Social-cultural Environment Research Articles

How Otto did not extend his mind, but might have: Dynamic systems theory and social-cultural group selection

Proponents of cognitive Situationism argue that the human mind is embodied, embedded in both natural and social-cultural environments and extended creating both extended and distributed cognition. Anti-situationists reject all or some of these claims. I argue that four major objections to extended cognition: (1) the mark of the cognitive, (2) the function-identity fallacy, (3) cognitive bloat, and (4) scientific irrelevance lose much of their sting in the case of distributed cognition, the extension of cognitive agency to a group of cognitive agents, such as a scientific research team. However, I claim that a crucial fifth challenge, that advocates of the extended mind commit the causal-constitution fallacy, has yet to be satisfactorily addressed. I focus on Spyridon Palermos’ use of dynamic systems theory to refute this charge and I argue that his appeal to dynamic systems theory as a way of understanding system-constitution fails. Instead, I suggest a social-cultural group selection hypothesis for understanding system-constitution. But, I leave it for another day to elaborate that hypothesis’ empirical plausibility.

Analysis about Tourist Behavior from Graffiti on the Great Wall

Tourist’s behavior is influenced by tourists themselves and objective environment which reflects the needs, attitudes and values of tourists, and also reflects the social cultural environment, management of scenic area and stimulate factors. Analysis about the feature of tourist’s behavior can be used to reveal the demands of tourists and intrinsic motivation, to understand the social background and environment. Finally, provide some reference to promote tourism values, standardize the order of travel behavior, make effective development of tourism resources, optimize the scenic area management and even innovate tourism products, and so on.

LOCALITY IN CONSTRUCTING CULTURAL IDENTITY (A REVIEW ON SEMARANG BATIK ART)

In the context of identity, batik is a form of expression of art with unique features that become the identity or may potentially become a cultural identity for either local or national identity. As the capital of Central Java, Semarang has built an identity through batik that depicts Semarang as having a batik culture. The construction of identity in Semarang batik began from searching for local identities by related actors, either personal or communities or organizations, who collectively explore ideas from locality. Locality includes natural, physical, and social-cultural environments. Through creativity in batik art, those ideas are conveyed in innovation and production of distinctive batik that is Semarang-style batik. This distinction represents Semarang locality that forms Semarang identity. The identity that is created as a product of that culture is continuously developed and preserved through enculturation by education in families, schools, and the society.

Rusalki: Anthropology of Time, Death, and Sexuality in Slavic Folklore<br>Rusalky: antropologie času, smrti a sexuality ve slovanském folkloru</br>

The Eastern Slavic rusalki are feminine mythological beings commonly associated with water, death, and sexuality. They have been thoroughly ethnographically described, classified and compared. This paper presents a re-evaluation of D. K. Zelenin’s classic interpretation of these beings as the souls of women deceased by untimely or unjust death. By means of analysis of their function and embedding in the entire social-cultural environment, it is shown how rusalki make sense in the symbolic system of East Slavic folklore. One of the main goals is to understand how intricately are rusalki and stories about them connected with the Orthodox liturgical year, specifically with the week following Pentecost. The paper concludes that these feminine revenants are symbolic representation of an eternal unripenness, which needed to be annually revived temporarily in order to help the symbolic system to cross the liminal phase of the agricultural and liturgical year cycle.

ACCELERATING THE FORMATION OF CHILDREN’S VALUES IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Introduction. The present publication presents the results of an experiment conducted on the territory of Bulgaria with children aged 4.5 to 6 years. The aim of the research is to work out a model of interaction based on the contemporary knowledge of preschool children’ development and cognitive process peculiarities of children aged 4.5 to 6. Methodology and research methods. The methodology of the research is based on theories and classifications of values by Rokeach, Graves, Inglehart (values of survival and self-expression) and Hofstede (desired and desirable values). Active approach and principles of determinism (S. L. Rubinstain, A. C. Brushlinskiy) and interiorization (L. S Vigotskiy, A. I. Leontiev), systemic approach (B. F. Lomov, B. N. Rizhov) are used in the experimental part of the research work. Psychological neoformations are educed by means of the diagnostic test proposed by P. V. Stepanov, D. V. Grigoryev; I. V. Stepanova. Results. There have been visible changes in the profiles of children after the experiment held. It is found out that value system formation in childhood is influenced by the development of higher cognitive processes. This formation can be accelerated by specially organized social cultural and learning environment that widens children’s understanding of the world they live in. As a result they start finding sense and realize values. There appears a transfer from knowledge to self-regulation behavior. Scientific novelty. Pilot data got during the experiment prove the model is an innovative method of pedagogical interaction and a «practical tool» for teachers. Four algorithms are developed to support cognitive, emotional and volitional processes, including thinking for accelerating the formation of values of children 4 to 6 years old. Practical significance. The suggested model is particularly suitable for use in multicultural and heterogeneous social composition groups.

The placebo effects of acupuncture and moxibustion

The role of placebo effect in acupuncture and moxibustion efficacy was explored. Through the analysis of multiple factors including trust, expectation, understanding, doctor-patient relationship and social cultural environment, etc. in the literature at home and abroad, it was found the placebo effects, including patient's cognition, expectation, attention, preference and communication with doctor as well as doctor's suggestion, expectation and indirect regulation of diagnosis and treatment environment on patient's psychology, were essential factors for acupuncture efficacy. Therefore, it was concluded that the placebo effect was an inseparable part of acupuncture efficacy.

ANP 분석을 활용한 도시재생 활성화지역 선정지표 개발 : 공주시를 대상으로

최근 전국적으로 많은 지자체들이 도시재생특별법에 따라 도시재생사업을 추진하고 있지만 한정적인 도시재생 예산으로 인해 우선 추진지역의 선정이 불가피한 상황이다. 이에 본 연구는 지역여건과 도시특성을 반영한 도시재생 활성화지역 선정지표를 도출하고 전문가 설문조사와 ANP 분석을 활용한 가중치 산정을 통해 공주시를 대상으로 한 객관적인 도시재생 활성화지역 선정지표를 개발하는데 목적이 있다. 본 연구에서는 선행연구 고찰 및 관련 사례분석을 통해 58개 도시재생 지표를 도출하고, 공주시 지역여건 및 도시특성을 고려하여 최종적으로 5개 분야, 16개 지표를 공주시 도시재생 활성화지역 선정지표로 제시하였다. 이어서 도시재생 분야 전문가 63명을 대상으로 설문조사 및 ANP 분석을 수행한 결과 인구특성(0.244)의 중요도가 가장 높게 나타났으며, 이어서 산업경제(0.218), 정책추진 여건(0.193), 사회문화(0.188), 물리환경(0.158) 순으로 나타났다. 또한 16개 세부지표의 가중치를 도출하였다. 본 연구의 결과물은 도시재생사업 성공가능성이 높은 대상지를 선정하는 기준으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 생각되며, 도시재생사업을 추진하는 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 주민갈등을 최소화하고 효과적인 도시재생사업을 추진하는데 기여할 것으로 판단된다. The purpose of this study was to develop an indicator for the selection of urban regeneration areas through an analytical network process. Therefore, this study derived five criteria and 58 indicators based on previous studies. Five criteria and 16 indicators were derived by taking into account the region and city characteristics of Gong-ju. Next, a survey from 63 urban regeneration experts was performed. The weight values of the criteria were calculated using the super decisions 2.0 program. As a result, population characteristics (0.244) was the most important criteria, followed by the industry economy (0.218), condition of promotion policy (0.193), social culture (0.188), and physical environment (0.158). These results will be used to select potential urban regeneration areas, and will contribute to overall effective urban regeneration.

Stress, and Deconcentration of Children in Learning, and Their Involvement in Work

The key research problem in this regard is familiarizing with the causes and motives of engaging children at work; and knowing the factors influencing in spreading this occurrence which is of a large extent and very concerning, for the fact that this occurrence is being increased every day more and more. The occurrence of studying these issues and familiarizing with the circumstances, also the impellent and motivating factors in this aspect, has affected the change of this situation to a large extent. The reason to choose this topic for research among others is the study method of this issue, since it is one of the most spread problems among children nowadays, because a number of them perform heavy duties and with destructive measures for their health as in the psychic aspect and also in that emotional one, but also in the bad construction of the child’s personality. However, on the occasion of knowing and studying of these circumstances today, we primarily have a better awareness as in this cases to the parents-family, social-cultural environment and also the society in general. Our research problem in this case will be “causes and motives of engaging children at work”. This will be our research focus in this regard.

Reconstruction of social cultural and educational environment in the context of professional stress: subjective experience o social pedagogues

The paper deals with the social pedagogues’ subjective experience in the context of reconstruction of stress factors. The main aim is to reveal subjective experiences of social pedagogues from the aspect of stress factors they experience and how they express them in various social, cultural, and educational contexts. The respondents were chosen by target convenience sampling, i.e., social pedagogues (N=14), working at education and training institutions for at least two years of work experience; all having higher university education. To analyse the specialists’ experience a qualitative method of data collection have been chosen. Reconstructing a multi-layered context of social, cultural and educational diversity, a complex character of professional stress experienced by these specialists has been revealed. Evaluating the semantics of the chosen social pedagogues’ reactions to stress, overall stress harm to people, covering all layers of the personality structure manifests itself, and it can cause somatic and psychic complaints, social and professional maladaptation.

The Reformation of Pesantren Education System: The Study on Abdul Wahid Hasyim Thoughts the Perspective of Islamic Education Philosophy

Islamic educational orientation of AWH life in the middle of the twentieth century is purely religious. While AWH already initiated educational reform for Pesantren (boarding schools) oriented on ideal hereafter and mundane pragmatic. Islamic education which was formerly monopolized by traditional educational institutions and the students who could not think freely were reviewed by AWH through encouraging his students to think more openly and free yet carry on proper obedient to the teachers. The analysis was conducted through data reduction, display, and data verification. According to AWH, human is perfect being consists of physical and spiritual components and homo educandus capable of thinking, feeling and reasoning spiritually. The perfectness can be achieved through education by developing the potential and thinking skills, physical skills strengthened by faith. Pesantren educational reformations are (1) the foundation of pesantren education are Ilahiyah verses (Al-Qur’an and Sunnah) and kauniyah (the evidence of God’s existence appeared in natural laws, the system of universe); (2) The purpose of pesantren education is to shape human to be virtuous being accompanied with developed thinking skills, piety to Allah, and equipped with life skills. This, is actually in accordance with contemporary educational thought which covers cognitive, affective, spiritual and psychomotor aspects; (3) the curriculum of pesantren education should balance between practical life and ideal life, that is between religious sciences and secular sciences; (4) the teaching methods applied in pesantren are traditional methods such as sorogan and bandongan, as well as modern methods such as experiment, tutorial, and mudzakarah (discussions nad seminars); (5) learning resources such as library constitutes the heart of scientific life in pesantren, which was distinctively remarkable in AWH’s era. Factors influencing AWH’s thoughts are his own personal learning, the burgeoning thoughts proliferating during his era, social-cultural environment, educational background, his own intelligence, and support from policy makers, particularly his own family.

A Comparative Study of McDonald’s Wedding Narratives with the Model of Anchoring

Fast-food giant McDonald’s announced in 2010 that they would start hosting wedding ceremonies and receptions for couples who would like to get married in their restaurants in Hong Kong. This paper conducts a study comparing the differing representations of McDonald’s wedding services through a narrative analytical approach. Specifically, this paper examines relevant discourses surrounding the launch of the corporation’s wedding services from the British media (e.g. Daily Mail, the Independent) as well as public discourses in Hong Kong (e.g. McDonald’s Hong Kong website, and CNN’s Hong Kong news). It is found that these narratives have a significant degree of discrepancy in depicting McDonald’s wedding stories. These differences further raise the question of how differing narrative strategies are employed to conceptualise the brand’s emergent wedding narratives in a unique social-cultural environment. In the discussion of McDonald’s wedding stories, the focus is placed on the cognitive and linguistic aspects of the discourse. An analytical model of “anchoring” will be proposed and applied to investigate the cooperation’s marketing strategies as well as the media’s reaction towards such promotions. It is argued that a narrative can promote or demote a brand’s identity and position through the process of anchoring. It is further argued that anchoring is an important cognitive-psychological strategy in conceptualization and meaning construction. Keywords : narrative inquiry, cognitive narratology, anchors, anchoring, meaning construction

Пищевая культура как метод изучения социокультурных трансформаций

The article is devoted to research and analysis of modernity using food culture as a method of studying social and cultural transformations, which implies the culture of cooking, consumption, and food production and which is the most bright and sensitive represent of social and cultural transformations taking place in society. In the study there are three main components of food culture: traditional food culture, which is the most conservative and conveys a special “spirit” of the ethnic group or nation; food with the elements of mix, innovation, improvisation, imitation; and finally, a network of high-tech types of food of a global culture and fast-food outlets (McDonald’s, KFC, etc.). The author discusses the change in culture from tradition, where food is a symbol of the ethnic group, people or nation to innovations up to a global monoculture of the universal and unified fast-food. The consumption of alternative food sold in hypermarkets and supermarkets, the use of achievements of scientific-technical progress, love of comfort brought elements of «being like at home»; it erases the distinction not only between urban and rural culture or between states, but the whole world becomes a single space of global social cultural environment, where modern life style dictates and requires to eat fast food.

Conflicting Voices in HIV/AIDS Education of the South African Youth: School Culture Versus South African Traditional Healers Using Ancestral Worship

The United Nations Agency of International Development (2013) states that an estimated 24.7 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 71% of the global total. The 2.9 million are young people aged 15–24 and this generation is living in South Africa. These alarming statistics reveal that various HIV/AIDS prevention strategies have met limited success. The question arises: why? The South African youth face the dilemma that they receive conflicting messages from two opposing sources, each with a strong persuasive pull of its own where HIV/AIDS education is concerned. On one hand, the voice of modern medical science proclaims that the disease is caused by a viral infection that suppresses the victim’s immune response, while on the other hand spiritual voices of African traditional healers offer explanations such as witchcraft or angry ancestors. This article is an attempt to discover whether either or neither of these voices is gaining ground amongst the youth. This article is based on a qualitative phenomenological study conducted at an urban secondary school in Pretoria, South Africa. Empirical findings resulted from the purposive sampling by means of interviews conducted with two focus groups of teachers, three focus groups of grade 12 school learners and one school principal. This was followed by thematic analysis involving the identifying, analysing and reporting patterns (themes) within data. Facts emerging from the research were that conflicting voices are stressful for young people who are subjected to societal pressure to conform and comply with unrealistic expectations. The South African social culture of ancestral worship is very powerful, yet school culture has significant countervailing influence that sheds liberating “light” where gloom of fear, uncertainty and superstition used to prevail. It is critical to note in this regard, for instance, that where HIV/AIDS remedies are concerned, there is no standardised solution for the ‘entire world’ and that a unique situation prevails in the South African social cultural environment where ancestral worship exerts a critically real influence on people’s response to the threat of HIV/AIDS.

Impact of External Business Environment on Training in Nurses at a Referral Hospital in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the political environment (government policies, devolution to county governments, professional associations and trade unions) socio-cultural environment (age, gender, education levels and peer-pressure) and technological environment (advancement in technology, evolving hospital care delivery systems, information and communication technology, invention and innovations) on staff training at a referral hospital. The study was conducted based on data collected from 322 nurses working at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Western Kenya. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise linear regression analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the technological environment explained 95% of the variation in nurse training (Adjusted R2 =0.942, P<0.05). On the other hand, the political and social-cultural environments were not significant predictors of training in nurses (P>0.05).

O cabra e a questão cultural nas metáforas animais

A visão de uma mente corpórea a qual se filia a Teoria da Metáfora Conceptual encontra-se, sobretudo, baseada na ideia de uma mente como resultado da interação entre o programa sensório-motor humano e o meio físico e socioculturalmente situado. Contudo, ao pleitear a existência do que chama de paradoxo da metáfora, Gibbs (2008) identifica uma tensão entre os aspectos universais e variacionais das metáforas. Nessa perspectiva, este artigo busca discutir o papel dos conhecimentos e normas culturais na formação das metáforas animais, especialmente na conceptualização de homem em termos de cabra por parte dos membros da comunidade de Fortaleza-Ceará no Nordeste do Brasil. Para tal fim, o artigo encontra-se organizado em quatro seções, afora a introdução. Discute-se, assim, nas três seções que se seguem à introdução: o modelo cultural da Grande Cadeia do Ser e sua relação com as metáforas animais com base em Kövecses (2010) e Lakoff e Turner (1989); a questão da universalidade nas Metáforas Conceptuais a partir de Kövecses (2005, 2009); a variação cultural das metáforas com ênfase na metáfora animal cabra baseado em Kövecses (2009) e Rodriguez (2009). Na quinta e última seção, são apresentadas as considerações finais nas quais pondera-se sobre a natureza tanto variacional como potencialmente universal da metáfora animal que licencia a expressão linguística cabra. Nessa perspectiva, argumenta-se que tal metáfora tanto mapearia, em nível genérico, os domínios conceptuais ser humano e animal como os domínios homem e cabra motivados por normas e conhecimentos culturais compartilhados entre os membros da cultura cearense.

SIMBOLISME PATUNG LORO BLONYO

The objectives of research are to find out: (1) the cosmology form of loro blonyo sculpture in Javanese cultural context, (2) placement system of loro blonyo sculp- ture in  “joglo” house structure relating to the concept of Javanese social-cultural environment  balance, (3) loro blonyo sculpture as the most important element in its position in  “pasrèn” room in Javanese custom house, and (4) the symbolic- philosophical meaning of loro blonyo sculpture art in Javanese cultural cosmology. Based on the result of  research and discussion, it can be concluded: (1) The cos- mology form of loro blonyo  sculpture in the Javanese cultural context relating to the Javanese society particularly the one with rice planting as the earning; (2) The placement system of loro blonyo sculture in the “joglo” house structure relating to the concept of Javanese social-cultural environment balance; (3) Loro blonyo sculp- ture is the most important element in its position in the “pasrèn” room in Javanese custom house;.  (4) The symbolic-philosophical meaning of  loro blonyo sculpture art in Javanese cultural cosmology is as the symbol of fertility (Dewi Sri) and pros- perity (Sadana).Key words: loro blonyo, krobongan, pasrèn or petanèn, joglo, Dewi Sri, Sadana.

Local Residents’ Attitude toward Sustainable Rural Tourism Development

Tourism is a multi-faced activity that links the economic, social and environmental components of sustainability. This research analyzes rural residents’ perceptions of the impact of tourism development and examines the factors that influence the support for sustainable tourism development in the region of Nord-Vest in Romania. Residents’ perceptions towards tourism development were measured using 22 items, while their support for tourism development was determined using 8 items. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Principal component analysis grouped the first 22 variables into 4 factors, and the following 8 variables into 2 factors (sustainable development, destination development). Findings indicate that residents see tourism as a development factor. The natural, economic, and social-cultural environment as well as infrastructure, age, gender and education are factors that influence the sustainable development of tourism.

THE SATISFACTION OF FOREIGN STUDENTS WITH SOCIAL CULTURAL SUPPORT IN THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

During education in medical university, foreign students are to adapt both to educational and social cultural environments. The study was organized to investigate satisfaction of foreign students with complex of activities concerning social cultural support in one of medical university of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study was carried out in the state medical university of city of Semeii of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The sampling of questionnaire survey consisted of 225 students of medical faculty and 87 out of them were foreign students. The statistical processing of data was implemented using SPSS v.20.0 software. The work of supervising professor became the most useful measure of social cultural support from point of view of both foreign and resident students (93.1 and 77.4% correspondingly). The round-table discussion related to struggle with religious extremism and terrorism was considered as the least useful measure of such kind of support (24.1% and 28.5% correspondingly). Out of planned measures of social cultural support, 81.6% of foreign and 30.7% of resident students showed preference to additional courses of Kazakh and/or Russian languages. The usefulness of such supposed measure as establishment and maintenance of contact with parents was supported by 81.6% of foreign and 30.7% of resident students. The social cultural support provided to foreign students in one of medical university of the Republic of Kazakhstan is in general satisfactory though requires certain development. the university is to re- consider plan of activities implemented with purpose of social cultural support by renouncing of the least called-for and focusing on the most required instead.

THE IDEA OF INTERACTIVITY IN A MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

The research of intercultural education which solution is being in field of polycultural education in conditions of expanding International and interethnical contacts. Nowadays they are becoming more special and relevance. The efforts of many scientists are aimed at search of potential human values in intercultural communication common culture in global education at the same time through the timeless, the same in all cultures, human relations providing a quick understanding, do not solve a problem intercultural dialogue as a prerequisite for the development of multicultural education linked to the interactivity of the participants. The idea that interactive representatives of different cultures has more significant potential is shown in this article. This idea is substantiated by retrospective analysis and assessment of interactive technologies well known in pedagogical theory and social educational practice. We call them ethnocentrism, ethnofuturism, postmodernism, and ethnorelativism. The main ways of development of multicultural education through the dialogue of different values. So we can say that an essential characteristic of multicultural education is the organization of dialogue across cultural differences that can lead the young people to curious understanding of the nature and significance of the existence of moral and spiritual values of each other regulating social behavior of people in social cultural environment.

Lingkungan Sosial Budaya dan Persepsi Pelanggan terhadap Pengobatan Luar Puskesmas (Kasus di Kota Kotamobagu dan Kabupaten Bolaang Mongondow Utara, Provinsi Sulawesi Utara)

<p>Social cultural environment and Clients perception to the traditional health services considered as two important aspects. Social culture environment measured by social culture values and locality wisdom aspects. Clients perception to the traditional health services measured by perception to traditional mid-wife and perception to the traditional health service. Social culture environment that oriented to the health service has a high category, on the other hand, clients perception to the traditional health services has a middle category. Extention education is needed to improve the client’s behavior.<br />Keywords: Social cultural environment, Clients perception, the traditional health services</p>