<p> Both her feminine subjectivity and extensive time frame (ranging from 1914-1974), make the works of Ana&iuml;s Nin an important example of the depth and range of self-exploration, perhaps more so than in previous writers. Nin was committed to a creative process inclusive of psyche, the body and aesthetics derived from her own life experiences. This analysis of the mythic tropes that permeate Nin&rsquo;s literary diaries and fiction demonstrates the ways in which Nin created a mythic style of her own, which contrasts with the aesthetics of T.S. Eliot&rsquo;s mythic method. In fact, as a late Modernist, Nin particularly emphasized what this dissertation will call earth mother consciousness as a response to the wasteland of her time, and as a way to create a connection between literature and life. Thus, a better understanding of Nin&rsquo;s literary achievements emerges through a study of a mythic perspective, which helps to secure Nin&rsquo;s belonging in the literary canon. </p><p> This archetypal analysis shows myth playing a fluid role that reveals psyche in the process of writing a continuously changing sense of self into a personal myth of her own, revealing the extensive possibilities of an opulent feminine psyche. The literary diary, for Nin, is a genre that with its traces of the trickstar/trickster archetype, among others, reveals a mercurial, yet particular understanding of an internalized and embodied experience as a writer. Keywords: Ana&iuml;s Nin, modernism, mythology, literary diaries, women&rsquo;s studies, feminism, personal myth, archetypes, trickstar, trickster, Jung, self-life writing.</p>

<p> Moral injury is a construct that has primarily been studied in war veterans, police officers, and military nurses. It involves a change in an individual&rsquo;s expectations about their own or another&rsquo;s behavior in the face of events involving a violation of their beliefs about themselves, observation of unethical behavior by others, and/or witnessing human suffering that violates beliefs in the goodness of humanity. Research indicates that moral injury involves at least five major themes: betrayal and trust issues; social problems; spiritual/existential issues; psychological symptoms; and self-deprecation. Moral injury represents an important, emerging area of study that may facilitate a better understanding of the treatment and recovery needs of individuals who have experienced trauma. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether moral injury may be present in populations experiencing non-war-related trauma: specifically, women who have experienced homelessness and/or intimate partner violence (IPV). A second goal was to explore themes of resilience and coping. Eight women residing at a transitional living center were individually interviewed regarding their experiences; a brief demographic questionnaire and the Trauma History Screen - Lite Version were also administered. Participants were diverse with regard to age (M = 33.88 years) and ethnicity. All eight had experienced homelessness and seven reported IPV. The researcher conducted qualitative analyses, guided by grounded theory, of the interview transcripts. Ten major themes were identified, eight of which overlapped substantially with the five core themes of moral injury. Self-deprecation was the most prominent theme in the present study. It was relevant to experiences of both homelessness and IPV; it was expressed to some degree by all participants. Six major themes of coping and resilience were also identified, with personal factors related to the individual emerging as the most prominent. This exploratory study indicates that moral injury may be a relevant construct in understanding the experiences of women who have endured extreme, non-war-related stressors such as IPV and homelessness. Consideration of moral injury may be useful in identifying treatment priorities, including the need to examine the impact of trauma on the self. Other findings, limitations, and research recommendations are also discussed. </p>

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there is any significant shift in mothers' stage levels, according to Gilligan's (1982) model of women's development, as a result of taking the course, "Developing Capable People". The research was developed from the narratives resulting from interviews that were examined by raters for stage assignment and empowerment statements. The results of the research are organized according to the five research questions. A demographic survey contributed other pertinent data. The sample was composed of 30 mothers in two communities in CT and MA who had taken the course from facilitators trained by the author of the course H. Stephen Glenn. The results of the research confirm that the majority of mothers reported that the course had changed their self-concept and impacted on the manner in which they related to others. Language changes were evident and the numbers of empowerment statements made confirmed the stage assigned to each mother. Statistical findings involved a chi-square analysis with a Cramer correlation coefficient to determine the extent of association between the stage assignment and the number of empowerment statements made. The association was significant. The results of the study indicate that when the mother is motivated, an in depth involvement examining interpersonal and intrapersonal skills can initiate a change in developmental level. Implications for future research are indicated with suggestions for expanding the content and context of parenting programs.

<p> One in every three women are victims of domestic violence. The social phenomena of intimate partner violence has been classified as an epidemic due to its impact on political, economic, social, and health development of human female populations. Research frequently questions mental health professionals&rsquo; ability to properly assess domestic violence severity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of DV severity, PTSD, self-esteem, and therapists&rsquo; minimization in female victims of DV. A total of 40 female victims of DV responded to the survey either online or on paper. The survey consisted of four measures and was administered in English or Spanish. Seven hypotheses were tested using the SEM path analysis, but none of them were supported. A close examination of the responses to the minimization scale revealed that half of the participants reported that their therapists minimized the need for law enforcement and courts to get involved in domestic violence situations. The need for further training in domestic violence treatment and addressing such subtle minimization is discussed. Major limitations of the study included small sample size and sample recruitment from DV shelters. Factors potentially contributed to the small sample size were explored. Suggestions for future qualitative research to explore and understand victims of domestic violence experience of minimization by mental health providers as well as quantitative research to develop and test a DV training program were discussed. Keywords: domestic violence minimization, PTSD, domestic violence, intimate partner violence.</p>

This study investigated the extent to which gender moderates, and perceptions of fairness mediate, the link between marital power and overall marital satisfaction, as well as cortisol stress trajectories in response to marital distress. Study 1 examined a sample of 213 opposite sex newlywed couples from western Massachusetts, and focused on marital satisfaction as the dependent variable. Findings from the structural equation analysis suggested that perceptions of relationship fairness concerning the division of labor completely mediated the association between marital power and marital satisfaction for wives, but not for husbands. These results also implied an association between wives' perceptions of fairness and husbands' marital satisfaction. Study 2 looked at a subsample (N = 158 couples) of newlywed couples and investigated the effect of experiencing marital power on cortisol stress reactivity and recovery in response to a marital conflict discussion. Findings from the structural equation model suggested a significant association between marital power and stress reactivity & recovery for all participants, with low power wives exhibiting a failure to recover back to baseline levels of stress post-conflict. Methodological and measurement issues pertaining to the study of marital power are discussed, as well as potential implications of this work on future studies related to marital well-being.

The impact of incest on women's work performance and career development was studied in 41 female incest survivors and 15 nonabused women from a diverse population. The methodology was a content analysis of in-person qualitative, semi-structured interviews. Incest survivors participants reported having difficulties in academic and peer relations and difficulties in secondary schooling and more negative work experiences, including peer relations, difficulty in managing post-traumatic stress symptoms, remaining at a job, and advancing in a career. In addition to these difficulties incest survivors fell into different work group profiles: disabled, dabblers, drones, sprinters, balancer/achievers, and drivers. Childhood experiences of incest contributed to an overall negative self-schema, especially regarding work and career capabilities.

The basic characteristic of Postmodern times manifests itself through the dissolution of totalitarian theories. In a more complex and scattered world, postmodern thinking rejects the absolutist interpretations of Big History. This approach implies the multiplicity and acceptance of each and all perspectives that might contribute to a new dimension of a given literary work. We approach this ideology as the end of all ideologies through three critical methods that enhance the textual features as well as the internal contradictions that emerge from the text. The study of the unconscious understood as being structured as language is achieved following the parameters of French anti-Lacanian psychoanalysis. Next, Julia Kristeva's linguistic theories are used to analyze the semiotic content of Tusquets' feminine voices. Finally, the break with the Western system of thought is developed by means of Derrida's deconstructive criticism.