Cognitive Linguistics can be defined as an approach to language that is mainly relied on people's perceptions of the world and how they perceive, understand, and conceptualize it. The Conceptual Blending Theory , which was established by J Fauconnier and M. Turner, is affirmed in this study. in order to explain concepts like Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Mental Space Theory, Blending Theory was developed. The focus of blending theory was on the function of language in the creation of meaning, especially in creative features such as counterfactuals and novel metaphors.

A major criticism of AI development is the lack of transparency, such as, inadequate documentation and traceability in its design and decision-making processes, leading to adverse outcomes including discrimination, lack of inclusivity and representation, and breaches of legal regulations. Underserved populations, in particular, are disproportionately affected by these design decisions. Furthermore, traditional social science techniques such as interviews, focus groups, and surveys struggle to adequately capture user needs and expectations in the digital era, due to their inherent limitations in deliberation, consensus-building, and providing consistent insights. We developed a democratic decision framework utilizing Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) to enable underserved groups to deliberate and reach a consensus on key AI issues. To assess our proposed democratic decision mechanism, we conducted a case study on updating AI model specification based on diverse stakeholders input. We focus on reducing stereotypical biases in text-to-image systems, particularly gender bias in image generation from text prompts. We designed and experimented various governance configurations, including decision aggregation schemes and decision power, to examine how democratic processes could guide updates to AI model. Through a 2×2 experimental design, we tested various aggregation schemes (ranked vs. quadratic) and decision power distribution (equal vs. 20/80 differential) in a randomized online experiment (n=177) with participants from the global south and people with disabilities, to study how the varying governance mechanisms impact people's perceptions of the decision-making processes and resulting output of the AI Model specification. Our results indicate that despite their diverse backgrounds, participants showed convergence in deliberations on several aspects, including user control over image generation, multiple output options for user selection, and the social appropriateness and accuracy of generated images. Our study underscores the importance of use of appropriate governance in democratic decision-making in AI alignment. Notably, the combination of quadratic preference aggregation method which gives minorities more voice and equal decision power distribution, was perceived as a fairer and democratic approach.

Do you believe the world will come to an end within your lifetime, and does that belief change the way you see existential threats to humanity? One third of Americans answer yes to the first question; we venture to answer the second question here. Stories about the end of the world are historically and globally prevalent and come in many flavors. End of world beliefs have been hypothesized to shape processes of risk perception and social behavior that have implications for how societies respond to existential threats. Despite their cultural significance, current understanding of the psychology of these beliefs is lacking. In this article, we present the results of six pilot studies (N = 2,079) and one preregistered study (N = 1,409) that establish a psychological framework for end of world beliefs. A measure of end of world beliefs was created and validated across six religious populations (Catholics, Mainline Protestants, Evangelical Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and nonreligious). We find that end of world beliefs are common, vary along psychologically meaningful dimensions, and are uniquely predictive of people's risk perception, risk tolerance, and willingness to support extreme action to address the five most pressing global existential risks (i.e., economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological). Results are interpreted in light of current models of risk perception and the cultural evolution of worldviews. Aligning with sociological and historical accounts, we argue that belief in apocalyptic narratives-irrespective of their accuracy-is consequential for how populations confront concrete risks, including those that threaten humanity today. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

People's risk perceptions are crucial for climate change adaptation, influencing individual decisions and policy effectiveness. Although many studies highlight the importance of social influences and social norms in this context, the mechanisms through which they shape individual risk perceptions and adaptation behavior remain unclear. To address this gap, we analyze cross-country survey data (N = 1612) from coastal areas in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the USA with a focus on flood risk and adaptation behavior. Our statistical analysis reveals several important patterns in social interactions, and the ways in which these social interactions influence individual risk perceptions. First, we find limited social engagement regarding risks and adaptation, with a significant portion of respondents (50%) reporting no interactions with peers on these topics. Among those who do engage, social interactions on flood risk and adaptation appear infrequent (fewer than five times per year). Second, contrary to common assumptions, individuals who discuss flood risk and adaptation, rarely do so with neighbors. Moreover, homophily-shared socio-demographic characteristics-is not the primary determinant of who interacts on the topic. Third, we see that those with hazard experience and those with higher risk perceptions are more likely to interact with others on the topics of these risks and climate adaptation, confirming that social amplifications might be in place. These findings provide unique insights into the social dynamics underlying the evolution of individual risk perceptions, offering the potential to refine models of social influence in climate change and social tipping points. They also highlight potential synergies between communication strategies and policy tools to support timely and, possibly transformational, adaptation.

Abstract It is essential to recognise that humans pose conservation challenges and are integral to the solutions for conserving species. Understanding human perceptions of wildlife will facilitate the development of effective conservation strategies. Although global efforts to study and manage negative human-wildlife conflicts have grown, research on people,s perceptions of wildlife is relatively scarce, particularly concerning owl species. Here, we systematically reviewed the primary literature on human perceptions and cultural beliefs of owl species worldwide to identify trends and research gaps. Our systematic review was conducted using the guidelines developed by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) guidelines. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included from 1997 to early 2025. A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria, with the majority conducted in Africa, followed by Asia and then South America. We found that owl perceptions ranged from mixed, negative, to positive. Human perceptions of owls were shaped by various socio-demographic factors, including educational level, age, and gender, and were strongly influenced by cultural beliefs and folklore. In some cultures, owls are admired as symbols of wisdom and good fortune; in others, they are feared as omens of death, bad luck, or witchcraft. Education and awareness campaigns were found to be key in shifting negative perceptions and promoting conservation. Despite regional variations, the literature suggests that targeted interventions and community engagement are vital to improving human-owl coexistence and supporting conservation outcomes.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition worldwide, with physical exercise being the primary management strategy. However, this approach poses a significant challenge among the older population, as older people with CLBP often demonstrate low adherence to exercise-based treatments. Despite this, there is limited research evaluating the perceptions and experiences of older people regarding group exercise protocol (GEP) specifically designed for this population, which could enhance adherence and outcomes. To explore the perceptions and experiences of older people with CLBP regarding a GEP tailored to their needs. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach was employed to investigate participants' experiences after an 8-week GEP. Data were collected through focus groups guided by a trained researcher. The Bardin's content analysis was conducted. To facilitate the analysis and generate graphical representations, IRAMUTEQ (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires) software was used. The results suggest that the perceptions of older people with CLBP regarding the GEP can be categorized into three thematic clusters: (a)social interaction, mutual support, and community integration with group exercise; (b)comprehensive benefits of specific group exercise on quality of life, sleep, and autonomy for older people with CLBP; and (c)perceived benefits of group exercise in managing low back pain and improving balance and mobility. Older people with CLBP can achieve biopsychosocial improvements through adherence to a tailored GEP. Strategies such as locating sessions in community centers, adapting exercises to individual capabilities, and fostering social bonds effectively promoted high adherence, enhanced social relationships, and improved sleep quality.

Abstract This article examines 218 Covid‐19 vaccine‐injured people's experiences of the process of seeking redress from the UK Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). Moreover, it engages with the wider topic of how we can understand the government(s)’ role in dealing with an ‘emergency’ (the Covid‐19 pandemic) and the consequent (global) health crisis. Vaccine‐injured individuals and communities perceive suffering health problems after Covid‐19 vaccination as a ‘tragedy’, which requires an adequate response. However, the VDPS often does not meet their expectations, which fuels the vaccine‐injured community's narratives around an emerging ‘scandal’ over inadequate redress provision for those who suffered adverse effects following Covid‐19 vaccines. These perceptions and meaning‐making are in stark contrast to the fact that the wider population is unaffected by these issues and are generally not aware of the harms suffered or of the VDPS.

Global food systems are advancing towards vulnerable due to over reliance on a narrow range of staple crops (rice, wheat, maize), creating risks from climate change, environmental degradation, and malnutrition. Neglected and underutilized plant species (NUPS), are known as Future Smart Foods which are offering climate-resilient, nutrient-dense alternatives adapted to marginal environments, with potential dietary diversity, ability to combat hidden hunger, and support sustainable livelihoods. This study was conducted with the objectives of knowing the people perception and attitude towards the NUPS in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District, Bangladesh. The research area is located in a humid sub-tropical region with heavy monsoon rainfall (~5,000 mm annually) and having diverse agroecology covering 200 randomly selected respondents from four unions (Fatehpur, Rustampur, Purba Jaflong, Alirgaon) with the above objectives during June 2022 to and April 2023. Data were collected by using semi-structured interviews, pre-tested questionnaires, field observations, and focus group discussions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Likert scales. Results revealed strong appreciation for NUPS, with fruits dominating usage (55.5%) followed by vegetables (16.5%) and medicinal applications (15%), and were primarily for self-consumption (55%) and contributing to nutrition, health, and income security. Women played the prominent role in labor-intensive production tasks (e.g., planting 57.5%, harvesting 65.5%), creating gender empowerment, while marketing remained male-dominated (71.5%). Respondents hold positive attitudes toward NUPS benefits including nutritional security and women's empowerment. But showed low awareness of environmental contributions (e.g., biodiversity enhancement),limited knowledge levels (47% nil), with a perceived decadal decline in availability/production (66.5%) attributed to marketing constraints (79 % respondents), uneven precipitation (72%), lack of training (69%), and inadequate knowledge (64%). These findings are aligned with global patterns of NUPS erosion due to policy negligence and climate stresses. The study underscores NUPS' viability as climate-smart resources in vulnerable rural Bangladesh, affirming their role in advancing SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 15 (Life on Land). Promoting awareness, gender-inclusive training, market linkages, and resilient cultivation could reverse declining, boost up food/nutrition security, and foster diversified, sustainable food systems in similar agroecological contexts. J. Sylhet Agril. Univ. 12(2): 117-126, 2025

Migration profoundly shapes the lives of young people and is a polarizing topic in public discourse globally. This article examines if and how secondary school students across six countries with significant migration connect the issue of migration with their understanding of active citizenship. Employing Thorson's concept of citizenship vocabularies, we document and analyze young people's perceptions as well as the resources, narratives, and frameworks they use to make sense of migration, citizenship, and civic life. Drawing on data from deliberative discussion groups, the study adds depth to our understanding of how the current generation of youth engages with a complex and multifaceted social issue and makes an important contribution to debates concerning citizenship education, youth activism, and migration.

Supplemental Material for End of World Beliefs Are Common, Diverse, and Predict How People Perceive and Respond to Global Risks

Abstract Although consumers who engage in the same sustainable behaviors objectively have the same environmental impact, this research finds that people's perceptions of that impact are subjective and systematically shaped by political ideology. Seven studies demonstrate that conservatives tend to perceive their sustainable actions to have less of a positive impact on the environment than liberals do, which predicts conservatives' lower engagement in sustainable behaviors. This effect occurs not just because of their own climate change beliefs, but also because of the lower observed prevalence of sustainable behaviors in their in‐group. Consistent with this mechanism, when (a) the behavior is presented in a domain where it is seen as more prevalent among conservatives' ingroup members (i.e., health vs. sustainability), (b) the message emphasizes the prevalence of sustainable actions within the ingroup, or (c) impact is explicitly communicated, conservatives' perceptions of impact and their willingness to engage in sustainable behaviors increase. This work contributes to the literature on political ideology, highlighting effective ways to promote sustainable behavior across the political spectrum.

The objective of this study was to develop, implement, and refine a food environment survey to capture people's perceptions of their food environments in low-and middle-income countries: the Food Environment Perceptions Survey (FEPS). Identifying aspects of food environment to include: drawing from existing survey instruments; a Delphi survey with food environment experts working globally; workshops with local experts in India and Cambodia; cognitive testing of the survey items; and piloting the tools in diverse field settings in India and Cambodia. Rural, peri-urban, and urban communities in India and Cambodia. Global food environment experts for Delphi survey; food environment experts in India and Cambodia for workshops; convenience sample of participants in India (n=44) and Cambodia (n=60) for FEPS piloting. The FEPS underwent many iterations prior to piloting. The initial versions of the survey were long, leading us to remove questions and reconfigure the survey to streamline it. The workshop participants rated the revised survey versions relatively favorably. The final survey consists of 109 questions covering six sections: accessibility and availability (48 questions); affordability (5 questions), convenience (17 questions); quality and safety (3 questions); information, promotion, and labeling (16 questions); and an optional sustainability section (20 questions). Based on pilot data, we found significant differences in how participants interacted with different food environment types across rural, peri-urban, and urban transects. The finalized FEPS is a newly developed survey instrument that can be incorporated by other researchers to characterize diverse perceptions of food environments in LMICs.

This study explores human-moor macaque (Macaca maura) coexistence in Sulawesi, Indonesia, using resilience thinking to assess temporal patterns of coadaptation amidst stressors such as provisioning and road construction. Comparing data from 2016-2017 to 2023-2025, we examine changes in provisioning patterns, macaque roadside use, and people's perceptions of macaques to evaluate factors that may test the system's resilience. Our results show that although provisioning frequency has remained stable, hand-feeding is increasingly common and macaques have increased their use of roadside habitat. Additionally, people's perceptions have shifted from excitement and novelty to fear and normalization. Decreasing tolerance, coupled with increased risks associated with roadside behavior, highlights the system's potential to transition to a state incompatible with coexistence. Our results can be leveraged to promote resilient coexistence, e.g., interventions that enable safer roadside crossing for the macaques and community outreach programs that make use of people's empathy for the macaques' welfare.

‘Smart’ mobile communication technologies have ushered in new patterns of human-machine enmeshment that fundamentally alter the way people perceive, remember, think, communicate, act, and play. Over the past 2 decades, especially, these algorithmically enabled devices have diffused into human culture at an unprecedented pace and scale. Any so-equipped person can attest to the powerful effects such technological relation entails. However, tweens and teens today are particularly susceptible to these alterations given the largely unconscious nature of their enmeshment. The article begins with an important piece of techno-cultural history that frames the current state of affairs, then details a thematic sampling of data drawn from a multi-year ethnographic inquiry into the relationships these young people develop with their favorite machines. The article concludes with some practical suggestions, including structured interventions that can help address various cognitive and corporeal imbalances incurred through a smartphone-mediated life as the 2026 mid-terms and 2028 general election come into view for this consequential segment of the population.

Machines are thinking, but do they actually know they are thinking? That’s what Alan Turing says. Today's machines working in the human world make us think about different aspects of human existence. With the emergence of Generative AI & its radical transformation, human interactions with Artificial Intelligence have consequently increased. These increased interactions lead the users to tend to “humanize” or attribute “human-like” traits/qualities to AI tools, termed as Anthropomorphism. The present study aimed to explore whether explicitly informing users that ‘AI lacks consciousness’ can alter the already existing view of Anthropomorphism among them. The study is grounded in the concept of “Psychological Reactance”, suggesting that when told ‘AI lacks consciousness’, it paradoxically heightens the perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Likeability & Perceived Intelligence in AI among them. For this, data was collected from people ranging from ages 18 to 30 years, regularly using AI and randomly assigning them to two groups: Group A, told explicitly that ‘AI lacks consciousness’ and no such warnings to Group B. The Godspeed Questionnaire Series (Bartneck et al.) sub-scales, specifically Likeability, Perceived Intelligence & Anthropomorphism, were used to measure the differences of perception between the two groups. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how the provision of explicit information or ‘warnings’ affects perceptions of people towards AI.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the design, implementation, and early impact of the Tasty Spoon™ – a hybrid digital–analogue, electrostimulation device intended to restore taste perception in people with dementia – and to identify the organisational and market conditions required for its routine use.MethodsA ProcessOriented Holistic (PrOH) Modelling Methodology was applied across four phases:1. Userneeds assessment through three focus groups (n = 28), semistructured interviews with individuals living with dementia (n = 10), caregivers (n = 5) and healthcare professionals (n = 15).2. Iterative codesign and lab prototyping, informed by thematic analysis and smallscale electrogustometry studies (n = 15; people with dementia = 10, control = 5).3. Feasibility testing the prototype in care-home dining routines to explore practicality, user acceptance, and caregiver workload, documented through field notes, post use interviews and caregiver workload diaries.4. Regulatory and commercial pathway mapping (UKCA/CE precompliance review, 3i stakeholder analysis). Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative insights were integrated into the PrOH workflow to expose implementation pinchpoints.ResultsPrOH analysis identified three design features that underpinned acceptability – familiar spoon form, automatic activation on contact, and dishwashersafe construction – while highlighting outstanding challenges in cost control, training, and individual differences in taste sensitivity. Participants consistently reported that the Tasty Spoon™ made food ‘taste stronger’ and restored variety to meals they had previously found bland. Our research also highlighted the importance of co-developing ethical procedures in collaboration with people with dementia.ConclusionEarly, smallscale evidence suggests that a sensoryfocused assistive device can complement existing cognitive and mobility technologies in dementia care by enhancing mealtime enjoyment and easing caregiver burden. Larger, rigorously controlled studies are needed to quantify nutritional and clinical outcomes and to refine personalised stimulation settings before widescale deployment.

ABSTRACTBackgroundAdherence to prescribed offloading among people with diabetes is often insufficient. Although factors influencing adherence with prescribed footwear have been well studied, uncertainties remain. Perceptions and views of people with diabetes on their prescribed foot orthoses, including areas for improvement, may offer important insights.MethodsUsing a qualitative study design, a combination of online focus groups and individual interviews were employed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perceptions of people at risk of diabetes‐related foot ulcers regarding experiences of prescribed foot orthoses. All interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were coded, and thematic analysis was undertaken following a six‐step thematic analysis framework.FindingsEight people with diabetes at risk of developing foot ulcers who had been prescribed foot orthoses were included. Three major themes emerged from thematic analysis: (i) adherence and barriers to effective use of foot orthoses, which captured the role of health professionals as well as the interconnected relationship between footwear and foot orthoses, (ii) perceived benefits of foot orthoses and desired improvements, and (iii) anxiety and psychological impact, which highlighted how anxiety and fear can influence footcare behaviours, both as motivators and barriers.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into user experiences of prescribed foot orthoses and factors influencing foot orthoses–related behavioural choices; these findings may help researchers and healthcare professionals in designing and delivering foot orthoses that better meet the needs of users to enhance engagement with preventative strategies. Important considerations include the perception of balance and stability, the psychological impact of diabetes‐related foot disease and the role of the healthcare professional in providing support both during and after foot orthoses provision.

Chronic orofacial pain (COP) is associated with substantial pain interference and emotional distress. Psychosocial treatments for COP are scarce, rely on talking, which is often painful for this population, and require intensive resources. There is a clear need for a novel, scalable, accessible, "talk free" intervention to reduce pain interference and emotional distress among individuals with COP. This study explored people with COP's perceptions of a novel mind-body web-based intervention targeting pain interference and emotional distress (Face-Forward-Web) to inform its development and optimization. We conducted semi-structured focus groups (N=4 groups, 22 participants; 77% female; mean age 47 (SD = 15.9)) and used Rapid Data Analysis (RDA) to gauge perceptions of the intervention's content structure, format, and barriers and facilitators to participation. Perception of the intervention was largely positive, and participants perceived its value for increasing engagement in life activities. They emphasized the importance of tailoring the intervention to the unique characteristics of COP. They expressed that the self-paced web-based format was ideal given unpredictable pain flares and variable needs. Concurrently, they desired social connection. They perceived the content and skills as helpful and relaxing. They identified barriers and facilitators to participation, including technical considerations, reminders and incentives, and providers setting up realistic expectations for outcomes. This study elucidates insights that can inform psychosocial and mind-body interventions for people with COP. Findings give voice to the needs and perceptions of people with COP, guiding the development of tailored, patient-informed treatment approaches such as Face-Forward-Web.

Understanding how people perceive and value landscapes is essential for sustainable planning and conservation; yet, traditional methods remain limited in scale and scope. This study introduces artificial intelligence (AI)-Perceptual Landscape Mapping (AI-PLM), an integrated analytical framework that combines geospatial intelligence, machine learning, and natural-language processing (NLP) to model collective human perception from social-media data. Using nearly 29 000 geotagged Flickr photographs and 148 000 user comments from Romania, AI-PLM operationalizes perception through three components: (1) Data collection and processing (systematic collection and normalization of multilingual, multimodal content), (2) AI-Spatial Cognition (identification of perception hotspots via Head/Tail Breaks and DBSCAN (Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) clustering combined with viewshed analysis), and (3) Affective-Semantic Intelligence (sentiment and topic modeling using transformer-based NLP). Results reveal strong spatial hierarchies of landscape appreciation, with intensity peaks in the Carpathians, Braşov, Bucharest, Maramureş, and the Black Sea coast. Sentiment analysis shows predominantly positive emotions associated with nature-oriented regions, while topic modeling highlights the prevalence of themes related to photography, heritage, and recreation. Together, these multimodal insights demonstrate a clear relationship between visibility, spatial clustering, and affective tone. The AI-PLM framework, thus, bridges physical geography and emotional expression, providing a scalable and transferable methodology for assessing cultural ecosystem services. By translating unstructured digital traces into structured spatial and semantic indicators, it advances the understanding of human-landscape interactions and offers practical tools for data-driven landscape management, conservation, and tourism planning in Romania and beyond.

Recent advances in AI have enabled large language models to produce expressions that seem empathetic to human users, raising scientific and ethical questions about how people perceive and choose between human and AI sources of emotional support. Although an increasing number of studies have examined how people rate empathy generated by AI, little to no work has examined whether people would choose to receive empathy from AI. We conducted four studies investigating whether people prefer to receive empathetic expressions from humans or AI, and how they evaluate these expressions. Across diverse samples and stimuli, we found evidence for what we term the AI empathy choice paradox: participants significantly preferred to receive empathy from humans, yet they rated AI-generated empathetic responses as higher in quality, more effective at making them feel heard, and more effortful when they did choose them. These findings contribute to ongoing debates about AI empathy by demonstrating that while people may avoid AI as an empathy source, they nonetheless benefit from AI empathy when they experience it. Our results suggest potential applications for AI in supplementing human emotional support while highlighting the importance of respecting individual preferences for empathy sources.