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Evolving Attachments in the 21st Century. A Theoretical Exploration of Attachment Theory and The Influence of the Digital Age on Couple Dynamics In Psychotherapy.
No full textAbstract This thesis investigates the role of attachment theory in couples' psychotherapy. The first section critically examines the evolution of attachment theory and its foundational concepts and inherent limitations, as well as how our early relational experiences shape our attachment styles in adult romantic relationships. The second section explores the influence of digital communication on attachment patterns and its integration in the context of psychotherapy. This thesis addresses the evolving nature of attachment styles and how they manifest today in digital contexts. There has been a fundamental shift in how we communicate and relate to each other. This study examines the evolution of traditional attachment and how digital forms of communication may influence attachment styles in the 21st century
Working from Home: Uncovering the Influence of Job Demands and Resources on Work-Stress in the Irish Tech Industry
No full textRemote and hybrid work have become the "new normal" in a post-pandemic world, fundamentally altering how work is conducted and experienced. Existing stress models fall short in capturing these evolving work realities, particularly in addressing a potential mismatch between academic discourse and practical applicability. This study set out to explore how job demands and resources affect work-related stress in remote and hybrid work settings within the high demand Irish tech sector, and how the Job Demand-Resource (JD-R) model can be refined to reflect these conditions. In a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach, three qualitative interviews were conducted to identify relevant resources and demands, which then informed a quantitative online survey (n=98). Results indicate that while higher job demands did not directly predict work-related stress, the effects were fully mediated by ego depletion, suggesting the influence of the psychological appraisal of resources for the emergence of stress in remote and hybrid work environments. Job resources, in contrast, were associated with reduced stress levels, with psychological capital and job crafting strengthening this relationship. The findings highlight the need for tailored organisational interventions, aimed at enhancing individual resources to prepare and proactively support employees in remote and hybrid roles. Future research should aim to validate the refined model across other high-demand industries and explore longitudinal effects of remote and hybrid work environments for cognitive and emotional stressors
Examing consumer Acceptance of AI-Created Content on Social Media
No full textAbstract This research explores the consumer standpoint on using AI content on social media including aspects like trust, genuineness, openness, reference group influence and privacy issues. The research presents a quantitative and qualitative insight into the detected increase in the use of AI content, user satisfaction concerning AI content, and the need to be more transparent to achieve user trust. Most consumers encounter content created with the help of artificial intelligence, but there is skepticism regarding its legitimacy or emotional sensitivity and data protection. The results reveal that increase in transparency coupled with social proof and an optimal level of automation are crucial determinants that lead to consumer acceptance. This research will be useful for brands who want to incorporate AI as a component of content creation
Rewilding plans for a farm in Sligo
No full textThis article explores the intersection of art, science, and sustainable agriculture, driven by an ecological mission to rewild abandoned farmland in South Sligo, Ireland. Inspired by rewilding projects and the ecological research of artists and scientists, we seek to transform a former suckler farm into a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem. With no prior farming experience, we are drawing on expert guidance and government schemes such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan. Our efforts aim to create species-rich grasslands for breeding waders, enhance biodiversity, and develop a model for sustainable land management. This project blends artistic expression with agricultural science to promote ecological restoration and create a place where wildlife can flourish
Global Trade Policies And Sustainability In India’s Fashion Industry: Challenges And Opportunities
Full text linkThis research investigates how international trade policies affect sustainability practices within India's fashion industry, specifically examining the relationship between global trade regulations and sustainable fashion implementation. The study employs a quantitative methodology, gathering data through surveys of various industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and policymakers. The research explores contemporary sustainability trends, identifies implementation challenges, and seeks to optimize existing policies. The findings establish important correlations between how well stakeholders understand trade policies and their success in implementing sustainability measures. Two major obstacles emerged from the research: the high costs associated with compliance and barriers related to technology adoption. The study highlights that collaboration among stakeholders and pressure from institutions are vital drivers in promoting sustainability adoption, though their impact varies across different segments of the industry. The analysis suggests that sustainability implementation could be enhanced through a combination of financial incentives and streamlined regulatory frameworks, particularly when these are supported by well-structured training programs and effective methods for knowledge transfer. The research makes valuable contributions to both theoretical knowledge and practical application in the field. It provides evidence-based recommendations for optimizing policies while emphasizing the importance of taking an integrated approach to implementing sustainability measures in emerging markets. These insights carry significant implications for both policymakers and industry stakeholders who are working to enhance sustainable practices within the context of global trade frameworks. The study's comprehensive approach and findings offer a valuable roadmap for improving sustainability practices while navigating the complexities of international trade regulations in India's fashion industry
Fast Therapy - Slow Healing Theoretical Analysis of Brief Therapy in Adolescent Mental Health Services
No full textAbstract This thesis critically examines the rise of brief therapy within contemporary mental health systems, arguing that its widespread adoption reflects not only service-level efficiency demands but deeper cultural anxieties surrounding distress, diagnosis, and therapeutic containment. While often dismissed as a product of neoliberal managerialism, brief therapy has historical and theoretical roots within psychoanalysis—particularly in the work of Ferenczi, Rank, Malan, and Davanloo—who demonstrated that time-limited therapy can retain relational depth and emotional transformation. The thesis contrasts these models with current applications in youth mental health services, where brief interventions are often driven by outcome-based funding models, digital scalability, and a cultural climate of ‘prevalence inflation’ and diagnostic overreach. Rather than rejecting brief therapy outright, this thesis argues for its reclamation as an ethically grounded, developmentally attuned modality. When supported by clinical integrity and theoretical rigour, brief therapy can serve not as a shallow stopgap, but as a meaningful encounter capable of supporting genuine psychological change
Transcendence through Talking
No full textThis research thesis examines the integration of spirituality into psychotherapy with a specific focus on the Irish context. Through critical engagement with existing literature, the study addresses three key objectives: (1) to examine the key conceptual and historical foundations of spirituality in psychotherapy, (2) to assess client preferences and therapists' challenges concerning integration, and (3) to evaluate U.S informed frameworks and competence models and their applicability to Irish clinical practice. The thesis findings suggest that while there is wide support for the integration of spirituality into psychotherapy, significant challenges persist, including ethical questions, ambiguity regarding definitions, and the lack of culturally informed training in Ireland. The study concludes by recommending empirical research, the development of location-specific competencies, and cross-discipline dialogue to enable psychotherapy to respond to spiritual questioning with cultural sensitivity and competence. Keywords: spirituality, psychotherapy, Ireland, United States, spiritual, competence, training, ethics, bias, challenges, professional bodie
Integrating Circular Economy Strategies into Construction Project Waste Management in Sri Lanka: Barriers and Enablers
No full textThis dissertation analyses how Circular Economy (CE) strategies can be integrated into waste management for construction projects in Sri Lanka. The study was motivated by the critical requirement for construction and demolition waste and the lack of application of CE concepts in Sri Lanka. A qualitative approach was used, informed by seven semi-structured interviews with experts who are directly engaged in handling construction waste. Six-step thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke was applied to identify the barriers, enablers, and perceptions of different stakeholders. The findings are such that poor regulation enforcement, high costs, and low technical capacity emerged as main barriers, while policy support, partnership, and innovation were identified as enablers. Material recovery practices were found to increase efficiency and achieve better sustainability results, but with an inconsistent approach. The study suggests that a stakeholder-driven approach, coupled with open policy and industry coordination, is key in adopting CE practices in Sri Lanka's construction secto
Fungi for the Mind: Exploring the role of suggestion in psilocybin assisted therapy
No full textThis thesis explores the intersection of suggestion and psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), focusing specifically on the therapeutic use of psilocybin. Amidst the resurgence of interest in psychedelics—often termed the Psychedelic Renaissance—this work examines how suggestibility, a psychological phenomenon long recognized in various therapeutic modalities, may play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of psychedelic experiences. The thesis begins by tracing the historical and theoretical background of suggestion in psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and humanistic approaches, establishing a foundation for its relevance in altered states of consciousness. It then provides a comprehensive overview of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). Special attention is given to the concept of “set and setting†, which underlines the importance of mental state, environment and the therapeutic alliance in influencing therapeutic efficacy. The core of the thesis investigates how psilocybin increases suggestibility and how therapists can ethically and effectively work with this heightened sensitivity. This work contributes to the growing body of research aiming to optimize psychedelic therapies, underscores the complex nature of healing through non-ordinary states of consciousness, and highlights the substantial body of research and clinical evaluation still required before psilocybin-assisted therapy can be confidently integrated into mainstream medical practice
Deep Learning Study for Image Classification of Alzheimer's MRI
No full textAlzheimer's disease is a leading cause of dementia, impacting millions worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes, yet traditional methods often lack the sensitivity to detect early-stage neurodegeneration. This study investigates the application of deep learning models for the classification of Alzheimer’s disease using MRI scans. The research follows the CRISP-DM framework and utilises the "Alzheimer MRI Disease Classification Dataset" from Kaggle, comprising 5,120 MRI images categorised into four classes. To enhance classification performance, the dataset was transformed into a binary classification problem—distinguishing between "No Alzheimer" and "Early Alzheimer" cases—while addressing class imbalance through oversampling techniques. Five deep learning architectures were implemented and compared: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Residual Networks (ResNet50), Visual Geometry Group Network (VGGNet16), and Vision Transformers (ViT). The models were trained and evaluated based on accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Results indicate that CNN achieved the highest accuracy (93.46%), followed by ANN (90.10%) and ViT (86.23%), demonstrating their effectiveness in automated MRI-based Alzheimer’s detection. Future work includes refining model interpretability through explainable AI techniques and integrating larger datasets for improved generalisation. This research highlights the potential of deep learning in advancing early Alzheimer’s diagnosis and supporting clinical decision- making