Society, the body and pain : sociological factors in assessing the meaning and experience of pain in myalgic encephalomyelitis ("yuppie flu") sufferers
- Authors: Jaffray, Penny
- Date: 2013-08-14 , 2002
- Subjects: Human body -- Social aspects , Myalgic encephalomyelitis -- Case studies , Myalgic encephalomyelitis , Diseases -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3360 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008381 , Human body -- Social aspects , Myalgic encephalomyelitis -- Case studies , Myalgic encephalomyelitis , Diseases -- Psychology
- Description: This thesis explores the meaning and experience of the bodily states associated with the condition referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). It uses as a theoretical point of departure an understanding of the body as a socially constructed phenomenon and, in so dOing, offers an interpretation of illness that is seen to differ markedly from those offered by the medical and behavioural sciences. Using descriptive narrative research analysis, the thesis attempts to elicit personal trajectories of illness experience. In contrast to biomedical and social trajectories of illness, in which the interpretation and meaning given to the condition are imposed externally, personal trajectories are seen to provide unique subjective accounts of illness experience. And the value of using narrative accounts of illness is seen to lie in their ability to bring to light these individualised versions of illness experience. It is shown, in addition, that these narrative accounts of illness are also valuable in exposing the culturally shared knowledge that is employed in the process of assigning meaning to illness experiences. The aim of the thesis, then, in employing the descriptive narrative research method is to describe these shared cultural schemas. It is suggested that this approach leads to an interpretation of illness experience which sheds light on important links between the body, self and society. It is argued, more specifically, that Western capitalist society is associated with the creation of an "unnatural" environment and social context which is perceived to be inherently damaging and threatening to the well·being of those living in it; and that this assumption is pivotal to the interpretation of the illness experiences narrated and analysed for the thesis. This sociological reading of embodiment provides a basis for understanding the experience of illness, as not one simply embedded in the body or mind of the individual, but as one laden with personal meaning assimilated from, and hence revealing of, the social context in which the illness is experienced. As such, an attempt is made to provide an account of illness experience distinct from the dominant biomedical and behavioural accounts of ME.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
- Authors: Jaffray, Penny
- Date: 2013-08-14 , 2002
- Subjects: Human body -- Social aspects , Myalgic encephalomyelitis -- Case studies , Myalgic encephalomyelitis , Diseases -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3360 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008381 , Human body -- Social aspects , Myalgic encephalomyelitis -- Case studies , Myalgic encephalomyelitis , Diseases -- Psychology
- Description: This thesis explores the meaning and experience of the bodily states associated with the condition referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). It uses as a theoretical point of departure an understanding of the body as a socially constructed phenomenon and, in so dOing, offers an interpretation of illness that is seen to differ markedly from those offered by the medical and behavioural sciences. Using descriptive narrative research analysis, the thesis attempts to elicit personal trajectories of illness experience. In contrast to biomedical and social trajectories of illness, in which the interpretation and meaning given to the condition are imposed externally, personal trajectories are seen to provide unique subjective accounts of illness experience. And the value of using narrative accounts of illness is seen to lie in their ability to bring to light these individualised versions of illness experience. It is shown, in addition, that these narrative accounts of illness are also valuable in exposing the culturally shared knowledge that is employed in the process of assigning meaning to illness experiences. The aim of the thesis, then, in employing the descriptive narrative research method is to describe these shared cultural schemas. It is suggested that this approach leads to an interpretation of illness experience which sheds light on important links between the body, self and society. It is argued, more specifically, that Western capitalist society is associated with the creation of an "unnatural" environment and social context which is perceived to be inherently damaging and threatening to the well·being of those living in it; and that this assumption is pivotal to the interpretation of the illness experiences narrated and analysed for the thesis. This sociological reading of embodiment provides a basis for understanding the experience of illness, as not one simply embedded in the body or mind of the individual, but as one laden with personal meaning assimilated from, and hence revealing of, the social context in which the illness is experienced. As such, an attempt is made to provide an account of illness experience distinct from the dominant biomedical and behavioural accounts of ME.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
Value and size investment strategies: evidence from the cross-section of returns in the South African equity market
- Authors: Barnard, Kevin John
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Investments -- Psychological aspects , Investments -- Decision making , Value premium , Size effect , Rational finance , Behavioural finance , South African equity markets
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:874 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001606 , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Investments -- Psychological aspects , Investments -- Decision making
- Description: Value and size related equity investment strategies are supported by a large body of empirical research that shows a persistent premium, both longitudinally and crosssectionally. However, the competing rational and behavioural finance explanations for the success of these strategies are a subject of debate. The rational explanation is that the premium earned on value shares or shares of small companies can be attributed to higher risk. Behaviouralists argue that such shares are not riskier and attribute the premium to cognitive errors and biases in human decision making. The purpose of this study is to determine, firstly, whether the value and size premium exist in South Africa during the period July 2006 to June 2012, which includes one of the worst equity market crises in history. Secondly, this study sets out to determine whether the premium earned on value and size strategies are adequately explained by the principles of rational finance theory. To provide evidence regarding the existence of the value premium and size effect, returns are analysed, cross-sectionally, on portfolios of shares sorted by value and size. For evidence of a rational explanation, returns are regressed on value and size variables, and the relative riskiness of value and small companies is analysed. The results show evidence of a value premium in portfolios of small companies, but not big companies. The size effect is found not to be statistically significant. While regressions do show significant relationships between value and size variables and returns, these variables are found not to be associated with higher levels of risk. The conclusion is that the evidence does not support a rational, risk based explanation of the returns
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Barnard, Kevin John
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Investments -- Psychological aspects , Investments -- Decision making , Value premium , Size effect , Rational finance , Behavioural finance , South African equity markets
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:874 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001606 , Financial risk -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Investments -- Psychological aspects , Investments -- Decision making
- Description: Value and size related equity investment strategies are supported by a large body of empirical research that shows a persistent premium, both longitudinally and crosssectionally. However, the competing rational and behavioural finance explanations for the success of these strategies are a subject of debate. The rational explanation is that the premium earned on value shares or shares of small companies can be attributed to higher risk. Behaviouralists argue that such shares are not riskier and attribute the premium to cognitive errors and biases in human decision making. The purpose of this study is to determine, firstly, whether the value and size premium exist in South Africa during the period July 2006 to June 2012, which includes one of the worst equity market crises in history. Secondly, this study sets out to determine whether the premium earned on value and size strategies are adequately explained by the principles of rational finance theory. To provide evidence regarding the existence of the value premium and size effect, returns are analysed, cross-sectionally, on portfolios of shares sorted by value and size. For evidence of a rational explanation, returns are regressed on value and size variables, and the relative riskiness of value and small companies is analysed. The results show evidence of a value premium in portfolios of small companies, but not big companies. The size effect is found not to be statistically significant. While regressions do show significant relationships between value and size variables and returns, these variables are found not to be associated with higher levels of risk. The conclusion is that the evidence does not support a rational, risk based explanation of the returns
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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