Social Cooperation Research Articles

Values in Narratives: Religious Education as an Exercise in Emotional Rationality

The domain of education deals with the issue of the possibility of a person’s development so that the person would learn to become more human through the educational process. An integral part of a person’s development is first and foremost the dimension of an individual’s integration into society. Education for values plays an indispensable role in education. The technical aspect of education—as John Macmurray described it—has its foundation in instrumental rationality, aiming at the realization of utilitarian values in order to achieve the necessary social cooperation for the purpose of an easier coexistence. That so-called instrumental conception of life has given birth to a special type of the contemporary human being, homo faber. If, however, we strive to achieve the complete development of a human being through education, which is more fully realized only in the communion of people in the forms of friendship, fellowship and love, this instrumental conception requires enrichment through a communitarian conception of life, aimed at the realization of intrinsic values. In that sense, this article explores the contemplative and relational aspects of education from the perspective of religious education, which, according to John Macmurray, are based on the emotional level of rationality which results in the acquisition and adoption of intrinsic individual and inter-individual values. The aim of this article is to show that when it comes to education, these values are best conveyed through narratives. The article also attempts to shed light on the way students internalize and personalize intrinsic values through their emotional familiarity with the narratives, and especially with the value of reciprocity, which is key to authentic religious practice, and thus also to ethical awareness, which is important for the formation of moral awareness and character of a human being. Furthermore, the article explores the extent to which narratives as a form of religious knowledge are important in religious education, and in which they contribute to the formation of students’ opinions, attitudes and identities as transmitters of religious truths. Narratives notably carry a strong potential for the spiritual transformation of one’s personal and social life in such a way that they can motivate students to accept and realize certain religious and moral practices through experiential touching of values. Examples of narratives used in religious education textbooks in secondary schools in Croatia reveal how much they actually contribute to the goals of religious education in terms of education for intrinsic individual and inter-individual values.

Beyond private-sphere pro-environmental action: Explaining shared mobility using the Theory of Planned Behavior and solidarity-oriented variables

Shared mobility behaviors can decrease the negative environmental effects of the transport sector, yet they have received limited attention. Models such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) have been widely used to explain primarily individual private-sphere pro-environmental behaviors (PEB). However, as shared mobility behaviors are not completely limited to the private sphere but require social cooperation, solidarity-focused variables that emphasize social interactions may meaningfully complement the TPB variables. In three university samples (Study 1: N=261, Study 2: N=1411; Study 3: N=544), we tested relationships between the TPB variables and shared mobility, and whether solidarity-oriented variables are relevant predictors of shared mobility beyond the TPB variables. The analyses confirmed attitude (β = 0.38 − 0.59, p < 0.001) and social norm (β = 0.17 − 0.43, p < 0.001) as predictors of shared mobility intention. Furthermore, the solidarity-oriented variables universalism (β = 0.09 − 0.18, p < 0.05) as well as specific collective efficacy (β = 0.08 − 0.10, p < 0.05) and opinion-based social identification (β = 0.18, p < 0.001) positively predicted shared mobility intention. Psychological variables showed no consistent connection to self-reported shared mobility behaviors in logistic regressions. We discuss the scope of solidarity-oriented variables that need social cooperation to complementarily explain PEB beyond the private sphere.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Enhance Kunjing Children's Social Communication and Cooperation

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Enhance <i>Kunjing</i> Children's Social Communication and Cooperation

교사의 소진 경험 및 지원 요구에 관한 CQR-M 연구

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing burnout experienced by teachers, understand their coping behaviors for overcoming burnout, and determine the support they need for burnout prevention and recovery. Methods: A total of 340 teachers from elementary, middle, and high schools in Chungcheongnam Province responded to open-ended questions online. Data were analyzed using the Modified Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR-M) method. Results: Factors influencing teacher burnout were grouped into seven categories. These categories include 'severity of student problem behavior, crises, and guidance challenges (25.8%)', 'complaints and infringement on teachers' rights by students and parents (19.3%)', 'unfair task assignments and workload (15.4%)', 'conflicts with parents and their negative attitudes (14.0%)', and 'lack of social support and cooperation within the school (14.0%)'. Coping strategies for overcoming burnout were grouped into nine categories, including 'seeking social support and cooperation (24.7%)', 'engaging in self-care activities (24.0%)', 'waiting or leaving it alone (14.0%)', and 'participating in counseling, therapy, or training (9.7%)'. Teachers’ needs for support for preventing and overcoming burnout were analyzed into eight categories, including 'restoration and enhancement of teachers' rights (24.2%)', 'improvement of the work environment to focus on teaching (20.5%)', 'support for counseling, therapy, and training (14.1%)', 'support for student guidance (10.9%)', and 'support for rest (10.1%)'. Conclusion: These findings provide insights into teachers' experiences of burnout and offer implications for preventing and alleviating teacher burnout.

Equality, efficiency and hierarchy in the workplace

Abstract Relational egalitarians argue that workplace hierarchy is wrong or unjust. However, even if workplace hierarchy is morally deficient in one respect, the efficiency of hierarchical cooperation might vindicate hierarchy. This paper assesses the extent to which relational egalitarians must make concessions to workplace hierarchy for the sake of efficiency. I argue that considerations of hierarchy provide egalitarians with reasons that make workplace hierarchy tolerable despite being unjustified, and, moreover, that under a predominantly hierarchical status quo, the practical import of egalitarian reasons is unlikely to be undercut. This can be the case even if social hierarchy sometimes constitutes social cooperation.

Quality of transition services provided to students with intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT This study assesses the quality of transition services provided to students with intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of their teachers. To achieve the study's objectives, a questionnaire was designed consisting of 30 items distributed across six dimensions related to transition: transition planning, family participation, student participation, transition-focused curricula, social institution cooperation, and transition assessment. The questionnaire was completed by 95 teachers of students with intellectual disabilities. The findings showed that the level of quality achieved in the transition services provided to students with intellectual disabilities was generally very high, as the dimensions were arranged in descending order as follows: transition-focused curricula, student participation, family participation, transition assessment, transition planning, and social institution cooperation. The results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences attributed to the gender variable, the educational qualification variable, or the years of experience variable.

SOCIAL PROGRESS AND COOPERATION: A SHORT ANTHOLOGY OF PUBLIC THOUGHT

In the work, the authors consider the socio-political thought concerning the issues of cooperation. Special attention is paid to the concepts of intellectuals representing various ideological trends. The works of authors from various scientific schools are analyzed, with an emphasis on an in-depth presentation of cooperation in the context of prospects for social development.

O PAPEL DA EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA NO BEM-ESTAR MENTAL E FÍSICO NA SOCIEDADE MODERNA

Physical Education plays a crucial role in mental and physical well-being in modern society, directly influencing individuals’ quality of life. Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining physical health, preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Furthermore, Physical Education contributes significantly to mental health, helping to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, promoting a general feeling of well-being. In the school context, Physical Education is fundamental for the development of children’s motor and social skills, encouraging cooperation, discipline and team spirit. In adult life, physical exercise is a powerful tool for maintaining health and emotional balance, being an important ally in combating a sedentary lifestyle and associated health problems. The modernization and integration of technology in Physical Education have expanded the possibilities of access and personalization of physical activities, making them more attractive and effective. Thus, Physical Education is an essential component for promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle, directly reflecting on the quality of life and well-being of the population.

Increased sensitivity to social hierarchy during social competition versus cooperation.

Social hierarchy is a typical feature of social organization. The ability to quickly recognize social hierarchy information is crucial for adapting to social contexts. Here, we adopted fast periodic visual stimulation with electroencephalography to assess the neural responses to social hierarchy during social competition and cooperation, respectively. Participants first learned hierarchical faces from a competitive game versus a cooperative game. We then sequentially presented the learned hierarchical faces with a specific frequency in a set of faces. Results showed that participants rated the inferior player as lower in the social hierarchy in the cooperative context compared to the competitive context, indicating that social context affects the judgment of others' rank. Moreover, higher neural responses to high and low-hierarchy faces versus medium-hierarchy faces were observed, suggesting rapid discrimination of social hierarchy from faces. Interestingly, rank-specific neural responses were more pronounced in the competitive context than in the cooperative context, indicating increased sensitivity to social hierarchy during social competition versus social cooperation. This study provides behavioral and neural evidence for rapid, automatic processing of social hierarchy information and for an increased sensitivity to such information in competitive versus cooperative social contexts.

What can I do as a farmer to reduce losses? Willingness to use meteorological information as an exit strategy to deal with meteorological hazards

Meteorological information and forecasts are of great importance to reduce agro-meteorological hazards. However, the gap between production and application of these forecasts is one of the most ambiguous issues of crop management at the farmers’ level. In this regard, investigating the factors influencing Iranian farmers willingness to use meteorological information and predictions was selected as the main aim of the present study. To this end, an extended version of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was employed and modeled. The results revealed that attitude towards the use of meteorological information and predictions, subjective norms in the use of meteorological information and predictions, perceived behavioral control and self-identity in the use of meteorological information and prediction, and moral norm variables regarding the use of meteorological information and predictions positively and significantly affected willingness to use meteorological information and predictions. These variables could account for 46% of willingness to use meteorological information and predictions variance. According to the results, it was suggested that by creating multimedia programs, the agricultural community become aware of the benefits and consequences of using meteorological information in their activities. Furthermore, it was recommended that social cooperation and research groups be formed on the use of meteorological information in agricultural activities. This can contribute to examine the various dimensions (strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities) of using meteorological information from a collective perspective. Making a social decision in this regard can have a profound effect on a person’s subjective norms and dramatically increase the speed of using meteorological information. The results of this study can help policymakers and decision-makers in the field of agriculture to design suitable intervention programs for the effective use of meteorological information by farmers. Also, the results of this study help farmers to effectively reduce the impacts of meteorological hazards.

Do policy instruments that restrict social identity expression increase economic cooperation?

Recent public and corporate policies restricting social identity expression, such as the face-covering restrictions in many European countries, presume that prominent signals of our social identity differences drive division even when inference about social identity is unaffected. Social identity theory predicts that limiting identity expression could positively or negatively affect how groups interact. We use an experiment to test whether a treatment that bans displaying an identity pin affects cooperation in public goods provision. Our subjects are U.K. residents who were in favor of leaving or remaining in the European Union. Each subject is simultaneously in two different yet economically identical environments that are distinguished only by the social identities of the group members. They play two simultaneous one-shot public goods games, one with others who share their identity (in-group public good), and one with a mixture of Leavers and Remainers (mixed-group public good). The political identities of all subjects and the structure of each group are known by everyone. Our treatments vary whether there exists a ban on displaying a Leaver/Remainer identity pin to others and whether Leavers or Remainers are the majority identity in the mixed groups. We find that banning pinning increases contributions to the mixed group when Leavers are the majority. These increases can be explained by changes in beliefs rather than the notion that shared group identity per se affects behavior. These setting- and identity-specific results suggest that policies designed to promote integration should be examined in the context in which they will be applied.

Oxytocin modulation of explicit pandemic stigma in men with varying social anxiety levels

ObjectiveStigma can create divisions within societies, hindering social cohesion and cooperation. Notably, it has significant public health implications, especially during infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19. However, little is known about the neural and molecular basis of disease-related stigma and their association with individual differences. MethodsTo address this gap, we performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design study with 70 males, to investigate the effect of intranasal oxytocin (OT) administration on the explicit and implicit processing of disease-related stigma (i.e., COVID-19 stigma). After self-administrated 24 IU of OT or placebo, participants completed a stigma evaluation task and an Implicit Association Test (IAT) to assess the explicit and implicit processes of stigma evaluation, respectively. ResultsThe results showed that oxytocin amplified the differences between participants with high and low social anxiety in explicit COVID-19 stigma, with a higher inclination to attribute the stigmatized status of the stigmatized targets (i.e., COVID-19 related group) to personal causes in high social anxiety individuals, but reduced blame towards the stigmatized targets in low social anxiety individuals under oxytocin compared to placebo treatment. Furthermore, oxytocin strengthened the connections between responsibility attribution and the other processes (i.e., emotional, approach motivation, social deviance). While no modulation of oxytocin on implicit stigma emerged, oxytocin did modulate the associations between specific dimensions of explicit stigma (i.e., social deviance and approach motivation) and implicit stigma. ConclusionIn conclusion, these findings demonstrated that intranasal oxytocin administration could temporally impact the explicit cognitive judgment in disease-related stigma but not the implicit aspect; furthermore, it modulated in distinct ways in individuals with different levels of social anxiety. These findings highlight the trait-dependent oxytocin modulation on disease-related stigma, implying that oxytocin is partly involved in the endocrine system of disease-related stigma. By unraveling the molecular basis of stigma and its association with individual traits, such as social anxiety, we can tailor interventions to meet specific needs of different individuals in the future.

Individual or communal? Exploring the social dynamics of ceramic production at the Lengyel circular-enclosure site of Těšetice-Kyjovice – Sutny, South Moravia

Although ceramic vessels form the majority of artifact assemblages in the Neolithic, little is known about their production beyond the assumption that they were made in a domestic context. Characterizing the scale of ceramic production is important for understanding Neolithic social and economic processes, particularly at sites with enclosure systems that indicate an increased degree of social organization. Nevertheless, characterizing the complexity and social entanglements of ceramic production is a difficult task in the absence of primary production locales.In this study, we provide a working hypothesis and use ceramic and clay petrographic data to highlight the variability in ceramic technological practices, and in turn, identify the organization of ceramic production at the Late Neolithic (Lengyel I; 4750–4500 BCE) site of Těšetice-Kyjovice – Sutny, South Moravia, Czech Republic. The site is characterised by a large circular enclosure, the construction of which required a high level of social cooperation. It is still under scrutiny whether the cooperation required for building the enclosure system was only temporary and related to this construction activity, or if it reflects a higher degree of social organization in general.By understanding ceramic production, we may clarify the complexity of the most common production processes that took place at the site. Large-scale ceramic and clay petrographic data provide information on the first steps of the chaîne opératoire in ceramic fabrication, which can be used to assess the organization of production. A systematic analysis of a large number of ceramic samples, representing all basic typological and macroscopically distinguishable fabric groups, revealed a high degree of individuality in choices of raw materials and tempers. Ceramic petrographic data, compared with the petrographic data of local sediment sources, further highlighted individuality in raw material and temper preferences, and even mixing of raw materials was identified.Our analyses suggest that Lengyel culture potters likely produced their vessels on a household level, with no evidence suggesting non-domestic production. These data, in conjunction with ceramic petrographic data from Hungarian Late Neolithic sites, suggest that Late Neolithic communities were self-sufficient in terms of utilitarian pottery production. Ceramic petrographic data also indicate interaction between the inhabitants of Těšetice and other Lengyel culture communities in the vicinity, perhaps further indicating a higher degree of social organization at the site.

Social-Emotional Profiles of Preschool Children: An Investigation of Demographic Disparities and Intersectionality.

This study aims to enhance our understanding of the diverse nature of social-emotional development and explore the demographic disparities and intersectionality of social determinants among children, with an emphasis on underserved populations of children in low-resource environments. Young children living in low-income families are exposed to a wide array of social and systemic risks that increase the propensity for poor learning and social-emotional development. Using data from the Head Start Family and Childhood Experiences Survey (FACES, this study focuses on the social-emotional development of a nationally representative sample of young children enrolled in the Head Start program (n = 1921, 50.18% male). Employing a person-centered approach, we assessed teacher-rated social-emotional competence, including approach to learning, social cooperation, aggression, hyperactivity, and anxiety/depression/withdrawal, to classify young children's social-emotional development. This study identified four distinct social-emotional profiles-Adaptive, Average, Moderate Risk, and High Risk-through latent profile analysis. Furthermore, multinomial regression analysis revealed demographic disparities within each social-emotional profile, and significant intersectionality was found between race/ethnicity, age, and disability status in the social-emotional profiles. This research provides valuable insights for better supporting each child's unique needs.

Unraveling the mystery of urban expansion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: Exploring the crucial role of regional cooperation

Existing scholarship extensively explores the dynamics, determinants, and consequences of urban expansion, yet there is scant literature examining the impact of regional cooperation upon the directions and spatial forms of urban expansion amidst the fast-urbanizing process. This study focuses on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), a developed megacity-region in southern China, to probe whether the notable urban expansion observed in contemporary China has been profoundly influenced by collaborative efforts among jurisdictions. Through the spatial metrics and panel data regression spanning the period from 2010 to 2018, this study unveils that regional cooperation has extended from coastal cities towards hinterland cities within the GBA. Consequently, urban land in most cities has undergone expansion in diverse directions. Furthermore, in contrast to economic and social cooperation, regional institutional cooperation emerges as the most influential factor driving external urban expansion. Additionally, heterogeneous results reveal that regional cooperation drives the external expansion of ordinary cities towards core cities. In contrast, the inertia within the urban system demonstrates strong path dependence on the pattern of adjacent expansion, contrasting with the external expansion facilitated by regional cooperation. In summary, this study illuminates the genesis and dynamics of urban expansion amid the city-regionalization process, going beyond interpretations confined to the municipal scale.

Enhancing social cooperation through hiking tourism: A case study of the selo route in Mount Merbabu National Park

Background: Mount Merbabu is one of the leading natural tourist destinations in Central Java that attracts local and foreign tourists, primarily through the Selo Trail, which is famous for trekking activities. The number of visitors along the Selo Trekking Trail has increased significantly yearly. Tourism activities on this trail have a significant social and economic impact on the surrounding community, directly and indirectly. Therefore, it is essential to identify the social impact and estimate the economic impact of tourism in the area around the Selo Trekking Trail. Method: This research method uses a qualitative descriptive analysis method with a Likert scale to highlight tourism activities' social and economic impacts. This analysis involves collecting data through interviews, questionnaires, and observations to gain in-depth insight into the impact of tourism on local communities and their contribution to their economy. Findings: The study results indicate that tourism activities along the Selo Trekking Trail significantly influence community cooperation and social values. Tourism activities also contribute to community livelihoods, including actively managing tourism and forming volunteer groups. The interaction between tourists and local communities changes culture and social values ​​and has a positive impact by rapidly diversifying residents' jobs. Conclusion: From the results of the study, it can be concluded that tourism on the Selo Trekking Trail has significant social and economic impacts on the surrounding community. This activity strengthens community cooperation, influences social values, and improves livelihoods and job diversification. Active community involvement in tourism management and forming volunteer groups are critical factors in optimally utilizing tourism opportunities. Novelty: This study provides new insights into how tourism on the Selo Trekking Trail affects the social and economic dynamics of local communities. The findings highlight positive changes in community cooperation, social values, and job diversification, which have yet to be widely explored in previous studies on the impact of tourism in the area. This study also underlines the importance of active community involvement in tourism management to maximize economic and social benefits.

Social Skills and Behavioral Problems in Children with a History of Institutionalization and Foster Care

The aim of the study was to analyze whether there were significant differences in social skills and in externalizing and internalizing behavior problems among three groups of children in Argentina: one group of adopted children with a history of institutional care, another group of adopted children with a history of foster care, and a third group of children with no history of alternative care who have lived with their biological family since birth. A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample consisted of 119 Argentine parents with children between the ages of 3 and 7. Of these, 41 parents had adopted a child with a history of institutional care, 38 had adopted a child with a history of foster care, and 40 were biological parents whose children had no history of alternative care. The Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale (PKBS) by Merrell (2003), adapted in Argentina by Reyna and Brussino (2009), was used to measure the variables studied. Adopted children with a history in institutional care obtained significantly lower scores in the three social skills assessed (social cooperation, social interaction, and social independence) and significantly higher scores in the two behavior problems assessed (internalizing and externalizing) compared to the other two groups. No significant differences were found in social skills and behavioral problems between the group of adopted children with a history of foster care and the group of children without a history of alternative care who have lived with their biological family since birth. Foster care could be considered a protective factor for children at risk.

МЕЖНАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ ДИАЛОГ КУЛЬТУР – КАК ВАЖНЫЙ ФАКТОР РАЗВИТИЯ НАРОДНОЙ ДИПЛОМАТИИ (на примере Узбекистана и Азербайджана)

the author of the article focuses on such prerequisites for achieving mutual understanding as perception, empathy, readiness for interaction, and the formation of intercultural competencies. The role of social skills, cognitive component, and empathic abilities in building and developing partnerships and overcoming communication barriers is especially emphasized. The above methods of building trusting partnerships can rightfully be called means of “public diplomacy”, ensuring sincerity and trust in any social interaction and business cooperation.

Empowering refugee and local women through social cooperatives: an unfinished success story in Southern Türkiye

Purpose This study aims to understand the social cooperative model's empowerment and social cohesion impacts based on the case of a cooperative with the partnership of local and refugee women in southern Türkiye to give evidence for the potential and challenges of women cooperatives. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted surveys and focus group interviews with both members and board members. The authors grounded the findings in dimensions extracted from literature on the impact of cooperatives on their members and the wider community. Findings The social cooperative economically empowers women through employment and income generation, and skill training while enhancing them socially with increased decision-making power, autonomy, self-esteem and respect. It fosters social cohesion between local and refugee members by building trust and peace, solidarity, knowledge sharing and collective action. However, the cooperative faces challenges in managing sustainable business models, and cooperative membership does not ensure a steady income, social security, economic independence or a fairer division of domestic work. Research limitations/implications The challenges and limited outcomes of social cooperatives are primarily due to resource scarcity. Hence, these needs must be considered by policymakers and sponsors of women empowerment programmes so that they can offer response actions to empower social women cooperatives. During the research period, the COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant threat to the survival of the cooperative. Moreover, the restrictions imposed by the pandemic made it impossible to engage Syrian women in focus group discussions. Consequently, the focus group interactions were limited to two Palestinian members, while Syrian members were included in survey interviews. Originality/value This study is one of the few attempts to examine the social cooperative model’s impact on women’s empowerment and social cohesion in the context of a mixed membership of local and refugee women in Türkiye. Fieldwork evidence on cooperatives that improve gender equality and inclusive growth can contribute to the advocacy of support for women’s cooperatives in the context of refugees.

Social capital and performance of public councils in Kazakhstan

This study applies Putnam’s social capital thesis to an examination of the impact of social capital (social trust, formal networks and norms) on public councils’ performance in Kazakhstan. As public councils aim to express citizens’ opinions on socially significant problems, this inquiry measures their performance by examining their impact on social issues in various policy domains. Drawing on data collected from four regions of Kazakhstan, we found that social trust and cooperation norms have a positive impact on public councils’ effectiveness, while formal networking has no influence. The limited significance of formal networking in the local context is explained by the state-led nature of civil society. This article contributes to the literature on social capital and government performance in authoritarian states.