Atheism, Secularity, and Well-Being: How the Findings of Social Science Counter Negative Stereotypes and Assumptions

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Zuckerman
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Stereotypes

Capitalism Beyond Mutuality?

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Business Practice ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
The Social ◽  
Modern Economic ◽  
Great Output

Our quest for prosperity has produced great output but not always great outcomes. The list of concerns is growing and familiar. Fundamentally, when it comes to well-being, fairness, and the scope of our humanity, the modern economic system still leaves much to be desired. In turn, trust in business and the liberal market system (aka “capitalism”) has been declining and regulation has been rising. A variety of forces—civic, economic, and intellectual—have been probing for better alternatives. The contributions in this volume, coauthored by eminent philosophers, social scientists, and a handful of thoughtful business leaders, are submitted in this spirit. The thrust of the work is conveyed in the volume’s titular question: Capitalism Beyond Mutuality? Mutuality, or the exchange of benefits, has been established as the prime principle of interaction in addressing the chronic dilemma of human interdependence. Mutuality is a fundament in the social contract approach and it serves us well. Yet, to address the concerns outlined here, we must help evolve an economic paradigm where mutuality is more systematically complemented by reasoned and elective morality. Otherwise the state will remain the sole (if inadequate) protector and buffer between market and society. Hence, rather than just regulate power we must also educate power. Philosophy has a natural role, especially when education is the preferred vehicle of transformation. Accordingly, the essays in this volume integrate philosophy and social science to outline and explore concrete approaches to these important concerns emanating from business practice and theory.

scholarly journals Udsatte familiers perspektiv på koordinerede, helhedsorienterede sociale indsatser

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Tanja Miller ◽  
Trine Lolk Haslam
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Private Sphere ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Professional Work ◽  
Empirical Basis ◽  
Social Pedagogy ◽  
Vulnerable Families ◽  
Holistic Training

ResumeFormålet med denne artikel er at søge svar på, hvordan deltagelse i et helhedsorienteret tilbud kan styrke familiers indflydelse på eget liv. Det forekommer at være lidt af et paradoks, at større indblanding i privatsfæren kan føre til øget indflydelse på eget liv. Artiklen har til formål, i et borgerperspektiv, at undersøge, hvordan paradokset opleves. Artiklens empiriske grundlag og fund stammer fra udforskning af projektet Familiens Trivsel – Barnets Trivsel over en periode på tre år. Et af formålene med projektet er at styrke udsatte familiers motivation og involvering – og give dem øget indflydelse på løsning af egne udfordringer. Artiklen behandler dette formål set i familiernes perspektiv. Analyserne har især fokus på tre fund. Det første fund handler om, hvorfor familierne har sagt ja tak til at deltage i tilbuddet, og hvordan den nye praksis tilbyder nye erfaringer med velfærdssystemet. Det andet fund drejer sig om, hvilke erfaringer familierne har med at have en medarbejder tæt på i privatsfæren, og hvordan udvikling af tillid forklares af familierne. Det sidste fund peger på, at helbredsudfordringer spiller en stor rolle i familiernes selvforståelse, og arbejdet hermed opfattes meget bredt. Vi konkluderer på fund om, hvordan tillid udvikles trinvis, og vi perspektiverer til, hvordan nye identitetsmuligheder potentielt giver adgang til nye fællesskaber. Vi perspektiverer desuden til det professionelle arbejde, der foregår i den forbindelse, som en tilførsel af socialpædagogik til det socialfaglige felt. Distinktionen mellem socialpædagogisk og socialfaglig tilgang defineres, kort fortalt, som forskelle mellem interventioner på borgerens præmisser i modsætning til interventioner på velfærdssystemets præmisser. AbstractVulnerable Families’ Perspectives on Coordinated and Holistic Social Efforts. On Empowering their Competencies to ActThe purpose of this article is to examine how participation in holistic training – as an offer to families – can strengthen families´ influence on their own lives. It seems paradoxical that increased interference in the private sphere can lead to increased influence on one’s own life. The article examines, from a citizen perspective, how this paradox is experienced. The empirical basis and the findings of the article derives from exploring the project The Family’s Well-Being – The Child’s Well-Being (Familiens Trivsel – Barnets Trivsel) for tree years. One aim of the project is to strengthen the motivation and engagement of vulnerable families and provide them with more influence on solving their own challenges. The article addresses this purpose from the families’ perspective.The analyses focus in particular on three findings. Firstly, why the families have accepted to participate in the training and how this new practice provide them with new experience regarding the welfare system. The second finding deals with the families’ experience with having an employee close to them and how development of trust is explained by the families. The last finding points out that health challenges play a major role in the families’ self-understanding, and the work on this covers a wide field. We conclude on findings on how trust develops incrementally, and we put into perspective how possibly new identities can provide access to new communities. Moreover, we put into perspective the professional work that takes place in this context, which is a supply of social pedagogy to the field of social science.

The Crimea between East and West according to Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century British Travelogues

2020 ◽  
pp. 81-97
Author(s):  
Nikita I. Khrapunov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The West ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Grand Tour ◽  
Archaeological Heritage ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Late Eighteenth ◽  
The Crimea

Following its annexation by Russia in 1783, the Crimea became a stage on the Western grand tour. Foreign travelogues informed their readers about the country, previously almost unknown in Europe. This paper addresses the British travelogues that played an important role in shaping notions of the Crimea and Russia's role in its history, many of which still exist today. The travellers created works of different kinds: unedited letters and journals, encyclopaedic descriptions, imagined journeys, and pseudo-correspondences. Their authors had varied levels of intelligence, motivations, and passions, intricately entwining empirical observations with stereotypes. Geographically located in Europe, the Crimea was understood as a country featuring distinctive features of the East. Its image possessed traits of paradisiacal nature, inhabited by naïve and lazy persons resembling Rousseau's utopia, with an extraordinarily rich archaeological heritage, the romantic culture of Islam, and various ethnic and religious types. The British offered plans for the establishment of Western colonists in the Crimea, as well as the development of communications, trade, agriculture, and industry. William Eton and Matthew Guthrie considered the Russian occupation of the Crimea historically progres-sive, which would bring prosperity and well-being to the country and its residents. However, Edward Clarke interpreted the Russians as the avatar of barbarism and developed a plan to return the peninsula to the Ottomans. Some negative stereotypes originating from his book continue nowadays and are restated in periods of aggravated relations between Russia and the West.

scholarly journals How to do things with epigenetics: An investigation into the use of metaphors to promote alternative approaches to health and social science, and their implications for interdisciplinary collaboration

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Nerlich ◽  
Aleksandra Stelmach ◽  
Catherine Ennis
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Alternative Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
The Public Sphere

Epigenetics is a multifaceted field within genetics and genomics which focuses on discovering mechanisms involved in gene expression and regulation. It came to public attention around the turn of the millennium when the human genome began to be deciphered. Initial findings from epigenetics research held the promise of changing how we think about health and illness, evolution and heredity; speculations about how individuals and populations could begin to control such processes through epigenetics were then picked up in the public realm. In this article we concentrate on two normally distant domains within the public sphere: the advertising of alternative health products and services, and the promotion of alternative approaches to social science, especially around how social science deals with the ‘biosocial’. Using insights from social representations theory and methods aligned with metaphor analysis, we investigate the meanings of epigenetics rooted in the use of metaphors and commonplaces that are circulating in current popular parlance and that are used to promote academic theories and ideas as well as tangible products and services. We compare and contrast them and assess their implications for collaborations between natural and social scientists. Our findings reveal some surprising similarities between the metaphors and commonplaces used by advertisers and social scientists, based in large part on the fact that both groups draw on the work of prominent epigeneticists. In both instances some fundamental tenets of mainstream biology are contested, and hopes are created for improving individual or population well-being through the manipulation of epigenetic mechanisms. Both domains share some misunderstandings of epigenetics that might lead to problems with interdisciplinary collaborations between social and natural scientists.

scholarly journals How should we investigate variation in the relation between social media and well-being?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Johannes ◽  
Philipp K. Masur ◽  
Matti Vuorre ◽  
Andrew K Przybylski
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Theoretical Distribution ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Region Of Practical Equivalence

The study of the relation between social media use and well-being is at a critical junction. Many researchers find small to no associations, yet policymakers and public stakeholders keep asking for more evidence. One way the field is reacting is by inspecting the variation around average relations – with the goal of describing individual social media users. Here, we argue that such an approach risks losing sight of the most important outcomes of a quantitative social science: estimates of the average relation in a large group. Our analysis begins by describing how the field got to this point. Then, we explain the problems of the current approach of studying variation. Next, we propose a principled approach to quantify, interpret, and explain variation in average relations: (1) conducting model comparisons, (2) defining a region of practical equivalence and testing the theoretical distribution of relations against that region, (3) defining a smallest effect size of interest and comparing it against the theoretical distribution. We close with recommendations to either study moderators as systematic factors that explain variation or to conduct N = 1 studies and qualitative research.

scholarly journals An Assessment of the Social Science Research Environment of the Sri Lankan State University System

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. S. Fernando ◽  
D. W. K. Hemachandra ◽  
A. Muthulingam
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Present Status ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
State Universities

Higher education institutions play a vital role in society in varied capacities, and one major contribution amongst it all is conducting research as a part of knowledge creation and dissemination. Social Science Research thereby provides valuable input for policy makers, decision makers and the public, in order to encourage the well-being of the society. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of conducting social science researches to address social issues and improve quality of life. However, the number of research conducted in this discipline in Sri Lanka is not adequate when compared to that of other countries in the region. Hence, this study aims to explore the present status and challenges that hinder the number of social science research conducted by academics in State Universities in Sri Lanka. The study conducted a detailed literature review that was followed by in-depth interviews with 50 academics representing five state universities in Sri Lanka. The universities were selected based on the availability of Social Sciences and Humanities Faculties/Departments. The data were then analysed qualitatively based on the Grounded Theory Method to achievestudy objectives. The study revealed three main categories that limit the number of social science researches conducted in State Universities in Sri Lanka. They are; organizational factors, individual factors, and policy related factors. In addition, collaboration with other universities/ faculties, publication opportunities, research awards, and research allowance were identified as aspects in support of social science research in Sri Lanka. The study findings significantly helps in policy making, to identify the present status as well as factors that can contribute to enhance the level of social science related research among academics of State Universities in Sri Lanka.KeywordsResearch Environment, Social Sciences Research, State Universities

scholarly journals Child food insecurity in the UK: a rapid review

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (13) ◽  
pp. 1-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magaly Aceves-Martins ◽  
Moira Cruickshank ◽  
Cynthia Fraser ◽  
Miriam Brazzelli
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Academic Outcomes ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

BackgroundFood insecurity (FI) is a multifaceted, socioeconomic problem involving difficulties accessing sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet people’s dietary requirements and preferences for a healthy life. For children experiencing FI, there are some potentially negative developmental consequences and it is, therefore, important to understand the links between FI and children’s health and well-being as well as any strategies undertaken to address FI. The overall objective of this assessment was to determine the nature, extent and consequences of FI affecting children (aged ≤ 18 years) in the UK.ObjectiveTo determine the nature, extent and consequences of FI affecting children (aged ≤ 18 years) in the UK.Data sourcesThe databases searched on 4 December 2017 included MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and E-pub ahead of print files), EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux (CAB) abstracts, The Cochrane Library, Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC), PsycINFO, the Social Science Citation Index and the Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA).MethodsA rapid review of the current published and unpublished literature was conducted, including all study designs from specified high-income countries in children aged ≤ 18 years. Searches were conducted of major health-care, nutrition, education and social science databases from 1995 onwards, and websites of relevant UK and international organisations. Final searches were undertaken in December 2017.ResultsIn total, 109 studies were selected. Only five studies were conducted in the UK, four of which provided qualitative data. Possible factors associated with child FI were identified, for example socioeconomic status, material deprivation, living in public housing and having unemployed or poorly educated parents. Children’s health, well-being and academic outcomes were all negatively affected by FI. The mediating effects of family stressors and parenting practices in the relationship between FI and children’s health and well-being outcomes were not clear. Food assistance programmes were generally effective in mitigating FI and improving nutritional outcomes (including hunger) in the short term, but did not eradicate FI, eliminate its effects on children’s health or have an impact on academic outcomes. No reports assessing the prevalence of child FI in the UK or the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of interventions to tackle FI were identified.LimitationsThere was a lack of consistency in how FI was defined and measured across studies. Most of the studies used indirect measurements of child FI through parental reports. The majority of studies were conducted in North America. Only five studies were conducted in the UK. Thirty potentially relevant studies were not included in the review as a result of time and resource constraints. Most studies were observational and caution is advised in interpreting their results.ConclusionsA number of factors that were related to child FI were identified, as were negative associations between child FI and physical, mental and social outcomes. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of the correlational nature of the analyses and the fact that it is difficult to determine if some factors are predictors or consequences of FI.Future researchThere is an urgent requirement for the development of a reliable instrument to measure and monitor child FI in the UK and for well-designed interventions or programmes to tackle child FI.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017084818.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme. The Health Services Research Unit is core-funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates.

scholarly journals Psychological well-being of ex-drug addicted counselee in post-rehabilitation education

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Rudi Haryadi ◽  
Eka Sri Handayani ◽  
Sri Ayatina Hayati
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Substance Abuse Treatment ◽  
Purpose In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Environmental Mastery ◽  
Self Acceptance ◽  
Abuse Treatment

This study aims to analyze the level of psychological well-being of ex-drug addicted counselee in post-rehabilitation education. The study was conducted in 2 communities of post-rehabilitation education providers in Semarang city. The level of psychological well-being of 40 respondents was measured by filling in the 18-item psychological well-being scale developed by Ryff (r = 0.83; v = 0.97). Measurement includes indicators: (1) self-acceptance; (2) positive relationships with others; (3) autonomy; (4) environmental mastery; (5) purpose in life; and (6) personal growth. Hypothesis test results indicate that the level of psychological well-being of ex-drug addicted counselee in post-rehabilitation education is significantly greater or equal to 80 (t = 49,140; sig = 0,000). Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to further researchers to further explore certain differences in the level of psychological well-being of the counselee by the factors of age, demographics, educational background, and length of abstinence. In addition, further studies with a larger number of samples and questionnaire items are needed so that study results can be generalized to a wider population.Ardiantina, D. (2016). Studi Kasus Kehidupan Remaja Mantan Pecandu Narkoba. Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling, 5(1), 1-12.Astuti, R., & Ismandari, F. (2014). Gambaran Umum Penyalahgunaan Narkoba di Indonesia. Buletin Jendela Data dan Informasi Kesehatan. I, pp. 1-52. Jakarta: Kementrian Kesehatan RI.Aztri, S., & Milla, M. N. (2013). Rasa Berharga Dan Pelajaran Hidup Mencegah Kekambuhan Kembali Pada Pecandu Narkoba Studi Kualitatif Fenomenologis. Jurnal Psikologi, 9(1), 48-63.Bhandari, S., Dahal, M., & Neupane, G. (2015). Factors Associated With Drug Abuse Relapse: A Study On The Clients Of Rehabilitation Centers. Al-Ameen Journal of Medicine and Science, 8(4), 293-298.BNN. (2015). Laporan Akhir Survei Nasional Perkembangan Penyalahgunaan Narkoba Tahun Anggaran 2014. Jakarta: Badan Narkotika Nasional Indonesia.Buchanan, T. (2011). Attention Defi cit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Well-being: Is Social Impairment an Issue for College Students with ADHD? Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 24(3), 193-210.Bukoye, R. O. (2017). Academic Stress and Drug Abuse as Factors Inhibiting Psychological Well-Being Among Undergraduates: It’s Counselling Implications. European Scientific Journal, 13(8), 60-74.Chong, J., & Lopez, D. (2008). Predictors of Relapse for American Indian Women After Substance Abuse Treatment. Journal of The National Center, 14(3), 24-47.Dogaheh, E. R., Jafari, F., Sadeghpour, A., Mirzaei, S., Maddahi, M. E., Hosseinkhanzadeh, A. A., & Arya, A. R. (2013). Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Sleep in Addicts under Methadone Maintenance Treatment. Research Papers, 1(2), 71-75.Fard, A. E., Rajabi, H., Delgoshad, A., Rad, S. A., & Akbari, S. (2014). The Possible Relationship between University Students' Personality Traits, Psychological Well-being and Addiction Potential. International Journal of Social Science Studies, 2(2), 120-125.Garcia, D., Nima, A. A., & Kjell, O. N. (2014). The Affective Profiles, Psychological Well-Being, and Harmony: Environmental Mastery and Self-Acceptance Predict the Sense of a Harmonious Life. PeerJ, 1-21.Green, M., & Elliott, M. (2010). Religion, Health, and Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Religion and Health, 49, 149-163.Greenfield, E., Vaillant, G., & Marks, N. (2009). Doformal religious participation and spiritual perceptions have independent linkages with diverse dimensions of psychological well-being? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 50, 196–212.Haryadi, R. (2018). Prospek Konseling Komunitas bagi Individu Eks-Pecandu Narkoba (Studi Pada Lembaga Pasca-Rehabilitasi Narkoba Di Kota Semarang). Konseli (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling), 5(1), 73 - 84.Ibrahim, F., & Kumar, N. (2009). Factors Effecting Drug Relapse in Malaysia: An Empirical Evidence. Asian Social Science, 5(12), 37-44.Lindfors, P., Berntsson, L., & Lundberg, U. (2007). Total workload as related to psychological well-being and symptoms in full-time employed female and male white-collar workers. International Journal of Behavior and Medicine, 13, 131-137.Martin, R. A., MacKinnon, S., Johnson, J., & Rohsenow, D. J. (2011). Purpose in life predicts treatment outcome among adult cocaine abusers in treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 40, 183–188.Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological Well-Being Revisited: Advanced in the Science and Practice of Eudaimonia. Psychoterapy and Psychosmoatics, 83, 10-28.Ryff, C. D., Love, G. D., Miyamoto, Y., Markus, H. R., Curhan, K. B., Kitayama, S., . . . Karasawa, M. (2014). Culture and the promotion of well-being in East and West: Understanding varieties of attunement to the surrounding context. In G. A. Fava, & C. Ruini, Increasing psychological well-being in clinical and education settings: Interventions and cultural contexts (Vol. 8th, pp. 1-19). New York: Springer.Schaefer, S. M., Boylan, J. M., Reekum, C. M., Lapate, R. C., Norris, C. J., Ryff, C. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2013). Purpose in Life Predicts Better Emotional Recovery for Negative Stimuli. Plos ONE, 8(11), 1-9.Schwartz, R. P., Kelly, S. M., O’Grady, K. E., Mitchell, S. G., Peterson, J. A., Reisinger, H. S., . . . Brown, B. S. (2008). Attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone among opioid-dependent individuals. American Journal of Addicton, 17, 396–401.Seligman, M. E. (2010). Flourish: Positive Psychology and Positive Intervention. Michigan: University of Michigan.Sharma, A. K., Upadhyaya, S. K., Bansal, P., Nijhawan, M., & Sharma, D. (2012). A Study of Factors Affecting Relapse in Substance Abuse. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2(1), 31-35.Siddiqui, S. (2015). Impact of self-efficacy on psychological well-being among undergraduate students. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 2(3), 5-17.Strauser, D., Lustig, D., & Çıftçı, A. (2008). Psychological well-being: its relation to work personality, vocational identity, and career thoughts. Journal of Psychology, 142, 21–35.Vasquez, C., & Castilla, C. (2007). Emociones Positivas y Crecimiento Postraumatico en el Cancer de Mama. Psicooncologia, 4, 385-404.

scholarly journals Well-Being and Personality of the Indegenous Community in Sungai Sayap, Terengganu

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3S3) ◽  
pp. 65-69
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Current State

Well-being is an essential element of life among people from all walks of life and the indigenous people communities are of no exception despite the fact that they still depend on nature and not entirely in the current state of modernity. This study will identify the level of well-being and the type of personality of Orang Asli community in Sungai Sayap, Terengganu. The data for this study were obtained from 20 respondents representing 65% of the Orang Asli community in Sungai Sayap. Descriptive and correlation analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 20). The study found that there is a significant relationship between well-being and personality among Indigenous people (Orang Asli) in Sungai Sayap, Terengganu. The findings of this study are expected to help the responsible parties to ensure that the well-being of the Indigenous people is taken care of and proper attention to the factors affecting the well-being of Indigenous people is given priority especially in planning social intervention efforts to further enhance the well-being of the Indigenous people in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document