Narcissistic defenses and alienation in the life of Howard Hughes: a case study
- Authors: Sandison, Alida
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hughes, Howard -- 1905-1976 , Narcissism Self psychology Personality disorders
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35038 , vital:33609
- Description: Narcissism is a personality configuration which has both normal and pathological personality expressions. It is associated with a very broad field of literature and theoretical formulations, put forward to understand it. To add to this knowledge base, the aim of the research was to explore and describe narcissistic defenses and the consequent alienation of others within the narcissistic personality configuration. The aim was attained through the exploration of the life of Howard Hughes, by examining the interplay between Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory (1974; 1975; 1976; 1980; 1984; 1992; 2001) and Hughes’s lived experiences. Hughes was chosen as the subject as he is renowned for being an eccentric billionaire who was revolutionary in his effect on the world, but concurrently disturbed within his personal pathologies. The study took the form of a case study. Data was collected using Yin’s (1994) guidelines for data collection, which include using multiple sources of evidence, creating a case study database, and keeping and maintaining a reliable chain of evidence. Data was furthermore collected and analysed using Miles and Huberman’s (1994) strategy of data analysis which consists of three steps, namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. Research findings confirmed the presence of primitive defense mechanisms associated with the lower level pathologies described by Kernberg within Hughes’ patterns. Findings confirmed the defense mechanisms as alienating others. Learnings produced were presented in a model to be used in clinical practice to support others in interaction with narcissistic individuals. Steps outlined included, understand, decontaminate and reconstruct, reaffirm reality, and find something positive.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Exploring the developmental profile of Black HIV positive/AIDS infants and children a longitudinal study
- Authors: Sandison, Alida
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Infants -- Development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Longitudinal studies , Child development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Longitudinal studies , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , AIDS (Disease) in children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Griffiths Scales of Mental Development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9848 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/357 , Infants -- Development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Longitudinal studies , Child development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Longitudinal studies , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , AIDS (Disease) in children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Griffiths Scales of Mental Development
- Description: This study aimed at exploring the developmental profile of HIV positive/AIDS infants and children (three to 35 months) over a period of 11 months in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, utilising the Revised Extended Griffiths Scales of Mental Development (GSMD). The purpose was to generate information about the development of HIV positive/AIDS infants and children, highlighting developmental strengths and weaknesses to ultimately aid the custodians of these children with their interventions. A non-probability purposive sampling method was applied, and a longitudinal profile was generated as participants were assessed twice. Participants were all outpatients at Kwazakhele Day Clinic, Dora Nginza and Livingstone Hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, and were located for the study through their caregiver’s attendance of an HIV support groups at the Dora Nginza Hospital. Data was analysed statistically using descriptive statistics and Hotelings-T² tests. Results indicated a significant difference between first and second assessment on the General Quotient and on two of the six subscales, namely Eye-Hand Co-ordination (D) and Practical Reasoning (F). It was deduced that development declined or did not improve as participants aged.
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- Date Issued: 2005