Future Willingness Research Articles

The Relationship between Future Anxiety Due to COVID-19 and Vigilance: The Role of Message Fatigue and Autonomy Satisfaction.

How does future anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic relate to people’s willingness to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive measures? We examined the mediating role of message fatigue and the moderating role of autonomy satisfaction in the relationship between future anxiety due to COVID-19 and willingness to remain vigilant. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with adults residing in the United States in June 2021 when numerous U.S. states re-opened following the CDC’s relaxed guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. Our data showed that message fatigue mediated the relationship between future anxiety due to the pandemic and willingness to remain vigilant. The data further revealed that autonomy satisfaction significantly moderated the mediation. Namely, the role of message fatigue in the indirect relationship between future anxiety and willingness to remain vigilant was significant only among people low to moderate in autonomy satisfaction; its role in the indirect path was not significant for those high in autonomy satisfaction. Notably, independent of the mechanism involving message fatigue, future anxiety was directly and positively associated with willingness to remain vigilant regardless of the levels of autonomy satisfaction. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of psychological and behavioral responses to the current pandemic and policy directions.

Recruitment of Indigenous Study Participants in Canada: Obligations or Constraints? An Ethical Reflection

Recruitment of study participants from marginalized populations present unique challenges for researchers and associated institutions. Researchers must be aware of the specific adaptations required in the research process in conducting research within and Indigenous populations. Cultural consciousness is key with any research conducted within these populations to understand the past issues that can influence present and future willingness to participate in research. This article aims to provide context and examples where increasing cultural awareness of specific ethical principles during the recruitment phase can affect the study process as well as the researcher themselves. Integrating Indigenous cultural concepts within the recruitment and study design process can help to lay the groundwork for a positive research process as a whole and facilitate an appropriate study environment for all involved.

Evaluating adherence to future COVID-19 vaccination among elderly population in Israel

BackgroundOn March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. It was perceived as an elderly issue in face of the high morbidity and mortality rates among people over 60 years old. Instructions regarding protective and preventative conduct were issued by the Israeli ministry of health, with emphasis concerning the elderly population. This study aimed at examining the adherence for future Covid-19 vaccine and its predicting factors among the elderly population in Israel.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2020 among 1,797 Israeli respondents, aged 60 and above, via social media. The questionnaire assessed intentions to being vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, attitudes and subjective norms regarding the disease and instructions issued by the ministry of health, adhering to these instructions, perception of threat, trust in the healthcare system, negative emotions and social support.ResultsLevels of willingness to future vaccination were extremely high (92%). Multiple logistic regression analysis found gender, level of religiosity, socio-economic status, perception of threat, social support, trust in the healthcare system, negative emotions and subjective norms regarding social distancing, as predictors of probability for future adherence to the vaccine.ConclusionsThe study findings point to future intention, in a time when an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding COVID-19 and its consequences is prevalent around the world. The adherence predictors are in concurrence with elements of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action. Identifying the factors that predict future willingness to be vaccinated, may assist in developing ways to promote vaccination adherence against COVID-19, as well as against other illnesses.Key messages The results emphasize the importance of creating a supportive environment and shaping health-promoting attitudes among the elderly, as well as balanced and reliable threat communication of epidemics.Actual vaccination would depend on factors such as the pandemic severity at that time.

Descriptive Norms and Prototypes Predict COVID-19 Prevention Cognitions and Behaviors in the United States: Applying the Prototype Willingness Model to Pandemic Mitigation.

BackgroundEarly in the COVID-19 pandemic, prevention behavior adoption occurred in a rapidly changing context. In contrast to expectancy-value theories, the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) is well-suited for investigating novel and socially informed behaviors. PurposeWe explored whether PWM social cognitions predicted coronavirus prevention behaviors.MethodA representative sample of United States adults (N = 738; Mage = 46.8; 51.8% women; 78% white; April 2020) who had not had COVID-19 reported PWM predictor variables (perceived vulnerability, prevention descriptive norms, prototypes engaging in prevention behavior, and prevention behavioral intentions). Two weeks later, participants reported their prevention behaviors (handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, etc.) and future public health behavioral willingness (contact tracing, temperature checks, etc.).ResultsControlling for putative demographic, past behavior, and coronavirus-contextual (e.g., local infection rates) covariates, mediation models indicated that higher norms and favorable prototypes were associated with greater prevention behavioral intentions, which in turn predicted increased prevention behavior, F(18, 705) = 92.20, p < .001, R2 = .70. Higher norms and favorable prototypes associated both directly and indirectly (through greater prevention behavioral intention) with greater willingness to engage in emerging public health behaviors, F(15, 715) = 21.49, p < .001, R2 = .31.ConclusionsGreater descriptive norms and favorable prototypes for prevention behavior predicted: (a) future prevention behaviors through increases in behavioral intentions and (b) willingness to participate in emerging public health behaviors. These results held across demographic groups, political affiliation, and severity of regional outbreaks. Public health efforts to curb pandemics should highlight normative prevention participation and enhance positive prototypes.

The development of environmental science agency for primary school students through an environmental entrepreneurship intervention programme

The development of environmental science agency (ESA) is considered very important for the sustainability and conservation of the environment and the safeguarding of the cultural heritage. It is enhanced through experiential programmes and participatory actions that shape future environmental behaviour. ESA consists of three components: knowledge, role development and agency about the environment and the current issues affecting it. The present research was designed to explore how an environmental entrepreneurship intervention programme with primary school students can promote the development of their ESA. The study involved 34 primary students, aged 11–12, who participated in an environmental entrepreneurship educational programme. It follows a mixed methods design using quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, namely pre- and post-students’ questionnaires and teachers’ interviews. The results indicate the development of knowledge and roles components, while the third component, agency, seems to diminish. The results of this study seem to be suggesting that late childhood is a good period to invest in the development of ESA, by offering environmental entrepreneurial programmes to students that might leverage their future intentions and willingness in taking action towards the sustainability of the environment and the cultural heritage. Future studies should continue to investigate the relationship between environmental entrepreneurship education and the development of ESA.

Towards coexistence: Can people's attitudes explain their willingness to live with Sumatran elephants in Indonesia?

AbstractUnderstanding coexistence between humans and threatened wildlife is a central focus in conservation. Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra Island, Indonesia, harbors one of the largest populations of the critically endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus). The people who live alongside this population are affected by intensive crop foraging. Our study investigated the factors which influenced attitudes toward elephants. We then evaluated the implications of reported attitudes for future willingness to live with elephants. We surveyed 660 respondents in 22 villages around the park. People generally reported positive attitudes toward elephants (smartness 95%, usefulness 62%, importance 57%, and pleasantness 53%), apart from where human safety was concerned (safety 11%). Each dimension of attitude was explained by different factors including age, gender, knowledge of elephants, and distance to crop foraging locations. Most respondents (62%) expressed no willingness to coexist with elephants. Such willingness was lower when elephants were perceived to be more dangerous, but higher if beliefs in the benefits of elephants were greater. Efforts to improve crop foraging mitigation practice and to increase people's awareness of elephant benefits may promote support for their conservation. Through this study, we advocate the integration of social science to promote human–wildlife coexistence strategies, an approach that is currently limited in Indonesia.

Barriers and facilitators to reporting deaths following Ebola surveillance in Sierra Leone: implications for sustainable mortality surveillance based on an exploratory qualitative assessment

ObjectivesTo understand the barriers contributing to the more than threefold decline in the number of deaths (of all causes) reported to a national toll free telephone line (1-1-7) after the...

Predictors of engagement in young and older adults: The role of specific activity experience.

Activity that places demands on cognitive resources has positive effects on cognitive health in old age. To further understand determinants of age-group differences in participation, we examined how negative aging stereotypes and responses associated with a cognitively challenging activity influenced future willingness to engage in that activity. Sixty-nine young (20-40 years) and 80 older (63-84 years) adults performed a letter-number sequencing (LNS) task at different levels of demand for 15 min, during which systolic blood pressure responses-a measure of effort mobilization-and subjective perceptions of task demands were assessed. Approximately half the participants were primed with a negative aging stereotype prior to this task. Following the LNS task, participants completed an effort-discounting task, with resulting subjective values indicating their willingness to perform the task at each level of demand. As expected, both subjective and objective indicators of cognitive demands as well as performance were associated with future willingness to engage in a difficult task, with these effects being significantly greater for older adults. In addition, although stereotype activation influenced older adults' engagement levels in the LNS task, it did not moderate willingness. Together, the results indicate that, relative to younger adults, older adults' decisions to engage in cognitively challenging activities are disproportionately affected by their subjective perceptions of demands. Interestingly, actual engagement with the task and associated success result in reduced perceptions of difficulty and greater willingness to engage. Thus, overcoming faulty and discouraging task perceptions may promote older adults' engagement in demanding but potentially beneficial activities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Is household electricity saving a virtuous circle? A case study of the first-tier cities in China

Based on a survey in four first-tier cities in China, this paper uses multiple indicators multiple causes model to estimate the determinants in personal consciousness of electricity saving, and uses a structural equation model to verify the relationship between electricity saving behavior and willingness through value simulated by activity. Hypotheses based on the theory of practice are verified by finding a virtuous circle in energy-saving: the residents' past energy-saving experience enhances their positive value, thereby promoting energy-saving willingness. Although the experience of power saving leads to unpleasant feelings too, which inhibits future energy-saving willingness, the impact is limited. To promote the virtuous circle between behavior and willingness, information feedback is most promising in enhancing the virtuous circle according to our empirical study, a change of one unit of standard deviation in information sharing might cause 0.43 unit of standard deviation in electricity-saving willingness, which is bigger than the economic value and is almost 10 times of the negative feelings. Given that the respondents with higher education and income levels show higher consciousness of energy saving, from a bigger perspective, energy-saving consciousness could be promoted as added value for the society’s development. The survey conducted in the cities with the highest levels of urbanization in China provides a reference for non-economic factor analysis on energy consumption in China and other developing countries, by proposing both qualitative and quantitative recommendations for the policymakers.

What should medical students be taught about abortion? An evaluation of student attitudes towards their abortion teaching and their future involvement in abortion care

BackgroundOne in three women in the United Kingdom (UK) will have an abortion before age 45, making abortion provision an essential aspect of reproductive healthcare. Despite this, abortion remains ethically contested and stigmatised, with variable teaching in UK medical schools and concerns about falling numbers of doctors willing to participate in abortion care. University College London Medical School (UCLMS) has designed practical, inclusive, teaching that aims to give students an understanding of the importance of abortion care and prepare them to be competent practitioners in this area. This study aimed to determine students’ opinions of this teaching and their wider attitudes towards abortion.MethodsWe invited all 357 final-year UCL medical students to complete an online survey consisting of closed-ended questions, exploring their opinions on their abortion teaching, their personal beliefs about abortion and their future willingness to be involved in abortion care. We analysed responses using non-parametric tests.ResultsOne hundred and forty-six questionnaires (41% response rate) showed 83% of students identified as pro-choice (agree with the right to choose an abortion). Fifty-seven percent felt they received the right amount of abortion teaching, 39% would have liked more and 4% stated they received too much. There was no correlation between students’ attitudes to abortion and the rating of teaching; both pro-choice and pro-life (opposed to the right to choose an abortion) students generally rated the teaching as important and valued the range of methods used. Students requested more simulated practice speaking to patients requesting an abortion. Students with pro-life beliefs expressed lower willingness to discuss, refer, certify and provide future abortions. Students interested in careers in specialties where they may encounter abortion were more likely to be pro-choice than pro-life.ConclusionsThe majority of participating UCL medical students were pro-choice and willing to be involved in future abortion care. Efforts to make teaching on abortion practical, engaging, sensitive and inclusive were appreciated. As well as preparing students to be competent and caring practitioners, the teaching appears to contribute towards them viewing abortion as an essential aspect of women’s healthcare, and may contribute to destigmatising abortion.

A Theory-Based Self-Management Training Program for Older Adult Peer Leaders with Diabetes: A Feasibility Assessment.

ObjectiveTo improve the quality of peer leader training, this study developed a theory-based self-management training program for older adult peer leaders with diabetes and assessed its feasibility.BackgroundCurrent self-management programs are designed mainly to be implemented by healthcare professionals, but healthcare staff may not fully perceive the needs and obstacles of older adults in disease management due to a lack of similar illness experience. To target this problem, peer leaders with successful self-management experiences, similar cultural backgrounds and languages, and related illness experiences are trained to guide and mentor peer patients in self-management programs.Study Design and MethodsThis study was conducted in two stages. In stage 1, a peer leader training program was developed based on experiential learning theory as the framework and self-regulation theory as the activity design strategy. In stage 2, program feasibility was assessed via participants’ feedback toward the training program by three indicators: attendance, future willingness to lead the peer-led self-management program, and leadership skills evaluated by a peer leader training assessment tool.ResultsIn this study, peer leaders demonstrated good leadership skills by expressing active willingness to lead self-management programs in the community. Peer leaders’ feedback indicated that the program’s training content was helpful in preparing peer leaders to guide older adults in learning self-management skills and in improving the abilities and confidence of peer leaders in mentoring self-management.ConclusionFindings in this study showed that peer leader training can impact the effectiveness and success of self-management in older adults with diabetes. Even in a small-scale study, the impact was evident, which demonstrated the feasibility of the program. More large-scale studies on the effectiveness of various peer leader training programs in diverse disciplines are recommended.Clinical Trials RegistryClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04298424 (the Peer-Led Self-Management Program).

Do the Reasons Emerging Adults Become Informal Caregivers Relate to Future Willingness to Care? A Mixed-Methods Study

Approximately 12-18% of family caregivers to older adults in the U.S. are emerging adults (aged 18-25), yet minimal research focuses on this subgroup of caregivers (Levine, 2005). Although several theories have developed to explain the growing number of emerging adults assuming informal caregiving roles (e.g., alleviating burden on middle-aged caregivers, family obligation; Dellmann-Jenkins & Brittain, 2003), the reasons why emerging adults become caregivers have not been studied. In the current study, a sample of 248 emerging adult caregivers were asked to describe the circumstances that led to providing unpaid care to an older adult. Using discovery-oriented coding methodology, 11 themes emerged within participants’ responses: care-recipient illness (35.5%), familial relationship (35.5%), care-recipient became dependent (23.8%), proximity (13.7%), only option (10.1%), reciprocal care (8.9%), availability (8.5%), age-related decline (6.9%), monetary restrictions (6.9%), care-recipient desire (6.0%), and community service (4%). Follow-up analyses found that participants who identified familial relationships (e.g., “They are my parents so I felt obligated...”) were less likely to endorse willingness to provide nursing care in the future compared to those who did not identify familial relationships (p=.032). Participants who identified care-recipient dependency as a circumstance leading to caregiving (e.g., “My grandmother fell and was in rehab...”) were more likely to endorse willingness to provide instrumental (p=.034) and emotional (p=.047) care in the future than those who did not identify care-recipient dependency. These results demonstrate the unique reasons that may lead emerging adults to begin caregiving and how these reasons relate to future willingness to care for an older adult.

Reducing Pangolin Demand by Understanding Motivations for Human Consumption in Guangdong, China

Pangolins are some of the most trafficked mammals in the world. China is a major destination country for illegal wildlife trade and Guangdong Province is one of the areas of high domestic wildlife consumption. A willingness to consume lies at the root of the illegal wildlife trade. To understand the ideological roots of pangolin consumption, and to propose solutions, we conducted a consumption survey in 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong and have collected 1,957 valid questionnaires. In these questionnaires, 108 respondents (5.52%) who had consumed pangolin-related products, scales had been consumed by 61 respondents (3.12%), 58 respondents (2.96%) had consumed meat. We found that scale consumption was primarily motivated by disease treatment (80.43%). The main reason for meat consumption was accidental (44.83%), but among those who intentionally ate pangolin were motivated by curiosity (22.41%) or “showing off” (8.62%). Simultaneously, the respondents' future consumption willingness for medicinal purposes was more difficult to change than its use for other purposes. What's more, the public's insufficient understanding of the status of pangolins in China and weak legal awareness were potential reasons for pangolin consumption. In addition to classifying pangolins as Category I state-protected animals in China and strengthening penalties and enforcement, we recommend creating public awareness of the risk of zoonotic diseases, advocating for the use of alternative medicines in disease treatment and removing scales from ingredients in patented medicines, which will all act to reduce the demand for pangolins. We expect these actions to change public consumption behaviors and their collective understanding of pangolins, which improve pangolin protection efforts around the globe.

Effect of repeated epilation for minor trachomatous trichiasis on lash burden, phenotype and surgical management willingness: A cohort study.

BackgroundWHO endorsed the use of epilation as an alternative treatment to surgery for the management of both minor unoperated TT (UTT) and postoperative TT (PTT). However, some trachoma control programmes hesitated to implement epilation citing concerns that it would hamper TT surgical acceptance and result in larger numbers of and stiffer trichiatic eyelashes than the original TT lashes. We investigated the burden and phenotypes of post-epilation trichiatic eyelashes, and willingness to accept surgical management separately in unoperated and postoperative TT cases.Methodology/Principal findingsWe recruited cases with minor (≤5 eyelashes from the upper eyelid touching the eye or evidence of epilation in <1/3rd of the upper eyelid) UTT (170) and PTT (169) from community-based screenings in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Participants eyes were examined and data on present and future willingness to accept surgical management collected at baseline and every month for 6-months. Eyelashes touching the eye were counted and their phenotypes documented. Participants were trained on how to epilate. Epilation was done by the participants at home and by the examiner during follow-ups when requested by the participant. Follow-up rates were ≥97%. There was evidence of a significant reduction in the burden of trichiatic eyelashes in unoperated (mean difference = -0.90 [-1.11– -0.69]; RR = 0.50 [95% CI, 0.40–0.62]; p<0.0001), and postoperative (mean difference = -1.16 [-1.36– -0.95]; RR = 0.38 [95% CI, 0.31–0.48]; p<0.0001) cases 6-month after frequent epilation. Post-epilation trichiatic eyelashes at 6-months had higher odds of being thin (40.2% vs 55.8%, OR = 1.88 [95% CI, 1.21–2.93]; p = 0.0048), weak (39.8% vs 70.8%, OR = 3.68 [95%CI,2.30–5.88]; p<0.0001), and half-length (30.9% vs 43.3%, OR = 1.71 [1.09–2.68]; p = 0.020) than the pre-epilation trichiatic eyelashes in unoperated cases. There was a significant increase in the proportion of weak trichiatic eyelashes (OR = 1.99 [95% CI, 1.03–3.83; p = 0.039) in postoperative cases. In all 6 follow-up time points, 120/164 (73.2%) of unoperated and 134/163 (82.2%) of postoperative cases indicated that they would accept surgery if their trichiasis progressed.Conclusions/SignificanceIn this study setting, frequent epilation neither hampers surgical acceptance nor results in more damaging trichiatic eyelashes than the pre-epilation lashes; and can be used as an alternative to the programmatic management of minor unoperated and postoperative TT cases.

Exploring Classroom Willingness to Communicate: The Role of Motivating Future L2 Selves

&lt;p&gt;This study investigated the link between future L2 selves and Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in the classroom in the UK university context. We applied a mixed methods approach to collect data from 121 Chinese overseas students where a questionnaire was used before semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Two key quantitative findings were: 1) There is a strong positive correlation between ideal L2 self and classroom WTC; 2) A student’s major moderates the relationship between the ought-to L2 self and classroom WTC. Students from non-English-related majors had a greater influence of ought-to L2 self on their WTC in the classroom, while ought-to L2 self does not seem to affect the WTC of English-related majors in the classroom. Follow-up interviews triangulated the quantitative findings with further illustrations in terms of the role of future L2 selves in stimulating WTC in the classroom and the potential differences between students with different academic backgrounds.&lt;/p&gt;

Categorization of pedestrian level of service perceptions and accounting its response heterogeneity and latent correlation on travel decisions

Abstract User perception plays a critical role in pedestrian infrastructure usage. Indeed, the perceptional influence varies across individuals, and it is imperative to consider their response heterogeneity in modelling individual travel intentions. The present study develops a novel framework to understand the pedestrian perception, and further identify their impact on future travel decisions. In this framework, the individual pedestrian perception of an area is captured using a Level of Service (LOS) index, and the overall set of LOS is categorized using a clustering methodology. The future travel behavior is modelled using a single-step estimation that incorporates the effect of both response heterogeneity and latent individual correlation. The proposed framework is utilized in estimating the LOS categorization and the future willingness to walk in the city of Coimbatore, India. The results found a significant response heterogeneity among respondents in Coimbatore, and consequently emphasized the need for incorporating these taste variations in the travel behavior models. An increase in LOS encouraged the respondents to walk, and further, walk longer. Moreover, females were willing to pursue walking and/or walk more distance compared with males. The positive ordinal interval for LOS ‘A’ to ‘C’ indicated an acceptability for this LOS range among pedestrians compared with LOS ‘E’ to ‘F’ having a negative range. In the individual assessment of LOS variables, almost all study areas were found requiring an improvement with respect to the management of footpath vendors and footpath cleanliness.

Study on cognition, willingness to test and influencing factors of hepatitis C based on social software for men who have sex with men

Objective: To understand the cognition, willingness to test and influencing factors of hepatitis C (HCV) based on social software for men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: An online questionnaire was used to investigate the target population of Blued platform users, including general demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, drug abuse behavior, cognition of hepatitis C prevention and treatment, past hepatitis C testing status and future testing willingness. There were 14 questions in the cognition part, and answering 10 or more questions were defined as "knowing" . Cognition rate, willingness to test and related influencing factors of hepatitis C were analyzed in different characteristics population. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 1800 valid questionnaires were completed, of which 58.9% (1 061/1 800) had heard of hepatitis C, and the overall cognition rate of hepatitis C was 33.5% (603/1 800). The cognition rate of hepatitis C among those aged 30 years old, monthly income among RMB 5 000~10 000, high school education or above, and previous HIV testing [42.5% (371/873), 36.7% (191/520), 35.1% (584/1 663) and 37.4% (544/1453)] was considerably higher than those of the corresponding low-age, low-income, low-educated, not having HIV testing and not insisting on condom use, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of respondents who were willing to undergo hepatitis C testing in the next 3 months was 82.5% (851/1 031). The proportion of respondents who were tested for HIV in the past, had anal sex in the past 6 months and had high-risk behaviors [85.2% (766/899), 86.1% (609/707) and 86.6% (610/704)] was considerably higher than those who had not been tested for HIV, had no anal sex and had no high-risk behaviors in the past 6 months, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The survey respondents have a low cognition rate of hepatitis C, but have a higher willingness to test. Targeted publicity and education should be strengthened for this population, and convenient conditions should be provided to promote regular testing.

Communication in a threshold public goods game under ambiguity

ABSTRACT This paper offers evidence on the impact of communication on the provision of public goods whose quality is uncertain, such as investment in prevention or fundraising in favour of non-governmental organizations (NGO). We run a laboratory experiment with two treatments, where the control variable is pre-play communication via unrestricted text chat. A binary threshold public goods game with four-person groups, threshold of three contributors and provision mechanism with elements of ambiguity is at the core of the design. A private signal linked to the real value of the public good supports the contribution decision. We find that unexpected low-valued public goods can undermine future willingness to contribute, although the benefits of communication still prevail in the form of higher public good provision. We also detect unprecedented inefficiency coming from overcontribution, given that subjects tend to neglect the free-rider problem. Chat analysis reveals that players favour the minimization of ambiguity over the maximization of the group earnings, so that we finally speculate that under uncertainty satisficing is more salient than optimizing.

Trust and Prospective Reconciliation: Evidence From a Protracted Armed Conflict

Traditional approaches to international aid deal with post-conflict risks focusing on external safeguards for peacebuilding, leaving local social enhancers playing a subsidiary role. Trust has long been highlighted as a key factor that can positively affect sustainable peace efforts by reducing intergroup hostility. Surprisingly, most post-conflict studies deal with trust as a dependent variable. Using a cross-sectional multi-method field study in Colombia, we assess the impact of trust on prospective reconciliation in the midst of an ongoing peace process. We find that trust in ex-combatants and in government increases the likelihood of having positive attitudes towards future reconciliation and willingness to support not only the peace process but reconciliation activities after war. We offer evidence supporting the idea that rather than drawing exclusively on economic and military capabilities, investing in local governance infrastructures that promote prosocial behaviour and positive belief management in the pre-reconciliation face offers a complementary alternative to help societies exit civil wars while tackling barriers to peacebuilding efforts in the initial stages of a post-conflict.

Solve the dilemma by spinning a penny? On using random decision-making aids

AbstractWhen people find it difficult to make a decision, they may opt to let chance decide. Flipping a coin, rolling a die, or using a counting-out rhyme are well-known decision aids. When individuals directly follow the aid’s suggestion, the decision aid acts as adecider. But when the decision aid elicits a felt response, such as liking or disliking the aid’s suggestion, and individuals act upon this response, the decision aid serves as acatalyst. This manuscript investigates whether and how many individuals apply these two strategies. In four studies (totalN= 1135), we focus on coin flips as one of the most common decision aids and place an emphasis on the catalyst strategy. We examine (1) the frequency of previous experiences and future willingness to use a coin flip to make decisions, (2) which affective reactions accompany the coin flip when using it as catalyst, and (3) the circumstances under which individuals are more versus less likely to accept the use of a random decision-making aid to come to a decision. These results illustrate the catalyst phenomenon but also highlight the boundary conditions of individuals’ willingness to use randomness as an aid for decision making. We discuss directions for future research as well as potential applications.