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Mindful of a Profit? A Critical Analysis of Meditation Apps in the Context of Neoliberalism and Western Constructions of Religion
Get PDFThis research focuses on the growing trend of meditation apps. Close analysis of three meditation apps (Headspace, Insight Timer, and Calm) reveals how meditation has been marketed as secular through a deliberate obfuscation of Buddhist origins. Additionally, the context and effects of neoliberal ideology and bio-morality are discussed
Some Papal Bull: 16th Century Alum trade and English Royal Autonomy
Get PDFThe early 16th century saw the rise of a wealthy middle class fueled by a new and expanding global textile industry. With this expansion came opportunities for exploitation fueling the rise of a new economic nationalism at odds with the ideals of a unified Christian church. In this essay, I shall be looking at the popular alum trade in Italy, Spain, and England from the 14th to the 17th centuries and explore how the lucrative trade profoundly shaped early modern economies, social hierarchies, governance, and law.
Alum, a dye fixative was one of the first and most important global commodities prior to the industrial revolution. Despite their spiritual callings, a series of popes maintained a lucrative alum monopoly, which contributed to growing distrust for the Catholic faith in the 16th century. Many Christian rulers contested the Pope\u27s regulation of this commodity, even going so far as to import it illegally, leading to the eventual loss of English Royal autonomy
Common Experiences and Beliefs Among Highly-Active, Previously-Sedentary, Middle-Aged Adults
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines recommend reducing sedentarism and describes correlations between adequate PA and improving health outcomes. The self-determination theory (SDT) was used to identify motivational factors crucial to a physically active lifestyle.
PURPOSE: Identify and analyze how motivational characteristics, fulfillment of psychological needs, and individual experiences/beliefs influence an individual’s motivation for PA.
METHODS: Participants (3 females, 2 males; age 36-55) were recruited using nominated sampling and public advertising. Current levels of moderate-to-high PA were determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and previous-sedentarism was self-reported as a minimum of 18 months. The SDT was the theoretical basis for determining fulfillment of psychological needs. The Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale-General and Motives for Physical Activities Measure Revised (MPAM-R) measured general psychological satisfaction-frustration and motivational factors, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and statements were coded to identify experiences and beliefs of the participants serving as a comparison to survey data.
RESULTS: Psychological satisfaction (autonomy p=0.043; competence p=0.042; relatedness p=0.041) was significant compared to psychological frustration. Averaged MPAM-R scores revealed fitness (6.88) as the highest motivational factor while social (4.52) the lowest. Interview coding frequency was ranked as competence (58) followed by social/relatedness (49), autonomy (47), interest (30), fitness (29), appearance (15), and expressions of psychological satisfaction (38) dominated statements of frustration (11).
CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-high PA was associated with greater life satisfaction than frustration across all three domains. Survey instruments and interviews supported this conclusion; additionally, overcoming sedentarism is highly driven by autonomous decisions to improve health and well-being
Feasibility of Twice a Week in-Clinic Treadmill Intervention in Infants with Down Syndrome
Get PDFBackground: Children with Down syndrome (DS) on average take independent steps at 24-26 months compared to 12 months for typically developing children. In-home treadmill training has been shown to be an effective intervention to reduce delayed walking onset for infants with DS.
Purpose: To see if 20 minutes of in clinic treadmill training twice a week for infants with DS is a feasible intervention.
Methods: Participants must pull to stand independently but not yet walk. Pre-intervention testing included 5 minutes of treadmill walking and scores for sections D and E of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). 20 minute treadmill sessions occurred twice a week for 8 weeks. Walking time, mood and mileage were recorded. Post-intervention testing was identical to pre-intervention testing. Step rates were analyzed and changes in GMFM scores were calculated.
Results: All subjects improved their step count pre- to post-test. Subjects 1 and 3 improved their GMFM-D scores by 14 and 2 points, respectively. Subjects 1, 2 and 3 improved their GMFM-E scores by 6, 2 and 7 points, respectively. All subjects tolerated the full 20 minutes within 2 sessions. Subject 1 walked independently by session 13. Subject 3 was cruising independently by session 14. All caregivers reported the intervention was valuable.
Conclusion: In clinic treadmill training is a feasible intervention for children with DS to reduce delayed walking onset. Continued research is needed to determine the efficacy of treadmill training in a community setting. This method of treadmill training is easier to administer, more cost effective, and less time intensive
Illustrating Neuroaesthetics
Get PDFThis body of art attempts to bridge two subjects, visual art and neuroscience. It does so by illustrating five topics in neuroaesthetics, the study of how we see and perceive art. I believe beautiful things can happen at the intersections of interdisciplinary subjects and wanted to explore this one further.
The first piece begins with a straightforward introduction to the structure of the human eye. The drawings following increase in complexity, working further up the visual process. For instance, the second depicts intermediate pathways in the brain using Op art techniques. The third illustrates how memory influences how we see the world in addition to art. The fourth exhibits the six basic emotions, which can be evoked by art depending on one’s episodic memories and empathy toward the artist. Finally, the fifth exemplifies how lack of familiar imagery in abstract art leaves much of work to the individual’s top-down functioning in the brain.
If any of these words or ideas are unfamiliar, good. While each piece has its own summary of the science the work is illustrating, I hope for some it is just a jumping off point for learning about a new subject, whether that be art, neuroscience, or something in between
Neoliberal Development: Capability Deprivation and Barriers for Positive Mental Health
Get PDFMarket-based approaches to development can increase the prevalence of common mental disorders around the world. Since the 1980s, the Global North has pursued neoliberal policies and has encouraged countries in the Global South to do the same. And, while these policies focused on the liberalization of markets have led to significant economic growth, they have also challenged people’s emotional well-being. Proponents of neoliberalism, or a market-based approach, are willing to make sacrifices in order to benefit from the potential efficiency of unregulated capitalism. Negative trade-offs associated with neoliberalism include: (1) increased precarity in society, (2) the prevalence of neoliberal discourse and the pressures it places on individuals, and (3) rising inequality and a sense of deprivation in societies.
In contrast to a market-based approach to development, the capability approach to development looks to the overall well-being of populations. Proponents of the capability approach advocate for the state’s involvement in securing the capabilities of individuals. The term capability refers to the opportunities that an individual has that are a function of both their own abilities and their economic, social, and political environment (Nussbaum 2011, 20). By utilizing a capability approach to development, governments can work to mitigate the tradeoffs of neoliberal development by providing social services for individuals.
This thesis project consists of three distinct parts. Part one considers how neoliberalism impacts emotional well-being. This paper looks at neoliberal economies, societies, and politics and finds that neoliberalism creates a sense of precariousness in communities that has harmful impacts on emotional well-being and therefore has negative implications for development. The second part of this project focuses on the capability approach to development and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of measuring development work. This paper argues that when development is considered through a lens of capability deprivation, it is clear that market-based approaches to well-being are insufficient. Finally, the third part of this project is a case study. This case study demonstrates that in India precarious and informal work, along with mental illness has risen since the state pursued more neoliberal policies in the 1990s. And, while non-state actors have sought to provide a greater sense of security through unions and non-governmental organizations, ultimately the state must provide better protection for people in order to improve mental health.
Overall, this thesis project demonstrates that going forward there must be a movement away from neoliberalism. This movement away from neoliberalism is necessary to increase the emotional well-being of all rather than relying on market principles and economic growth to alleviate suffering in solely a few
Subfunctionalization of phytochrome B1/B2 leads to differential auxin and photosynthetic responses
Get PDFGene duplication and polyploidization are genetic mechanisms that instantly add genetic material to an organism\u27s genome. Subsequent modification of the duplicated material leads to the evolution of neofunctionalization (new genetic functions), subfunctionalization (differential retention of genetic functions), redundancy, or a decay of duplicated genes to pseudogenes. Phytochromes are light receptors that play a large role in plant development. They are encoded by a small gene family that in tomato is comprised of five members: PHYA, PHYB1, PHYB2, PHYE, and PHYF. The most recent gene duplication within this family was in the ancestral PHYB gene. Using transcriptome profiling, co-expression network analysis, and physiological and molecular experimentation, we show that tomato SlPHYB1 and SlPHYB2 exhibit both common and non-redundant functions. Specifically, PHYB1 appears to be the major integrator of light and auxin responses, such as gravitropism and phototropism, while PHYB1 and PHYB2 regulate aspects of photosynthesis antagonistically to each other, suggesting that the genes have subfunctionalized since their duplication
All Things Intentional
Get PDFMy name is Maya and I am a rising senior, studying Sociology and Anthropology. This summer I received an AHSS summer research grant from the University to conduct a project revolving around intentional communities. When I applied for the grant, I proposed a sustained, ethnographic project as the best fitting research for my topic. This was going to include staying for multiple weeks with 2-3 intentional communities. The pandemic altered the fieldwork component of my project greatly, as these longer term stays were not possible. However, I was able to do socially distant interviews and tours at two intentional communities, and I connected with others online. In such an unprecedented experience, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of contact I made with intentional community members, and their willingness to work with me in an adverse environment. Additionally, the alterations in my research allowed me to hone in on pre existing scholarly work on my topic, and develop a strong foundation of knowledge to navigate creating a question and conducting field research.
The question I explored through my research was, what are the practical and ideological components of intentional communities that allow them to remain connected in the contemporary world? This question guided me in observing and examining both the practical, everyday structures and ideological foundations that create cohesion in intentional communities. I engaged primarily with two intentional communities in Washington state, Salmon Beach and River Farm. I made several additional contacts with community members in other states and one in Israel as well. Salmon Beach is a land based and historical community that consists of 82 stilted homes over the Puget Sound. River farm is also a land based, agricultural and environmental community in Whatcom county, WA. Both of these communities have physical and social infrastructure that influence their togetherness
A Window to Urban Arabia
Get PDFThis set of images collectively seeks to provide viewers with a window into Doha, Qatar, and into the urban heart of the modern Middle East that’s arisen on the Arabian Peninsula. Designed as an exhibit of photography, the images include overlapping themes that explore particular facets or threads of the urban landscape and life therein. In the final accounting, the collection as a whole is intended as an ode to the city itself
LMDA New & Noteworthy, March 2020
Get PDFContents include: #LMDA20 // Conference Countdown; Tribute to Doug Langworthy; LMDA Freelancers Gather Weekly for Community; Upcoming Regional Events; Your Dramaturgy Ad Here!.https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/lmdanewsletter/1034/thumbnail.jp