Emotional Themes Research Articles

Trans Men’s Positive Emotions

The current study used grounded theory methods to analyze trans men’s positive emotions. The sample included 11 participants who were assigned a female sex at birth and currently identify with a binary male identity. Results yielded eight positive emotion themes emerging for trans men, which included the following: confidence, comfort, connection, feeling alive, amazement, pride, happiness, and interpersonal reactionary emotions. Participants reported specific gender experiences within these themes, including a sense of brotherhood, excitement related to taking testosterone, authentic pride in identifying as a man, and happiness connected to others using correct gender language (e.g., pronouns, family labels, greetings). A theoretical model from the eight themes and 39 higher order categories emerged, indicating the importance of initial internal emotions, confidence related to trans men’s identity processes, and the ways in which positive interpersonal interactions affect positive emotions. Implications include using emotion-focused therapy and including more positivity into trans individuals’ experiences and emotions.

Intelligent Fashion Recommender System: Fuzzy Logic in Personalized Garment Design

This paper proposes a new intelligent fashion recommender system to select the most relevant garment design scheme for a specific consumer in order to deliver new personalized garment products. This system integrates emotional fashion themes and human perception on personalized body shapes and professional designers’ knowledge. The corresponding perceptual data are systematically collected from professional using sensory evaluation techniques. The perceptual data of consumers and designers are formalized mathematically using fuzzy sets and fuzzy relations. The complex relation between human body measurements and basic sensory descriptors, provided by designers, is modeled using fuzzy decision trees. The fuzzy decision trees constitute an empirical model based on learning data measured and evaluated on a set of representative samples. The complex relation between basic sensory descriptors and fashion themes, given by consumers, is modeled using fuzzy cognitive maps. The combination of the two models can provide more complete information to the fashion recommender system, making it possible to evaluate if a specific body shape is relevant to a desired emotional fashion theme and which garment design scheme can improve the image of the body shape. The proposed system has been validated in a customized design and mass market selection through the evaluations of target consumers and fashion experts using a method frequently used in marketing study.

More than a break: the impact of a social-pedagogical intervention during young persons' long-term hospital admission--a qualitative study.

Critical illness and long-term or repeated hospitalization can affect normal adolescent development. As a result, adolescents may feel isolated and "misplaced" on both pediatric and adult departments. The mission of the Center of Adolescent Medicine is to improve conditions for adolescent patients. To achieve this, the social educator offers an individualized social-pedagogical intervention for young people during long-term or repeated hospitalization. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of the social-pedagogical intervention using a qualitative approach. A trained anthropologist interviewed seven adolescents who had individual sessions with a social educator during their hospital stay. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the transcripts were coded and thematized continuously. Through qualitative analysis, the following themes emerged: Recreation; Structure, participation, and motivation; and Friends and social network. The social-pedagogical approach is a combination of interpersonal relationships and individually tailored recreational activities. Even small entertaining activities changed the focus from patient identity and contributed to the feeling of being "normal." All young patients reported that the increased opportunities for decision-making and influence on the daily structure supported the feeling of being recognized and respected as an individual person as well as increased their motivation to go through their treatment. The interviewees emphasized the importance of experiencing something that was worth telling their friends about to help them stay in touch. Although the young patients emphasized the recreational aspects, the time spent with the social educator facilitated training in social competencies as well as conversations about emotional and sensitive topics.

Political participation via the web: Structural and subjective contingencies

Abstract The article offers an overview of key contingencies that shape the use of the web for democratic participatory purposes. I begin by probing the notion of participation, suggesting that we need to be specific in what we mean by it and how different contexts accord it very different significance. From there I examine the main parameters of the web’s structural contingencies, taking up its political economy and technical architecture. These parameters are bound up with power relations, an important feature too often ignored, with the result that the web erroneously is seen as a neutral terrain of communication. Thereafter I turn to the web’s subjective contingencies, looking first at the relationship between subjectivity and discourse. The subjective contingencies – the ‘inner realities’ of political actors – derive in part from the web’s structural power relations, but cannot merely be reduced to them, since human agency can never fully be predetermined. Further, I take up the theme of reason and emotion, as well as the notion of affect. This latter term points to experiential reality beyond the immediately personal/private one. I conclude with some brief reflections on the relationship between offline and online forms of participation.

Facts and feelings in comment threads: An exploration of grass-roots writers’ norms for online political discussion

This article surveys a “real world” ideal of online discussions using a bottom-up perspective to study current norms of independent debaters online. It contributes to the field with a qualitative and grounded analysis of solo grass-roots writers’ own debate norms – their ideas of the good and bad debates. Thus, the article does not ask, “Is their discussion democratic, and does it contribute to revitalizing democracy?” Instead, it asks, “What makes for a good online debate as described from a grass-roots perspective?” The results indicate that objectivity, respect and politeness are main themes in their descriptions, while the theme of emotion constitutes a contrast from the others. Concurrently, there are studies that discuss a more open understanding of online political participation that is moving away from strict Habermasian evaluations of online discussions. This can be considered a positive development for marginalized voices that are not writing in a purely rational argumentative manner. However, this article argues that the, in many aspects, counter-hegemonic writers in this study who could benefit from a broader approach, nevertheless, still value many traditional ideals.

Entertainment We Watch and Entertainment We Appreciate: Patterns of Motion Picture Consumption and Acclaim Over Three Decades

An analysis of 582 film titles spanning the years from 1980 to 2010 was conducted to examine the attributes and characteristics that predicted both viewership (e.g., box-office revenues) and critical acclaim (e.g., awards, audience ratings). Overall, viewership was highest for action/adventure films and lowest for dramas. In contrast, acclaim was highest for more dramatic fare, and for films that featured dark, contemplative, and emotional themes. The results are discussed in terms of the entertainment gratifications reflecting both enjoyment and appreciation.

Adaptations and receptions: Proof of the Man in Japan and China

Abstract Proof of the Man (人間の証明) is a 1977 Japanese film adapted from Morimura Seiichi’s detective novel of the same name. The film was dubbed and released in China as part of an extensive Sino-Japanese cultural exchange programme following the end of Cultural Revolution. The dubbed version gained immense popularity among the Chinese audience. The melodramatic plot of filial affection, the beautiful dubbed voice and the emotional theme song proved humane and healing for a traumatized audience of the post-Mao era. But a closer analysis reveals that the social critique embedded in the filmic text of Proof of the Man was rewritten and reinterpreted in the Chinese dubbing and viewing process. Both the translators and reviewers often dismissed, whitewashed or oversimplified racial tensions in the film. Very few noted that racial discrimination within Japan – an important subtext of the film – is a main cause of the filicide tragedy. I argue that it was not just ignorance of Japanese history that prevented Chinese reviewers from acknowledging the existence of racism in Japan, and that their belief that equated racial discrimination with class oppression and white supremacy was self-serving.

Emotions in the Household: Emotion Words and Metaphors in Domesday Book Personal Names

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of the set of emotion-related personal names recorded in the Domesday Book. Through the fine-grained analysis of the themes used in these names, this paper proposes a semantic description of late Old English personal names, which have been classified into the following seven name sub-categories: happiness, joy, love, tenderness, pride, anger, and fear. This analysis shows that emotion-related vocabulary was a favorite personal name element in post-Conquest England. Furthermore, it proposes some of the general tendencies behind name-giving practices, especially in relation to (i) gender distribution of emotion themes and concepts and (ii) frequent lexical combinations of emotion-related themes. Finally, the paper offers an interpretation of the metaphorization processes that motivated the development of some of these combinations of words and their usage as personal names in Anglo-Saxon England.

Amigos and amistades: the role of men's social network ties in shaping HIV vulnerability in the Dominican Republic

While men's social networks have been identified as a source of influence on sexual behaviour, less is known about the different types of friendship ties within men's networks. We analysed data from qualitative in-depth interviews with 36 men in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic who are current or former sexual partners of female sex workers to understand how: (1) men describe trust and communication with different types of friendship ties, (2) characteristics of trust and communication reflect norms of masculinity, and (3) these friendship ties influence HIV-related behaviours. We identified a distinction between amistades, social drinking buddies who are not trusted, and amigos, trusted friends. The majority of men lacked any amigos and some had neither amigos nor amistades. In general, men reflected traditional norms of masculinity and said they did not feel they could discuss their relationships or emotional topics with other men. Trust and communication dynamics, and how norms of masculinity shape those dynamics, should be understood and addressed in the design of HIV prevention efforts with men's social networks as they have implications for the potential effectiveness of such efforts.

The Expression Method of an Emotional Theme in High-Value Added Denim Fashion

Background Denim is not only a practical material created for its originally intended use, but also a popular material used for producing clothes while changing the original purpose of its initial use. As more and more consumers want to express their own personal style, the denim market is being expanded and diversified. Therefore, there is a need for understanding the changes occurring in the denim fashion industry and developing high-value added differentiated fashion designs to follow the trend. This study aims to examine the great feasibility of developing denim fashion to follow the changes of time, and to suggest a method of fashion design focusing on a specific theme and denim material. Methods This study first examines the birth and transition of denim clothing and current denim fashion designs shown in recent collections by analyzing literature and the data of four major collections globally recognized in order to establish an actual theme. Then, denim fashion designs compatible with the theme were developed and produced. For design development, the first step was to build a design concept, and the last step was to produce four outfits as a prototype. Results The representation of denim shown in recent women’s fashion collections is classified into six techniques of surface division by the use of denim of various hues; the making of patterns by bleaching or special printing; representation which emphasizes the effect of color spreading; the damaging of the surface or the end of a cloth; the development of personalized textures by using a given sewing; and the insertion of jewels, metals, or lace. Design development, which started with the establishment of the theme of ‘In the River of Time’, required the following steps of investigation: focusing on images for a design concept the translation of images the embodiment of a design including material experimentations the collection of designs the completion of a prototype. The feasibility of developing high-value added denim fashion design was identified through the aforementioned process. Conclusion The expression of an emotional theme in high-value added denim fashion can spread depending on the designer’s personality and creativity, and it is hard to see any limits being imposed on such creativity as evidenced by the innovation that has appeared in the history of denim fashion. The various attempts and challenges compatible with the changing times will ensure the bright future of the denim fashion industry.

Emotional and Developmental Repair through Psychodrama: Floortime for Grown-Ups

Emotional and Developmental Repair through Psychodrama: Floortime for Grown-Ups

How sociological perspectives on ageing can aid reflection by HCAs

This article provides healthcare assistants (HCAs) with an insight into the sociological theories that underpin how ‘old age’ as a concept is constructed by society and how this can influence the way that older people are perceived as a result. The theories discussed offer consideration from both a historical and a comparative standpoint in order to stimulate thinking and discussion of emotive topics such as ageism. It also allows HCAs to engage in critical reflection on their own contribution to healthcare practice so that they can develop best practice and seek to change aspects of their interaction with older people that might not before have been considered. The article emphasises the relevance of this to HCAs by giving examples from practice, to demonstrate how these sociological theories impact on the everyday ability to provide care.

Situating the Self in Prison Research

Despite the central importance of ethnographic methods to sociological understandings of imprisonment, ethnographies of prison life have tended to evade ideas of “connectedness” between researcher and participant. This arguably underplays the epistemological possibilities of the unique characteristic of participant observation: the presence of the embodied, subjectively perceiving researcher in the field. Using data from English women’s prisons, this article argues that attending to the (inter)subjective dimensions of ethnographic research can bring gains in sociological understanding. The analysis considers moments of disruption in field research, exploring themes of emotion, identity, and power. It focuses particularly on experiences of being positioned and misplaced by prisoners and prison staff, and of negotiating a researcher identity as a gay woman in a field in which sexuality is a pervasive theme. It is suggested that making the self visible in the text offers both substantive insights and a response to some of the dilemmas generated by even marginal participation in a complex field like a prison.

Moving out of conflict into reconciliation – Bildung through philosophical dialogue in intercultural and interreligious education

The empirical basis of this article is the reconciliation process in a destructive conflict between students of different cultural and religious backgrounds in upper secondary education in Norway. The Dialogos approach to dialogical philosophizing was tried out through an action research process in order to bring about reconciliation, letting the students explore existential, ethical, religious and emotional topics together. The empirical reconciliation process is discussed in relation to elements of the philosophical concept Bildung, aiming at answering the following overarching questions: how did the movement from conflict to reconciliation come about through the action research process; to what extent might the Reconciliation Project be understood as a process of Bildung towards human maturity and wisdom; and how might philosophical dialogues become an institutionalized part of interreligious and intercultural education?

CINDERELLA SESSIONS: CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN TEACHING END OF LIFE CARE TOPICS AMONG HEALTHCARE LECTURES IN UNDERGRADUATE NURSING EDUCATION

BackgroundIn the UK, 4 out of 5 nurses lack basic pre-registration education and training in end of life care. Research shows an increased anxiety, lack of clinical skills, poor coping...

AMTA Student Research Awards - Article Summaries

AMTA Student Research Awards - Article Summaries

Enhancing the Experience of the Train Journey: Changing the Focus from Satisfaction to Emotional Experience of Customers

Every railway operator should see and recognize the importance of the customer as its most crucial asset. Without the customer, there is no license to operate. As railway operators are often held internally and externally accountable for their services, customer satisfaction surveys are conducted to determine, amongst other things, the scores for (aspects of the) service. At NS these scores are highly important and underlie goals and plans for improvement. To be successful it is essential to follow the value experienced during the entire train journey of the customer. The aim of this research was therefore to seek the emotional context, such as the customers’ deeper desires, motivations and expectations and so-called ‘moments of truth’. The answers to these questions would offer NS a new perspective on the services it provides and enable it to focus on those elements that truly enhance customer satisfaction.To gain more insight into the customer experience, ultimately enabling us to act on it, the emotional journey of the respective customers was mapped in an ‘emotion curve’. This curve was developed using qualitative research based on in-depth interviews with an Underlying Construct Elicitation Method (UCEM) among 27 participants (see also ETC paper of Van Hagen, Apeldoorn, Eijsink & Verhoeven, 2012). Such a journey offers insight into the peak and off-peak moments, and the customer delighters, satisfiers and dissatisfiers of train travel. We also looked for the moments of truth (essential for the brand and the customer), as these are times we can make a difference. The insights from UCEM were then tested and supplemented by an online research community which enriched the UCEM output in three phases (observation, crowd interpretation and discussion by images, blogs and customer reports), and which brought the customer experience literally to life. A total of 65 people actively participated in the community, yielding over 3600 posts with pictures and stories. The combination of both methods enabled us to generate as complete an insight as possible.The results of the study show that whether or not having a place to sit on the train is essential to the overall experience. Only when passengers have a good place to sit they can experience a true moment of peace and relaxation. This is currently the only peak in the emotion curve. Furthermore it appeared that the transportation to and from the station greatly influences the total experience. Travelling by bike or on foot is much more relaxed than by bus, tram or car. This gives customers the feeling that they have more freedom and control. Last but not least a real peak at the end of the journey is currently missing. Although at this point nothing is expected of NS, this is a chance to offer something that transcends expectation and which is memorable (see for example ETC paper of Lekkerkerker, Mook, Van Hagen & Van Houten, 2012).Respondents furthermore named seven emotional themes which they felt deserved particular attention. The experience themes and emotion curve enable us to view our service provision in a new light, affording us input to address the elements that make customers enthusiastic. In other words it offers NS input to make the right (policy and investment) decisions and to adequately address our processes (doing the right things right).

P86 Exploring the emotional journey patients with asthma experience and the difference between childhood and adult diagnosis

BackgroundAsthma affects 5.4 million people in the UK. We wanted to explore the emotional journey patients with asthma experience during their management.MethodsMarket research was conducted with an independent agency to...

Passionate pedagogy and emotional labor: students’ responses to learning diversity from diverse instructors

This qualitative study examines emotion themes reflected in student evaluations from required diversity courses at a predominantly white, US public university. We analyze two years of student evaluations for 29 instructors. Situated by the work of Acker, Jaggar, and Hochschild, we find contradictory themes of perceived instructional bias and the value of diversity lessons. Student evaluations result in systematic disadvantage for minority instructors that may be heightened for female instructors of color. Non-minority instructors (both male and female) gain privileges by avoiding dealing with diversity directly which is reflected in student evaluations through the process of “ducking diversity”. The organizational structure of required diversity courses marginalizes the scholarship and emotion work of minority instructors and inherently reproduces the very inequalities they are designed to combat.

Fun and frustrations: Low-income Chilean parents reminiscing with their children about past emotional experiences

Una manera en que los padres de familia apoyan el desarrollo de las habilidades socioemocionales de sus niños/as es a través de narrativas (reminiscencia) sobre experiencias emocionales. Este estudio: a) investigó cómo las familias Chilenas de bajos recursos económicos identifi can, explican y razonan acerca de experiencias emocionales positivas y negativas; b) documentó los temas narrativos que se discutieron. Sesenta y dos padres de familia y sus niños/as fueron grabados en video mientras recordaban una vez cuando el niño/a estaba feliz y una vez cuando no estaba feliz. La mitad eran niñas. Las narrativas fueron transcritas y codifi cadas usando varias categorías sobre contenido emocional. Los resultados muestran que las conversaciones negativas son más ricas en contenido emocional que las conversaciones positivas. Las diadas discutieron más frecuentemente temas sobre eventos familiares cuando recordaron experiencias positivas y conflictos con pares cuando recordaron experiencias negativas. Este trabajo puede informar intervenciones con familias en Latinoamérica.