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I propose a theory for explaining both major and minor adult self‐change from a radical interactionist perspective. According to our new proposed theory, adult self‐change takes place over a five‐stage, multi‐directional process, which in the order of their occurrence are: (1) fragmentation, (2) provisional unity, (3) praxis, (4) consolidation, and (5) social segregation. The basic dynamic underlying both major and minor adult self‐change is the loss or gain of status in the dominance hierarchy of people's grand primary groups which, in turn, can significantly affect, for better or worse, the ranks that they hold in their petite primary and secondary groups. What makes this theory relatively unique is, first and foremost, its basis on the master principle of domination. Second, it explains both minor and major self‐change, not just one or the other. This distinction is important because the stages undergone during these two different degrees of self‐change not only overlap, but as people pass through them, minor self‐change can often mutate into major self‐change, making the formulation of separate explanations untenable. The main conclusion this article draws is that the proposed explanation of adult self‐change from a radical interactionist perspective is superior to explanations proposed by conventional interactionists which are based on sociality. This is because the model I introduce here can explain both major and minor adult self‐change and explicitly takes into account, instead of ignores, the integral part that super‐ordination plays in both forms of self‐change, and thereby, breaks new theoretical ground. Snippets from the autobiography of American blues and jazz legend, Ray Charles, are used to illustrate the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-change is crucial for driving both individual growth and societal progress. Based on schema theory, this study proposes that indirect multicultural experiences may be an effective pathway to promote self-change, with positive emotions and meaning seeking serving as mediators, and social class as a moderator. To test this hypothesis, an online survey was conducted with 1627 participants aged 18–55 years, using scales to assess indirect multicultural experiences, self-change, positive emotions, meaning seeking, and both subjective and objective social classes. The results indicated that indirect multicultural experiences promote self-change not only by enhancing positive emotions but also by fostering meaning seeking. Additionally, social class moderated the relationship between indirect multicultural experiences and self-change, with subjective social class playing a more pronounced role than objective social class. Individuals with higher subjective social class overall benefited more from indirect multicultural experiences. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms behind self-change and suggest that interventions aiming to foster personal growth and self-improvement can benefit from encouraging diverse cultural exposures, focusing on enhancing individuals' subjective sense of social class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourist transformation has recently received ample attention. Although personality traits are considered to be overall stable across time, there is evidence that personality might change under the influence of different environmental and contextual factors such as those offered in transformative travel experiences. This study developed and validated a scale to measure travelers' personality changes after transformative travel experiences. The steps of the study include personality change scale item generation, scale purification, and construct validation with principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The study results indicated the validity of a six-dimensional tourist transformation scale that may be effective in capturing travelers' personality change through travel experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether attachment and self-change predict relationship stability and whether relationship stability differs according to gender. The research data consisted of 403 participants, both online and face-to-face. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive power of self-change and attachment on relationship stability in university students. Independent samples t-test was conducted to determine whether there was a difference in the relationship stability levels of the participants according to gender. According to the findings obtained from the analysis, university students' self-expansion, self-contraction, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment levels significantly predict relationship satisfaction. Self-expansion, self-adulteration, self-contraction, and anxious attachment significantly predict the level of evaluation of the quality of options. Self-expansion, self-contraction, self-adulteration, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment significantly predicted relationship investment, whereas self-expansion, self-contraction, self-adulteration, and avoidant attachment significantly predicted commitment. In addition, men's relationship satisfaction and relationship investment levels are significantly higher than women's. The findings were discussed and interpreted in line with the literature on relationship stability, and some suggestions were presented for researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Negative events tend to reduce self‐concept clarity, which could hinder self‐change. Three studies (total n = 1603) including two preregistered tested whether inducing self‐compassion in response to negative events promotes self‐concept clarity and self‐change. Methods: Participants engaged in either a self‐compassionate or a control writing task regarding negative events. They responded to the scales of self‐concept clarity and self‐change before and after the manipulation. Self‐change was assessed using two indicators: self‐improvement regarding the negative aspects of the self (i.e., negativity transformation, Studies 1–3) and openness to self‐change (Studies 2 and 3). In Study 3, self‐esteem and affect were assessed to test alternative processes. Results: Across the studies, participants induced to be self‐compassionate reported higher levels of self‐concept clarity, negativity transformation (except in Study 1), and openness to self‐change. Studies 2 and 3 found that self‐concept clarity mediated the effect of self‐compassion on openness to self‐change. Study 3 indicated that this indirect effect remained significant, while the indirect effect of self‐compassion on negativity transformation was nonsignificant when self‐esteem and affect were considered. Conclusions: Overall, boosting self‐compassion in response to negative events could help people retain self‐concept clarity and, thus, be open to self‐change. Self‐compassion could also orient people to engage in negativity transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior literature has long established self‐gifts as a form of symbolic self‐communication that can be particularly meaningful and impactful for individuals to enhance self‐concept clarity and self‐definition during life transitions. However, little is known about how life transitions may bring about changes in the practices and meanings of self‐gifting. Drawing on individual interviews with 22 first‐time older mothers, this research uses temporal self‐appraisal theory as the theoretical lens and temporal landmarks as a sensitizing framework to explore how people's past, present, and future selves may unfold and interact in influencing their self‐gifting practices and meanings. Our findings contribute to a fuller understanding of the temporal nature of self‐gifting by highlighting the varying self‐gifting orientations that emerge from the interaction, reflecting changes in temporal self‐appraisals and how they enable a sense of self‐(dis)continuity for psychological well‐being. The temporal perspective of self‐gifts offers a theoretical framework for understanding how self‐gifts, a form of symbolic self‐communication, express, manage, or facilitate perceived self‐changes and the need for self‐continuity. The marketing implications and applications of the theoretical framework are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether attachment and self-change predict relationship stability and whether relationship stability differs according to gender. The research data consisted of 403 participants, both online and face-to-face. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive power of self-change and attachment on relationship stability in university students. Independent samples t-test was conducted to determine whether there was a difference in the relationship stability levels of the participants according to gender. According to the findings obtained from the analysis, university students' self-expansion, self-contraction, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment levels significantly predict relationship satisfaction. Self-expansion, self-adulteration, self-contraction, and anxious attachment significantly predict the level of evaluation of the quality of options. Self-expansion, self-contraction, self-adulteration, anxious attachment, and avoidant attachment significantly predicted relationship investment, whereas self-expansion, self-contraction, self-adulteration, and avoidant attachment significantly predicted commitment. In addition, men's relationship satisfaction and relationship investment levels are significantly higher than women's. The findings were discussed and interpreted in line with the literature on relationship stability, and some suggestions were presented for researchers and practitioners.

This editorial discusses a study by Day and colleagues, in which the authors investigated the prevalence of resolution of alcohol and other drug problems in the UK and compared people who resolved their problems with and without treatment.

Abstract Introduction Research has established natural recovery (NR) as an important pathway to substance use recovery. Studies investigating correlates of NR have mainly focused on demographic and substance use variables rather than life circumstances. This study seeks to better understand the phenomenon of natural recovery by (i) validating the international scientific literature concerning demographic and substance use indicators of NR in Flanders and (ii) assessing the additional explanatory power of recovery strengths and barriers during active addiction, controlling for demographic and substance use covariates. Methods A total of 343 persons in recovery from alcohol or drug use problems (≥ 3 months) completed an online cross-sectional survey in Flanders. Participants in NR and in recovery after following treatment were compared using multivariate linear regression models. Reasons for not following treatment were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Higher education level, lower severity of dependence, and cannabis use as the main problem substance (vs. alcohol) were statistically significant (p

Introduction: Research has established natural recovery (NR) as an important pathway to substance use recovery. Studies investigating correlates of NR have mainly focused on demographic and substance use variables rather than life circumstances. This study seeks to better understand the phenomenon of natural recovery by (i) validating the international scientific literature concerning demographic and substance use indicators of NR in Flanders and (ii) assessing the additional explanatory power of recovery strengths and barriers during active addiction, controlling for demographic and substance use covariates. Methods: A total of 343 persons in recovery from alcohol or drug use problems (≥ 3 months) completed an online cross-sectional survey in Flanders. Participants in NR and in recovery after following treatment were compared using multivariate linear regression models. Reasons for not following treatment were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Higher education level, lower severity of dependence, and cannabis use as the main problem substance (vs. alcohol) were statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlates of NR. When scores for the number of barriers and strengths associated with active addiction were added, barriers (but not strengths) were significantly associated with NR. When barrier items were individually tested, having untreated emotional or mental health problems, having a driver's license revoked and damaging property were statistically significant correlates. The most reported reason for not entering treatment was not experiencing any need to do so. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of a holistic approach to recovery support across multiple life domains. Limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term recovery from substance use disorders has been described as a process of identity construction, through which the stigma of being a substance user is replaced by a new identity of a non-user. Identity construction has been widely acknowledged as a significant factor in different pathways of substance use cessation, such as self-change and treatment-change. However, almost no articles have discussed the role of identity construction in desistance and recovery among both self-changers and treatment-change. The aim of this narrative review was to explore this subject in the two groups. Based on the recovery capital approach and the social identity model of recovery, I posited that self-changers and treatment-changers undergo different processes of identity construction. Moreover, the prospects for successful identity construction depend upon personal and social resources (recovery capital) that provide identity-building materials such as relationships, attitudes, and role models. This article contributes to the field by presenting the different identity constructions in the process of long-term recovery from SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive empathy, expressed as either imagine-self (imagining oneself in the other's situation) or imagine-other (imagining the other person in his/her situation) empathy, is essential for self-change and satisfaction in coaching. In two studies, we investigated the difference between coaches' imagine-self versus imagine-other empathy. In a survey study (N1 = 242), we found that the more important coaches perceived the client's self-change, the more valuable they not only rated empathy in general but also imagine-other (but not imagine-self) empathy in particular. In an experimental study (N2 = 57), we manipulated the coaches' imagine-self versus imagine-other empathy and examined the effect on the clients' self-change and coaching satisfaction. The results revealed a positive effect of imagine-other (but not imagine-self) empathy on these coaching outcome factors. Thus, one main practical implication is the relevance of showing imagine-other instead of imagine-self empathy as a coach. However, future research should investigate other personnel development approaches like mentoring or training with regard to imagine-self versus imagine-other empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, I seek to contribute to the literature on self-change and moral injury by providing an autoethnographic account of the processes through which I incurred "moral injury" while giving first aid to gunshot victims as a police officer on the Westside of Chicago. In particular, I aim to address the causes and consequences of failing to find a new identity that would allow me to adjust to repeated trauma. The second aim focuses on illustrating why many police officers working in extremely violent neighborhoods tend to disassociate from victims and potential victims. The analysis of the narratives I present on providing first aid to shooting victims shows that my religiously based moral norms were particularly transgressed by several key mechanisms. In the conclusion, I discuss how future research on moral injury can benefit from incorporating the theory of self-change. I also encourage future research on moral injury to focus on police officers working in extremely violent neighborhoods and consider using autoethnographic methods to pursue such research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of self‐anger has been overlooked in the contemporary literature on emotion. This is a failing we should seek to remedy. In this paper I provide the first effort towards a philosophical characterization of self‐anger. I argue that self‐anger is a genuine instance of anger and that, as such, it is importantly distinct from the negative self‐directed emotions of guilt and shame. Doing so will uncover a potentially distinctive role for self‐anger in our moral psychology, as one of the strongest affective motivators for self‐change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three studies examined cultural perceptions of self-change in romantic relationships. In Study 1 (N = 191), Chinese participants perceived hypothetical couples who changed for the sake of the relationship to have better relationship quality than couples who did not, compared to European American participants. In Study 2 (N = 396), Chinese individuals in a dating relationship were more likely to perceive that they had changed in the relationship, and self-change was a stronger predictor of relationship quality for them than for American dating individuals. In Study 3 (N = 115 dyads), Chinese married couples perceived greater self-change, and their perceived self-change was due in part to higher endorsement of dutiful adjustment beliefs than American couples. Self-change was a stronger predictor of relationship quality for Chinese married couples than American couples. Our studies provide support for cultural differences in the role of self-change in romantic relationships, which have implications for partner regulation and relationship counseling across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the development of the Self-Change Potential questionnaire. The validation of the questionnaire was conducted in three steps. Within the first series of studies (N=248) the structure of the questionnaire was defined, the consistency of the resulting scales was checked and certain items were corrected. The construct validity of the modified version of the questionnaire was tested within the second series of studies (N=569). At the final stage (N=36) test-retest reliability was checked. The obtained Cronbach’s α coefficients (0,64—0,8) for all scales of the questionnaire and the sum score demonstrated its satisfactory consistency. All items had significant correlations with the sum score (р

Youth empowerment is a critical research area because it has implications for reducing adolescent mental health stigma while improving their life trajectory, engagement in treatment and meaningful opportunities, and increasing self-esteem. The present inquiry is derived from a larger study and strives to enhance knowledge of youth empowerment by using Frank’s rhetoric of self-change—a form of narrative analysis—to understand events and reactive experiences of illness as occasions for changing the self. This narrative approach facilitated the development of a youth empowerment process because of its ability to identify similar characteristics across the three cases of youths included in this analysis. Actively participating in age/developmentally appropriate activities put the adolescents on a trajectory towards attaining milestones in a timely manner coinciding with the developmental timeline of peers without mental health issues. Additional research is needed to understand how the identified factors promote empowerment among adolescents with mental health issues. Narrative research has implications for clinical social work because it illuminates strengths that can be beneficial in promoting positive interventions.

Drawing on a person-centered approach to recovery from substance use that acknowledges recovery pathways as shaped by people's personal and social context, the purpose of this study was to compare recovery maintenance of two pathways, self-change and treatment-change. A mixed methods design was employed among 229 respondents [134 self-changers (SCs) and 95 treatment-changers (TCs)], with a qualitative subsample of 41 participants. The results indicate significant differences between the groups in terms of sociodemographic and personal characteristics, as well as maintenance factors of recovery. The qualitative findings indicate that the SCs were characterized by an intrinsic locus of maintenance style. They were motivated by future goals, employed self-oriented strategies, and their risk of relapse was related to self-reliance. In contrast, TCs were characterized by an extrinsic locus of maintenance style. They were motivated by past events, employed interpersonal strategies, and their risk of relapse was related to limited self-efficacy. The findings suggest that recovery maintenance is evident irrespective of recovery pathway, but people's personal and social context may play a special role in shaping their maintenance recovery style. Treatment and recovery systems of care should adopt person-centered approaches and offer multiple recovery pathways that address varying maintenance styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A mixed-methods design was used to examine gender differences in self-change (SC), and integrate the quantitative findings with information extracted from qualitative narratives. The sample included 133 self-changers (52 women and 81 men), with a subsample of 25 respondents. The quantitative analysis showed no significant gender differences in personal characteristics, except in history of child abuse. Women reported a higher rate of emotional and sexual abuse than men. In comparison, the qualitative findings showed gender differences in constructing the SC process, which was based on gender stereotypes. Respondents simultaneously expressed two types of attitudes: egalitarian attitudes toward gender equality, and traditional attitudes toward gender roles and traits. In conclusion, the findings suggest that SC can occur among severely substance-dependent women and men. Both genders attributed their successful SC to the ability to regulate their emotions, and their explanations were rooted in gender stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of working in a large company are better infrastructure, well-defined policies, training and learning opportunities, job security and gradual growth. Slow decision-making due to the bureaucratic structure is a major drawback. The unique character of small firms offers agile structure, quick response, family-like atmosphere, opportunity to wear many hats as advantages, and lower compensation and restricted growth as disincentives to joining. However, if employees get their human relationships to energize, the size of the firm will be inconsequential for their success. That is, small firms can only offer a congenial atmosphere as a big firm never. Therefore, understanding what gives us energy and how we utilize it is critical for the leaders in small firms. This case study focuses on the CEO of a small family-owned firm (Nishio Glass and Mirror) whose decision to usher in positive organizational scholarship with the help of consultants set the firm on a successful journey. Even though statistics show that most change efforts fail irrespective of the size of the firm, in this case, it succeeded. This case study informs us that workplaces can be a community for people to amplify positive energy unleashing virtuous circles of growth. Research Questions: What is positive organizational scholarship? How can it be implemented in a small firm? Theory: Positive organizational scholarship and agents of change. Type of the Case: Study of a phenomenon. Basis of the Case: Phenomenon. Protagonist: Present, the CEO of the firm. Findings for Phenomenon-based Research Case: An organization is not a machine to transform resources into material properties. It is a community where people share the agentic roles with one another to let them transform. In a trustful community, people can examine the experience of 'pregnant void' to open a virtuous mindset; moreover, people can give suffering for others as an agent to embody the meaning of virtues. Discussions for Phenomenon-based Research Case: To manage a chaotic situation, which approach should be applied: crisis management or a proper management system? In this case, even a management system failed and dumped the CEO in psychological chaos. Which is that process that an external OD consultant can adopt to transform an organization by setting its employees on the path of self-transformation? If we apply hedonic happiness to the case, it seems to be fit for the past situation where people in the case wanted to have materialistic and short-term success. Discuss the alternative that can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery from substance use disorders without treatment has long been of interest to researchers and practitioners. The aim of the study was to examine the role of sense of coherence and recovery capital in long-term recovery without treatment and the association between the two concepts. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 229 Israeli respondents, 134 of them self-changers and 95 treatment-changers. The respondents completed the Addiction Severity Index, the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the Recovery Capital Questionnaire. Significant differences between the two groups were found. The self-changers had a higher sense of coherence (p <.001) and reported more cannabis use. No significant group differences were found in recovery capital. The treatment-changers had experienced significantly more child abuse (p <.001) and suffered from severe psychiatric problems (p =.019), compared with the self-changers. Significant correlations were found between higher sense of coherence and lower psychiatric severity (p <.001), lower rate of child abuse (p <.001), and self-change (p =.037). A strong relationship was found between sense of coherence and recovery capital (p <.001), showing that the two concepts were moderately to highly interrelated. The findings signify the central role of sense of coherence in recovery and the importance of strengthening sense of coherence, which may promote health-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the current study were to examine differences between self-changers (SC) and treatment-changers (TC) in sociodemographic, personal characteristics, severity of substance use disorders (SUDs), and psychiatric problems, and to predict the severity of SUDs, psychiatric problems, and belonging to the SC group. The sample included 229 Israeli respondents (134 SC and 95 TC). Significant differences between the two groups were found. The SC were younger, had a higher sense of coherence, and reported more cannabis use. The TC were involved more in crime and had experienced more child abuse and severe psychiatric problems compared with the SC. No significant group differences were found in the severity of substance dependence. The findings suggested that severity of SUDs did not differentiate between the groups, but the severity of psychiatric problems and history of child abuse did. This indicates a need for treatment interventions targeting all three issues of childhood trauma, SUDs, and psychiatric problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper advances our understanding of consumer behavior by examining the influence of autobiographical memory perspective on consumer's self‐congruence. While extant research has primarily restricted itself to the consequences of self‐congruence, this work focuses on an antecedent, by examining the psychological processes associated with the consumer's autobiographical memory perspective and the resulting impact on self‐congruence. Through three experiments, we demonstrate that visualizing autobiographical memories from a first‐person versus a third‐person perspective impacts consumers' self‐brand congruence differently under varied circumstances. Specifically, differing degrees of self‐brand congruence are experienced when consumers focus on differences (vs. similarities) between their present and recalled selves, combined with distinct autobiographical memory perspectives. The autobiographical memory perspective is identified as a key determinant of consumers' perceived change in self‐image, which, in turn, has a cascading effect on their self‐brand congruence. Thus, consumers' perceived change in self‐image is identified as the mechanism underlying the main effect. Furthermore, as an important component of self‐image, this research determines and examines a moderating influence of self‐esteem in the relationship between autobiographical memory perspective and self‐congruence. Collectively, these results facilitate our understanding of the autobiographical memory perspective as an antecedent of consumer's self‐congruence, with implications for nostalgia advertising and retro branding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the (collective) performance of identities in an event context. During events, the participants not only engage in face-to-face performances, but also in the collective performances of crowds and audiences. This study analyses collective performance using Collins' framework of Interaction Ritual Chains, which combines Goffman's performance metaphor with Durkheim's work on rituals and collective effervescence. This provides a more complete analysis of the ways identities are performed and (re)constructed during an event. This qualitative study presents the case of the Redhead Days, the world's largest gathering of redheads. Visitor interviews and participant observation over four editions of the event show how a temporary majority of redheads is created, which greatly impacts both face-to-face and collective performance. Social practices that facilitate performance include photographing and storytelling. The data reveal that collective performance is inherently different from face-to-face performance, and that the combination of the two contributes to a change in narrative identities of the event attendees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The article offers an inventory of controversial basic issues related to treatment responses and their sociocultural political context, highlighting policy failures and successes, with a focus on Europe. As a reference point for this assessment, serves a conceptual framework of an "ideal type of treatment system", which is built upon the following normative assumptions: the objective of harm minimisation or preventing substance-use-related consequences, evidence-based decision making, securing equity and accessibility also from a user perspective as well as efficiency in terms of the diversity and choice of treatment options. Method: Five major issues of addiction treatment systems, as identified and exemplified by an expert survey among 14 countries conducted in 2014, served as a reference for discussing fundamental gaps between an assumed ideal type of treatment system and the treatment response in practice: (1) Resistance to change, consensus building and innovation, (2) Political influence and target group bias beyond evidence, (3) Assumptions about rationality and universal evidence, (4) Myths of addiction and ethical deficits and (5) The treatment gap and user perspectives. Results/conclusions: Recommendations relevant for politicians, system planners, and clinicians are formulated for each of the five issues, specifically focusing on embeddedness of treatment systems in macro-societal conditions, the abstinence paradigm and outcome diversity, ethnocentric biases of the "evidence credo", learning from self-change as the major road to recovery, and questioning implicit conceptions of the "addict as a human being". Furthermore, it is concluded that theories regarding the diffusion of innovation and knowledge exchange can inform future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethical debate about neurotechnologies has been largely framed around their effects on authenticity. In this paper, we investigate the concept of authenticity and associated conceptions of the self. We develop a conception of authenticity that eschews problematic essentialist or existentialist views of the self and the assumption that the authentic self transcends socialization. In our view, authenticity is a condition for self-governance and can involve either endorsement or acknowledgment. Revisiting the debate about neurotechnologies, we show why framing the ethical debate in terms of authenticity is unhelpful and argue that these ethical concerns are better understood as concerns about autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth empowerment is a critical research area because it has implications for reducing adolescent mental health stigma while improving their life trajectory, engagement in treatment and meaningful opportunities, and increasing self-esteem. The present inquiry is derived from a larger study and strives to enhance knowledge of youth empowerment by using Frank's rhetoric of self-change--a form of narrative analysis--to understand events and reactive experiences of illness as occasions for changing the self. This narrative approach facilitated the development of a youth empowerment process because of its ability to identify similar characteristics across the three cases of youths included in this analysis. Actively participating in age/developmentally appropriate activities put the adolescents on a trajectory towards attaining milestones in a timely manner coinciding with the developmental timeline of peers without mental health issues. Additional research is needed to understand how the identified factors promote empowerment among adolescents with mental health issues. Narrative research has implications for clinical social work because it illuminates strengths that can be beneficial in promoting positive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augustine 's life history as chronicled in his famous Confessions has been an all-time popular read and canonical classic eversince it was written* The work reflects Augustine's transformation from a youth consumed by desire to becoming a Catholic monk and saint. Many factors have contributed to this transformation. The various translations of Confessions, from Latin to English are looked into, along with an examination of the 'confession'which can be traced in the text. But most importantly, this article tries to bridge the famous theorist Foucault and Augustine through the "Other-Victorian hypothesis.' Intriguingly, Augustine is absent in Foucault. Though these two stalwarts of the Western world lie sixteen centuries apart, they sham a great deal of common ground. Yet modern, readers are able to identify with both, though indifferent ways. This article ultimately tries togivea Foucaudian dimension to Confessions, trying to trace the evolving personality of Augustine with the help of Foucault's theory of Sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lot of scholarly attention has been given to Aristotle's account of how and why animals are capable of moving themselves. But no one has focused on the question, whether self-change is possible in plants on Aristotle's account. I first give some context and explain why this topic is worth exploring. I then turn to Aristotle's conditions for self-change given in Physics VIII.4, where he argues that the natural motion of the elements does not count as self-motion. I apply those conditions to natural change in plants. Then I explore the reasons for and consequences of Aristotle's argument that plants are incapable of sensation. I argue that for Aristotle plants cannot possess the directing faculties for self-change, namely, desire and phantasia. My goal is to show why growth, metabolism, and reproduction in plants would not count as self-change for Aristotle, despite many of these natural changes appearing as autonomous as the analogous changes in animals. This sheds light on how, for Aristotle, self-change differs from natural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM – This article explores the multiplicity of former heavy drinkers’ narratives. The focus lies on turning points from heavy drinking among people who have recovered through self-change and among those who recovered by participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings.

People often pursue self-change, and having a romantic partner who supports these changes increases relationship satisfaction. However, most existing research focuses only on the experience of the person who is changing. What predicts whether people support their partner's change? People with low self-concept clarity resist self-change, so we hypothesized that they would be unsupportive of their partner's changes. People with low self-concept clarity did not support their partner's change (Study 1a), because they thought they would have to change, too (Study 1b). Low self-concept clarity predicted failing to support a partner's change, but not vice versa (Studies 2 and 3), and only for larger changes (Study 3). Not supporting a partner's change predicted decreases in relationship quality for both members of the couple (Studies 2 and 3). This research underscores the role of partners in self-change, suggesting that failing to support a partner's change may stem from self-concept confusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims To compare impulsivity, measured using self-report and cognitive tasks in people who ceased smoking without treatment (self-changers) with each of the following groups: (i) smoking non-treatment-seekers, (ii) people in smoking cessation treatment and currently abstinent and (iii) people in smoking cessation treatment but non-abstinent. Design Cross-sectional, observational study. Setting The smoking cessation unit of a public general hospital, Hospital de Santa Maria, in Lleida, Spain. All participants were from the hospital's catchment area. Participants One hundred and twenty participants, classified in four groups: (1) self-changers ( n = 30, 21 females, mean age = 41.50 years), (2) non-treatment-seekers ( n = 30, 17 females, mean age = 35.27 years), (3) people in smoking cessation treatment and currently abstinent ( n = 30, 17 females, mean age = 48.93 years) and (4) people in smoking cessation treatment but non-abstinent ( n = 30, 21 females, mean age = 33.70 years). Measurements The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, including measures of non-planning, attentional and motor impulsivity, and two behavioural tasks measuring cognitive inhibition (Stroop test) and choice impulsivity (delay-discounting task). Confounders included sex, age, education, employment, smoking severity, depression and trait and state anxiety. Findings Although not on the other three measures, we found significant group differences on trait non-planning impulsivity and Stroop performance. Self-changers, compared with non-treatment-seekers, had lower non-planning impulsivity ( P = 0.018, Cohen's d = 0.62) and better Stroop performance ( P = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.66). Self-changers also had better Stroop performance than participants in treatment and currently abstinent ( P = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.85). Conclusions People who have stopped smoking without treatment appear to have lower non-planning impulsivity and more effective cognitive inhibition compared with smoking non-treatment-seekers, and better cognitive inhibition than people who cease smoking with treatment aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Popular views of addictive substances and behaviors constitute an important research topic because these views have an impact upon the functioning of treatment systems and societal responses to substance use disorders.Methods: The analysis is based on a random sample ofN= 1000 telephone interviews collected in Poland in 2013. Questionnaire measures targeted such issues as the perceived risks of addictions and beliefs about potential recovery from various types of addictions.Results: First, a coherent view of the addiction potential of various addictive substances and/or behaviors emerges, distinguishing licit drugs and types of behavior from illicit drugs. Second, treatment optimism proves to be quite high independent of the type of addictive behavior, while chances of recovery without treatment are considered less likely. Third, chances for assisted change (change with treatment) and self-change are considered largely independent of perceived addiction-related risks and are not perceived as contradictory.Conclusions: The results point to the persistence of the disease model of addiction in Poland, placing responsibility for addiction on the individual and pairing it with the expectation of undergoing specialized treatment. This individualistic approach was applied as a framework for addiction problems in the 1950s to deflect from the shortcomings of the ‘‘new socialist society.’’ Neo-liberal market reform and socioeconomic changes have provided reinforcement for this individualistic framework. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this review is to collect and report the findings of published studies that report the incidence of diagnosed alcoholics who, without formal treatment, achieved a state of full remission. Potential studies were identified through searches of electronic bibliographic databases. Studies were selected for review if they met the following criteria: (1) were published in a scholarly journal, (2) published prior to March 2014, (3) written in the English language, (4) study participants were older than age 18, (5) had an initial diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder, (6) had never been known to receive formal group or individual substance abuse treatment, and (7) recovery was defined as maintained sobriety for a minimum 12 consecutive month period. Sixteen studies meeting inclusionary criteria and published between 1976 and 2013 were located and reviewed. A growing body of evidence confirms successful remittance of alcoholism can be achieved and maintained over time, without formal treatment. Contrary to common lay and professional perceptions, a significant percentage of alcoholics appear to achieve sobriety without receiving formal treatment. However, it is not yet possible to predict who these individuals might be. Thus, entering into formal treatment remains the safest recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]