Browsing by Subject "emotions"
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Item Autism Genetic Testing: Psychological Factors Associated with the Test Decisions Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in Taiwan(2014-07-09) Xu, LeiAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of highly inheritable disorders. Genetic testing for ASD is anticipated to be offered in Taiwan in the near future. Therefore, it is critical to explore the psychological factors regarding the test decisions among the ASD-affected population before the provision of the test. This study examined emotions, attitudes, and intention regarding ASD genetic testing among parents of children with ASD in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was threefold: (i) systematically review the literature regarding the emotional responses, attitudes, and intention related to ASD genetic testing; (ii) examine the psychological factors, attitudes, and intention regarding ASD genetic testing among a sample of parents with autistic children in Taiwan; and (iii) utilize structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses to (a) examine the associations between the emotional and attitudinal factors that determine parents? intentions to undergo ASD genetic testing and (b) test the overall ?fit? of the model. The first study systematically synthesized a decade (2003-2013) of empirical studies regarding the emotional factors, attitudes, and intention associated with undergoing ASD genetic testing and summarized the methodological quality of the included articles. This study indicated a lack of literature on this research area as well as the gap in the overall quality of the existing studies. The second study was an empirical study among 444 parents of children with ASD from Taiwan in the preliminary data analysis. A SEM model was employed to analyze the relationship between the variables and test the fit of the theoretical framework. This study demonstrated that anxiety, fear, and guilt were all determinants of test intention among parents of children with ASD. In summary, the findings from this dissertation have direct implications for clinicians, psychiatrists, and other health professionals. Specifically, it will (i) help explain the potential psychological factors associated with undergoing ASD genetic testing, (ii) assist genetic professionals in becoming aware of the existing psychological concern, and (iii) help design appropriate pre-test educational programs. Educational materials addressing parents? emotional management should be developed. More significantly, policymakers should include and address parents? opinions properly in the official documents.Item Immanuel Kant and T.H. Green on Emotions, Sympathy, and Morality(2010-07-14) Downs, Wayne J.In this work I investigate the role of emotion in the moral philosophies of Immanuel Kant and T.H. Green. Noting Kant's reputation as a rationalist holding a predominately negative view toward emotions, I studied the works of Kant with this two-fold question in mind: Why did Kant allegedly find emotions as hindrances to moral actions, and what exactly would such a view entail if it were indeed his perspective? Based on Kant's writings regarding duties to others in Doctrine of Virtues, I show that in his discussion on sympathetic actions there appears to be a reliance on emotions in the construction of a moral response to another's fate. I place Kant's theory in juxtaposition with T.H. Green's moral philosophy because Green, a lesser-known British Idealist, is commonly presented as a theorist within the Kantian tradition. However, working exclusively with Green's major work, Prolegomena to Ethics, there are notable differences between Kant and Green. Green does not hold a negative view of emotions as Kant did, and more fundamentally, the distinction between Kant and Green stems from their differing perspectives of human nature. Whereas Kant presented human nature as comprised of two coexisting, and conflicting, natures - the animal nature and the moral nature - Green dissolved this dualism by making reason that which unifies the human being's animal nature and moral nature. Hence, it is my purpose to study Green's moral philosophy against the backdrop of Kant's moral theory, with particular focus on the role of emotions and sympathy in human behavior. In this comparative analysis, I show how Green's theory, although heavily indebted to Kant, works to correct some problematic issues that arise from Kant's denigration of emotions inherent in his dualism. Furthermore, in this discussion that begins as an examination of two views on the relationship between emotions and morality, one is pressed to entertain a deeper question concerning how these thinkers arrived at their views of human nature. This progression is indeed appropriate, at least when considering Kant and Green, because their regard for emotions is directly dependent upon their views of human nature as distinct from animal nature. In the end, it is suggested that Green's theory not only serves to correct Kant's work, but by rectifying Kant's problematic dualistic view of human nature, Green created a philosophy all his own that may more accurately represent the true nature of humankind.Item Perceptions on what Influences Writing in Agricultural Journalism(2011-02-22) Wilburn, Misty B.Over the years, multiple studies have been conducted to determine what influences writing. Through the studies, few concrete conclusions have been reached on why individuals write the way they do. Research on children has shown that reading does influence writing; however, there has been little research done on adults. Some research has been conducted on how emotions influence writing, but no solid consensus has been reached. This study asked a select group of agricultural journalism and communications student writers what they perceived influenced their writing. The results of this study have implications for the way agricultural journalism and communications students learn and are taught. The study may serve as a model for further research. The purposive sample was agricultural journalism and communications students who were selected by the lead instructor at their school. The instructors served as gatekeepers. Each U.S. university with an agricultural journalism and communications program was asked to participate. The study showed that respondents believe many things influence their writing, and the factor mentioned most was surroundings. Respondents also mentioned the things they read and the things they had written in the past as influencers of their writing. The following recommendations were made based on the findings and conclusions of this study. Researchers should continue to look at what writers believe influences their writing as a way to develop better writers. Instructors should focus on teaching students in various surroundings. Students should not be allowed to write only in the surrounding in which they feel the most comfortable. Research should be conducted to determine if what respondents perceive influences their writing truly does.Item The Emotional Context of First Sexual Intercourse on Current Sexual Guilt(2011-10-21) Davis, Matthew JosephThis dissertation presents three separate studies examining the effects of an individual's emotional response to their sexual initiation and their current feelings of sexual guilt. First, a systematic review of the literature is presented. From this review it was shown that previous research has found that an individual's response to his/her FSI experience has the potential to lead to later negative mental, physical and sexual health outcomes. However, limitations existed among and between studies. It was determined that a new measure of FSI emotional response was needed to minimize the limitations of previous measures which can be used consistently in future research. Criteria for such a measure are discussed. Second a new measure of an individual emotional response to his/her sexual initiation experience was constructed using the conclusions of the previous review of the literature. The validity of this measure was examined among a mixed gender sample of participants, asking participants to rate emotions currently and at the time of the event, using more sophisticated statistical analyses than previous research. Results provided evidence for the appropriateness of the measure as well as support for utilizing both time periods of questioning. It was found that individuals were able to make a distinction between these two time periods, providing separate and distinct factor structures. Implications of these results are discussed. Finally, utilizing the newly constructed measure, a structural equation model was created to examine the relationship between FSI emotional response and current sexual guilt. An individual's emotional response to his/her sexual initiation experience was found to be associated with his/her current degree of sexual guilt. Despite previous research suggesting the importance of the individual's age at the time of the sexual initiation event, it was found in the current study that this FSI emotional response was more strongly related to sexual guilt than age at FSI. The results highlight important relationships that must be further explored to better understand how youth and young adults respond to their sexual initiation and how this impacts their later sexual, physical, and mental health.