Denial Strategies Research Articles

Commissions of inquiry and transitional justice in India: accountability, acknowledgment, and truth in the aftermath of communal violence

ABSTRACT This article examines the contributions made by commissions of inquiry to transitional justice in the aftermath of violent conflict. Drawing on data from India, where commissions of inquiry are routinely instituted in response to episodes of communal violence, it assesses the contributions made by 26 commissions established between 1980 and the present to addressing human rights abuses. The article demonstrates that although some of India’s commissions of inquiry have made concrete contributions to uncovering the truth about human rights violations, acknowledging the rights of victims, and holding perpetrators to account, they have more often served to obscure the truth and avoid accountability for human rights violations. It argues that hey do this both to uphold the legitimacy of the democratic state and to protect powerful actors implicated in perpetrating, inciting, or failing to prevent human rights violations, using strategies of denial, blame shifting, and inaction.

Ways of “Not Hearing”: Corporate Denial in the Case of Aircraft Noise and Victimisation in the UK

AbstractThe elusive power dynamics behind the victimisation of aircraft noise pollution, a neglected type of invisible environmental harm, is the main concern of this study. I examine these dynamics through first-hand accounts of individuals’ aircraft noise complaint experiences with the airports in London, UK. An analysis of these experiences reveals specificities of corporate denial strategies in minimising or ignoring noise and the victims. I identify two different uses, namely reconstructive and obfuscation, of technical denial of cause, as the distinct types with which the individuals’ noise claims are confronted. As such, the paper contributes to our understanding of the experience of being an environmental victim. It also illustrates how the specific forms of corporate denial operate to the advantage of the powerful and contribute to victimisation.

Do Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis Affect Memory, Attention, Stress and Emotions?

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are chronic skin diseases found all over the world that cause a lot of suffering to patients. The aim of this study was to answer the following questions: whether people suffering from psoriasis and AD have greater problems with recognizing emotions, the effectiveness of attention and memory processes, and whether they use different strategies of coping with stress than healthy people. This study involved 90 patients, including 30 patients with psoriasis, 30 patients with AD and 30 healthy patients, aged 21 to 63 years, including 54 women and 36 men. This study used a battery of the CANTAB Cognitive Tests, Mini-COPE Questionnaire Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale TAS Questionnaire, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and Eczema Area and Severity Index. People with psoriasis and AD had higher total scores on the alexithymia scale and had greater difficulty in identifying and verbalizing emotions. People with psoriasis and AD are less likely to choose the correct stimulus and achieve a shorter length of the sequence that should be remembered. Psoriasis patients with more severe symptoms are less likely to use the strategy of a sense of humor in stressful situations. AD patients with more severe symptoms are less likely to use strategies of operative thinking, denial and self-blame, and the strategy of seeking instrumental support is used more often. Patients with psoriasis and AD require a holistic approach; in addition to dermatological treatment, psychological support, psychotherapeutic support and possible psychiatric treatment are recommended.

Stuck in a moment you can't get out of: the psychological effects of expatriates' coping with a crisis situation

PurposeWe draw upon stress theory and utilize the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate how various coping strategies employed by expatriates affect their psychological stress, subsequently influencing their expatriation satisfaction and intention to withdraw from the host country.Design/methodology/approachWe utilize structural equation modeling to analyze a sample of 453 expatriates residing and working in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsOur analysis shows that the effects of different coping strategies on expatriates vary. Depending on the nature of the strategy, they can have either positive or negative effects. While coping via problem-focused and denial strategies decreases expatriates' stress, coping by distancing increases it. Social support-seeking is not found to be an effective stress-coping strategy. In terms of implications, the problem-focused strategy leads to the most positive outcomes, whereas distancing leads to the most negative outcomes.Originality/valueOur study provides significant theoretical and practical insights into expatriates' coping mechanisms within the context of natural crises.

Narrating the Sociocultural Experience and Management of Stigma Related to Military Caregiving

ABSTRACT Despite accelerating the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded veterans and saving the U.S. substantial sums in avoided long-term care costs, military caregivers (MCs) are an underserved community lacking resources and support. On top of managing a variety of emotional, physical, relational, and occupational challenges, MCs experience stigma. Indeed, caregiving can be a stigmatized task, especially for military-affiliated individuals who may be expected to adhere to cultural norms of personal sacrifice and resilience in the face of adversity. The current study uses narrative inquiry to better understand the unique experiences and characteristics of MCs providing care for veterans experiencing posttraumatic stress. Specifically, this study examined MCs’ narratives to uncover the sociocultural experience and management of stigma related to military caregiving. Interviews with 15 military caregivers of veterans experiencing PTS demonstrated that military caregivers experienced stigma for 1) staying in the relationship, 2) enabling the veteran, 3) mismanaging the condition, and 4) flaking on plans and relationships. In response to stigma, MCs often challenged stigma through strategies of denial or evasion of responsibility. This study contributes to communication scholarship by introducing co-stigma management and further interrogating processes related to stigma management communication. In addition, the results can inform Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare, caregiver assistance programs, health practices, and support-seeking behaviors.

Managing spillover: Response strategies to another Charity’s crisis

The prior research suggests that an organization’s crisis can damage publics’ evaluation of the industry, which is known as crisis spillover. To examine the crisis spillover and differential effects of the response strategies in the charitable sector, the study conducted a web-based experiment with a mixed-subjects design of 3 response strategies (bolstering vs. denial vs. differentiation) × 2 charity types (local vs. global) × 3 time periods (pre-crisis vs. post-crisis vs. post-response). The results confirm crisis spillover in the charity context and suggest that an innocent organization’s response can mitigate the effects of crisis spillover on the entire charitable sector. Furthermore, the study found that bolstering and denial strategies were more effective in improving public attitudes, trust, and donation intentions toward the responded charity compared to the differentiation strategy. These effects were not moderated by charity types. These findings provide insights into effective response strategies to mitigate crisis spillover in a charity context.

Navigating Turbulence: Analyzing the Crisis Response of Sriwijaya Air following the SJ182 Plane Crash using Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT)

Aircraft accidents show that the industry is vulnerable to crisis and capture the complexity of crisis management and communication. This study examines the crisis response strategies employed by Sriwijaya Air in the aftermath of the SJ-182 plane crash on January 9, 2021. Utilizing the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) framework, the research categorizes and analyzes the airline's crisis communication actions based on primary and secondary strategies. The content analysis of news articles from Kompas.com, Detik.com, CNN Indonesia, and Reuters, as well as posts from Sriwijaya Air's social media accounts, reveals the implementation of excuse, compensation, partial apology, and ingratiation strategies. The findings indicate that while Sriwijaya Air avoided denial strategies, its delayed response negatively impacted public perception. The study highlights the importance of prompt and transparent communication in crisis management. It suggests areas for future research, including examining internal decision-making processes and the long-term impacts on organizational reputation and resilience.

Brexit’s Illusion: Decoding Islamophobia and Othering in Turkey’s EU Accession Discourse among British Turks

The warnings about Turkey’s not-so-near accession to the EU are explored as a strategic tool in the Brexit campaign, linking concerns about sovereignty and immigration compounded with the anxieties surrounding Islam and the threat of terrorism. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Edward Said’s Orientalism and the unique perspectives gathered from British Turks, this paper sheds light on their nuanced responses. It uncovers strategies of disbelief and denial in the face of the constructed narrative that portrayed Turkey as an undesirable ‘Other’ with its predominantly Muslim population. A closer analysis of some British Turks’ narratives is premised not only on the sacralised defence of the principles of Turkish westernisation but also on the socio-political reputation of the Islamic Ottoman past as almighty. The article equally contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between British national identity and discourses surrounding immigration, sovereignty, and Islamophobia within the context of Brexit, as well as the principles by which the privileges of modern, secular Turkey, as well as the demise of the mighty Ottoman image, are maintained. In a paradoxical manner, the act of denial only serves to affirm the Brexit campaign’s narrative depicting Turkey as an undesirable ‘Other’ with a predominantly Muslim demographic.

Mediated crises and strategic crisis communication of third sector organizations: a content analysis of crisis reporting in six countries

PurposeThis study aims to contribute to strategic crisis communication research by exploring international media representations of third sector crises and crisis response; expanding the range of crisis types beyond transgressions; and developing a framework that integrates framing and crisis communication theory.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative content analysis was applied to identify patterns in crisis reporting of 18 news media outlets in Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland, UK and US. Using an inductive framing approach, crisis coverage of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) between 2015 and 2018 was analyzed across a wide range of crises, including but not limited to prominent cases such as Oxfam, Kids Company, or the Islamic Research Foundation.FindingsThe news media in six countries report more internal crises in the third sector than external crises. The most frequent crisis types were fraud and corruption, sexual violence/personal exploitation and attacks on organizations. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three components of crisis response strategies quoted in the media, conditional rebuild, defensive and justified denial strategies. Causal attributions and conditional rebuild strategies significantly influenced media evaluations of organizational crisis response. Three frames of third sector crises were detected; the critique, the damage and the victim frame. These frames emphasize different crisis types, causes, crisis response strategies and evaluations of crisis response.Originality/valueThe study reveals the particularities of crises and crisis communication in the third sector and identifies factors that influence mediated portrayals of crises and crisis response strategies of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) from an international comparative perspective. The findings have relevant implications for crisis communication theory and practice.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of The Kurdish Question with Focus on The Denial Strategies

A Critical Discourse Analysis of The Kurdish Question with Focus on The Denial Strategies

“From resistance to exhaustion”: defense strategies, sociodemographic variables and fighting Burnout Syndrome in banking professionals

This study aims to verify the relationship between Burnout Syndrome (BS) and sociodemographic and functional variables and the use of defense strategies by professionals in the banking sector. Therefore, descriptive research of the survey type with a quantitative approach was conducted. Two hundred sixty-two bank employees answered the Sociodemographic and Functional Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey, available on Google Forms. Based on the logistic regression analyses performed for each BS dimension, the gender variable is significant for predicting the reduced professional achievement dimension. Individualism and denial strategies are significant for predicting the emotional exhaustion dimensions and depersonalization. With these data, this study is expected to alert bank managers to invest in their professionals’ physical and mental health.

Apology Strategies in Hindko: An Explanatory Intercultural Research

Intercultural and cross-cultural studies play a significant role in understanding the influence of culture on communication, especially pragmatic communication in any language. The current study aims to explore the phenomenon of apology strategies used by Hindko speakers enrolled at the University of Kotli and the University of AJK Muzaffarabad. The data were collected through a Discourse Completion Test from 10 speakers of Hindko enrolled in various departments at the University of Kotli and UAJK Muzaffarabad. The Turkish language data were adopted as a reference from a research study conducted by Cetinavei (2012). The Hindko data were analyzed using the theoretical framework presented by Blum-Kulka et.al (1984). The findings of the research show that Hindko speakers show variation in using apology strategies. Hindko speakers use more direct explanation and denial strategies, whereas Turkish speakers use indirect responsibility and explanation strategies. Moreover, the analysis also shows that Hindko speakers use forgiveness strategies more frequently than other strategies like intensifying or taking responsibility. The research opens doors for future researchers to dig into the comparative aspects of the languages with other European languages.

Apology Strategies in Hindko: An Explanatory Intercultural Research

Intercultural and cross-cultural studies play a significant role in understanding the influence of culture on communication, especially pragmatic communication in any language. The current study aims to explore the phenomenon of apology strategies used by Hindko speakers enrolled at the University of Kotli and the University of AJK Muzaffarabad. The data were collected through a Discourse Completion Test from 10 speakers of Hindko enrolled in various departments at the University of Kotli and UAJK Muzaffarabad. The Turkish language data were adopted as a reference from a research study conducted by Cetinavei. The Hindko data were analyzed using the theoretical framework presented by Blum-Kulka and others The findings of the research show that Hindko speakers show variation in using apology strategies. Hindko speakers use more direct explanation and denial strategies, whereas Turkish speakers use indirect responsibility and explanation strategies. Moreover, the analysis also shows that Hindko speakers use forgiveness strategies more frequently than other strategies like intensifying or taking responsibility.

Covid 19 corruption in the public health sector - Emerging evidence from Bangladesh.

This paper explores the Covid-19-related corruption in Bangladesh. Specifically, we analyse the issue of Covid-19-related corruption in the health sector of Bangladesh. We also explore how denial strategies adapted by government officials have worsened the problem. Using Cohen's (2001) notion of denial strategies, we analyse media reports during the pandemic that highlighted Covid-19-related corruption occurring in the Bangladeshi health sector. Our analyses reveal that the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a new wave of corruption, particularly in the procurement of testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the issuance of false COVID-19 certificates. We call for an in-depth investigation of Covid-19-related corruption in Bangladesh and other developing countries that follows similar social, contextual and cultural values via interviews with policymakers and health professionals. Our paper extends the ongoing debate on Covid-19-related corruption and its impacts on the public health sectors.

Beyond deterrence: Reconceptualizing denial strategies and rethinking their emotional effects

ABSTRACT Contrary to detailed work on deterrence by punishment, Western strategic thought about denial and its effects is conceptually muddled at the expense of effective strategy-making. This article seeks to reconceptualize denial and rethink its emotional effects. It defines denial as a strategy aimed at frustrating the adversary’s military power and proposes four different denial logics: capability elimination, operational paralysis, tactical degradation, and strategic effect reduction. It then turns to the effects through which these denial logics generate favorable consequences, and singles out the emotions of despondency, resignation, fear, and disappointment as the key factors that mediate their impact. The article offers a framework that can help guide further theoretical reflection and empirical research, as well as inform the development of policies and strategies in today’s world.

Parents’ reactions to their child’s placement in special-education kindergartens: a grounded theory study in Israel

ABSTRACT The aim of this grounded theory study was to understand parents’ emotions and coping strategies regarding their child’s initial placement in an Israeli special education kindergarten. Proper placement is essential to effectively support children with developmental disabilities (DD), yet parents tend to approach assessment procedures with dread. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with 60 parents of children with DD (ages 4-6) who underwent placement procedures in the previous two years. Qualitative content analysis revealed three themes: external emotions of worry about the future, shame, fear of stigma, and trust issues towards professional staff; internal coping strategies of rationalisation and denial; external coping strategies of concealment and search for help. Findings revealed parents’ emotions were directed towards their surroundings, whilst coping strategies were directed both inwards and outwards. Therefore, the majority of the parents’ emotions and coping strategies focused on external social aspects. This in-depth understanding of parents’ reactions to the placement process may help educational staff focus their support on external attributes, thereby strengthening the staff-parent partnership and easing the entry process of children with DD into special education kindergartens.

Конкурентный подход США к КНР: стратегия активного перекладывания бремени

By the time Donald Trump came to the White House, the American political elites and expert community had developed a consensual perception that China’s strategy was aimed at challenging the U.S. dominance and threatening its national interests. The United States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China, adopted by the Trump Republican Administration but reflecting a bipartisan position, marked the most dramatic shift in policy towards China since Richard Nixon. The main change was the recognition of the competitive nature of the U.S. – China relations, which resulted in the development and subsequent implementation of a competitive approach to relations with the PRC. This approach is largely based on the experience and theoretical concepts developed during confrontation with the Soviet Union but there are significant differences primarily due to the limitations imposed by interdependence of the American and Chinese economies, which did not exist between the U.S. and the USSR. The first part of the article reveals the concept and principles of the competitive approach, a commitment to which has been reiterated by the Biden administration. It is stated that such approach aims at forcing the PRC to change its strategy that threatens American interests. This goal is achieved by applying a complex pressure on the military and strategic, socioeconomic and politico-ideological strands through implementation of four types of competitive strategies identified by the U.S. expert community: strategies of denial, “cost-imposing” strategies, attacking the enemy’s strategy, and attacking the adversary’s political system. Their implementation is illustrated predominantly in the cases of the American–Soviet confrontation. Using the active “burden-shifting” strategy as an example, the second (practical) part of the study offers the most recent evidence of the “cost-imposing” strategy based on the principle of exploiting an enemy’s vulnerabilities in the most efficient way. It demonstrates how Washington’s approach to Afghanistan was transformed within such a strategy. The reasons for the formation, development process and the main ideas of the strategy are described in detail. It is acknowledged that the close-out of the U.S. – led security mission in Afghanistan was largely driven by the intention to shift the responsibility for the security in the region to the PRC. It is stated that there are no guaranteed tools for the Chinese leadership to counter the U.S. competitive approach, and the PRC is not enough prepared for a full-scale contest with the United States. The study concludes that it would be better for Beijing to delay transition to open competition in the bilateral relations.

Study on the image restoration strategy and effect of corporates in crisis situations based on text mining

A corporate's reputation may be significantly impacted by how it handles emergencies. To investigate the effect of different coping strategies on corporate image restoration, we collected 47 representative events of corporates in different industries as well as relevant comments from Weibo. Based on the image restoration theory proposed by Benoit, the effects of different strategies on corporate reputation restoration were analyzed by using sentiment analysis and the topic model. We found that the two strategies of corrective action and mortification can usually better alleviate the negative emotions of the public. On the contrary, if corporates respond with strategies of denial, evading responsibility, or reducing offensiveness, there could be strong feelings of dissatisfaction. The case study of the food industry also finds that even if the effect of alleviating the negative emotions of the public is not significant, an appropriate response could shift the attention of some consumers and to some extent serve the purpose of restoring the corporate reputation.

Emotional Crisis Communication: The Effects of CEO’s Expression of Guilt and Anger on Organizational Reputation

ABSTRACT Organizational crises are emotionally-charged occurrences for both organizations and their stakeholders. There has been a growing body of research on the effects of emotions on organizational outcomes such as reputation, forgiveness, and negative word-of-mouth. The current study seeks to contribute to this growing body of research in emotional crisis communication by investigating the role of discrete emotions in a crisis, and the effects of such emotions on organizational reputation. Additionally, the current study seeks to investigate whether the effect of emotional expression depends on the crisis response strategy adopted. A between-subjects three (communicated emotion; anger vs. guilt vs. no emotion) × two (response strategy: rebuilding vs. denial) experiment was designed with 922 participants. The findings show that, in the context of a severe crisis, rebuilding strategies result in a more positive organizational reputation than denial strategies and that guilt was superior to anger regardless of response type. The implications of the study on organizational reputation and crisis management are discussed.

College Students’ Physical Activity And Coping Skills During The Covid-19 Transition On Online Learning

As a result of the COVID-19 shutdown and the transition to online learning, college students experienced a substantial shift in their routines and a lack of access to exercise facilities and events. Physical activity (PA) is a common coping mechanism and can mediate stress. PURPOSE: The purpose of the research is to examine the impact of physical activity levels on coping strategies, PA regulation, and self-control during the transition to online learning. METHODS: College students (n = 98) completed an online survey during the Fall 2020 semester. The survey included the Physical Activity as a Vital Sign, Brief COPE Scale, and PA Regulation and Self-Control scale. RESULTS: Increases in PA were significantly (p < 0.05) and positively related to the coping strategies of denial, venting, humor, and self-blame. An increase in PA was significantly (p < 0.05) and positively related to mood regulation and PA self-control. Behavior disengagement and Acceptance were higher for 4th year students compared to 1st year students, and lower for students involved in two or more school activities. Emotional support was higher for first-generation students. Active coping and emotional support were lower for non-employed students. Conclusions: The 14 facets on the Brief COPE Scale can be categorized as problem-focused, emotion-focused, or avoidant coping. The out of the four facets that were associated with an increase in PA for college students during the COVID-19 transition to online learning, one was avoidant coping and three were emotion-focused coping. Comparisons to other examples of college students using PA to cope are examined.