scholarly journals The motivational primacy of environmental coherence : self-derogation and the experience of meaning in life

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samantha J. Heintzelman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Tendency

Although the human tendency to make self-serving attributions is well-documented, not all behaviors and cognitions are primarily self-serving. Victims blame themselves for uncontrollable circumstances and individuals derogate themselves to maintain a sense that the world is just. Callan and colleagues (2014) found that random negative outcomes result in lowered self-esteem, increased perceptions that one deserves bad outcomes, and spurred self-detrimental behaviors. How might these self-defeating processes be explained? I examined whether such processes might serve to maintain a broader sense of coherence that allows the experience of life as meaningful. Participants (N = 1199) wrote about past bad or good breaks, or daily activities, and then rated self-esteem, deservingness of bad outcomes, and meaning in life and coherence. I found no support for the prediction that self-esteem would negatively relate (or deservingness of bad outcome beliefs would positively relate) to meaning in life following reminders of bad breaks. Some evidence emerged suggesting that self-esteem was less strongly related to coherence in the good breaks condition compared to controls. Exploratory analyses examined the role of depression in processes involved in the experience of life as meaningful. The manipulation had stronger effects on meaning in life in participants experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those who were not. Furthermore, self-esteem was more strongly related to meaning in life in individuals experiencing some depression compared to the non-depressed participants, especially in the bad breaks condition. Implications for this work regarding the study of meaning in life and future directions regarding this research question are discussed.

scholarly journals International Students in the U.S.: Social and Psychological Adjustment

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Jackson ◽  
Sukanya Ray ◽  
Danica Bybell
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
International Students ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Sociocultural Adjustment

In this study, we examined the role of self-esteem, hope, optimism, coping, acculturative stress, and social support on international students’ depressive symptoms and sociocultural adjustment. Seventy international students completed a self-report online survey. The most notable finding was that the international students used adaptive and maladaptive coping techniques at similar rates. Greater use of coping techniques, higher acculturative stress and less social support were associated with more depressive symptoms and more difficulty with sociocultural adjustment. Lower self-esteem, less hope, and less optimism were associated with more depressive symptoms, but not sociocultural difficulty. Clinical implications and future directions are also discussed.

Hope in the Unexpected: How Can Teachers Still Make a Difference in the World?

2010 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-406
Author(s):  
Julian Edgoose
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
The World ◽  
Agents Of Change ◽  
Hard Times ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Background Context ◽  
Objective Research

Background/Context The central role of hope in teaching has long been acknowledged by authors such as Sonia Nieto and Larry Cuban, but hope has received little focused attention from scholars. This article seeks to compare multiple understandings of hope to examine how teachers can find hope in times of global crises that challenge the promise of a better future that is implicit in modern schooling. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study How can teachers find hope in hard times, when the usual promise of schools for a better future seems difficult to sustain? Research Design This article is an analytic essay. Conclusions/Recommendations This article concludes that while the long-dominant understandings of hope are inadequate for many teachers at times like these, Arendt's view of the hope that emerges in the unexpected occurrences of classroom life resonates strongly with the most rewarding and hopeful experiences of many teachers. Yet Arendt explains how the hope that teachers experience from these unpredictable and unexpected occurrences is not just a source of immediate reward, but rather contributes to political and social change. The article concludes with an account of Arendt's critique of historians’ narratives of social change and an affirmation of the impact that teachers can have as agents of change.

India’s Kochi Biennale: sponsorship, patronage, and art’s resistance

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-31
Author(s):  
Annamma Joy ◽  
Russell Belk
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Art ◽  
Art World ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
International Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
The Government ◽  
Financial Power

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the meaning, in both local and international context, of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), the first international exhibit of contemporary art in India. Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF), which administers the KMB, identifies art as a means for transforming society, with a mission to bring global contemporary art to India and to present India’s modern art to the world. The authors further investigate the role of government sponsorship and corporate patronage in funding the KMB, and investigate how resistance through art is key to the KMB’s identity. Design/methodology/approach This study focuses primarily on published materials relating to the KMB. One of the authors attended the 2016 KMB and interviewed fellow attendees. Additionally, the authors reviewed and assessed social media postings regarding the 2016 KMB. Findings The authors argue that government sponsorship and corporate patronage are never solely about political or financial power. Rather, a generalized reciprocity among the three entities – corporations, the government and the artists – allows the KMB to flourish. For the artists involved, the KMB, co-founded by activist artists, sustains interest in and awareness of resistance. Originality/value Extant literature on biennales is sparse on ways in which these exhibits extend their impact beyond the art world. The authors examine issues such as India expanding its position on the world stage through art, and the implications of political resistance embraced by Indian artists on future directions for the KMB, that have heretofore been unaddressed.

scholarly journals Sense of Coherence in Association with Stress Experience and Health in Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Unni Karin Moksnes ◽  
Geir Arild Espnes
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Subjective Health Complaints ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Stress And Health

This study investigated the associations between sex, age, socio-economic status, stress, sense of coherence (SOC), and health (mental wellbeing, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and subjective health complaints) in Norwegian adolescents aged 13–19 years. Furthermore, the study investigated the potential protective or compensatory role from SOC on the association between stress and health. Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1233 adolescents. Data were analyzed with descriptive, comparative, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Girls reported significantly higher scores on depressive symptoms and subjective health complaints than boys. Stress was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. SOC associated significantly with all outcome variables; and especially with mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms. Significant interaction effects of sex in combination with stress and SOC were found in association with depression and mental wellbeing. Associations were strongest for girls. Conclusion: The findings provided support for the significant role of SOC as a coping resource, especially in relation to adolescents’ mental health; weaker associations were found with subjective health complains and self-rated health. The findings also mainly supported a compensatory role of SOC on the association between stress and health during adolescence.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms and self-esteem in Latino youths: Examining the role of gender and perceived discrimination.

2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 951-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine H. Zeiders ◽  
Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor ◽  
Chelsea L. Derlan
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Self Esteem

Gratitude and Suicidal Ideation in Undergraduates in Taiwan: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and Meaning in Life

2019 ◽  
pp. 003022281988284
Author(s):  
Chih-Che Lin
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Multigroup Analysis ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined both the mediation effects of self-esteem and meaning in life for the relationship between gratitude and suicidal ideation in late adolescence. A total of 276 Taiwanese university students completed measures of gratitude, self-esteem, meaning in life, and suicidal ideation. Path analyses indicated that self-esteem and meaning in life acted as full mediators of the association between gratitude and suicidal ideation. The identified model also revealed a significant path from gratitude through self-esteem and meaning in life to suicidal ideation. A multigroup analysis found that the paths did not differ by genders. Implications for future research and limitations of the present findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Assessment of Implicit Self-Esteem in Older Adults: The Role of Actual and Ideal Self-Esteem in Negative Mood

Assessment ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-309
Author(s):  
Ineke Demeyer ◽  
Nuria Romero ◽  
Rudi De Raedt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Ideal Self ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Age Appropriate

The interplay between actual and ideal self-esteem may be a key component in emotional disorders. Since automatic self-evaluations are not always consciously accessible, assessment through implicit measures is necessary. Given the lack of implicit self-esteem measures in late life, we aimed to identify a reliable measure and to clarify the role of actual and ideal self-esteem in mood and depressive symptoms in older adults. Forty-nine older adults completed two adapted Go/No go Association tasks measuring implicit actual and ideal self-esteem and measures of mood and depressive symptoms. The two Go/No go Association tasks showed satisfactory internal consistency. Moderation analyses revealed that lower actual self-esteem in older adults is related to higher levels of sad mood when ideal self-esteem is high. Moreover, lower actual self-esteem is related to more anxious mood. Given the role of self-esteem in emotional well-being, a reliable measure for older adults is crucial to improve age-appropriate diagnostics and treatment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document