Cultural bereavement, cultural congruity, and identities

Author(s):  
Cameron Watson ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
Dinesh Bhugra

Acculturation and cultural identity are influenced by a number of factors. The concepts of cultural consonance and cultural congruity may need to be taken into account in clinical settings to ensure that clinicians are aware of cultural variations. Cultural consonance is related to the observations that culture is both in the individual and in the group the individual belongs to. Culture congruity is the process of understanding whether the individual living with other members of their culture carry similar dimensions of culture. The likelihood of culture conflict within the same culture and across the majority culture needs to be taken into account while assessing individuals. Personality factors will also play a role in the development of various psychiatric disorders, as will cultural dimensions and cultures within which individuals live, work, play, and age in.

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Dressler ◽  
José Ernesto dos Santos

Elevated arterial blood pressure varies substantially in relation to social and cultural variables. Early work on acculturation, socioeconomic status, and blood pressure documented this variation, which could not be explained entirely by conventional factors such as diet, physical activity, or access to medical care. These findings stimulated the development of a model of stress and disease. The stress model emphasizes social and psychological factors that are perceived by individuals to be stressful, as well as factors that help individuals to respond to those stressors. Conventional stress models are, however, problematic because the primary emphasis is on individual perception, with little consideration of the social and cultural context in which stress occurs. This paper describes a complementary model of social and cultural influences on disease risk, placing greater emphasis on how individuals are able to approximate, in their own behaviors, shared cultural models of life, referred to as "cultural consonance". Findings from research in Brazil indicate that the higher an individual's cultural consonance, the lower his or her blood pressure. These results indicate the importance of linking different levels of analysis - the cultural, the individual, and the biological - to understand disease risk.


2003 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-207
Author(s):  
Ruqayya Ṭā Hā Jābir al-cUlwānī

An engaged and perceptive contemplation of the Qur'an forms one of the most important bases for the cultural and social advancement of Muslims in all walks of life, and the absence of such study is one of the reasons behind the general cultural attenuation in the modern world. Reflection is one of the means of the construction and formation of a civilised society. The applied faculty of intellect creates an environment which allows reflective and considered thought to be developed from a functional perspective for the general well-being of society. Meanwhile the effective neglect of such study leads to the proliferation of superstition, dissent and social conflict. Indeed it can even be argued that it diminishes the significance of the laws and conventions which serve as the backbone of society. This paper reveals a number of factors which can impede the achievement of such an engaged study of the text: thus, for instance, thoughtless obedience to societal conventions; shortcomings in educational systems and syllabi; and a failure to encompass the significance of the Arabic language. Furthermore this paper presents several effective suggestions for nurturing students' potential, encouraging an environment which allows freedom of thought, and its refinement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 801-807
Author(s):  
Lars Arendt-Nielsen ◽  
Jesper Bie Larsen ◽  
Stine Rasmussen ◽  
Malene Krogh ◽  
Laura Borg ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimsIn recent years, focus on assessing descending pain modulation or conditioning pain modulation (CPM) has emerged in patients with chronic pain. This requires reliable and simple to use bed-side tools to be applied in the clinic. The aim of the present pilot study was to develop and provide proof-of-concept of a simple clinically applicable bed-side tool for assessing CPM.MethodsA group of 26 healthy volunteers participated in the experiment. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed as test stimuli from the lower leg before, during and 5 min after delivering the conditioning tonic painful pressure stimulation. The tonic stimulus was delivered for 2 min by a custom-made spring-loaded finger pressure device applying a fixed pressure (2.2 kg) to the index finger nail. The pain intensity provoked by the tonic stimulus was continuously recorded on a 0–10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS).ResultsThe median tonic pain stimulus intensity was 6.7 cm (interquartile range: 4.6–8.4 cm) on the 10 cm VAS. The mean PPT increased significantly (P = 0.034) by 55 ± 126 kPa from 518 ± 173 kPa before to 573 ± 228 kPa during conditioning stimulation. When analyzing the individual CPM responses (increases in PPT), a distribution of positive and negative CPM responders was observed with 69% of the individuals classified as positive CPM responders (increased PPTs = anti-nociceptive) and the rest as negative CPM responders (no or decreased PPTs = Pro-nociceptive). This particular responder distribution explains the large variation in the averaged CPM responses observed in many CPM studies. The strongest positive CPM response was an increase of 418 kPa and the strongest negative CPM response was a decrease of 140 kPa.ConclusionsThe present newly developed conditioning pain stimulator provides a simple, applicable tool for routine CPM assessment in clinical practice. Further, reporting averaged CPM effects should be replaced by categorizing volunteers/patients into anti-nociceptive and pro-nociceptive CPM groups.ImplicationsThe finger pressure device provided moderate-to-high pain intensities and was useful for inducing conditioning stimuli. Therefore, the finger pressure device could be a useful bed-side method for measuring CPM in clinical settings with limited time available. Future bed-side studies involving patient populations are warranted to determine the usefulness of the method.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Ling-hsing Chang ◽  
Tung-Ching Lin

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to focus on the enhancement of knowledge management (KM) performance and the relationship between organizational culture and KM process intention of individuals because of the diversity of organizational cultures (which include results-oriented, tightly controlled, job-oriented, closed system and professional-oriented cultures). Knowledge is a primary resource in organizations. If firms are able to effectively manage their knowledge resources, then a wide range of benefits can be reaped such as improved corporate efficiency, effectiveness, innovation and customer service. Design/methodology/approach – The survey methodology, which has the ability to enhance generalization of results (Dooley, 2001), was used to collect the data utilized in the testing of the research hypotheses. Findings – Results- and job-oriented cultures have positive effects on employee intention in the KM process (creation, storage, transfer and application), whereas a tightly controlled culture has negative effects. Research limitations/implications – However, it would have been better to use a longitudinal study to collect useful long-term data to understand how the KM process would be influenced when organizational culture dimensions are changed through/by management. This is the first limitation of this study. According to Mason and Pauleen (2003), KM culture is a powerful predictor of individual knowledge-sharing behavior, which is not included in this study. Thus, this is the second limitation of this paper. Moreover, national culture could be an important issue in the KM process (Jacks et al., 2012), which is the third limitation of this paper for not comprising it. Practical implications – In researchers’ point of view, results- and job-oriented cultures have positive effects, whereas a tightly controlled culture has a negative effect on the KM process intention of the individual. These findings provide evidences that challenge the perspective of Kayworth and Leidner (2003) on this issue. As for practitioners, management has a direction to modify their organizational culture to improve the performance of KM process. Social implications – Both behavioral and value perspectives of the organizational cultural dimensions (results-oriented, tightly control, job-oriented, sociability, solidarity, need for achievement and democracy) should be examined to ascertain their effects firstly on KM culture and then on the KM process intention of the individual. It is hoped that the current study will spawn future investigations that lead to the development of an integrated model which includes organizational culture, KM culture and the KM process intention of the individual. Originality/value – The results-oriented, loosely controlled and job-oriented cultures will improve the effectiveness of the KM process and will also increase employees’ satisfaction and willingness to stay with the organization.


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridey Monger ◽  
Scott M. Hardie ◽  
Robin Ion ◽  
Jane Cumming ◽  
Nigel Henderson

Aims and methodThe Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC) is to date the only recovery outcomes instrument developed in Scotland. This paper describes the steps taken to initially assess its validity and reliability, including factorial analysis, internal consistency and a correlation benchmarking analysis.ResultsThe I.ROC tool showed high internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure comprising intrapersonal recovery (factor 1) and interpersonal recovery (factor 2), explaining between them over 50% of the variance in I.ROC scores. There were no redundant items and all loaded on at least one of the factors. The I.ROC significantly correlated with widely used existing instruments assessing both personal recovery and clinical outcomes.Clinical implicationsI.ROC is a valid and reliable measure of recovery in mental health, preferred by service users when compared with well-established instruments. It could be used in clinical settings to map individual recovery, providing feedback for service users and helping to assess service outcomes.


Author(s):  
Mario Martínez-Avella ◽  
Ángela Alarcón-León ◽  
Giovanni Hernández-Salazar

The relation between the cultural distance and the firm’s entry modes to foreign countries has received considerable research attention, and studies have shown the role of experience in this relation. However, previous research has only studied direct experience and neglected the study of vicarious experience. Using a sample of 355 foreign companies that entered Colombia (2007–2017), this research reviews the effect of cultural distance on entry mode choice (e.g., Acquisition vs. Greenfield) and examines the moderating role of vicarious experience in this relationship. The study concludes that the cultural distance positively affects the entry probability by acquisition, and the vicarious experience negatively affects this relationship in four cultural dimensions. If firms have vicarious experience, the effect of cultural distance on the acquisition probability is less and positively influences the entry probability by Greenfield when the cultural distance is in power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, and long-term orientation. Nevertheless, vicarious experience has the opposite effect when considering the masculinity dimension. Consequently, we highlight the importance of considering vicarious experience as a different variable of direct experience and the individual effects of cultural distance dimensions for cross-cultural studies in management.


2014 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dieter Egerer ◽  
Virve Marionneau

AbstractAIMS – Problem gambling is normally identified by fixed criteria of harm adapted from those of substance abuse and by focusing on the individual gambler. However, rigid definitions neglect institutional variations of gambling practices within different legislative configurations. This study proposes analysing the line between recreational and problem gambling by focusing on gambling behaviour and looking at the corruption of the defining factors of play (Caillois, 1958) in three different institutional contexts. DESIGN – A stimulated focus-group method (Reception Analytical Group Interview) was applied to seven groups of Finnish and French general practitioners each and three groups of German ones to study the variations of conceptualising the defining factors of play as introduced by Caillois. RESULTS – Corruption of play was distinguished by participants from all three countries as the dividing line between recreational and problem gambling, but cultural variations were found: the French and German GPs emphasised the loss of the exceptionality of gambling, whereas the Finnish GPs highlighted the invasion of the home by online gambling. Furthermore, the Finnish and German participants were more concerned about the use of gambling as an emotional regulator, while French GPs echoed the French medical model in discussing the adrenaline rush of problem gamblers. CONCLUSIONS – Caillois’ defining factors of play can be used to distinguish recreational from problem gambling and to offer a more encompassing definition of problem gambling. The perception of the line between recreational and problem gambling also seems to depend on the institutional and cultural context.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. FarihaIshrat Ullah

Sense of well-being is one of the most important goals which individuals strive for. It affects our perceptions of the external world such that we are able to view it with greater positivity and deal with day to day problems effectively. With an increasingly competitive existence, the pressures and challenges confronting the individual are extremely high, therefore it is difficult to maintain this sense of well-being at all stages of life. Adolescence and early adulthood are particularly demanding, because conflicts relating to quest for identity, concerns for academic success, career and uncertainty about the future all magnify the problems manifold. This is a phase in which several mental health disorders of adulthood appear and affect adjustment in society. Intellectual capacities increase and emotions intensify. The major tasks during this phase include establishing independence, realizing one’s identity and capabilities and preparing for adult self reliance. Psychological well-being has been defined as a dynamic state characterized by a reasonable amount of harmony between an individual’s abilities, needs and expectations, and environmental demands and opportunities (Levi, 1987). It is connotative as a harmonious satisfaction of one’s desires and goals (Chekola, 1975). Since personality is a core factor which determines our reactions and adjustments, psychological-well-being during such a stressed phase as adolescence should be studied within its perspective. It is important that researches which identify factors which contribute to psychological well-being should continue to be conducted in different contexts and with better methodologies. The present research aims to study the personality factors as determinants of psychological well-being amongst university students. Appropriate analysis will be conducted to explore the topic further.


2021 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 08003
Author(s):  
Jalal ud Din Akbar ◽  
Muhammad Ridhuan Tony Lim Abdullah

Global challenges of climate change and environmental deterioration helped in formulating seventeen sustainable development goals through United Nation. Achieving these sustainable goals, Malaysia initiated and track progress towards affordable and clean energy. The natural environment and climate are mostly influenced by human behavior. Due to the role of human behavior in climate change, a strong tendency towards the pursuit of energy sustainability exists. Attention is paid to strengthen the human behavior from general acts of doing things to carrying specific actions by adopting a responsible behavior into daily routine. A number of factors were identified through literature such as social structure, institution, and education for understanding the individual behavior for sustainability with regard to energy consumption. Many experts related to the field of energy were engaged to sort and prioritize these factors with respect to their importance by using multi-criteria decision making tool of analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The experts were selected from different sectors such as academia, NGOs and industry. With the help of experts, a framework of individual energy consumption behaviour is developed to allow the government and other stakeholders to make policies accordingly to achieve energy sustainable.


Author(s):  
Mark Anthony Camilleri

There are numerous assumptions on research evaluation in terms of quality and relevance of academic contributions. Researchers are becoming increasingly acquainted with bibliometric indicators, including; citation analysis, impact factor, h-index, webometrics and academic social networking sites. In this light, this chapter presents a review of these concepts as it considers relevant theoretical underpinnings that are related to the content marketing of scholars. Therefore, this contribution critically evaluates previous papers that revolve on the subject of academic reputation as it deliberates on the individual researchers' personal branding. It also explains how metrics are currently being used to rank the academic standing of journals as well as higher educational institutions. In a nutshell, this chapter implies that the scholarly impact depends on a number of factors including accessibility of publications, peer review of academic work as well as social networking among scholars.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document