Social-psychological Reasons Research Articles

Social-psychological reasons for the spread of the“AUE” subculture (hidden factors of the problem)

The article identifies the deep causes of the new wave of minors criminalization in the Russian society. The authors considered the expert opinions on this issue and found them inconsistent; described the main forms of behavior associated with the adoption of criminal values - primary, game, and re-criminalization which usually have different social localization; summarized the historical aspects of adolescent criminalization in the Russian society and its social-cultural factors. Based on the analysis of the official statistics and the results of the empirical studies conducted in 2019-2020 within the project Deep causes of teenage (neo)criminalization in contemporary Russia supported by the RFBR, the authors assess the scale of real and virtual criminalization, features of legal outlook, social-psychological well-being, and worldview of criminalized and ordinary teenagers. In addition to the traditionally identified causes of criminalization (social-economic and cultural-educational inequality, deprivation, territorial-geographical specificity, etc.), the authors consider social-cultural factors: first, violations in socialization and child-parental relations - as leading to the deprivation of the need for love and recognition of minors by their parents and to the attempts to compensate this deprivation destructively, with criminal practices; second, the types of minors heroes, which determine the normative and gender inversion and the spread of the criminal subculture - as a source of the surrogate pseudo-masculine discourse. The authors make a conclusion that the prevention of minors criminalization should be based on psychological-pedagogical and social-cultural technologies, the main actors of which are the family, school and state information policy, while the normative-legal technologies of social control, the actors of which are administrative and law enforcement agencies, should focus on the crime-deterrent function.

Sobre status científico e o significado de uma teoria psicológica

Desde o final da década de 1950, um número significativo de autores tentou usar a abordagem de Galperin (conhecida como a " Teoria da formação planejada por etapas das ações mentais " ou a Teoria PSFMA) para melhorar os processos e os resultados da escola. Olhando para os mais de cinquenta anos de história da sua abordagem, pode-se notar que, nos anos 1960 e no início dos anos 1970, houve um grande otimismo em relação à eficácia e eficiência da aplicação prática dessa teoria. Parecia possível transformar radicalmente o caminho e os resultados tradicionais do processo de ensino/aprendizagem. Ao comparar as publicações dos anos 60-70 e 80-90, foi possível descobrir facilmente a diminuição significativa de uma onda de otimismo em relação à aplicação da PSFMA. Além das óbvias razões socioeconômicas e sociopsicológicas, há uma razão metodológica relativa às formas e aos meios de uso da abordagem de Galperin. Historicamente, os resultados pedagógicos substanciais dessa teoria já tinham sido constatados, no entanto o entusiasmo dos proponentes por resultados realmente incomuns e esperançosos teve um lado oposto: levou a um sério mal-entendido sobre o status da abordagem de Galperin e a transformou em algum conhecimento absoluto, como uma espécie de "pedra filosofal". A aplicação bem-sucedida das declarações da PSFMA não significa uma reprodução literal de algum procedimento geral abstrato, mas um planejamento criativo de um sistema de condições psicológicas necessárias e suficientes, adaptadas a uma situação escolar concreta. A elaboração de tal procedimento ocupa uma posição intermediária entre o conhecimento psicológico fundamental e o processo real da escolarização. Considera-se que o sistema de três modelos preenche uma lacuna entre o conhecimento fundamental introduzido por Galperin e as circunstâncias reais da situação de ensino/aprendizagem.
 

Belief in the Round Table conspiracy and political division in Poland

The functions of the conspiracy theory surrounding the ’89 Round Table in present-day political life are discussed. In the online research conducted in 2018 on a representative sample of Polish citizens, we found that attitudes towards the Round Table are an important marker of the fundamental political division in Poland. Those who supported the current rule of PiS (with a nationalistic-authoritarian orientation) agreed with the ’89 Round Table conspiracy theory, whereas those who supported the liberal opposition against PiS rejected the ’89 Round Table conspiracy theory. Moreover, believers in the Round Table conspiracy appeared to trust politicians and justify the system to a higher degree than those who rejected this conspiracy theory. We also found that endorsement of the conspiracy theory of the ’89 Round Table was significantly associated with the stability of voting preferences. Among those who voted for PiS, conspiracy theory believers formed a stable electorate, whereas among those who voted for parties with a liberal orientation, theory believers were likely to change their voting preferences. Thus, belief in the discussed conspiracy is not only a part of some ideological landscape but also has direct behavioral consequences. The social-psychological reasons for the growing popularity of the ’89 Round Table conspiracy theory are discussed.

Linguistic and Activity Relativity in Cognition

This work compares the features of cognitive processes uncovered in experimental studies undertaken to test the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis with cultural features of thinking that are shaped by activity-related factors rather than by language that have been identified by cross-cultural research into thinking. It is concluded that this latter area of research has uncovered more essential differences in cognitive processes. There is discussion of the linguistic aspect of activity-related differences in thinking, in particular the possibility of using Hymes’ idea of functional linguistic relativity in cross-cultural research. The article concludes with a discussion of possible social-psychological reasons why the linguistic-relativity phenomenon is more popular than activity-related relativity.

Analysis in the flow of social-psychological reasons for safety conduct

Аналіз теоретичної значимості впливу соціально-психологічних причин на безпечну або небезпечну поведінку людини у різних життєвих ситуаціях дає змогу передбачити розвиток подій з позиції «безпека - небезпека», розшифровує каталог різноманітних моделей, умов та можливих факторів безпечності. Також недостатньо вивчена психологічна природа різноманітних видів активності особистості, направлених на забезпечення своєї безпеки. Зростає число людей, які характеризуються деформованістю потреби в соціальній безпеки, що призводить до зниження задоволеності сьогоденням і відсутності впевненості в майбутньому, до руйнування цілісності особистості, зростання страху і тривоги, зниження стійкості до несприятливих впливів. Дана обставина обумовлює необхідність розробки моделі і механізмів соціально-психологічної безпеки особистості. В науковому плані, стала очевидною необхідність використання нових теоретичних підходів і методів соціально-психологічного вивчення уявлень про особистість, обумовлена тим, що нова соціальна реальність, яка сьогодні вже традиційно визначається як соціальна нестабільність, неминуче висуває підвищені вимоги до особистості в плані активності. Існуючі підходи до проблеми психології безпеки особистості, без суперечностей один одному, відображають окремі сторони цього феномена, що не інтегруючи їх в цілісну психологічну концепцію. Актуальність сучасного звернення до соціально-психологічних проблем безпеки особистості визначається також логікою розвитку психологічної науки і необхідністю інтеграції досягнень загально-психологічного і соціально-психологічного наукового знання, досліджень в сфері екстремальної психології та психології службової діяльності. Неможливість захистити людину від усіх загроз, складних і напружених ситуацій, привела до необхідності переосмислення розуміння психологічної сутності безпеки. Складається динаміка соціальних настроїв відображає все більш наростаюче в суспільстві відчуття безперспективності, високого рівня невизначеності очікувань.

Social Psychological Analysis on the Phenomenon of Whether Helping the Old Who Have Fallen

In recent years, the phenomenon of whether helping the old who have fallen has triggered many social disputes. There are many social psychological reasons can be found to explain its occurrence, such as the weakening of traditional views on “Give and Repay”, the increasing social anxiety, and the problems on system settings etc. With those into consideration, various measures can be taken to solve the problems. We can strengthen the moral education for the public to stimulate their good mind. The government should improve the legal protection to relief people’s worries and fears when helping others. The relevant departments should correctly guide the media opinion to improve social contagion. Then the public’s moral quality can be improved and the traditional concept on helping others can be developed.

On Scientific Status and Practical Significance of One Psychological Theory

Since the late 1950s, a significant number of authors tried to use Galperin’s approach (which is well-known as the “Theory of planned stage-by-stage formation of mental actions”, or the PSFMA Theory) to improve schooling processes and results. Looking back at the more than fifty -year history of Galperin’s approach, one may note that the 1960s and the early 1970s were the periods of the great optimism concerning effectiveness and efficiency of its practical application. It seemed possible to transform radically the way and the traditional results of learning/teaching process. To compare the 60s-70s and the 80s-90s publications one could easily discover a significant decrease of a wave of optimism concerning the PSFMA’s application. Besides the obvious social-economic and social-psychological reasons there exists a methodological reason concerning the ways and means of the Galperin’s approach use. Historically, the substantial pedagogical results of planned stage-by-stage formation of mental actions first came to the fore. However, the proponents’ enthusiasm about really unusual and hopeful results had a reverse side: it led to the serious misunderstanding of the status of Galperin’s approach and transformed the last to some absolute knowledge like a sort of “philosophers’ stone”. The successful application of the statements of PSFMA does not mean a literal reproduction of some abstract general procedure, but a creative design of a system of necessary and sufficient psychological conditions adapted to a concrete schooling situation. The elaboration of such a procedure occupies an intermediate position between the fundamental psychological knowledge and the real process of schooling. The three-model system is considered to bridge a gap between the fundamental knowledge introduced by Galperin and the real circumstances of learning/teaching situation.

Adolescents' Views of and Preferences for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda

Adolescents' views of and preferences for sexual and reproductive health services highlight promising directions and persistent challenges in preventing pregnancy and HIV and treating sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) in this population. Results from nationally-representative surveys of 12-19 year-olds in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda in 2004 show that contraceptive and STI services and HIV testing are still under-utilized. A substantial proportion of sexually-active adolescents do not know of any source to obtain contraception or get STI treatment, and social-psychological reasons (e.g., embarrassment or fear) and financial cost remain common barriers to getting services. Adolescents' preferences are overwhelmingly for public clinics, with strongly positive perceptions of confidentiality, accessibility and cost. Some gender and country differences exist, yet overall females and males' views are similar. Results highlight the need to inform youth about sources, increase availability of government health facilities and improve youth's access to them, especially by reducing social barriers.

An appreciation of the contribution of Egon Mayer to Jewish population, community, and family studies

The key to good, relevant social science, and especially sociology, is asking the right questions at the right time. One of the reasons advanced for the prominence of Jews among the leading lights of sociology has been the notion that as quintessential outsiders, Jews could ask the awk ward questions in Western society. However, there are other intellectual as well as social-psychological reasons for this trend. The fact that many of academic sociology's most prominent figures emerged from the tradi tional Jewish communities of Europe was no accident. Jewish religious scholarship incorporates a similar ethos and mindset to social science, whereby asking questions—shaylehs—is de rigueur. The ability to frame the correct question is as important as finding the right answer. Egon Mayer, as a quintessential European Jew, had strong roots in this heritage. No small wonder, then, that he was constantly framing and refining his questions about how society worked and developed. The overarching question he posed for himself and for us lies at the foundation of the discipline of sociology. How do human beings cope with modernity—the transition from traditional, communitarian, feudal, agrarian societies to individualistic, urban, industrial, and post-indus trial societies? This transition from a Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft that occurred across Europe between the close of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 and the end of World War II in 1945 was a traumatic episode in history during which the Continent almost self-destructed in a series of revolutions and wars of unprecedented savagery. Europe's Jews stood at the center of this maelstrom, buffeted by overwhelming and destructive historical forces. They were blamed and made scapegoats for the crisis of modernity and identified as the blockage for the attainment of Utopian dreams by the totalitarian ideologies of both the right and the left. There was a general consensus with the German historian Von Treitschke's statement of 1879: "Der Juden sindunser unglueck"—"The Jews are our misfortune."

The social world of magicians: Gender and conjuring

This paper discusses the relationship of gender to magic. It explores sociological and social-psychological reasons, both historically and in contemporary society, for the dearth of women magicians. Such factors as the social-structural dimensions of the magic profession, the socialization of gender roles in play and communications, the nature of magic, and the role of power and control in a performance are discussed. The uses of magic as a metaphor for an analysis of gender roles in everyday life are proposed in the concluding section.

Urbanism and Women's Labor Force Status: A cross-national Study

Based on structural and social psychological reasons, this paper investigates the effects of urbanism on women's labor force status at the cross-national level. Women's labor force status is looked at both for the female labor force as a percent of total labor force as a whole and for only those in the professional, technical and other white collar occupations. Urbanism is measured in terms of percentage of population residing in cities of 100,000 or more. Theoretically and empirically relevant variables to the study are included as control variables. The result of the analysis indicates that while urbanism does not have a visible and independent effect on the female participation as a whole, it does have a visible, independent and persistent effect on female labor force participation in professional, technical and other while collar related occupations. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Household Structure among Welfare Families: Correlates and Consequences

This paper examines multigeneration household structures among recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). The AFDC Recipient Characteristics Surveys for 1975 (31063 cases) and 1977 (27792 cases) provide data on individuals within households as they are related to the youngest child. Households are classified as 1) mother and children alone (60% of families) 2) mother and father or stepfather with children (14%) 3) mother and children with one or more grandparents (10%) 4) mother and children with other adult relatives or nonrelatives (6%) and 5) households with no mother (9%). Black families are more likely to include grandparents and less likely to include fathers or stepfathers than white and Hispanic families. In families with grandparents nearly 2/3 of mothers have never married. Although the formation of multigenerational households may relate to the mothers life cycle stage the greatest majority of AFDC mothers at any age live alone with their children. Teenage AFDC mothers are most likely to live in multigenerational households but by their early 20s are most likely to live alone with 2-3 children. The authors find that mothers aged 24 and under and especially 19 and under living with grandparents are more likely to stay in school than mothers living alone with their children. Living in an extended family other than with grandparents has no effect on education and no household structure effects income. Households with mothers and children living alone have the highest average AFDC monthly payment; households that include grandparents have the lowest. Comparing household types with monthly payments shows that when AFDC payments are too low single mothers and children often must become part of an extended household. The data suggest that welfare families form multigenerational households for economic more than social-psychological reasons. Future research should compare welfare families with low income nonwelfare families to determine if public assistance motivates young mothers to leave their families prematurely examine motivations to complete schooling and examine effects of the multigenerational family on eventual marriage of welfare mothers.

Recruitment Strategies, Ideology, and Organization in the Hare Krishna Movement

Studies of recruitment to social movements have focused mainly on the social psychological reasons for joining or the interaction between members and prospective recruits. This paper examines the inter-relationship between recruitment strategy, ideology, movement structure, and external social forces in the development of the Hare Krishna movement. A survey of over 200 Hare Krishna devotees shows that opportunistic exploitation of local conditions, rather than ideology or structure, has been responsible for the growth of the Hare Krishna movement in the United States.

Some Social Mechanisms Affecting High School Drop-Out in Israel

THIS PAPER DEALS with some social psychological reasons for dropping out of high school in Israel. In most selective high school systems, half of the students never graduate 1 and the lower the student's class origin, the higher the drop-out rate.2 Yet there seem to be factors other than class origin which lead to dropping out such as family cohesiveness,3 peer group membership,4 school climate 5 and mobility aspirations. In this paper we shall focus on mobility aspirations.