activities, and mental wellbeing. The effects of trauma in childhood may be different than when it occurs in adulthood, due to developmental processes occurring on physical, emotional, and cognitive levels (e.g. Drell, Siegel, & Gaensbauer, 1993; Perrin, Smith, & Yule, 2000). As such it is clearly important to understand the effects of trauma specific to children. A fair amount of literature is available which discusses the emotional and psychological consequences of trauma in children. Similar studies with regard to PTSD are also available. However, a holistic picture of either psychological trauma, or PTSD in childhood should also include neuropsychological aspects, functions such as attention and concentration, planning, organisation, psychomotor speed, and memory in which dysfunction may interfere with children’s development and futures. Although the field of neuropsychology has traditionally investigated how the brain responds to physical trauma or disease processes, recent decades of technological advancement have made it possible to understand that psychological trauma may actually result in neurobiological abnormalities.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hosford, Donna J.
- Date: 2010-05-13T09:27:48Z
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder in children , Psychic trauma in children , Effect of psychic trauma on children , Neuropsychiatry
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381003 , uj:6802 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3237
- Description: D.Phil. , Profound psychological trauma, which may lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can continue to negatively impact the lives of its victims for years after its occurrence. Psychological trauma is seen across cultures in people of all ages, the world over, and South Africa’s high levels of crime and violence, HIV and AIDS, and road accidents, make the topic especially pertinent. The symptom clusters of PTSD, included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition – text revised (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000), namely Re-experiencing, Avoidance and numbing, and Increased Arousal can lead to significant distress and may interfere with all facets of life, including social functioning, career goals, romantic relationships, leisure activities, and mental wellbeing. The effects of trauma in childhood may be different than when it occurs in adulthood, due to developmental processes occurring on physical, emotional, and cognitive levels (e.g. Drell, Siegel, & Gaensbauer, 1993; Perrin, Smith, & Yule, 2000). As such it is clearly important to understand the effects of trauma specific to children. A fair amount of literature is available which discusses the emotional and psychological consequences of trauma in children. Similar studies with regard to PTSD are also available. However, a holistic picture of either psychological trauma, or PTSD in childhood should also include neuropsychological aspects, functions such as attention and concentration, planning, organisation, psychomotor speed, and memory in which dysfunction may interfere with children’s development and futures. Although the field of neuropsychology has traditionally investigated how the brain responds to physical trauma or disease processes, recent decades of technological advancement have made it possible to understand that psychological trauma may actually result in neurobiological abnormalities.
- Full Text:
A father's lived experiences of parenting his traumatically brain injured child
- Authors: Lamusse, Jeanine L.
- Date: 2011-12-07
- Subjects: Brain-damaged children - Care
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:1864 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4220
- Description: M.A. , Caring for traumatically brain-injured patients has become of greater concern as a result of advancing medical technology and fewer fatal injuries. Parents experience the advent of traumatic brain injury with more hope for recovery as a result of such medical advances. Recovery from paediatric traumatic brain injury is not however very well understood, and this is not well communicated to parents of such children. Parents are therefore often left caring for children who will never develop as well as their peers or who will never be able to sufficiently care for themselves. Thus, parents face a lifetime of difficult caregiving related choices and a lifetime of sorrow. Their daily lives become restricted because of their caregiving obligations. Much research has been done regarding the caregiver of the traumatically brain-injured patient. Research has commonly focused on the parents (as a unit), the mother, the siblings and the children of the traumatically brain-injured individual. Relatively little research has been done pertaining to the father who also experiences the trauma, cares for the child and maintains a caring environment in the home. The male psyche is different from the female psyche. His daily experiences are different, his role as male in the family, and possibly his role as breadwinner, might cause his emotions to be different from the emotions experienced by the rest of the family. Often cultural expectations might change the way he would behave in the face of sudden and unexpected damage to his child’s brain. Yet there is a dearth in research pertaining to the father’s phenomenological experiences in such circumstances. The current study aims to address this dearth. An existential-phenomenological approach was used to unearth themes pertinent to the experience of the father. This approach allowed for any new and unexpected themes to arise and allowed for rich insight into the life-worlds of the fathers, and how they made meaning of their thrownness. Three fathers were sourced through their personal neurologists who gained their consent to participate in the study, in order to avoid any privacy difficulties. The researcher then interviewed these fathers. The interviews, along with notes of their gestures made, were transcribed and analysed. This allowed for deep insight into how they constructed their worlds and for important themes to arise and be compared to the available literature. The fathers’ life-worlds contained themes of love, uncertainty, change and anger. Some felt that the experience had led toward positive change within them and that they had found ways of making meaning of their situations. Each father mentioned different coping strategies; however, all the fathers focused their efforts around managing the head-injury and rehabilitation. Two fathers thought that others do not understand their hardships and the changes to their lives as a result of their child’s injury. They indicated loneliness. The third father communicated more easily with others. He felt that others understood if one often spoke to them about the situation. The father’s lives were centred on their injured children and they appreciated every small step of recovery their children made. The current study has many limitations such as its small sample and the impact of a female researcher. Future research, however, could build on the findings of the current study by considering its findings and limitations and finding a greater sample, for example. Future studies may also wish to further consider the fathers’ existence in terms of Binswanger’s concepts of Umwelt, Mitwelt and Eigenwelt and investigate how fathers cope. The current study could lead to various developments within various arenas, in particular regarding therapeutic endeavours with families and fathers so as to encourage healthy coping styles and life narratives within the family system. This should occur early after the trauma so as to prevent later development of clinical psychological difficulties. Other simple adjustments could be made in the manner in which such cases are dealt with over the long term. For example case-managers could be allocated who, amongst other things, could ensure that relevant information on brain injury, rehabilitation facilities or services and medical services is available to the family and caretakers for short term as well as long term reference.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lamusse, Jeanine L.
- Date: 2011-12-07
- Subjects: Brain-damaged children - Care
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:1864 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4220
- Description: M.A. , Caring for traumatically brain-injured patients has become of greater concern as a result of advancing medical technology and fewer fatal injuries. Parents experience the advent of traumatic brain injury with more hope for recovery as a result of such medical advances. Recovery from paediatric traumatic brain injury is not however very well understood, and this is not well communicated to parents of such children. Parents are therefore often left caring for children who will never develop as well as their peers or who will never be able to sufficiently care for themselves. Thus, parents face a lifetime of difficult caregiving related choices and a lifetime of sorrow. Their daily lives become restricted because of their caregiving obligations. Much research has been done regarding the caregiver of the traumatically brain-injured patient. Research has commonly focused on the parents (as a unit), the mother, the siblings and the children of the traumatically brain-injured individual. Relatively little research has been done pertaining to the father who also experiences the trauma, cares for the child and maintains a caring environment in the home. The male psyche is different from the female psyche. His daily experiences are different, his role as male in the family, and possibly his role as breadwinner, might cause his emotions to be different from the emotions experienced by the rest of the family. Often cultural expectations might change the way he would behave in the face of sudden and unexpected damage to his child’s brain. Yet there is a dearth in research pertaining to the father’s phenomenological experiences in such circumstances. The current study aims to address this dearth. An existential-phenomenological approach was used to unearth themes pertinent to the experience of the father. This approach allowed for any new and unexpected themes to arise and allowed for rich insight into the life-worlds of the fathers, and how they made meaning of their thrownness. Three fathers were sourced through their personal neurologists who gained their consent to participate in the study, in order to avoid any privacy difficulties. The researcher then interviewed these fathers. The interviews, along with notes of their gestures made, were transcribed and analysed. This allowed for deep insight into how they constructed their worlds and for important themes to arise and be compared to the available literature. The fathers’ life-worlds contained themes of love, uncertainty, change and anger. Some felt that the experience had led toward positive change within them and that they had found ways of making meaning of their situations. Each father mentioned different coping strategies; however, all the fathers focused their efforts around managing the head-injury and rehabilitation. Two fathers thought that others do not understand their hardships and the changes to their lives as a result of their child’s injury. They indicated loneliness. The third father communicated more easily with others. He felt that others understood if one often spoke to them about the situation. The father’s lives were centred on their injured children and they appreciated every small step of recovery their children made. The current study has many limitations such as its small sample and the impact of a female researcher. Future research, however, could build on the findings of the current study by considering its findings and limitations and finding a greater sample, for example. Future studies may also wish to further consider the fathers’ existence in terms of Binswanger’s concepts of Umwelt, Mitwelt and Eigenwelt and investigate how fathers cope. The current study could lead to various developments within various arenas, in particular regarding therapeutic endeavours with families and fathers so as to encourage healthy coping styles and life narratives within the family system. This should occur early after the trauma so as to prevent later development of clinical psychological difficulties. Other simple adjustments could be made in the manner in which such cases are dealt with over the long term. For example case-managers could be allocated who, amongst other things, could ensure that relevant information on brain injury, rehabilitation facilities or services and medical services is available to the family and caretakers for short term as well as long term reference.
- Full Text:
The role of certain temperament dimensions in journalists who experience work related trauma: a comparative study
- Authors: Marais, Andrea
- Date: 2008-11-06T07:28:10Z
- Subjects: Job stress , Temperament , Stress (Psychology) , Journalists , Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1531
- Description: M.A. , The literature indicates that journalists who experience work related traumatic situations, are at risk for the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Teegen & Grotwinkel, 2001). Moreover, some journalists who develop this disorder do so after covering a relatively minor traumatic story (Castle, 2001). Certain temperament traits have been implicated as vulnerabilities to the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in police officers (Henning, 1999). Few research studies have investigated temperament and sense of coherence as mediating factors for occupational stress in journalists exposed to trauma. The aim of the present study was to address this dearth by investigating whether there are statistically significant differences in the experience of trauma, temperament traits and sense of coherence of journalists with varied responses to occupational stress and trauma. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised was used to divide journalists into three groups, namely those with minor reactions to trauma (n=10), moderate reactions (n=24) and severe reactions of clinical importance (n=16). The first group of hypotheses posed in the study pertains to group differences and postulates that the three groups will have statistically significant differences regarding trauma exposure. The second group of hypotheses deals with group differences and postulates that the three groups of journalists will differ regarding certain temperament dimensions. The third group of hypotheses formulated for the study proposes group differences regarding sense of coherence. Analysis of Variance followed by the Scheffé post hoc multiple comparisons technique indicated statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding experience of trauma as measured by the Trauma Questionnaire; certain temperament-personality traits as measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire; and sense of coherence as measured by The Sense of Coherence Questionnaire. The study revealed that the group with severe reactions to stress and trauma had been exposed to intense trauma involving people and that they report significant emotional reactions to the trauma. The Personality Assessment Inventory indicated that the severe reactions group has temperament profiles characterised by somatic complaints, anxiety, depression, paranoia, borderline features, aggression, suicidal ideation, stress and treatment rejection. This group also showed greater neuroticism-anxiety and aggression-hostility prone temperament types than the other two groups as well as lower comprehensibility and manageability as indicated by the Sense of Coherence Scale. The results of the present study exhibit support that there are various factors that could have an impact on how journalists deal with the traumatic stories they cover and what their personal outcomes are after covering these stories. Journalists who develop severe PTSD have different perceptions of the trauma, temperament profiles and sense of coherence that impact on their ways of coping with the traumatic situations they face daily. Criticism of the study deals mainly with gender, age, race and the subjects' pre-testing history, which were not controlled for. Another possible shortcoming of the research is that the journalists were sourced from main stream publications as well as community papers. This might have had an impact on the amount and type of trauma the journalists were exposed to. It would have been preferable to include a greater number of participants in the study to more efficiently address the many variables. Lastly, pre-trauma temperament traits were not controlled for, due to the complexity and ethical complications involved in the subject matter. It is recommended that age, gender, race, pre-testing history and pre-trauma traits is controlled. This will however require a large sample of journalists, which was not available for the present study. It would also be beneficial to compare frequency and type of trauma exposure, PTSD and temperament in a comparative study where community journalists are compared with main stream journalists. Lastly, the development of South African measures for temperament, PTSD and trauma would be highly advantageous to this field of research.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marais, Andrea
- Date: 2008-11-06T07:28:10Z
- Subjects: Job stress , Temperament , Stress (Psychology) , Journalists , Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1531
- Description: M.A. , The literature indicates that journalists who experience work related traumatic situations, are at risk for the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Teegen & Grotwinkel, 2001). Moreover, some journalists who develop this disorder do so after covering a relatively minor traumatic story (Castle, 2001). Certain temperament traits have been implicated as vulnerabilities to the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in police officers (Henning, 1999). Few research studies have investigated temperament and sense of coherence as mediating factors for occupational stress in journalists exposed to trauma. The aim of the present study was to address this dearth by investigating whether there are statistically significant differences in the experience of trauma, temperament traits and sense of coherence of journalists with varied responses to occupational stress and trauma. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised was used to divide journalists into three groups, namely those with minor reactions to trauma (n=10), moderate reactions (n=24) and severe reactions of clinical importance (n=16). The first group of hypotheses posed in the study pertains to group differences and postulates that the three groups will have statistically significant differences regarding trauma exposure. The second group of hypotheses deals with group differences and postulates that the three groups of journalists will differ regarding certain temperament dimensions. The third group of hypotheses formulated for the study proposes group differences regarding sense of coherence. Analysis of Variance followed by the Scheffé post hoc multiple comparisons technique indicated statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding experience of trauma as measured by the Trauma Questionnaire; certain temperament-personality traits as measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire; and sense of coherence as measured by The Sense of Coherence Questionnaire. The study revealed that the group with severe reactions to stress and trauma had been exposed to intense trauma involving people and that they report significant emotional reactions to the trauma. The Personality Assessment Inventory indicated that the severe reactions group has temperament profiles characterised by somatic complaints, anxiety, depression, paranoia, borderline features, aggression, suicidal ideation, stress and treatment rejection. This group also showed greater neuroticism-anxiety and aggression-hostility prone temperament types than the other two groups as well as lower comprehensibility and manageability as indicated by the Sense of Coherence Scale. The results of the present study exhibit support that there are various factors that could have an impact on how journalists deal with the traumatic stories they cover and what their personal outcomes are after covering these stories. Journalists who develop severe PTSD have different perceptions of the trauma, temperament profiles and sense of coherence that impact on their ways of coping with the traumatic situations they face daily. Criticism of the study deals mainly with gender, age, race and the subjects' pre-testing history, which were not controlled for. Another possible shortcoming of the research is that the journalists were sourced from main stream publications as well as community papers. This might have had an impact on the amount and type of trauma the journalists were exposed to. It would have been preferable to include a greater number of participants in the study to more efficiently address the many variables. Lastly, pre-trauma temperament traits were not controlled for, due to the complexity and ethical complications involved in the subject matter. It is recommended that age, gender, race, pre-testing history and pre-trauma traits is controlled. This will however require a large sample of journalists, which was not available for the present study. It would also be beneficial to compare frequency and type of trauma exposure, PTSD and temperament in a comparative study where community journalists are compared with main stream journalists. Lastly, the development of South African measures for temperament, PTSD and trauma would be highly advantageous to this field of research.
- Full Text:
An analysis of the self-report diaries of patients with bulimia nervosa
- Authors: Owen, Keely-Ann
- Date: 2012-09-05
- Subjects: Bulimia , Bulimia -- Research -- South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3608 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6988
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that has stimulated considerable research efforts in recent years. The increasing prevalence of bulimia nervosa has been partially attributed to the prevailing sociocultural notion that thinness embodies the essence of beauty, success and personal achievement. This has led to greater deinands for more efficacious treatment approaches by clinicians because of the rigid and intractable nature of the disorder. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by dysfunctional cognitions and cognitive styles where weight is inappropriately central to self-worth. Bulimic individuals are extremely negative in their views of themselves. Their self-image is intricately related to their body weight and shape. This poor body image is responsible for the development of depression and the depressive symptoms further exacerbate negative cognitions. Distorted cognitions and negative mood thus play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of bulimia nervosa. The understanding and treatment of bulimia nervosa is largely centered around the presence of dysfunctional cognitions. These cognitions encompass beliefs about food, body weight and shape that manifest in a desperate pursuit for thinness at any cost. Thoughts and emotions regarding the drive for thinness predominate and often compromise the individuals' global functioning thus leading them to seek treatment. There are numerous treatment approaches available to the bulimic sufferer but cognitive behavioural therapy remains the treatment of choice according to the literature.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Owen, Keely-Ann
- Date: 2012-09-05
- Subjects: Bulimia , Bulimia -- Research -- South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3608 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6988
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that has stimulated considerable research efforts in recent years. The increasing prevalence of bulimia nervosa has been partially attributed to the prevailing sociocultural notion that thinness embodies the essence of beauty, success and personal achievement. This has led to greater deinands for more efficacious treatment approaches by clinicians because of the rigid and intractable nature of the disorder. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by dysfunctional cognitions and cognitive styles where weight is inappropriately central to self-worth. Bulimic individuals are extremely negative in their views of themselves. Their self-image is intricately related to their body weight and shape. This poor body image is responsible for the development of depression and the depressive symptoms further exacerbate negative cognitions. Distorted cognitions and negative mood thus play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of bulimia nervosa. The understanding and treatment of bulimia nervosa is largely centered around the presence of dysfunctional cognitions. These cognitions encompass beliefs about food, body weight and shape that manifest in a desperate pursuit for thinness at any cost. Thoughts and emotions regarding the drive for thinness predominate and often compromise the individuals' global functioning thus leading them to seek treatment. There are numerous treatment approaches available to the bulimic sufferer but cognitive behavioural therapy remains the treatment of choice according to the literature.
- Full Text:
Emotional intelligence as a determinant of leadership potential
- Authors: Pauquet, Andrea
- Date: 2012-09-11
- Subjects: Emotional maturity - Research - South Africa , Leadership - Psychological aspects , Emotions - Physiological aspects , Emotions and cognition , Emotions - Social aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10022 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7412
- Description: M.A. , Leadership has been defined as the competencies and processes required to enable and empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the face of adversity. It is also the ability to constantly turn in superior performance to the benefit of oneself and the organisation (Bennis & Nanus, 1985; Charlton, 1993; Kelly, 1986; Senge, 1991). This definition includes being skilled in emotional competencies. Emotional competence results in being attuned to those one is dealing with, as well as being self-aware. This study focusses on the emotional intelligence factors considered to be characteristic of effective leaders. The link between the management of emotions and leadership ability is gaining increasing interest in business. People who are unable to maintain a degree of control over their emotional life, fight inner battles that sabotage the ability for focussed work and clear thoughts (Goleman, 1995). Unclear thinking and a lack of focus may in turn, contribute to decreased productivity and an overall decline in organisational success. Emotionally intelligent leaders with the ability to think clearly whilst being in tune with self and others, would thus be required to lead an emotionally intelligent organisation (Cooper & Sawaf, 1997). Leaders may not necessarily occupy positions of authority in the organisation, yet even at lower organisational levels they lead others by example. Otto (1995) refers to such leaders as "little leaders". It is the purpose of this study, to identify specific emotional competencies that may be characteristic of successful "little leaders". The question to be addressed, is: Is their a statistically significant difference in factors of emotional intelligence, between a group of identified "little leaders" and a group of nonleaders at the same level in an organisational context? A leadership questionnaire (The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), (Bass & Avolio, 1990b)) consisting of 45 items was administered to managers of a large financial institution. They were asked to rate their subordinates using this scale as it identifies the presence of transformational and transactional leadership behaviour (Bass, 1985). Only the transformational leadership scores were used to identify two groups. Based on the transformational leadership scores of the MLQ, rated employees were grouped into leader and non-leader groups. Of the 220 (N=220) rating forms returned, 31 subjects fell into the leader group and 31 fell into the non-leader group based on the cutoff scores provided by the authors of the questionnaire. The middle ratings were not utilised for the present study. No participant in the study was made aware of the grouping procedure. The employee group was all English speaking, with a minimum educational level of matric. They occupied similar positions within the hierarchy and were all of non-managerial status. All 220 employees were asked to complete the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) inorder to ensure privacy regarding the group ratings (Bar-On, 1996a). The EQ-i assesses 15 factors said to be important indicators of emotional intelligence. These include; problem solving ability, social responsibility, happiness, independence, stress tolerance, self-actualisation, assertiveness, reality testing, interpersonal relationship, self regard, impulse control, flexibility, self awareness, empathy and optimism. Two additional factors, namely, positive and negative impression provide assistance in score validation. Comparative statistics (Wilks' coefficient lambda and Students t-test) were used to analyse the data. A stepwise discriminant analysis was also conducted. A comparison of EQ-i scores between the leader group and the non-leader group indicates that the factors of optimism and self-actualisation are significantly higher for the leader group than for the non-leader group. The non-leader group had significantly higher scores on the positive impression scale, indicating a possible skewing of results for that group. A total of four variables was extracted following the stepwise discriminant analysis namely, positive impression, self-actualisation, self-regard and optimism. Generally, the research data appear to support the fundamental postulates of transformational leadership theory. Transformational leaders are able to raise awareness in both self and others regarding issues of consequence (Bass, 1997). This heightening of awareness requires a leader with vision, self-confidence, and inner strength to argue successfully for what he or she sees as right or good (Bass, 1997; Charlton, 1993; Senge, 1991). The factors of self-actualisation and optimism indicate an awareness of self and an ability to influence others (Seligman, 1990). The research findings indicate that the application of emotional intelligence theory to leadership identification may assist those in the fields of recruitment, selection and training and development. Future empirical research within the same empirical framework as this investigation, may benefit from greater standardisation and broader application of the assessment instrument used, the use of larger experimental populations and a possible replication of the findings of the present investigation. A comprehensive exploration of the interaction of Emotional Intelligence factors and the contribution of other possible factors to emotional intelligence in leadership may also contribute to the accuracy of future identification of potential leaders.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pauquet, Andrea
- Date: 2012-09-11
- Subjects: Emotional maturity - Research - South Africa , Leadership - Psychological aspects , Emotions - Physiological aspects , Emotions and cognition , Emotions - Social aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10022 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7412
- Description: M.A. , Leadership has been defined as the competencies and processes required to enable and empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the face of adversity. It is also the ability to constantly turn in superior performance to the benefit of oneself and the organisation (Bennis & Nanus, 1985; Charlton, 1993; Kelly, 1986; Senge, 1991). This definition includes being skilled in emotional competencies. Emotional competence results in being attuned to those one is dealing with, as well as being self-aware. This study focusses on the emotional intelligence factors considered to be characteristic of effective leaders. The link between the management of emotions and leadership ability is gaining increasing interest in business. People who are unable to maintain a degree of control over their emotional life, fight inner battles that sabotage the ability for focussed work and clear thoughts (Goleman, 1995). Unclear thinking and a lack of focus may in turn, contribute to decreased productivity and an overall decline in organisational success. Emotionally intelligent leaders with the ability to think clearly whilst being in tune with self and others, would thus be required to lead an emotionally intelligent organisation (Cooper & Sawaf, 1997). Leaders may not necessarily occupy positions of authority in the organisation, yet even at lower organisational levels they lead others by example. Otto (1995) refers to such leaders as "little leaders". It is the purpose of this study, to identify specific emotional competencies that may be characteristic of successful "little leaders". The question to be addressed, is: Is their a statistically significant difference in factors of emotional intelligence, between a group of identified "little leaders" and a group of nonleaders at the same level in an organisational context? A leadership questionnaire (The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), (Bass & Avolio, 1990b)) consisting of 45 items was administered to managers of a large financial institution. They were asked to rate their subordinates using this scale as it identifies the presence of transformational and transactional leadership behaviour (Bass, 1985). Only the transformational leadership scores were used to identify two groups. Based on the transformational leadership scores of the MLQ, rated employees were grouped into leader and non-leader groups. Of the 220 (N=220) rating forms returned, 31 subjects fell into the leader group and 31 fell into the non-leader group based on the cutoff scores provided by the authors of the questionnaire. The middle ratings were not utilised for the present study. No participant in the study was made aware of the grouping procedure. The employee group was all English speaking, with a minimum educational level of matric. They occupied similar positions within the hierarchy and were all of non-managerial status. All 220 employees were asked to complete the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) inorder to ensure privacy regarding the group ratings (Bar-On, 1996a). The EQ-i assesses 15 factors said to be important indicators of emotional intelligence. These include; problem solving ability, social responsibility, happiness, independence, stress tolerance, self-actualisation, assertiveness, reality testing, interpersonal relationship, self regard, impulse control, flexibility, self awareness, empathy and optimism. Two additional factors, namely, positive and negative impression provide assistance in score validation. Comparative statistics (Wilks' coefficient lambda and Students t-test) were used to analyse the data. A stepwise discriminant analysis was also conducted. A comparison of EQ-i scores between the leader group and the non-leader group indicates that the factors of optimism and self-actualisation are significantly higher for the leader group than for the non-leader group. The non-leader group had significantly higher scores on the positive impression scale, indicating a possible skewing of results for that group. A total of four variables was extracted following the stepwise discriminant analysis namely, positive impression, self-actualisation, self-regard and optimism. Generally, the research data appear to support the fundamental postulates of transformational leadership theory. Transformational leaders are able to raise awareness in both self and others regarding issues of consequence (Bass, 1997). This heightening of awareness requires a leader with vision, self-confidence, and inner strength to argue successfully for what he or she sees as right or good (Bass, 1997; Charlton, 1993; Senge, 1991). The factors of self-actualisation and optimism indicate an awareness of self and an ability to influence others (Seligman, 1990). The research findings indicate that the application of emotional intelligence theory to leadership identification may assist those in the fields of recruitment, selection and training and development. Future empirical research within the same empirical framework as this investigation, may benefit from greater standardisation and broader application of the assessment instrument used, the use of larger experimental populations and a possible replication of the findings of the present investigation. A comprehensive exploration of the interaction of Emotional Intelligence factors and the contribution of other possible factors to emotional intelligence in leadership may also contribute to the accuracy of future identification of potential leaders.
- Full Text:
Psigosomatiese en neuropsigologiese korrelate van visueel-ruimtelike vermoëns
- Authors: Pelser, Marié E.
- Date: 2012-08-28
- Subjects: Visual perception - Research - South Africa. , Space perception - Research - South Africa. , Left- and right-handedness - Research - South Africa. , Brain - Localization of functions - Research - South Africa.
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:3385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6783
- Description: M.A. , The goal of the present study was to determine whether there are any statistically significant differences between people with high and people with low scores on visuospatial tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies, left-handedness and creativity. The motivation for the study is based on the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. According to this theory people with high versus low scores in right hemispheric abilities such as visuospatial abilities differ with regard to the prevalence of various psychosomatic and neuropsychological factors. These differences are attributed to prenatal hypersecretion of testosterone. An empirical study was performed in order to compare the prevalence of allergies and lefthandedness and the creative abilities of people with high scores and people with low scores on visuo-spatial tests. Twenty five male students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and 25 male students with low scores on visuo-spatial tests served as the experimental subjects. The selection of subjects was done by means of the General Scholastic Aptitude test (GSAT). An allergy questionnaire and handedness questionnaire and four creativity tests served as measuring instruments. Two verbal and two non-verbal creativity tests were included. The data were statistically analysed by means of Wilk's coeffisient Lambda and Student's ttests. The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between male students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and male students with low scores on visuospatial tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies and left-handedness and creative abilities. The present study did not support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory . The results of a previous study (Benbow, 1986) in which people with different mathematical abilities served as experimental subjects, did support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. Another study by Wiley and Goldstein (1991) in which the study of Benbow (1986) was replicated did not find support for the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. Further research is thus necessary in order to determine the validity of the Geschwind- Behan-Galaburda theory.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pelser, Marié E.
- Date: 2012-08-28
- Subjects: Visual perception - Research - South Africa. , Space perception - Research - South Africa. , Left- and right-handedness - Research - South Africa. , Brain - Localization of functions - Research - South Africa.
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:3385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6783
- Description: M.A. , The goal of the present study was to determine whether there are any statistically significant differences between people with high and people with low scores on visuospatial tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies, left-handedness and creativity. The motivation for the study is based on the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. According to this theory people with high versus low scores in right hemispheric abilities such as visuospatial abilities differ with regard to the prevalence of various psychosomatic and neuropsychological factors. These differences are attributed to prenatal hypersecretion of testosterone. An empirical study was performed in order to compare the prevalence of allergies and lefthandedness and the creative abilities of people with high scores and people with low scores on visuo-spatial tests. Twenty five male students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and 25 male students with low scores on visuo-spatial tests served as the experimental subjects. The selection of subjects was done by means of the General Scholastic Aptitude test (GSAT). An allergy questionnaire and handedness questionnaire and four creativity tests served as measuring instruments. Two verbal and two non-verbal creativity tests were included. The data were statistically analysed by means of Wilk's coeffisient Lambda and Student's ttests. The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between male students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and male students with low scores on visuospatial tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies and left-handedness and creative abilities. The present study did not support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory . The results of a previous study (Benbow, 1986) in which people with different mathematical abilities served as experimental subjects, did support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. Another study by Wiley and Goldstein (1991) in which the study of Benbow (1986) was replicated did not find support for the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. Further research is thus necessary in order to determine the validity of the Geschwind- Behan-Galaburda theory.
- Full Text:
The phenomenological experience of siblings of traumatic head injury survivors
- Authors: Price, Jacqueline
- Date: 2012-08-27
- Subjects: Head - Wounds and injuries - Patients - Family relationships , People with disabilities - South Africa - Family relationship , Brothers and sisters - Counseling of - South Africa , Brothers and sisters - South Africa - Psychology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3175 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6590
- Description: M.A. , This investigation aims to address and explore the experience of sibling head injury which appears to have been largely neglected in research. It seeks those themes, emotions and thoughts which are central and significant to the sibling's experience. it explores the manner in which the event of sibling head injury is incorporated into the adolescent's emerging identity, sense of self and understanding of the world. Overall, this research aims to provide some understanding of what the experience of living with a head-injured sibling entails and the personal meaning it holds for adolescent siblings. The existential-phenomenological system of inquiry is employed as a mode of research in an effort to study this experience of adolescent siblings of head-injured persons. Siblings are understood as beings-in-the-world who coconstitute their realities and interpret and act upon their own existence. Qualitative access to this subjective realm or individual lifeworld of siblings, is attempted through a qualitative design, where rich data is collected through in-depth, open-ended interviews which facilitate unique and personal descriptions. Eight siblings of an adolescent or young adult age, were sourced through Headway and interviewed for the purpose of this study. The 'Adolescent Coping Scale' was administered to gain further qualitative information which could be incorporated into a greater understanding of sibling coping under such circumstances. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, providing the database from which intraindividual analyses and discussions were conducted on each participant. Only three of the original eight participants were selected for the purposes of in-depth analysis and final inclusion in the study, for reasons of manageability and research size. These participants were selected on the basis of their rich and varied descriptions. The analyses rendered an understanding of each sibling's perceptions, cognitive conflicts and emotional experience, while an inter-individual analysis of the accounts permitted an exploration of contrasting themes and emerging patterns. An integration of the research data revealed the complexity and ambiguities inherent in the sibling experience of head injury, and the long-term nature of such a phenomenon. This phenomenon was found to be characterised by much change and feelings of loss, by a pervasive sense of helplessness accompanied by anger and depression, by feelings of abandonment and of being alone in their experience. Such themes confirmed many of those explicated in the literature review. However, the research findings also suggest a sense of being overwhelmed by threatening emotions, a strong reliance on avoidance coping, and a specific complexity inherent in the sibling experience, which creates a challenging experience which is long-term and for some, may be perceived as getting worse over time. The value of this research lies primarily in the neuropsychological field of family interventions and rehabilitation. It is hoped that the in-depth description of the experience of ado!escent siblings of head injury, presented here, can promote a greater understanding of this experience, and facilitate the establishment of appropriate interventions which focus on the provision of much-needed education and support. It is also hoped that this understanding can assist in raising awareness of the stressful and long-term nature of such a phenomenon, in schools and universities, among peers, facilitators, counsellors - those who have daily contact with adolescents. It is proposed that future research explores those aspects of the sibling experience which mediate its nature, dynamics and severity. Studies investigating the role played by race, culture and religion, gender and age, as well as those which focus on the long-term consequences of such a phenomenon, are likely to facilitate a deeper and more in-depth understanding of the experience of sibling head injury.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Price, Jacqueline
- Date: 2012-08-27
- Subjects: Head - Wounds and injuries - Patients - Family relationships , People with disabilities - South Africa - Family relationship , Brothers and sisters - Counseling of - South Africa , Brothers and sisters - South Africa - Psychology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3175 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6590
- Description: M.A. , This investigation aims to address and explore the experience of sibling head injury which appears to have been largely neglected in research. It seeks those themes, emotions and thoughts which are central and significant to the sibling's experience. it explores the manner in which the event of sibling head injury is incorporated into the adolescent's emerging identity, sense of self and understanding of the world. Overall, this research aims to provide some understanding of what the experience of living with a head-injured sibling entails and the personal meaning it holds for adolescent siblings. The existential-phenomenological system of inquiry is employed as a mode of research in an effort to study this experience of adolescent siblings of head-injured persons. Siblings are understood as beings-in-the-world who coconstitute their realities and interpret and act upon their own existence. Qualitative access to this subjective realm or individual lifeworld of siblings, is attempted through a qualitative design, where rich data is collected through in-depth, open-ended interviews which facilitate unique and personal descriptions. Eight siblings of an adolescent or young adult age, were sourced through Headway and interviewed for the purpose of this study. The 'Adolescent Coping Scale' was administered to gain further qualitative information which could be incorporated into a greater understanding of sibling coping under such circumstances. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, providing the database from which intraindividual analyses and discussions were conducted on each participant. Only three of the original eight participants were selected for the purposes of in-depth analysis and final inclusion in the study, for reasons of manageability and research size. These participants were selected on the basis of their rich and varied descriptions. The analyses rendered an understanding of each sibling's perceptions, cognitive conflicts and emotional experience, while an inter-individual analysis of the accounts permitted an exploration of contrasting themes and emerging patterns. An integration of the research data revealed the complexity and ambiguities inherent in the sibling experience of head injury, and the long-term nature of such a phenomenon. This phenomenon was found to be characterised by much change and feelings of loss, by a pervasive sense of helplessness accompanied by anger and depression, by feelings of abandonment and of being alone in their experience. Such themes confirmed many of those explicated in the literature review. However, the research findings also suggest a sense of being overwhelmed by threatening emotions, a strong reliance on avoidance coping, and a specific complexity inherent in the sibling experience, which creates a challenging experience which is long-term and for some, may be perceived as getting worse over time. The value of this research lies primarily in the neuropsychological field of family interventions and rehabilitation. It is hoped that the in-depth description of the experience of ado!escent siblings of head injury, presented here, can promote a greater understanding of this experience, and facilitate the establishment of appropriate interventions which focus on the provision of much-needed education and support. It is also hoped that this understanding can assist in raising awareness of the stressful and long-term nature of such a phenomenon, in schools and universities, among peers, facilitators, counsellors - those who have daily contact with adolescents. It is proposed that future research explores those aspects of the sibling experience which mediate its nature, dynamics and severity. Studies investigating the role played by race, culture and religion, gender and age, as well as those which focus on the long-term consequences of such a phenomenon, are likely to facilitate a deeper and more in-depth understanding of the experience of sibling head injury.
- Full Text:
The development and evaluation of a program of stimulation for preschool children with delayed motor or language development
- Authors: Rossi, June Calder
- Date: 2008-11-12T07:05:50Z
- Subjects: Child development , Child psychology , Motor ability in children , Preschool children , Language of preschool children
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1624
- Description: D. Litt et Phil. , The major objective of this study was to develop and to investigate the merit of a stimulation programme for improving the abilities of preschool children with delayed fine-motor and/or language development. There are many different kinds of programmes available for stimulating the abilities of preschool children. Teachers, home-schoolers and mothers utilise these to supplement the preschool curriculum for their preschool children. It is believed that children with developmental delays are at risk for formal education and that stimulation can offset these delays ensuring that children are able to actualise their potential. An intervention programme was designed with the aim of improving school readiness abilities in children. Although many research studies support educational stimulation, to date, insufficient attention has been paid to researching stimulation programmes of this kind. Subtests from Sonnekus and Le Roux’s Group Test for the Evaluation of School Readiness were selected for the screening test. Subtests were selected to identify children with fine-motor and/or language delays. Two hundred and twenty-five children of five years of age turning six years during the course of the year were screen-tested at four different schools. Forty-three children achieving the lowest scores on the screening test at two of the most homogeneous schools in terms of socio-economic grouping were allocated to the experimental or control groups of the Pretest-Posttest Control Group design. The experimental group consisted of 21 participants and the control group, of 22 participants. Quantitative analysis involved determining statistically significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention test scores on the six subscales of the Revised Griffiths Scales of Mental Development and the Draw-a-Person test for the two groups of preschool children identified as fine-motor and/or language delayed. The effect of the intervention was also examined on male and female children separately. The male to female ratios were: Group 1: 15:6 and Group 2: 14:8. Overall, the gender ratio was 67,4 % male to 32,6 % female. The programme of stimulation includes vocabulary and language, eye and hand co-ordination, visual and auditory perceptual training, numerical and alphabetical stimulation, and reasoning skills. It was designed for implementation over 20 sessions, each of an hour in duration. The programme was completed in a school term, three sessions per school week for six weeks and two in the seventh week. The intervention programme was effective in improving certain school readiness abilities of children with delays in language and/or fine-motor co-ordination. The following statistically significant results were obtained: With regard to all the children exposed to the intervention programme, improved scores were obtained on the Personal-Social and Eye-Hand Co-ordination subscales of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test for the children. Negative scores were obtained on the Locomotor Scale. For male children, the intervention programme improved the scores on the Speech and Hearing and Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscales of the Griffiths Scales and Draw-a-Person test. Regarding female children, the intervention programme improved the scores on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test. Negative results were obtained on the Locomotor subscale for female children. The gender differences obtained confirm that differences exist between the genders at this stage of development. Consistent positive results were obtained on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test. The Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale is a measure of visual-motor co-ordination. The Draw-a-Person test reveals the progression in intellectual development toward greater conceptual complexity and maturity. The intervention programme thus contributed to the school readiness abilities of the children. Generalisation of findings is limited for two main reasons. Original settings can never be replicated in educational research and extraneous variables (some measureable and some unknown) may have influenced outcomes. The study was finally evaluated using Payne’s (1994) model of programme evaluation and the Program Evaluation Standards (Sanders, 1994). Regarding Payne’s (1994) model of programme evaluation which involved an evaluation of the research design, data collection, data analysis, results and cost effectiveness, the study can be judged positively. A single negative aspect was the lack of pilot testing which would have served the researcher better in planning for more effective implementation. Positive affirmation for the study was further obtained in applying the Program Evaluation Standards (Sanders, 1994) of Utility, Feasibility, Propriety and Accuracy. This study endorses the belief that preschool development is best promoted by varied educational stimulation within a recognised preschool programme guided by qualified teachers. It is hoped that the development, quantitative analysis and assessment of this intervention programme has contributed to this most important field of preschool intervention and will serve to encourage further research in this area.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rossi, June Calder
- Date: 2008-11-12T07:05:50Z
- Subjects: Child development , Child psychology , Motor ability in children , Preschool children , Language of preschool children
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1624
- Description: D. Litt et Phil. , The major objective of this study was to develop and to investigate the merit of a stimulation programme for improving the abilities of preschool children with delayed fine-motor and/or language development. There are many different kinds of programmes available for stimulating the abilities of preschool children. Teachers, home-schoolers and mothers utilise these to supplement the preschool curriculum for their preschool children. It is believed that children with developmental delays are at risk for formal education and that stimulation can offset these delays ensuring that children are able to actualise their potential. An intervention programme was designed with the aim of improving school readiness abilities in children. Although many research studies support educational stimulation, to date, insufficient attention has been paid to researching stimulation programmes of this kind. Subtests from Sonnekus and Le Roux’s Group Test for the Evaluation of School Readiness were selected for the screening test. Subtests were selected to identify children with fine-motor and/or language delays. Two hundred and twenty-five children of five years of age turning six years during the course of the year were screen-tested at four different schools. Forty-three children achieving the lowest scores on the screening test at two of the most homogeneous schools in terms of socio-economic grouping were allocated to the experimental or control groups of the Pretest-Posttest Control Group design. The experimental group consisted of 21 participants and the control group, of 22 participants. Quantitative analysis involved determining statistically significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention test scores on the six subscales of the Revised Griffiths Scales of Mental Development and the Draw-a-Person test for the two groups of preschool children identified as fine-motor and/or language delayed. The effect of the intervention was also examined on male and female children separately. The male to female ratios were: Group 1: 15:6 and Group 2: 14:8. Overall, the gender ratio was 67,4 % male to 32,6 % female. The programme of stimulation includes vocabulary and language, eye and hand co-ordination, visual and auditory perceptual training, numerical and alphabetical stimulation, and reasoning skills. It was designed for implementation over 20 sessions, each of an hour in duration. The programme was completed in a school term, three sessions per school week for six weeks and two in the seventh week. The intervention programme was effective in improving certain school readiness abilities of children with delays in language and/or fine-motor co-ordination. The following statistically significant results were obtained: With regard to all the children exposed to the intervention programme, improved scores were obtained on the Personal-Social and Eye-Hand Co-ordination subscales of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test for the children. Negative scores were obtained on the Locomotor Scale. For male children, the intervention programme improved the scores on the Speech and Hearing and Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscales of the Griffiths Scales and Draw-a-Person test. Regarding female children, the intervention programme improved the scores on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test. Negative results were obtained on the Locomotor subscale for female children. The gender differences obtained confirm that differences exist between the genders at this stage of development. Consistent positive results were obtained on the Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale of the Griffiths Scales and the Draw-a-Person test. The Eye and Hand Co-ordination subscale is a measure of visual-motor co-ordination. The Draw-a-Person test reveals the progression in intellectual development toward greater conceptual complexity and maturity. The intervention programme thus contributed to the school readiness abilities of the children. Generalisation of findings is limited for two main reasons. Original settings can never be replicated in educational research and extraneous variables (some measureable and some unknown) may have influenced outcomes. The study was finally evaluated using Payne’s (1994) model of programme evaluation and the Program Evaluation Standards (Sanders, 1994). Regarding Payne’s (1994) model of programme evaluation which involved an evaluation of the research design, data collection, data analysis, results and cost effectiveness, the study can be judged positively. A single negative aspect was the lack of pilot testing which would have served the researcher better in planning for more effective implementation. Positive affirmation for the study was further obtained in applying the Program Evaluation Standards (Sanders, 1994) of Utility, Feasibility, Propriety and Accuracy. This study endorses the belief that preschool development is best promoted by varied educational stimulation within a recognised preschool programme guided by qualified teachers. It is hoped that the development, quantitative analysis and assessment of this intervention programme has contributed to this most important field of preschool intervention and will serve to encourage further research in this area.
- Full Text:
Behaviour and moral judgement after frontal lobe injury : a phenomenological investigation
- Santos, Maria Teresa Bordalo
- Authors: Santos, Maria Teresa Bordalo
- Date: 2012-09-10
- Subjects: Frontal lobes , Brain damage - Patients - Rehabilitation , Neuropsychology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/363095 , uj:9870 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7270
- Description: M.A. , With the advances achieved in medical technology in recent years, society is increasingly faced with the issue of determining how fit individuals are for reintegration in society following the event of traumatic brain injury. Together with Neurology and it's diagnostic capabilities, many other disciplines such as Neuropsychology, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, to name but a few, have placed strong emphasis on the rehabilitation of individuals with brain damage, with a view to reintegrate them into society. Besides the physical rehabilitation which aims at normalizing the individual's physical health, issues such as psychological ,cognitive and social functioning have been the focus of a great body of research in recent years. Whereas in the past the prognosis for many such patients in respect of returning to a normal life style were discouraging, health workers are now more optimistic in most cases regarding the individuals' probability to achieve a higher level of functioning after recovery. In this context, the individuals' ability to function in society, their ability to be integrated into the family and working environment and competence to be active and valued members of society have thus become the new aims which the therapeutic team together with the patient strive to achieve. With this in mind, rehabilitation teams now place greater emphasis and effort on optimizing recovery in the areas of cognitive and emotional competence. Amongst these issues, the individuals' competence to make moral judgements and socially adequate decisions in everyday living is of the utmost importance. This impacts on their ability to abide by social rules and norms which will determine their competence and desirability as active members in the family, social and working environments. This is the main focus of the present study. The issue of moral judgement and behaviour is central to this discussion, and a delineation of what defines morality and moral judgement is mandatory. Contributions to this analysis were found in the writings of the various authors and schools of thought presented here, and each of them has dealt with the theme of morality, moral behaviour and judgement from a different theoretical perspective. Theorists such as Lawrence Kohlberg made a major contribution to the understanding of the development of moral judgement through his stage theory, which forms one of the cornerstones of the present study. The site and the severity of the brain injury is paramount to the prognosis for rehabilitation. The frontal lobes have been described as the structures responsible for the widest range of symptoms and seen as the seat of intellect, responsible for deviations in moral and emotional functioning. An overview of the frontal lobes and associated cognitive functions as well as behaviors observed as a result of injury to these structures is presented. The existential-phenomenological system of inquiry has been described by its proponents as the most adequate to investigate phenomena relating to human behaviour, when an understanding of the subjective experience of the individuals involved is desired. For this reason this methodology is used in the present study to facilitate a qualitative analysis of the experience of brain injury particularly in respect of possible alterations in moral judgement and behaviour following the accident. The present investigation is based on interviews with three subjects and their primary caretakers, who answered questions regarding moral dilemmas. These dilemmas aim at tapping the individual's underlying reasoning processes when faced with the decision of what is right and wrong. The analysis and integration of the data obtained through these interviews reveals a complex cluster of alterations in thought and behaviour, much in line with those expected from patients suffering traumatic injury of the frontal lobes. Although different behaviours were revealed by each participant in this study, they were generally in line with the alterations described in the literature resulting from injury to the described brain areas. The value of this study lies in projecting a clearer picture of the experience of brain injury from the point of view of the victims as well as the close family members. Furthermore, analysis of data obtained in this investigation highlights certain typical behaviors and responses observed in individuals with such brain injuries, as described in the literature presented here.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Santos, Maria Teresa Bordalo
- Date: 2012-09-10
- Subjects: Frontal lobes , Brain damage - Patients - Rehabilitation , Neuropsychology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/363095 , uj:9870 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7270
- Description: M.A. , With the advances achieved in medical technology in recent years, society is increasingly faced with the issue of determining how fit individuals are for reintegration in society following the event of traumatic brain injury. Together with Neurology and it's diagnostic capabilities, many other disciplines such as Neuropsychology, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, to name but a few, have placed strong emphasis on the rehabilitation of individuals with brain damage, with a view to reintegrate them into society. Besides the physical rehabilitation which aims at normalizing the individual's physical health, issues such as psychological ,cognitive and social functioning have been the focus of a great body of research in recent years. Whereas in the past the prognosis for many such patients in respect of returning to a normal life style were discouraging, health workers are now more optimistic in most cases regarding the individuals' probability to achieve a higher level of functioning after recovery. In this context, the individuals' ability to function in society, their ability to be integrated into the family and working environment and competence to be active and valued members of society have thus become the new aims which the therapeutic team together with the patient strive to achieve. With this in mind, rehabilitation teams now place greater emphasis and effort on optimizing recovery in the areas of cognitive and emotional competence. Amongst these issues, the individuals' competence to make moral judgements and socially adequate decisions in everyday living is of the utmost importance. This impacts on their ability to abide by social rules and norms which will determine their competence and desirability as active members in the family, social and working environments. This is the main focus of the present study. The issue of moral judgement and behaviour is central to this discussion, and a delineation of what defines morality and moral judgement is mandatory. Contributions to this analysis were found in the writings of the various authors and schools of thought presented here, and each of them has dealt with the theme of morality, moral behaviour and judgement from a different theoretical perspective. Theorists such as Lawrence Kohlberg made a major contribution to the understanding of the development of moral judgement through his stage theory, which forms one of the cornerstones of the present study. The site and the severity of the brain injury is paramount to the prognosis for rehabilitation. The frontal lobes have been described as the structures responsible for the widest range of symptoms and seen as the seat of intellect, responsible for deviations in moral and emotional functioning. An overview of the frontal lobes and associated cognitive functions as well as behaviors observed as a result of injury to these structures is presented. The existential-phenomenological system of inquiry has been described by its proponents as the most adequate to investigate phenomena relating to human behaviour, when an understanding of the subjective experience of the individuals involved is desired. For this reason this methodology is used in the present study to facilitate a qualitative analysis of the experience of brain injury particularly in respect of possible alterations in moral judgement and behaviour following the accident. The present investigation is based on interviews with three subjects and their primary caretakers, who answered questions regarding moral dilemmas. These dilemmas aim at tapping the individual's underlying reasoning processes when faced with the decision of what is right and wrong. The analysis and integration of the data obtained through these interviews reveals a complex cluster of alterations in thought and behaviour, much in line with those expected from patients suffering traumatic injury of the frontal lobes. Although different behaviours were revealed by each participant in this study, they were generally in line with the alterations described in the literature resulting from injury to the described brain areas. The value of this study lies in projecting a clearer picture of the experience of brain injury from the point of view of the victims as well as the close family members. Furthermore, analysis of data obtained in this investigation highlights certain typical behaviors and responses observed in individuals with such brain injuries, as described in the literature presented here.
- Full Text:
Lateraliteit en hemisferiese taalverteenwoordiging by seuns met en sonder aandagtekort-hiperaktiwiteitsversteuring
- Authors: Vermooten, Irene
- Date: 2008-11-14T14:18:04Z
- Subjects: Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder , Etiology , Attention-deficit-disordered children , Boys' psychology , Psycholinguistics , Laterality , Localization of brain functions , Cerebral dominance , Cerebral hemispheres
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14685 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1679
- Description: M.A. , The study aims to determine whether statistically significant differences exist between boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and boys without ADHD with regard to hemispheric language lateralization and the laterality of various modalities (handedness, eyedness and footedness). According to the literature, a possible connection exists between abnormal lateralization patterns and various developmental disorders (Corballis, 1983; Geschwind & Behan, 1982; Hiscock, 1988, McFarland, 1981; Turkewitz, 1988). Lateralization in the current study refers to hemispheric language specialisation, hand dominance, foot dominance and eye dominance. In most people these functions are lateralized to the one side of the body by the age of seven (Kalat, 1995; Kolb & Whishaw, 1996). They typically manifest a dominant left hemisphere for language and a right-sided dominance for handedness, footedness and eyedness. The result is a dominant left hemisphere, due to the left side of the brain controlling the right side of the body. Some children however manifest insufficient or poor lateralization of these functions. For purposes of this study, it would imply that the functions of language specialisation, handedness, footedness and eyedness are not all lateralized to one side of the body. A possible connection between this poor or insufficient lateralization and ADHD might exist. According to the DSM IV (1997) the essential feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. Some of these symptoms causing impairment must have been present before age seven, although many individuals are only diagnosed after the symptoms have been present for a number of years. Impairment resulting from the symptoms should be present in at least two settings, for example, at school and at home. Clear evidence must exist of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic, or occupational functioning. An empirical study was conducted in order to compare the hemispheric language specialisation, handedness, eyedness and footedness of the various subjects. The subjects consisted of 20 ADHD boys (8 -12 years) who met the criteria of the DSM IV and 20 Non-ADHD boys (8-12 years) without any learning problems. Various interference variables were controlled in the selection of the subjects (see section 5.2.3) Kimura's dichotic listening technique was used to measure hemispheric language specialisation and the Harris-test for Lateral Dominance was used to measure handedness, eyedness and footedness. Wilks's lambda, Pearson's chi-quadrant and Student's t-tests were used during statistical analysis of data. Results indicated statistically significant differences between ADHD boys and non-ADHD boys with regard to hemispheric language specialisation, handedness and footedness. Overall, the results indicated that the ADHD boys are not as strongly lateralized as the non-ADHD boys. The non-ADHD boys showed a stronger left hemispheric language specialisation, right hand dominance and right foot dominance. No statistical differences were recorded with regard to eyedness. The current study provides possible theoretical support for the theory that a connection exists between poor or insufficient lateralization patterns and children with ADHD. However, the study only focused on white boys between the ages of 8-12 years. Further studies involving different age groups, cultures and gender are recommended.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Vermooten, Irene
- Date: 2008-11-14T14:18:04Z
- Subjects: Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder , Etiology , Attention-deficit-disordered children , Boys' psychology , Psycholinguistics , Laterality , Localization of brain functions , Cerebral dominance , Cerebral hemispheres
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14685 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1679
- Description: M.A. , The study aims to determine whether statistically significant differences exist between boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and boys without ADHD with regard to hemispheric language lateralization and the laterality of various modalities (handedness, eyedness and footedness). According to the literature, a possible connection exists between abnormal lateralization patterns and various developmental disorders (Corballis, 1983; Geschwind & Behan, 1982; Hiscock, 1988, McFarland, 1981; Turkewitz, 1988). Lateralization in the current study refers to hemispheric language specialisation, hand dominance, foot dominance and eye dominance. In most people these functions are lateralized to the one side of the body by the age of seven (Kalat, 1995; Kolb & Whishaw, 1996). They typically manifest a dominant left hemisphere for language and a right-sided dominance for handedness, footedness and eyedness. The result is a dominant left hemisphere, due to the left side of the brain controlling the right side of the body. Some children however manifest insufficient or poor lateralization of these functions. For purposes of this study, it would imply that the functions of language specialisation, handedness, footedness and eyedness are not all lateralized to one side of the body. A possible connection between this poor or insufficient lateralization and ADHD might exist. According to the DSM IV (1997) the essential feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. Some of these symptoms causing impairment must have been present before age seven, although many individuals are only diagnosed after the symptoms have been present for a number of years. Impairment resulting from the symptoms should be present in at least two settings, for example, at school and at home. Clear evidence must exist of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic, or occupational functioning. An empirical study was conducted in order to compare the hemispheric language specialisation, handedness, eyedness and footedness of the various subjects. The subjects consisted of 20 ADHD boys (8 -12 years) who met the criteria of the DSM IV and 20 Non-ADHD boys (8-12 years) without any learning problems. Various interference variables were controlled in the selection of the subjects (see section 5.2.3) Kimura's dichotic listening technique was used to measure hemispheric language specialisation and the Harris-test for Lateral Dominance was used to measure handedness, eyedness and footedness. Wilks's lambda, Pearson's chi-quadrant and Student's t-tests were used during statistical analysis of data. Results indicated statistically significant differences between ADHD boys and non-ADHD boys with regard to hemispheric language specialisation, handedness and footedness. Overall, the results indicated that the ADHD boys are not as strongly lateralized as the non-ADHD boys. The non-ADHD boys showed a stronger left hemispheric language specialisation, right hand dominance and right foot dominance. No statistical differences were recorded with regard to eyedness. The current study provides possible theoretical support for the theory that a connection exists between poor or insufficient lateralization patterns and children with ADHD. However, the study only focused on white boys between the ages of 8-12 years. Further studies involving different age groups, cultures and gender are recommended.
- Full Text:
Emotional intelligence as a determinant of effective cognitive functioning
- Authors: Verster, Anita
- Date: 2012-09-13
- Subjects: Emotional maturity - Research - South Africa. , Emotions and cognition. , Emotions - Social aspects. , Cognition - Psychological aspects. , Emotions.
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10327 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7691
- Description: M.A. , Human intelligence has been investigated from many different angles with various resulting definitions. Biological approaches to human intelligence investigate the relationship between the brain and the nervous system as a basis for intelligence. Cognitive approaches, on the other hand, complement the biological approaches by viewing intelligence as an underlying ability to perform a certain number of tasks of a given complexity. This forms the basis of fluid and crystallised intelligence. Crystallised intelligence refers to general knowledge the individual acquires throughout his/her life by means of the accumulation of knowledge and skills. Fluid intelligence can be seen as man's innate ability which can be put to many different uses. Among the cognitive theorists, it was generally accepted that man possesses a general type of intelligence that is common to all tasks requiring intelligence and then many different specific factors of intelligence according to each different type of task that needs to be performed. The systems view on intelligence attempted to find a more holistic and integrated approach to intelligence. This view included the external world of the individual and theorists considered the interaction between biology, cognition and social systems as a basis for human intelligence. The ability to adapt to new situations in real-life, change existing situations and perform familiar to extremely novel tasks in order to function effectively in the environment became focus points of intelligence. Especially the ability to perform novel tasks was seen as an important factor of human intelligence. Another systems approach incorporates various independent intelligences (Gardner, 1983) to form a theory of multiple intelligences. The different intelligences include, linguistic, logicalmathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic and personal intelligence. The personal intelligences are the specific focus of interest in this study. The personal intelligences form the basis of this investigation. The literature shows that two types of intelligences are included in the concept "personal intelligence", namely that of intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence refers to man's ability to understand himself, his feelings and emotions. To accomplish this, one has to have sufficient knowledge of one's own feelings and have insight about why one behaves in certain ways. Interpersonal intelligence, on the other hand, involves the understanding of others as it manifests in interactions and relations to other people. This includes the ability to appraise and identify different moods, temperaments and intentions among other people. A related construct to personal intelligence is social intelligence, which is broadly defined as the ability to understand and manage people. The ability to show appropriate social behaviour, social interactions, interpersonal relationships, coping with daily, practical life problems, knowledge of one's own and others' emotional lives and the ability to function within a social context in a flexible and appropriate manner has been of great importance to psychologists. The related concept of emotional intelligence has recently been extensively described in popular as well as scientific journals. It was defined by Salovey and Mayer (1990; 1993) and seen as a subset of social intelligence and similar to that of intrapersonal intelligence. The concept involves the individual's ability to accurately appraise his own and others' feelings and emotions, discriminate among these emotions and use the emotional information to accomplish tasks and reach goals.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Verster, Anita
- Date: 2012-09-13
- Subjects: Emotional maturity - Research - South Africa. , Emotions and cognition. , Emotions - Social aspects. , Cognition - Psychological aspects. , Emotions.
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10327 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7691
- Description: M.A. , Human intelligence has been investigated from many different angles with various resulting definitions. Biological approaches to human intelligence investigate the relationship between the brain and the nervous system as a basis for intelligence. Cognitive approaches, on the other hand, complement the biological approaches by viewing intelligence as an underlying ability to perform a certain number of tasks of a given complexity. This forms the basis of fluid and crystallised intelligence. Crystallised intelligence refers to general knowledge the individual acquires throughout his/her life by means of the accumulation of knowledge and skills. Fluid intelligence can be seen as man's innate ability which can be put to many different uses. Among the cognitive theorists, it was generally accepted that man possesses a general type of intelligence that is common to all tasks requiring intelligence and then many different specific factors of intelligence according to each different type of task that needs to be performed. The systems view on intelligence attempted to find a more holistic and integrated approach to intelligence. This view included the external world of the individual and theorists considered the interaction between biology, cognition and social systems as a basis for human intelligence. The ability to adapt to new situations in real-life, change existing situations and perform familiar to extremely novel tasks in order to function effectively in the environment became focus points of intelligence. Especially the ability to perform novel tasks was seen as an important factor of human intelligence. Another systems approach incorporates various independent intelligences (Gardner, 1983) to form a theory of multiple intelligences. The different intelligences include, linguistic, logicalmathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic and personal intelligence. The personal intelligences are the specific focus of interest in this study. The personal intelligences form the basis of this investigation. The literature shows that two types of intelligences are included in the concept "personal intelligence", namely that of intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence refers to man's ability to understand himself, his feelings and emotions. To accomplish this, one has to have sufficient knowledge of one's own feelings and have insight about why one behaves in certain ways. Interpersonal intelligence, on the other hand, involves the understanding of others as it manifests in interactions and relations to other people. This includes the ability to appraise and identify different moods, temperaments and intentions among other people. A related construct to personal intelligence is social intelligence, which is broadly defined as the ability to understand and manage people. The ability to show appropriate social behaviour, social interactions, interpersonal relationships, coping with daily, practical life problems, knowledge of one's own and others' emotional lives and the ability to function within a social context in a flexible and appropriate manner has been of great importance to psychologists. The related concept of emotional intelligence has recently been extensively described in popular as well as scientific journals. It was defined by Salovey and Mayer (1990; 1993) and seen as a subset of social intelligence and similar to that of intrapersonal intelligence. The concept involves the individual's ability to accurately appraise his own and others' feelings and emotions, discriminate among these emotions and use the emotional information to accomplish tasks and reach goals.
- Full Text:
Temperament concomitants of migraine
- Authors: Warr, Natalie Beverley
- Date: 2008-11-14T14:19:35Z
- Subjects: Migraine , Effect of temperament on migraine
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1686
- Description: M.A. , While some studies have found reciprocity between migraine and temperament other studies have found that temperament does not play a role in migraine. Research results regarding the relationship between migraine and temperament are therefore contradictory. The motivation for the present study is based on the various contradictions and methodological problems of these studies. The aim is to ascertain if there are statistically significant differences between three groups of subjects namely: 1. Clients with Frequent Migraine (N=10) 2. Clients with Less Frequent Migraine (N=10) 3. Healthy Subjects (N=10) regarding a number of temperament dimensions, specifically: 1. The five subscales of the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae) • Neuroticism • Extraversion • Openness • Agreeableness • Conscientiousness 2. The four subscales of the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1979) • Thrill and Adventure Seeking • Experience Seeking • Disinhibition • Boredom Susceptibility 3. The three subscales of the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (1992) • Strength of Excitation • Strength of Inhibition • Mobility of Nervous Processes 4. The two subscales of the IPAT Anxiety Scale (Cattell, Scheier, & Madge, 1995) • Overt Anxiety • Covert Anxiety The general aim of the present study is to provide substantial research data on the specific theory of temperament and its role in migraine. The theories of Pavlov, Eysenck, Strelau, and Zuckerman offer a theoretical framework for the conceptualisation of temperament. There are indications that certain temperament traits such as, neuroticism, extraversion, anxiety, Type A behaviour, and depression are associated with migraine (Arena, Andrasik & Blanchard, 1985; Rappaport, McAnulty & Brandtley, 1988; Rangaswami, 1983). In contrast to the above studies there are also studies which could not establish a link between migraine and certain temperament traits (Blaszczynski, 1984; Hundleby & Loucks, 1985; Schmidt, Faye, Carney & Fitzsimmons, 1987). Psychology students at the Rand Afrikaans University were chosen as a target group. The subjects had to complete a biographical questionnaire to establish whether they suffered from migraine. From an original group of 122, 30 subjects who met the criteria were selected. These subjects were then divided into three groups namely, Group 1 (Frequent Migraine), Group 2 (Less Frequent Migraine), and Group 3 (Healthy Subjects). The groups were then asked to complete four questionnaires, namely, the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1979), the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (1992), and the IPAT Anxiety Scale (Cattell, Scheier, & Madge, 1995). Based on various studies done on the relationship between migraine and temperament, the research question can be formulated as follows. Are there significant differences in certain temperament traits between subjects suffering from frequent migraine, subjects suffering from less frequent migraine, and healthy subjects, regarding their scores on the NEO PI-R, the Sensation Seeking Scale, the Pavlovian Temperament Survey, and the IPAT Anxiety Scale. Statistical analytical techniques, including the MANOVA, ANOVA, and the Scheffe tests, were applied to establish whether there were statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding their scores on the four measuring instruments used. According to the results there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding their vectors of averages on the various subscales of the four measuring instruments. The results are interpreted against the background of studies reported in the literature which also found no association between migraine and temperament. The present study is evaluated with reference to the small sample size and large number of measurements. Recommendations for future research include selecting a large test sample to enable a statistically significant distinction between the various groups. The use of other personality inventories standardised for South African subjects to test other temperament or personality traits is also recommended. Future research could possibly define groups according to other psychosomatic illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and high blood pressure and establish the possible relationship with certain temperament traits. The measuring of a wide spectrum of temperament and personality traits in order to ascertain the influence of these traits on migraine will provide more of a total picture. Also, the development of a measuring instrument for the diagnosis of migraine that will provide more valid and realistic data on the perception of migraine and also distinguish between migraine and other types of headache, would be useful.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Warr, Natalie Beverley
- Date: 2008-11-14T14:19:35Z
- Subjects: Migraine , Effect of temperament on migraine
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1686
- Description: M.A. , While some studies have found reciprocity between migraine and temperament other studies have found that temperament does not play a role in migraine. Research results regarding the relationship between migraine and temperament are therefore contradictory. The motivation for the present study is based on the various contradictions and methodological problems of these studies. The aim is to ascertain if there are statistically significant differences between three groups of subjects namely: 1. Clients with Frequent Migraine (N=10) 2. Clients with Less Frequent Migraine (N=10) 3. Healthy Subjects (N=10) regarding a number of temperament dimensions, specifically: 1. The five subscales of the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae) • Neuroticism • Extraversion • Openness • Agreeableness • Conscientiousness 2. The four subscales of the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1979) • Thrill and Adventure Seeking • Experience Seeking • Disinhibition • Boredom Susceptibility 3. The three subscales of the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (1992) • Strength of Excitation • Strength of Inhibition • Mobility of Nervous Processes 4. The two subscales of the IPAT Anxiety Scale (Cattell, Scheier, & Madge, 1995) • Overt Anxiety • Covert Anxiety The general aim of the present study is to provide substantial research data on the specific theory of temperament and its role in migraine. The theories of Pavlov, Eysenck, Strelau, and Zuckerman offer a theoretical framework for the conceptualisation of temperament. There are indications that certain temperament traits such as, neuroticism, extraversion, anxiety, Type A behaviour, and depression are associated with migraine (Arena, Andrasik & Blanchard, 1985; Rappaport, McAnulty & Brandtley, 1988; Rangaswami, 1983). In contrast to the above studies there are also studies which could not establish a link between migraine and certain temperament traits (Blaszczynski, 1984; Hundleby & Loucks, 1985; Schmidt, Faye, Carney & Fitzsimmons, 1987). Psychology students at the Rand Afrikaans University were chosen as a target group. The subjects had to complete a biographical questionnaire to establish whether they suffered from migraine. From an original group of 122, 30 subjects who met the criteria were selected. These subjects were then divided into three groups namely, Group 1 (Frequent Migraine), Group 2 (Less Frequent Migraine), and Group 3 (Healthy Subjects). The groups were then asked to complete four questionnaires, namely, the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, 1979), the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (1992), and the IPAT Anxiety Scale (Cattell, Scheier, & Madge, 1995). Based on various studies done on the relationship between migraine and temperament, the research question can be formulated as follows. Are there significant differences in certain temperament traits between subjects suffering from frequent migraine, subjects suffering from less frequent migraine, and healthy subjects, regarding their scores on the NEO PI-R, the Sensation Seeking Scale, the Pavlovian Temperament Survey, and the IPAT Anxiety Scale. Statistical analytical techniques, including the MANOVA, ANOVA, and the Scheffe tests, were applied to establish whether there were statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding their scores on the four measuring instruments used. According to the results there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups regarding their vectors of averages on the various subscales of the four measuring instruments. The results are interpreted against the background of studies reported in the literature which also found no association between migraine and temperament. The present study is evaluated with reference to the small sample size and large number of measurements. Recommendations for future research include selecting a large test sample to enable a statistically significant distinction between the various groups. The use of other personality inventories standardised for South African subjects to test other temperament or personality traits is also recommended. Future research could possibly define groups according to other psychosomatic illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and high blood pressure and establish the possible relationship with certain temperament traits. The measuring of a wide spectrum of temperament and personality traits in order to ascertain the influence of these traits on migraine will provide more of a total picture. Also, the development of a measuring instrument for the diagnosis of migraine that will provide more valid and realistic data on the perception of migraine and also distinguish between migraine and other types of headache, would be useful.
- Full Text:
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