scholarly journals Electoral Accountability in the Midst of Criminal Violence: Evidence from Mexico

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Ley

AbstractRising levels of crime and insecurity affect the quality of life. A fundamental question for the prospects of democracy is whether voters, in hopes of reaching better solutions to conditions of prevailing insecurity, can hold their elected officials accountable for such situations. This article argues that electoral accountability amid criminal violence requires voters to be able to assign responsibility for crime, and that partisan alignment across levels of government facilitates this task. Recent Mexican elections are examined to test this argument. Relying on both aggregate electoral data and individual survey evidence, this study shows that voters hold politicians accountable for crime in the narrow circumstances of organized crime–related violence and political alignment. This evidence not only provides additional caveats to issue voting models, but also opens new avenues of research on electoral accountability.

Author(s):  
Peggy D. Bennett

Positional power surrounds us. Parents, supervisors, elected officials, siblings, reporters . . . they all have power to make choices for us, and sometimes about us. Yet it is our personal power that provides our quality of life. Personal power is knowing our strength and using it to bal­ance and rebalance our thoughts and behaviors. We know we will fail. We know we will become entangled in difficult situa­tions. We know we will lose sight of our best selves at times. Yet our power is sustained by the belief that we will regain our footing. We will overcome our challenges. We will persevere and regain our ultimate vibrancy. Those with personal power display their confidence and com­petence, but not at another’s expense. They know their strength and use it to continually strive for interpersonal satisfaction, con­nection, and meaning. What makes our personal power strong? It is the influence generated and exuded. This version of personal power is not necessarily influence over others; rather, it inspires others in ways that make them want to be better, do better. Think of the people you have met, perhaps even strangers who appear powerful. They seem comfortable in their own skin, awake to all that is around them. Our personal power is “our spiritual fingerprint”. It is magnificent in its subtlety and stability. When we acknowledge and use our personal power to its best intention, we see and feel its influence on us. Positional power ranks us according to our positions in the social, familial, administrative, or business- related milieu of our lives. The influence of positional power can vary greatly, and the extent to which people submit to positional power varies greatly. We forfeit an important part of ourselves when we sublimate per­sonal power in favor of our own or another’s positional power. Have you noticed that some of the most influential teachers in schools may be those who are powerfully quiet and unassuming? Have you noticed that students can sometimes sense the power of a classmate who otherwise is not an obvious leader?


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690
Author(s):  
C. S. Vanaja ◽  
Miriam Soni Abigail

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.


ASHA Leader ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (15) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Anne Skalicky ◽  
Brenda Schick ◽  
Donald Patrick
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Siciliano

This paper presents a successful behavioral case study in treatment of chronic refractory cough in a 60-year-old adult female. The efficacy for speech-language pathology treating chronic cough is discussed along with description of treatment regime. Discussion focuses on therapy approaches used and the patient's report of changes in quality of life and frequency, duration, and severity reduction of her cough after treatment.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A647-A647
Author(s):  
M WEHLER ◽  
R NICHTERLEIN ◽  
B FISCHER ◽  
M FARNBACHER ◽  
U REULBACH ◽  
...  

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