Life Dilemmas Research Articles

Navigating the Moral World: Contrasting Adolescents’ Moral Dilemmas in Social Media and Reallife Environments

Moral dilemmas arise at the intersection of one's core moral beliefs. This descriptive qualitative study delves into the complex moral world of adolescents to examine and draw parallels between the context, conflict and content of their moral dilemmas in real life and social media environments. A purposive sampling method was employed with a total of 130 Slovenian adolescents (average age of 17.3 years). The data was analyzed using a deductive and inductive approach. Commonalities of moral dilemmas emerged in the context (largely involving friends) and content (primarily rooted in the care/harm foundation). However, when the conflicts were analysed, remarkable differences emerged, shaped by the unique dynamics of social media. As the realm of morality on social media remains largely unexplored from an adolescent perspective, our findings offer a novel perspective on this complex issue. Our study can also open the way for more effective moral education in the context of social media.

Neural underpinnings of ethical decisions in life and death dilemmas in naïve and expert firefighters

When a single choice impacts on life outcomes, faculties to make ethical judgments come into play. Here we studied decisions in a real-life setting involving life-and-death outcomes that affect others and the decision-maker as well. We chose a genuine situation where prior training and expertise play a role: firefighting in life-threatening situations. By studying the neural correlates of dilemmas involving life-saving decisions, using realistic firefighting situations, allowed us to go beyond previously used hypothetical dilemmas, while addressing the role of expertise and the use of coping strategies (n = 47). We asked the question whether the neural underpinnings of deontologically based decisions are affected by expertise. These realistic life-saving dilemmas activate the same core reward and affective processing network, in particular the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and amygdala, irrespective of prior expertise, thereby supporting general domain theories of ethical decision-making. We found that brain activity in the hippocampus and insula parametrically increased as the risk increased. Connectivity analysis showed a larger directed influence of the insula on circuits related to action selection in non-experts, which were slower than experts in non rescuing decisions. Relative neural activity related to the decision to rescue or not, in the caudate nucleus, insula and anterior cingulate cortex was negatively associated with coping strategies, in experts (firefighters) suggesting practice-based learning. This shows an association between activity and expert-related usage of coping strategies. Expertise enables salience network activation as a function of behavioural coping dimensions, with a distinct connectivity profile when facing life-rescuing dilemmas.

Eudaimonia as a treatment goal in psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine

Psychotherapy encompasses a broad range of goals, ranging from the alleviation of symptoms and the prevention of recurrence to the enhancement of well-being. These goals are mostly cross-sectional and hedonic-oriented in the sense of wellness, happiness, and absence of pain. However, an alternative goal is eudaimonia, which involves mastery of life from a long-term perspective. This pursuit entails embracing and even seeking hardship and confrontation with adversities for the sake of higher goods and goals. Eudaimonia, both an attitude and a behavior, is essential for everybody, especially individuals facing challenging circumstances and burdensome life situations, such as familial burdens, job problems, and illness. Eudaimonia can be attained through wisdom, which is regarded in lifespan psychology as a multidimensional capacity for coping with complex challenges and dilemmas in life. Initial studies suggest that wisdom skills are trainable, opening additional avenues in psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine. It is argued that eudaimonia deserves increased attention in psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine.

Toward High Specific Energy and Long Cycle Life Li/Mn‐Rich Layered Oxide || Graphite Lithium‐Ion Batteries via Optimization of Voltage Window

Li/Mn‐rich layered oxide (LMR) cathode active materials promise exceptionally high practical specific discharge capacity (>250 mAh g−1) as a result of both conventional cationic and anionic oxygen redox. The latter requires electrochemical activation at high cathode potential (>4.5 V vs Li|Li+), though it is accompanied by capacity and voltage fade in the course of continuous release of lattice oxygen, layered‐to‐spinel phase transformation, redox couple shift, as well as transition metal dissolution, whereas the latter is particularly detrimental for graphite‐based anodes due to electrode crosstalk. Herein, the degradation is investigated in LMR || graphite full cells by systematically varying the voltage windows, analyzing electrochemical data and changes at the anode surface. Based on this, the optimal operational voltage window, i.e., upper and lower cutoff voltage (UCV and LCV), is elaborated to finally solve the dilemma of decent cycle life (at high UCVs) and insufficient LMR activation/capacity (at low UCV) and is shown to be superior via distinguishing between formation and postformation cycles of 4.5 and 4.3 V, respectively.

Analysis of the Fate of Literati in Qing Dynasty Who did not Meet the Imperial Examination: Life Dilemma and Spiritual Pursuit

The Qing Dynasty was the last period of Chinese feudal society, during which the imperial examination system played an important role. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the fate of literati who failed to pass the imperial examination in Qing Dynasty, focusing on the analysis of their life difficulties and the spiritual realm they pursued. Firstly, it introduces the historical background and structure of the imperial examination system in Qing Dynasty, and its influence on social mobility and literati status. It then discusses the economic challenges, career opportunities limitations and psychological difficulties faced by literati who failed to pass the exam. At the same time, it analyzes how these literati seek spiritual satisfaction and contribution by cultivating personal interest, engaging in literary and artistic creation, and participating in knowledge exchange and cultural activities. Through case studies of well-known literati who failed the exam, their life paths, dilemmas, and achievements are explored, as well as their philosophical and spiritual legacies. Finally, compare with the literati who passed the examination, reflect on the diversity of literati life in Qing Dynasty. The purpose of this study is to provide a new perspective for understanding the fate of literati in Qing Dynasty, and to provide inspiration and suggestions for future research.

The association between the years and modes of sports training and levels of moral competence across eleven sports

Background and Study Aim. Research on moral competency in sports is rare, and findings are inconsistent. These findings point to moral development as a multifaceted and complex process. This process is mediated by various life situations and dilemma choices. Sport can play a crucial role in this area with its often ‘role-taking’ experience and confrontations with personal moral standards. This study aimed to analyze the relationship of competency levels and sport experience across different sports. Material and Methods. A sample of university students in sport-related faculties (N = 947) was assessed with the use of Moral Competence test (MCT). The group was divided into 11 predetermined types of sports, training modes (amateur/professional), and indicated years of training practice. Results. The general moral competency level in the overall researched sample of students was low, but similar to their peer-age reference groups found in relevant literature. The findings indicated some differences in moral competency levels between amateurs and professionals. Amateurs showed a higher competency levels in five types of sports (non-invasion games, martial arts/fighting sports, aquatic boating sports). In contrast, professionals showed a higher competency level in dance sports. The only positive, moderate correlation between years of training and moral competency level was found with professional athletes in aquatic boating sports: the longer they trained, the higher their moral competency level was. Conclusions. These results offer new insight into the impact of sports on moral development and can act as a solid foundation for further in-depth research in this area.

Аксиолого-деонтологический статус журналиста

As the most recent information and communication technologies (ICT) are incorporated into various areas of life, including journalism, new axiological and deontological dilemmas, ethical disputes, and heated discussions have arisen in the media. To maintain a balance between the advancement of technology andthe defense of citizens' interests, this calls for thoughtful consideration of the renewal and improvement of professional attitudes, legal norms, and ethical principles of journalism, as well as an analysis of the likely outcomes of the dissemination of knowledge-intensive techniques. The axiological-deontological standing of a journalist might legitimately be regarded as the most crucial component of professionalism with the advent of ICT into media practice.

The “Spam Caller Dilemma” and Its Reflection Under the Theory of Morality-as-Cooperation (MAC)

A dilemma is characterized by a feeling of being torn between morally conflicting choices. Daily life has various moral dilemmas, often leading people to entangled situations. People are accustomed to the occurrence of moral dilemmas. However, opinions vary on how moral dilemmas arise. This paper proposes a moral dilemma called the "spam caller dilemma" under the premise of the morality-as-cooperation (MAC) theory and conducts small-scale online research to address this dilemma. This paper explores people's views on the conflict between the cooperative principles of kinship and reciprocal altruism through this study. It provides an example and theoretical basis for the cooperation theory of morality. The survey results show that around 70% of people believe that verbal abuse of spam phone calls in the event of one’s father's death is morally acceptable. Based on the research results, this article discusses the possible reasons for this result and proposes reflections and inspirations on this moral dilemma in daily life. It is concluded that when there is a conflict between kinship and reciprocity, more people seem to choose kinship. At the same time, there are also many influencing factors, such as emotional empathy, frustration with spam calls and stereotypes in specific industries.

Asian cultures of authenticity: the authentic self narrative in sociological perspective or the case of Tóc Tiên’s celebrity biography

ABSTRACT While celebrity studies scholarship on authenticity have concentrated on the study of Western celebrities, this article studies an Eastern celebrity through a sociological lens. I conducted a discourse analysis of gossip websites about Tóc Tiên, a Vietnamese singer and celebrity, that showcases the authentic self narrative as a discursive feature of a broader Asian Culture of Authenticity (CoA). I conclude that, given the global and culturally hybrid nature of the world that we live in today, the CoA can be found in hybrid formats in the Asian context as well. The paper shows how these discursive forms of the CoA play out within the celebrity biography of an Asian celebrity like Tóc Tiên and for the context of an Asian society like Vietnam through its cultural specificities and global dimensions. The authentic self narrative is a concept aimed at reflecting on some of the life dilemmas generated in the transition from traditional to modern societies, particularly of a Vietnamese diasporic young and female audience that potentially reflect the characteristics of Tóc Tiên’s international audience.

The role of framing, agency and uncertainty in a focus-divide dilemma

How to prioritise multiple objectives is a common dilemma of daily life. A simple and effective decision rule is to focus resources when the tasks are difficult, and divide when tasks are easy. Nonetheless, in experimental paradigms of this dilemma, participants make highly variable and suboptimal strategic decisions when asked to allocate resources to two competing goals that vary in difficulty. We developed a new version in which participants had to choose where to park a fire truck between houses of varying distances apart. Unlike in the previous versions of the dilemma, participants approached the optimal strategy in this task. Three key differences between the fire truck version and previous versions of the task were investigated: (1) Framing (whether the objectives are familiar or abstract), by comparing a group who placed cartoon trucks between houses to a group performing the same task with abstract shapes; (2) Agency (how much of the task is under the participants’ direct control), by comparing groups who controlled the movement of the truck to those who did not; (3) Uncertainty, by adding variability to the driving speed of the truck to make success or failure on a given trial more difficult to predict. Framing and agency did not influence strategic decisions. When adding variability to outcomes, however, decisions shifted away from optimal. The results suggest choices become more variable when the outcome is less certain, consistent with exploration of response alternatives triggered by an inability to predict success.

Resting state default mode network is associated with wise advising

Default mode network (DMN) may be associated with wisdom (i.e., mature understanding of life featured by perspectival metacognition) when advising from a self-referential perspective due to the involvement of the DMN in reflecting on personal life experiences. After a resting-state functional MRI scan, 52 adults advised some youths going through life dilemmas, half from a second-person perspective and half from a third. After advising each youth, participants indicated the psychological distance they felt between themselves and the youth. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was measured in the DMN during resting states. Moreover, trained raters rated the participants' advice on wisdom criteria (i.e., metacognitive humility (MH), meta-level flexibility, and perspective-taking). The results showed that participants felt a significantly smaller psychological distance from the youth when advising from the second- than the third-person perspective. Moreover, only when advising from the second-person perspective was MH associated with ALFF in regions within the DMN (i.e., right rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex). The right rostral ACC showed a significantly greater association with MH from the second- than the third-person perspective. Therefore, resting-state DMN activities may be important for self-involved wisdom performance (e.g., giving advice directly to others).

A neonate with metatropic dysplasia: A case report

Metatropic dysplasia is a rare form of skeletal dysplasia in which characteristic clinical and imaging features are found at birth. The short limbs with relatively long trunk seen in the neonatal period change to short trunk in childhood due to progressive kyphoscoliosis. This rare condition should be diagnosed in the neonatal period to avoid diagnostic dilemma in later life. A 2-day-old baby girl was referred for a skeletal survey study to diagnose the underlying skeletal dysplasia. The metatropic dysplasia was diagnosed based on plain radiographic findings. This case report highlights the characteristic radiographic findings of this rare disease entity.

Transformasi Pembelajaran Matematika di Sekolah Dasar Melalui Pendekatan Dilemma Story Pedagogy

Humans grow and develop so can freely learn according to their wishes to change views to be broader, and learning mathematics is no exception. Learning mathematics is closely related to life, but reality is contrary to the situation on the ground. Mathematics learning based on open without any approach to life's problems. This research explore experiences related to life's problems through critical reflection within oneself, so moral dilemma story emerges and can change one's views regarding mathematics learning in elementary schools through the dilemma story pedagogy. Type of this research uses qualitative-transformative, understanding and experiences related to oneself and relationships with life's problems that can influence views on learning mathematics. The method used is auto |ethnography with several paradigms include interpretive, critical, and post-modern paradigms. The research instrument of the researcher themself as the main data source, literature studies and semi-structured interviews. Research subjects included researchers, class teachers, and fifth grade elementary school students. Data analysis in this research uses five ways knowing, starting from cultural self-knowing, relational knowing, critical knowing, visionary and ethical knowing, and then knowing in action. The results showed that analysis of cultural identity data of researchers and research subjects as students who had studied mathematics and experienced life's dilemmas influence the transformation of views to learning mathematics which was frightening become fun through the dilemma story pedagogy approach. Resulting in changes in the views of both researchers and participants including readers regarding the understanding of learning mathematics in elementary schools with the dilemma story pedagogy.

FORMING OF RESPONSIBILITY IN CHILDREN OF OLDER PRE-SCHOOL AGE BY MEANS OF FICTION LITERATURE

A civilized society sets requirements for the democratic coexistence of persons who possess moral values, benefit society and develop their own abilities. An important characteristic of a person is responsibility, which is formed as a result of the integration of thought processes, social norms, personal attitude in solving dilemmas in life. Responsibility as a child’s conscious behavior in relation to people and nature begins to develop in the period of older preschool age. Independent thinking in judgments acquires logic and a personal attitude to reality. In the pursuit of social activity, children imitate the behavior of significant adults, heroes of their favorite films, cartoons, and works of art. Educators and parents are faced with the task of developing the philosophy of children's worldview through conducting moral and ethical discussions. Our survey of children’ parents with special needs showed a low level of parents’ and educators’ attention to the education of responsibility (4%) compared to other personal qualities (discipline ‑ 18%, ability to adapt to life ‑ 20%, respect to parents ‑ 14%, etc.). This indicates the need to conduct special educational activities that compensate for gaps in value orientations. Emphasis has also been shifted in the education of executive responsibility as opposed to initiative responsibility (75% : 25%), which gives reasons to look for new ways in organizing the interaction of participants in the educational process, to use moral and ethical conversations, to study educational children's literature, in particular, the works of V. Sukhomlynskyi (2018), which became the goal of our scientific exploration. Examples of artistic works and developed problematic questions and tasks for educational work with children of older preschool age in the conditions of a preschool education institution are given.

The Dilemma of the Abagusii Widows in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Itumbe Station – South Kenya Conference

This study aimed to find out the dilemma of the Abagusii widows in the Seventh Day Adventist church, Itumbe station-South Kenya conference. Itumbe Station of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church has 1551 widows. The argument of this study is that the death of a husband impacts every aspect of a widow’s life, together with the orphaned children left to her. Most of the Abagusii widows within the SDA church undergo very difficult dilemmas of life: discriminatory regards to isolation, condemnation, stigmatisation, poor access to basic services like healthcare, material poverty, psychosocial trauma, demoralisation, fearfulness, emptiness, helplessness, and abandonment to loneliness. They have lost their dignity, which is against the position of Jesus, who showed zero discrimination to any member of society. Informed by Family Systems Theory, the study claims that solutions to the reality of widowhood are neither just doctrinal nor one-sided. The SDA church should be fully involved through the strengthening of pastoral care ministry and possibly through the creation of a specific ministry for widows, for it is the mission of the church to take care of widows, offering them solidarity, comfort, and consolation.

The Dilemma of the Abagusii Widows in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Itumbe Station – South Kenya Conference

This study aimed to find out the dilemma of the Abagusii widows in the Seventh Day Adventist church, Itumbe station-South Kenya conference. Itumbe Station of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church has 1551 widows. The argument of this study is that the death of a husband impacts every aspect of a widow’s life, together with the orphaned children left to her. Most of the Abagusii widows within the SDA church undergo very difficult dilemmas of life: discriminatory regards to isolation, condemnation, stigmatisation, poor access to basic services like healthcare, material poverty, psychosocial trauma, demoralisation, fearfulness, emptiness, helplessness, and abandonment to loneliness. They have lost their dignity, which is against the position of Jesus, who showed zero discrimination to any member of society. Informed by Family Systems Theory, the study claims that solutions to the reality of widowhood are neither just doctrinal nor one-sided. The SDA church should be fully involved through the strengthening of pastoral care ministry and possibly through the creation of a specific ministry for widows, for it is the mission of the church to take care of widows, offering them solidarity, comfort, and consolation.

Perkembangan dan Peranan Multimedia (Internet) Berbasis Dakwah Islam

The spread of information and communication technology media is intended to facilitate the needs of modern society, especially religious knowledge. Networked communication media is increasingly spreading to almost all circles. Social media networks are increasingly spreading to almost all circles. Networked social media apart from being a means of communication and information, is also a benchmark for today's society's culture. The notion that "today's society is 'obsessed' with technological sophistication", so that people experience a dilemma in life, which tends to exist in the media or leave it. The fact that the use of social media reduces physical interaction even tends to social antipathy. Therefore, the obligation of da'wah must be synergized dynamically; da'wah through the internet with cultural propaganda. That the effectiveness of da'wah for the technological community is the harmony of cultural da'wah with the conditions of virtual society, especially the industrial generation.
 Keywords: Cultural Da'wah, Virtual Da'wah, Internet, Maya Society.

Individuals with higher suicide risk showed more anger and disgust during rest

Previous research showed that suicide risk was associated with the anger trait and the facial expression of anger when advising on life dilemmas. We investigated if suicide risk was associated with the facial expression of anger during rest, a state when individuals often reflect upon their lives. Participants took a 1-min rest before being assessed for suicide risk. We measured 147 participants’ frontal-view facial expressions during their rest 1475–3694 times using automated facial expression analysis technology. Participants’ suicide risk was significantly positively correlated with their anger and disgust during the rest, which may be related to psychological pain and death-related thoughts among individuals with suicide risk. Therefore, rest for clinical patients should not be seen simply as a “rest” for the mind. Rather, for counselors, rest may open a window to look into patients’ inner thoughts that may be important to their lives.

Interaction hamy mean operators for complex pythagorean fuzzy information and their applications to security threats in computers

Complex Pythagorean fuzzy set (CPFS) is a massive influential principle for managing ambiguity and inconsistent information in genuine life dilemmas. To determine the relationship among any number of attributes, the Hamy mean (HM) operators based on interaction operational laws are very dominant and massive flexible to manage awkward and problematic information. This study aims to combine the complex Pythagorean fuzzy (CPF) information with interaction HM operators to initiate the CPF interaction HM (CPFIHM) operator, CPF interaction weighted HM (CPFIWHM) operator, CPF interaction dual HM (CPFIDHM) operator, CPF interaction weighted dual HM (CPFIWDHM) operator and their powerful properties. Additionally, a decision-making strategy for determining the security threats in the computer is elaborated under the interaction of HM operators based on the CPF setting. Numerous examples are illustrated with the help of presented operators to determine the consistency and flexibility of the investigated operators. Finally, with the help of sensitivity analysis, advantages, and geometrical representation, the supremacy, and efficiency of the presented works are also elaborated.

The human life vs economic loss dilemma: Relation between death rate and the output rate in Europe during the Covid 19 pandemic

I analyze the human life-economic loss dilemma (HELD) trade-off between saving lives ad saving economic activities during the emergency period of Covid 19 pandemic. A new concept labeled HELD Curve, not addressed in the literature so far, is proposed to model the inverse non-linear relation between loss of economic activity and death rates during the Covid 19 Pandemic in Europe, due to the lockdown policy. Econometric estimation supports this view offering to policymakers a tool to assess the impact of continuing the lockdown. The HELD curve elasticity implies a trade-off of 218 thousand EURO per saved human life.