Personal Sphere Research Articles

Business continuity, bureaucratic resilience and the limitations of neoliberal survival logics in international organisations

Abstract This article contends that investigating relationalities between business continuity management (BCM), staff behaviours, and bureaucratic resilience advances understandings of the survival of international organisations (IOs). Drawing on in-depth interviews, a global staff survey, and a discourse analysis of United Nations (UN) reports and applying a post-colonial feminist theoretical approach foregrounding care ethics to the study of IOs, the article examines how the UN Secretary-General’s Alternative Working Arrangements directive to close physical offices and open ‘virtual offices’ was implemented in the first 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is contended that BCM is necessary for IO survival, since if the IO bureaucracy is unable to be productive and maintain its spheres of influence during a crisis, it risks losing power and authority. Between March 2020 and August 2021, staff facilitated IO survival organically, from the bottom up, in four ways: demonstrating good performance and productivity; being adaptable and resilient; maintaining personal spheres of influence; and building communities of care within the UN. However, the UN’s neoliberal, technocratic approach to business continuity and bureaucratic resilience-building neglected staff care needs. Consequently, IO survival is predicated on staff performing as exploited gendered and racialised ‘neoliberal subjects’, revealing a chronic structural crisis rooted in the UN bureaucracy’s hierarchical composition and unequal employment regime.

Interaction of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in the context of armed conflicts

It is indicated that the problems of the interaction of international humanitarian law and international human rights law lie in the different historical origins, evolution and application of these two branches of law. The complexity of the interaction between the IHL and the ICRC lies in their extraterritorial action and different personal spheres of application. IHL undeniably applies to international and non-international armed conflicts, regulating the conduct of states and armed groups, while the IHL is recognized as the basis of law in peacetime, but also applies in periods of conflict. Finding the points of intersection between international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL) in the context of armed conflicts is the main objective of this section. The merger of these two legal fields, traditionally divided into separate areas of responsibility in peacetime and wartime, has gained unprecedented importance in the legal analysis of modern conflicts. The impetus for the development of the new paradigm was the rapid evolution of the nature of war, characterized by the emergence of asymmetric warfare and the blurring of the boundaries between state and non­state actors. Such transformations in the theater of war require a nuanced understanding of the legal instruments used in this context, which emphasizes the need for this analysis. The urgency of the issue is emphasized by the changing dynamics of international practice. The recognition by the International Court of Justice of the continued applicability of IHRL in conflict and the definition of IHL as lex specialis emphasizes that the legal landscape is in constant flux. At the heart of this analysis is the difficulty of determining the applicability of IHL, a task that is complicated by the problems of classifying conflicts as international or non-international. The principle of derogation - whereby states may temporarily suspend certain human rights obligations - creates an additional layer of complexity, affecting the interpretation and application of laws during armed conflict. Many provisions of international human rights conventions define the protected interest and then provide that any restrictions must be justified by reference to a list of aims, which varies from article to article and treaty to treaty, that are necessary for the achievement of the aim in question and are proportionate to its achievement. In this way, the IHRL provides a mechanism for balancing the requirements of individuals with those of others or the community itself.

ANALYSIS OF AGE-RELATED FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AXIOLOGICAL SPHERE

Personal values and meanings are a structure in which each element has a connection with others and is subject to change, and their totality is combined into a hierarchy, which is one of the components of personality. Personal values and meanings mainly perform a regulatory function in human behaviour, allowing a more accurate analysis of situations and life circumstances. The article provides a theoretical analysis of the dynamic transformations of the axiological sphere of personality depending on the age stage of a person’s development.

DIGITAL LITERACY IN MODERN EDUCATION

This article examines the important role of digital literacy in contemporary educational systems. It highlights the importance of equipping students with the skills to effectively navigate and utilize digital technologies, which are increasingly integral to both personal and professional spheres. The article discusses various components of digital literacy, such as critical thinking, online communication, and information evaluation. It also addresses the challenges educators face in integrating digital literacy into curricula, including the digital divide and the need for teacher training. By underlining successful strategies and potential solutions for developing digital literacy presented by experts around the world, the article calls for necessity of digital literacy in education, aiming to prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital future.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in the Educational Field

Recently, the concept of Artificial Intelligence has caused concern not only in the scientific community but also in the media sphere, primarily due to the lack of a universally agreed-upon definition. There is a lack of consensus among people regarding a comprehensive definition of intelligence, and even more so regarding artificial intelligence. Given these circumstances, the growing prevalence of the notion of Intelligence Artificial intelligence has advanced to the extent that it is now a vital element in nearly every sector of today's contemporary economy, exerting a substantial influence on our personal, societal, and political spheres. The foundation of this idea is based on the premise that human intelligence can be precisely described, allowing for the creation of a machine capable of simulating it. This gives rise to philosophical debates concerning the nature of consciousness and the moral implications of developing synthetic entities possessing human-like cognitive abilities. Artificial intelligence presents a myriad of challenges related to comprehension, responsibility, and confidence. Keywords: artificial intelligence, development, technology, education

Особенности личностно-смысловой сферы студентов с разным индексом склонности к когнитивным ошибкам

Introduction. Cognitive errors (distortions) are of a semantic nature; they are based on distortions in the semantic sphere of personality, first of all, at its deep levels related to beliefs, semantic attitudes, life orientations, and metacognitive characteristics. However, there is currently a shortage of studies that would set a goal to prove this statement. The purpose of the work: to identify the peculiarities of the personal and semantic sphere of students with different indexes of propensity to cognitive errors. The materials and methods. The study was conducted using the Google Forms platform for creating and administering surveys and online forms. The sample size was 485 respondents, including 433 men and 52 women aged 17-25 years. The Cognitive Mistakes Questionnaire (CMQ − CMQ) (A. Freeman, R. Devulf, adapted by A.E. Bobrov and E.V. Faizrakhmanova) was used to study the propensity of personality to cognitive errors. The following methods were used to study the personal and semantic sphere of the respondents: the method of diagnostics of socio-psychological adaptation (SPA) (C. Rogers, R. Diamond, adapted by A.K. Osnitsky), “Big Five” (BFI) (R. McCrae, P. Costa, adapted by A.B. Khromov), Irrational Attitudes Diagnostic Methodology (A. Ellis), Basic Beliefs Scale (WASWorld assumptions scale) (R. Janov-Bulman, adapted by O. Kravtsova), Biographical Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Behavioural Disorders (BIVBiographisches Inventar zur Diagnose von Verhaltensstoerungen) (Bottscher, Jager, Lischer), Life Orientations Questionnaire (LOQ) (E. Yu. Kravtsova), The Questionnaire to determine the content of the system of life meanings (V.Y. Kotlyakov), the method of diagnostics of coping mechanisms (E. Heim). Kruskal-Wallis H-criterion was used as a method of statistical data processing. The results of the research. It was revealed that there are statistically significant differences in the following indicators of the personal and semantic sphere of students with different indexes of propensity to cognitive errors: in adaptability in interpersonal relations; in the indicators of extraversion, emotional instability and expressiveness; in the expression of irrational attitudes and such basic beliefs as the benevolence of the world, the kindness of people, the value of one's own self, the degree of luck, the conviction in one's own value; in the indicators of family deficit syndrome; in such life orientation as transsituational mobility; in communicative life meanings and dominant coping mechanisms. The conclusion. The study revealed differences in the indicators of the personal and semantic sphere in students with different indexes of propensity to cognitive errors.

BALANCING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PERSONAL LIFE

Balancing entrepreneurship and personal life is a delicate act that many founders and business owners struggle with. This article explores the importance of achieving this balance, discusses the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs who manage to do so, and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of integrating personal and professional spheres. Through case studies, challenges, and a concluding discussion, it aims to provide insights and strategies for individuals striving to harmonize their entrepreneurial ambitions with a fulfilling personal life. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Work-life Balance, Personal Development, Time Management, Well-being, Success.

More than mercy: towards a better affective compromise in the Catholic pastoral response to transness

ABSTRACT Pope Francis’ pastoral response to trans people represents a compromise between his negative-affective political stance towards transness, and his positive-affective theology of pastoral welcome. By reducing away transness to sickness or sin, he can welcome trans people as individuals in a depoliticized personal sphere apart from the political – at the cost of a reductive ‘domestication’ of trans people, and the reproduction of right-wing populist politics evoked by his own negative-affective political transphobia. This paper argues for a better compromise, which enables positive-affective attitudes specifically in and amidst negative-affect, enabling trans people to be welcomed without reduction. It does this by reading Francis as championing a utopianism similar to that of José Esteban Muñoz. It argues that his recovery of a Franciscan ethic of self-subjection gestures towards an unimagined relationality in which trans people can be welcomed amidst the tensions of the present, and against theopolitical transphobia.

Learning, internalisation and integration of the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare workers: A qualitative document analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented health crisis that impacted healthcare systems worldwide. This study explores how Spanish healthcare workers learned, internalised and integrated values and work behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the personal sphere. This documentary research, using images, narratives and audiovisual content, was framed within the interpretative hermeneutic paradigm. Categories and subcategories emerged after a final theoretical sampling that focused on the analysis. Data triangulation between researchers favoured theoretical saturation. A total of 117 images and 27 texts were selected. The analysis identified three stages: bewilderment, seeking functionality in the chaos and integrating chaos into care. The data reflects how the need for security and knowledge, and the exhaustion and frustration caused by the initial working conditions, prompted adaptive responses. These responses involved focusing on problem-solving and strengthening group sentiments and solidarity. Subsequently, the data indicates the acceptance of new structural, organisational and communication aspects. The findings of the analysis will contribute towards finding a framework that can help understand community health crisis events.

Strategic Framework for Human-Centric AI Governance: Navigating Ethical, Educational, and Societal Challenges

Abstract: Humanity is at the precipice of a profound transformation, propelled by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI). Once confined to the realm of science fiction, AI now permeates every aspect of daily life, promising significant changes to our social, economic, and personal spheres. As AI systems continue to advance and surpass human capabilities in various domains, they present unparalleled opportunities as well as formidable challenges. This composition explores the dualistic nature of AI, acknowledging its capacity to either augment or disrupt our existence. By examining AI's current state, potential risks, and ethical considerations, we emphasize the pressing need for a comprehensive framework to govern its development and integration. We propose a multifaceted framework built on five fundamental principles: human centered design, transparency and interpretability, accountability and governance, education and upskilling, and inclusive and equitable access. These principles are designed to ensure that AI systems enhance human capabilities, promote transparency, uphold ethical standards, and provide equitable access to the benefits of technology. Through in-depth case studies, we illustrate the practical application of this framework, showcasing AI's impact across various industries while emphasizing the importance of addressing ethical and societal challenges. This composition calls for a collective effort among governments, corporations, and individuals to navigate the rapid expansion of AI responsibly, fostering a future where AI and humanity coexist harmoniously. The ultimate goal is to harness the potential of AI to revitalize society, ensuring that technological progress elevates human dignity and collective well-being instead of rendering us obsolete.

Ценностно-ориентированная образовательная среда – ключевой фактор воспитания детей и молодежи

The article contains selected results of the scientific research, conducted at the scientific school of existential pedagogy by Professor M.I. Rozhkov, and consisting in the development, theoretical justification and experimental testing of a reflexive-value approach to the organization of the educational process of children and youth. The leading idea of the methodological approach is that the development of the value-semantic and reflective spheres of personality are interconnected and determined by the situation of overcoming, which has a practice-oriented application in creating and maintaining a value-oriented educational environment in educational settings. The article reveals the key factors and principles of creating such an environment in the conditions of additional education, and reveals the specifics of their implementation in working with children and youth. Turning to the methodological aspects of the implementation of the reflexive-value approach opens up the possibility of disseminating the results of the scientific research conducted in educational organizations of various types and types, taking into account the specifics of the educational process in specific educational conditions.

Social impact of emotional education in the development of socioemotional competences of university teachers

The implementation of emotional education in the university setting holds significant importance within the contemporary educational landscape, as its knowledge and application have shown significant social impacts. Training in socio-emotional skills goes beyond the personal sphere of the teacher and has a positive effect on academic and social contexts. This is evidenced by the strengthening of team cohesion, the promotion of innovation, and the improvement of educational outcomes. There is a highlighted need to implement strategies to eliminate barriers in socio-emotional development, which underscores the urgency of institutional changes and collaboration to address emotional gaps. This study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the importance of enhancing the socio-emotional competencies of the teaching staff. The goal is to promote inclusive and equitable learning environments, in pursuit of contributing to well-being, equality, and social sustainability.

The person behind the therapist: a recall study on significant events that contribute to therapists' personal and professional development.

This study explores the interconnexion between personal and professional development in therapist growth. This research examines a self-integrated perspective on training, by looking at the equal importance of nurturing personal development alongside professional skills cultivation. The study uses the concept of Significant Events (SE) which was originally developed to understand client change processes and applies the concept to investigate the development of the person-of-the-therapist. SE is events that are experienced in the therapy process and that are experienced by the client as being helpful or hindering for therapeutic change. Similar to the process of therapy, professional development is not a linear process of acquiring skills and knowledge but a discontinuous process that is driven by SE. The goal is to explore transformative moments in therapists' development. 281 participants completed an online questionnaire, evaluating: i) ) personal events (physical and mental health, interpersonal relationships, exploring the world, losses and deaths), ii) professional events (training, clinical experiences, relationship with colleagues, challenges due to work position), and iii) hybrid events where personal and professional aspects intertwine (personal therapy and societal context inducing insecurity). Findings suggest a more integrated self in personal and professional development. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on professional development, revealing the interplay between personal and professional spheres of therapists.

Generation Z’s intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse

PurposeFashion companies have been among the first to ride the new trend and develop projects for the Metaverse, considering Generation Z (Gen Z) as a relevant target. The paper aims to investigate Gen Z consumers’ intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse.Design/methodology/approachThe study relies on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The authors include specific aspects of the Metaverse: the user-avatar identification and the development of an alternative identity; fashion innovativeness is discussed as a moderator variable. The model is tested on Gen Z consumers, with 329 survey responses collected in 2022 and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe paper shows that the two external and explanatory variables the authors added, i.e. user-avatar identification and alternative identity, positively and directly impact the individual attitude to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse. Moreover, according to the proposed research model, the moderating effect concerning fashion innovativeness has positive and negative consequences.Originality/valueUsing TAM, the authors explored consumers’ perceptions (perceived usefulness and ease of use), attitudes and intentions regarding the new technology context (digital fashion in the Metaverse). This study enriched TAM with new consumer marketing constructs (user-avatar identification and alternative identity) and their relationships with consumers’ intention to use digital fashion items in the Metaverse. This study also contributed to TAM by exploring the relevance of moderating the effects of consumer fashion innovativeness on consumers’ intentions and attitudes in the novel context of digital fashion in the Metaverse. The paper contributes to the academic debate by focusing on the individual and personal sphere of the consumer moving in the Metaverse digital environment. The marketing-focused study develops research on Gen Z consumers to provide new insights and possible opportunities for marketers in the Metaverse.

Selective Abortions in Montenegro: Legal and Anthropological Analysis

In the old Montenegrin masculine patriarchal culture, having children was one of the primary motivations for marriage. Women in labour faced significant community pressure to give birth to a male child, as evidenced by various ethnographic records and confirmed by contemporary anthropological research. Montenegro exhibits one of the most unbalanced ratios of newborn male to female babies among countries. This necessitates an analysis that integrates legal and anthropological perspectives on son preference. The article explores the socio-historical circumstances and modern expressions of the cult of the male child, followed by an examination of the legal implications of selective abortions. The legal dimension of abortion encompasses a broad normative framework, with the fundamental question concerning the boundary of legal protection in this area, i.e., the limit of state intervention in the personal sphere of individuals and citizens. The legal analysis will also include a reflection on the impact of criminal legal protection on this debate, particularly through the lens of the criminal offense of unlawful termination of pregnancy as stipulated in Article 150 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. Considering the scope of rights to life, family, and reproduction, and recognizing that pregnancy termination motivated by sex selection is generally prohibited, yet this practice is widespread, the assumption is that the formal legal means to address this issue are limited. As this is a societal phenomenon involving sensitive legal, personal, cultural, religious, political, social, and moral issues, the paper discusses approaches for combating this practice.

Оценка альтернатив: новые подходы принятия решений в условиях определенности

The decision-making process plays an important role in the development of society in general and the effective management of organizations in particular. In today's world, where the complexity of tasks and the competitive environment are constantly growing, making the right and informed decisions becomes a key element of success. Any person, group of people or organization is constantly faced with the need to choose between several possible courses of action, called alternatives, whether in the personal sphere or in the work of organizations. To effectively make complex decisions within the activities of organizations, models for making optimal decisions have been developed. The most popular of them is the model of decision-making under conditions of certainty, when the outcome of the decision is not influenced by random factors. All this confirms the relevance of scientific research in the field of decision making. Aim. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for assessing the degree of attractiveness of alternatives based on objective quantitative or subjective qualitative criteria, which will improve the quality of decisions made. The methodology is based on mathematical models for processing information containing the characteristics of alternatives according to evaluation criteria. Materials and methods. The methodology for evaluating alternatives presented in the work is based on mathematical models of information processing, which are based on methods of mathematical modeling, optimization methods, linear programming, theory of fuzzy sets, theory of latent variables, as well as methods of decision-making under conditions of uncertainty and methods of expert assessment. Results. The relevance of the development of a model for evalua¬ting construction projects according to quantitative criteria is shown, ways of solving the tasks are given and justified. A mathematical model has been developed that makes it possible to evaluate construction projects by objective indicators based on the theory of fuzzy sets and the Rush model for estimating latent variables. On the basis of numerical methods, the adequacy of the received estimates of construction projects is substantiated, the methodology for implementing computational procedures necessary for the practical implementation of evaluation models is described. Conclusion. The application of the given methodology in the decision-making procedure under conditions of certainty will improve the quality of decisions made and reduce the risks of their implementation.

Combining Natural Language Processing and Statistical Methods to Assess Gender Gaps in the Mediated Personalization of Politics

The media attention to the personal sphere of famous and important individuals has become a key element of the gender narrative. In this setting, we aim at assessing gender gaps in the mediated personalization of a wide range of political office holders in Italy during the period 2017–2020 by means of a combination of NLP and statistical methods. The proposed analysis hinges on the definition of a new score for each word in the corpus that adjusts the incidence rate for the under representation of women in politics. On this basis, evidence is found that political personalization in Italy is more detrimental for women than it is for men, with the persistence of entrenched stereotypes including a masculine connotation of leadership, the resulting women’s unsuitability to hold political functions, and a greater deal of focus on their attractiveness and body parts. In addition, women politicians are covered with a more negative tone than their men counterpart when personal details are reported. By distinguishing between different types of media, we also show that the observed gender differences are primarily found in online news rather than print news. This suggests that the expression of certain stereotypes may be favored when click baiting and personal targeting have a major impact.

Проблемы эмоционального выгорания преподавателей высшей школы и практические пути их решения

<p><em>The article considers the problem of emotional burnout of teachers of higher school, which is a consequence of the constant influence of stressors, and has negative consequences that affect his physical, psychological and emotional sphere of personality. The data on the results of a study among teachers who identified several dominant motives in the occurrence of emotional burnout in professional activity: social assessment of the teacher (49%), role conflicts (48%), high responsibility for the performance of their professional functions (48%), lack of motivation among students (47%), a tendency to emotional restraint (47%), overtime and long hours (44%), intense experience of the circumstances of their professional activities (44%). Also, the results of practical work at a strategic session on the problem of emotional burnout of higher school teachers are presented, problems are analyzed and constructive solutions are outlined: from preventive measures to optimizing the working conditions of a teacher in higher school, which can have a beneficial effect on both external and personal factors of emotional burnout in professional activity.</em></p>

THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON STUDENT COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT

In the context of the rapid development of information technologies, the internet and online communication exert a multifaceted influence on students. Starting with the hypothesis that students are more closely connected to technological progress than others. The study was conducted on the impact of the internet on the development of their communication skills and educational processes. The research aims to determine the positive and negative impacts of online resources on the quality of students' communication in both personal and educational spheres. Additionally, it seeks to assess the role of higher educational institutions in teaching students effective online resource usage skills. According to the research, only 6 % of the literature suggests positive impact of the internet on human health, while most indicates negative effects on mental and physical health, as well as on communication skills development. These results lead to the conclusion that it is necessary to educate students on rational use of technologies to avoid negative consequences for education and social interaction in the future. Educational institutions play an important role in this process by providing students with the necessary knowledge in this area, aiding their social adaptation and development in the modern digital world.

NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE TOOLS OF CYBER POWER: A REVIEW ON THE AREAS OF STATE HEGEMONIA

In the post-Cold War era, in terms of international relations, 'cyber security' emerges as a significant security issue for the spheres of state sovereignty beyond the personal sphere. In addition to the harmful effects of cyber threats on the functioning of public institutions and organizations, İt also raises a problem for states, such as managing perception operations by creating a society more open to manipulative influences. In our globalizing world, as the most important actor of the system, the States' dependence on each other has increased, and at the same time, there has been a period in which the fundamental security issues are intertwined for the States. In such a situation where it is not possible for the States to define themselves outside the system, classical realist approaches are insufficient to explain the changing -and increasingly abstracted-security areas. Nation-states must develop more complex skills and prioritize cooperation to deal with these new security threats. In our study, which focuses on the national cyber security perceptions of states, the measures taken by the States in the cyber world on priority issues, such as institutional functioning and survival problems, are analyzed in terms of national security strategies. On the theme of 'new security', the main focus is the necessity for actors to develop new defense capabilities within the framework of the 'quick response and easy adaptation' in the face of increasing and diversifying cyber threats. In our study, which deals with the efforts of digital Nation-states to increase their effectiveness in cyberspace in determining the 21st-century sovereignty areas and the increase in their tendency towards cyber warfare tools, the active/passive defense methods followed by the States in the perspective of cyber security strategies have been evaluated. In this context, it is the most acceptable method for the States to prefer the 'active defense model' in order to avoid cyber attacks against vital institutions such as education and health.