Social Causes Research Articles

The power of flattery: Enhancing prosocial behavior through virtual influencers

AbstractWhile prior work suggests the significant role virtual influencers (VIs) can play in addressing social and welfare issues, it remains unclear how they can increase social media users' engagement in prosocial behaviors. The current study examines the role of influencer flattery in driving the prosocial behavior of social media users. Specifically, the research investigates how flattery and humanlike appearance influence the perceived authenticity of VIs and the subsequent prosocial behavior of social media users (Studies 1 and 2). Furthermore, the research substantiates these effects by exploring how flattery and anthropomorphism via humanlike traits impact perceived authenticity and prosocial behavior when social media users witness the influencer praising others (Study 3). Beyond intention to donate (Study 1), the study also investigated its impact on related prosocial behaviors, such as click‐through behavior (Study 2) and the willingness to pay for fundraising merchandise (Study 3). The findings of this research offer concrete implications for nonprofit organizations by demonstrating the persuasive impact of flattery, perceived authenticity, and anthropomorphism in mobilizing public support, donations, and merchandise purchases for social causes.

Developing a Materiality Matrix for a Health Institution

The third sector plays an important role in Brazilian society and, its essential characteristics such as promoting socio-environmental responsibility, developing social causes and, reducing inequality are in line with the fundaments of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). The materiality matrix is considered one of the main ESG management tools, helping organizations identify, define, and communicate actions related to the most relevant topics for the institution and its stakeholders. The objective of this study is to develop a Materiality Matrix for a third-sector health institution based on the priority topics defined by the organization and its stakeholders, alongside the guidelines of GRI and SASB. The result identified that the most relevant topics were Information Security and Privacy, Expansion/Democratization of Access to Health Services, Support for Public Health Management, Quality of Care and Patient Satisfaction, Health and Safety of Employees, and Human and Professional Development. This article contributes to enhance the health institutions in driving their efforts in a strategic way, aligning their activities with the social and environmental agendas and, at same time, raise the awareness of on critical material topics/issues for their stakeholders’ expectations.

Diversity Hiring in the Purview of Providing Equal Employment Opportunity: Importance and Impact on Organizational Productivity

In today's global business landscape, social responsibility encompasses diversity management, with organizations striving to enhance inclusivity of underrepresented individuals. The employee selection process is crucial in diversity management, as it influences an organization's branding and commitment to diversity. Top executives are focusing on talent diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and create a competitive advantage. Gender parity in the workplace is a social cause and business imperative. Leaders are focusing on making businesses more attractive to diverse workforces, especially female talent. Employers have struggled to balance compliance with affirmative action laws and ensure fair selection processes. This paper analyzes EEO provisions and diversity management in the United States, focusing on discrimination and efforts to address them. It discusses the unresolved EEO issues in the US, particularly gender diversity, and its implications for other countries. The paper also reviews HR challenges in employing selection methods and the impact of diversity selection practices on organizational culture.

Porcine ear necrosis is associated with social behaviours in weaned piglets

BackgroundPorcine ear necrosis (PEN) is a worldwide health issue and its aetiology is still unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and the severity of PEN in a commercial farm, associated with pig behaviour and health biomarkers measures.On two consecutive batches, PEN prevalence was determined at the pen level. PEN scores, blood haptoglobin concentration and oxidative status were measured on two pigs per pen (n = 48 pens) 9, 30 and 50 days (D) after arrival to the post-weaning unit. Social nosing, oral manipulation and aggression of pen mates and exploration of enrichment materials were observed on two to three pigs per pen twice a week from D9 to D50.ResultsAt the pen level, the higher the time spent nosing pen mates, the lower the percentage of pigs affected by PEN during both the early and the late post-weaning periods (P < 0.002) and, in the opposite, the higher the time spent orally manipulating pen mates during the late post-weaning period, the higher the percentage of affected pigs (P = 0.03). At the pig level, the higher the increase in hydroperoxides and haptoglobin during the early post-weaning period, the higher the PEN scores on D30 (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study suggests that a high incidence of social nosing, which can be an indicator of good social cohesion in a group, was significantly associated with less frequent lesions of PEN. In opposite, high incidence of oral manipulation of pen mates may increase the percentage of PEN-affected pigs. According to these observations, PEN is a multifactorial condition which may have social causes among others.

The German Center for Mental Health : Innovative translational research to promote prevention, targeted intervention and resilience

Due to the high disease burden, the early onset and often long-term trajectories mental disorders are among the most widespread diseases with growing significance. The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) was established to enhance research conditions and expedite the translation of clinically relevant findings into practice. The aim of the DZPG is to optimize mental healthcare in Germany, influence modifiable social causes and to develop best practice models of care for vulnerable groups. It seeks to promote mental health and resilience, combat the stigmatization associated with mental disorders, and contribute to the enhancement of treatment across all age groups. The DZPG employs atranslational research program that accelerates the translation of basic research findings into clinical studies and general practice. University hospitals and outpatient departments, other university disciplines, and extramural research institutions are working together to establish acollaboratively coordinated infrastructure for accelerated translation and innovation. The research areas encompass 1)the interaction of somatic and mental risk and resilience factors and disorders across the lifespan, 2)influencing relevant modifiable environmental factors and 3)based on this personalized prevention and intervention. The DZPG aims to develop innovative preventive and therapeutic tools that enable an improvement in care for individuals with mental disorders. It involves acomprehensive integration of experts with experience at all levels of decision-making and employs trilogue and participatory approaches in all research projects.

Gender Qualities and Campus Bullying: Psychological Causes and Social Ecology Behind the Rose Boy

In April 2000, "Rose Boy" Ye Yongzhi died due to bullying by his classmates for his unique gender identity. Although the Ye Yongzhi incident has drawn increasing attention to the seriousness of gender identity discrimination and campus bullying, the phenomenon of "gender bullying" still exists today. In this study, the author conducted a questionnaire survey of 100 male youths in mainland China who had experienced or were currently experiencing campus bullying to clarify the current status of campus bullying and gender bullying in mainland China, and conducted statistics on the forms, reasons, solutions, and impacts of bullying. On this basis, this paper adopts a social-psychological perspective to explore the social psychological causes behind "gender temperament bullying". On the one hand, adolescents may develop stereotypes about gender temperament due to prejudice. On the other hand, adolescents may exhibit irrational group behavior under the influence of "deindividuation". In addition, "obeying authority" is also one of the reasons why some teenagers join the ranks of bullies. Finally, this paper elaborates on the deeper macro-social ecology behind social psychology, such as the influence of traditional gender role beliefs on parents' expectations and requirements for their children in traditional Chinese families; most schools in China fail to provide comprehensive and scientific gender education courses, lacking in-depth exploration and correct guidance on gender issues; the administrative and judicial departments have not sufficiently punished and prevented campus bullying; the whole society's attention to campus bullying and gender discrimination also needs to be improved.

Research on the Reform of Teaching Computer Fundamentals in Art Majors under the Background of Integrating Ideology and Curriculum

The goal of education is not only to cultivate knowledgeable and skilled individuals, but more importantly, to cultivate individuals with ethics, ideals, and the ability to succeed the socialist cause. Moral education should be integrated throughout the entire process of education and teaching, deeply integrated with various levels and disciplines, and guide students to establish correct worldviews, life values, and ideals, strengthen their sense of mission, and cultivate qualified socialist builders and successors. The concept of "integrating ideology and curriculum" aims to incorporate ideological and political education into teaching beyond the ideological and political classroom. Based on the characteristics of the curriculum itself, it integrates ideals and beliefs, national achievements, career ideals, excellent traditional culture, legal education, craftsmanship spirit, and labor education into curriculum teaching to achieve the goal of moral education. This article takes the university computer fundamentals course as the research object and explores the integration of ideology and curriculum in the teaching of computer fundamentals in art majors.

Compensation Fund in Foundations: Indonesia’s Foundation Laws and Auditor Perspectives

Foundations play a pivotal role in advancing social causes and managing donations for the betterment of society. In Indonesia, foundation faces significant challenges that undermine their integrity and accountability. This study delves into the multifaceted issues surrounding foundation management and legal compliance in Indonesia. One thing that needs to be noted in the management of Foundations is the strict prohibition in the Foundation Law that Founders and Foundation Organs are prohibited from receiving salaries, wages, or honorariums (compensation fund), and this prohibition is even threatened with criminal penalties. In their activities, Foundations that receive donations or certain asset amounts are required to have their financial statements audited, and some Foundations have done so. There are differences in assessing the violation from the perspective of enforcing the Foundation Law and from the perspective of auditors. To address these pressing issues, this study adopts a qualitative research approach with content analysis techniques. By systematically analyzing textual data sourced from legal documents, financial reports, and relevant literature, the study aims to shed light on the challenges faced by foundations in Indonesia and identify strategies for enhancing transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within the sector

Core socialist values and curriculum policy in China: A study of the curriculum standard for Chinese language

AbstractThis study employs Bernstein's concept of recontextualization and Rata's theorization of the Curriculum Design Coherence [CDC] model as theoretical tools to analyse the Curriculum Standard for Chinese Language [Standard] (The Standard, the Guidance, the Plan and all the quotations from the three policies were translated by me because the official English versions of them are unavailable.) which is part of a new approach to curriculum policy development in China. The study aims to identify and explain the mechanisms through which the Chinese government has recontextualized its ascendant political ideals of the core socialist values into the country's education system via curriculum policymaking. The study reveals that the Standard contains features embedding the core socialist values. This is achieved through three distinct mechanisms of recontextualization: policy propositions, subject competencies and subject concepts and content which operate from a sociocultural knowledge orientation. This sociocultural knowledge orientation aligns with the government's strong will to cultivate the core socialist values within the young generation so they become qualified builders and successors of the country's great socialist cause.

МОДА, ИСКУССТВО И ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННАЯ ПРАКТИКА: ИСТОРИОГРАФИЯ ВЗАИМООТНОШЕНИЙ

The central theme of this research is a reflection on the evolution of philosophical ideas about the relationship between fashion and art, from its origins in the Age of Enlightenment to the present. The order of appearance of the first theories of fashion, linking fashion and art, their orientation traced. We investigated the evolution of these theories and the conditioning of the evolution by various social causes and intellectual trends. And we also followed up the transformation of fashion theories as an art form under the influence of contemporary artistic practices. The conclusion of the research: the relationship between art and fashion in the modern world is becoming stronger and stronger. The circle of issues that connect art and fashion in the modern world is quite wide, and it is constantly changing. One of the reasons for these changes is the alteration of the essential boundaries of contemporary art.

The communist movement in Nghe-Tinh and political parties in the French Indochina (1930–1931)

The article analyzes the experience of the French Colonial Empire of the 1930s in ensuring internal security in the Indochina region. The social, economic and climatic causes of political unrest (1930–1931) in the northern part of Annam, namely in the two provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh (Nghe-Tinh), are examined. The characteristics of the three ideological directions on which the political parties of Indochina are based are given. The development of the peasant movement and the creation of alternative administrations in villages to replace colonial ones are demonstrated. The new institution for a number of villages will be the Soviets, under the leadership of the Indochina Communist Party. The view is reflected of the colonial administration of Indochina on socio-economic problems. The adjustments in the French colonial army are presented in the form of sending additional contingents, as an example, the arrival of the 4th battalion of the Foreign Legion from Algeria to Indochina. The attention is paid to the key source under the title: «Contribution to the history of political movements in French Indochina». It testifies to a victorious turning point for the French administration in suppressing armed uprisings in Indochina. The document is a transcript and represents the testimony of Vietnamese who were members of the Indochina Communist Party. The despite the difficulties for France in maintaining internal security in the Indochina region by 1931, order in the colony was almost restored.

Blockchain for social good: A review of applications in humanitarian aid and social initiatives

Blockchain technology has emerged as a revolutionary force with the potential to address pressing social challenges and transform traditional paradigms in humanitarian aid and social initiatives. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the diverse applications of blockchain in fostering social good, particularly in the realms of humanitarian aid and social initiatives. The decentralized and transparent nature of blockchain offers a paradigm shift in the way charitable organizations operate and deliver aid. Smart contracts on blockchain enable transparent and tamper-resistant transactions, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and reach intended beneficiaries. The elimination of intermediaries reduces the risk of corruption and ensures a more direct and accountable flow of funds. In the context of humanitarian aid, blockchain facilitates the creation of decentralized identity systems, ensuring secure and verifiable identities for displaced populations. This aids in the efficient delivery of aid, as well as financial inclusion for those without access to traditional banking services. Moreover, blockchain enhances supply chain transparency, enabling the tracking of donations from inception to distribution, reducing fraud and ensuring the authenticity of goods. Social initiatives, too, benefit from blockchain's transformative capabilities. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) enable communities to collectively make decisions and manage resources. This fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among participants, promoting sustainable social development. Additionally, blockchain-based token economies incentivize positive behaviors, encouraging individuals to contribute to social causes in meaningful ways. Despite these promising applications, challenges such as scalability, regulatory uncertainties, and technological literacy remain. This paper calls for continued research and collaboration to unlock the full potential of blockchain for social good, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions that can address the unique challenges faced by humanitarian and social initiatives.

A multilevel investigation of factors related to achievement in Ireland and Spain using PISA data

The Program for International Assessment (PISA) is a methodology for making comparative judgments about the quality of education systems. Celebrated by proponents as a transparent process that allows policy makers produce data informed judgments about relative quality of their national education system PISA – and through it the OECD – has become a key vehicle for informing and explaining educational policy development. This paper explores the Irish and Spanish outcomes of the 2018 round of PISA. It examines the contextual factors that are associated with performance at student and school level while at the same time developing a multi-level statistical model to explain divergent school performance profiles It finds that issues associated with the socio-economic level of the students, the repetition rate, and student age are common across all domains in both countries. It suggests that the socio-economic status of Spanish students at school level is not significant, that the shortage of teachers in Ireland affects student performance, and that immigrant status does not disadvantage Spanish student performance. It concludes by suggesting that studies involving a wider application of the model be undertaken to assess possible social, economic, and cultural causes that may explain the differences in variable significance in each country.

Research on Influencing Factors of Curriculum Ideological and Political Teaching Effect under Mixed Teaching Mode

As the carrier of moral education, teachers guide students to transform moral education elements into intrinsic qualities and abilities by imparts curriculum knowledge and become qualified successors to the socialist cause. Based on the current situation of ideological and political implementation of practical English courses in hotels under the mixed teaching mode, this paper studies the impact of students, teachers, teaching environment and educational evaluation on the effect of ideological and political teaching of practical English courses in hotels.

CSR in India – A Vision for the Sustainable Future

CSR has emerged as a critical component of modern business practices, especially in the Indian context. The dynamic background of CSR in India reflects a transformation in the role of corporations from mere profit-making entities to responsible corporate citizens contributing to societal welfare. With a rich history deeply intertwined with philanthropy and social causes, India has witnessed a significant shift in the way businesses perceive and execute their social responsibilities. In this backdrop, the present paper puts an attempt to comprehensively analyze the role of CSR in contributing sustainable development and challenges within the Indian CSR ecosystem. Further, the article concludes with strategics to address these challenges, advocating for collaborative efforts and policy reforms to shape the future of CSR in India.

Prevalence of malnutrition in children in Narsingdi district, Bangladesh: An observational study

Background: A pathological condition called malnutrition arises when there is a relative or absolute lack or excess of one or more nutrients. In low-income nations, it is a serious public health issue for children under ten years. Malnutrition is a state of nutritional deficit brought on by insufficient consumption of protein or energy. Primary acute malnutrition in children is a prevalent condition in underdeveloped nations due to insufficient food supply resulting from social, economic, and environmental causes. An underlying illness that results in aberrant nutritional loss, increased energy expenditure, or decreased food intake is typically the cause of secondary acute malnutrition. Method: This was an observational, descriptive study conducted in Bangladesh's Narsingdi area from September to October 2023. All records of children with complications of malnutrition, between the ages of 2 and 10 were included in the study. Result: 142 children fall in the category of underweight, 166 children possess suitable BMI and 8 of them were heavyweight with BMI more than 23. Nearly one third of the children faces physical problems some times in their life time. Among all of the children 139 (43.98%) had perfect physical status with good health and diarrhea is the most common problem they caught by 118 respondents. Conclusion: In the district, its severity and prevalence can be decreased with increased community knowledge and stronger preventive efforts.

Research on GUCCI’s Business Strategies and Their Implications

The essay dissects GUCCI's comprehensive business strategies, encompassing design innovation, brand identity, marketing prowess, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. It highlights the brand's adeptness at blending traditional motifs with modern trends, evidenced by its iconic logos and motifs. The significance of marketing campaigns, including collaborations and celebrity endorsements, is examined, alongside the brand's engagement with social causes. The essay also underscores GUCCI's commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, discussing its efforts to trace materials, reduce environmental impact, and uplift the lives of those involved in production. The conclusion assesses the impact of these strategies, emphasizing GUCCI's exceptional financial performance and competitive advantage. The brand's ability to thrive in a challenging market while maintaining its iconic status speaks to the effectiveness of its strategic approach. In essence, this essay showcases GUCCI as a paragon of brand strategy, highlighting the intersection of innovation, identity, marketing, sustainability, and responsibility. GUCCI's journey serves as a compelling example of how these elements can lead to enduring success in the ever-evolving luxury fashion landscape.

From deity to demon: the rise and fall of Hārītī worship in China

Hārītī is the first female deity in Buddhism that was credited with responsibility for protecting women during childbirth and protecting children. Since her introduction to China from India, her image has undergone multiple changes, and the rise and fall of her cult is closely related to the social culture around her reception. However, previous research on Hārītī has focused mainly on historiographical aspects, and little attention has been given to image evolution after her introduction into China. Therefore, this paper mainly utilizes iconographic methods to systematically review the characteristics of Hārītī’s image in different periods and investigate the social causes and religious meanings behind her evolution. The study revealed that the image of Hārītī has experienced five development phases: Hellenization, Sinicization, demonization, confusion, and parasitization. The most fundamental reason for her rise in China was the strong demand for fertility among the people. The most important reasons for her decline in China include the deep-rooted negative popular view of her yaksha identity and the prevalence of images and stories of the child-giving Avalokitesvara, who replaced her core functions entirely. In this way, Hārītī worship underwent gradual marginalization in China.

Predicting cause-related marketing patronage intentions based on Schwartz's theory of human values: a large-scale sample study anchored on female fashion leadership

PurposeBusinesses embark on cause-related marketing (CRM) initiatives as a marketing strategy to fortify consumers' behavioural intentions. Prior research indicates that human values could be tapped to understand the consumers' responses to perceived organizational motives behind undertaking social cause initiatives. This research employs Schwartz's theory of human values to examine consumers' patronage intentions towards CRM-linked fashion products. Moreover, fashion leaders play a crucial role in the diffusion of the latest fashion and fashion trends. This research investigates by integrating human values and fashion leadership, offering insights into CRM-linked fashion consumption motives.Design/methodology/approachThe overarching goal was to investigate the complex interplay between human values and female fashion leadership to predict CRM patronage intention (CPI). Hence, a large-scale research study on 2,050 samples was undertaken by adopting threefold partial least squares–multigroup analysis–artificial neural network (PLS-MGA-ANN) to establish and empirically test a comprehensive model.FindingsThis study is unique as it establishes and validates the relative or normalized importance placed on human values by fashion leaders, thereby predicting CPIs. The results revealed that women with high-fashion leadership and specific value types (benevolence, universalism, self-direction) are more likely to patronize CRM-linked fashion retailers. In addition, the findings validated that women with low-fashion leadership and specific value types (tradition, security, conformity) are more likely to patronize CRM-linked fashion stores.Originality/valueThe findings provide a valuable rationale to non-profit marketers, fashion marketing experts and practitioners to design customer value-based profiling and manage crucial CRM decisions.

The good bank: preference of banking institutions based on perceptions of corporate environmental and social causes

IntroductionThis study aims to contribute to understanding factors that explain consumers' preferences for banking institutions. We specifically explored the roles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)—targeted primarily at Environmental causes and secondarily at Social causes—on corporate image (CI), consumer satisfaction (CS) and consumer loyalty (CL). We tested whether integrating a CSR description with an emphasis on environmental causes into the bank marketing strategy would positively affect CI, CS and CL. We also inspected the effect of online banking vs. direct human contact, and perception of price fairness, as well as that of the consumers' demographic variables.MethodsA survey was carried out online, with 322 international respondents recruited through social networks. Participants were randomly directed to one of eight different bank conditions, each combining descriptions where Environmental and social CSR, Price fairness, and direct human contact with the clients varied. After reading the bank description participants filled out a questionnaire that addressed their perception of the bank's CI and their projections of CS and CL.Results and discussionResults indicated that participants favored the banks that included CSR as part of their description, with the perception of price fairness being the second critical factor in the respondents' CI, CS, and CL. Direct human contact vs. remote banking did not play a role in the participant's ratings of the bank, which is in line with more current studies. We concluded that businesses in the banking sector enhance their global reputation when investing in environmental and social CSR.