Social Enjoyment Research Articles

Romantic Hospitality and the Resistance to Accommodation (review)

Reviewed by: Romantic Hospitality and the Resistance to Accommodation Ian Dennis Peter Melville. Romantic Hospitality and the Resistance to Accommodation. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier UP, 2007. 210 pp. $65.00. It would seem that everything about hospitality makes everyone involved uneasy. Not surprisingly, because the difference between hosts and guests, like all differences, is apparently predicated on, and risks falling back into, an indescribable violence. This would be enough, of course, but it surely also contributes to the general discomfiture that every aspect, feature, or term associated with the hospitable has a troubling tendency to undermine itself, to be its own opposite. If hospitality is also, as it were, hostility, it isn’t really what it is. Peter Melville makes this general claim with some insistence in his selective survey of writings on the subject by eminent Romantics: “The texts of Rousseau, Kant, Coleridge and [Mary] Shelley [End Page 173] theorize the failure of the hospitable relation from a suspicion that, after all is said and done, hospitality is itself structurally impossible” (12–13). This deconstructive approach picks up from Jacques Derrida’s late work on the topic of hospitality and is informed as well by Emmanuel Levinas, Tilottama Rajan, Paul de Man, Julia Kristeva, Walter Benjamin, and Jacques Lacan, among others. Melville asserts a “two-pronged thesis. The category of the Romantic stranger, or guest, points to ‘an internal difference that constitutes’ the host’s own self-dividedness. The scene of Romantic hospitality doubles as a scene of self-welcome.” But, on the second prong, this at the same time also unhelpful guest “unsettles” the host, “frustrating its reception of difference as self-difference” (9). (Melville as guest, host, other, or subject, seems at times to be a person but has a tendency to become an “it.”) The two prongs, in short, suffer the same fate as any other binary under this kind of scrutiny. Chapter 1 engages in “Unsettling Rousseau,” discussing Emile, the second Discourse on Inequality, and the late prose poem, Le Lévite d’Ephraïm. Melville plausibly claims that “the place of the guest-host relation in Rousseau’s work is as troubled—indeed, as unsettled—as was his own personal experience of hospitality” (24). This seems ultimately to be good. We learn, through Rousseau’s writings, that “if there is a violence necessary to the practice of welcoming the other, then hospitality becomes ethical precisely when we acknowledge its impossibility. It is then, and only then, when we can begin, without ending, to be responsible to and for the exclusions by which we proceed” (47). This is announced as one of the theses of the book and is indeed repeated in similar terms. Chapter 2 discusses Kant’s Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View and Perpetual Peace, also late works. “If hospitality makes Rousseau uneasy, then the same could be said for Immanuel Kant” (61). And is “a kind of auto-deconstructive thread runs through” Kant’s scenes of hospitality, which mainly focus on dining, “insofar as each contains its own impossibility” (61). Kant in this respect resembles Derrida, for “at the heart” of the latter’s “inquiry lies an uncertainty as to what eating means. Does one consume a plant, a painting, or another person?” (65). The present review will have achieved little if it does not allow its readers to identify a fairly familiar critical method they will tend either to find productive or not. Let us not quibble with either predilection. But it might be observed that Melville at times seems to strain the technique, even by its founder’s standards: [End Page 174] “Men of taste” in the Anthropology “are not only interested in having a meal together but also in enjoying one another” (187). The main course of the good meal in good company is the company itself. The dinner party appears “only as a vehicle” for “social enjoyment,” says Kant, and as such is essentially anthropophagic or cannibalistic in nature (187). (67) The phrasing and page references here might lead one to wonder if Kant actually said something like this. “[E]ssentially ... cannibalistic?” Of course, he didn’t. Mary Gregor’s 1974 translation of this passage—Melville uses...

Social enjoyment with electronic photograph displays: Awareness and control

Two experiments are reported in which groups of three friends socialised around their own photographs. The photographs were of two types, depicting events where all three had been present, permitting reminiscing, and events where only the photographer had been present, permitting storytelling. In Experiment 1 the seating arrangement was manipulated so that the two audience members sat either behind or around the photographer. It was hypothesised that the former would lower levels of peripheral awareness within the groups, resulting in a more formal conversation and a poorer recreational experience. In Experiment 2, control over the photographs was manipulated so that either all three group members had access to a remote control ( distributed control), or only the photographer did ( single control). It was hypothesised that distributed control would result in less formal conversations and a better recreational experience. In both experiments, the hypotheses were supported: patterns of social interaction were significantly affected by the manipulation of awareness during storytelling, and by the manipulation of control during reminiscing. Additionally, the two manipulations were found to affect ratings of enjoyment and fun, respectively. The results are interpreted in terms of a causative model of unfolding and recounted experience.

Effects of situational demand upon social enjoyment and preference in schizotypy.

The socioemotional functioning of schizophrenic and schizotypic individuals is marked by withdrawal, poor organization, and limited emotional displays. Such behavioral tendencies and lack of social enjoyment in schizotypy could be linked to the relative situational demands or role ambiguity inherent in specific social activities. To determine whether high-schizotypy individuals prefer more clearly role-defined social activities (e.g., visiting relatives) to more ambiguous, novel situations (e.g., going alone to a party), the authors gathered reports from 52 high-schizotypy and 60 low-schizotypy individuals on their enjoyment and frequency of engaging in social situations varying in relative situational demand. Parallel reports were obtained from knowledgeable others. Group x Situational Demand interactions revealed the hypothesized pattern of reduced frequency and enjoyment ratings for ambiguous or novel situations by the high-schizotypy participants in both self and others' reports. Groups were more comparable in their reported frequency and enjoyment of less ambiguous situations. Results suggest the importance of situational demands in the socioemotional experience and behavioral withdrawal in schizotypy.

Measuring social impacts of breast carcinoma treatment in Chinese women.

There is no existing instrument that is suitable for measuring the social impact of breast carcinoma (BC) and its treatment among women of Southern Chinese descent. In the current study, the authors assessed the validity of the Chinese Social Adjustment Scale, which was designed to address the need for such an instrument. Five dimensions of social concern were identified in a previous study of Cantonese-speaking Chinese women with BC; these dimensions were family and other relationships, intimacy, private self-image, and public self-image. The authors designed 40 items to address perceptions of change in these areas. These items were administered to a group of 226 women who had received treatment for BC, and factor analysis subsequently was performed to determine construct characteristics. The resulting draft instrument then was administered, along with other measures for the assessment of basic psychometric properties, to a second group of 367 women who recently had undergone surgery for BC. Factor analysis optimally identified 5 factors (corresponding to 33 items): 1) Relationships with Family (10 items, accounting for 22% of variance); 2) Self-Image (7 items, accounting for 15% of variance); 3) Relationships with Friends (7 items, accounting for 8% of variance); 4) Social Enjoyment (4 items, accounting for 6% of variance); and 5) Attractiveness and Sexuality (5 items, accounting for 5% of variance). Subscales were reliable (alpha = 0.63-0.93) and exhibited convergent validity in positive correlations with related measures and divergent validity in appropriate inverse or nonsignificant correlations with other measures. Criterion validity was good, and sensitivity was acceptable. Patterns of change on the scales were consistent with reports in the literature. Self-administration resulted in improved sensitivity. The 33-item Chinese Social Adjustment Scale validly, reliably, and sensitively measures the social impact of BC on Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong Chinese women. Further development of the scale to increase its sensitivity is underway.

Continuing professional development (CPD): GPs' perceptions of post-graduate education-approved (PGEA) meetings and personal professional development plans (PDPs).

Conventional post-graduate meetings-typically 'lunchtime' meetings outside practices-have been heavily criticized. Revalidation is also impending, and there has been associated pressure for the widespread introduction of personal development plans (PDPs). However, there is very little empirical evidence about the usefulness to GPs of different kinds of educational meeting or of PDPs. Our aim was to assess the utility to GPs of different types of post-graduate meeting and PDPs. A postal questionnaire was sent to 921 GP principals in three health authorities, who were asked to recall their most recent post-graduate education-approved (PGEA) meetings (practice-based and 'outside') and the latest major learning 'undertaken' in their PDP. A total of 698 GPs (76%) returned questionnaires. A substantial minority (208; 30%) had a PDP. Most had undertaken education recently [median time elapsed (weeks): meeting 'outside' practice, 4; 'practice-based', 5; PDP, 3]. Education had not changed clinical practice for many GPs ('practice-based' 39% reported no change; 'outside' meetings 50% and PDPs 57%). A change in practice after a practice meeting was related to relevance to everyday practice [disagree/neutral, agree, strongly agree odds ratios: 1.00, 4.22 (95% CI 2.1-8.6) and 5.9 (2.6-13.3), respectively], to lecturer factors (enthusiasm, summarizing important points, handouts) and to social enjoyment. PDPs were less likely to be perceived relevant to practice (practice-based meeting, 'outside' meeting, PDPs: 89, 87 and 72%, respectively), as a break from practice (54,72 and 18%), good socially (63, 72 and 15%), good for professional networking (54, 70 and 19%) and glad to have done it (84, 86 and 44%). Being glad to use a PDP was more likely if the learning was clinically relevant, a break from practice, and incorporated professional networking. Changes in practice after post-graduate meetings are not only related to clinical relevance and lecturer factors, but also to professional and social factors. PDPs may not be providing better learning opportunities or enjoyment than traditional meetings, although GPs who are glad to use PDPs incorporate clinical relevance, a break from practice and networking. Post-graduate tutors should probably continue to support and monitor the lecturer quality and clinical relevance of a balanced portfolio of both practice-based and 'outside' meetings.

Perceiving the division of family work to be unfair: Do social comparisons, enjoyment, and competence matter?

Perceiving the division of family work to be unfair: Do social comparisons, enjoyment, and competence matter?

Do attitudes predict red meat consumption among young people?

The roles of attitudes to red meat (beef and lamb cuts) in red meat consumption were examined through a random postal survey in which nine hundred and three young Australians (aged 18 to 32 years) participated. Respondents completed a 42‐item Attitudes to Red Meat Questionnaire (ARMQ) derived from previous research. A combination of attitudinal and demographic variables accounted for almost one third of the variance in reported red meat consumption. Principal components analysis of ARMQ revealed a key sensory and social enjoyment attitude component, labelled “Appreciation,” which alone accounted for 20% of the red meat consumption variance. Additional attitude components included concerns about animal welfare, health restraint, organoleptic consequences and affordability‐convenience. Together, these attitude factors accounted for more variance than any combination of demographic items, although the meat consumption of men and women was found to be predicted by slightly different sets of attitudinal and demographic factors. Attitudes to red meats also exhibited some predictive capacities for the consumption of other groups of foods such as red meat alternatives (for example, fish and chicken) and less expensive meats such as hamburgers, sausages and mince meat. Among other findings, parental status was found to be positively associated with favourable attitudes to red meat as well as to its consumption. Ways of improving the prediction of red meat consumption are discussed.

Conservative Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer in Geriatric Patients*

ABSTRACT:A plea is made for a conservative approach to the surgical treatment of adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas in geriatric patients. A radical extensive extirpative operation carries a prohibitively high rate of morbidity and mortality. A conservative by‐pass procedure often enables the patient to live a few more years in relative physical comfort and social enjoyment. Experience with 12 geriatric patients is cited.

The Positive Approach to Chronic Osteomyelitis

The extent of the pathological process is underestimated if the condition is regarded only as an infection of bone : many other tissues are affected, including periosteum, muscle, fascia and skin. When sclerosis and fibrosis supervene, strangulation of the small blood vessels causes local tissue anaemia. Thus, even if the correct antibioticis used, it cannot reach all the infected tissues in sufficient concentration to eradicate the infection. Antibiotic therapy without operation to improve the blood supply cannot cure the disease, and may result in an acquired resistance by the organism. The condition can be cured only if the whole scar, both in the soft tissues and in the bone, is excised and an adequate blood supply carrying the correct antibiotic is constantly delivered to the area. The dead space left by the excision must thus be filled by unscarred living tissue with a good blood supply. Such an operation may be of considerable magnitude because success depends upon the thoroughness of the excision. Indications for operation-Operation is indicated by general debility, by loss of working capacity and social enjoyment, or by persistent pain. Some measure of the disability may be appreciated by the fact that many patients in this series requested amputation, and only two refused operation. Pre-operative management-When the decision has been made to operate, a deep swab is taken at once from the sinus so that the infecting organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity can be determined. Blood examination and urine analysis are undertaken to exclude chronic nephritis, diabetes or amyloid disease. Anaemia, if present, is corrected and the patient is given a high-protein and high-vitamin diet. A week before admission, and again on the day of admission, the bacteriological investigation is repeated. An antibiotic to which the organisms are most sensitive is selected to cover the operation and the post-operative period without causing toxic effects. At operation it is sometimes found that pus originating from a different organism lies in the depths of the cavity. If the appearance and odour of the pus are characteristic an additional specific antibiotic can be given during operation, or administered later after laboratory examination of the pus. A bacteriological swab is taken during operation from the deepest part of the sinus.

The positive approach to chronic osteomyelitis.

The extent of the pathological process is underestimated if the condition is regarded only as an infection of bone : many other tissues are affected, including periosteum, muscle, fascia and skin. When sclerosis and fibrosis supervene, strangulation of the small blood vessels causes local tissue anaemia. Thus, even if the correct antibioticis used, it cannot reach all the infected tissues in sufficient concentration to eradicate the infection. Antibiotic therapy without operation to improve the blood supply cannot cure the disease, and may result in an acquired resistance by the organism. The condition can be cured only if the whole scar, both in the soft tissues and in the bone, is excised and an adequate blood supply carrying the correct antibiotic is constantly delivered to the area. The dead space left by the excision must thus be filled by unscarred living tissue with a good blood supply. Such an operation may be of considerable magnitude because success depends upon the thoroughness of the excision. Indications for operation-Operation is indicated by general debility, by loss of working capacity and social enjoyment, or by persistent pain. Some measure of the disability may be appreciated by the fact that many patients in this series requested amputation, and only two refused operation. Pre-operative management-When the decision has been made to operate, a deep swab is taken at once from the sinus so that the infecting organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity can be determined. Blood examination and urine analysis are undertaken to exclude chronic nephritis, diabetes or amyloid disease. Anaemia, if present, is corrected and the patient is given a high-protein and high-vitamin diet. A week before admission, and again on the day of admission, the bacteriological investigation is repeated. An antibiotic to which the organisms are most sensitive is selected to cover the operation and the post-operative period without causing toxic effects. At operation it is sometimes found that pus originating from a different organism lies in the depths of the cavity. If the appearance and odour of the pus are characteristic an additional specific antibiotic can be given during operation, or administered later after laboratory examination of the pus. A bacteriological swab is taken during operation from the deepest part of the sinus.

The Fourth Pacific Science Congress

Java was hot and there were other discomforts, but all who were present at the congress returned to their homes appreciative of the charms and manifold subjects of scientific and other kinds of interest of what is perhaps the most fascinating of tropical islands, deeply grateful for the courtesies and hospitality extended to them and convinced that the Fourth Pacific Science Congress was the most successful of that series of congresses. Thanks are due all of those who contributed to the social enjoyment and the scientific accomplishments of the congress, but it may be permissible to emphasize the part played by the general president, Dr. Otto de Vries. He showed capacity in the organization of the congress, his handling of all matters connected with it was tactful and his genial personality endeared him to every one. We congratulated him on his success and told him that we were proud of him.

Wine. The Advantage of Pure Natural Wine, and its Special Qualities for the Promotion of Health and Social Enjoyment

Journal Article Wine. The Advantage of Pure Natural Wine, and its Special Qualities for the Promotion of Health and Social Enjoyment Get access Notes and Queries, Volume s3-VIII, Issue 202, 11 November 1865, Page 407, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s3-VIII.202.407e Published: 11 November 1865