Societal Patterns Research Articles

Normative identity work: exploring Erich Fromm’s perspective on self and society

This article explores the potential of normative identity work to foster humanistic transformation, drawing from Erich Fromm’s social theory. By engaging with Fromm’s insights into the interplay between individuals and societal structures, the analysis demonstrates how identity work – understood as an ongoing process of self-construction within social contexts – can confront what Fromm terms the ‘pathology of normalcy’. Central to the discussion are Fromm’s reflections on identity and its relationship to the human needs for rootedness, relatedness and the construction of a frame of orientation. The article integrates Fromm’s views on identity with contemporary identity research, illustrating the tensions between conforming to societal expectations and the pursuit of self-realisation. It introduces the ‘normative ABC of identity work’, a model structured around three key dimensions: agency, belonging and coherence. This model offers a lens to examine the various ways societal forces shape identity work, influencing individuals in directions that may either align with societal norms or open pathways towards humanistic growth and transformation. In the conclusion, the article emphasises the relationship between identity work and Fromm’s concept of social character, highlighting how social character can reflect and reinforce societal patterns while also pointing to the transformative potential embedded in humanistic values. This synthesis provides a critical framework for understanding how identity work can both sustain and challenge existing social norms and power structures.

Queer Economics: Same-Sex Marriage Rate vs. Economics Crisis Expectation

Marriage is not just a promise between two individuals; it serves as a bridge between two families and provides the nurturing ground for many new lives. Research studies have indicated that marriage can enhance the subjective well-being of married individuals[i]. However, beneath the weighty commitments and responsibilities, the dissolution of marriage can increase illness rates and psychological distress among divorced women. [ii]While mainstream society still upholds the social stability brought by marriage and advocates it as an indispensable part of the human lifecycle, people are actively exploring alternative romantic relationships or family models, such as cohabitation. Many individuals engage in cohabitation as a prelude to formal marriage, viewing it as an experimental version of married life, enjoying the everyday romantic relationship without the legal costs and property entanglements. [iii]This article considers cohabitation as an alternative to marriage, which can also be understood as a substitution in consumption when people are deterred from marriage due to the high costs associated with divorce. Therefore, strategies people adopt towards marriage are often influenced by changes in societal patterns and the turbulence in politics and the economy. In comparison to heterosexual couples, the dynamics of marriage are more complex for same-sex couples. Apart from the ethical debates surrounding same-sex marriage, economic models have also demonstrated that same-sex marriage poses significant secular challenges. [iv]For instance, issues like post-marriage healthcare for same-sex couples and the impact of their married status on the labor market are still subjects of debate. However, these issues primarily target the challenges and research pertaining to the identity of being a same-sex individual. Nevertheless, as members of society, same-sex couples also experience the fluctuations brought about by broader social cycles, such as the impact of economic crises. There is relatively limited research in the field on how same-sex couples respond to widespread societal crises, and the strategies employed by same-sex couples during different economic crises can effectively reflect the natural state of this community within society.[v] [i] Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser and Tamara L Newton. (2001). Marriage and Health: His and Hers. American Psychological Association. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-01085-002. [ii] Frederick O Lorenz et al. (2006). The Short-Term and Decade-Long Effects of Divorce on Women’s Midlife Health. American Sociological Association. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002214650604700202. [iii] Brandon G Wagner, Kate H Choi, and Philip N Cohen. (2020). Decline in Marriage Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2378023120980328. [iv] DOUGLAS W ALLEN. (2006). An Economic Assessment of Same-Sex Marriage Laws. Semantic scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/An-Economic-Assessment-of-Same-Sex-Marriage-Laws-Allen/513a92f3d397ae2b787094294aa465d48053ef53. [v] Malaczewska Paulina and Malaczewski Maciej. (1970, January 1). Marriage, Divorce and Coronavirus—Theoretical Analysis of the Influence of COVID-19 on Family Capital. Economics and Business Review. https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/ecobur/v8y2022i3p126-142n7.html.

Risk, discomfort and disruption: experiences of (im)mobilities in public spaces among Swedish youth racialised as non-white

ABSTRACT Mobility can be understood as both an everyday part of, and a normative imperative in, young people’s lives. It is also an unequally distributed resource. Based on interviews and focus groups with people in their teens, this article analyses how young people racialised as non-white experience (im)mobility in public spaces in Sweden. Drawing on Sarah Ahmed’s theorising, the article discusses how spaces are experienced in the racialised social-spatial order of Stockholm and Malmö. The analysis shows that the negative reactions of others, such as ‘looks’ and ‘comments’, in places perceived as white (Swedish) makes the young people feel unwelcome and disrupt their mobility. The young people’s experiences correspond to overall societal patterns of racialisation and segregation within these cities and Sweden as a whole. The analysis also shows that the young people express aversion towards visiting certain spaces or talk about complete withdrawal from spaces seen as risky. To analyse such responses of ‘being stopped’ we introduce the concepts of ‘socio-spatial reluctance’ and ‘socio-spatial withdrawal’. The article concludes that youth spatial mobilities must be understood as restricted by racialised structures, which affect not only where this category of young people feel safe to go but also what they can do.

Self-initiated protection behavior based on Magna Carta of women: Women health workers, teachers, and minimum-wage earners in the workplace

The problem of violence in the workplace continues to expand and it casts a shadow on organizational environments all around the world. This phenomenon extends to different fields or sectors and is pervasive throughout a wide range of job environments, such as those in the healthcare industry, educational institutions, local and informal economies, and service industries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the actions of working women when their rights had been/will be violated. This quantitative study was conducted in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines among women in academe (n=121) and health institutions (n=39), and women of minimum-wage earners (n=42). Findings indicated that working women in the region tend to seek information outside their organizations when violence will happen; they also seek information when their rights once were violated. In some instances, they would only file a complaint when they feel discriminated against and when equal rights in the workplace are not well implemented. Notably, minimum-wage earners and health workers are more likely to file a complaint than teachers. The findings resonate with broader societal patterns wherein hesitancy to report workplace violations are deeply embedded. Such behaviors perpetuate gender-based violence and hinder the development of gender-sensitive and conducive workplaces. To deconstruct the gender and development (GAD) limitations, interventions need to extend beyond the present organizational policies to instill a culture of empowerment and safety for all individuals, fostering an environment conducive to open discussions, proactive conflict resolution mechanisms, and reliable report systems.

OTDF platform: A new paradigm of homeownership for life with mobility and liquidity

The rise of digital nomadism and shifting societal patterns necessitate a re-examination of traditional housing ownership. This study introduces the OTDF Platform, a pioneering homeownership trading platform that views residences as a user-driven distributed system. It establishes a continuous process consisting of tokenization, digitalization, and fluidization of ownership, enabling the free trade and rapid circulation of ownership to dynamically respond to changes in user housing demands and economic status. In methodological development, the platform extensively integrates various technologies and algorithms, including blockchain and space planning, to create a nested functional relationship among parameters, including requirements and expenditures, residential space conditions, and ownership values, thereby elucidating a transparent ownership calculation method. The OTDF Platform demonstrates a comprehensive and adaptable ownership model, reinstating the value of housing as a home within its liquidity, offering innovative insights for addressing housing challenges in the post-digital era.

The EU’s New Regime on Foreign Subsidies: Has the Time Come for a Paradigm-Shift?

In December 2022, the EU introduced a comprehensive regulatory regime for foreign subsidies, which have so far largely remained under the radar of international trade law. The last couple of decades have seen a considerable increase in the economic import of foreign subsidies. Services and investments have grown from marginal importance to a major field of international trade and have been the subject to massive subsidization by state capitalist countries. The WTO’s enlargement to these economies internalized the problem but also undermined the solidity of the pristine paradigm shaped by the societal pattern of western democracies. The EU Regulation on Foreign Subsidies responds to this menace and ushers a paradigm-shift in the field. This paper provides an analysis of the Regulation in the context of its international framework. It identifies the regulatory gap the Regulation reacts to and inquires if it effectively responds to this; it examines if the Regulation complies with international disciplines and if it could serve as a role model to address the increasingly burning question of foreign subsidies. Countervailing Duties, EU Regulation on Foreign Subsidies, Foreign Subsidies, International Trade, State Aid, State Capitalist Countries, Protectionism, Transnational Subsidies, Unfair Trade

The Sufi Who Was a Sayyid: Muḥammad Ḥusaynī Gesūdarāz’s Assertions of Spiritual Authority

Abstract In the context of contested succession within a silsila (lineage) of sufis, this paper studies Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusaynī Gesūdarāz’s (d. 1422) recourse to a familial genealogy in order to claim the status of a pīr or sufi master, while attempting to entrench his legacy in Gulbarga where he emigrated to from Delhi after the incursions of Timur (d. 1405). As he arrived in the Deccan at the turn of the fifteenth century, Gesūdarāz used his kinship with the Prophet and particularly his identity of sayyid (a descendant of the Prophet through Ḥusayn) as a persuasive device, to set himself apart from other sufi shaykhs in the area who claimed an equivalent spiritual genealogy. The case of Gesūdarāz reveals a societal pattern wherein the identity of sayyid was gaining new traction, and relational ties were evoked not only as a means of establishing an identity as part of a community but also to supersede others who made the same claim. Kinship was a device through which Gesūdarāz staked his claim to authority, and it was also a mechanism that he and his family utilized to cement their hold on the Muslim community of Gulbarga.

Dark clouds on the horizon: Dark personality traits and the frontiers of the entrepreneurial economy

Recent developments in technology and shifting societal patterns threaten to upend norms surrounding the world of work. The present paper introduces the idea of an emerging entrepreneurial economy and describes how it is reshaping our understanding of work, provides a framework for understanding whether and why individuals with dark personality traits may be attracted to careers in this new occupational frontier. Specifically, we will discuss how dark traits shape interest in remote work, the gig economy, social media and podcasting careers, and occupations related to cryptocurrencies, blockchain technologies, and crowdfunding. We also note how technologies enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) might contribute to uncertainty concerning how individuals with dark traits may function in these vocational contexts. We finish by making arguments for how future research can be improved in order to attain a more comprehensive understanding of dark personality in the entrepreneurial economy.

Homosexuality as a Phenomenon of Contemporary Society: Meanings and Psychosocial Dimensions

Of all the issues explored in anthropological, social and behavioral sciences, homosexuality perhaps is most controversial and has evoked more arguments and strong feelings in the general public. Homosexuality is often associated wit anger, love, intimacy, hostility, strong negative attitudes (e.g., severe discrimination and violence), and compassion. This subject involves many things: gender identity and orientation, a way of behaving intimately, a wide range of sexual preferences, a stigma, and a badge of pride and self-assertion. One objective of this paper is to clarify the meanings of homosexuality as well as its psychological, behavioral, and social correlates. Most research on homosexuality has taken the individual as the focus of analysis. A. C. Kinsey’s pioneering work investigated the sexual behaviors of the individual and used biographical information to locate the person on a continuum from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality. Other individualistic approaches include studies of the homosexual identity, personality characteristics, subjective well-being, and life histories of gay men and lesbians. Sociocultural analyses, typically undertaken by anthropologists, historians, and sociologists, focus on the societal patterns of homosexuality. Sociocultural researchers seek to describe and explain societal reactions to homosexuality, cultural and subcultural variations in homosexuality, social rules and institutions that regulate homosexuality, etc. In contrast, a relationship perspective takes as the central phenomenon of interest the sexual and romantic relationships that occur between same-sex partners. During the past decades, the prevalence of negative stereotypes against homosexuality has been reduced substantially in most Western societies. Nevertheless, concern remains about the occurence of negative stereotyping attitudes and homophobia in some segments of the general population. Therefore, homosexuality will be analyzed in relation to heterosexism, homophobia, and sexual prejudice.

Violence against women: addressing the victims’ issues through formal institution

This research discussed a critical issue in the current era, violence against women. It investigated the form of social services for victims of acts of violence provided by formal institution. This study focused on victims' issues regarding violence against women to the National Commission on Violence Against Women. This research was inspired by the implementation of Indonesia Regulation No. 65 of 2005 concerning the National Commission on Violence Against Women. For almost two decades since the regulation was implemented, this research explored the actual implementation of it, especially in this current area where gender-based violence has increased dramatically. Besides that, we critically investigated several factors that attract violence against women, i.e., law and societal patterns. This study used a qualitative method, including in-depth interviews, field observation, and content analysis through formal regulations. It also utilized the theory of regulations' implementation to ensure some aspects, i.e., communication, resources, dispositions, and the organizational structure. The results of this study showed that there is still a lack, especially in the communication aspect. Our findings implied that it could prevent society from utilizing social services provided by formal institutions to access proper justice. Currently, there is no optimal socialization conducted by the Office of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, though it already had some programs. The researcher suggests ensuring proper awareness and knowledge among citizens to make reports regarding gender-based violence is key. So, the mitigation regarding these issues can be tackled properly and inclusively.

The configuration of ethnic and religious relations towards the 2024 general election: A case study in Medan, Indonesia

After the 2014 presidential election, which Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla won, sentiments based on religion and ethnicity towards Jokowi persisted. The discourse regarding the strengthening of ethnicity and religious politics continues not only at the national level but also at the municipal level during the political transition period. Almost identical to the elections for the Governor held in 2008, 2013, and 2018, the issues that continue to develop in the election for the Governor of North Sumatra cover the same three aspects: religious issues, ethnic identity politics, and local son issues. This study aims to discover ethnic and religious relations in Medan following the 2019 general elections and the configuration of ethnic and religious connections in Medan towards the 2024 general elections. The research method used was quantitative research. The sample of this study was 100 responders chosen randomly by using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected through a close-ended questionnaire distributed offline to responders. It was found that the polarization of inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in Medan following the 2019 elections and the 2020 Medan mayoral race altered the societal patterns of interaction. Several factors contribute to this, including ending amicable contacts, viewing other races or religions as provocateurs, and establishing political preferences based on ethnic and religious concerns.

Socio-Cultural and Economic Consequences of Forced Marriages A Case Study of District Swabi Tehsil Razzar

The institution of marriage was one of the universal social institutions developed to manage and regulate the existence of people. Forced marriage is a type of marriage in which a couple is married without their consent or against their will. Conventional marriage is the established societal pattern through which two or more individuals form a family, whereas forced marriage is a sort of marriage in which a couple is married against their choice.. The purpose of this study is to analyze the socio-cultural as well as economic effects that forced marriages have on the Pashtun culture. Tehsil Razar, which is located in the Swabi area, served as the study's primary location. In order to collect information, we used techniques of simple random sampling on 120 female respondents from the entire population of tehsil Razar. This was done for the aim of data collecting. The literature provided a comprehensive questionnaire that was adapted for use, and it was analysed descriptively using Statistical Software for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The current study concluded that in Pashtun culture, forced marriage has become the norm in terms of both the customs and traditions surrounding marriage. The vast majority of the young women are considered "other property," despite their ages ranging from under 18 to over 18. The custom of being married at a young age is deeply ingrained in Pashtun culture since it is believed to bring dignity to the family. Despite the fact that it is perceived to be a financial strain on households. One of the primary reasons for forced marriages in Pashtun society is the lack of education and the ignorance of the parents, both of which contribute to domestic abuse and deprive individuals of their rights as well as their physical and mental wellbeing.

What happens in school music in Norway? Findings from a national survey of music teachers

ABSTRACT This article reports on a survey of Norwegian compulsory school music teachers, in which 293 teachers from 239 schools participated. In addition to providing demographic information, the teachers were asked what kinds of music their students listened to, sang, played, and created during lessons, and what activities this music was part of. We explore this material with respect to which forms of activities were included and how they were distributed, how the activities were related to teacher characteristics, what forms of participation the activities allowed for, and how this participation relates to broader societal patterns. The findings show that a broad palette of activities was implemented, but also that teachers with less formal competence in music chose activities that allowed for broader participation than their more musically specialised colleagues. Drawing on Bourdieu's concept of refraction, we interpret this as the latter being loyal to the logic of the art field.

The role of entrepreneurial orientation and social capital toward technology innovation among SMEs in Kurdistan

The emergence of the fourth industrial revolution has made fundamental changes to technology, industries, and societal patterns and processes. SMEs are familiarizing themselves with new technological innovations to adapt to the current shifts. SMEs significantly contribute to economic progress by creating jobs, generating revenue, reducing poverty, and launching new ventures, especially in developing economies. However, the contribution of the SMEs in Kurdistan is limited due to the weak capacity to produce technological innovations and the inability to execute manufacturing processes effectively. So, the study aims to investigate the impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EC) and Social Capital (SO) on the Technological Innovation (TI) of Kurdistan SMEs in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. This study used the resource-based theory as the underlying theory for its presumptions, and its model was constructed using self-administered questionnaires. Three hundred forty-four business owners participated in this study, yielding a response rate of 68%. The results of the current study showed that social capital and entrepreneurial orientation both significantly and positively affect technological innovation. The study will contribute to technology innovation adoption among small industrial companies in Kurdistan and reduce potential setbacks for technology adoption, highlighting externally generated knowledge of entrepreneurial orientation and social capital.

Exploring learning outcomes among undergraduate kinesiology students in response to an inclusive physical activity promotion message assignment

Numerous professional bodies and curricular models in kinesiology call for the development of undergraduates’ cultural competency. In short, a culturally competent professional (a) mitigates personal biases from adversely affecting others, and (b) is aware of how societal patterns marginalize people (e.g., unquestioned norms; Gill, 2007). The present study aimed to evaluate the extent to which undergraduate students demonstrated learning in response to completing an inclusive physical activity promotion message assignment, which included a focus on designing materials inclusive of people with disabilities. A scholarship of teaching and learning approach was adopted to critically evaluate and reflect on an assignment used in an undergraduate kinesiology course. This case study drew on artifacts from a convenience sample of 10 undergraduate students enrolled in an introduction to adapted physical activity course. A descriptive discourse analysis was conducted of students’ reflections about what they learned from the assignment. Student responses were appraised with Fink’s (2013) taxonomy of significant learning for evidence of learning across six domains: i.e., foundational knowledge, application, integration, human dimension, caring, and self-determination. Student responses were coded and verified. Consensus was reached on all discrepancies. Student reflections signaled learning across four domains: foundational knowledge (n = 9), application (n = 3), integration (n = 5), and human dimensions (n = 6). Developments in the caring or self-determination domains were not evident. The findings indicate potential for the assignment to enhance Kinesiology curricula. As teacher-researchers, we discuss the findings in relation to further development of the assignment to better promote cultural competency.

National integrity strategy implementation in land administration to prevent corruption in Bangladesh.

Corruption in land administration is one of the challenges in implementing the national integrity strategy (NIS) in Bangladesh. Citizens visiting the Land Office have reported many instances of unpleasant experiences. In response to these issues, this study attempted to investigate the challenges of NIS implementation in land administration and possible solutions. Based on in-depth interviews with citizens and public officials, as well as document analysis, the study found that the NIS has helped to modernize land administration in recent years. The Bangladesh government, with the help of young land administration officials, has undertaken several measures to resolve this crisis. However, the improvement in service delivery is, in some ways, nominal compared to the volume of corruption in land administration. The likely reason is the nature of the country’s societal patterns. In practice, local and administrative politics continue to have a significant influence. Therefore, despite good initiatives and appropriate measures, land administration officials have failed to implement the NIS properly. Several other problems are making NIS implementation challenging, such as the lack of skilled manpower and technical support, the tendency to break rules, and other forms of corruption discussed in this study. However, the study found that an alternative approach, namely, “local solutions for local problems” could have more success than the NIS approach. Therefore, this study argues that dynamic, sustainable, and corruption-free land administration in Bangladesh requires a combined approach involving local solutions, innovation, and NIS implementation.

We Are Not Who We Thought We Were: A Case Study of Race in Intercollegiate Athletics

The case study is guided by Bell’s critical race theory as a lens for understanding racial discrimination. Critical race theory was used at a collegiate institution that served as a representation of a larger societal pattern throughout the United States. A hypothetical university was created, and scenarios were integrated based on actual events that took place at various intercollegiate institutions across the country in recent years. Ashley Miller, the athletic director at the University of Southeast Illinois, was facing an incredible challenge after a transfer football player posted allegations of racism within the University of Southeast Illinois football program. The university hired an outside law firm to investigate the climate of the football program and the athletics department as a whole. The law firm provided a report identifying specific incidents and concerns. Students will review the findings of the law firm and provide specific recommendations to the athletics department to address the allegations of racial inequities and promote diversity and inclusion in the football program and athletics department moving forward.

Bersatu dengan Yesus Kristus dalam Dunia yang Tersekularisasi

Charles Taylor observes that “secularization” has two different meanings: the loss of religious belief and practice and the withdrawal of religion from the public sphere. Distinguishing the two meanings of secularization helps to reveal the cultural pattern, which Taylor calls the ethic of authenticity. For these two meanings, Taylor offers a third phenomenon, that it is easier to understand a developing andinstitutionalized world by thinking about the Transcendent, accepting the Transcendent, and talking about the Transcendent. Taylor also makes a distinction between two important phases in Western history that mark how God is present in the public sphere: a hierarchical indirect-access society and a direct-access horizontal society, and points out that this shift in societal patterns has increasingly exposed the thirst to cope with life (hunger to go beyond life) as part of human identity. This human identity is embodied in an external medium, closely related to the Transcendent.

Living with air-conditioning: experiences in Dubai, Chongqing and London

Extreme heat is a likely consequence of global warming, leading to increased mortality and reduced wellbeing. There is limited research evidence of experiences of living with and without air-conditioning (AC), commonly regarded as the sole technological solution, but such knowledge is essential to progressing alternative approaches. A total of 72 participants were interviewed in an exploratory cross-cultural phenomenological study in Dubai (United Arab Emirates—UAE), Chongqing (China) and London (UK). In Dubai and Chongqing, AC was ubiquitous and central to life in the hotter months, although not for all socio-economic groups. AC enabled indoor work to proceed, but a restricted indoor life meant less exercise, less social interaction and health issues. Participants had over-adapted, not to heat but to cold indoor temperatures, which were uncomfortable for many. In London, AC was not yet used, but the purchase of AC was being contemplated. The London participants showed a range of behavioural adaptations to heat. To reduce dependence on AC, regulations and behaviour change interventions regarding AC settings should focus on acclimatisation to heat. Changes in societal patterns, such as workhours, and behavioural adaptations, such as informed use of shading, can help mitigate heat. Deconstruction of the meanings of AC-related thermal comfort is needed to incorporate physiological, behavioural and social responses. <em><strong>Policy relevance</strong></em> The study findings show the following: AC technology is already culturally embedded in societies in hot climates, but is not yet seen as a necessity in temperate climates, offering a window of opportunity. This window could close rapidly, so initiatives are needed now to encourage householders to improve heat protection around their homes. In hot climates, while AC enables life to continue, it is not a panacea. AC does not provide thermal comfort universally: people do not experience AC as providing a comfortable environment. Better regulation of building and urban design is needed to ensure climate and context appropriateness. Behaviour change interventions to reduce the overuse of AC are recommended to focus on health as well as energy. Existing discourses on AC as the unique and adequate solution to future heat must be challenged in order to open up the discussion to include behavioural, social, built environment and other technological solutions.

When danger strikes: A linguistic tool for tracking America’s collective response to threats

In today's vast digital landscape, people are constantly exposed to threatening language, which attracts attention and activates the human brain's fear circuitry. However, to date, we have lacked the tools needed to identify threatening language and track its impact on human groups. To fill this gap, we developed a threat dictionary, a computationally derived linguistic tool that indexes threat levels from mass communication channels. We demonstrate this measure's convergent validity with objective threats in American history, including violent conflicts, natural disasters, and pathogen outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the dictionary offers predictive insights on US society's shifting cultural norms, political attitudes, and macroeconomic activities. Using data from newspapers that span over 100 years, we found change in threats to be associated with tighter social norms and collectivistic values, stronger approval of sitting US presidents, greater ethnocentrism and conservatism, lower stock prices, and less innovation. The data also showed that threatening language is contagious. In all, the language of threats is a powerful tool that can inform researchers and policy makers on the public's daily exposure to threatening language and make visible interesting societal patterns across American history.