Narrative as active inference

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Bouizegarene ◽  
maxwell ramstead ◽  
Axel Constant ◽  
Karl Friston ◽  
Laurence Kirmayer
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Human Adaptation ◽  
Active Inference ◽  
Future Projection ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
The Social ◽  
Parsimonious Model ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Theory Research

The ubiquity and importance of narratives in human adaptation has been recognized by many scholars. Research has identified several functions of narratives that are conducive to individuals’ well-being and adaptation as well as to coordinated social practices and enculturation. In this paper, we characterize the social and cognitive functions of narratives in terms of the framework of active inference. Active inference depicts the fundamental tendency of living organisms to adapt by creating, updating, and maintaining inferences about their environment. We review the literature on the functions of narratives in identity, event segmentation, episodic memory, future projection, storytelling practices, and enculturation. We then re-cast these functions of narratives in terms of active inference, outlining a parsimonious model that can guide future developments in narrative theory, research, and clinical applications.

scholarly journals “HOLY MONEY”: GODS, MEN AND ECONOMY IN ANTIQUITY

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-38
Author(s):  
Paola Corrente
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Ancient World ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mediterranean World ◽  
Religious Dimensions

Religion and economy have had a very important role in shaping society and their connection to social matters has been present since the very appearance of money and birth of economic activities. In antiquity, the bond between religion and economy was very strong because ancient world was symbolic and was embedded with magic and religious ideas: economy was part of this “wholeness”, because it inherited from the past the social practices aimed at the well-being of people, which were under the direct protection of the gods. The aim of my paper, hence, is to analyze the religious dimensions of money and economy in ancient societies, following the perspective of philosophy and mythology. Through the guide of a careful observer of human behavior, the great philosopher Aristotle, both disciplines can give interesting insights on the effect economy can have on society. The background for my research will be the cultures of ancient Mediterranean world, in particular, Greece and Mesopotamia, for we have a considerable amount of documents and literary works, whereas, regarding the methodology, I will approach the texts from an historical and comparative perspective.

scholarly journals PLATFORM SPECIFICITIES: THE PLATFORM BOOKS PANEL

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Ann Hendry ◽  
Katrin Tiidenberg ◽  
Crystal Abidin ◽  
D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye ◽  
Jing Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Everyday Practices ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Media Ecosystem ◽  
Production Organization ◽  
Large Groups

Social media platforms shape our lives on micro, meso and macro levels. They have transformed our everyday practices as individuals, or social practices as small and large groups, and have multiple, entangled impacts on rituals of democracy and cultural (re)production, organization of labor and industry. This panel brings together five papers, each by authors of recently published or forthcoming platform books. Together, the papers offer an analysis of TikTok, WeChat, Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook. Because of the book-length analyses preceding the panel, we are able to distill what is distinct and recognizable about these platforms – what we call ‘platform specificities’ and demonstrate how these specificities are shaping not only the experiences of the users of those platforms, but the social media ecosystem more broadly. The panel contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding platform power, social media and ways of making sense of social media, painting in board strokes plausible future developments to keep an eye on. The extended abstract holds a panel rationale and five extended abstracts for each analyzed platform.

scholarly journals “Digital trust” vs “Distrust” in the Formation of Social Relations and Practices of Glocal Society

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-453
Author(s):  
Marina D. Martynova
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Research Result ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Digital World ◽  
The Social

Introduction. The individual’s application of established social practices in the digital environment faces certain difficulties caused by the wide opportunities for “honest” and “dishonest” behavior on the Internet. The high level of trust in digital technologies and the possibility of manipulating personal data, the desire to rely on “expert opinion” and unreliable information, the social need for communication and the illusion of communication in social networks, as well as other dilemmas of relationships in the digital world and operating with big data create a sense of uncertainty, instability and disunity in the perception of digital reality. The purpose of the article is to identify social and ethical aspects of trust phenomenon as an attitude of consciousness, obstacles to digital trust and identify ways to develop it. Materials and Methods. The interdisciplinary approach based on ethics of information technology, sociology, and communication theory allows us to analyze the formation of new social practices and interpret the development of a person’s value attitude to new realities of life. Research result. The following areas of actualization of the concept of “trust” in the digital world are identified as trust in data and algorithms, trust in “digital subject”, “Internet of trust” as a space of obligations and rules. The formation of the “Internet of trust” is associated with awareness of all social, moral and psychological problems associated with the process of combining online and offline environments in the social practice of an individual, where new forms of applying traditional standards of behavior should be found. Discussion and Conclusion. Postponing the rational risk analysis of digital interaction by an individual “for later” provokes the creation of situations that are critical for the individual’s well-being and security. The costs of digital trust are reduced security and creation of “traps” in public relations and social practices. Digital environment creates a situation of vulnerability of an individual, which encourages him to resort to possible measures of protection. In turn, the “Internet of trust” as a new digital reality is absolutely necessary for the effective functioning and further development of society.

scholarly journals The social positioning and social practices of Russian millenials

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-95
Author(s):  
Elena M. Avraamova
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
Youth Groups ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Specific Object

This article examines approaches towards studying generations. Millenials are highlighted as a specific object of research. Given their considerable inner diversity and non-uniformity, Russian millenials can be considered to be a holistic generation, which differs from elder generations in terms of social orientations and behavioral characteristics. The social self-identification of Russian millenials is examined, while identity criteria for various youth groups are defined. It is revealed that their self-assessment of status is considerably elevated when compared to elder generations, the former being based on somewhat different criteria. Despite the fact that material well-being, as is the case with elder generations, plays a key role in self-evaluation of status, millenials’ self-identification is also based on education level and professional status, which might indicate their willingness to accept the values of a meritocratic society. Millenials’ social capital is developed using sources provided by the new information-communication environment, with said sources being more diverse and attainable than ever before. Thanks to these new opportunities for developing social capital, the latter can be used much more efficiently in various environments. Millenials declare their high degree of solidarity with elder generations, while accepting a considerable amount of monetary and non-monetary assistance from the latter. Meanwhile they are extremely sympathetic to various forms of charity and volunteerism, while often participating in such activity themselves. In general, you can say that millenials are rather tightly linked to the system of social exchanges, while being prepared to assume the role of independent subjects of social activity. This article is based on data from a study titled “Differentiation of youth groups: economic activity, demographic behavior, social practices”, conducted by the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting (Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration) in 2019. The sample, which represents Russia’s population from age 18 to 35, consisted of 3.5 thousand respondents.

scholarly journals 26.E. Workshop: Context and practice of health literacy foundations

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
The Social

Abstract The Shanghai declaration (WHO 2016) stated the role that health literacy (HL) may play in the struggle for more equitable society. Moving from good intentions to social practices of HL reveals that the social context where HL is embedded is a key determinant of the establishment of social practices that may play a critical role in wellbeing and quality of life. Exploring how the translation of HL into a social context is achieved or how the social context may determine strategies to face the challenges that HL production need, is a relevant domain in the public health and health promotion agenda. The aim of this workshop is to share with the audience an opportunity to immerse in five social contexts and explore their HL practices. The first perspective is from Cameroon and the emphasis is on HL role in increasing health knowledge. The authors share the results of an ethnographic analysis of the role of school children in the development of HL in families. The second presentation will unveil one of the topics that is influencing health and well-being of children today when a large struggle to counter act sugar beverages is at the root of obesity. Therefore, a study case from Portugal will focus on HL impact on nutrition status and water intake in children showing the relevance of the social context considered a way forward in the struggle for health promotion. From Germany a third presentation will consider migrants and refugees children's role in promoting the family HL. Recent research on HL stresses the importance of the social context for children's HL, especially among vulnerable groups such as migrants and refugees. However, reaching migrants is difficult, so experts recommend adult second language courses (SLC) as promising settings to promote HL of migrants and their families. Yet, empirical evidence of promoting family health literacy (FHL) in SLC is scarce and therefore addressing such a topic is seminal towards improving the Shanghai HL vision above referred. In Switzerland, adolescent's mental health promotion is the focus of a psychoeducational tool in the pediatric primary care (PPC) that will be considered in the fourth presentation. The aim is to scrutinized this social context, increase mental health literacy of adolescents by implementing proactive mental health strategies and create an opportunity for open discussion with their pediatrician about mental health. Finally, the fifth presentation aims at illuminating (digital) HL practices using applied linguistics. HL is key to making well-informed health decision in analogous and virtual social situations and organizational contexts. Multiple models and instruments of HL exist, but an in-depth understanding of the various HL-related everyday life situations and their digital and linguistic requirements are scarce. Here, the expertise and necessary skills for everyday communication, including health, are the object of an ethnographic research to help fill this gap. Key messages The relevance of the social context and how changes of this context can lead to transformations that influence health literacy of children is a way forward in the struggle for health promotion. share with the audience an opportunity to immerse in five social contexts and explore their HL practices.

scholarly journals Meaning Making in a Retirement Migrant Community: Religion, Spirituality, and Social Practices of Daily Lives

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Spännäri ◽  
Hanne Laceulle
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Role Of Religion

Meaning in life has also been seen as crucial to well-being, and especially, in later life. This study focused on the social complexity of meaning making processes and the role of religion and spirituality in them, by finding out the following: (1) How are meaning-making practices connected with religion and spirituality for Finnish retirement migrants of the boomer generation? (2) What does the role of religion and spirituality in meaning-making practices teach us about the relationship between individual and social aspects of meaning making? This was done by examining a particular group of older persons: Finnish retirement migrants aged 60 or over in Costa del Sol, Spain. The material for this study consists of 58 texts (written correspondence, dataset 1, year 2009), 10 semi-structured interviews (dataset 2, year 2011), and 30 completed online surveys with open-ended questions (dataset 3, year 2019). Key findings include that religion and spirituality are present in the lives of our informants in a variety of ways, playing a significant role in their meaning making, and that they appear as intertwined and not so easy to separate. A variety of religious and non-religious forms of spirituality exist in this population, and all of these forms can be relevant factors in meaning making. Also, the engagement in meaning making, contrary to what has been suggested in some of the literature about meaning in later life, not only occurs in response to confrontations with health issues, death, or other major life events. Instead, we found that meaning making occurs as a process that is often inherent to daily activities which may seem “trivial,” but in fact turn out to be important sources of purpose, values, and connectedness. Contrary to the dominant modern ideal of the authentic, self-sufficient human agent, which is based on a problematically atomistic and individualistic anthropology, for our respondents, their authentic subject position is embedded in the social practices of their daily lives, which nourish their individual spirituality and are vital to making meaning.

Entrepreneurial Education - a New Challenge for Universities in Romania

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
Gabriel Croitoru ◽  
Mircea Constantin Duica ◽  
Dorin Claudiu Manolache ◽  
Mihaela Ancuta Banu
Keyword(s):  
Social Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Business Decision ◽  
Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Thinking ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Entrepreneurial spirit plays an increasingly important role in the economic sphere, and universities are meant to play a central role in this process, where the main objective is the continuous development and mediation of the knowledge increasingly geared to the applications through innovation and patenting a secure platform for employment and well-being growth. The Universities have to take a position in if/and how they want to grow into a so-called “University of Entrepreneurship” which is characterized by a high degree of openness to the surrounding society and here we are talking, especially, about, the business sector in Romania. This evolution of expectations for the social role of universities has resulted from increased and recent interest in entrepreneurship and innovation of areas as research and theory of the business environment. The experience gained as teachers indicates that education and entrepreneurship education should include different theories and methodology than those applied in the usual way. The theory of traditional management and microeconomic models could even be a barrier to new thinking and change and, therefore, to the implementation of modern entrepreneurial actions. We want this article to be a source of inspiration for educational institutions and to have a positive contribution to research in business education and to be applicable in business decision-making.

FORGOTTEN EFFECTS IN THE VALUATION OF THE SOCIAL WELL-BEING INDEX IN MEXICO’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.G. Alfaro-Calderon ◽  
N.L. Godinez-Reyes ◽  
R. Gomez-Monge ◽  
V. Alfaro-Garcia ◽  
A.M. Gil-Lafuente
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Social

Perceived social support and burden of care of male and female caregivers of patient with schizophrenia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Narendra Kumar Singh ◽  
Nishant Goyal
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Burden Of Care ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Difference

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with a high familial, social and economic burden. Schizophrenia is also associated with a high level of disability which may create impediments on the social and economic areas of the patients as well as on their respective family networks. Families with schizophrenia may encounter problems such as impairment of health and well being of other family members, restriction of social activities of the family members and shrinking of support from the social network. Aims: The present study examined the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study examining the difference in perceived social support and burden of care between the male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 60 (30 male and 30 female) caregivers of the patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as per ICD-10-DCR. Results and Conclusion: This study revealed that male caregivers perceived more social support and less burden of care as compared to female caregivers. Key words: Gender, social support, burden

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