Bruce A Stevens
Biographic Data
| ID | 6000261 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bruce A Stevens |
| GIVEN NAMES | Bruce A |
| FAMILY NAME | Stevens |
| SIGNATURE | STEVENS B A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Charles Sturt University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2007-0850 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1975 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Elder Sexual Abuse and Sexual Freedom in Faith-based Residential Care Facilities: Ethical Dilemmas, and Institutional Integrity
The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in residential care facilities are complicated by the existence of many residents with cognitive impairments of a kind that compromise their ability to make decisions based on informed consent. The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in faith-based residential care facilities, in particular, are further complicated by restrictive, theologically based, ethical principles pertaining to…
The dark story: Does it have a place in a life review
The life review has had a significant role in the spiritual care of the aged. It has influenced the developing discipline of narrative gerontology. This article proposes that the sense of self is storied, composed of various stories including the lazy story, the trauma story, the messy story, the avoided story, the body story, the problem story, and the focus of this article: the dark story. The spiritual dimension is linked to the God story. Eac…
Differential influences of the facets of religious and spiritual beliefs on Salvation Army officers’ quality of life
Salvation Army officers often work in stressful situations which are likely to impact on wellbeing. No research has examined the buffering effects of the officers’ strong religious and spiritual beliefs on this relationship. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and religious and spiritual beliefs among current and retired Salvation Army officers from the Australian Eastern Territory. Two hundred and se…
The life tasks model: Enhancing psychological and spiritual growth in the aged
The life tasks model is an active, mutual, and potentially universal approach to the spiritual care of the aged. A life task is a responsibility, once undertaken, that lasts a lifetime. Three tasks are identified. Task 1 is the discovery of hidden learning. The process of discovery draws on implicit learning that comes into awareness. This leads to task 2, testing in which learning brought into awareness is tested by other life experiences. The f…
Unique needs: Salvation Army officers in retirement and end-of-life care
Retirement is a major life transition. On this point there is general agreement. But what about retirement for clergy and those who serve in the church? Perhaps a few see ministry as a job; then the change would be much like a worker ceasing paid employment. However, does being ordained, having a respected leadership role in the church, and serving God bring some unique dynamics to this transition? In this article we try to identify such factors …
“I believe…”: A qualitative study of older adults
Beliefs. Believing. Both are tested by different life experiences. This qualitative study of 15 older adults used a grounded theology methodology to develop a model of what influences the views of a range of Christian and agnostic subjects. The study identified two sources in life learning and spiritual learning that influence agnostic, more liberal, or conservative beliefs. This emergent model is contrasted with the approach of leading theologia…
Grounded Theology? A Call for a Community of Practice
The potential of grounded theory has not been fully realized in practical theology. While grounded theory studies have been published, the results have been largely descriptive, and theological reflection usually limited. There appears to have been no explicit goal of generating theological ideas. This paper suggests a community of practice approach to developing the potential of grounded theory to lead to what might be called grounded theology. …
Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet
Research Article| May 01 2017 Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet Bruce A. Stevens; Bruce A. Stevens Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia BRUCE A. STEVENS holds the Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University, Canberra, and is director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies. An Anglican priest and PhD graduate of Boston University, he has bee…
Mindful self-compassion for chaplains and aged care workers
Self-compassion is essential for psychological well-being. It is also an important starting point for chaplains and carers of the aged or of anyone in a dependent relationship. Mindful self-compassion is a “3rd wave” cognitive behavioural therapy that does not try to change symptoms but encourages a shift in attitudes—in this case with ourselves. The work of Kristen Neff is outlined with her three principles to achieve self-compassion. The psycho…
Grounded theology: A new method to explore luck
The idea of luck has been explored, but not well developed, in three disciplines: philosophy, psychology, and theology. This article uses grounded theory to explore the theme of luck through 15 qualitative interviews with subjects aged between 60 and 75. The sample represented a variety of agnostic and Christian perspectives. The idea of luck was found to be a messy concept, but revealed aspects of participants’ worldviews and how they make meani…
Making 'professionalism' meaningful to students in higher education
With rising vocational expectations of higher education, universities are increasingly promoting themselves as preparing students for future professional lives. This makes it timely to ask what makes professionalism meaningful to students. In addressing this question, we first identify aspects of professionalism that might represent appropriate aspirations for higher education, in particular the development of professionalism as a transformationa…
What's in the File? Opening the Drawer on Clinical Record Keeping in Psychology
Record keeping is a legally required and yet rarely researched aspect of the practice of psychologists. The current study aims to establish an overview of the record‐keeping practices of private practitioners. Seventeen psychologists employed in private practice settings were interviewed about their record‐keeping practices. Psychologists were asked about the content and utility of their clinical records, training, knowledge of legislation, and t…
“Love Supreme”: On Spiritual Experience and Change in Personality Structure
This article attempts to address the crucial question of how an experience of God might lead to changes in personality. Important concepts are drawn from psychoanalytic theory emphasising relational perspectives which have developed in recent decades. While somewhat under developed, there were relational aspects in Freud's thinking, both clinically in the transference and theoretically with oedipal dynamics and the formation of the superego. Ther…
Fun-loving Oldsters Found on TV Only
(Preceeding article in this issue suggests that we need to check media reports against reality in an organized fashion. The writer below checks on a documentary that appeared on the Ontario Education Station, CICA, which portrayed life in a senior citizens' home as a fun-loving experience.)
Making 'professionalism' meaningful to students in higher education
With rising vocational expectations of higher education, universities are increasingly promoting themselves as preparing students for future professional lives. This makes it timely to ask what makes professionalism meaningful to students. In addressing this question, we first identify aspects of professionalism that might represent appropriate aspirations for higher education, in particular the development of professionalism as a transformationa…
Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet
Research Article| May 01 2017 Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet Bruce A. Stevens; Bruce A. Stevens Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia BRUCE A. STEVENS holds the Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University, Canberra, and is director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies. An Anglican priest and PhD graduate of Boston University, he has bee…
Fun-loving Oldsters Found on TV Only
(Preceeding article in this issue suggests that we need to check media reports against reality in an organized fashion. The writer below checks on a documentary that appeared on the Ontario Education Station, CICA, which portrayed life in a senior citizens' home as a fun-loving experience.)
“Love Supreme”: On Spiritual Experience and Change in Personality Structure
This article attempts to address the crucial question of how an experience of God might lead to changes in personality. Important concepts are drawn from psychoanalytic theory emphasising relational perspectives which have developed in recent decades. While somewhat under developed, there were relational aspects in Freud's thinking, both clinically in the transference and theoretically with oedipal dynamics and the formation of the superego. Ther…
What's in the File? Opening the Drawer on Clinical Record Keeping in Psychology
Record keeping is a legally required and yet rarely researched aspect of the practice of psychologists. The current study aims to establish an overview of the record‐keeping practices of private practitioners. Seventeen psychologists employed in private practice settings were interviewed about their record‐keeping practices. Psychologists were asked about the content and utility of their clinical records, training, knowledge of legislation, and t…
Making 'professionalism' meaningful to students in higher education
With rising vocational expectations of higher education, universities are increasingly promoting themselves as preparing students for future professional lives. This makes it timely to ask what makes professionalism meaningful to students. In addressing this question, we first identify aspects of professionalism that might represent appropriate aspirations for higher education, in particular the development of professionalism as a transformationa…
Mindful self-compassion for chaplains and aged care workers
Self-compassion is essential for psychological well-being. It is also an important starting point for chaplains and carers of the aged or of anyone in a dependent relationship. Mindful self-compassion is a “3rd wave” cognitive behavioural therapy that does not try to change symptoms but encourages a shift in attitudes—in this case with ourselves. The work of Kristen Neff is outlined with her three principles to achieve self-compassion. The psycho…
Grounded theology: A new method to explore luck
The idea of luck has been explored, but not well developed, in three disciplines: philosophy, psychology, and theology. This article uses grounded theory to explore the theme of luck through 15 qualitative interviews with subjects aged between 60 and 75. The sample represented a variety of agnostic and Christian perspectives. The idea of luck was found to be a messy concept, but revealed aspects of participants’ worldviews and how they make meani…
“I believe…”: A qualitative study of older adults
Beliefs. Believing. Both are tested by different life experiences. This qualitative study of 15 older adults used a grounded theology methodology to develop a model of what influences the views of a range of Christian and agnostic subjects. The study identified two sources in life learning and spiritual learning that influence agnostic, more liberal, or conservative beliefs. This emergent model is contrasted with the approach of leading theologia…
Grounded Theology? A Call for a Community of Practice
The potential of grounded theory has not been fully realized in practical theology. While grounded theory studies have been published, the results have been largely descriptive, and theological reflection usually limited. There appears to have been no explicit goal of generating theological ideas. This paper suggests a community of practice approach to developing the potential of grounded theory to lead to what might be called grounded theology. …
Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet
Research Article| May 01 2017 Mimetic Euphemism and Mythology: Group Therapy, Scapegoating, and the Displacement of Disquiet Bruce A. Stevens; Bruce A. Stevens Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia BRUCE A. STEVENS holds the Wicking Chair of Ageing and Practical Theology at Charles Sturt University, Canberra, and is director of the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies. An Anglican priest and PhD graduate of Boston University, he has bee…
Differential influences of the facets of religious and spiritual beliefs on Salvation Army officers’ quality of life
Salvation Army officers often work in stressful situations which are likely to impact on wellbeing. No research has examined the buffering effects of the officers’ strong religious and spiritual beliefs on this relationship. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and religious and spiritual beliefs among current and retired Salvation Army officers from the Australian Eastern Territory. Two hundred and se…
The life tasks model: Enhancing psychological and spiritual growth in the aged
The life tasks model is an active, mutual, and potentially universal approach to the spiritual care of the aged. A life task is a responsibility, once undertaken, that lasts a lifetime. Three tasks are identified. Task 1 is the discovery of hidden learning. The process of discovery draws on implicit learning that comes into awareness. This leads to task 2, testing in which learning brought into awareness is tested by other life experiences. The f…
Unique needs: Salvation Army officers in retirement and end-of-life care
Retirement is a major life transition. On this point there is general agreement. But what about retirement for clergy and those who serve in the church? Perhaps a few see ministry as a job; then the change would be much like a worker ceasing paid employment. However, does being ordained, having a respected leadership role in the church, and serving God bring some unique dynamics to this transition? In this article we try to identify such factors …
The dark story: Does it have a place in a life review
The life review has had a significant role in the spiritual care of the aged. It has influenced the developing discipline of narrative gerontology. This article proposes that the sense of self is storied, composed of various stories including the lazy story, the trauma story, the messy story, the avoided story, the body story, the problem story, and the focus of this article: the dark story. The spiritual dimension is linked to the God story. Eac…
Elder Sexual Abuse and Sexual Freedom in Faith-based Residential Care Facilities: Ethical Dilemmas, and Institutional Integrity
The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in residential care facilities are complicated by the existence of many residents with cognitive impairments of a kind that compromise their ability to make decisions based on informed consent. The issues of elder sexual abuse and sexual freedom in faith-based residential care facilities, in particular, are further complicated by restrictive, theologically based, ethical principles pertaining to…
Psychology (10 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology (8 works) · Philosophy (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Political science (5 works) · Qualitative research (5 works) · Social science (5 works) · Theology (5 works) · Epistemology (4 works)