Langer Article Critique Essay - 703 Words

Reflecting on Practice: using learning journals in higher and continuing education Teachers College Reflecting on Practice: using learning journals in higher and continuing education Langer (2002) central focus is plainly stated in the introduction, which is â€Å"how the use of journals impacted the learning process of adult non-traditional students and how this impact compared to that of traditional students†. The purpose of this article critique is to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Langer (2002) article. The body of the critique will develop the five major elements, which begin with the research question/problem to include the author’s purpose for writing the article. The next element is the conceptual framework,†¦show more content†¦However, the use of learning journals in technology fields in higher education among non-traditional students is lacking. From these statements the reviewer can determine that the review of literature is appropriate and critically analyzes published learning journals by the use of summaries and comparisons. The methodology section was explained in sufficient detail. It allowed its readers to address the research questions/problems. Langer (2002) uses two principle modes of inquiry, which are: review of learning journals submitted by students; and interviewing selected students who completed the course. The population was identified and selected by using three components in the process. The interview guide that was provided to two researchers, and not the interviewees, is an indication that the results would prove reliable. The results from the interviews allowed the researchers to further assess the significance and relative successes of the participant journals. The results and findings were clearly explained and examined all aspects of the study. Langer (2002) gives a clear table indicating the demographic variables of ten students who took part in the study. The nine interview questions offered a review of how the students responded toward the use of journals in the course. Some common themes emerged from the journal readings and interview question responses. The implications of the results and findings wereShow MoreRelatedJournaling Essay1115 Words   |  5 Pagesevaluation of Langer’s (2002) article is to find the schemes he employed to acquire knowledge on how adult’s student respond to demand computer class, reflect critically, in summation, the contrast between non-traditional and traditional students about the use of deviations journals in the field. The focal point of the study casts light on the strength and weaknesses portrayed in his report on the use of journaling among traditional and non-conventual students (Langer, 2002). The construction ofRead MoreBreakfast At Tiffany s By Holly Golightly1349 Words   |  6 Pagespursuing a life of domesticity and only by being pursued by men will Holly ever find herself. Initially, she seems to break the stereotypes of 1960’s womanhood, but one look into Paul’s baby blue eyes and she snaps into predictability. According to an article printed in 1957, at least a third of female college students were dropping out every year to pursue marriage over career (Riesman). A survey in 1958 found that 80% of high school and college girls believed that homemaking should be their primary goalRead MoreThe First Gender Identity Clinic1862 Words   |  8 Pagessexual behaviors involving cross-dressing† and these feelings caused clinically significant impairment. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 582). Critiques of the DSM-IV Gender Nonconforming Diagnoses The most prominent critique of GID is that it suggested that there is a normal, non-pathologized way to express gender. In their article Langer and Martin (2004) write, â€Å"Cross-gender identification may in fact be statistically deviant, but there is no evidence that it is a dysfunction† (p.11)Read More The Legitimacy of Electronic Scholarly Publishing Essay example3539 Words   |  15 Pagesindustry, for its impact will be presented as quite inevitable. The question is how can electronic publishing have the same impact as traditional publishing, i. e., if the author publishes an article in an e-journal or and h-journal, will this publication be given the same weight as someone elses article which has been published in a traditional print journal? Background The first task is to define electronic publishing. In its most basic form, electronic publishing is any type of publishingRead MoreCritique of Quantitative Study: Stress of a Police Job2377 Words   |  9 PagesCritique of Quantitative Study Introduction This article makes the point that police work has been seen as job that has become very stressful. In the eyes of the author it has turned into a profession that has high levels of stress that are causing the police officers to act out of character. It also state that there are also long term effects that these officers go through and are having everyday as they deal with the job. This article explores the idea if stress remains a constant. It alsoRead MoreBeyond Visual Metaphor. a New Typology of Visual Rhetoric in Advertising9528 Words   |  39 PagesMarketing Theory http://mtq.sagepub.com/ Beyond Visual Metaphor: A New Typology of Visual Rhetoric in Advertising Barbara J. Phillips and Edward F. McQuarrie Marketing Theory 2004 4: 113 DOI: 10.1177/1470593104044089 The online version of this article can be found at: http://mtq.sagepub.com/content/4/1-2/113 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com Additional services and information for Marketing Theory can be found at: Email Alerts: http://mtq.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://mtqRead MoreThe Impact Of Black Friday On American Symbols, Values And Interests6556 Words   |  27 Pagesoverview of both the American experience in conducting foreign policy and the nature of the old-new enemy might be helpful to prompt the discussion of the question. With the beginning of the Cold War, America’s interventionist foreign policy was critique-inspiring. As its name implies, the Cold War was a tactic to avoid a direct confrontation with the Soviet Union—another emerging superpower. It precisely meant a state of waging war by proxy through the use of other tactics and means than those involvedRead MoreLiterature Review on Consumer Behaviour16053 Words   |  65 PagesIn order to develop a framework for the study consumer behaviour it is helpful to begin by considering the evolution of the field of consumer research and the different paradigms of thought that have influenced the discipline. As described in this article, a set of dimensions can be identified in the literature, which can be used to characterize and differentiate, the various perspectives on consumer research. It is argued that consumer behaviour itself emerged as a distinct field of study during theRead MorePsychology and Ob9277 Words   |  38 Pagesartif icial intelligence is considered __________ research. a) pure c) longitudinal b) applied d) none of the above ANS: a DIFF: 2 PG: 1-5 TYPE: A OB: 6 W 18. Dr. Langer is treating a college student for depression in his private practice. Most likely Dr. Langer is a(n) __________ psychologist. a) counseling c) educational b) school d) clinical ANS: d DIFF: 2 PG: 1-6 TYPE: A OB: 2 19. Jean, a divorced mother with two childrenRead MoreMethods of Qualitative of Data Collection19658 Words   |  79 Pagesvocabulary and grammatical structure of the words while considering the individual situation and the overall cultural context† (p. 570). Thus the focus on generating accurate and meaningful data through translation processes is paramount. In another article on translating, Temple and Young (2004) address three primary issues: (a) whether to identify the translation act in the research report; (b) whether it matters if the researcher is also the translator; and (c) whether to involve the translator in

Morality without God Essay - 1303 Words

Morality without God This question begins by assuming morals were created entirely by God and not just approved of by God. It also bypasses the possibility that there is no such God and man created morals using the authority intrinsic in the idea of a God in order to enforce them; thus raising the possibility that morals are learned but also partly innate and instinctual to humankind. The ideas raised target those who have no religious persuasion, namely those who consider themselves to be atheist or agnostic. The claim implicit in the question (in assuming that God exists) is that all morality and sound ethical values stem from religion, without which motivation†¦show more content†¦It has therefore been assumed that without a higher authority of God or Gods, threatening punishment and offering reward, that moral depravity would run rife through the world’s streets. Our post-modern (particularly Western) society has seen a decline in religious conformity that has, in the last century been echoed throughout the world partly through advances in communication, travel and the subsequent mixing of cultures. This then raises the question of whether there has been a decline also in morality. Certainly there has been a tangible change in valued morals that could not have been predicted by Plato or Moses as he stood reading the Ten Commandments which simplified morality to ‘Do not steal’, ‘Do not lie’ etcetera. ‘Do not kill’ has been interpreted fairly loosely when concerning war, particularly religiously motivated wars, abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment. Society has evolved to partly accept many of these technically immoral acts. Discussions still surge onwards as to the moral implications of abortion and euthanasia and whether they can be justified. The morality of religiously motivated ideas such as the Spanish Inquisition; torture and death inflicted upon human lives in the name of God can be called intoShow MoreRelatedDebate On Morality With And Without God1046 Words   |  5 PagesSTEP II: PAPER OUTLINE Topic of debate: Morality with/without God I. Introduction: a. Throughout my life I have been involved in a dynamic battle that always comes back to one question: Is there such a thing as â€Å"God†? I have been raised up in a pretty much non-practicing Christian home. Growing up in this type of lifestyle I have encountered a multitude of different belief systems that were either Secular or Christian-like. But with this debate of if God is real or not, I have come across the issueRead MoreThe Doctrine Of Divine Command Theory Essay1665 Words   |  7 PagesTheory â€Å"If God does not exist, then everything is permitted,† in other words, if there turns out to be no God then nothing is morally wrong. Someone who would believe a statement such as this one would most likely be in agreement with the Divine Command Theory---the reason being that the main claim in this theory is, all that is morally right, is right because God commands it so. Therefore in order to believe in the Divine Command Theory, one would need to be a strong believer in God---and wouldRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Divine Command Theory1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe Divine Command Theory dictates that â€Å"An act is morally required just because it is commanded by God, and immoral just because God forbids it (Shafer-Landau 65).† This view is often accepted by religious people as the basis for morality; the morality of an action is determined by whether or not it is commanded by God. However, there are multiple problems presented by this line of thinking. One of the most common arguments against this theory is known as the Euthyphro Dilemma, derived from Plato’sRead MoreReligion and Morality1263 Wor ds   |  6 Pagesï » ¿RELIGION AND MORALITY (i)Examine the views of scholars concerning the idea that religion and morality are linked. In this essay I am going to be looking at all the different view points on why some people may think religion and morality are linked. I will talk about a few things that link them such as conscience, divine command ethics, Kant s view and Aquinas view. Many people believe that morality is based upon religion and the rules written in the Bible and other holy books, althoughRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Divine Command Theory1488 Words   |  6 Pagesway, why? Christian morality is centered on assessing the ethical implications of us as people. Who we ought and be, and what actions we ought to take or avoid based on an understanding of the scripture and relevant human experiences. I do not subscribe to the divine command theory (DCT) of ethics, as I believe you can have ethics without God. The DCT proposes that what is morally right is what God has commanded (for example, love thy neighbor), and what is forbidden by God is morally wrong (i.eRead MoreThe Divine Command Theory And The Doctrine Dilemma Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction – The Divine Command Theory is the idea that morality is ingrained in the nature and command of God, and the Euthyphro Dilemma is one of the most common arguments refuting the Divine Command Theory. The argument was inspired by Plato’s Euthyphro dialogue, which contains the question â€Å"Are morally good acts willed by god because they are morally good? Or are morally good acts, morally good because they are willed by god?† (Euthyphro, 10a). This question raises large problems for the DivineRead MoreCan Science Explain And Account For Human Morality?1011 Words   |  5 Pagesaccount for Human Morality? Introduction Morality has long since been a topic of debate, with hundreds of branches to the ever-expanding argument. One area of debate is that of science’s power to explain and account for the history of Human morality. In the question: â€Å"Can Science Explain and Account for Human Morality?† we also have another question: â€Å"Is the foundation of morality natural, or supernatural?†. In this question, there is a dichotomy between the origin of morality being scientificRead MoreEssay Monotheism vs. Polytheism1577 Words   |  7 Pagessystems. Monotheism is the belief in one god and polytheism is the belief in more one than one god. The concept of morality can and does exist within cultures that have only one god, as well as cultures that have multiple gods. Without morality, the world would be a place of extreme chaos and pandemonium. However, the foundation for morality within polytheistic religions is quite contradictory to the foundation for morality with monoth eistic religions. 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Firstly, he addressed the categorical imperative;Read MoreThe Relationship Between Morality and Religion in the Dalai Lama and John Pope Ii Perspective1609 Words   |  7 PagesThe Relationship Between Morality and Religion In the Dalai Lama and John Pope II Perspective The complexities on the issue of the relationship between religion and morality is intriguing in the sense that there is no right or wrong answer, but merely your own intrinsic belief. The 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, believes that you cant have religion without morals, but you can have morals without religion. This seems to contrast with the view of John Paul II, in the sense

Segmentation and Targeting for DSO Segment

Question: Discuss about the Segmentation and Targeting for DSO Segment. Answer: Introduction Marketing of the products and services are the soul of the economy in the society. All the organizations therefore perform its basic functions to satisfy their primary stakeholders, the consumers and the owners. The organizations create utility when the inputs and the components transform into the finished products. Marketing provides significant inputs to the specified consumers preferences, but the production has the ultimate responsibility of creating the utility in the market (Scott 2015). This report will target to evaluate the marketing and segmentation of The Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) as the marketing team plays a significant role in the annual revenue generation and is also responsible for the promotion of events and the selling of tickets. Not only that, the marketing team is also responsible for the sponsorship generation and fund raising. Segmentation and targeting The DSO is one of the famous orchestra in Australia founded by Martin Jarvis. The aim of the segmentation and targeting of the market process is to develop the sales and marketing in a more effectual way. Both of these can be done with the development of a better understanding of the consumer base and the potential prospects, also communicating with the target market with the right message, at the right time (Goeldner 2016). All of these need to be done in a cost effective way. The segmentation of the marketing is required to create different groups with the same profile so that targeting those could be easier to communicate with the chose one in future. This segmentation generally remains the same whether a B2B or a B2C market is being operated. However there are few critical factors that need to be taken care of. The B2B business is the one that sells to the other businesses and a B2C business sells directly to the consumers. However, both the businesses exist in the market and it is gradually being more common for the single businesses. Therefore the DSO needs to divide its consumer base into different segments so that they can segregate them for the B2b and B2C purposes. Segment Evaluation The market segmentation is necessary for every business. It is a procedure that helps the organization to divide the target business market that is a combination the potential and existing consumers into segments on the basis of similar characteristics. While dividing the target market, the scholars try to find common traits such as common interests, needs, similar lifestyles or similar demographic needs. The primary aim of market segmentation is to recognize the high yield sections which basically are the segments that tend to be the most profitable one to have the potential to develop (Marshall 2014). There are different methods to section the market. The business to business or the B2B suppliers may segment it into diverse types of countries or businesses. However, when it comes to the Business to consumer suppliers may divide the market into lifestyle segments, behavioral segments, demographic segments and other significant segments. The market segments presume that dissimilar ma rket segments require dissimilar marketing plans such as different prices, offers, distribution and promotional strategies or other marketing variables. The segmentation is not only designed for the identification of the beneficial segments but also developing the key segments to understand the requirements of specific segments and their motivations to purchase. The segmentation evaluation is basically used for supporting the development of the market strategy and the planning. This analysis is also seen as the STP approach which stands for Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning for providing the framework of the objectives of the market plan. Therefore, when a market is segmented, the services and the products are placed in a way that syncs with the specified target market. There are several methods for segmenting the market; however the most important one is the selection of the base. In this process the analysts find out the procedure that can reduces the differences between the members of a same segment and increases the difference between different segments. The segmentation base can be different such as demographic, geographic, geo-demographic, psychographics and behavioral. The geographic segmentation segments the market according to the geographic criteria; the demographic depends on the different variables such as socio economic status, age, family size etc, the psychographic segmentation is generally measured by different interests, activities and opinions of the consumers, and behavioral segmentation divides the consumers on the basis of their observed behaviors (James and Rose-Ackerman 2013). The Darwin Symphony Orchestra has reached the target audience throughout each corner of the country. The organization not only performs in its base territory Darwin, it also a travelling history and visited Alice Springs, the Devils Marbles and Simpsons Gap in Central Australia, Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula, Pine Creek, Katherine, Yirrkala, Milingimbi and Maningrida, and Kununurra in Western Australia (Dso.org.au. 2017). The audience of the organization is mostly the intellectual section of the society who has a profound taste of music. As the organization performs in both the individual and corporate shows, they have a number of packages that fulfill the requirements of the clients. However most of the clients of the organization are the B2C customers who book tickets or shows directly for the orchestra shows. However the company invites both the corporate and individual chair endowment in their show. Therefore the orchestra invites the supports who can endow a certain position in their show for certain amount of money as the sponsorship. Therefore the orchestra will promote their business throughout the year or the amount of time the contract has been done. The company different such B2B consumers who have booked the individual chair endowment, 250 Club membership, the DSO bequest and gifting opportunities, the payroll contributions done by several companies, and other instrument sponsors. These partnering opportunities are not only individual partnerships but DSO also has corporate partnerships. In their corporate partnerships there are options of getting the principal player chair endowment that are credited to all their concerts and their official website. There are such other programs like educational program supports that can be designed for providing the students to engage them with their favorite musical instruments, The DSO gift Tix that creates the opportunities of partnership between the corporate compan ies and the organizations, the other plans that enhances the chances of corporate partnership opportunities or the B2B customers of the non-profit organizations (Dso.org.au. 2017). The market segmentation of The Darwin Symphony Orchestra can also be understood with a careful analysis of their macro and micro environmental factors. From the following PEST analysis the business environment of the organization can be understood: The political factor always influences any cultural production. There are several political factors that have a huge impact on the organization and business management of the organization while influencing the cultural, arts and the creative industries (Trimarchi 2016). There are general cultural strategies and methods such as the labor law, taxation policy, and other political situation in Australia that are supposed to provide the stability factor for the business environment of the DSO. In this case the political environment is quite stable; therefore it does not have influence the business environment in a negative way. The economical factor is the most significant one to influence the cultural sector. Australia is one of the largest capitalist economies in the world and it is also one of the significant countries with the cultural values. It has also been noticed that the cultural development and the progress of the country has been directly proportioned in the historical development as well. The socio cultural factor has a huge impact on the business environment of the DSO. The socio cultural environment of Australia is quite open-minded and it helps a lot in the development of the organization (Trimarchi 2016). The value the art and culture, therefore the DSO has performed almost all over the country. The technological advancements have enhanced the business of The Darwin Symphony Orchestra as it has made their performance and businesses more exotic. An orchestra performance requires a lot of technical equipments for the sound and light arrangements on the stage, therefore the technological advancements have more positive impacts on their performance (Trimarchi 2016). Business to Consumer Target The orchestra marketing has a different language of it altogether. For the business to consumer market is where the business directly makes transaction with the consumers. For the business to consumer target The Darwin Symphony Orchestra should integrate the orchestra marketing with the consumer marketing in a unified way of the market segments. This is where the marketer of the orchestra should select the target market segments and allocate the resources to the marketing tasks. The orchestra has several segments of consumers, however the most important ones are the first time ticket buyers who are about get the musical experiences for the first time. However there are several other consumers who have subscribed to the organization over the years; the consumers, who have purchased tickets for few selected shows, the ones who have purchased tickets for a single show (Atherton 2014). Therefore the marker of the business to consumer should have different marketing plans for all of the s egments. However, the very first thing that the marketer need is to know its audience. After having a clear understanding about the consumers of the orchestra the marketer should have a clear perspective of the purchasing behavior of the consumers. The organization needs to analyze the buying behaviors before fixing the marketing strategy as the concept of marketing puts significance on creating the marketing mix of the company that will satisfy the consumers, therefore it will be easier to understand what, when, how and where the consumer wants the specific service or the product. In this case The Darwin Symphony Orchestra should plan a more effective marketing plan for the new consumers. In addition to that while creating the marketing plan, it is necessary for the marketer to put him or herself in the shoes of the audience and understand the needs and wants of the audience. If the organization is targeting the new consumers or the first time buyers they should work with the four Ps of the marketing mix and focus more on the benefits of music for the audience, not on the features of their music. Business to Business Target The segmentation of consumers is not a new business practice but the skill and techniques have evolved with the course of time. However the business to business targets do not really face the same rush of the consumer data like the business to consumer segments do. However, the segmenting the consumers into such groups provides the marketer the opportunity to generate an additional value for their target consumers. The business to business consumers for The Darwin Symphony Orchestra are the sponsors and the collaborators who have invested money in the orchestra. This segment should get more importance as the sponsors are the financial providers of the organization. In this scenario, the partnership between both the companies should develop in a steady manner so that it can lead to increase more audiences for the show and more involvement from other partners. The sponsors should also be segmented in different segments (Atherton 2014). The Darwin Symphony Orchestra already has segmente d its sponsors as individual and corporate collaborators, but for more clear understanding the target market should be divided on the basis of money they have invested. In this way, it will be easier for the organization of differentiate and create different marketing strategy for each segment. In this plan the marketers will target the corporate collaborators more; therefore there should be clear segmentation of the target market depending on the marketing mix of the marketplace. There are several global companies which would like to pair with The Darwin Symphony Orchestra for engaging in different communities around Australia. The marketers should develop a strategic plan especially for this segment of the market. Positioning and Customer Behavior In order to have an efficient and effective business, the segmentation targeting positioning or the STP is a necessity. The segmentation of the market is the grouping of the consumers into different segments which have certain common requirements or are expected to respond in a similar way to a marketing action plan. The segmentation can be done in numerous ways. The most considered factors in the segmentation are the demographics, psychographics, behaviors, and the geographic locations. After the segmentation process is done the marketer needs to do the targeting which involves choosing the target. As the market is already segmented in different sections, therefore it is necessary to develop particular strategies for the target market. Lastly, the positioning is significant as it involves the development of the service and the brand image in the consumers (Berkovi 2016). It can also involve the improvement of the perception of the consumers about their previous experience with the b rand. An effective positioning of the market will include a clear understanding of the competing brands. It also requires recognizing the differential advantages which will help in delivering the potential benefits to the target market against all the competition. Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that The Darwin Symphony Orchestra needs a clear understanding of all the segments of the target market prior to make the marketing plan. Once the organization decides on the target market, they can have a clear perspective of the different marketing strategy that they will create for the future. This study has concluded that The Darwin Symphony Orchestra will be concentrating on the first time consumers and the corporate collaborators, therefore the marketing strategy should be developed accordingly. Reference List and Bibliography Atherton, M., 2014.Australian Made, Australian Played: Handcrafted Musical Instruments from the Didjeridu to the Synthesizer. BookBaby. Barone, A., 2016.A New Economic Theory of Public Support for the Arts: Evolution, Veblen and the Predatory Arts. Routledge. Berkovi, J., 2016.Effective Client Management in Professional Services: How to Build Successful Client Relationships. Routledge. Buchness, J.A., 2015. A Blue Ocean Strategy for the American Symphony Orchestra. Burland, K. and Pitts, S. eds., 2014.Coughing and clapping: Investigating audience experience. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Carroll, M. and Koehne, J., 2013. Seizing the initiative: zinfonia and the digitization of classical music publishing.Music Reference Services Quarterly,16(2), pp.69-83. Cheung, A.N.G.E.L.A., 2013. MOOCsthe Australian state of play.Academic Leadership Series,4, pp.103-112. Dso.org.au. (2017). Darwin Symphony Orchestra. [online] Available at: https://dso.org.au [Accessed 8 Apr. 2017]. Ellis, C.D., 2014. Seeing Investors Reality as Our Professions Reality. InCFA Institute Conference Proceedings Quarterly(Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 1-7). CFA Institute. Goeldner, C.R., 2016. Stanley C. Ploga renowned travel market researcher.Anatolia,27(1), pp.120-125. James, E. and Rose-Ackerman, S., 2013.The Non-Profit Enterprise in Market Economics. Taylor Francis. Lee, M., 2014, January. Mission and markets? The viability of hybrid social ventures. InAcademy of Management Proceedings(Vol. 2014, No. 1, p. 13958). Academy of Management. Marshall, J.T., 2014. Forging Successful Non-Profit Partnerships Following Crisis and Disaster: OC Haley Boulevard's Story. Molnar, A., 2013.School commercialism: From democratic ideal to market commodity. Routledge. Scott, C., 2015. Practical Applications of Goals-Based Investing for Private Clients. Trimarchi, M., 2016. Market Options and Public Action for Opera. InThe Artful Economist(pp. 171-184). Springer International Publishing. Wall, L., 2016.Living in an Artistic Labour Market: The Experiences of Gig Musicians in Calgary(Doctoral dissertation, University of Calgary). Wirtz, J., 2016.Winning in Service Markets: Success through People, Technology and Strategy. World Scientific.

Mind and Stout free essay sample

In the essay â€Å"Selections from Reading Lolita in Tehran† by Azar Nafisi, the author writes of her experiences living in Iran under the power of its totalitarian regime. Martha Stout is a renowned clinical psychologist and author of â€Å"When I Woke Up Tuesday Morning, It Was Friday†, in this essay, Stout describes the different forms of psychological dissociation and several stories of her patients fighting trauma. Stout introduces the topic of psychological dissociation and the various degrees it entails, including, play, daydream, and distraction. A ‘trigger’ that causes a person to mentally flee the reality shared with mankind, into an individually altered reality, known as psychological dissociation. In Both essays, there is a shared struggle to overcome troublesome reality, by Stout’s patients and Nafisi, in attempt to lead fulfilling lives. A shared concept from both essays is the presence of ‘darkness’ in different forms, as trauma for Stout’s patients, and in relation to Nafisi and her students, the oppression of women by the regime. We will write a custom essay sample on Mind and Stout or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nafisi and Stout describe the power of ones imagination, and in these cases its role as a form of escape from troubled reality. Lastly, both authors write of the importance of one’s sense of self and individuality, Stout talks of how trauma can cause a disconnection from oneself and the world around them, relating to Nafisi’s struggle to retain individualism. The power of ones imagination is a key factor for both authors in the attempt to create fulfilling lives for there patients, students, and selves. Through Nafisi’s essay, she writes of her time living in Iran, under oppression from the totalitarian regime. As a woman Nafisi and her students were required to wear veils and long robes, and were born into lives where they were given very little choice in any aspect of life. They were to live, as they were expected, leaving no room for imagination. Instead of sufficing to this brutal and inhumane reality, they create a book club; it serves as a sort alternate world, a sanctuary of flourishing imagination and individuality. The book club was held weekly at Nafisi’s home and consisted of seven of her â€Å"best and most dedicated students†; the club would discuss books that would not be accepted in Iranian universities. These books included â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, â€Å"Invitation to a Beheading†, â€Å"A Thousand and One Nights†, â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†, and several other western classics. Nafisi states, â€Å"Perhaps one way of finding out the truth was to do what we did: to try to imaginatively articulate these two worlds and, through that process, give shape to our vision and identity. † The previous passage from Nafisi represents the personal growth underwent by Nafisi and her students. This better understanding and ability to express their imaginations would have been impossible if not for Nafisi’s book club. The importance of imagination expressed by Nafisi is also a strong topic from Martha Stout. Stout speaks positively of imagination and encourages the application of it, â€Å"In the interest of play, a child can, in a heartbeat, leave himself behind, become someone or something else, on general things at once. Reality is even more plastic in childhood. Pretend games are real and wonderful and consuming†. But stout does not speak plainly on imagination alone; she also discusses thoroughly, mind states created by ones imagination. Stout provides examples form several of her patients who use their imagination in order to escape past traumatic events. One patient of Stouts, a man named Seth says of his escape method that, â€Å"The abyss part, with the sharks and all, that’s frightening. But for most of my life it was really no more frightening than then things that were on the beach, no more frightening than reality, I guess is what I’m saying. So floating in the middle of the ocean was really the best place, even though I guess that sounds strange. Also, being there takes care of the physical pain; theres no more pain when I’m there. †(Stout 396) This passage is from Seth, he is describing his imaginary ocean that he would escape too rather than face the troubles of reality. As Seth escapes too his ocean, Nafisi and her students similarly escape too there book club. These methods of using ones imagination too escape troubled realities, were caused by different forms of ‘darkness’. For Nafisi and her students, this ‘darkness’ came in the form of the Iranian government and the oppression of women. Nafisi states in her book that, â€Å"They had harassed and limited me in all manner of ways, monitoring my visitors, controlling my actions, refusing a long overdue tenure; and when I resigned, they infuriated me by suddenly commiserating and by refusing to accept my resignation. †(Nafisi 253) Nafisi is speaking of the harassment she would endure as woman professor in an Iranian university, where she eventually lost her job for not conforming to  Iranian laws and wearing her veil. Unfair treatment towards women such as this is what led Nafisi to start this book club and share her hope for freedom with a select few students. In relation to Stout’s definition of dissociation, this oppression of women would be seen as the ‘trigger’ and their book club is the form of escape. For Stout’s patients, this ‘darkness’ came in the form of traumatic events. These traumatic events, unique in detail to every of her patients, all lead to different forms of escape from troublesome reality. An example from Stout’s essay is one patient, Julia; she grew up in a house with abusive parents and was clueless to this. She dissociated the memory of her abusive childhood, which resulted in her becoming unable to realize this was her reason for attempting suicide and living with depression. The mind state I’m referring too is psychological dissociation; Stout explains that dissociation is caused by traumatic events, which a person’s mind attempts to bury. Though it would seem that both Nafisi’s students and Stout’s patients used the same method, Nafisi and her student’s were not in a form of dissociation. The reason for this is that Mafiosi’s students willingly chose to create this book club, and altered world, as a form of escape. Wherein dissociation, the person is not mentally aware that reality is being altered, and there escape is brought forth unconsciously by their mind. Of course for every being the most essential need for a person is to have a sense of self or feeling of individuality. Every person is born with a blank slate, and throughout life they shape and mold themselves, into a unique individual. But in order too keep a sense of individuality and have a true feeling of ‘self’, one must be free to make there own choices without restraint. The factor restraining Stout’s patients are past traumatic events, which have disrupted their brains, and holding them back from lives with connections to themselves and the world. Stout says that â€Å"†¦the ability to dissociate from reality, which functions as a life-preserving defense mechanism during times of stress in childhood, can develop into a way of life that leads to emotional detachment and prolonged disengagement with the world. †(Stout 380) In this passage Stout discusses how dissociation creates a disconnection from reality, making it unable for them to truly be themselves. She also says that this dissociation from reality leads to isolation, and detachment from a persons self and the world. The idea’s put in place by Stout are given factual basis from the experiences of Nafisi and her students, in their fight for individuality. Under the totalitarian regime of the Iranian government, women are given few rights and choices to determine their lives; they are expected to live as commanded. The feeling of individualism is absent to these women, who are required to dress identically in robes from head to toe and veils. In a world where women are required to dress as told, and conduct themselves according to the hierarchy of a male’s world. A world such as this leaves women hopeless in obtaining a sense of individualism. Nafisi offers this book club as a short escape for her students, where they could express their personal thoughts freely. â€Å"When my students came into that room, they took of more than their scarves and robes. Gradually, each one gained an outline and a shape, becoming her own inimitable self. †(Nafisi 250) The previous passage perfectly depicts the sense of self that was gained through this book club. The women out of there identical robes and veils, become distinct from one another, not just another robe, but a person, wearing clothes of there choice. This club may have given them a sense of freedom from the regime, and allowed them to obtain a feeling of individualism. This struggle to overcome troublesome realities, in attempt to lead fulfilling lives, is shared by Nafisi and her students, as well as Stout’s patients. Both were presented with a form of ‘darkness’, Nafisi’s oppression from the totalitarian regime and Stout’s patients trauma. But through the power of imagination and the courageous defiance against the regime for Nafisi, and traumatic pasts for Stout’s patients, they were able to retain a sense of self. Opening doors, to lives defined by personal choices, creating individuals with true connections.