Small Social Groups Research Articles

THE PROBLEM OF EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PRISM OF MOBBING

Mobbing is Theoretical and practically emotional terror group above the core. This tipe of violence most often encountered in a professional environment and in every other situation where is a feeling belonging to the group. In the situation where the person is a victim of Mobbing she is losing every public integrity and personal stability and she is becoming the object of persecution of the crowd. There must be groups and a sense of belonging to the group in order to have mobbing. Mobbing rarely occurs in a number of small social groups, made up of members of all major groups, regardless of educational, professional, or professional profiles. The reasons for the phenomenon of mobbing vary from the nature of the work, through organizational causes, to the nature of the relationship between employees. The term mobbing includes all kinds of harassment at the workplace. Mobbing is not a new phenomenon and exists since there is human race and the desire of the individual for the owner. Persistent and prolonged exposure to mobbing significantly compromises the health status of the victim. Health disorders and symptoms that can arise in mobbing are divided into three groups: Changes on a psychic base and emotional sphere, changes on a psychical health plan and changes in a behavior. The victim of mobbing can become every employed person, regardless of gender, year of life, the social status, race, the external appearance, degree of education, and the professional position. The abused person in mobbing is useless, usually in impossibility to defend herself. In our country mobbing is regulated with the law about stopping the abuse on the work 2010. year. Employers are forced to analyze every problem, which has some negative consequences on the productivity and production costs. Research showed that one of the main conditions in the rising costs is mobbing. Conceived as a process of economic restructuring, changes in ownership and increase business efficiency, the transition in all the former socialist countries in the Balkans has produced a number of negative effects. Of these two are drastic: huge number of unemployed and disastrous situation of employees. Almost unique perspective of economic analysts is that mobbing is a fundamental problem employees. Whether it is horizontal or vertical, the victim is forced to perform tasks that impair their health, work and life rights. In a word, it creates an atmosphere that is often employed envy the unemployed, as there are about 45 forms of expression mobbing. About this, evidenced by the authors’ research in the Novi Pazar district.

Проблема категориального анализа интеракций общения в сетевом дискурсе

In social psychology interaction is implemented as a creation of the general strategy of interaction and also the subsequent analysis of a contribution of each participant Theoretical studying of sources of creation of models of interaction in group will allow to reveal those parameters which can be used in the subsequent for the analysis of communication in network. In the 70s the XX centuries on the basis of Ch.Osgood and M. Uish’s works, R. Beylz began studying the problem of interpersonal interactions in small social group. The scheme of the analysis of interactions he called SIMLOG. R. Beylz considered that by means of such scheme it is possible to estimate three key parameters of interactions: behavior level, image level, levels of estimated judgments. For the subsequent analysis of interactions in network discussions the analysis according to the schemes offered by R. Beylz and M. Uish is submitted interesting. As the main interactions it is possible to allocate those which in R. Beylz’s description belong to the ACT group. This category is not connected with directly observed nonverbal components which cannot be estimated in network interaction.

Climate variability and linguistic diversity

Linguistics Different parts of the world vary in the number of languages they contain. Prior research has suggested that climate plays a major role in this variability. When social groups live in areas with high seasonality and unpredictable rainfall, they are more likely to develop a shared language with other communities across larger land areas to mitigate ecological risks. Hua et al. draw on a global dataset of 6425 languages to confirm the climate variability hypothesis against competing hypotheses related to landscape features and biodiversity, while statistically controlling for spatial and phylogenetic factors. These results provide insight into how stable climates support small social group living and how more-variable climates support the formation of larger coalitions. Nat. Commun. 10 , 2047 (2019).

The effects of fluoxetine on socioemotional behavior in female rhesus monkeys is influenced by social status

BackgroundChronic adverse social experience is a major environmental variable linked to multiple psychiatric disorders. The use of social subordination in nonhuman primates represents a translational model of chronic psychosocial stress. While social dominance is associated with a resistance to a range of stressors and social subordination produces stress‐susceptible phenotypes, the neural mechanisms that underlie status‐induced differences in susceptibility remain unclear. The current study assessed the effects of increasing serotonin (5HT) activity by administering fluoxetine on rates of socioemotional behavior (including agonistic, affiliative, and anxiety‐like behaviors) in female rhesus monkeys. We hypothesized that fluoxetine would increase rates of aggression in dominant but not subordinate animals.MethodsSubjects were gonadally intact adult female rhesus monkeys (n=14) housed in small social groups of four to six females each (6 dominant and 8 subordinate females). Using a counterbalanced design, subjects received both a 14‐day treatment with fluoxetine (SC dose of 2.8 mg/kg/day) and vehicle (50% polyethylene glycol in sterile saline) separated by a three‐week washout period. Behavioral observations were collected every two days using a standard monkey ethogram during each treatment, and CSF samples were collected at the end of each treatment for assessment of central 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic (5HIAA).ResultsThe amount of aggression directed at group mates was influenced by a status by treatment interaction (p=0.05, η2=0.27), with fluoxetine enhancing aggression in dominant females and decreasing aggression in subordinate females. As expected, subordinate females emitted significantly higher rates of submission behavior than did dominant females and this was unaffected by treatment (p=0.001). Affiliation emitted towards others was influenced by a status by treatment interaction (p=0.05, η2=0.27), as fluoxetine treatment decreased affiliation emitted in dominant females and increased it in subordinates. Anxiety‐like behavior was also influenced by a status by treatment interaction (p=0.011), as anxiety‐like behaviors were reduced only in subordinate females by fluoxetine treatment (p=0.012). CSF 5HIAA concentrations were reduced by fluoxetine (p<0.001) regardless of social status.ConclusionThe data show that increased 5HT activity following fluoxetine treatment in female monkeys alters socioemotional behavior in a status‐dependent manner. Notably, subordinate females are less aggressive and more affiliative during fluoxetine treatment. Future studies include determining whether these effects of fluoxetine are sex dependent and whether subordinate males respond similarly to subordinate females.Support or Funding InformationThis research was supported by an NIMH grant MH110212.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Cooperative Learning with Whiteboarding in an Introductory Physics Course

The aim of our study is to find out the attitude of students towards the use of cooperative learning with whiteboarding in an undergraduate introductory Physics course at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto. We used an online survey and face-to-face-classroom observations as a supporting tool to collect data. The survey was based on multiple choice questions titled “Attitude Towards Cooperative Learning with Whiteboarding in Introductory Physics” (ATCLWIP), on a 5-point Likert scale, with the format strongly disagree, disagree, undecided, agree and strongly agree. The ATCLWIP survey was delivered via Moodle platform at the University of Porto and was validated using Cronbach alpha. Positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to face interaction, interpersonal and small group social skills and group processing were investigated in the survey. About 100 students took part in the survey, from bachelors in Mathematics, Environmental Science and Technology, and Geology. This course combines lectures and problem-solving classes, with students organized in small groups, with one whiteboard per group. Groups make presentations of their whiteboard, discuss and answer instructor’s and peers’ questions. Topics of the course include physical laws underlying mechanics and waves. Given the findings from the statistical analysis of the ATCLWIP survey, it must be highlighted the academic and social skills students achieved from working cooperatively with whiteboarding. Also, on the basis of students’ answers and reflections, we assert that the implementation of this strategy will contribute to increased learning, critical thinking and socialization not only in physics but also across other courses and curricula at the University.

Characteristics of structure of a foster family and its viability

The notions "family as a social system", "family as a social institution", "family as a small social group" have been compared in the article, differences and reasons of studying of foster family as a special small social group have been singled out. Characteristics of family composition connected with its viability with emphasis on family typology in terms of distinction of family structures are analysed. Characteristics significantly affecting formation of viability of family and of each family member are singled out.

Неформална структура на класа при учениците от VIII и XI клас

The students’ grade is a specific small formal social group. Social psychology studies small groups in various aspects. But this form - the student grade - remains somewhat aside from social scientists’ interest. At the same time, the dynamics, the informal structure and the power-role structure of the students’ grades predetermines a number of processes that can be understood as a key to the pedagogical process. This article presents a comparative analysis between the informal structures of two grades – a group in 9th and 11th grades. Although the study was conducted in two different grades, it reflects the basic characteristics of the informal structure in the formation of the groups shortly before its dismissal.

The concept family in the Russian and Ukrainian language culture (based on proverbs and sayings)

The article studies features of verbalization of the concept family. Based on the extensive proverbial material, the system of value attitudes and stereotypical representations of family as a traditional social institution in the understanding of Russian and Ukrainian peoples is analyzed: the role of family and marriage in the culture of Russians and Ukrainians, stages of family formation including selection of a bride or a groom, distribution of family duties, and the role of parents, attitude towards step-children. As a result of the comparative analysis of Russian and Ukrainian paremias in which family relations are reflected, general and national-specific features related to mentality, value preferences, customs and traditions of close Slavic ethnic groups are revealed. It was concluded that despite the specific features of the material and spiritual culture of Russian and Ukrainian peoples, the understanding of family and its role in human life is similar. This coincidence proves that the main functions of family as a small social group based on marriage and consanguinity are education of children and preservation of national and universal values.

СПЕЦИФІКА СОЦІАЛІЗАЦІЇ ЛЮДЕЙ ПОХИЛОГО ВІКУ В СУЧАСНОМУ СУСПІЛЬСТВІ

At each age stage of personality development, the process of socialization is due to the influence of socio-cultural factors and has its own specificity. The elderly people preparing to retire and complete their professional activities are experiencing a peculiar crisis that directly affects the adaptation to new living conditions. The reduced adaptive capacity makes it difficult to respond to new challenges associated with living conditions in the information society. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to identify the key features of the third age people socialization in the modern society to determine the content of their socio-pedagogical support. The main methods used in the given study are analysis, synthesis, systematization, and generalization. The determined characteristic features of the elderly people socialization are the following: the success of this process, depending on the way of life in youth; the attitude of large and small social groups and institutions to this age group of persons; the attitude towards oneself, to others, to aging; the availability of an adaptation resource and opportunities for self-realization of the elderly in conditions of the fluidity of society. The analyzed «Strategy of the state policy on the issues of healthy and active longevity of the population for the period up to 2022» as well as its Action plan confirmed the interest of the state, the urgency and necessity of introducing the social and pedagogical support of the elderly in the present day information society. The definition of the peculiarities of this age group socialization provides grounds for the development of the content of social and pedagogical support, which involves creating conditions for improving this process, using art as a means that provides opportunities for implementing unmet needs, achieving emotional stability, getting rid of negative psychic states, activating artistic endeavor, extension of the range of social ties under current circumstances, etc. The prospect of further research lies in substantiating the peculiarities of social and pedagogical support of the elderly people in the information society and to prove the necessity of using art to improve their socialization process.

Колективна травма як проблема соціальної та політичної психології

Проблема колективних травм є актуальною для українського сьогодення і важливою з погляду розуміння функціонування великих і малих соціальних груп. У психологічній та психотерапевтичній літературі тема колективних травм дістала наразі досить широке висвітлення як у загальному плані, так і щодо вивчення конкретних прикладів, які стосуються травм геноциду, рабства, терористичних нападів тощо. Найбільш представленим можна вважати аспект, пов'язаний з колективною травмою Голокосту та її трансгенераційною передачею. Колективна травма українського Голодомору має натомість порівняно незначну представленість у літературі. Поняття “колективна травма” може бути співвіднесено з іншими спорідненими поняттями: історична травма, трансгенерційна травма, національна травма, культурна (або культуральна) травма, інформаційна травма. Є ряд чинників, що визначають тяжкість колективної травми та умови передавання травматичного досвіду нащадкам: тяжкість травми, рівень переживання несправедливості, активність чи пасивність травмованої групи, опрацювання наслідків. Можна виділити різні типи стратегій подолання колективної травми великою групою: прогресивну, активно-агресивну, пасивно-агресивну та регресивну, у процесі реалізації яких проявляються як конструктивні (перетворення травми на історичний наратив), так і деструктивні (формування агресивної ідеології) тенденції. Подолання наслідків колективних травм у великих групах пов’язане з різними способами ритуалізації травматичного досвіду, одним з видів яких є створення героїчного епосу в певні історичні періоди. У малих групах спостерігаються колективні травми, викликані подіями, що відбуваються в цій групі, а також наслідки історичних травм, які актуалізуються в певні періоди загострення групової динаміки. Для опрацювання колективних травм та інших соціокультурних тем розроблено низку методів, серед яких одне з чільних місць займає метод соціодрами.
 Ключові слова: колективна травма, історична травма, соціальна динаміка, трансгенераційна передача, стратегії подолання травми, ритуалізація травматичного досвіду, соціодрама.

No evidence for kin protection in the expression of sickness behaviors in house mice

When infected, animals change their behaviors in several ways, including by decreasing their activity, their food and water intake, and their interest in social interactions. These behavioral alterations are collectively called sickness behaviors and, for several decades, the main hypotheses put forward to explain this phenomenon were that engaging in sickness behaviors facilitated the fever response and improved the likelihood of host survival. However, a new hypothesis was recently proposed suggesting that engaging in sickness behaviors may serve to protect kin. We tested this kin protection hypothesis by combining a field and a laboratory experiment in house mice. In both experiments, we induced sickness behaviors by administration of a pro-inflammatory agent. In the field experiment, we then collected genetic data and assessed whether relatedness affected the intensity of sickness behaviors. In the lab experiment, we manipulated relatedness in small social groups and assessed whether having a closely related individual (a sibling) in the group altered social interactions or visits to common resources (such as food and water containers) once immune-challenged. Our results do not support the kinship protection hypothesis and therefore advance our understanding of why such an apparently costly set of behavioral changes would be evolutionarily maintained.

Social transmission in networks: global efficiency peaks with intermediate levels of modularity

In myriad biological systems, multiple lines of evidence indicate that modularity, wherein parts of a network are organized into modules such as subgroups in animal networks, may affect social transmission processes. In animal societies, there is increased interest in understanding variation in the effects of modularity on transmission as it may provide important insight into a given network’s performance, in addition to the evolutionary consequences the structure of the network may have for individual fitness. Yet, to our knowledge, the degree to which network efficiency is modularity dependent has not yet been investigated in great detail in behavioral and evolutionary ecology. Here, we investigated to what degree network efficiency, as a proxy for social transmission, is modularity dependent. We created 2798 networks varying in group size and density, and tested whether network structure (density, Newman’s modularity, eigenvector centralization) and group size shape network efficiency. We also used published data from 41 primate social networks to test whether the predictions generated in our simulations were supported by empirical observations. Our results show a non-linear relationship between modularity and global efficiency, with the latter peaking at intermediate values of modularity in both theoretical and empirical networks. This phenomenon may have relevance for observed variation in social structure and its link with network performance. Our results may thus provide a basis from which to discuss the evolution of complex systems such as animal societies. Networks may maximize performance and minimize transmission costs, as demonstrated in neural networks, but to what degree network efficiency is modularity dependent has not yet been investigated in behavioral ecology. We provide evidence that modularity, such as subgrouping in animal networks, can have non-linear effects on transmission processes, with low values of modularity tending to positively influence social transmission and high values tending to negatively influence transmission. This pattern was consistent across small, medium, and large social groups from theoretical networks, and was corroborated by our empirical networks which were derived from 41 small- to medium-sized groups of 15 primate species. These results have potential implications for the understanding of social flexibility and its link with network performance, in addition informing many interdisciplinary fields, such as communication and computer science.

Efficacy of Bingocize®: A Game-Centered Mobile Application to Improve Physical and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.

A significant barrier to improving the health and well-being of older adults is that they often do not adhere to health-promoting programs. The present study examined whether Bingocize®, a game-centered mobile app that can combine bingo with healthy activities such as exercise and/or health topic education, could (1) engender high rates of adherence among sedentary community-dwelling older adults, and (2) potentially improve aspects of physical and cognitive performance. Participants used the app for ∼1 hour, twice per week, for 10 weeks. Each using a tablet, they played the game in small social groups and were randomly assigned to either an Experimental (Bingo + Health Education + Exercise) or Control (Bingo + Health Education) group. Pre- and Postintervention assessments of (1) functional performance, (2) fluid cognition, and (3) knowledge of two health topics (osteoarthritis and fall risks) were administered. Adherence was high in both groups (>93% attendance), suggesting the app was popular and engaging. Two (Experimental/Control) × Two (Pre/Post) interactions were found for two domains of functional performance (Arm Curls, a measure of upper body strength; and Chair Stands, a measure of lower body strength) and one domain of cognition (updating, a component of executive functioning), such that the Experimental group improved more relative to the Control group. Both groups improved their knowledge of the health topics covered (all P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the fun and interactive nature of Bingocize® engenders high levels of adherence to a health-promoting program in a difficult to serve population, serving as a conduit to potentially improve multiple aspects of quality of life for older adults.

An overview on strategic design for socio-technical innovation

Nowadays, we are living in an environment of uncertainties and constant transformation. The innovation process is reverted, thereby, from the top-down to the bottom-up logic, where the stakeholders are invited to participate in the process of creating innovation. In that sense, socio-technical innovation implies a process of systemic change, both in the productive structure and in the relations between actors inside the system, with technical and behavioral implications, which affects production, distribution and consumption. A model that may simplify the complexity of such processes is the Multi-Level-Perspective (MLP), which considers the interactions between niches (micro level), socio-technical regimes (meso level), and landscapes (macro level). The MLP shows that, in order to change the landscape effectively, we have to start from the bottom, in other words, the socio-technical regimes open opportunities to receive innovations from the niches, small social groups, and communities. This way, we propose a simple framework of four main steps for the strategic management of the design process to develop Sociotechnical Innovations. A key point is considering that technological development and the relations among the actors involved in innovation is the way to improve the performance of innovation, to increase the possibilities of adoption and to generate the desired impact. Keywords: sociotechnical innovation, co-design, Multi-Level-Perspective, participatory design.

TOLERANCE AS A CONDITION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

In the article results of sociological research of quality of tolerance and features of tolerant attitudes in the student's environment are resulted. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire survey of students at the Baikal State University. General views of the student youth about tolerance and intolerance, their essential expression were considered. The main types of tolerance are revealed depending on ethnic, psychophysical, demographic and other social characteristics. The estimation of tolerance among students in small social groups is given. The reasons and methods for resolving disagreements and conflicts manifested on the basis of intolerant behavior and relationships were studied. The students' opinion on the level of tolerance in modern society among representatives of different national groups, social strata, different faiths, political opinions, etc. is considered. Particular attention is paid to the manifestation of tolerance towards people with disabilities and limited health opportunities. The reasons for intolerance in relations between different social groups are indicated. The degree of influence on the tolerance of various factors (health, religion, nationality, status, etc.) has been revealed. The students' opinion on the necessity of manifestation (observance) of tolerant attitude to the representatives of certain social groups, in particular, to the disabled, ethnic and religious communities, the low-income and others is considered.

Проявление насилия в межличностных конфликтах как психологическая проблема

The research analyzes domestic and international theoretical and methodological approaches to the problem of interpersonal conflict and violence. The psychological features of conflicts and violent behavior are considered at the interpersonal level. The paper notes that there are many social and psychological causes of interpersonal conflict in a small social group and the choice of violence as a means of its resolution. The study reveals that interpersonal conflict is of a systemic nature, and violence possesses the systemic qualities. Thus, it is appropriate to apply the principles of a system approach in order to analyze the phenomena under review. The author identifies that violence is characterized by such systemic qualities as complexity, polymodality, diffuseness, inertial nature, and non-linearity. There is the highest rate of conflict and violence in the field of information exchange today. More and more people suffer from emotional instability due to information violence that provokes violence against other people and increase the victimogenic vulnerability. The system-wide ways to resolve conflicts and prevent violence at the interpersonal level are proposed.

Migration of population: regularities, problems and their solutions

Migration of the population is an objective reality and is subject to universallaws throughout the world. International migration affects all aspects of thelife of the world community, leads to the evolution of the perception of universal values and rules of behavior, as well as to the emergence of countries with great cultural and ethnic diversity. The speed of migration processes is growing rapidly with the progress of science and technology. The relationship between the place of employment and the place of residence is graduallylosing its significance. The causes of migration need to be divided (and this is done for the first time) into two categories: the causes that cause the displacement oflarge masses of the population in relatively short periods of time, and the reasons thatlead to the constant displacement of small social groups and citizens for a long time. The revealed patterns of internal migration processes in Russia are extremely negative centripetal and hamper the development of the country's economy as a whole and its regions. In conclusion, the article formulates the theoretical prerequisites for solving the problems caused by migration, particularly attention is drawn to the advantage of dispersed migration in front of a compact one.

A latent profile analysis of exposure to community violence and peer delinquency in African American adolescents

AimsPerson-based analyses have demonstrated wide variability among the levels of exposure to community violence (ECV) experienced by youth in disadvantaged communities. In addition, social network research has found that violence victimization tends to occur primarily among a small social group, demonstrating that levels of peer delinquency may be a factor that distinguishes among youth who experience high and low levels of ECV. MethodsThe current study utilized latent class analysis to examine profiles of ECV and peer delinquency in a sample of 618 African American adolescents (54.7% female; mean age = 15.8, SD = 1.41), and the relationship these profiles have to adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. ResultsResults demonstrated that levels of ECV and peer delinquency vary significantly among these youth, and profile membership predicts levels of delinquency, aggression, future orientation, and self-esteem. ConclusionResearch and clinical implications are discussed.

PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION: PREREQUISITES OF MODELING

The process of professional identification is derived from the process of primary socialization with appropriate impact of such agents of socialization as a family, a small social group, and an education establishment. The relevance of the study is due to the definition of professional identity of young people in the contemporary socio-economic conditions of formation of the labor force. In this context, this article aims to identify and disclose the key criteria that determine the success of professional identification of the young man, which is reflected in the personal context of his professional satisfaction, and in the state - in the growth of social capital, the development of social potential of the nation and the expansion of social and economic social life trajectories. The research is interdisciplinary in nature. The leading approach in this regard to the study of social problems is economic modeling of social processes, enabling complex to address issues of professional identity in the context of the formation of the labor force. The article presents the methodological background of socio-economic modeling, revealed features of perception of professional identity as the explained variable formed regression identified covariates considered the socio-economic model, a reasonable opportunity to use this approach to study the key trajectories of social development and forecasting possible trends.Article Submissions are of practical value to researchers of socio-economic modeling as common socio-economic processes, and the processes of personality formation and development of the youth strata in society.

Речевой конфликт в семейном общении

The study was performed in line with the actual scientific areas of language conflictology and linguistic axiology. The article is devoted to the linguistic description of conflict situations in family communication by the material of the film “Inadequate people” (directed by Roman Karimov). The relevance of the study is due to the need to study communication in small social groups (in particular, in the family), as there is a high level of emotionality and intensity of communication, and it often becomes a conflictogenic factor. The text fragments representing speech conflicts between a teenager and adult relatives are analyzed. The markers of destructive communication and speech aggression in the communicative behaviour of adults (negatively charged language means and non-cooperative speech-behavioral tactics of condemnation, threat, coercion, etc.) and adolescents (high tone, insults, rude demand, disharmonizing strategy of discredit, tactics of “rudeness” and other). Special attention is paid to implicit speech aggression, which is embodied in irony, sarcasm, indirect issues. It is noted that using such techniques, the communicant expresses a negative or critical attitude towards the addressee. It is indicated that the intergenerational conflict is expressed in the deformation of interpersonal communication, in the failure of mechanisms of understanding between parents and children, in disagreements concerning moral and value orientations.