Loss Of Self Research Articles

Research on Chinese Teachers and College Students' TOEFL/IELTS English-Speaking Practice in the Post-Pandemic Era

In the post-pandemic era, the training of spoken English is transforming from traditional offline lectures to the blending of online and offline teaching. This study aims to guide Chinese students’ TOEFL/IELTS speaking performances by investigating the relevant factors around in-class teaching and apps using that influence students’ learning efficacy. The findings of this research indicate that teachers’ digital literacy and native English-speaking abilities are highly needed to support the blending of online and offline teaching modes in the post-pandemic era. Apps are expected to maintain and improve basic functions like memorizing vocabulary and use short and simple forms to save users’ time. Apps can also offer strategies to instruct users’ schedules, so students would avoid their loss of self in face of various functions and have a better immersive experience of practicing speaking English on apps. These results can be considered to improve teaching methods and app functions and support further research on improving Chinese students’ language scores in the post-pandemic era.

A Disembodied Dementia: Graphic Medicine and Illness Narratives.

The dominant discourse on dementia promotes a view that as individuals progress with the disease, they experience a neurological decline causing a loss of self. This notion, grounded in a Cartesian representation of selfhood, associates a loss of self as directly related to cognition. This paper presents an alternative anthropological framework, embodied selfhood, that challenges this representation. It then examines a potential tool, graphic medicine, to translate this theory into caregiving practice. Through analyzing three graphic novels-Wrinkles, Tangles, and Aliceheimer's-this paper demonstrates how tension exists between different conceptions of selfhood and associated implications for caregivers and patients alike.

THE MEANING OF EXPERIENCING FEAR OF FALLING AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Fear of falling (FOF) is prevalent among older adults. While the concept has been conceptually defined and factors associated with FOF has been extensively explored in nursing and other health sciences, the experience of this fear is often overlooked. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the phenomena of FOF using the rich descriptions elicited from four (Nf4) older adults. The meaning of these experiences was then interpreted in conjunction with the known and emergent FOF body of literature. Each participant was interviewed twice using videoconferencing as part of a larger study exploring the lived experience of being at risk for falling in the hospital. A total of eight interview transcripts were analyzed using van Manen’s interpretive phenomenological methodology. The philosophical underpinning of this study is the philosophy of caring in nursing outlined by Kari Martinsen. Three major interpretive themes emerged: Loss of Self, Part of my Existence, and Remaining Safe Within the Boundaries of Fear. These themes describe how FOF is the fear of being suspended in time and space and losing connection with oneself both physically and mentally during a fall. The fear becomes a part of one’s existence, ranging from worry to all-consuming panic, and the body becomes unpredictable. FOF means living within invisible boundaries of fear, where feelings of helplessness, uselessness, and isolation are common. Relationships with others can both temper and ignite the FOF, and caregivers must understand the meaning of this experience to improve support of older adults in managing this overwhelming experience.

Books Briefly

Books Briefly

‘Partnering with Poise’: Alexander technique online group classes are a promising intervention to decrease loss‐of‐self and increase agency for care partners of people living with dementia

AbstractBackgroundStudies show 1:1 in‐person Alexander technique (AT) sessions can reduce anxiety and musculoskeletal pain with long‐term benefits [1‐4]. Care partners (CP) often experience role engulfment and loss of self [5]. AT is an embodied approach to choose functional patterns that transform disruptive stress reactions to adaptive responses, increasing confidence, self‐control, and self‐awareness. Previous in‐person group course results from 71 Parkinson’s CP showed promise with benefits retained at 12 months. COVID‐19 provided an opportunity to test synchronous online AT‐based courses for CP of people living with dementia.Method Design: Controlled feasibility trial. AT group: 14 participants (12F/2M) from 9 states; mean age 68; 72% provided 41+ hrs/wk care for family member with dementia; 13 lived with care‐receiver. Control group: 9 participants (8F/1M) from 4 states; mean age 63; 67% provided 41+ hrs/wk care; 6 lived with family care‐receiver. AT groups met 90 min/week x 10wks. Intervention: Delivered in‐home via Zoom. Embodied self‐management strategies included intentional strategies to interrupt automatic reactions and affirm centrality of the self, taught via verbal and visual instruction, activities, anatomical models/images, and demonstration videos. AT principles were embedded in everyday activities (gait, sit‐to‐stand, IADLs, etc.). Outcome Measures: Self‐report, executive function, anonymous evaluations, interviews.Result70% retention, 87% attendance. AT group improved executive function (Digit Span p = .003; Stroop p = .05); control group did not. AT group reported increased self‐efficacy (caregiver scale p = .08); and reduced fear (p = .004); control group did not. On 0‐10 scale, mean rating was >9 for novelty of ideas, practical tools for physical self‐management, and would recommend to a friend; and >8 for enjoyment of group interaction, practical tools for self‐management of emotions and reactions, and prevention of pain; 7.9 for feeling better prepared for CP daily challenges. Six‐month follow‐up is underway.ConclusionAlexander technique shows promise as a long‐term self‐management approach to reduce loss‐of‐self in CP of people living with cognitive decline. Group classes can provide cost‐effective delivery with social benefits. Online classes can increase accessibility. A full‐scale study is merited.1.Little (2008) 2.MacPherson (2015) 3.Klein (2014) 4.Stallibrass (2002) 5.Skaff, Pearlin (1992)

Loss of Memory, Loss of Self: A Thematic and Technical Study of Austin Clarke's Mnemosyne Lay in Dust

Loss of Memory, Loss of Self: A Thematic and Technical Study of Austin Clarke's Mnemosyne Lay in Dust

A developmental understanding of the self may provide valuable insight into the experience of selfhood in dementia

AbstractThe self is a complex and multidimensional construct with both reflective and experiential aspects. The experience of selfhood has been well documented in both developmental psychology and dementia research. However, these research fields have rarely come together. This is unfortunate since a lack of sensitive measurement of self in adults with dementia has historically led to erroneous assumptions that people diagnosed with dementia experience total loss of self. Dementia causes profound self‐alterations, particularly associated with gaps in autobiographical and semantic self‐knowledge. However, important experiential manifestations of self may remain intact. Focusing on the emergence of different levels of self‐processes in early childhood, and reflecting on conceptual similarities as well as methodological perspectives, the aim of this article is to explore how developmental approaches may be applied to provide a promising new direction into the experience of selfhood in dementia.

Aaru

<i>Aaru</i>

Fashioning Gender in Asia and Beyond

Fashioning Gender in Asia and Beyond

Examining Subjective Psychological Experiences of Postoperative Delirium in Older Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute syndrome including inattention and impaired cognition that affects approximately 42% of older cardiac surgical patients. POD is linked to adverse outcomes including morbidity, mortality, and further cognitive decline. Less is known about the subjective psychological experience of POD and its ongoing impact on well-being. We performed a qualitative analysis of the long-term psychological sequelae of older adults who experience POD after cardiac surgery. We sampled 30 patients aged 60 years and older who experienced at least 2 episodes of POD during a prior hospital admission. We administered semistructured interviews with participants via telephone 3 to 5 years postoperatively. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Data were interpreted in accordance with the naturalist paradigm. Three overarching themes emerged in our qualitative analysis. The first reflected the multifaceted presentation of POD, including distortion of time and reality; feelings of isolation; and a loss of self, identity, and control. The second theme reflected the psychological challenges associated with functional decline after surgery. Common examples of functional decline included cognitive difficulties, excessive fatigue, and a perceived loss of independence. The final theme captured the emotional sequelae of acute illness, which included low mood, reduced motivation, and social comparisons. Our findings emphasize the multidimensional experience of POD and long-term effects on psychological wellbeing. Our research highlights the beneficial role multidisciplinary clinicians play in managing POD including strategies that may be embedded into clinical practice and helps anesthesiologists understand why patients who have experienced POD in the past may present with specific concerns should they require subsequent surgery.

Disrupted and deranged: The formless and the abject in Twin Peaks: The Return

This article intends to explore the formlessness of the Woodsmen as unsettling characters in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017). Their lack of, or blurred, humanity and our misunderstanding of their origins, intentions and boundaries is disruptive enough to our senses that there exists a desire to abject them. It is through this abjection that we, as viewers of Twin Peaks (1990–91), experience a loss of self that permeates through the entirety of The Return. Yet, we return to watch the show, as we, as spectators, are drawn to that which confuses and repulses us. The Woodsmen serve as a metaphor for Season 3 in that they aid in our inability to interpret the show in the traditional sense of what a narrative is, could be or should be. Watching Twin Peaks: The Return is an unsettling experience, and the findings and connections drawn through this research serve as one – among many possible – explanations for this uncanniness, of our misunderstanding of a show that exists outside of traditional boundaries. Links will be drawn through this work of David Lynch and Mark Frost along with the theories and philosophies of Georges Bataille and Julia Kristeva, among others, with the intention of responding to the overarching question of why The Return was so difficult and unsettling to watch as viewers.

Evaluation of patients' experience and related qualitative outcomes in venous thromboembolism: A scoping review

BackgroundVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality. VTE has well‐documented physical sequelae; however, the psychological and emotional impacts are seldom evaluated in randomized controlled trials. ObjectiveWe conducted a scoping review of published qualitative studies aiming to understand the physical, psychological, and emotional impact of VTE as reflected from patients' perspectives. This scoping review is part of a larger initiative to develop a core outcome set for VTE treatment studies. MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted to identify qualitative studies assessing patient experience of VTE. Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts using Covidence systematic review software. Full‐text reviews were conducted independently by 2 study team members. A modified method of “thematic synthesis” was used to collate themes upon reading and rereading of the publications. ResultsOur search strategy returned a total of 4944 citations; 28 were ultimately included in the analysis. The studies were conducted across 13 countries and representative of 436 participants including a spectrum of VTE subpopulations. There were seven major themes identified: Acute impacts: an unforeseen blow, Sustained psychological distress, Loss of self: life is changed, Challenges of thrombosis management, Balancing coping and control, Negative experience with the medical system, and VTE in the context of other conditions. ConclusionsThe physical, psychological, and emotional impacts of VTE extend beyond objective outcomes typically evaluated in clinical trials. An improved understanding of the outcomes most important to patients will improve patient‐centered care in VTE.

Ethical Challenges and Implications of Deactivating Mechanical Circulatory Support for Patients With Preserved Cognitive Function.

Ethical Challenges and Implications of Deactivating Mechanical Circulatory Support for Patients With Preserved Cognitive Function.

“This Job has Changed Me”: Work Life Conflict, Self and Social Identity in Correctional Work

Growing research demonstrates the toll of correctional work on the mental health and well-being of staff. Within this body of work, researchers note that work life conflict is a significant stressor faced by correctional workers, though minimal research has examined this topic qualitatively. Drawing on open-ended survey responses from a study on provincial and territorial correctional worker well-being in Canada, we consider how different types of work life conflict, including time, strain and behavior based conflicts, impact sense of self and social identities among workers. More specifically, we examine how work life conflicts give way to: changes in self tied to negative impacts on personality, disposition, and attitudes; loss of self due to lack of time and emotional energy to enact non-work roles and identities; and loss of social identities as a result of both externally and self-imposed forms of social isolation. Findings highlight how work life conflict can have cumulative effects resulting in estrangement with respect to one's self, others, and society more generally.

Phenomenology of anxiety in people living with mild to moderate dementia: A conceptual meta-ethnographic review.

This conceptual review aims to integrate findings from published qualitative studies focusing on individual experiences of people living with dementia to generate a better understanding and conceptualisation of anxiety in dementia, including its subclinical manifestations. The review aims to inform the clinical practice to facilitate the development of targeted psychological interventions and provision of holistic support to people living with dementia. The review was conducted according to the guide for reporting meta-ethnographic qualitative syntheses eMERGe and the PRISMA guidelines. The search yielded a total of 2947 studies, out of which 13 were included in the final qualitative synthesis. The interpretive synthesis identified common experiences of people living with mild to moderate dementia, characterised by clusters of themes around worry, emotional experiences, and behavioural reactions in response to the diagnosis of dementia and its symptoms. These represent the components of a conceptual framework of anxiety in mild to moderate dementia, where anxiety is triggered by negative appraisals of living with an irreversible neurodegenerative disease. Stemming from these appraisals of dementia progression and its impact on the person's overall future, the content of worrisome thoughts and concerns include the loss of self and identity, losing independence and the ability to perform previous activities, concerns about being a burden to loved ones, and worry about the impact on interpersonal relationships. This conceptualisation of anxiety in dementia, including its subclinical manifestations facilitates the development of psychological interventions and provision of holistic support to people living with dementia.

Posthuman Mimétisme: Caillois, Adorno and an Aesthetics of Mimesis

My paper focuses on a notion of mimesis which made a lasting impression on French sociologists and surrealists of the 1930s, most notably Roger Caillois. Mimicry or mimétisme denotes an instinctive (and not always beneficial) form of assimilation to (not of) another organism or object. Interestingly enough, Caillois, was fascinated by an active “natural imagination,” diagnoses a propensity among humans to abandon themselves to the “lure” of what he calls “represented spaces”—beyond the intentional grasp of the subject. However, what mimicry “morphologically” brings about in animals may lead in humans to a “depersonalization” or loss of self. Theodor W. Adorno received Caillois’s pre-reflexive with (critical) approval, but he insisted on retaining an, albeit aesthetic, form of reflexivity, without falling back into conceptual subjectivity and categorial appropriation. Aesthetic mimesis, a willing abandonment to works of art, makes possible and actuates the experience of a material, sensuous and indeterminate Other. Indeed, in an open confrontation with art, one cannot help getting immersed, even lost, in its radiating presence. “Aesthetic rationality,” then, comes precisely down to a realization of the limits of human rationality along with a— posthuman—acknowledgment of a more-than-human world beyond instrumental reason.

Disillusionment and Death in Ourika and “La Noire de...”

This study proposes to compare Claire de Duras’s Ourika (1824) and Ousmane Sembène’s “La Noire de...” (1962). The two novellas concern the assimilation of a Senegalese woman in the French society. Ourika is a young woman raised and educated in an aristocratic environment, while Diouana, the protagonist of Sembène’s story, who works as a maid, is illiterate. But the difference between the two women disappears as racism emerges. Using Fanon and Bhabha, this study focuses on the following aspects: Commodification and the loss of self; stigmatization and the protagonist as the Other; alienation and death; and suppressed voices and posthumous narratives. The essay concludes with a discussion of the significance of the struggles of the two protagonists, by extension, for Francophone African writers in the postcolonial context.

“Robbed of my life”: The Felt Loss of Familiar and Engaged Presence in Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Abstract Depersonalization/derealization disorder (DPDR) is classified as a dissociative disorder in the DSM5. It is noteworthy that the symptoms of depersonalization and derealization are commonly found in many other psychological disorders, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, while phenomenological features of schizophrenia are commonly found in DPDR. The current study attempts to clarify these apparent similarities via highly detailed phenomenological interviews with four persons diagnosed with DPDR. The data revealed four interrelated facets: 1, Loss of resonance, 2, Detachment from experience, 3, Loss of self, and 4, Commitment to reality. These facets point to a felt loss of immediate and familiar engagement in experience as a basic organizing Gestalt which permeates the various symptoms and signs of our participants with DPDR. Close consideration of this disruption allows their experiences to be more easily distinguished from those of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

The Loss of the Self—Spiritual Abuse of Adults in the Context of the Catholic Church

Interest in spiritual abuse is a fairly recent phenomenon in research. Originally, it received attention only in the context of child sexual abuse perpetrated by the clergy in the Catholic Church before it was recognized as a specific form of abuse in its own right. In line with Paul Ricœur, I agree that a narrative best describes a person’s identity. I, therefore, give space to the voices of three women who were spiritually abused as adults in France in the context of new religious communities that originated after the Second Vatican Council: Sophie Ducrey, Anne Mardon and Marie-Laure Janssens. The social constructionist method allows the uniqueness of each of their narratives to be recognized, while also accounting for shared experiences such as the dynamics of control, desocialization and intrusion into the private spheres of life. Spiritual abuse, which is at the hinge point between the moral and spiritual and the psychological realms, is perpetrated by a spiritual leader who has power over women. The abuse serves to fulfill the psychological or sexual needs of the leader. Abuse of the conscience, theology and spirituality are the spiritual means used, alongside the psychological ones, to cause the women to become dependent. In the process, their desire for God and the affective needs that some may have are abused. The consequences are many, but the loss of self, of which faith is the core, summarizes it well.

‘Typing with dementia’

Background: While there is a substantial amount of pragmatic research on online health discourse, social media contexts actively involving persons living with dementia have been largely neglected so far. This study, which is rooted in the social-constructionist paradigm, explores processes of self-positioning on a public message board for persons living with dementia provided by a non-profit health organization. Method: The study is based on a pilot corpus of 15 sample threads on the public message board, and it investigates the referencing and predication practices employed by the members of this virtual community of practice. Results: Their interactions reveal processes of identity construction which clearly debunk the popular myth of ‘loss of self’ in dementia. Conclusion: Going beyond the categories, characteristics, and activities conventionally ascribed to persons living with dementia, participants challenge dementia-related stereotypes and ultimately contribute to a more multifaceted picture of living with dementia.