Regulatory Styles Research Articles

Laissez-faire versus Strict Control of Political Finance: Hegemonic Parties and Developmental States in Malaysia and Singapore

ABSTRACTThis article compares the financing of political parties and candidates in two Southeast Asian countries. In Malaysia, some political finance regulations exist only on paper, and political financing is for the most part not restrained at all. In contrast, the financing of candidates and parties has always been tightly circumscribed in Singapore. These different strategies, “laissez-faire” versus “strict control,” are the consequence of various factors. In Malaysia, the New Economic Policy has effected a close, often economically unproductive linkage between the state, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, and business. The rise of businesspeople has resulted in the commercialization of competition within (the United Malays National Organisation. Additionally, increasing competition between the ruling coalition and the opposition has resulted in growing expenditures for electioneering in the form of advertisements and electoral patronage. The laissez-faire style of regulation has been compounded by the difficult-to-control practices in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), where vote buying, electoral patronage based on the largesse of oligarchs, and obvious nonobservance of the rules have been typical. In contrast to Malaysia as a whole, the costs for parties and candidates are still relatively low in Singapore. As a cadre party, the PAP (People's Action Party) is relatively autonomous from private business interests, and intraparty competition is not commercialized; the developmentalist state is highly productive, and the ties between the state, the PAP, and business are not characterized by cronyism. Moreover, electioneering is not very commercialized because the opposition is still relatively weak.

Taxation, Reciprocity and Communicative Regulation

Willem Witteveen promoted a communicative style of regulation with a focus on communication and dialogue between parties of more equal standing. The Dutch tax administration uses this approach to achieve voluntary compliance – supplementing the traditional command-and-control method of regulation. The underlying value of reciprocity entails a demand for good communication and even a dialogue between tax administration and taxpayers. Reciprocity here is at issue within the context of legal asymmetry, as the tax administration has considerable unilateral powers, and mutual dependence. Political and legal philosophers elucidate the notion of reciprocity. Spinoza shows the foundational nature of reciprocal collaboration between the sovereign lawmaker and legal subjects. Unlike Hobbes, he does not conceive reciprocity in a static way. More recently, Lon Fuller contrasted the idea of law based upon the principle of reciprocity with the command theory of law – a form of legal positivism. ‘Horizontal Monitoring’ is a specific Dutch form of a communicative style of regulation. This contribution analyses several features of this kind of reciprocal interaction.

Four Styles of Regulation and their Implications for Comparative Policy Analysis

Comparative research crucially depends on the availability of meaningful descriptive concepts capturing the essence of empirical phenomena. In policy analysis, the portfolio of classical concepts describing policy contents and procedures remains unmatched by a similar pool of concepts available for describing patterns of regulatory outputs. Starting from the premise that policy-makers not only create behavioral rules, but also define sanctions for rule violations, this article distinguishes four ideal-typical styles of regulation: authority, lenient authority, punitive permissiveness, and permissiveness. It uses handgun regulation to illustrate the merits of this distinction and discusses the theoretical implications of the approach.

Compliance, Deterrence and Beyond

Effective enforcement is vital to the successful implementation of social legislation, and legislation that is not enforced, rarely fulfils its social objectives. This paper examines the question of how the enforcement task might best be conducted to achieve policy outcomes that are effective (in terms of reducing the incidence of social harm) and efficient (in doing so at least cost to both duty holders and regulators), while also maintaining community confidence. It begins by examining the two strategies that historically dominated the debate about enforcement strategy. First, the question of “regulatory style”; and second, whether it is more appropriate for regulators to “punish or persuade”. Recognising the deficiencies of the dichotomy between the two, the paper goes on to explore more recent approaches that have proved increasingly influential on the policy debate. These approaches include Ayres and Braithwaite’s arguments in favour of “Responsive Regulation”, which are taken further by “Smart Regulation”. The latter recognises the benefits of an escalating response up an enforcement pyramid but also argues that government should harness second and third parties (both commercial and non-commercial) as surrogate regulators and that regulation and enforcement should be designed using a number of different instruments implemented by a number of parties, and not necessarily by government alone.

MORALIDADES, RACIONALIDADES E POLÍTICAS SEXUAIS NO BRASIL CONTEMPORÂNEO

Resumo Neste artigo, discuto a hipótese de que a emergência da noção de direitos sexuais e a crescente utilização da linguagem dos direitos humanos para consolidar uma ampla agenda de reivindicações relativas aos prazeres, aos corpos e às práticas sexuais significam mais que o mero reconhecimento de que essa dimensão da experiência humana foi alvo da ingerência autoritária do Estado no passado, e de que precisa agora de proteção especial. Tendo como referência a já significativa literatura etnográfica brasileira sobre práticas, valores, identidades e intervenções públicas relativas à sexualidade, tomo a emergência da noção de direitos sexuais como aspecto central de um processo mais amplo de transformação que acontece no nível das políticas sexuais e que incide sobre o próprio dispositivo da sexualidade. Fruto da relação dinâmica entre diferentes atores sociais (ativistas, gestores públicos, políticos, juristas, pesquisadores etc.), tais direitos são aqui considerados como símbolo da emergência histórica de um "novo" regime secular da sexualidade, acompanhado por um estilo de regulação moral que lhe é próprio.

The Differences between Problem-Based and Drill and Practice Games on Motivations to Learn

Two trends can be witnessed in educational game design: Problem-Based Learning and Drill & Practice Training approach. The general assumption appears to favor Problem-Based approach above Drill & Practice, in regard to players' motivation. However, the differences between the approaches are seldom studied. The authors examined the motivational impact of one game consisting of a Problem-Based-, and a Drill & Practice learning mode. The first presents players with an ill-defined problem and offers various solutions to a challenge. In the Drill & Practice mode, there is only one correct answer. Secondary school students played the game and completed a pre- and post-test questionnaire about their experienced regulatory style for studying mathematics. Results suggest that the Problem-Based mode may decline the experience of feeling controlled by others to engage in mathematics learning. In comparison, players of the Drill & Practice mode reported increased intrinsic motivations towards mathematics.

"That pulled the rug out from under my feet!" - adverse experiences and altered emotion processing in patients with functional neurological symptoms compared to healthy comparison subjects.

BackgroundMedically unexplained movement or sensibility disorders, recently defined in DSM-5 as functional neurological symptoms (FNS), are still insufficiently understood. Stress and trauma have been addressed as relevant factors in FNS genesis. Altered emotion processing has been discussed.The present study screened different types and times of adverse experiences in childhood and adulthood in patients with FNS as well as in healthy individuals. The relationship between stress profile, aspects of emotion processing and symptom severity was examined, with the hypothesis that particularly emotional childhood adversities would have an impact on dysfunctional emotion processing as a mediator of FNS.MethodsAdverse childhood experiences (ACE), recent negative life events (LE), alexithymia, and emotion regulation style were assessed in 45 inpatients diagnosed with dissociative disorder expressing FNS, and in 45 healthy comparison subjects (HC).ResultsPatients reported more severe FNS, more (particularly emotional) ACE, and more LE than HC. FNS severity varied with emotional ACE and negative LE, and LE partially mediated the relation between ACE and FNS. Alexithymia and suppressive emotion regulation style were stronger in patients than HC, and alexithymia varied with FNS severity. Structural equation modeling verified partial mediation of the relationship between emotional ACE and FNS by alexithymia.ConclusionsEarly, emotional and accumulating stress show a substantial impact on FNS-associated emotion processing, influencing FNS. Understanding this complex interplay of stress, emotion processing and the severity of FNS is relevant not only for theoretical models, but, as a consequence also inform diagnostic and therapeutic adjustments.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0514-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fostering parents' emotion regulation through a sibling-focused experimental intervention.

In this study, we assessed whether an intervention designed to improve children's sibling relationships, the More Fun with Sisters and Brothers program (MFWSB), may also help parents manage their emotions more effectively. Families with at least 2 children between the ages of 4 and 8 years were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 50) or wait-list control (n = 34) group. Parents completed pre- and posttest questionnaires on sibling warmth and agonism, their emotion regulation during sibling conflict, and their global emotion regulation styles. Program participation had a direct effect on 3 of the 4 emotion regulation outcomes for mothers. Mothers in the intervention versus control group reported lower levels of dysregulation and suppression and higher levels of reappraisal at posttest, controlling for pretest regulation scores. Additionally, path models examining posttest responses showed that participation in MFWSB led to lower levels of maternal and paternal negative reactivity in the sibling context via lower levels of sibling agonism, controlling for pretest levels of negative reactivity. Alternate path models, with parents' emotion regulation as mechanisms linking MFWSB and sibling relationship quality, were tested but not supported. Results highlight the value of a sibling-focused intervention for promoting parents' abilities to regulate their emotions.

Rumination but not distraction increases eating-related symptoms in anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Recent models of eating disorders emphasize the importance of ruminative thinking in the occurrence of unhealthy eating behavior. Hence, the aim of the current study was to examine the influence of induced rumination and distraction on the desire to engage in eating-related symptoms in anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). After a sadness induction, either a ruminative or distractive emotion regulation style was encouraged in women with AN (n = 38), BN (n = 37), and non-eating disordered controls (CG; n = 36). At baseline and after the emotion regulation induction feelings of sadness, desire to abstain from eating (DTA) and desire to binge (DTB) were assessed. Main results reveal that rumination led to a significant increase of DTA in the AN group and of DTB in patients with BN. In the CG, DTA significantly decreased after distraction. Although there were significant increases in subjective sadness in the rumination condition, no changes were found in the distraction condition. The results suggest that rumination in response to sadness has a detrimental effect on eating-related symptoms in eating disorders.

Book review: Richard Mitchell, Anthony O’Donnell, Shelley Marshall, Ian Ramsay and Meredith Jones, Law, Corporate Governance and Partnerships at Work: A Study of Australian Regulatory Style and Business Practice

Book review: Richard Mitchell, Anthony O’Donnell, Shelley Marshall, Ian Ramsay and Meredith Jones, <i>Law, Corporate Governance and Partnerships at Work: A Study of Australian Regulatory Style and Business Practice</i>

The Relationship between Attachment Avoidance and Life Satisfaction of College Students: The Mediating Effects of Avoidant/Distractive Emotional Regulation Style and Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness

The Relationship between Attachment Avoidance and Life Satisfaction of College Students: The Mediating Effects of Avoidant/Distractive Emotional Regulation Style and Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness

Transition to greener pulp: regulation, industry responses and path dependency

Although the dioxin alarm broke at the same time in Sweden and the US in the mid-1980s, Swedish pulp and paper (P&P) firms led the way towards the new market for low-chlorine and chlorine-free P&P products. This study explores the transition in the Swedish P&P industry and contrasts the Swedish case to the US experience. We highlight the importance of already established technological paths to deal with pollution, paths which were strongly formed by the different national environmental policies since the 1970s. Thus while US P&P firms were technologically locked-in when the dioxin alarm broke, the strategy of Swedish P&P firms to proactively collaborate in environmental research and development (R&D) together with a national policy that favoured process integrated abatement technology, helped Swedish firms take technological leadership. This article particularly stresses the implications of technological path-dependency and different national regulatory styles in understanding the evolution of different modes of corporate environmental strategies.

Trait Anger Symptoms and Emotion Regulation: The Effectiveness of Reappraisal, Acceptance and Suppression Strategies in Regulating Anger

Objective: The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of instructed cognitive reappraisal, acceptance and emotional suppression on state anger after provocation among individuals with high trait anger. The moderating effects of trait emotion regulation (ER) styles were also examined. Method: Adults (N = 102) with elevated levels of trait anger were randomised to one of three ER conditions. Participants in both the reappraisal and emotional suppression conditions reported a decline in state anger and systolic blood pressure (SBP) post-anger provocation, whereas participants in the acceptance group did not experience a substantial decline in state anger or SBP post-anger provocation. Trait suppression was further found to enhance the effects of instructed suppression, while trait tolerance augmented the effects of instructed reappraisal. Conclusions: Support was found for the use of reappraisal and emotional suppression as adaptive strategies to cope with anger arousal in the short term after provocation.

Neuroplasticity: A Fresh Beginning for Life

Neuroplasticity or the flexibility of the neural system is the ability of the brain to adapt to the lack or deterioration of sense and the capability of the neural system to modify itself through changing shape and function. Not only have studies revealed that neuroplasticity does not end in childhood, but also they have proven that it continues till the end of life and is not limited to the neural system and covers the cognitive system as well. In the field of cognition, neuroplasticity is defined as the ability to change old thoughts according to new conditions and the individuals' differences in using various styles of cognitive regulation inducing several social, emotional and cognitive outcomes. This paper attempts to discuss and define major theories and principles of neuroplasticity and elaborate on nature or nurture Keywords—Neuroplasticity, Cognitive plasticity, Plasticity theories, Plasticity mechanisms.

Service with style and smile. How and why employees are performing emotional labour?

IntroductionThree main emotion regulation strategies (naturally felt emotions, reappraisal and emotion suppression) have been identified among customer service agents. Each has an important impact on employees’ attitudes. Yet, employees are likely to combine these strategies in what we call emotion regulation styles. ObjectivesTwo studies aimed at identifying the emotion regulation styles used by customer service employees and at linking these styles to organizational consequences and motivation to perform emotional labour. MethodTwo studies (n1=147 and n2=195) evaluated the use of these strategies. Measures of job attitudes (satisfaction, affective commitment and intention to quit) were taken, as well as measures of motivation to perform emotional labour. ResultsSix styles were identified; four were common to both studies. Globally, employees classified as suppressors (use of emotion suppression only) or as non-regulators (no strategy used) reported lower levels of job satisfaction and affective commitment toward their organization compared to employees who used a flexible style (use of all three strategies) or an authentic style (use of reappraisal and expression of the naturally felt emotions). Employees adopting an acting style (use of emotion suppression and reappraisal) or a reappraising style (marked by preferential use of reappraisal) obtained results located between the non-regulating and the suppressing styles on one hand, and the authentic and the flexible styles on the other hand. Employees adopting a suppressing or a non-regulating style also manifested lower levels of motivation to regulate their emotions. ConclusionResults suggest that employees use a dynamic range of styles, which differ in their associated consequences.

The impact of motivation and teachers' autonomy support on children's executive functions.

The present study investigates the interplay of executive functions, motivation, and teacher’s autonomy support in school context. In a cross-sectional study design 208 students from different school types completed a standardized motivation questionnaire and processed two executive function tasks. All teachers who teach these students were asked about their autonomy supporting behavior by a standardized test. Multilevel analyses assessed the effects of the student’s motivation and their teachers’ autonomy support on student’s executive functions. Our results show considerable relationships between these variables: high executive function capacities came along with teacher’s autonomy support and student’s intrinsic motivation styles, whereas low executive function capacities were related to external regulation styles. The results indicate the importance of autonomy support in school instruction and disclose the need to popularize the self-regulation approach.

Individual Style of Self-Regulation of the Top Quality Sportsmen

The paper deals with identifying the individual specifics of self- regulation style development by the top qualification biathletes – the members of the Russian Federation team. The research combines the theoretical analysis methods, idealization and modeling techniques, psychological diagnostics, medical and pedagogical testing, and pedagogic experiment. The methodology basis includes the ideas of self-regulation developed by O. A. Konopkin and V. I. Morosanova. The author has devised and substantiated the method of developing the individual style of self-regulation by the top category biathletes. It has been proved that the above style can be achieved by sportsmen in the process of developing socially adequate motivation and socially valued personality traits by using verbal auto-training methods. It is indicated that there is no fixed correlation between a success in sport training and personality type. However, each type has its inherent steady characteristic complex of self-regulation. The research findings can be implemented both in training the top achievement sportsmen and sport reserves.

Self‐determination theory, social media and charitable causes: An in‐depth analysis of autonomous motivation

AbstractUsing the framework of the self‐determination theory continuum, we investigated the influence of the distinct autonomous and controlled motivational regulations for engaging participants in online and offline support of charitable events for the causes of breast cancer and homeless youth. Participants were exposed online to Facebook event pages appealing to helping others. When the often omitted integrated autonomous regulation was included in the model, it was the strongest predictor of supportive intentions. Without integrated regulation in the model, we would have overestimated the relatively minor influence of controlled introjected regulation. Furthermore, rather than one overall measure of autonomous intrinsic regulation, we assessed the differential influences of three separate dimensions (to experience stimulation, to learn and to accomplish). Intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation had a unique influence on online and offline supportive intentions. Such was not the case for the dimensions of to learn or to accomplish. Follow‐up meditation analyses of self‐reported behaviours confirmed that autonomous integrated and intrinsic to experience stimulation regulations led to stronger intentions to support online behaviours, which, in turn, increased the likelihood of actual online engagement. The findings in a social media context highlight the importance of analysing distinct regulatory styles within the self‐determination theory continuum. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Perceived Maternal Autonomy Support and Early Adolescent Emotion Regulation: A Longitudinal Study

AbstractThis study investigated longitudinal associations between perceived maternal autonomy‐supportive parenting and early adolescents' use of three emotion regulation (ER) styles: emotional integration, suppressive regulation, and dysregulation. We tested whether perceived maternal autonomy support predicted changes in ER and whether these ER styles, in turn, related to changes in adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, self‐esteem). Participants (N = 311, mean age at Time 1 = 12.04) reported on perceived maternal autonomy support, their ER styles, and adjustment at two moments in time, spanning a one‐year interval. Cross‐lagged analyses showed that perceived maternal autonomy support predicted increases in emotional integration and decreases in suppressive regulation. By contrast, emotional dysregulation predicted decreases in perceived autonomy‐supportive parenting. Further, increases in emotional integration were predictive of increases in self‐esteem, and decreases in suppressive regulation were predictive of decreases in depressive symptoms. Together, the results show that early adolescents' perception of their mothers as autonomy‐supportive is associated with increases in adaptive ER strategies and subsequent adjustment.

Are Aspects of a Motivational Interview Related to Subsequent Changes in Physical Activity and Regulatory Style? Examining Relationships among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objectives: To determine whether the integrity of motivational interviewing (MI) delivery relates to short-term changes in physical activity (PA) and regulatory style within a sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to examine whether therapist proficiency in MI improves over time. Methods: During a randomized controlled trial to promote PA, 27 patients received a MI from one of three trained physical therapists, which was coded with the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity scales (MITI). Pearson correlations examined associations between MITI scores and changes in PA and regulatory style. Linear regression examined therapist proficiency over time. Results: MIs with greater reflection-to-question ratios and higher MI proficiency scores were related to increases in PA. MIs higher in global spirit and with a greater percentage of MI-adherent behaviors were associated with decreases in introjected regulation. Therapist proficiency in MI delivery tended to improve over time. Conclusions: Characteristics of motivational interviews are related to favorable shifts in regulatory style and PA behavior. Although MI proficiency increases over time and with feedback, a 15-hour training course seems insufficient for physical therapists to obtain basic MI proficiency. Practice Implications: Providing feedback to therapists new to delivering MI seems to improve MI proficiency and should help therapists to avoid using MI-non-adherent techniques.