Formation Of Group Identity Research Articles

A ritualistic reading of Mark 7:1–23

This article examines the ritual dynamics and identity negotiation in Mark 7:1–23, aiming to unpack the complex interaction between ritual practices and social identity in early Christian communities. Drawing on ritual theory from anthropology and sociology, this research analyses the significance of ritual purity and its implications for group identity formation and maintenance. Mark 7:1–23 presents a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees about the observance of the handwashing ritual before meals, highlighting opposing understandings of purity and religious tradition between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus’s critique of an external ritual of handwashing as an identity marker emphasises the purity of the heart as a valid identity marker for all children of God. Through a ritualistic reading of Mark 7:1–23, this article seeks to explore the role played by rituals in identity formation in antiquity. By engaging with ritual theory as a lens to unpack the Pharisees’ perspective and that of Jesus on what identifies a true child of God, this article aims to offer insights into the complexities of identity as understood by both Jesus’s early movement and the Pharisees.Contribution: This interdisciplinary study of Mark 7:1–23 utilises ritual theory to expose the interaction between ritual practices and identity negotiation within early Christian communities, revealing how Jesus’s critique of external rituals facilitated the formation of a distinctively Christian identity centred on inner transformation and ethical conduct.

Teaching discrimination in introductory economics: An approach incorporating stratification economics

The authors of this article describe how instructors can incorporate stratification economics (SE) into coverage of discrimination in introductory economics. SE is an economics subfield that provides a framework for understanding how collective action to maintain relative group position can create and sustain economic inequality. They illustrate how to modify Becker’s employer discrimination model to incorporate collective action by identity groups and demonstrate the use of game theory to help students understand the formation and maintenance of group identity. Finally, they show how instructors can use discussion of the racial wealth gap as an opportunity for students to apply elements of the SE framework. Introducing a more relatable and relevant discussion of discrimination and inequality can deepen students’ appreciation for and understanding of economic theory.

Modal Sosial dalam Pengembangan Usaha

As a foreign company, Tiens Group has been successful and well accepted by the people of Banda Aceh, a city known for the implementation of Syariah Islam. This study analysed how the company uses its social capital resulting in its acceptance by the host society that is strongly associated with Syariah Islam. This research uses sosial capital theory by Robert D. Putnam. It is a qualitative reseach. Data were collected through interview and participant observation. This research found that the company has utilized sosial capital and succeeded in achieving its targets and well accepted by the host society. The interplay of the three aspects of sosial capital namely norms, trust and networks have been influential in achieving success of the company. Norms has been a focal point in the formation of group identity. It is the values that give rise to a strong trust among its members. Trust is formed through a strong believe towards values and norms. Network is needed to bridge and help expand the company to people outside the company through new recruits (bridging sosial capital), while at the same time, network within the group, would eventually strengthen the norms and the trust system as well as the sense of solidarity and work ethics among the members (bonding sociap capital).

Language Maintenance and Shift in Multilingual Ecologies: A Case Study of Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan

This study aims to address the phenomenon of language maintenance and shift in multilingual ecologies, specifically the ethnic minority communities of Yunnan province in China. The case study focuses on language ecological issues, i.e., language use, language shift, and language preservation, which resulted from language contact and cultural contact between the dominant Chinese communities and the inferior minorities across the region of Yunnan. The smaller language groups have been overlooked in favour of the larger competing languages in previous research concerning linguistic dynamics in Yunnan. By analyzing and evaluating at language competency levels, usage patterns, and skill sets among speakers from the Chinese communities, this paper seeks to restate this omission. Through the integration of language ecology approaches, the survey on everyday use of language, attitudes and transition from questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively pertaining to the impact of evolving sociodemographic factors on language retention and change in the context of Chinese communities. In this study, data regarding linguistic habits were gathered by a questionnaire survey, skill levels, and repertoires within these communities. As part of the research approach, sociolinguistic background data, language repertoires, language usage patterns, and attitudes toward various languages were all examined. The study utilized qualitative data that was collected through semi-structured interviews through the Zoom online platform and direct observations. The research illustrated the dynamic relationship between individual agency and social cause that shapes language attitudes and behaviors of different actors. It is hoped that the research findings contribute to the understanding of linguistic diversity in China, particularly in contemporary multilingual settings which may serve as concrete evidence for policymakers to revitalize ehnic minority languages. The research implies that language change on the formation of individual, group and collective identity, social cohesion within a community, and cultural heritage preservation.

Emergent Pragmatic Conventions in Spoken ELF Corpus Data: Micro-Diachronic Analysis of Inclusive vs. Exclusive Multilingual Practices

This article examines multilingual practices as an example of emergent pragmatic conventions in three Transient International Groups (TIGs) using spoken English as a lingua franca (ELF) from the Vienna-Oxford International Corpus of English (VOICE). The analysis combines principles of corpus linguistics and conversation analysis by adopting a new approach for the micro-diachronic analysis of spoken interaction. Quantitative and qualitative evidence and micro-diachronic visualizations of VOICE transcripts show how the three groups examined interactively develop group-specific multilingual practices. The analysis reveals that the three groups have different preferences in this respect. While two groups develop inclusive multilingual practices in the course of their interaction, one group shows a tendency to use multilingual practices exclusively, primarily in side sequences. In addition to multilingual use, the presence or absence of metalinguistic discussions about language (and languages) plays a role for creation of shared transcultural territory and the formation of group identity. These processes are indicative of how unacquainted multilingual speakers negotiate and develop pragmatic conventions more generally.

Online polarization and identity politics: An analysis of Facebook discourse on Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities in Finland

AbstractThis study employs a mixed‐methods approach to investigate the nature of Facebook posts related to Muslims and LGBTQ+ individuals in Finland, spanning a period of 4 years. Through the use of the CrowdTangle platform, the researchers extracted and analyzed Facebook posts that encompassed predetermined keywords indicative of potential hate speech. The findings underscored divergent patterns of engagement and sentiment toward these two groups, with implications for the different levels of societal acceptance and tolerance exhibited. Posts related to Muslims typically elicited controversy and were often depicted as threats, whereas posts about the LGBTQ+ community generally advocated for inclusivity. However, persistent negative stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community were also evident. The analysis also brought to light how political parties strategically used these discourses to steer conversations, consolidate their ideological positions, and mobilize their respective supporters. Grounded in the social identity theory, this study sheds light on the complex dynamics of online political discourse, revealing its far‐reaching impacts on societal attitudes, intergroup relations, and formation of group identities. The nuanced understanding derived from these observations suggests that interventions fostering healthier public discussions on social media platforms could contribute significantly to combating societal division, prejudice, and bias. This research underscores the importance of scrutinizing online discourses to address issues of societal cohesion and social acceptance.

Understanding clerkship experiences in emergency medicine and their potential influence on specialty selection: A qualitative study.

The specialty of emergency medicine (EM) is experiencing a significant decrease in student interest. In addition, women are historically underrepresented within the specialty at all levels of training and practice. We sought to understand how clinical experiences and perceptions of EM influence specialty selection by medical students, particularly women. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we analyzed semistructured interviews with senior medical students who considered EM as a specialty. We used purposive sampling to recruit from diverse learning environments and represent a variety of experiences. Participants reflected on their specialty selection process and experiences in EM including their perceived acceptance in the work environment. Twenty-five medical students from 11 geographically diverse schools participated. A total of 68% (17/25) identified as women. The majority (21/25, 84%) planned on applying to EM residency. We identified four major themes: (1) distressing interpersonal interactions with patients and the ED care team negatively affect students; (2) EM culture includes behaviors that are perceived as exclusionary; (3) beliefs about the attributes of an ideal EM physician and the specialty itself have a gendered nature; and (4) ease of access to mentors, representation, and early exposure to EM environment increased interest in specialty. Our participants express that EM causes challenges for students to accept the norms of behavior in the field, which is an essential element in joining a group and professional identity formation. In addition, we raise concern that gendered perceptions and language may send exclusionary environmental cues that may negatively impact recruitment of a diverse physician workforce.

From I to we in humor research: a systematic review of the antecedents and consequences of humor in groups

Abstract While most of the literature has focused on the individual-level effects of humor, the number of studies addressing and analyzing humor in its social context as a group-level phenomenon has also started to increase. Yet there is still increased heterogeneity of results, as well as problems regarding conceptualization and measurement of humor in groups. To further our understanding of humor as an emergent multilevel construct, we conducted a systematic literature review on the antecedents and consequences of humor in groups. The findings indicate that factors such as group composition, interpersonal familiarity, task structure, trust, cohesion, positive team environment, communication norms, communication channels, and timing dynamics play important roles in the emergence and type of humor expressed within groups. The consequences of humor in groups include the emergence of cohesion, the delineation of group boundaries and identity formation, influence on group atmosphere and affective dynamics, facilitation of collective coping and team engagement, and potential effects on team performance. We discuss research progress and gaps, and conclude by outlining future research directions.

Group Identity and Belief Formation: A Decomposition of Political Polarization

Group Identity and Belief Formation: A Decomposition of Political Polarization

On the Importance of Communicationsin the Field of Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism as a Social and Communication Institution

Pilgrimage is a social communication institution that plays a vital role in forming and strengthening social ties and communication among people. This form of travel has deep roots in religious traditions and reflects the human need for spirituality and the search for meaning in life. Pilgrimage involves traveling with the specific purpose of visiting a holy place or shrine to seek spiritual refreshment, appeal to higher powers, and perform religious rites or penance. This creates favorable conditions for interaction among people who share common beliefs and values. As a social communication institution, pilgrimage contributes to the formation of group identity and community, as people engaged in pilgrimage feel part of a larger community that unites their faith and goals. They communicate, share experiences, meet new people, and interact with residents and other pilgrims, which promotes the exchange of ideas, views, and mutual understanding. Additionally, pilgrimage creates opportunities for the development of social and communication skills. By interacting with different people, pilgrims learn to show tolerance, mutual respect, empathy, and understanding of other cultures and traditions. They acquire the skills of effective communication, the ability to listen and understand others, as well as identify themselves as part of the community. Therefore, pilgrimage, as a social and communication institution, promotes interaction between people, the formation of communities, and the development of social and communication skills. It creates a unique opportunity for communication, exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as deepening of spiritual development and enrichment of the life experience of each pilgrim.

Symbiotic Relationship between Deviant Religious Teachings and Conspiracy Theories: Characteristics, Adaptability, and Impact on the Muslim Community

This paper examines the symbiotic relationship between deviant religious teachings and conspiracy theories, investigating their shared characteristics, adaptability, and impact on the Muslim community. The study objectives encompass analyzing examples of this relationship, exploring the factors driving the utilization of conspiracy theories by deviant teachings, and evaluating the consequences for the Muslim community. Employing a qualitative approach, the research integrates a comprehensive literature review, case study analysis, and examination of online sources. The analysis involves collecting and scrutinizing instances of deviant teachings and their utilization of social media platforms, along with the accompanying conspiracy theories. The roles played by conspiracy theories in fostering group cohesion, legitimizing teachings, mobilizing support, and countering criticism are assessed. The findings reveal the extensive exploitation of social media and the internet by deviant teachings to propagate their ideologies. Conspiracy theories serve as potent tools to augment the appeal and credibility of these teachings, contributing to the formation of group identities, the establishment of legitimacy, and the attraction of followers. Furthermore, the study uncovers indications of potential involvement of proponents of deviant teachings as conspirators, given the proliferation of teachings with unclear sources and the reliance on conspiracy theories. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the necessity of comprehending and addressing the symbiotic relationship between deviant teachings and conspiracy theories. By promoting informed religious education and leveraging social media effectively, it is feasible to mitigate the adverse impact of these ideologies and safeguard the Muslim community against misconceptions and divisive influences.

Герои, антигерои современной российской молодежи

The article examines the issue of the formation of group identity among young people. Heroes of the time act as symbolic value-behavioral complexes, they are part of the conceptual apparatus for analyzing changes in attitudes towards historical personalities, historical memory as the basis of solidarity. The current state is char-acterized by trends of changes in value attitudes among Russian students, which inevitably affects social soli-darity. The theoretical apparatus is based on an appeal to the classics of sociology (E. Durkheim), the concept of anomie is considered in relation to the current period. A hypothesis of the causes of the state of disunity is formulated based on the destruction of the feedback mechanism in traditional methods of forming social soli-darity. In his cultural forms of behavior, a person relies on eternal truths, formulated in the form of moral imper-atives, captured in traditional forms (songs, fairy tales) and institutional practices of conveying meanings and patterns of behavior (upbringing, education). Heroes and anti-heroes act as triggers for the fragmentation of youth and Russian society. The article presents the results of a 2022 pilot survey of university youth, character-izing attitudes towards personalities of Russian history (authorities). The results obtained are compared with secondary data from 2023 surveys.

«Коммуникативный паразитизм» в российском сегменте телеграм-каналов

The article examines manifestations of "communicative parasitism" as a variant of communicative alignment in Russian-language Telegram channels. It examines how the adjustment to other people's communication products begins to serve fundamentally different interests and values. The peculiarities of new media and conditions of technologically mediated communication such as interactivity, recombinativeness, multimodality, etc., as well as the specificity of high conflict nature of social-and-political discourse, which plays a significant role in the processes of using power and struggling for it, are taken into account. "Communicative parasitism" is analyzed within both the description of Telegram channel and the subscribers' posts and comments. It was found out that when "communicative parasitism" is used by a Telegram channel to build its own brand and promote itself at someone else's expense, parasitic manifestations are usually limited to elements of design. However, there are often more complex cases in the ideological confrontation of social groups, where this phenomenon is exploited to consolidate one's own group, represent it in a positive way and distance it from the opposing group, which is being discredited. Thus, "communicative parasitism" becomes an integral part of defense-attack strategies realized by a whole group of users for a long time. In this situation, a large number of customers are involved in a kind of language game with intertwining and interacting borrowings, contributing to the formation of group identity.

Research on the Loss of Human Rights for Asian Americans -The Failure of Group Identity

After WWII, the formation of group identity had become an efficient solution for vulnerable groups to protect human rights. Asian Americans, as other minority groups in American society, were suffering from racial discrimination in different social areas, such as education, employment, and welfare, especially in the 1970s California, which was regarded as the biggest settlement of Asian Americans at that time. However, when other minority groups achieved the unique identity of themselves to defend basic human rights against structural discrimination. Asian Americans failed to do so. This paper intends to argue that under the excluded social integration and self-weakness, deviation in recognition for both inside Asian Americans and outside American Society was the main reason not to form their own identity, which made Asian Americans suffer from human rights violation.

Aldhelm’s Fandom: The Humble Virtues of Boniface’s Riddles

Abstract St Boniface, the eighth-century scholar, missionary, and eventual martyr, is generally characterized as an important historical figure but a bad poet. In part it is because his verse is so strongly marked by direct borrowings from Aldhelm that it is easy to assume he did not possess the creativity or ability to write for himself. Here, we seek to rehabilitate Boniface’s collection of Latin riddles about the personified Virtues and Vices, engaging especially with Humilitas Cristiana (‘Christian Humility’), Virginitas … humilium (‘Virginity of the Humble’), Superbia (‘Pride’), and Vana gloria iactantia (‘Vainglorious Boasting’). We examine Boniface’s riddles through the lens of fan studies, arguing that fandom and fan fiction provide insights into group-identity formation and gift-giving that reframe Boniface’s debt to Aldhelm, as well as his entire creative project. Like a writer of fan fiction, Boniface creates new characters based on his reading of Aldhelm’s De virginitate (‘Concerning Virginity’) and, through them, he develops Aldhelm’s warning against taking pride in virtue. However, Boniface’s riddle-subjects speak an encoded message that only a true fan of Aldhelm could appreciate. Distance from this fandom has led to scholarly neglect of a fascinating poetic collection, but we hope to bridge the gap.

Влияние фактора прошлого на формирование идентичности российской молодёжи

The article deals with the problem of social solidarity and the role of upbringing and educational institutions in the formation of group identity and social communities in the conditions of fragmentation of society in modern Russia. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is formed by reference to the classical definitions of solidarity by E. Durkheim as a supreme moral principle and universal value, a postulate of the condition for the preservation of society; as well as to symbolic interactionism, J.G. Mead’s ideas on social communication as acceptance of the role of the other, similar interpretation of reality as a product of assimilation of social ex-perience of the generalized other, self-reflection as the formation of identity; in explaining the current trends, the authors rely on the idea of the fluidity of the other’s role, and on the idea of the social interaction of the oth-er. The results of a pilot survey of university youth characterizing the attitude towards personalities of Russian history are given. The limitations of the study are indicated, the interpretation of identity indicators is proposed. The possibilities of fixing historical narratives in order to maintain the core of organic solidarity are revealed. According to the results of the study, conclusion dwells upon the fact that the young generation knows increas-ingly less about the past, which entails the process of destruction of social solidarity and causes fragmentation in the youth environment.

The Ritual Bridge between Narrative and Performance in the Gospel of Mark

The abundance of ritual descriptions in the Gospel of Mark suggests a discourse about ritual between the narrator and early audiences of the Gospel. The prominence of the ritual of baptism at the beginning (Mark 1:9–11) and anointing at the end (16:1–8), and the recurrence of themes introduced in Jesus’s baptism at turning points in the Gospel (9:2–8; 10:38–39; 15:38–39) suggest broader ritual—and specifically baptismal—significance in the narrative. Recent changes helpfully differentiate narrative- and performance-critical interpretive approaches as text-oriented (narrative) and audience-oriented (performance), but these hermeneutical methods also work in concert. This article combines cognitive studies of narrative immersion with observations about the role of ritual in group identity formation and the impartation of religious traditions to analyze the narration of ritual acts in Mark. Giving attention to the use of internal focalization and description of bodily movements in ritual narrations, this article argues that depictions of rituals in Mark involve the audience in ways that deliver audience-oriented interpretations through text-oriented means. This analysis shows how Mark’s ritual narrations are conducive to evoking the audience’s experience of baptism, familiar to audience members as described in the undisputed Pauline epistles, the only descriptions of the rite that clearly antedate the composition of Mark. Publicly reading these narrated rituals creates an audience experience that neither requires the performance of the ritual in the context of the reading event nor an “acting out” of the ritual depicted in the narrative to create a participatory, communal experience of the text.

Exploring the Nexus of Memory, Power, and Identity in Lois Lowry’s The Giver and Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police

The study of memory, power, and identity explores how power dynamics within societies shape the construction and preservation of collective and individual memories, ultimately influencing the formation and evolution of identities. Accordingly, this research delves into the intricate relationship between memory, identity, and power by analysing two dystopian novels, Lois Lowry’s The Giver and Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police. In both the narratives, the theme of memory and its profound influence is apparent. Lowry drew inspiration from her father’s memory loss, prompting her exploration of a world where painful memories are intentionally eliminated. Ogawa pays homage to Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl and explores contemporary anxieties surrounding surveillance, media manipulation, and authoritarianism. This study seeks to examine how the manipulation of memory by authoritarian regimes impacts the sense of self and collective identity in both the texts. Drawing from the methods of memory studies and literary analysis, the paper explores how the characters in these novels navigate a world where memories are controlled, suppressed, or erased, leading to a disruption in the formation of individual and group identities. Through a comparative analysis of the two works, the paper uncovers the ways in which the manipulation of memory serves as a tool for maintaining dominance and shaping collective consciousness, ultimately distorting individual and communal identities. This study ultimately reveals how language and writing can also be used to resist the dominance of authoritarian regimes over the perceptions of the past, present, and future of individuals and communities.

Group Identity and Belief Formation: A Decomposition of Political Polarization

Group Identity and Belief Formation: A Decomposition of Political Polarization

Identity in the conditions of modern digital society: the possibilities of agent-based modeling

The article discusses the possibilities of using agent-based modeling (ABM) and, in particular, modified R. Axelrod’s “cultural diffusion” model to study the processes of formation and transformation of identity. Particular attention is paid to the ability of this model to describe the current situation of active mass use of information and communication technologies. The authors conclude that the considered approach has a serious heuristic potential, due to the wide possibilities of agent models for describing both individual identity and its changes, and the processes of formation of group identity based on individual identities.