Grief consolation in eulogy rhetoric: An integrative framework

Abstract OnlyIn an ever more deadly and uncertain world, rhetoric honoring the deceased is still examined as though that was its primary, if not only, function. Some critics of eulogia also identify the consolation of survivors but rarely define it precisely or analyze its rhetorical execution. This article introduces a framework for the critical analysis and production of eulogia that draws from comforting mechanisms recognized in the interpersonal communication, social psychology, and grief therapy literatures. Self-disclosure, problem-focused coping, positive reappraisal, and the affirmation and continuation of relationships with the deceased are shown to inform criticism of five contemporary eulogies. Challenges inherent in the invention and appreciation of eulogy rhetoric are thus illuminated and addressed

Fallen heroes, lifted hearts: Consolation in contemporary presidential eulogia

Abstract OnlyA. D. Kunkel and M. R. Dennis (2003) demonstrated that examining texts for identified components of eulogia, as drawn from the comforting and social support paradigms found in psychology and communication literatures (i.e., credibility establishment, praise for the deceased, self-disclosure of emotion, prescriptions for problem-focused coping, promotion of positive reappraisal for emotion-focused coping, and the affirmation and continuation of relationships), is critical to understanding eulogistic phenomena. Analysis of three Presidential eulogies, as informed by the components, reveals calls for unity in President Ronald Wilson Reagan's 1986 eulogy for the Challenger space shuttle crew, suggestions for action in President William Jefferson Clinton's 1995 eulogy for USS Cole sailors, and positive reappraisal within astronauts’ quotes offered by President George Walker Bush during his 2003 eulogy for the Columbia space shuttle crew

Pink Ribbons, Blue Moons, and Silver Linings: Communicating, Coping, and Caring

DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2010.49682

Grief, Glory, and Political Capital in the Capitol: Presidents Eulogizing Presidents

Abstract OnlyKunkel and Dennis (2003) established a framework for the examination of contemporary eulogia drawn from the comforting and social support paradigms found in psychology and communication literatures. Dennis and Kunkel (2004) applied the framework to eulogies for fallen national heroes (e.g., victims of terrorism and space shuttle astronauts) delivered by American presidents, and both illustrated its utility and noted several minor variations (e.g., presidents did not establish credibility early in speeches or portray emotion as individual experiences). The current study illuminates the nature of eulogies for past presidents by sitting presidents, and examines the eulogies of Presidents John Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan by Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Nixon, William Clinton, and George W. Bush, respectively. As highlighted by Kunkel and Dennis' framework, these eulogists accomplish many of the recognized comforting and consolation responsibilities. The presidents sometimes further their own causes and agendas when considered in hindsight, in ironic and prophetic fashion; thus, also meeting Jamieson and Campbell' (1982) definition of the rhetorical hybrid. Finally, the destiny and glory of the eulogized are often noted by eulogists, continuing the legacy that started with the death of George Washington, America' first president (Berens, 1977)

“Let’s (Not) Talk About That”: Bridging the Past Sexual Experiences Taboo to Build Healthy Romantic Relationships

Research has shown that individuals in romantic relationships often avoid discussing past sexual experiences. In order to ascertain whether past relationships and/or past sexual experiences were considered to be “taboo,” 102 individuals involved in romantic relationships were asked to list the topics that they were reluctant to discuss with their partners. As past relationships and past sexual experiences were reported as topics often avoided, responses to an open-ended questionnaire were coded to determine: (1) the reasons individuals give for avoiding talk about past sexual experiences, and (2) whether there are sex differences in how often those reasons appeared in responses. In descending order of prevalence, respondents reported that they tend to avoid discussing past sexual experiences due to four main concerns: (1) belief that the past should be kept in the past, (2) identity issues, (3) perceived threats to their relationships, and (4) emotionally-upsetting feelings. Men and women displayed extreme similarity in the frequency with which they indicated particular reasons for avoidance. Data-inspired suggestions for individuals hoping to elicit discussion of past sexual experiences with partners are offered

Contemporary university students’ ratings of the characteristics of men, women, and CEOs

Abstract OnlyVery few women have reached the highest echelons of corporate America, perhaps because gender stereotypes, including perceptions of women that vary from those of successful executives, block their promotion and advancement. In the current study, differences in how participants perceive similarities in characteristics of successful executives and those of both men and women were studied. The scope of the extant program of research is also extended upward in the organizational hierarchy with the operationalization of executive as "CEO" (Chief Executive Officer) rather than as "manager" or "middle-manager." While men in general continue to be likened more to successful executives than do women in general, the gaps between male and female CEOs' similarities and between successful male and female CEOs' similarities to prototypically successful executives were smaller than reported in the 1970s. Noteworthy trends regarding 92 characteristics from Schein's Descriptive Index are also discussed

Mechanistic distinctions between agrin and laminin-1 induced aggregation of acetylcholine receptors

BACKGROUND: One of the earliest steps in synaptogenesis at the neuromuscular junction is the aggregation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the postsynaptic membrane. This study presents quantitative analyses of receptor and α-Dystroglycan aggregation in response to agrin and laminin-1, alone or in combination. RESULTS: Both laminin and agrin increased overall expression of receptors on the plasma membrane. Following a 24 hour exposure, agrin increased the number of receptor aggregates but did not affect the number of α-Dystroglycan aggregates, while the reverse was true of laminin-1. Laminin also increased receptor concentration within aggregates, while agrin had no such effect. Finally, the spatial distribution of aggregates was indistinguishable from random in the case of laminin, while agrin induced aggregates were closer together than predicted by a random model. CONCLUSIONS: Agrin and laminin-1 both increase acetylcholine receptor aggregate size after 24 hours, but several lines of evidence indicate that this is achieved via different mechanisms. Agrin and laminin had different effects on the number and density of receptor and α-Dystroglycan aggregates. Moreover the random distribution of laminin induced (as opposed to agrin induced) receptor aggregates suggests that the former may influence aggregate size by simple mass action effects due to increased receptor expression

I/O performance evaluation with Parabench — programmable I/O benchmark

AbstractChoosing an appropriate cluster file system for a specific high performance computing application is challenging and depends mainly on the specific application I/O needs. There is a wide variety of I/O requirements: Some implementations require reading and writing large datasets, others out-of-core data access, or they have database access requirements. Application access patterns reflect different I/O behavior and can be used for performance testing.This paper presents the programmable I/O benchmarking tool Parabench. It has access patterns as input, which can be adapted to mimic behavior for a rich set of applications. Using this benchmarking tool, composed patterns can be automatically tested and easily compared on different local and cluster file systems. Here we introduce the design of the proposed benchmark, focusing on the Parabench programming language, which was developed for flexible pattern creation. We also demonstrate here an exemplary usage of Parabench and its capabilities to handle the POSIX and MPI-IO interfaces

Making Sense of New Orleans Flood Trauma Recovery: Ethics, Research Design, and Policy Considerations for Future Disasters

Abstract OnlyThis article details the justification and plans of a research team for studying and helping evacuees of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to recover by encouraging experimental participants to disclose information about their related experiences in guided interview sessions. Team members' consideration and practice of ethical principles as researchers dealing with the potentially traumatized victims of a disaster are portrayed. Finally, related recommendations for researchers and policy makers are offered