scholarly journals A journey towards meaning: An existential psychobiography of Maya Angelou

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-220
Author(s):  
Nadene Harisunker ◽  
Carol du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Existential Psychology ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Maya Angelou ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
American Author

This psychobiography focuses on meaning making in the early life and young adulthood of acclaimed African American author Maya Angelou (1928-2014) through the lens of Frankl’s existential psychology with a specific focus on the tri-dimensional nature of human beings and the fundamental triad. The primary data source was Angelou’s own published autobiographies, which contain an in-depth narrative of her early life and young adulthood. Data was extracted, organised and analysed according to established qualitative research methods as well as through the identification of psychological saliences. The search for meaning within Angelou’s own narrative of her life was clearly apparent in the thematic analysis. Angelou’s narrative of her journey through the physical (childhood and adolescence), psychological (travelling and searching years) and spiritual (sensemaking years) dimensions was core to her meaning making. The three tiers of the fundamental triad (awareness of meaning, will to meaning, freedom of will) were present in various aspects of Angelou’s existential journey, manifesting as a focus on choice, responsibility, purpose, and acceptance. This study provides a more in-depth understanding of meaning making processes in the lives of extraordinary individuals, as well as contributing to the development of the research method of psychobiography, with a specific focus on meaning making.

scholarly journals Growth in ataxia telangiectasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie A. I. Natale ◽  
Tim J. Cole ◽  
Cynthia Rothblum-Oviatt ◽  
Jennifer Wright ◽  
Thomas O. Crawford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Ataxia Telangiectasia ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Growth References ◽  
Weight Faltering

Abstract Background Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a DNA repair disorder that affects multiple body systems. Neurological problems and immunodeficiency are two important features of this disease. At this time, two main severity groups are defined in A-T: classic (the more severe form) and mild. Poor growth is a common problem in classic A-T. An objective of this study was to develop growth references for classic A-T. Another objective was to compare growth patterns in classic A-T and mild A-T with each other and with the general population, using the CDC growth references. A final objective was to examine the effects of chronic infection on height. Results We found that classic A-T patients were smaller overall, and suffered from height and weight faltering that continued throughout childhood and adolescence. When compared to the CDC growth references, the median heights and weights for both male and female patients eventually fell to or below the 3rd centile on the CDC charts. Height faltering was more pronounced in females. Birthweight was lower in the classic A-T group compared to mild A-T and the general population, whereas birth length was not. Finally, we investigated height and BMI faltering in relation to number of infections and found no association. Conclusions Classic A-T appears to affect growth in utero. Although children appear to grow well in very early life, faltering begins early, and is unrelenting.

Experiences of adversity in childhood and adolescence and cortisol in late adolescence

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Courtenay L. Kessler ◽  
Suzanne Vrshek-Schallhorn ◽  
Susan Mineka ◽  
Richard E. Zinbarg ◽  
Michelle Craske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Late Adolescence ◽  
Developmental Timing ◽  
Cortisol Awakening Response ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Childhood Adversities ◽  
Early Life Adversity ◽  
Diurnal Cortisol

Abstract Early life adversity influences the diurnal cortisol rhythm, yet the relative influence of different characteristics of adversity remains unknown. In this study, we examine how developmental timing (childhood vs. adolescence), severity (major vs. minor), and domain of early life adversity relate to diurnal cortisol rhythms in late adolescence. We assessed adversity retrospectively in early adulthood in a subsample of 236 participants from a longitudinal study of a diverse community sample of suburban adolescents oversampled for high neuroticism. We used multilevel modeling to assess associations between our adversity measures and the diurnal cortisol rhythm (waking and bedtime cortisol, awakening response, slope, and average cortisol). Major childhood adversities were associated with flatter daily slope, and minor adolescent adversities were associated with greater average daily cortisol. Examining domains of childhood adversities, major neglect and sexual abuse were associated with flatter slope and lower waking cortisol, with sexual abuse also associated with higher cortisol awakening response. Major physical abuse was associated with higher waking cortisol. Among adolescent adversities domains, minor neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing violence were associated with greater average cortisol. These results suggest severity, developmental timing, and domain of adversity influence the association of early life adversity with stress response system functioning.

scholarly journals Stress and Growth in children and adolescents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Mousikou ◽  
Andreas Kyriakou ◽  
Nicos Skordis
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
The Impact

The infantile, childhood, and adolescent periods of growth and development represent times of increased vulnerability to stressors. The rate of growth in each period depends on the interplay of genetic, environmental, dietary, socioeconomic, developmental, behavioral, nutritional, metabolic, biochemical, and hormonal factors. A stressor may have an impact on growth directly through modulation of the growth hormone axis or indirectly through modulation of other factors. The adaptive response to stressors culminates in behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses, which together support survival and conservation of energy. The process begins within seconds and involves activation of sympathetic nervous system and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis. The time-limited stress response is at once anti-growth, anti-reproductive and catabolic with no lasting adverse consequences. However, chronic activation of the stress system and hypercortisolism have consequential negative impacts on growth, thyroid function, reproduction-puberty, and metabolism. They suppress Growth Hormone-Insulin like growth factor 1, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal and Thyroid axes and can be responsible for an increase in visceral adiposity, a decrease in lean mass, suppression of osteoblastic activity with risk of osteoporosis, and induction of insulin resistance. Early life adversities, emotional or physical, have been associated with long-term negative physical and mental health outcomes. There are many models of chronic stress that corroborate that early life adversities affect optimal growth and have consequences throughout the lifespan. Targeted interventions to reduce stress during infancy, childhood and adolescence can have far reaching benefits to long-term health as well as attaining adequate growth. In this review we describe the neuroendocrinology of the stress response, the factors influencing growth, and the impact of chronic stress on growth during critical periods of infancy, childhood, and puberty with reference to each of growth, thyroid, and gonadal axis.

scholarly journals The Ritual Use of Jhakro in Magar Community

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 223-234
Author(s):  
Prakash Prasad Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Death Ritual ◽  
Medicinal Properties

Human- plant relation is tightly attached on life of human beings. From the beginning of civilization, people used many plants and their products for different purpose to adopt with their environment. The essential and valuable materials including plant species are gathered, used, saved and always remain hunger for knowledge yet now. They developed different kinds of ceremonies and rituals and include valuable materials and plants within it to protect and remains as indigenous knowledge in particular communities and groups. In this context, I want to raise the issue of material culture to search why people used plants in their rituals with reference to a plant species the Jhakro the Magars inhabitant of Baglung district, western Nepal. The research was carried out by using descriptive and exploratory research design. Observation, interview and group discussion were used in the field for primary data collection. The Magars are rich in their rituals among them death and kul pujane rituals are significant for cohesive and solidarity of the group; within these rituals a shrub plant species with special type of smell remains in central position for purity and soul. They believed that in death ritual all the polluted activities are purified and in kul pujane Jhakro acts as purity as well as help to join their ancestors with them. Unfortunately, they are unknown of the materialistic meaning of it due to lack of transferring knowledge. In etic aspect, this plant has important medicinal properties and the Magar preserved by keeping it in important rituals within their community. Keywords: Ritual; Jhakro; the Magars; ethno-botany; ancestors DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4522 Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 2010 pp.223-234

Social Competencies in Childhood and Adolescence and Entrepreneurship in Young Adulthood: A Two-study Analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 137-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Obschonka ◽  
Kathryn Duckworth ◽  
Rainer K. Silbereisen ◽  
Ingrid Schoon
Keyword(s):  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Social Competencies

Cultural psychology and human development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandita Chaudhary ◽  
Sujata Sriram ◽  
Jaan Valsiner
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Personal Meanings ◽  
Psychological Phenomena ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Separate Branch

Cultural psychology is a theoretical approach that treats human beings as intimately intertwined with the surrounding social world, which is filled with meanings conveyed through signs. It is based on the axiom that cultural contexts and psychological phenomena are assumed to be mutual, inseparable, and co-constructive. This focus fits the general scientific status of all open systems, which exist only due to the continuous exchange of materials with the environment. Cultural psychology is an integrated approach to psychology rather than a separate branch, as is sometimes believed, since psychology and culture “make each other up.” This involves constructive internalization (intra-mental construction of personal meanings) and equally constructive externalization (changing the environment in the direction specified by the internal meanings). As a collaborative, multidisciplinary perspective, cultural psychology is closely linked with disciplines like anthropology, sociology, linguistics, literature, and others. Cultural psychology focuses on the study of cultural—sign-mediating—processes within the mind. A common misconception relates to the fact that the term “cultural” refers to the study of similarities and differences between various communities. Rather than focusing on static comparisons, meaning-making and dynamic organization of personal and collective reality are studied. Differences between societies are important only as illustrations of the possible patterns of human psychological variation as they emerge in a particular time-space coordinate. Thus, another important axiom is that there can be no psychology without culture. Culture is constructed by goal-oriented human actions and involves continuous thought, action, and emotion in the face of uncertainty. Thus, the centrally important feature of cultural psychology is the inclusion of personal, interpersonal, and collective processes as they make up the different layers of meaning in irreversible time. Culture is both inside a person’s mind, as a personal manifestation, and also a shared system or collective set of customs. Cultural psychologists tend to treat the person as a whole rather than as separate different domains of activity because a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to a person within context is believed to be the key to meaning. Cultural psychology attempts to bring the notion of context into the central focus in psychology and the notion of person back into ethnography, as these are believed to be constructive. Context is viewed in two ways—as inevitably and inseparably linked with the phenomenon and as external social setting (e.g., home, school) in which human activities take place. Another important feature is that “cultural psychology is inherently a developmental discipline and developmental psychology is inherently cultural” (Shwartz, et al. 2020, p. 2). All levels of culturally organized human ways of living—persons, communities, societies—are constantly developing systems.

Using Digital Tools for Studying About and Addressing Climate Change

2022 ◽  
pp. 723-747
Author(s):  
Richard W. Beach ◽  
Blaine E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Digital Activism ◽  
Digital Videos ◽  
Virtual And Augmented Reality

Grounded in research-based examples, this chapter provides a resource for students, teachers, and researchers to critically engage with issues of climate change through leveraging the affordances of digital tools. In particular, the authors discuss the affordances and challenges of students using digital tools to address climate change. They also review research in this field, including studies on visualizations, analyzing information, social media, digital videos, digital role-play, video games, and virtual and augmented reality. The chapter describes how digital tools offer meaning-making possibilities for students to propose solutions to climate change through engaging multimodal narratives, as well as share their voices through digital activism. Considering that global climate change is perhaps the most serious problem human beings have ever faced, this chapter offers implications for curriculum and instruction to aid educators with designing digital projects for students to understand climate change and find ways to take a stand.

Street-Involved Youth Talk

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-46
Author(s):  
Doug Magnuson ◽  
Mikael Jansson ◽  
Cecilia Benoit
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Early Life Experience ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Risky Business ◽  
Business Study

Chapter 2 describes the Risky Business study, which is the source of the primary data for this book, including an overview of the street-involved youth sample. This study was a panel study, with five waves of data collected over roughly 10 years. More than 200 youth in Victoria, British Columbia, between the ages of 14 and 18 were recruited, and by the fifth wave, 64 young people were still street-involved. Of these, 22 identified as Indigenous and 38 as women. Eight had been in permanent foster care, and another 24 had some experience in foster care. The mean age of independence from guardian was 14.7 years. Almost all had some early-life experience with trauma and long periods of familial instability. Being on the street was widely perceived as an improvement in life circumstances, and most youth reported surprisingly high levels of hopefulness and peer support.

scholarly journals Coming to understand the child has autism: A process illustrating parents’ evolving readiness for engaging in care

Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 470-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J Gentles ◽  
David B Nicholas ◽  
Susan M Jack ◽  
K Ann McKibbon ◽  
Peter Szatmari
Keyword(s):  
Meaning Making ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Personal Process ◽  
Family Centered

We report results from a large qualitative study regarding the process of parents coming to understand the child has autism starting from the time of initial developmental concerns. Specifically, we present findings relevant to understanding how parents become motivated and prepared for engaging in care at this early stage. The study included primary data from 45 intensive interviews with 32 mothers and 9 expert professionals from urban and rural regions of Ontario, Canada. Grounded theory methods were used to guide data collection and analysis. Parents’ readiness (motivation and capacity) for engagement develops progressively at different rates as they follow individual paths of meaning making. Four optional steps account for their varied trajectories: forming an image of difference, starting to question the signs, knowing something is wrong, and being convinced it’s autism. Both the nature of the information and professional help parents seek, and the urgency with which they seek them, evolve in predictable ways depending on how far they have progressed in understanding their child has autism. Results indicate the need for sensitivity to parents’ varying awareness and readiness for involvement when engaging with them in early care, tailoring parent support interventions, and otherwise planning family-centered care pathways. Lay Abstract What is already known about the topic? Parents of children with autism often learn about their child’s autism before diagnosis and can spend long periods seeking care (including assessment) before receiving a diagnosis. Meanwhile, parents’ readiness to engage in care at this early stage can vary from parent to parent. What this paper adds? This study revealed how parents come to understand their child has autism—on their own terms, rather than from just talking to professionals. It also explained how parents’ growing awareness of their child’s autism leads them to feel more motivated to engage in care by seeking information and pursuing services. Four “optional steps” described how parents’ growing readiness to engage in care at this early stage can vary, depending on their personal process. Implications for practice, research, or policy The results suggest ways that professionals can be more sensitive (a) to parents’ varying awareness of autism and (b) to their varying readiness for being involved in early care. They also suggest ways to tailor parent supports to their individual situation and design care that is more family centered. Not all parents want high levels of involvement. Depending on their personal process, some parents may need care and support that is directed at them before feeling ready for professionals to engage them in care directed at the child.

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