Healthy Social Interaction Research Articles

Dopamine depletion affects communicative intentionality in Parkinson's disease patients: Evidence from action kinematics

Appropriate communication is at the heart of successful, healthy social interactions in humans. Deficits in social communication are a hallmark of several neurological and psychiatric disorders. Yet, very little research has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms underlying these issues. It has been suggested that dopamine is a candidate neurotransmitter system involved in stimulating communication in individuals that are not highly motivated to communicate. A typical model to study dopaminergic dysfunctions in humans is represented by Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, who show motor, cognitive and motivational symptoms. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of social communication on actions in non-demented PD patients receiving dopamine replacement therapy (Levodopa = l-Dopa) and in neurologically healthy control participants. Patients' ability to modulate motor patterning depending on the communicative intention motivating the action to be performed was evaluated both in “on” (with l-Dopa) and “off” (without l-Dopa) states. In two main conditions, participants were requested to reach towards, grasp an object, and either simply lift it (individual condition) or lift it with the intent to communicate a meaning to a partner (communicative condition). Movements' kinematics was recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The results indicate that kinematics is sensitive to communicative intention and that l-Dopa treatment has positive effects on translating communicative intentions into specific motor patterns in PD patients. Although the to-be-grasped object remained the same both the controls and the PD patients in an ‘on’ state adopted different kinematic patterning for the ‘individual’ and the ‘communication’ conditions. The PD patients in the ‘off’ state, instead, were unable to kinematically differentiate between the two conditions. We contend that social and communicative impairments are associated with abnormalities in dopaminergic pathways.

The role of healthy social interaction and communications in provoking creativity in the design studio

Design is a social phenomenon and researchers suggest that negotiations and communications between designers are essential to initiate creativity. Within the design studio environment, a number of factors affect the healthy social interaction and design negotiations, such as the teaching style of tutors and the culture that governs a design studio environment. This may, in turn, affect the utilisation of the outcome of negotiations in the design project. Design studio students from the third to fifth years at the College of Architecture, UoD were surveyed to find out how far the design studio culture and communications would impact on the production of innovative design projects. The results show that democratic communications and establishing common grounds are essential to develop knowledge and would influence positively the design outcome. On the other hand, the research found that negative personal and design studio environment’s qualities would hinder students’ creativity. However, to develop students’ design/innovative abilities, the researcher recommends that certain measures should be considered. These would include shifting the focus of architectural design pedagogy from the production of solution-based to innovative-based design projects, transforming the design studio into an interactive and friendly learning environment and the development of interactive and communications skills of tutors.

Protection of Privacy in Designing of Residential Complexes Architecture and Its Effect on Constructive Relations among the Residents

<p class="zhengwen"><span lang="EN-GB">Abode is the most important provider of civilization and house is the best protection of social culture of the society. Abode is the protector of the family dynasty and the relations among its members. Having suitable abode like other human needs is one of the primary rights of humans and it has been emphasized in constitutional law (article thirty one). Lack of abode and its unsuitable quality has direct and close relation with increasing of delinquency, divorce and social disruption and it is accounted as a deterrent factor in social, cultural and mental development and moderation. Also not having abode causes to create the social abnormal phenomena such as sleep street, hutment and slum that such life gives abnormal personality structure to the person. Lack of abode or its unsuitable quality is accounted an effective factor in creating phenomena like anxiety, depression and behavorial disorders and causes to decrease the mental and physical resistence of the person in facing with problems. Therefore planning for protection of privacy and residents independency despites the existence of healthy and constructive social interactions in residential complexes is an important thing. The purpose of this research is discussing about the importance of constructive privacy existence in residential complexes and the manner, quality and effective factors in formation of it. In order to promote the research, descriptive-analytic methodology has been applied and the method of information collecting is in the kind of documentary study which is embarked to analyze the received information by using of qualitative contents analysis.</span></p>

TOWARD A DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM

I have worked with students at-risk for the greater majority of my career. The term has a number of meanings. Officially, it means they are at-risk of failing, but often the risks are much greater. At one extreme they are at-risk of losing their lives to substance abuse or suicide. Less drastically they are at-risk of making their way through the criminal justice system, being institutionalized or living desperate lives. One thing they had in common was a difficulty in having healthy social interactions especially in moments of conflict. The problem was to address these developmental needs while fulfilling mandated curriculum requirements.

Representations of Mental Health Among Middle‐Aged Urban Chinese Men

AbstractLittle is understood by the ideas that urban Chinese population holds about mental health. Insufficient research and recognition of mental illnesses, and a dearth of social resources for mental health support and promotion limit understandings of how daily life stresses restrict the quality of life of China's urban population. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with 15 middle‐age urban men, we map out men's accounts of how they battle to cope with the demands of everyday social, political, and familial pressures. The study reveals that the representations of mental health are shaped by notions of control over emotions, adherence to Confucian philosophy, familial obligations, and the need to demonstrate social obedience and conformity. Data also suggest that the participants represent stable family support along with healthy social interactions as important enabling factors of positive mental health, whereas pressures of modernity are regarded as significant disruptive factors in mental health. The theory of social representations guides the process as well as analytic interpretations of this research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Habilidades sociais em estudantes de jornalismo

OBJETIVO: caracterizar o repertório de habilidades sociais de estudantes de Jornalismo. MÉTODOS: participaram 89 estudantes de Jornalismo da UNESP/Bauru, sendo 63 do sexo feminino e 26 do masculino, com idades variando entre 18 e 28 anos, os quais responderam ao Inventário de Habilidades Sociais IHS-Del-Prette (Del Prette & Del Prette, 2001). RESULTADOS: os dados indicaram que os estudantes do curso de jornalismo apresentaram repertório de habilidades sociais classificados "Bom acima da média" para as o escore global, as habilidades sociais de comunicação (F1), assertivas de enfrentamento (F3), empáticas (F4) e de trabalho (F5). O único fator que apresentou classificação como "Bom abaixo da média" foi as habilidades sociais de civilidade (F2), que corresponde a expressar afeto aos amigos, agradecer, apresentar-se, cumprimentar e despedir-se. Não houve diferença estatiscamente significante entre os cinco fatores estudados e os gêneros com relação aos resultados do escore global e os escores dos cinco fatores do IHS-Del-Prette. CONCLUSÃO: Estudantes de jornalismo apresentam habilidades sociais que lhe permitem interações sociais saudáveis, mas estas não se apresentaram no seu potencial máximo. As habilidades sociais que se revelaram com maior necessidade de desenvoltura foram as de "civilidade" e de "expressar sentimentos positivos e negativos".

Using Social Interaction Theory to Promote Successful Relational Contracting between Clients and Contractors in Construction

AbstractThe construction industry, with its adversarial culture, could use relational contracting (RC) to improve project outcomes by nurturing healthy social interactions among its key players, particularly clients and contractors. The aim of this research is to investigate the application of social interaction theory in RC in construction. A literature review was used to identify factors from social interaction theory that affects RC performance. These factors were verified by experts and practitioners to determine their relevance. Questionnaires were then distributed to measure the level of implementation of the verified factors in the Pakistani construction industry. In total, 204 data were collected and analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that in order to have successful RC, clients and contractors must identify motivational factors, develop a collaborative culture, and establish structured interactions. The research has found 6 dimensions and 36 fact...

Identificación prospectiva de factores en el proceso de gestión ambiental urbana de la “Estación Metro Petare”, Caracas, Venezuela

Los espacios públicos pertenecientes a la Parro­quia Petare, del Municipio Sucre, Región Capital Venezuela, han sido invadidos por el comercio informal, afectando la calidad del ambiente urrbano. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar prospectivamente, factores de la gestión ambiental urbana para el rescate de la estación de metro Petare desde el enfoque del desarrollo sostenible. Para ello, se realizaron 28 reuniones de tormenta de ideas con los representantes de los diferentes grupos sociales (80 ciudadanos) que hacen vida en el espacio público estudiado. Primero, se llevaron a cabo 8 reuniones, donde se identificaron los 35 factores de mayor influen­cia desde la perspectiva de los participantes. A partir de estos factores se realizaron 575 en­cuestas en sitio (estación de metro Petare) para establecer la influencia directa de cada uno de los actores en la problemática. Durante 10 reunio­nes realizadas, de acuerdo a los resultados de las encuestas, y aplicando la Técnica de Pareto para evaluar la clasificación directa, se obtuvieron los 16 factores más influyentes. En las últimas 10 reu­niones se aplicaron métodos prospectivos, con el fin de establecer las variables ocultas influyentes para el desarrollo de un plan de recuperación del sitio. Se encontró que tanto la sana interacción social como la restricción de comercio informal, son variables objetivo con gran potencial de via­bilidad, que permitirían la generación de un plan de gestión consensuado, sostenible en el tiempo y viable en el corto y mediano plazo en una sana gobernabilidad del espacio. La conclusión más sobresaliente, fue que la participación ciudada­na orientada a reconocer la variable ambiente, permitió la identificación de factores influyentes de gestión urbana en espacios públicos que, por diferentes razones, han sido vulnerados con actividades no acordes a su función como parte del contexto urbano.

The Impact of Social Interaction and Communications on Innovation in the Architectural Design Studio

Design is a social phenomenon and researchers suggest that social interaction, negotiations and communication between designers are essential to initiate creativity. Within the design studio environment, a number of factors affect the healthy social interaction and design negotiations, such as the teaching style of tutors and the culture that governs a design studio’s environment. This may in turn affect the utilization of the outcome of negotiations in the design project. Design studio students from the third to fifth years at the College of Architecture, University of Dammam (UD), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), were surveyed to find out how far the design studio’s culture and communication would impact the production of innovative design projects. The results show that frequent communication and the establishment’s shared grounds are essential to develop knowledge and positively influence the design outcome. On the other hand, the research found that negative qualities on a personal level and on that of a design studio environment would hinder a student’s creativity. However, to develop students’ design/innovative abilities, the researcher recommends that certain measures should be considered. These would include transforming the design studio into an interactive and friendly learning environment, adjusting the teaching methodology, and developing interactive communication abilities of students and tutors.

SOCIEDADE, CULTURA E SAÚDE: MOTIVAÇÃO NA UTILIZAÇÃO DE ESPAÇO PÚBLICO DE LAZER

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi identificar e analisar os fatores motivacionais que influenciam os atores sociais a utilizarem os espaços públicos de lazer. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva de campo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizada com 80 frequentadores do Parque da Jaqueira e Calçadão de Boa Viagem, da cidade de Recife-PE. A apreciação dos dados se deu através da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados indicam os fatores motivacionais para se frequentar os espaços públicos de lazer estão relacionados à busca por hábitos saudáveis e à interação social. Portanto podem proporcionar aos seus usuários qualidade de vida, satisfação e bem estar.

Desarrollo de emociones positivas en la niñez. Lineamientos para la intervención escolar

The article deals with the positive emotions that can affect intellectual processes, reasoning, problem solving and information processing, curbing indiscipline and optimizing healthy social interaction. The objective is to offer methodological guidelines for the design and implementation of an approach to teaching that combines emotional development with everyday work in the classroom. The strategies defined by way of a conclusion will be effective in working with teachers in training situations and in working with children to encourage positive emotions and to control negative ones.

Benutting van vergifnis binne ’n pastorale Gestaltterapeutiese intervensie

Utilisation of forgiveness within a pastoral Gestalt therapeutic intervention This article is based on a pastoral base theory within the Gestalt therapeutic perspective to guide abused persons in their utilisation of forgiveness as a source of a recovery experience. The formation of the paradigm is based on a multidisciplinary approach, which takes place on the interface between pastoral counselling and Gestalt therapy without the unique content and character of pastoral care or the Gestalt therapy being lost. It appears that forgiveness, as a source of repair experience, can guide abused persons to psychological and physical health, positive emotions and healthy social interaction. Forgiveness can be defined as the unconditional acceptance of God’s grace through faith, and release (surrender) of an offender to the mercy of God. It does not deny the pain or change the past, but it breaks the cycle of bitterness that abused people associate with the pain of the past. Through the use of forgiveness as a coping mechanism abused people can be guided to handle unfinished business.

An Afrocentric Approach to Group Social Skills Training with Inner-City African American Adolescents

This study compared the effectiveness for inner-city African American youth (N = 64) of two social skills training (SST) curricula focusing on problem solving, anger management, and conflict resolution. One curriculum was Afrocentric, incorporating discussion of Black history and cultural experiences and emphasizing an Afrocentric value system; the other was culturally relevant but not Afrocentric. It was hypothesized that social skills acquisition would be better facilitated by Afrocentric curricula and that exposure to Afrocentric values would enhance the benefits of SST for Black youth. Neither hypothesis was confirmed; both curricula yielded similar decreases in trait anger and increases in assertiveness and self-control. However, results support the effectiveness of Afrocentric SST as a preventive intervention and the need for further study. INTRODUCTION Violence-encompassing a variety of intentional or unintentional acts of harm such as stabbings, shootings, rapes, assaults, physical abuse, and homicide-is a critical social problem confronting American society. Since the early 1990s, violent crime rates in the United States have been the highest seen in decades, with the latest upswing in violence largely accounted for by youth under age 18 (Guerra, Huesmann, Tolan, Van Acker, & Eron, 1995). This trend disproportionately affects African American and other racial/ ethnic minority youth, who populate the urban neighborhoods in which much of this violence is concentrated, and who experience more violence than youth living in nonurban areas (Cooley, Turner, & Beidel, 1995). As Bell and Jenkins (1991) maintain, exposure to violence has become commonplace for inner-city African American adolescents. For example, in a study conducted in predominantly Black central Baltimore (Maryland), Garbarino, Durbow, and Pardo (1991) note that 24% of their adolescent sample (N= 168) indicated having witnessed a murder, while 72% maintained that they knew someone who had been shot. The homicide rate for African American adolescents is reportedly six to nine times higher than that for White adolescents (Cotten, Resnick, Brown, & Martin, 1994; Durant, Cadenhead, Pendergrast, & Slavens, 1994). Between 1978 and 1988, homicide was the leading cause of death for African American male and female youth, and often these crimes were perpetrated by other African American youth (Hammond & Yung, 1993). Family disruption, poverty, unemployment, and racism are environmental risk factors that contribute to violence in urban communities (McLoyd,1990). Complex urban environmental stressors such as family and community violence, victimization, and poverty contribute to feelings of low self-worth, anger, hopelessness, and aggression among the youth who live in these communities (Oliver, 1989). These constant stressors can prevent the development and use of socially acceptable ways to mediate violence. As a result, urban youth are placed at high risk of neither developing nor maintaining healthy social interaction skills, which Reed (1994) defines as (a) the ability to organize cognitions and behaviors toward an action that is culturally and socially acceptable, and (b) the ability to assess, modify, and maximize or reach particular goals. With regard to violence prevention and intervention particularly, these skills involve problem solving, conflict resolution, and anger management (Bulkeley & Cramer, 1990). Social skills training (SST) is a popular and effective means of prevention and intervention with adolescent populations (Reed, 1994; Waksman, 1985). It is frequently used as a preventive intervention to remediate problematic social behaviors while encouraging positive social interactions (Gresham & Elliott, 1990). Most SST programs involve formal teaching of the problem-solving and interpersonal skills required for surviving, living with others, and succeeding in a complex society. As such, they provide a broad base of prosocial skills training that includes awareness building, and development of situationspecific skills that foster interpersonal competency. …

Promoting Social Competence in Children: A Classroom Approach to Social and Cognitive Skill Training

Socialization procedures are becoming increasingly necessary to help fecilitate the social competence of many children. Classroom procedures for promoting social competence in the schools are discussed. Two methods for encouraging healthy social interaction, social skills training and interpersonal cognitive problem solving, are described as a classroom approach. Service delivery.