Suchergebnisse

A totalistic social group is defined as a collection of individuals who share similar values and goals and who live together within intensive boundaries enforced by the group's leadership and/or members themselves (Lifton 1969). The focus of this project is to better understand the effect of language on (I) a totalistic group's social structure and (II) the ideologies and actions of members. The limited linguistic research on totalistic groups claims that leaders and members use language in order to enforce rules and beliefs, encourage conformity, and maintain as well as increase membership. By examining language practices in the US military, this project fills the current gap of limited data in the linguistic literature on totalism. My research suggests that certain language practices are created and used within totalistic communities in order to support an in-group mentality between members, dedication to the group's leaders and efforts, and a powerful social structure. This project analyzes data collected from an anonymous online survey regarding language within the US military. For instance, the results of this survey suggested that respondents regarded language as a powerful tool in reinforcing the military's hierarchical structure. This research therefore suggests that language practices are taught to military members in order to encourage certain desired behavior. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how language practices in totalistic groups determine the maintenance of power and the fortification of membership. Therefore, by providing new data on language and totalism, this project is shedding much needed light on an under-researched area of sociolinguistics.

A totalistic social group is defined as a collection of individuals who share similar values and goals and who live together within intensive boundaries enforced by the group's leadership and/or members themselves (Lifton 1969). The focus of this project is to better understand the effect of language on (I) a totalistic group's social structure and (II) the ideologies and actions of members. The limited linguistic research on totalistic groups claims that leaders and members use language in order to enforce rules and beliefs, encourage conformity, and maintain as well as increase membership. By examining language practices in the US military, this project fills the current gap of limited data in the linguistic literature on totalism. My research suggests that certain language practices are created and used within totalistic communities in order to support an in-group mentality between members, dedication to the group's leaders and efforts, and a powerful social structure. This project analyzes data collected from an anonymous online survey regarding language within the US military. For instance, the results of this survey suggested that respondents regarded language as a powerful tool in reinforcing the military's hierarchical structure. This research therefore suggests that language practices are taught to military members in order to encourage certain desired behavior. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how language practices in totalistic groups determine the maintenance of power and the fortification of membership. Therefore, by providing new data on language and totalism, this project is shedding much needed light on an under-researched area of sociolinguistics.

AbstractThis study aims to understand the healthcare experiences of African American women with a fragile X premutation (PM). PM carriers are at risk for fragile X-associated conditions, including primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) and neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND). There is no racial/ethnic association with carrying a PM, but African American women historically experience barriers receiving quality healthcare in the USA. Obstacles to care may increase mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Eight African American women with a PM were interviewed to explore disparities in receiving healthcare and to learn about psychosocial experiences during and after their diagnoses. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and independently coded by two researchers. A deductive-inductive approach was used, followed by thematic analysis to determine prominent themes. The average participant age was 52.3 ± 8.60 years, with a mean age at premutation diagnosis of 31 ± 5.95 years. Seven participants had children with FXS. Themes from interviews included healthcare experiences, family dynamics, and emotional/mental health after their diagnosis. Participants reported concerns about not being taken seriously by providers and mistrust of the medical institutions. Within families, participants reported denial, insensitivity, and isolation. Participants reported a high incidence of anxiety and depression. Both are symptoms of FXAND and stresses of systemic racism and sexism. The reported family dynamics around the news of a genetic diagnosis stand apart from other racial cohorts in fragile X research: interventions like family counseling sessions and inclusive support opportunities from national organizations could ease the impacts of a PM for African American women.