The role of psychological inflexibility in Beck's cognitive model of depression in a sample of undergraduates

Beck's cognitive model of depression proposes that depressogenic schemas have an effect on depressive symptoms by increasing the frequency of negative automatic thoughts in response to negative life events. We aimed to test a moderated, serial mediation model where psychological inflexibility, a core concept of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model of psychopathology, both mediates and moderates the relationship between depressogenic schemas and the frequency of negative automatic thoughts. A cross-sectional design was used in which 210 undergraduates responded to questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest. Results supported the proposed moderated mediation model. Both psychological inflexibility and negative automatic thoughts were significant mediators of the relationship between depressogenic schemas and depressive symptoms, and psychological inflexibility also moderated the effect of depressogenic schemas on negative automatic thoughts. We conclude that the role of psychological inflexibility in the cognitive model of depression deserves more attention.

Music'Oriente : appréhender l'expérience d'un stage de musiques cubaines à Santiago de Cuba

Cette version du mémoire a été tronquée des éléments de composition originale, ces éléments donnant des informations d'ordre structurel qui permettraient d'identifier le stage qui fait l'objet de la présente recherche. Une version plus complète est disponible en ligne pour les membres de la communauté de l’Université de Montréal et peut aussi être consultée dans une des bibliothèques UdeM.

The use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address psychological distress experienced by caregivers: a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Background: An extensive research literature has documented the impact of caring for an individual with acquired brain injury (ABI) on caregivers and family members, including role adjustment, psychological distress, social isolation, family tension and coping with the cognitive and behavioural difficulties of the injured person. Given these findings it is important this population have access to services and supports. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an intervention that helps individuals to accept difficult experiences and commit to behaviour that is consistent with their values. Research into the effectiveness of ACT to support caregivers is at a preliminary stage. Aim: To investigate the feasibility of using ACT to reduce psychological distress and increase psychological flexibility in ABI caregivers. A secondary aim was to gain an understanding of the experience of caregivers in this context and how this can inform the development and delivery of interventions for this population. Method: Phase one was a randomised controlled feasibility trial of an ACT intervention for use with ABI caregivers. The parameters of this study were formulated around the PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcome) framework. Eighteen carers were recruited and randomised to ACT or an enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) group. ACT was implemented over 3 sessions; and ETAU was implemented over 2 sessions. The General Health Questionnaire, Valuing Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Experiential Avoidance of Caregiving Questionnaire and the Flexibility of Responses to Self-Critical Thoughts Scale were administered to both groups at baseline and following the final session. Phase two used a retrospective qualitative design that involved conducting semi-structured interviews with four participants from phase one. Results: ACT and control participants were successfully recruited. Positive feedback was obtained from ACT participants suggesting that the intervention was acceptable. There were no significant differences between the ACT and ETAU groups on outcome measures. However, there were challenges retaining participants and the overall attrition rate was high (44.44%). Therefore a number of participants did not complete the full complement of sessions, which may have impacted on this result. Qualitative results illustrated the challenges this population face including significant adjustments in their life, the emotional impact of having a loved one with a brain injury and trying to adapt to the changes in the injured person. In addition, findings elucidated the types of support that this population would find helpful and the barriers to accessing same. Conclusions: Findings from this study highlight factors that will help the development of this intervention further for a caring population. Recommendations for future implementation include completing some preparatory work with carers before beginning the intervention, consideration of a larger sample and wider recruitment strategy from local services, barriers to attending interventions and the possibility of holding groups in local venues.

Offen werden für demokratiepolitische Themen. Politische Bewusstseinsbildung in verpflichtenden Gender-Trainings trotz persönlichen Widerstands

Wie kann in Seminaren zu Genderkompetenz Offenheit erzeugt werden, wenn die Teilnehmenden sich nicht freiwillig für den Besuch entschieden haben und daher mit Desinteresse oder Widerwillen reagieren? Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt ein didaktisches Vorgehen, das den persönlichen Widerstand von Teilnehmenden aufzulösen vermag und letztlich ein Problembewusstsein für soziale Ungleichheit initiiert. Zentral sind hierfür die Reflexion persönlicher Erfahrungen und ideologischer Diskussionen, die Ungleichheitsthemen meist mit sich bringen. Das vorgestellte didaktische Vorgehen im Gender Training, das u.a. Kompetenzerwartungen an Führungskräfte im Bildungsbereich entlang Geschlechterstereotypien aufdeckt, ist auch für andere Themen der politischen Bildung einsetzbar. Um also ein politisches Bewusstsein über Hierarchisierungs- und Diskriminierungsprozesse zu befördern, ist es wichtig, Ausschließungsprozesse im Alltag erlebbar zu machen und zu erkennen, wer vom Ausschluss anderer profitiert, wer die Ausschlusskriterien festlegt und dass unterschiedliche Kriterien dafür geeignet sind. (DIPF/Orig.)

Las expresiones murales: narrativas y silencios para construir el diálogo

Los sentidos y criterios pedagógicos que subyacen en las expresiones murales, en tanto territorios grabados por los lengua­jes de la memoria, tienen como horizonte de interpretación las narrativas y silencios. Desde allí el diálogo emerge como verifica­ción de la trascendentalidad intersubjetiva asumida como arista metodológica que logra ubicar la experiencia de encuentro con la imagen del muro en su vitalidad narrativa, dentro de la investigación fe­nomenológica, en la cual la epistemología es memoria, resignificación y depuración del sujeto en el lenguaje como efecto de la construcción dialógica que supera las colocaciones en el espacio y el tiempo, así como los presupuestos y prejuicios frente a la lectura y la escritura del mundo, de la vida y de la cotidianidad. Sobre estas premisas, la perspectiva situacional de la pedagogía reconoce en la pregunta una condición vivencial y dis­cursiva que testimonia el compromiso del maestro con los fenómenos de la realidad socio-histórica, de la cual el muro es expre­sión de evocación y creación de relatos y, a su vez, trayecto de interpretación en la experiencia finita de la existencia, donde la educación y el maestro encuentran ra­zones para emprender nuevas lecturas y escrituras del mundo desde una posición en resistencia con la impunidad y el crimen

Relatório de Estágio

O presente Relatório de Estágio tem como objetivo descrever e refletir sobre a Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, no âmbito da unidade curricular de Integração Curricular: Prática Educativa e Relatório de Estágio, inserida no plano de estudos do Mestrado em Ensino do 1.º e 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. A prática desenvolvida reflete o resultado de um percurso de formação desde a Licenciatura em Educação Básica até ao Mestrado, num permanente exercício crítico, reflexivo e investigativo, onde se procurou mobilizar e articular saberes científicos, didáticos e pedagógicos. Assim, descreve-se e reflete-se sobre vivências e experiências desenvolvidas ao longo da prática educativa, atendendo a um quadro teórico e legal e uma análise do contexto e das práticas, que potenciaram o encadeamento e o amadurecimento dos saberes profissionais em estreita relação com os saberes experienciados. No desenvolvimento da prática pedagógica, a metodologia de investigação-ação norteou a conduta do formando ao traduzir-se numa espiral cíclica de observação, planificação, ação e reflexão, cuja dinâmica permite a construção de conhecimentos sólidos que sustentam o desenvolvimento da profissionalidade docente. Neste processo formativo, o formando atribuiu uma especial importância aos momentos de reflexão partilhada com os Professores envolvidos nesta formação, bem como o par pedagógico que permitiram a partilha de saberes e de experiências com reflexos na transformação e melhoramento das práticas. No final deste percurso, consciente do empenho e da determinação aplicados ao longo do percurso formativo, o mestrando evidencia a importância de um ensino com significado e globalizante para o estudante, e que possa dar sentido à expressão “assas para poder voar”.

Learning to construct our identities over the life course: a study with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults in Scotland

To date, adult educational research has had a limited focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) adults and the learning processes in which they engage across the life course. Adopting a biographical and life history methodology, this study aimed to critically explore the potentially distinctive nature and impact of how, when and where LGBT adults learn to construct their identities over their lives. In-depth, semi-structured interviews, dialogue and discussion with LGBT individuals and groups provided rich narratives that reflect shifting, diverse and multiple ways of identifying and living as LGBT. Participants engage in learning in unique ways that play a significant role in the construction and expression of such identities, that in turn influence how, when and where learning happens. Framed largely by complex heteronormative forces, learning can have a negative, distortive impact that deeply troubles any balanced, positive sense of being LGBT, leading to self- censoring, alienation and in some cases, hopelessness. However, learning is also more positively experiential, critically reflective, inventive and queer in nature. This can transform how participants understand their sexual identities and the lifewide spaces in which they learn, engendering agency and resilience. Intersectional perspectives reveal learning that participants struggle with, but can reconcile the disjuncture between evolving LGBT and other myriad identities as parents, Christians, teachers, nurses, academics, activists and retirees. The study’s main contributions lie in three areas. A focus on LGBT experience can contribute to the creation of new opportunities to develop intergenerational learning processes. The study also extends the possibilities for greater criticality in older adult education theory, research and practice, based on the continued, rich learning in which participants engage post-work and in later life. Combined with this, there is scope to further explore the nature of ‘life-deep learning’ for other societal groups, brought by combined religious, moral, ideological and social learning that guides action, beliefs, values, and expression of identity. The LGBT adults in this study demonstrate engagement in distinct forms of life-deep learning to navigate social and moral opprobrium. From this they gain hope, self-respect, empathy with others, and deeper self-knowledge.

Validation of the Flexibility of Responses to Self-Critical Thoughts Scale (FoReST) in a clinical population

Background: The Flexibility of Responses to Self-Critical Thoughts Scale (FoReST) is a questionnaire that was developed to assess whether people can be psychologically flexible when experiencing critical thoughts about themselves. This measure could have important application for evaluating third wave therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused therapy (CFT). This study investigated the validity (concurrent, predictive and incremental), internal consistency and factor structure of the FoReST in a sample of people experiencing mental health difficulties. Method: A total of 132 individuals attending Primary Care and Community Mental Health Teams within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) and Psychological Therapy Teams within NHS Lanarkshire participated in this study. Participants completed a battery of assessments that included the FoReST and related measures of similar constructs (psychological flexibility, self-compassion and self-criticism) and measures of mental health and well-being. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Results: An Exploratory factor analysis described an interpretable 2-factor structure within the items of the FoReST: unworkable action and experiential avoidance. The FoReST demonstrated good internal consistency ( = .89). Concurrent validity was supported through moderate to strong correlations with similar measures and moderate correlations with other mental health and well-being outcomes. Conclusions: The FoReST appears to be a valid assessment measure for using with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. This new measure will be of use for practitioners using ACT, CFT and those integrating both, to help monitor the process of change in flexibility and self-critical thinking across therapy. Further longitudinal studies are required to assess the test-retest reliability of the FoReST.

The Space Between

I approach my practice through the truth that art is inseparable from reality. Reducing art to a single idea is an unnatural limitation because the creative process and its manifestations result from many parallel ideas, instincts, emotions and reflections. In the following, I trace the central sources of the inspiration for work and attempt to bridge the experiential and intuitive processes that concurrently fuel my creative process.

Plano de negócios Pharma SPA

A promoção de um espírito empreendedor e de inovação é uma necessidade primordial para o crescimento económico, sustentado na criação de empresas inovadoras. Este trabalho de projecto consiste na elaboração de um plano de negócios para a criação de um empreendimento, que propõe uma nova abordagem estratégica ao sector parafarmacêutico. A Pharma Spa pretende promover o negócio de uma forma inovadora, através da diversificação e complementaridade da actividade da parafarmácia, com a prestação de serviços da área da saúde e bem-estar, integrando uma clínica e um Spa. Este conceito de negócio segue uma estratégia de Marketing Lateral e aposta nas relações com o cliente, promovendo o Marketing Experiencial. O plano de negócios apresentado, permite aferir que a Pharma Spa apresenta viabilidade económico-financeira, sendo interessante a sua concretização, pelo que podemos inferir que estamos na presença de um projecto com elevado potencial de sucesso. ABSTRACT; The promotion of an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit is a primordial necessity for economic growth, supported by the creation of innovative companies. This project consists in the elaboration of a business plan to create an enterprise, which considers a new strategical vision to the parapharmaceutical sector. The Pharma Spa pretends to promote the business in an innovative way, through the diversification and complementing of the parapharmacy activity, with the services rendering in the health area and well-being, integrating a clinic and a Spa. This business concept follows a strategy of “Lateral Marketing” and increment the relations with the customer, promoting the “Experiential Marketing”. The business plan presented, allows concluding that the Pharma Spa presents economical and financial viability, which his implementation is interesting, and we can assess that we are in the presence of a project with high potential of success.

Designing Happiness: Architecture and urban design for joy and well-being

Scientific studies exploring the environmental and experiential elements that help boost human happiness have become a significant and expanding body of work. Some urban designers, architects and planners are looking to apply this knowledge through policy decisions and design, but there is a great deal of room for further study and exploration. This paper looks at definitions of happiness and happiness measurements used in research. The paper goes on to introduce six environmental factors identified in a literature review that have design implications relating to happiness: Nature, Light, Surprise, Access, Identity, and Sociality. Architectural precedents are examined and design strategies are proposed for each factor, which are then applied to a test case site and building in Baltimore, Maryland. It is anticipated that these factors and strategies will be useful to architects, urban designers and planners as they endeavor to design positive user experiences and set city shaping policy.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR RESPONSIVE EXTENSION EDUCATION: THE CASE OF SAFE AND UCC IN GHANA

Developing nations in Africa are not shielded from the pressures of a globalized competitive agricultural marketplace. With an appreciable bulk of her people deriving livelihoods from diverse agricultural enterprises, these nations must respond to important contemporary issues shaping global agriculture. Farmers from such nations, including Ghana, will be able to improve their participation in the competitive local, regional and global agricultural marketplace if the appropriate agricultural technologies and extension information support are available. To achieve this, a new breed of agricultural extension graduates who can respond to current and emerging challenges in agriculture and interface effectively with farmers must be produced through responsive extension education and training. While extension education can produce effective extensionists to hasten agricultural development, budgetary constraints make it difficult for most African governments to successfully and sustainably implement such educational programs. However, public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives offer a way out of this financial dilemma. Beginning in 1993, the Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) worked with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana to develop an innovative extension education program through a public private partnership. The program, comprising a BSc. and Diploma components, was designed to respond to the myriad of challenges facing higher agricultural extension education in Ghana. A key practical feature of the curricula is the “Supervised Enterprise Projects” (SEPS), which enable students to work with relevant stakeholders to identify and tackle agricultural problems in farming communities through experiential extension approaches and action research. The SAFE-UCC initiative fulfils important education goals such as: expanding and improving access; ensuring quality and relevance; ensuring funding and mobilizing resources for sustainability; building partnerships and linkages; and promoting international co-operation. The paper discusses the underlying conditions for a successful public private partnership in agricultural and extension education and sheds light on the impacts, lessons learned and challenges.

Aprendizagem na ação revisitada e sua relação com a noção de competência

Este artigo tem como propósito abordar, discutir e propor, a partir de cuidadosa revisão da literatura e resultados de estudo exploratório, uma concepção que procura estabelecer conexões entre as diferentes definições sobre a aprendizagem experiencial e seu papel no desenvolvimento de competências no contexto organizacional. O estudo desenvolvido investigou os aspectos relacionados à aprendizagem e ao desenvolvimento de competências na percepção de universitários que estavam trabalhando e cursando a etapa final do curso de administração. Os resultados revelam: a importância do contexto em que os indivíduos estão inseridos na construção de significados para o processo de aprendizagem; como as situações que surgem no cotidiano podem tornarse veículo neste processo; e permitem dizer que, para instalar uma cultura de aprendizagem que possibilite o desenvolvimento de competências, é necessária compreensão clara das novas diretrizes de uma tarefa educativa voltada para aprendizagem. Na perspectiva de trazer alguma contribuição o estudo conclui propondo um quadro de referências relativamente integrado para a definição e o papel da aprendizagem na ação no desenvolvimento de competências.

Percepção Ambiental em Museus Paisagens de Arte Contemporânea: a legibilidade dos museus Inhotim/Brasil e em Serralves/Portugal avaliada pelo público/visitante

This thesis nalyzes the wayfinding in Landscape Museum of Contemporary Art (MPAC), based on the Institute of Contemporary Art CACI, Minas Gerais, Brazil and the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Serralves Foundation, Porto, Portugal. The study focuses on the interrelationship of the public/visitors with the landscape, architecture and contemporary art museums in these, in order to understand visual perception and apprehension of such an environment for their users. For both were confronted documentation (visual and written) and people talk. The main hypothesis put forward is that the audience/visitor MPAC appreciates the interrelationship between the natural environment (park/garden) and built environment (the works of contemporary art and the galleries), giving equal value to both. To complement this, a second hypothesis is that during the visit to MPACS, visitors define their paths spontaneously, but strongly influenced by existing visual indicators (maps, signage and striking landscape elements), which facilitate the readability of space, which also contribute to the offered services and the experiences of similar institutions. The analytical basis of the research used the concepts of legibility (LYNCH, 2009), wayfinding (GIBSON, 2009; ARTHUR, PASSINI, 2002; WEISMAN, 1982), Experiential Cotinnum (TUAN, 1985), Space Bound (CRUZ PINTO, 2007) and habitus (BOURDIEU, 1992). Methodologically was used qualitative research (DEMO 2000) by means of a case study (YIN, 2005; STAKE, 1999) and participant observation (WHYTE, 2005). In the two institutions interviews with researchers and curators, behavior observation and questionnaires from employees, trainees, monitors and the public/visitor of the two museums were performed. Although partially referende the initial hypothesis, the research showed that the public/visitor value appears more natural environments, they experience a greater intensity and in addition to the factors listed in the second case, your perception and definition of paths suffer significant influence of emotional relations established with space. Generally the audience/visitor adapts easily to different demands of contemporary art exhibition in the two museums and the built environment (park/garden and museum) interferes with your reading path during the visit, perceived by the public/visitor condition as a factor that favors the enjoyment of works on different mounts (wayfinding), though often become a factor that hinders the legibility of the building and its built environment

A dramaturgia do sonho : um estudo sobre as relações entre a dança e o circo contemporâneos

O ponto de partida desta investigação foi a encenação do espetáculo de cariz circense Cadernos Suspensos. A encenação desta peça despertou questões sobre o processo criativo e o papel da dança e da dramaturgia no circo contemporâneo. Considerando as diferenças constatadas entre os ‘corpos’ do circo e da dança, são identificados modos de ação desses mesmos corpos e introduzida a questão do surgimento de um novo corpo resultante dessas duas experiências e vivências performativas. Neste estudo é analisada a diluição de fronteiras entre o circo e a dança e considerado que o resultado desse encontro, com a ajuda da dramaturgia, poderá ter contribuído para o surgimento de um novo discurso circense. O aumento das produções artísticas onde circo, dança e teatro coexistem induz a crer que há um crescente interesse nessas formas artísticas. Este estudo pretende pois contribuir para uma reflexão sobre as apropriações recíprocas do circo e da dança. Os argumentos explanados congregam a experiência e vivência pessoal nos campos das artes circenses e da dança, assim como o contributo teórico e experiencial de autores e artistas como Jacob, Guy, Lefèvre e Sizorn, Fourmaux, Nadj, Decouflé, Platel e Zimmermann & de Perrot. Discute-se a possibilidade de uma certa dança contemporânea ter-se apropriado do circo para resgatar um espaço perdido de sonho assim como uma potencialização física do corpo.