Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Human Basic Needs'

Research concerning ‘basic needs' in the Human Rights literature has consistently found a positive and significant relationship between measures of wealth and basic needs provision. This study utilizes a relatively new measure of economic freedom to test hypotheses regarding general macro-economic policy decisions and basic needs outcomes. A pooled dataset of 138 countries over four years is examined using OLS panel regression controlling for both' year' and ‘country,' in a standard basic needs model. Consistent and systematic differences between economic freedom effects in OECD nations and non-OECD nations are revealed. The Economic Freedom Index has both theoretical and empirical advantages over previous measures of wealth and economic freedom, allowing human rights scholars to test specific economic policy decisions as they affect basic needs outcomes.

This case study aimed to do a critical, intersectional, policy analysis of a disability policy regarding personal assistance support for basic human needs in everyday life. In January 2019, a comprehensive preparatory report about new suggestions was presented by the Swedish Government. This caused many reactions from disability rights organisations. One particular topic became heated and criticized in the debates, namely interpretations of the legal texts about personal assistance support concerning help with breathing and nutrition feeding. I have analysed interpretations of this legal text in the preparatory report, referral response and its result in the Government bill. The analysis shows problematic, normative understandings about the body and how a specific integrity demand have affected whether a person has been entitled to personal assistance to support their basic needs. Cost efficiency, quantification, and measurable goals are increasingly visible in the Swedish welfare society. People with disabilities and their entitlement to assistance have decreased for the sake of productivity and cost reductions. An intersectional perspective of the policy’s legal texts illustrates how it lacks an essential understanding of human values. There is a need for a deeper perspective of empathy to see that basic human needs are non-measurable.

This thesis is an attempt to understand the driving forces in the formation of Islamic cities. Similarity between Islamic cities especially in their organic morphology was a result of several systems that worked coherently to produce the physical product in their built environment. In general, the thesis aims to explore and understand the systems that were behind the formation and transformation of the traditional Islamic city. In order to achieve this goal the research in particular will aim to understand Sharia as the general law that controlled people's life in the traditional city, explore the theory of the basic human needs in Sharia, study the concept of individuality in Muslims life and its reflections on the built environment, analyse the individual role verses the state role in the traditional city and establish a relationship between both parties that preserve the values of the traditional city and may be applicable within the contemporary city. Sharia, the general law that controlled people's life in the traditional city formed an umbrella for all systems within the society including those related to land development. The main objectives of Sharia are to fulfil basic human necessities. These necessities are religion, life, property, intellect and posterity. Sharia preserved these necessities in three levels of interest. This preservation was accomplished from two sides, the State and the individual. The State is obliged to fulfil needs for all individuals according to levels of priority and according to its ability. Individuals fulfil their personal needs driven by internal motivation and by the obligations of Sharia. The thesis raises the declining role of the individual in land development and the problem of exchanging roles between the state and the individual in land development which leads to more obligations on the state and prevents the individual from preserving his basic needs that are related to land development. The individual represented the module of the society; and hence, the module of the built environment. This individuality appeared very clearly in the land ownership pattern of the traditional city. In the land development process individuals always enjoyed a direct access to land, which worked as a great incentive for them to develop it in order to fulfil their basic needs. On the contrary, the State controls all undeveloped land in the contemporary city and it is no longer readily accessible to any more individuals. The author invests the great effort made by Ash Shatibi (1320 -1388) who developed the theory of Magasid Ash Sharia ( Sahria objectives) in order to create a model that relates the human basic needs to the role of the individual and the role of the state. The model explains the balanced relationship between the State's role and the individual's role in land development in the traditional city which can be adapted in the contemporary city. This model assumes that the two parties, state and individual, share responsibility in preserving the human basic needs, particularly in land development. But each party has a different role. The model is built on a basic needs theory driven from Sharia that classifies the needs in three categories; primary, secondary and tertiary. These needs are expressed as interests in the theory. These interests protect the five fundamental necessities that are religion, life, property, intellect and posterity. The model suggests that the state is to exert its abilities to the utmost to provide primary needs to all individuals, lesser of secondary needs and least of tertiary needs. The state is also responsible to create the appropriate environment that enables individuals and private corporations to interact positively in order to achieve the basic needs in any of the three levels of needs. On the other hand the individuals will carry out the mission of preserving their needs driven by their own motivation. Individual's primary needs are of great importance but less in quantity, secondary needs may be higher in quantity but less important and tertiary needs are least of importance but have no ceiling quantity wise. The thesis consists of three sections and an introduction. The first section, Individuality in traditional and contemporary city, consists of two chapters: 1) Individuality and 2) The author's experience "loss of the individual role ". The second section, Land development as a response to human basic needs, consists of three chapters: 1) Basic human needs, 2) Land development in the traditional city and 3) Role of the state verses role of the individual. The third section, Results, consists of two chapters: 1) The model and 2) Conclusion.

Swann's (1983, 1987, 1990) self-verification theory assumes that people are invested in preserving a stable and unchanging sense of self, and that they do so by interacting with others who treat them in a manner consistent with their sense of self. Deci and Ryan's (1985, 1987, 1991) self-determination theory assumes that people are intrinsically oriented towards seeking growth and progressive change in their sense of self, and that it is by interacting with others who support their autonomy that these growth strivings are best satisfied. Two pilot studies and three full-scale studies tested (a) whether self-consistency versus self-growth needs govern people's preferences for who they interact with, and (b) the kinds of consequences that ensue from such interactions. Globally, we hypothesized that if Swann's self-verification theory holds true, self-determined individuals will prefer to interact with others who are also self-determined in their motivation, and who are autonomy-supportive in their interpersonal style. Nonself-determined individuals, on the other hand, will prefer interactions with others who are nonself-determined in their motivation, and rather directive and controlling in their interpersonal style. By contrast, we anticipated that if Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory holds true, all persons, regardless of their motivational orientation, will prefer to interact with others who are relatively self-determined in their motivation and autonomy-supportive in their interpersonal style. In line with Swann's self-verification theory, results of Pilot Study 2, Study 2, and Study 3 indicated that subjects preferred to interact with others who were similar to themselves. Specifically, when we examined the similarity between university students and their two closest university friends in terms of their motivation for attending school, findings indicated that self-determined students preferred to associate with friends who were significantly more self-determined than the friends of nonself-determined students (Pilot Study 2, Study 2). Similarly, when we examined married and common-law couples' motivation for being involved in their relationship, a significant correlation emerged between their motivational orientations (Study 3). In both cases, the pattern of results held up whether we considered actual motivation similarity or perceived motivation similarity between subjects and their relationship partners. Despite the fact that subjects chose to affiliate with others similar to themselves, results of Pilot Study 1, Study 1, and Study 3, revealed that such types of interactions were not the kind that subjects would prefer to have, nor the kind that were associated with superior relationship outcomes. In line with Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory, when students were presented with descriptions of two types of teaching styles--one autonomy-supportive, the other directive and controlling--students of both motivational orientations indicated a clear preference for the autonomy-supportive teaching style (Pilot Study 1, Study 1). When asked which of the two teaching styles they considered to be more effective, students again judged the autonomy-supportive teaching style to be superior (Study 1). Finally, when couples were asked to rate the quality of their relationship, they reported greater adaptiveness in their couple behaviors, more commitment towards their relationship, and higher levels of happiness within their relationship to the extent that their motivation towards the relationship was self-determined and that their partner was perceived to be autonomy-supportive (Study 3). Results are discussed in terms of reconciling this apparent difference between what people seem to want (self-growth) and what people seem to do (self-consistency).

This dissertation is a cross-national, empirical study of human rights conditions in a dynamic international political economy. The scope of the examination covers 176 developed and developing countries from 1980 through 1993. Through evaluating the numerous theoretical aspects of human rights conceptualization, I draw upon Shue's framework and consider whether there are indeed "basic rights" and which rights should fit into this category. Further, I address the debate between those who claim that these rights are truly universal (applying to all nations and individuals) and those who argue that the validity of a moral right is relative to indigenous cultures. In a similar vein, I empirically investigate whether various human rights are interdependent and indivisible, as some scholars argue, or whether there are inherent trade-offs between various rights provisions. In going beyond the fixation on a single aspect of human rights, I broadly investigate subsistence rights, security rights and political and economic freedom. While these have previously been addressed separately, there are virtually no studies that consider them together and the subsequent linkages between them. Ultimately, a pooled time-series cross-section model is developed that moves beyond the traditional concentration on security rights (also know as integrity of the person rights) and focuses on the more controversial subsistence rights (also known as basic human needs). By addressing both subsistence and security rights, I consider whether certain aspects of the changing international political economy affect these two groups of rights in different ways. A further delineation is made between OECD and non-OECD countries. The primary international focus is on the effects of global integration and the end of the Cold War. Domestic explanations that are connected with globalization include economic freedom, income inequality and democratization. These variables are subjected to bivariate and multivariate hypothesis testing including bivariate correlations, analysis of variance, and multiple OLS regression with robust standard errors.

Tidigare undersökningar av motivationen att utöva friluftsliv har identifierat motiv som social samvaro, fysisk aktivitet, naturupplevelser och avkoppling, dock har området mest berörts i samband med planering och förvaltning av naturområden. Den här studien har undersökt motiv bakom människans friluftslivsutövande i syfte att förstå dessa drivkrafter i relation till mänskliga behov. Studien bestod av 31 deltagare från olika delar av Sverige, i åldrarna 22-75 med varierande sysselsättning, friluftslivs-utbildning, civilstatus och nationalitet, varav 16 kvinnor. Data samlades in genom att deltagarna fick skriva berättelser om sin motivation. Det insamlade materialet meningskoncentrerades och analysen resulterade i att tre abstrakta motiv kunde urskiljas: (1) att komma bort från något, samt (2) att få inre och (3) yttre stimulans. Utövandet har visat sig tillfredsställa flertalet behov och främjar på så vis välmående. Vidare bidrar studien till kunskap om vad den friluftsaktiva individen upplever att hon behöver. Resultaten stämmer väl överens med tidigare forskning.

The central question I address is whether the inclusion of a right to subsistence among human rights can be justified. The human right to subsistence is conventionally interpreted as a fundamental right to a basic living standard characterized as having access to the material means for subsistence. It is widely thought to entail duties of protection against deprivation and duties of assistance in acquiring access to the material means for subsistence (Shue 1996, Nickel, 2004, Griffin 2008). The inclusion of a right to subsistence among human rights interpreted in this way has been met with considerable resistance, particularly on the part of those who argue that fundamental rights cannot entail positive duties (Cranston 1983, Narveson 2004, O’Neill 1996, 2000, 2005). My purpose in this dissertation is to consider whether a plausible interpretation of the human right to subsistence can succeed in overcoming the most forceful and persistent objections to it. My main thesis is that a minimal interpretation of the human right to subsistence according to which it is a right not to be deprived of access to the means for subsistence provides the strongest interpretation of this right. Although the idea that the human right to subsistence correlates with negative duties is not new, discussion of these duties has been overshadowed in the literature by debate over the positive duties conventionally thought to be entailed by it. I show that the human right to subsistence interpreted as a right not to be deprived of access to the means for subsistence makes an important contribution to reasoning about the normative implications of global poverty.

The Casamance conflict for decades has been unable to produce a sustained peace settlement. This project utilised among others, the relative deprivation and basic human needs satisfaction theories respectively and concludes that the conflict is underpinned by relative deprivation, strongly felt and driven by the elite group. Both the current phase as well as in the past, the conflict has been driven and to an extent manipulated by these elite, motivated by self-empowerment. Masked under the struggle of a relatively deprived masses into collective violence, seeded in a classic social conflict of a type rooted in stereotyping, marginalisation and underdevelopment, primarily driven by basic human needs dissatisfaction expressed in terms of the levels of poverty.   These stemmed in part from the colonial pass which set into motion the continuous suppression and segregation of the Casamance region. In particular, of the Diola ethnic identity thus, the conflict’s ethno nationalists dimension. This research presents a deprivation approach strategy to peace making, which among other factors includes addressing the socioeconomic and political causes of the conflict and also one that underscores the relevance of a credible third party involvement to resolving the dispute between a fractured MFDC and a reluctant Government of Senegal.

Need is a concept that carries intuitive appeal in moral decision-making. As it stands, need is relatively under-theorised, given its currency not just in philosophical argumentation but in news coverage, charitable appeals, and political practice. Need claims carry compelling normative force, and they are amenable to widespread support as our most basic needs are some of the things we most transparently share with our fellow human beings. However, how should we understand that normative force? Is need best understood to compel us as a matter of justice? I begin my account by considering the kind of need relevant to the project. I build from an understanding of need as a three-place relation, which is by its nature needing for a purpose. I suggest that morally important needs are those which aim at the objective interests that all people have in virtue of what is good for each of us qua human beings ('non-arbitrary needs'). Further, I distinguish the existentially urgent subset of those non-arbitrary needs as 'basic needs.' Given this understanding, I consider how basic needs theory relates to its conceptual neighbours. I focus on capabilities as the nearest neighbours, but also comment on wants, interests, and rights. I judge that the theories developed by Martha Nussbaum (capabilities) and Len Doyal and Ian Gough (needs) benefit from a complementary reading, with each supplementing the other. I then draw from Amartya Sen's early writings on capabilities to ultimately see capabilities and needs as two sides of the same coin. This helps to situate needs theory in relation to a mainstream branch of political theory more generally, and indicates that we can recognise the special significance of needs without eschewing other morally important categories. I then move to establish a scope of justice that allows us to distinguish between duties of justice and other moral duties. If we think that duties of beneficence are weak and optional, whereas duties of justice are binding and enforceable, a great deal rides on how we characterise our duties to the global poor. I offer a 'moral enforceability' account, claiming that duties of justice are those which are, in principle, morally enforceable. It is the in-principle enforceability of justice duties which gives them teeth. Returning to need, I then ask how another's need comes to give me a moral reason for action. I canvas a range of existing accounts, many of which furnish important insights. I then propose that it is the morally relevant capacities of the being in need which gives them moral status such that their needing is morally significant. We are morally required to answer this need with responsiveness, as a demonstration of appropriate respect for the sort of being that the human in need is. If this is right, we are morally required to be responsive to need, even if we are not always required to reduce it. Finally, I bring the diverse strands of the foregoing argument together to return to the relationship between need and justice. I consider what a duty of responsiveness might amount to in practice, and suggest that our duties of responsiveness are best thought of as collective duties, grounded in the capacity of the global well-off to contribute. Further, I argue that duties of responsiveness are a matter of justice, as they are the sort of duties that are, in principle, morally enforceable. A wide range of threats to the necessary conditions for human flourishing, and even human life, are on the horizon, and many of these are uniquely collective challenges. The seriousness of those challenges, and the extent to which we have treated our responsibilities to those in need as discretionary in the past, means collective action and problem solving are called for when there are no easy answers.

Augmented reality (AR) is constantly moving forward and pushing its bound- aries forward. New applications and frameworks for mobile devices are rapidly developing. Head mounted displays are evolving and making an impact on in- dustries and people. In this thesis, we are going to evaluate the concept of how to make use of the environmental space in augmented reality. Within the environmental space, we are going to focus on secondary elements — elements and objects that not are in the focus of the users. Both augmented reality in smartphones and head-mounted displays are going to be considered. Through an evaluation conducted with four participants during a week, we are going to find use cases and scenarios where this type of concept could be used and where it can be applied. The results of this thesis shows where and how the can be use for a concept such as this.

While many organisations, including business and civil society, have recognized the imperative of sustainable development, without structural changes to an organisations’ governance system, sustained change is impeded. The Natural Step (TNS) Social Template is hereby expanded to guide organisations to develop systems for decision-making, information generation and distribution, and resource allocation that allows for, rather than inhibits, change capacity. A systemic approach to organisational development that does not undermine the capacity of their members to meet their needs can contribute to increased productivity, member engagement and commitment, and drive the innovation necessary for altering our complex, dynamic social-ecological systems in alignment with sustainability. Our research explores the internal factors that may create barriers to organisational change and sustainability. In addition, we synthesise basic human needs, systems’ science, and organisational change research into concrete guidelines for strategic sustainable development within the TNS Social Template framework. We aim to provide an integrated approach for internal social sustainability and strategic planning for improved governance systems.

Contact for more information: olersmarie@hotmail.com geneva.rae@ualberta.net julia.smolyaninoa@hotmail.com

Pain overlap theories (Eisenberger & Lieberman, 2004; MacDonald & Leary, 2005) suggest that the detection of social threats has mapped onto the pre-existing neurological circuitry used to signal physical pain. Supporting this assumption, several studies have found that social pain activates brain regions known for their role in processing the unpleasantness of physical pain (e.g., Eisenberger, Lieberman & Williams, 2003). In this dissertation, considering the amount of physiological evidence for common brain responses to social and physical pain, I examine whether and how social and physical pain overlap in their psychological antecedents and consequences. I first consider fear of pain as a common antecedent. In the medical literature on physical pain, the fear of pain—compared with other potential variables—emerges as one of the most relevant predictors of the perception of pain. Study 1a assesses whether fear of social and physical pain reflect unitary psychological dimensions related to, but still distinct from, each other. Study 1b investigates whether both fear of social and physical pain are associated with measures conceptually related to one of them. The findings show that fears of social and physical pain are two related—yet distinct—psychological dimensions. Likewise, I show that dimensions traditionally associated with fear of one type of pain have some degree of overlap with fear of the other type of pain. Then, to test a common antecedents hypothesis, Study 1c replicates previous findings, showing that the fear of physical pain can enhance the perception of physical pain. Likewise, I examine whether fear of social pain can enhance the perception of social pain. Study 1d shows that individuals with higher fear of social pain perceive social threats as more painful. Aside from supporting the common antecedents hypothesis, the present results also suggest a specificity effect in that each fear is able to predict its associated type of pain. Indeed, it emerges that fear of social and physical pain uniquely predict the perception of their associated pain. Taken together, these studies suggest that fear of pain play a significant role in accounting for why individuals vary in pain perception of social and physical threats. Second, I examine whether social and physical pain overlap in the psychological consequences, specifically the threat of basic human needs (i.e., belonging, control, meaningful existence, self-esteem). Study 2a shows that recalling a past physical pain episode can be associated with memories of low self-esteem, poor control, and greater aggressive temptations, similar to recalling a socially painful episode. In Study 2b, a currently inflicted experience of pain results in lowering satisfaction on all the four needs tested for both physical and social pain and worsening affect, besides confirming the increase in aggressive temptations. It also emerges that both social and physical pain lead to feeling ignored and excluded. I also test a differential strength hypothesis which argues a greater need threat effect of social versus physical pain on the basic needs tested. In Study 2a, the intensity of pain associated with episodes of social and physical pain does not differ; nevertheless, social pain is associated with lower need satisfaction than physical pain. In Study 2b, even though participants in the physical pain condition report higher pain scores than those in the social pain condition, social pain still has a greater impact on need satisfaction. Moreover—providing convergent evidence of the specific tenacity of social pain—participants assigned to the social pain conditions not only report higher feeling of needs frustration, but they are also more tempted to act in ways to restore their frustrated needs. These results add evidence to the pain overlap theories, and suggest new ways to understand and manage pain. Finally, moving from the empirical evidence provided across these six studies, I contend the overlap between social and physical pain extends beyond acute episodes, by proposing an integrative theoretical model that outlines the most relevant antecedents and consequences of the experiences of chronic social and physical pain. In terms of antecedents, my model suggests that both frequent and/or intense past painful events and insecure attachment styles are associated with the insurgence of persistent social and physical pain. Then, I propose that the same pattern of overlapping cognitive, affective and behavioral processes is involved in the maintenance of both types of pain. Specifically, I show how—at both the social and physical level—catastrophic appraisals of pain can give rise to pain-related fears that may in turn be associated with avoidance and disuse. In terms of consequences, the model focuses on the detrimental effect chronic pain has on individuals’ ability to self-regulate. Both forms of pain impair self-regulation on four fundamental domains: cognition, emotion, motivation, and interpersonal regulation. Additionally, both forms of pain persistently threaten four fundamental human needs: belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence. Implications for chronic pain conditions, as well as for the social psychological research and theories on pain are discussed.

Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG 1) on halving extreme poverty is measured with the international poverty line. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the measurement of MDG 1 by reviewing the robustness of the international poverty line and some of its national sub-reports. There are at least two problems in assessing a reliable poverty line, namely what constitutes extreme poverty and what kind of life situation this refers to. Through a qualitative content analysis, the study shows that the selected national reports lack a reliable reference for human dietary energy requirements pivotal for estimating a fair threshold for food needs. In the case that a reliable source was used, the activity level was prone to a wide range of interpretations and lacked procedural consistency.  The FAO (2011) has presented minimum dietary energy requirements that are below the references used in the national reports, which could shift the poverty line. The study also shows that the concept of “extreme poverty” has been used inconsistently. MDG 1 identifies extreme poverty as the inability to meet basic food- and non-food needs. The international poverty line is based on a myriad of national poverty lines ranging from minimum- to generous needs, where extreme poverty is defined as people barely having enough for the food component alone. These two variables create obstacles in setting a reliable international poverty line. A small shift in the international poverty line changes the poverty rates substantially, making it difficult for poverty programs and MDG 1 in truly identifying the people in most need of help.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
The importance of the psychologist's work for the service to mental deficient child has been enlarging in the last years, demanding qualified professionals for that practice. This research analyzed how psychologists evaluate their own professional preparation to assist mental deficient children's basic needs. Therefore, in the exploratory phase, the children's basic needs were identified, in special school of the state educational public system of Aracaju/Sergipe, through participant observation with a sample of 07 children in school age. The data of that phase were submitted to the content analysis, it has had as theoretical referential the Hierarchy of the Basic Human Needs systematized by Maslow. As result, was obtained an inventory consisting of 31 identified needs, with base in which the data collection instrument of the research with the professionals was built. This instrument was applied to characterized their performance to assist the raised needs; the preparation sources were identified for its performance and it was established a parallel between those needs group and the demand of the psychology professional's specific service. The instrument, denominated as mixed instrument, has consisted of a check-list included in the body of a structured interview, and applied to a sample of 15 psychologists, with experience in the service to mental deficient children. The data obtained through the check-list were analyzed by quantitative procedures and the interviewees' speeches were analyzed through Content Analysis. The results showed that 60% of the sample feel prepared to assist to the children's basic needs in their totality, being the outstanding professional practice the main preparation source with 24,6% of the answers, as the construction of a specific assistance methodology, what appears for the need of the service systemization with that clientele. The graduation appears in second position of importance with 21,4% of the answers. The qualitative analysis of the psychologists' speeches showed that they try to see the child in his/her totality, considering their basic needs. That result is running into the literature data that refers the psychologist's professional performance centered in the correction of the difficulties presented by the mental deficient children. Based on the evaluation of the graduation disciplines, and suggestions presented by the psychologists for the improvement of the professional preparation in relation to that clientele, the study appears for the need of doing an effective investment during the graduation in Psychology in sense to assist the inclusion needs proposed by the public politics, considering its commitment with the ethical and scientific precepts countersigned in the new Curricular Guidelines for the graduation in Psychology.
A importância do papel do psicólogo para o atendimento à criança com deficiência mental tem-se ampliado nos últimos anos, exigindo profissionais habilitados para esse exercício. Esta pesquisa analisou como psicólogos avaliam seu preparo profissional para atender às necessidades humanas básicas de crianças com deficiência mental. Para tanto, na fase exploratória, identificou as necessidades básicas destas crianças, em escola especial da rede pública estadual de ensino de Aracaju/Sergipe, através de observação participante com uma amostra de 07 crianças em idade escolar. Os dados dessa fase foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo, tendo como referencial teórico a Hierarquia das Necessidades Humanas Básicas sistematizada por Maslow. Como resultado, obteve-se um inventário constando de 31 necessidades identificadas, com base no qual foi construído o instrumento de coleta de dados da pesquisa com os profissionais, a qual caracterizou a sua atuação para atender as necessidades levantadas; identificou as fontes de preparo para essa atuação e estabeleceu um paralelo entre o elenco dessas necessidades e a demanda de atendimento específico do profissional de psicologia. O instrumento, denominado de instrumento misto, constou de um check-list incluído no corpo de uma entrevista estruturada, sendo esta realizada com uma amostra de 15 psicólogos, com experiência no atendimento a crianças com deficiência mental. Os dados obtidos através do check-list foram analisados por procedimentos quantitativos e as falas dos entrevistados analisadas por meio de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostraram que 60% da amostra sente-se preparada para atender às necessidades básicas das crianças em sua totalidade, sendo a prática profissional destacada como a principal fonte desse preparo com 24,6% das respostas, enquanto lugar para a construção de uma metodologia assistencial específica, apontando para a necessidade de sistematização do atendimento psicológico com essa clientela. A graduação aparece em segundo lugar de importância com 21,4% das respostas. A análise qualitativa das falas dos psicólogos mostrou que eles procuram ver a criança em sua totalidade, considerando suas necessidades básicas. Esse resultado vai de encontro aos dados da literatura que referem a atuação profissional do psicólogo centrada na correção das dificuldades apresentadas pelas crianças com deficiência mental. Com base na avaliação das disciplinas da graduação e sugestões apresentadas pelos psicólogos para a melhoria do preparo profissional em relação a essa clientela, o estudo aponta para a necessidade de se fazer um investimento efetivo durante a graduação em Psicologia no sentido de atender às necessidades de inclusão propostas pelas políticas públicas, considerando o seu compromisso com os preceitos éticos e científicos referendados nas novas Diretrizes Curriculares para os cursos de graduação em Psicologia.

Globalization and rapid urbanization in the developing world have been contributing greatly to a current unsustainable reality. In order to move towards a sustainable society, the strength of people working collectively as a community must be recognized and harnessed to begin making changes from the bottom up. This thesis will examine how a common participatory space has the potential to become a community hub, and to foster participatory dialogue, negotiation and decision-making within urban communities of poverty. After examining the current reality, including present development practices, this research strives to find universal elements for a common participatory space where vision building and strategic community action can flourish. This study also examines the processes needed to engage community members in the cultivation, creation and maintenance of a common participatory space.

Text in Afrikaans
Apartheid is verby. Die nuwe Suid-Afrika het gekom. Maar met die koms van die nuwe Suid-Afrika het die oue nie verdwyn nie. Die oue van die apartheidsverlede is nog met ons. Ons is die erfgename van apartheid en dra die letsels van apartheid nog saam met ons. Armoede, werkloosheid, behuisingsnood en geweld en misdaad is deel van die post-apartheid samelewing en kan nie weggewens word nie. Die kerk is geroep om die evangelie in die samelewing aan alle mense te kommunikeer. In hierdie kommunikasie moet die evangelie in 'n post-apartheid samelewing gesien en ervaar kan word in dade van diens. Daarom staan dade van diens in hierdie studie sentraal. Hierdie studie handel dus oor die diens van gelowiges wat 'n kommunikasievoertuig is van die evangelie in 'n post-apartheid samelewing. Vanuit die nood en behoeftes van mense in die post-apartheid samelewing is twee dade van diens geidentifiseer wat sentraal staan in die kommunikasie van die evangelie. Dit is bemagtiging en versoening. Omdat 'n groot dee! van die samelewing in die verlede geen mag op ekonomiese en politieke terreine gehad het nie, is dade van diens wat mense bemagtig noodsaaklik. In hierdie bemagtiging speel ekonomiese-, sosiale- en psigologiese bemagtiging 'n groot rol. En omdat mense deur die verlede van apartheid op grond van velkleur van mekaar geskei en geisoleer is, vra dit dat mense met mekaar versoen word. In die proses om versoening tussen mense te bewerkstellig speel verantwoordelikheid, erkenning van apartheidskuld, restitusie, regstellende aksie, die luister na mense se stories en vergifnis 'n baie belangrike rol. Vanuit 'n geloofsperspektief is die Apartheid is a thing of the past. The new South Africa has dawned. But that does not mean that the "old" South Africa has disappeared. The "old" South Africa is still present. We are the inheritors of apartheid and have to live with the scars of apartheid. Poverty, joblessness, a shortage of housing and violence and crime are an integral part of the post-apartheid society and cannot be wished away. The church is called upon to communicate the gospel to all people in society. In a post-apartheid society it is important that in this process of communication, the gospel is seen and experienced in deeds of service. Deeds of service are thus central in this study. This study entails service of believers as communication vehicles of the gospel in a post-apartheid society. Derived from the needs of people in the post-apartheid society two deeds of service are identified which are essential in the communication of the gospel. These are empowerment and reconciliation. A large part of the society previously had no power on the economical and political fronts - therefore deeds of service that cultivate empowerment are essential. In this process economic, social and psychological empowerment plays an important role. And because people were separated and isolated on the ground of skin colour, people need to be reconciliated. In the process of establishing reconciliation among people, it has to be recognised that responsibility, confession of guilt, restitution, affirmative action, listening to people's stories and forgiveness have an important role. From a Christian perspective the service of the believer in a post-apartheid society is orientated to the service of Jesus Christ. His service serves as an example to all his followers. Because believers are followers of Christ, they are all his instruments of service. For this service believers are edified in their local churches by community (koinonia) and equipped by the spiritual leaders to be of service to people in the society.
Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Praktiese Teologie)

Inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic violent conflict created a divide in Cyprus (1950-1974) that still exists to this day. This study explores specifically an effect of violent conflict – Missing Persons – and the ‘process of exhumations,’ which is defined as; the recovery of Missing Persons, identification, and reunification of the Missing with loved ones as a key component of peacebuilding via inter-ethnic reconciliation and restorative justice. This process is important for peacebuilding because it empowers individuals, communities, and nation-states to satisfy basic human psycho-social needs in order to deal with the trauma of past violence, to recognize loss, and to seek closure of uncertainty to prevent the transgenerational transmission of trauma and escalation of violence between and within ethnic societies. By interviewing eight experts on the Cypriot conflict about what the ‘process of exhumations’ does in Cyprus, revealed the challenges and successes that may arise during and after the process for sustainable peace.
February 2016

This study explored how the well-being of the gays, lesbians and bisexuals (GLBs} in Botswana could be promoted. The health and human rights approach that places dignity before rights was selected as a framework for investigation. The respondents' (n=47) levels of well-being were assessed through a questionnaire with 76 items that included the General Well-Being Schedule. The findings indicated that varying degrees of distress were experienced by 64 % of the GLBs in this study. The GLBs identified a need for HIV/AIDS education and had concerns about their general health, discrimination and vulnerability for violence including sexual attacks. Their levels of well-being were influenced by both positive internal acceptance of their sexual orientation and negative external acceptance by society. Levels of involvement of health professionals was poor, and linkage between health and human rights was proposed to reduce dignity violations and improve the quality of life of the GLBs in Botswana.
Health Studies
M.A. (Nursing Science)

Rural development efforts in Third World countries often fail to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged members of society. The priviledged continue to get a disproportionate share of the fruits of development. This is so in spite of the fact that development thinking has changed from the days when the poor were expected to benefit from development through the "trickle down" effect. It is now widely recognised that development should be focused on people in their local communities (human development) and not on the economy per se. To achieve this type of development requires an appropriate strategy of development, and people's/community participation is such a strategy. People's participation in development takes place through community based organisations. The organisations faciiitate the development of the human potential of members. This study investigates the conditions under which rural community participation takes place in lesotho. The Thabana-Morena Integrated Rural Development Project is used as a case study. The first objective is to determine the appropriateness of the organisations through which community participation was promoted in the project. The second objective is to isolate the political and administrative factors which affected participation in the project. Thirdly, the study tries to identify factors at the village level which influenced participation in the project. Fourthly, the study evaluates the effectiveness of the project in experimenting with participatory approaches, given that development projects are basically mechanisms for testing the appropriateness of national policies before applying them on a wide scale. Finally, a set of principles is developed on the basis of which participatory development can be facilitated.
Development Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)

Text in English with summaries in English and Afrikaans
Bibliography: leaves 89-108
Democracy in South Africa came at a price. The apartheid era did not accommodate or incorporate democratic and constitutional principles. The year 1996 saw a democratic Constitution being adopted, having been certified by the Constitutional Court. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution guarantees the rights and freedoms of all South Africans. The apartheid era ensured that the rights which are enjoyed today were reserved for only a portion of the South African population. This study emphasises the importance of the Constitution and the role and responsibility of every citizen to defend it. In defending the Constitution, the rights and freedoms of all South Africans are defended. The Bill of Rights promotes social development for all South Africans, as opposed to disparate social development under the divisive apartheid era. The Constitution is a powerful enabler for democracy and social cohesion and unity. This study depended on secondary sources which are vital to keeping historical facts alive and truthful. Desktop research is qualitative and, while less expensive, produces acceptable results and findings.
Demokrasie in Suid-Afrika het met 'n prys gekom. Die apartheidsera het nie demokratiese en grondwetlike beginsels geakkommodeer of opgeneem nie. In 1996 word 'n demokratiese Grondwet aanvaar, wat deur die Grondwet Hof gesertifiseer was. Die Handves van Menseregte in die Grondwet waarborg die regte en vryhede van alle Suid-Afrikaners. Die apartheidsera het verseker dat die regte wat vandag geniet word, slegs vir 'n gedeelte van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking gereserveer is. Hierdie studie beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die Grondwet en die rol en verantwoordelikheid van elke burger om dit te verdedig. Deur die Grondwet te verdedig word die regte en vryhede van alle Suid-Afrikaners verdedig. Die Handves van Menseregte bevorder sosiale ontwikkeling vir alle Suid-Afrikaners, in teenstelling met uiteenlopende sosiale ontwikkeling onder die verdelende apartheidsera. Die Grondwet is 'n kragtige instaatsteller vir demokrasie, sosiale samehorigheid en eenheid. Hierdie studie was afhanklik van sekondêre bronne wat noodsaaklik is om historiese feite lewendig en waaragtig te hou. Desktop-navorsing (boek) is kwalitatief en hoewel dit goedkoper is, lewer dit aanvaarbare resultate en bevindings op.
Development Studies
M.A. (Development Studies)

The need for an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation stems from the inability of development theory and praxis, which has informed the past Development Decades, to ameliorate abject poverty experienced by most people throughout the world. Emanating from a hermeneutical-interpretist epistemology the fundamental argument of an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation is that people and the crucial aspects of their humanity should be the central focus in development and evaluation processes. Thus, taking the people-centred approach to development as its starting point, an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation draws attention to the marginalised, particularly the poor, the rural poor, resource-poor primary producers, women and their households. An Anthropocentric Development Evaluation also argues for an actor-orientation to Development Evaluation to emphasise the situational, yet individual behaviour, of people. Alongside such an approach, lies the significance of culture and people's knowledge for development, as well as the limitations, risks, uncertainties and vulnerabilities people face as a consequence of their humanity. These may influence the extent to which they participate in spontaneous or imposed development initiatives. An Anthropocentric Development Evaluation then comparatively assesses three sets of similar, yet different, methodologies using people and aspects of their humanity described above as the focus for that assessment. The methodologies assessed include Action Research, Social Impact Assessment and the Complementary Rural Development Field Tools. The purpose of doing so is to obtain a suitable medium through which to test the focus of an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation in a development setting. The testing of an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation in a development setting is done first by providing an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation of aspects of life of people living in the community of Nyanyadu in KwaZulu-Natal. Social Impact Assessments using the focus of an Anthropocentric Development Evaluation are then made of two development initiatives in respect of the people of Nyanyadu. These two initiatives are a nutrition and social development programme and the national land reforms. The purpose of all these evaluations is to examine the extent to which people and their humanity are seen to be crucial in development processes.
Development Administration
D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)

Between 45-57% of South Africans are estimated to be engulfed by poverty. In an attempt to identify policy instruments that could help change this status quo, the various strategies that have been implemented in countries (e.g. China, Vietnam and Uganda) that are known to have been relatively successful in reducing poverty are reviewed. In the process, this dissertation discusses the literature regarding poverty, with a particular emphasis on the definition, measurement and determinants thereof. Furthermore, South Africa's anti-poverty strategies are discussed. It turns out that these have met limited success. This is largely due to insufficient pro-poor economic growth, weak implementation/administration at the municipal level, slow asset redistribution, high income/wealth inequality, low job generation rate by SMME's, high HIV/AIDS infection rate, public corruption and inadequate monitoring of poverty. Therefore, if meaningful progress towards poverty reduction is to be achieved, the government needs to deal with the foregoing constraints accordingly.
Economics
M.Comm. (Economics)