Sarah Lawrence College
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Playing Mas: Carnival and Cultural Inhibition in Trinidad and the Use of Dance/Movement Therapy as a Pathway Towards Self-Expression
No full textTrinidad is comprised of a unique mix of races including the Amerindians, Africans, East Indians, Europeans, and Chinese. The fusion of these cultures has given the country its unique and extraordinary spirit and identity. Trinidadians are all about keeping up appearances and acting the part, and this may have led to a disconnect between mind and body. The inability to communicate their feelings, and the pressure of maintaining a façade of happiness is damaging the nation. Trinidad’s suicide rate has increased over the years, and the island now has the third highest suicide rate in the region. Carnival, the pre-Lenten festival of music, dance and celebration, plays an essential part in communal exhalation. Introducing Dance/movement therapy to the population who already has an embodied culture will help citizens to be aware of their complete self-state. It would cause a reconnect of the individual\u27s body mind and spirit and give them a sense of wholeness. It will also provide a better connection with others and the universe
Exploring the Impact of Intergenerational Trauma on the Mind, Body, and Spirit of the Black Woman: Remembering the Past, Honoring the Present, and Embracing the Future through Dance/Movement Therapy
No full textAfrican American women have suffered a long history of oppression dating back to the Transatlantic slave trade. This thesis will explore the historical context of intergenerational trauma as it relates to African American women, through the lens of the Superwoman Schema (SWS). A paradigm used to describe the resiliency of African American women who experience institutional racism, sexism, discrimination, and a multitude of other challenges. Reconnecting to the body is vital for Black women who have endured a legacy of trauma, and continue to experience trauma in their daily lives, affecting their mental and emotional health. Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is a reparative, body-based, healing modality which directly addresses the issues impacting Black women through the mind, body, and spirit connection
Sun exposure as a risk factor for precipitating vision loss for individuals with LHON mitochondrial variants
Get PDFVision loss in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON, OMIM# 535000) is caused by pathogenic LHON associated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants that are often considered to be triggered by a second environmental stress (genotype- environmental double hit). A few studies have demonstrated associations between the onset of LHON vision loss and specific environmental stresses such as tobacco or alcohol use. Other plausible triggers, such as UV exposure through sunlight, has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to survey LHON patients’ lifestyle and habits to investigate the risk of light exposure on this population, including the correlation of the time of year vision-loss was triggered. We collected information on their daily smoking habits, alcohol use, and sun exposure for months before and during the time of vision loss. We did not find a strong correlation between sun exposure and onset of vision loss, though we cannot rule out a contribution in precipitating the LHON phenotype since individuals who lost their vision in adulthood reported longer sun exposure, and more total exposures, then individuals who lost their vision in youth. This study contributes to the growing body of literature regarding environmental influences of LHON blindness, and we suggest that UV exposure still requires further investigation to understand what, if any, role it may play
Empathy at Work in a Social Service Agency: Individual Experiences and Systems Theory
Get PDFThis thesis explores empathy within interpersonal relationships at a social service organization. I conducted a research study to explore theoretical concepts and individuals’ experiences of these concepts in their work setting at a social service agency in New York City. I conducted observations and interviews through a lens of ecological systems theory and the relationalcultural approach. In this paper I review guiding concepts of empathy, attunement, and compassion fatigue, as well as the Sanctuary model. I share first-person accounts from interviews conducted during the research study to explicate individuals’ experiences related to the above concepts in their own words. I then provide concluding notes and ideas for change based on the data and my experience as a researcher
