Socio-psychological Barriers Research Articles

The Promise and Failure of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process in 1990s: A Literature Review

In 2023, the world marked 30 years since the start of the Oslo process, which sought to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Given the ultimate breakdown of these negotiations, it is crucial to examine the evolution of academic research on this process, identifying its key themes and trends. This literature review focuses on both empirical and theoretical studies of the Oslo process, with a particular emphasis on research that investigates the reasons behind its failure. Such studies provide valuable insights for developing more effective models of negotiation and conflict resolution. Initially, the commencement of the Oslo negotiations was met with optimism in the academic community, with scholars highlighting the pivotal role of individual leaders in successfully launching the process. However, as the peace process faltered, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were analyzed through existing theoretical frameworks. Various scholars critically examined the Oslo Accords from the perspective of international law and highlighted economic factors that obstructed the path to a lasting peace. Other studies explored indirect influences on the peace process, such as public opinion and electoral dynamics, often employing Robert Putnam's “two-level games” theory. Nevertheless, these studies mainly address the immediate causes of the peace process’s failure and do not fully account for the underlying motivations driving the behavior of actors in the negotiations. Research into the deeper causes of the Oslo process’s collapse has highlighted socio-psychological barriers, such as the “conflict syndrome” and issues of ontological security. Scholars have investigated the roles of historical memory, collective trauma, and cultural identities in shaping negotiation outcomes. The rise of interdisciplinary approaches—combining insights from psychology, philosophy, and linguistics—has been essential for understanding the complex dimensions of this conflict. The diverse body of research and theories inspired by the Oslo peace process continues to influence the field of negotiation and conflict resolution studies, underscoring the enduring significance of this critical episode in diplomatic history.

Emergence of deglobalized tourist segments: Trends, challenges, and future research directions

Tourism has historically been a means of promoting globalization, encouraging cultural exchange and economic integration through travel. However, the emerging deglobalization phenomenon presents a paradox by emphasizing disconnection, reduced economic interdependence, and an increase in nationalist sentiments. This research note examines the emergence of deglobalized tourist segments influenced by external barriers such as restricted global mobility and sociopsychological barriers, as well as internal delimitations like hyper-nationalism and tourists' preferences for destinations that reflect their cultural norms and lifestyles. As a result, a typology of four deglobalized tourist segments is proposed: The Unconstrained Explorer, The Unconstrained Conformist, The Constrained Explorer, and The Constrained Conformist. The research note examines the intricate relationship between tourism and deglobalization, offering scholarly perspectives and future trends on how these factors contribute to the evolving dynamics of deglobalized tourism.

СТАРТАП КАК НАЧАЛО ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСКОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ МОЛОДЕЖИ: СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ АСПЕКТ

In the presented article, the features of preparation, factors and conditions for the implementation of a startup are formulated and the frequent problems of its implementation are indicated. Based on the theoretical research of domestic and foreign researchers, the data of the author’s sociological survey (aerobatic study, 2024, students of 1–4 courses of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education KSPEU (n=200)), the attitude of student youth to a startup as the beginning of entrepreneurial activity and business development was studied. The interest of young people in the commercialization of their business ideas was determined and the experience of their participation in the startup competition was noted. Youth interest in startup support programs and measures has been identified. At the same time, the need to further study the conditions that mediate and stagnate the scaling of startup projects and business ideas among young people (including socio-psychological barriers) has been identified, which is an urgent task in the development of youth entrepreneurship in modern conditions.

Readiness of Social Environment for Inclusion of “Atypical” Children in Regional Society of the Euro-Arctic Territories of Russia

The relevance of studying the state of the social environment of a regional society is determined by the development of inclusive processes that involve the integration of people with disabilities into public life as full members of society. In this regard, it is important to understand the level of readiness of society to include disabled children due to the large-scale disability of the child population and the existing need to create special conditions for the positive socialization of children in this category. The issues of creating inclusive environmental conditions are particularly relevant in Euro-Arctic territories, which are character-ized by significant risks to health and quality of life of the population. In order to identify the level of readiness of the social environment of regional society, the article undertakes theoretical and empirical research, including an analysis of the characteristics of the social environment and approaches to determining its accessibility in domestic and foreign studies, the author’s typology of private social environments, as well as an assessment of the state of infrastructural and socio-psychological barriers for children with disabilities based on the results of the author’s online questionnaire survey of the population of the Arctic territories of the Northwestern Federal District conducted in 2022 (n=861, the sample is proportional to the number of residents of the Arctic territories). The survey revealed the existing barriers to inclusion in the studied territories, which is important in the implementation of social policy measures to create a barrier-free environment for the younger generation with persistent health disorders.

Problems and prospects for the development of remote HRM in Ukraine in the war and post-war period

The development of information and communication technologies in the conditions of a new, digital economy naturally transforms the sphere of management and social and labor relations, and non-traditional forms of employment and labor organization are spreading. Quarantine measures taken by governments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the war on the territory of Ukraine, have become catalysts for the spread of remote work. The function of human resource management (HRM), performing an important connecting role of coordinating the interests of employers and employees, organizing the labor activity of personnel, itself becomes an object of transformation of labor modes, which requires prompt study of this phenomenon. A survey of HR-specialists of Ukraine in various industries, professional specializations and age groups revealed the prospects of remote HRM due to the availability of material and technical base, software and existing experience of "emergency" transfer to remote mode. At the same time, the existing socio-psychological barriers (prejudices of management, lack of informal communication, emotional defects in communication in the online work format) will contribute in the future, according to the majority of HR specialists, to the spread of a mixed work format in its various forms: distribution of working time for work in the office and outside the office; fixing the format of remote work for some categories of personnel and maintaining the traditional format for others; transition of some industries to remote employment. The results revealed actualize the need to search for scientific, theoretical and practical solutions to overcome obstacles to the development of remote work (including HRM) in the new economy.

Work stress, health and wellbeing: evidence from the older adults labor market in India

Older adults are the most vulnerable group in the labor market, given their physical and functional health risks. Moreover, they are also at a greater risk of psychological factors like work stress due to risk of age, ageism and social well-being. Given these challenges and the growing proportion of older adults in the developing world, this paper studies the theoretical connotation between work stress and health related wellbeing outcomes among working elderly in India. Using BKPAI survey this study adopts multiple modeling approach (descriptive analysis, one-way analysis of variance, and a logit regression model) to test the association between work stress and wellbeing and understand this theoretical connotation in elderly labor market. Our results confirm that work stress is found to be significantly associated with socio-economic and health risks like income, gender, education, morbidity, disability, and socio-psychological barriers among working older adults. Females are likely to have more risk for work stress [OR, 1.72; (95% CI 2.89–2.91)] than males. Similarly, more affluent groups (wealthiest) are less likely to have any work stress [OR, 0.38; (95% CI-0.25–0.58)]. Older adults with multi-morbidity are at greater odds of having work stress [OR 2.26; (95% CI-1.74–2.94)]. Work stress is a common issue that enhances at higher ages due to the work, health, and socio-economic vulnerability of older adults. The study finds a significant impact of these factors on work stress and therefore argues for a comprehensive policy approach to address the psychological health risk of the working older adults in the labor market.

An Analysis of the Socio-psychological Barriers in the Course of Communicative Competence in the English language

An Analysis of the Socio-psychological Barriers in the Course of Communicative Competence in the English language

Практичні підходи забезпечення сталості результатів програм міжнародної технічної допомоги в Україні (на прикладі Програми USAID/DOBRE)

Based on more than ten years of author’s experience in international technical assistance programs, the paper considers the problem of ensuring the sustainability of their outcomes. The author substantiates the position that international technical assistance in Ukraine significantly helps the development and modernisation of certain social spheres. However, effectiveness may vary depending on specific projects/programs and specific project teams. In addition, the author argues that international technical assistance in Ukraine requires greater coordination from the government and the direct participation of representatives of relevant ministries to be able to scale, monitor and evaluate effectiveness. The article provides an example of a specific local development tool proposed and tested over the six years of the USAID/DOBRE Program that can be scaled up at the national level. Experts’ attention may be drawn to the classification of factors that hinder the sustainability of international technical assistance programs/projects in Ukraine regarding aid recipients, donor organisations and the state. The author analysed the positions of Ukrainian scientists and the international donor organisations’ approaches on the content of the concept: outcomes sustainability of international technical assistance programs and investigated the criteria for determining their effectiveness. The concept of “The phenomenon of the financial absolutism illusion” was discovered and introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The author also outlined the socio-psychological barriers that prevent Ukrainian communities from reaping the full benefits of local development instruments provided by donor countries. In addition, the author proposed some practical measures that will optimise the process of providing international technical assistance in Ukraine.

SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS OF INDIVIDUAL REGARDING COVID-19 VACCINE ACCEPTANCE.

The aim: The aim of the article is to analyse the socio-psychological barriers to the COVID-19 vaccination process in the world and in Ukraine. Materials and methods: Electronic databases of Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed were searching using keyword searches. Conclusions: The implementation of an effective scientific strategy of health education and communication between representatives of the medical sphere and representatives of different social groups, gender and age is relevant today. At the moment it is difficult for the medical community and society to give an unambiguous assessment of the facts about COVID-19, because it is still unknown about the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individual. To increase the vaccination coverage, vaccination evidence should be standardized and a choice of conditions, algorithm of beliefs instead of a standard approach should be proposed. Further research on individual health benefits is needed to identify and address socio-psychological barriers on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Психолого-педагогічні умови організації інклюзивного освітнього простору в закладах вищої освіти

The modern sphere of education is aimed at the development of inclusion, a special role in this direction is played by higher education at the organizational, substantive, procedural levels. One of the most important problems is the low level of scientific and methodological and psychological and pedagogical training of teachers to work with students with special needs, this scientific work is devoted to finding ways out of this situation. Among the problems of organizing an effective inclusive space in universities are: psychological unpreparedness of participants in the inclusive process; lack of broad medical, social and psychological and pedagogical support for applicants with disabilities; insufficient level of preparation for study at the university of entrants with psychophysical features; the existence of socio-psychological barriers. Ways to solve these problems are: creation of resource centers; training of teachers on the application of psychological and pedagogical technologies to work with different students; supplementing existing and developing new intra-university documents to ensure access of higher education students with special educational needs to the necessary didactic materials and creating an accessible environment for such students; renewal, retraining and advanced training of tutors, consultants, assistants; development of a set of measures for social and psychological protection (various types of scholarships, financial aid, free vouchers to sanatoriums; advocacy and monitoring of the training of this category of higher education by deans, directorates); introduction of e-learning based on distance learning technologies, etc.

Using Trusted Intermediaries to Communicate Environmental Issues Across Security Forces

ABSTRACT Militaries generate globally significant climate and biocapacity damage in both peacetime and wartime. This scenario is historically underpinned by organisational and socio-psychological barriers, resulting in military strategies that cancel out the gains borne of ongoing investments in energy efficient technologies. Yet, there are promising signs of a shift across various armed forces, with military personnel seeking greater knowledge and action on today's converging environmental crises. Targeted education represents a potentially significant pathway for supporting security personnel to drive evidence-based mitigation and adaptation initiatives leading to significant environmental gains. As this commentary highlights, the ability for experts across different disciplines and sectors to contribute to this process is becoming easier, due to a growing number of trusted intermediaries working to drive greater environmental awareness across the security sector.

Virtual climate scientist: A VR learning experience about paleoclimatology for underrepresented students

ABSTRACT The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have served as a call-to-action to educate and engage global communities on various issues, namely climate change. Despite heightened awareness of climate change, several barriers inhibit underrepresented students’ engagement with the subject matter, namely limited accessibility to (a) hands-on learning experiences, and (b) diverse scientists to identify with. To address these sociopsychological barriers, we developed “Virtual Climate Scientist”, a virtual reality (VR) simulation designed to educate students about paleoclimatology. Students travel to Antarctica and collaborate with diverse virtual scientists to extract/analyse ice cores. A field experiment (N = 99) investigated the effectiveness of the simulation in improving student engagement and views of science. Results demonstrated that the simulation contributed towards positive views of science across gender and racial identity groups, with African American students experiencing a significant increase in how much they viewed themselves as future scientists. These insights extend current work on the efficacy of VR-based STEM education and demonstrate the potential of virtual humans for building interest in science among underrepresented youth. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

Factors affecting seniors’ decision to relocate to senior living communities

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the influence of push and pull factors and perceived barriers on seniors’ intention to relocate to senior living communities (SLC). The mediating role of perceived barriers on the proposed relationships were also examined. The data was collected from 363 seniors. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that health-related, social and family/friend related, housing and property related push factors, and facility related pull factor positively; and family related, economic, socio-psychological, and knowledge and information barriers negatively influenced seniors’ relocation intention. The study results further indicated that the relationship between health-related push factors and intention to relocate was mediated by family related and socio-psychological barriers, and the relationship between facility related pull factors and intention to relocate was mediated by socio-psychological and economic barriers. The findings provide valuable implications for academicians, SLC operators, health care facilitators and government agencies.

The Digital Capital of Social Services Consumers: Factors of Influence and the Need for Investment

Digitalization is one of the strategic directions taken in the reform of social services and a prerequisite for improving their quality and accessibility for various target groups in modern society. In recent years, the problems of digitalization occupy a significant place in social research; however, insufficient attention has been paid to the consideration of the digitalization process from the point of view of the social services clients themselves. The purpose of this article is to partially fill this gap. The article presents the results of a study aimed at developing the concept of the 'digital capital' of current and potential customers of social services, which comprised an analysis of their digital literacy, Internet use as well as the technical capabilities and willingness of Russian citizens to receive online social services. Our analysis of the digital capital of consumers of social services draws on data of the Federal Statistics Service and Unified Social Security Information System as well as on the results of a survey on social services conducted among residents of St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in 2019. The results of the study suggest the existence of various barriers to the development of the digitalization of social services provision. In addition to infrastructural problems, the existence/absence of digital communication tools and ICT competencies among citizens, primarily socially vulnerable sectors of the population, it is necessary to highlight the socio-psychological barriers: a lack of understanding and distrust among certain social groups – primarily among older age groups – towards digital technologies, i. e. insufficient digital capital. Overcoming the identified barriers can be achieved by investing in the digital capital of consumers of social services.

Diverse occupant behaviors and energy conservation opportunities for university student residences in Hong Kong

Occupant behavior significantly influences building energy consumption. However, two research gaps exist, namely, the lack of firsthand data for a complete understanding of the complex and stochastic nature of occupant behavior, and the limited consideration given to socio-psychological factors in the classification of behavior modes. This study aims to expand on the existing database of occupant behavior and propose an interdisciplinary classification framework of behavior modes. First, a hierarchy of behavior modes was developed considering occupants’ demand for comfort, preference for certain behavior, and energy dependence. Occupants were classified as “Active, Moderate, and Cautious” energy users. Then, the proposed “AMC” hierarchy was verified via a case study using a high-rise student residence in Hong Kong. Mixed methods were applied, including a questionnaire survey of 137 students, in-situ monitoring of adaptive behaviors using noninvasive sensors in 12 rooms, building energy simulation validated by full-season metered energy use data, and scenario analysis considering multifaceted factors. The results show that, interestingly, observable discrepancy of behavior patterns exists even among users of the same sort. Also, five key influencing factors, i.e. room orientation, floor, schedule, room temperature settings, and behavior modes of active, moderate and cautious users, explain 79% of the difference in cooling energy consumption, among which behavior modes induce the largest contribution. In addition, technical and socio-psychological barriers impede energy saving of active and moderate users. Although behavior changes may conserve up to 45% of cooling energy consumption, skillful selection of appropriate interventions is necessary in order to fulfill the expectancy.

Psychological and pedagogical aspects of personnel training in higher inclusive education

The article deals with the issue of professional training of students with disabilities in higher inclusive education. Statistical data showing the existing difficulties of obtaining higher education for disabled people are presented. The results of research on the material and technical, organizational, psychological and pedagogical conditions of accessibility of higher education for persons with disabilities are considered. The article analyzes the current pedagogical, socio-psychological and other barriers to training in higher inclusive education. The role of socio-psychological factors in the social adaptation of a disabled student in the educational space of the University is determined. Special attention is paid to psychological and pedagogical aspects of training in terms of inclusive higher education: designing integrated programmes of support for disabled students, the creation of the University rehabilitation-education environment, the definition of criteria for evaluation of universities on inclusive higher education. The article attaches great importance to the formation of an inclusive culture of an educational organization. Approaches to understanding inclusive culture presented in Russian and foreign studies are considered, and its component structure isdescribed.

Development of future teachers readiness for academic mobility

The article deals with problematic issues of international student mobility of students as a means of professional and personal self-development of future teachers. The aim of the research is to determine theoretically and empirically the socio- managerial and psychological-pedagogical conditions for the development of future specialists in the field of education readiness to participate in the processes of international student mobility. Research methods: analysis of conceptual positions and a critical review of research on the problem of international student mobility, student questionnaires, methods of descriptive statistics. The results of an empirical study of incentives and inhibitors of future teachers ' participation in the processes of educational and scientific exchange between higher education institutions are presented. Based on the results of the study, the authors provide a justification for the need to develop systematic measures to overcome organizational and managerial, competence-activity, and socio-psychological barriers to international student mobility.

Socio-psychological barriers in higher inclusive education

Higher education is one of the conditions of independent life for disabled people, a condition of their social and labor rehabilitation. Health problems are not the only serious obstacles to vocational education. No less important are the barriers in the educational environment of the University and barriers in relationships with others. It is noted that most of the difficulties in the learning process of students with disabilities are associated with their psychological characteristics - the presence of negative experiences and attitudes, the level of self-esteem, the features of life orientations. Depending on the severity of psychological characteristics, different variants of the relationship of students with disabilities with other students are possible: from full integration to disintegration and opposition behavior. It was suggested that the nature of the relationship and especially value-semantic readiness for vocational education in higher inclusive education can largely determine the prospects of personal and professional development of students with disabilities. An empirical study of peculiarities of value orientations of students with disabilities (N = 50) and students without disabilities (N = 50) was conducted using the technique of G. N. Kuznetsova on the General self-identity, self-esteem scale of Rosenberg and test of life-meaningful orientations D. A. Leontiev.

Социо-психолошки бариери за мирољубиво разрешување на долготрајните конфликти

Социо-психолошки бариери за мирољубиво разрешување на долготрајните конфликти

Effects of Humor on Intergroup Communication in Intractable Conflicts: Using Humor in an Intergroup Appeal Facilitates Stronger Agreement Between Groups and a Greater Willingness to Compromise

Overcoming sociopsychological barriers within intergroup communications may bring forth new, practical methods for conflict resolution, particularly crucial for groups engulfed by intractable conflict. This article examines the use of humor—an extremely effective technique of persuasive communication—as one potential route whose potency in resolving intractable conflicts has thus far been neglected. In Study 1, Palestinians who read a message from an “Israeli representative” (conveying the Israeli narrative of the conflict) agreed more with the Israeli perspective once three short humorous asides were added to the original statement. When these humorous asides targeted Jewish‐Israelis, Palestinian‐Israeli participants were more willing to compromise on various aspects of the conflict. In Study 2, Jewish‐Israelis who read a message from a “Palestinian representative” were more agreeable to the Palestinian message (portraying the Palestinian narrative) once three short humorous asides were added to the original statement. When these humorous asides were general in nature (but not when they targeted Palestinian‐Israelis), Jewish‐Israeli participants were more willing to compromise on various aspects of this intractable conflict. These findings further demonstrate the power of psychological barriers in intractable conflicts and the potential of humor to overcome them. Implications and limitations of the current research are discussed.