Stephen Benton

University of Westminster · Department of Psychology

Purpose – This paper aims to research about the effect of mind–body training on the development of emotional competencies of managers. Design/methodology/approach – Quasi-experimental design, i.e. before and after (test–retest). Findings – Results showed that the experimental group, after training, achieved around 15 per cent higher scores compar...

Objective. Physical exercise may be used to improve mental cognition, physical strength and overall dexterity within the older population. This can enhance health and wellbeing. Walking is cited as the best exercise for persons over 60. We outline the development of a smart garment that allows the wearer to monitor their wellbeing whilst harnessing...

The aim of the current studies in this field of research is the development of intelligent and interactive services and systems which will provide users with personalised support. In order to develop these systems and fulfil the intended requirements it is necessary to identify which factors define an intelligent and interactive system - not only f...

Health care systems around the world, not withstanding significant differences between industrialised and developing nations, are facing the prospect of nearly 40% of their population being over 65 by 2051. This population dynamic may represent an important influencing variable for care agencies responsible for solving LFN problems, and related ann...

This position paper focuses on strategic developments and underlying concepts emerging out of the standards and associated domains. It addresses the issue of personal privacy in the wider context of interoperability across an ever-growing range of e-health and social care support systems and processes. These will increasingly be driven by major gro...

This paper examines strategic health management and practical health service delivery issues inherent in the potential doubling in the number of over 65s over the next two decades. It considers the use of scarce and overloaded resources in providing care and support to this age group across the spectrum of community environments, and advocates the...

A small group (n=9), whose complaints of low frequency noise had not been resolved by Environmental Health Officers and related care professionals, were invited to attend a series of intervention sessions led by a psychotherapist. The aims of the sessions were to improve the participants' coping strategies and their quality of life, in order to rel...

A small group (n=9), whose complaints of low frequency noise had not been resolved by Environmental Health Officers and related care professionals, were invited to attend a series of intervention sessions led by a psychotherapist. The aims of the sessions were to improve the participants' coping strategies and their quality of life, in order to rel...

Miscommunication, misunderstanding and outright error have all played significance roles in triggering Adverse Events across the spectrum of health care delivery. As a means of countering these effects this paper outlines a twin track approach. This firstly focuses on developing a care pathway modelling approach both as the basis for better underst...

The National Health Service (NHS) is a huge and complex organisation. Within it, acute Hospital Trusts operate within a range of constructs determined by central Government. Organisational success is measured against rapidly changing frameworks of standards and targets. The Griffiths report signalled a perceived shift away from the professional aut...

The potential doubling in the percentage of the elderly within the populations of Europe and beyond over the next decades has focused informatics research on the development Assistive Technologies and Smart Homes. However its concentration on creating a supportive home environment also has the potential for makings its users over dependent on its f...

This paper considers the relationship between the Environmental Health Officer and the Low Frequency Noise complainant (sufferer). It is suggested that the characteristic psychoacoustic properties of Low Frequency Noise may interact with inappropriate assessment protocols to produce a series of interpersonal pressures that play an active part in sh...

In considering the recurrent problems involved in technology led initiatives within the public sector, this paper seeks to identify change management requirements needed to help avoid these latent pitfalls in the widespread introduction of Assistive Technology. It develops a change process approach based on current clinical psychology techniques us...

Benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy (BPTI) is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of head tilt secondary to cervical dystonia. Attacks are often accompanied by vomiting, pallor, and ataxia, settling spontaneously within hours or days. Episodes begin within the first 12 months of life and resolve by 5 years. We report four patients w...

To study the possible interference of low frequency noise on performance and annoyance, subjects categorised as having a high- or low sensitivity to noise in general and low frequency noise in particular worked with different performance tasks in a noise environment with predominantly low frequency content or flat frequency content (reference noise...

A pilot study was carried out to assess method evaluating effects of low frequency noise on performance. Of special interest was to study objective and subjective effects over time. Two ventilation noises were used, one of a predominantly mid frequency character and the other of a predominantly low frequency character. Both had an NC value of 35. F...

Background stresses have a chronic effect on our lives and stimulate the development of coping strategies. The paper considers low level low frequency noise (LLLFN) as a background stressor and the coping response to it of either improving sensitivity as an aid to location or reducing sensitivity in an attempt to habituate. It is considered that LL...

If photographs are taken of moving objects at slow shutter speeds the images of the objects are blurred. In human vision, however, we are not normally conscious of blur from moving objects despite the fact that the temporal response of the photoreceptors is sluggish. It has been suggested that there are motion-deblurring mechanisms specifically to...

The diversity of individual response to noise is revealed as anomalies in the region of low level low frequency noise, in which the role of sound character is undervalued. The paper considers the relevance of cognitive processing in determining response to noise, which would otherwise simply reflect the physical characteristics of the stimulus. The...

The role played by loudness in the assessment of annoyance is seen to effect an intensity dominated concept current in noise assessment practices. Such dominance is not supported by the complex processing nature of the auditory system. The individual is placed within a context which requires the auditory system to align the person to external stimu...