Social Expectations Research Articles

Addressing youths’ digital agency with internet technologies: discourses and practices that produce inequalities

ABSTRACT This study approached the issue of youths’ digital agency by analyzing the ways in which youths talk about their use of Internet technologies for recreational purposes outside of school. Using interview data from young people (n = 28) born in 2005 and 2006, this paper approaches youths’ speech as culturally embedded discourses that express their strategies for making their digital practices understandable and acceptable to adults. By doing so, the paper addresses the need for ongoing research that explores youths’ digital engagement with Internet technologies within a wider social context that positions them as ‘digital natives’. The study results were organized into 11 discourses under four themes: benefits, harms and risks, person-based networking, and Internet skills. The identified discourses reflect the ways in which young people articulate and negotiate their digital agency with social norms, assumptions and expectations of them as tech-savvy youths. By focusing on youths’ speech and discourses, this study advances current research on digital inequalities among young people. It also highlights the need for young people to be supported and empowered in developing skills that enable critical and safe engagements with Internet technologies.

Statistical analysis of flood risk perception: a case study for Eastern Black Sea Basin, Turkey

It is very essential in terms of flood risk management to consider social expectations such as risk perception, flood awareness, preparedness, and socio-economic dynamics together with engineering designs. Understanding the way people perceive flood risk can enhance our capability of improving existing flood risk management methods, thus helps us creating disaster resilient societies. In this study, results of a questionnaire which was used for a previous study and had been administered to participants from Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey were further investigated using statistical methods. The main aim was to understand how demographic factors such as age, gender and education level affect people’s flood risk perception. It was also desired to see that whether they were aware of the parties responsible for taking mitigation measures, or whether they know about possible flood mitigation measures or not. Using the same data with the previous study, but in addition using SPSS software to do statistical analysis, questionnaire results were investigated using convenient statistical tests for each parameter, analysis results were interpreted, and conclusions were drawn. Same tests were conducted using weight coefficients adopted using a certain methodology which is explained in the paper, in order to make a better investigation. Also, results were compared with the results of the previous study. It was seen that there were some consistencies and contradictions between the results of the previous study and this study’s results.

An Analysis Of Feminist Thoughts Of Life’s Struggle Presented In The Movie “Little Woman (2019)”

Modern women frequently encounter challenges in their perspectives on life's struggle, such as focusing on social expectations of women, experiencing a lack of spiritual support in relationships, and facing a disconnection between education, job, and marriage, which hinders their pursuit of an ideal partnership. This research examines the life of education, marriage experiences, ideas, and inspirations of Jo March in the movie "Little Women" to face the challenges of women in their views on life. The data was collected from two sources the movie Little Women (2019) and other sources of literature. The result revealed that the feminist thought of life struggle found in several aspects, such as the struggle for freedom, the struggle for education, and the Struggle for happiness. These struggles were fueled by the unfair treatment of women, who were subjected to a patriarchal society that taught them they were less important than men and should adhere to men's decisions. The societal expectation that women's happiness was contingent upon male support further limited their pursuit of independence. In this era, the concept of freedom seemed distant and unattainable for women, highlighting the pervasive and systemic barriers they faced.

Staging Gender Norms, Sexual Harassment and Assault, and the Mujer Varonil

Abstract: The culture of rape and sexual harassment that permeates the Comedia has often been overlooked or even denied in critical studies. Characters and literary critics alike blame victims and excuse perpetrators. In comedias like Lope de Vega’s Fuenteovejuna, Tirso de Molina’s Antona García, and Vélez de Guevara’s La serrana de la Vera, even mujeres varoniles (who, by definition, defy social expectations) succumb to harassment and sexual assault and internalize culturally constructed gender norms. This happens not only in the restoration of social order at a play’s end, but repeatedly in performance texts through movement, gesture, on- and offstage action, hair, makeup, tone of voice, and dialogue. These performance elements visually and verbally instruct women characters and spectators and delimit and control their talents, dreams, and potential contributions.

Triggering factors affecting primary school children in Lebanon: A pilot cross-sectional study

Purpose: Academic pressures, the fear of failure, social expectations, and high expectations from parents or teachers can all contribute to performance-related stress or anxiety in children. This study aims to assess the triggers encountered by primary schoolchildren and examine the interrelatedness between them and the characteristics of the students. Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study targeted primary school children over two months. Two pharmacists and a psychologist collected data using a standardized survey. Students were asked to assess their social (10 statements), behavioral (10 statements), environmental (10 statements), and academic (16 statements) triggers. Results: Environmental triggers had the highest score (4.92 (1.92)), followed by behavioral triggers (4.21 (1.70)). Social triggers were the least reported (3.52 (1.59)). After adjusting for covariates, age, sex, and grade did not affect the academic triggers of the students (p > 0.05), while having divorced or separated parents significantly increased these triggers (B = 0.22; p = 0.025). The social triggers and stressors significantly decreased (B = −0.28; p = 0.003) per grade increase. In contrast, having divorced parents significantly increased these scores (B = 0.21; p = 0.025). Environmental triggers significantly decreased per increase of one year in age (B = −0.23; p = 0.013), with the same pattern observed for the overall trigger scores (B = −0.28; p = 0.003). Conclusion: Promoting open communication, creating an inclusive environment establishing achievable academic goals, and regular follow-up with students can be effective strategies to reduce school triggers among those at high risk.

The Effect of Culture and Social-Cognitive Characteristics on App Preference and Willingness to Use a Fitness App

Fitness apps are persuasive tools developed to motivate physical activity. Despite their popularity, there is little work on how social-cognitive characteristics such as culture, household size, physical activity level, perceived self-efficacy and social support influence users’ willingness to use them and preference (personal vs. social). Knowing these relationships can help developers tailor fitness apps to different socio-cultural groups. Hence, we conducted two studies to address the research gap. In the first study (n = 194) aimed at recruiting participants for the second study, we asked participants about their app preference (personal vs. social), physical activity level and key demographic variables. In the second study (n = 49), we asked participants about their social-cognitive beliefs about exercise and their willingness to use a fitness app (presented as a screenshot). The results of the first study showed that, in the collectivist group (Nigerians), people in large households were more likely to be active and use the social version of a fitness app than those in small households. However, in the individualist group (Canadians/Americans), neither the preference for the social or personal version of a fitness app nor the physical activity level depended on the household size. Moreover, in the second study, in the individualist model, perceived self-efficacy and perceived self-regulation have a significant total effect on willingness to use a fitness app. However, in the collectivist model, perceived social support and outcome expectation have a significant total effect on the target construct. Finally, we found that females in individualist cultures had higher overall social-cognitive beliefs about exercise than males in individualist cultures and females in collectivist cultures. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Beyond Words

Beyond Words

Ideas of education as basic guidelines for ensuring quality of life in modern conditions

In the modern world, education is of great importance, since it is the main source of social progress. Changing technologies in the socio-economic sphere directly affect the transformation of the education sector throughout the world. The presented article is theoretical in nature and is devotedto the scientific problem of the transformation of education in modern sociocultural conditions. The purpose of the research is to reveal the directions of transformation of education as basic guidelines for its quality in modern conditions. The research methods used are analysis, theoretical generalization, forecasting. The results of the research. The definition of “quality of education” has been revealed and the vectors of its development determined; the reasons that caused a serious transformation of the education sector in the world and in Russia have been argued. The drivers that determined the transformation of the educational institution at the present stage have been systematized. Key conclusions: the quality of education is understood as a characteristic of the education system, reflecting the degree of compliance of the actual achieved educational results with regulatory requirements, social and personal expectations; the reasons facilitating the transformation of the education sector at present are: growing globalization, general digitalization, robotization, etc.; The leading drivers determining the development of education include: external, industrial and internal ones.

Does voluntary environmental, social, and governance disclosure impact initial public offer withdrawal risk?

AbstractDespite much research now being published on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments and Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) withdrawal risk, there appears to be a lack of evidence on the prospective IPO withdrawal risk associated with voluntary disclosure of ESG policies. This paper investigates the influence of ESG disclosure on IPO withdrawal by comparing voluntary ESG disclosure to conventional IPOs in the international market. A large data set is employed here, containing 33,535 failed and successful IPOs from 1995 to 2019 from several nations with their own legal systems, cultural norms, and economic systems. The findings reveal that voluntary disclosure of ESG practices does significantly reduce the likelihood of an IPO withdrawal, by as much as 48%. These findings strongly suggest that organizations engaged in ESG activities perceive voluntary disclosure as an incentive, to adhere to social expectations. Consequently, reducing the asymmetry of information between IPO participants minimizes the withdrawal risk these companies face, hence diminishing doubts about their legitimacy. The results have consequences for IPO businesses, investors, researchers, and regulators.

Perceptions of fatherhood among people displaced by war in the southern Philippines

ABSTRACT This study interrogates the experiences of people in conflict-induced internal displacement, specifically, among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the southern Philippines. The interest is to describe and examine how IDPs, particularly male parents, navigate their families through the hardships of being uprooted from their traditional communities because of war. The study was participated by 13 Maranao Muslim IDP fathers through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Findings revealed three major themes; the paternal miseries in displacement, perceptions of paternal roles, and the consequences of displacement-induced poverty on self-perceptions of fatherhood. The findings show that being continually confronted by unfulfilled roles together with an underlying social expectation attached to gender, fathering not only becomes a difficult task to accomplish but is also creating a negative self-image of fatherhood.

WeChat use and social participation among community‐dwelling adults with severe mental disorders: A mixed‐methods study

AbstractThe social media platform WeChat is increasingly used by individuals with severe mental disorders (SMDs). However, few studies have examined WeChat use of adults with SMDs and its association with social participation in the Chinese context. This mixed‐methods study examined the effects of WeChat use on this population's social participation. The results indicate that WeChat use was positively and significantly associated with social participation among older adults with SMDs, helping them maintain contact with family, relatives, friends, community residents, and mental health professionals. Owing to different life stages and associated social expectations, younger adults with SMDs were mainly concerned with employment or family obligations and were less likely to use WeChat for social interactions with friends and community residents. WeChat can be a useful tool to encourage social participation among older adults with SMDs; age‐related expectations for participation need to be considered in the design and delivery of intervention services.

The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Serbian Hospitality: A Potential Path to Sustainable Practice

This study investigates the perceptions of employees in the hotel industry of the Republic of Serbia regarding the acceptance and importance of artificial intelligence (AI). Through a modified UTAUT model and the application of structural equation analysis (SEM), we investigated the key factors shaping AI acceptance. Research results show that behavioral intention and habit show a significant positive impact on AI usage behavior, while facilitating conditions have a limited but measurable impact on behavioral intention. Other factors, including social influence, hedonic motivation, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy, have minimal influence on the examined variables. The analysis reveals the crucial mediating role of behavioral intention, effectively bridging the gap between various predictors and AI usage behavior, thereby highlighting its significance in the broader context of technology adoption in the hotel industry. The primary goal of the study, which closes significant research gaps, as well as the manner in which it uses a specific model and statistical analysis to accomplish this goal, shows how innovative the work is. This method not only broadens the field’s understanding but also offers valuable insights for shaping sustainable development practices in the hospitality sector in the Republic of Serbia.

For imagination or disillusionment? The social compensation and social enhancement effects on dating anxiety for online daters who fear being single

While some people choose to remain single, dating relationships and marriage remain dominant social expectations in many societies. This societal pressure can exacerbate the fear of being single, creating a vulnerable psychological state. Online dating provides opportunities for those who fear being single to meet new people and develop romantic relationships. And yet, we know little about how online daters' fear of being single is related to their well-being and how it could be alleviated or enhanced through online dating. Drawing on research on the social compensation and enhancement effects of the internet, this study proposes a path model investigating how the fear of being single was enhanced to affect online daters' well-being negatively and alleviated to contribute to well-being positively. An online survey of 505 Chinese heterosexual online dating application users revealed that the fear of being single was positively and directly associated with dating anxiety. Further, the fear of being single was related to increased imagined interaction through sexual relationship motivation. Surprisingly, it was related to decreased romantic disillusionment through increased romantic relationship motivation, showing a compensation effect. Romantic disillusionment, but not imagined interaction, was positively associated with dating anxiety. This study extends research on the social compensation and enhancement effects to online dating contexts. It contributes a framework that explains how a vulnerable psychological state is related to online daters’ well-being through motivational tendencies (sexual relationship vs. romantic relationship) and cognitive characteristics (imagined interaction vs. romantic disillusionment).

‘Every day we’d have an arranged activity, so she’d have football, swimming, dance, gymnastics’: A sociological analysis of parenting and sports-based enrichment activities for the under-fives

In this article we provide a sociological analysis of parental choice in pre-school sports and physical activity, as a form of concerted cultivation, to understand the uptake of sports-based physical activity (PA) enrichment activities in England. Despite a growth in the under-five pre-school enrichment market, little is known about why parents pay for their under-five child(ren) to participate in sport and/or PA enrichment or how this relates to wider patterns seen in contemporary parenting. 24 semi-structured interviews with parents of early years children from across England were conducted. Findings suggest the reasons why parents enrol their child(ren) in sports-based enrichment activities can be considered a form of concerted cultivation. In particular, parents value routine and socialisation for themselves and their children. Parents look for paid-for activities that enhance their child's social and academic skills but do not emphasise the health benefits of being physically active as important in their decision making. Instead, they prioritise opportunities to enhance their child's social and cultural skills in ways that enable the child(ren) to be accepted and interact positively with adults and other children in key institutional settings. Parents also valued spaces where their young child(ren) could expend energy, although the importance of this was distinctly gendered. We conclude by outlining that paying for under-fives sport-based enrichment is linked to wider social and cultural expectations on parenting, and highlighting that more needs to be understood about the gendered, racialised and ableist spaces of commercial pre-school sport and PA.

The Influence of Internal Corporate Social Responsibility Factors on the Innovation Climate of Employees in the Healthcare Industry

This study examined the relationship between employee innovation and employee-initiated corporate social responsibility (CSR) elements in medical diagnostic enterprises in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research identified nine variables of employee-driven CSR, including communication, empowerment, and work satisfaction. Theoretical framework of the study based on theory of corporate social responsibility and expectancy theory of motivation. It evaluated their effects on the atmosphere for employee innovation using statistical analysis by using SPSS and after collecting data by using a survey questionnaire. The study population was employees working in the healthcare industry in Pakistan. The findings showed that employee-driven CSR and innovation were significantly correlated, with work satisfaction having the most impact. Overall, this quantitative study provides important insights for both theoretical understanding and practical application in fostering innovation through CSR initiatives. It emphasizes the critical role of job satisfaction as a key motivating factor for innovation within the framework of employee-driven CSR in the medical diagnostics sector.

Analysis of Characters and Characteristics in The Novel "Perempuan di Titik Nol" By Nawal El Saadawi Using A Feminism Approach

This article analyzes the characters and characterization in the novel "Women at Zero Point" by Nawal El Saadawi using a feminist approach. This novel depicts women's struggle in facing oppression, violence and gender injustice in a patriarchal society. A feminist approach is used to analyze how the female characters in this novel face these problems and struggle to find freedom. This analysis uses a literature review method by referring to the novel "Perempuan di Titik Zero" and relevant feminist literature studies. Focus is given to the main character, Firdaus, as well as other female characters in this novel. The results of the analysis show that the female characters in this novel face oppression and violence carried out by the patriarchal system. Firdaus, as the main character, faces various forms of sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and objectification by the surrounding community. However, this novel also highlights women's solidarity as a source of strength and support in their struggle against gender injustice. A feminist approach helps in seeing how the author criticizes patriarchal norms that limit women. Firdaus and other female characters challenge narrow social expectations and attempt to shape their identities outside these constraints. In conclusion, This analysis confirms that the novel "Women at Point Zero" is a reflection of women's struggle to seek freedom and overcome gender injustice in a patriarchal society. Women's solidarity and criticism of patriarchal norms are important themes in this novel, inviting readers to consider the role and influence of patriarchy in women's lives.

Strategic Authenticity: Signaling Authenticity Without Undermining Professional Image in Workplace Interactions

Increasing demands to be seen as authentic at work have created a paradox of self-presentation for employees: the desire to be seen as simultaneously true to self and professionally appropriate in workplace interactions. The present paper introduces one way in which individuals may navigate this tension: strategic authenticity, a self-presentational approach that involves enacting behaviors intended to increase colleagues’ perceptions of one’s authenticity while accounting for individual and contextual factors that influence one’s professional image. I propose that the behavioral signals of social deviations (nonconformity and spontaneity) and self-expressions (transparency and vulnerability) increase colleagues’ perceptions of a worker’s authenticity but pose a threat to their professional image. Next, I highlight how felt authenticity and the degree of perceived violation of social expectations (i.e., benign versus taboo signal content and aligning with communal versus agentic norms) moderate the impact of signals on perceptions of authenticity and professional image, suggesting that strategic authenticity can be achieved via a careful selection of behaviors based on individual and contextual factors. Last, I consider how the enactment of strategic authenticity leads to high-quality connections at work, which over time, may lead to the formation of positive relationships (enhanced by an actor’s felt authenticity). This paper extends prior scholarship on authenticity, professional image construction, and high-quality connections by highlighting how to balance interpersonal goals to appear authentic and at the same time, maintain a desirable professional image in workplace interactions.

Interpersonal helping in the workplace: social expectation predicts anticipated guilt and intention to help a coworker

ABSTRACT Promoting interpersonal helping among coworkers is an important aim for any organisation that cares about employee well-being. Drawing on guilt aversion hypothesis, this research focuses on the power of social expectations in promoting prosocial behaviour among employees and investigates the role of anticipated guilt for failing to meet coworkers’ expectations. In two preregistered studies, the effect of beneficiary expectation on benefactors’ anticipated guilt and intention to help was investigated. In Study 1, Japanese participants (n = 284) recalled a situation when they helped a coworker spontaneously, and evaluated perceived beneficiary expectation to receive help, as well as anticipated guilt for not helping. Beneficiary expectation positively predicted anticipated guilt, and the effect was stronger when the beneficiary was a same-status colleague, and when interpersonal helping frequency in the organisation was low. Study 2 (n = 499) employed vignettes and manipulated beneficiary expectation. A mediational model revealed that beneficiary expectation leads to more anticipated guilt for not helping, which, in turn, increases employees’ intention to help. Together, these studies show that employees are sensitive to their coworkers’ expectations, and guilt-averse; therefore, interpersonal helping among employees may be promoted by establishing legitimate expectations of prosociality in the workplace.

Medical communication, internalized “good mother” norms, and feminist self-identification as predictors of maternal burnout

IntroductionA rarely studied source of psychological discomfort for mothers is the communication received from medical professionals in the context of pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and pediatric care. To address this gap, we examined mothers’ recollections of medical communications that influenced their perceived stress levels in the context of good-mother normativity. We also explored how recollections of feedback on mothering in medical settings were associated with internalization of good-mother expectations, maternal burnout, length of motherhood, and feminist self-identification.MethodsWe collected the data through an online survey administered by a company that pre-establishes business relationships with potential survey takers. The survey-takers were 254 self-identified mothers, who answered open-ended questions about their recollections of medical communications related to good-motherhood norms. The participants also completed measures of maternal burnout, internalized good mother expectations, and feminist self-identification, and answered demographic questions such as age, education, number of children, and how long they had been mothers.ResultsParticipants who recalled discomfort-inducing medical communications that directly or indirectly referenced motherhood norms reported higher levels of internalized good-mother expectations and maternal burnout. A process model showed that the frequency of recalled medical communications, length of motherhood, and feminist self-identification moderated the relationship between the degree of internalization of good-mother expectations and maternal burnout. A significant association emerged between feminist self-identification and the recalled frequency of interactions with medical professionals that increased mothers’ perceived stress stemming from good-mother normativity.DiscussionThe findings of this study contribute to self-discrepancy theory as it relates to the social construction of mothers’ identities by focusing on whether and how often medical professionals reinforce or challenge good-mother social expectations. Another theoretical contribution of this study is that values and beliefs, such as feminist self-identification, can affect the recall of communications about social norms and are significantly associated with levels of internalized expectations and resulting burnout. In terms of practical implications, our findings suggest that medical professionals should be mindful of how they assess patients through the lens of the good-mother norms and also consider addressing the discomfort stemming from such normativity by asking mothers about their perceptions of social expectations and addressing unrealistic beliefs that aggravate mothers’ sense of self-discrepancy.

Facilitating early boreal forest succession on waste rock using Ramial Chipped Wood mulch: A five-year study

After a mine is closed, waste rock storage areas must be revegetated to facilitate the return of ecosystem services and meet legal and social expectations. The restoration of forest ecosystems on waste rock through spontaneous colonization associated with primary succession can take decades and is still poorly studied. Adding a mulch of ramial chipped wood (RCW) could improve the physicochemical properties and microclimate conditions of waste rock, thus facilitating substrate colonization by plants. In 2016, a fully randomized block design was installed on waste rock from a closed gold mine located in the boreal forest in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The design included four treatments: scarified waste rock as the control (WR), 2 cm of RCW mulch on top of scarified waste rock (RCW/WR), and 10 cm layer of sand on top of scarified waste rock with or without 2 cm of RCW mulch (RCW/S and S, respectively). Over a period of five years, we followed the natural colonization of forest species as well as abiotic (substrate microclimate conditions and physicochemistry) and biotic (herbaceous plant colonization) factors influencing woody plant colonization success. Six boreal woody species spontaneously colonized the area (five individuals per m2, on average, all species combined). Salix sp. and Picea glauca seedlings were more abundant on substrates with RCW mulch (especially sand) than those without mulch, and P. glauca had greater aerial biomasses with RCW mulch. Substrate water content during the growing season and the presence of the weed species Tussilago farfara were determining environmental factors in substrate colonization by Abies balsamea. In the absence of Tussilago farfara, RCW mulch increased A. balsamea colonization. RCW mulch increased the total cover of colonizing herbaceous plants (23.3–58.2%) as compared to mineral substrates alone (4.78–52.3%), which negatively affected the number of A. balsamea individuals. The colonizing herbaceous species were mostly primary succession species, Pilosella caespitosa, Anaphalis margaritacea, and Tussilago farfara being dominant; no exotic species were observed. The results highlight the potential of RCW mulch in promoting forest recolonization on waste rock, including mid-successional species like Picea sp., which could be useful for facilitating ecosystem succession in post-mining landscapes.