scholarly journals A Semblance of Aliveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna van Grunsven ◽  
Aimee van Wynsberghe ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Sex Robots ◽  
The Social ◽  
Potential Impact

While the design of sex robots is still in the early stages, the social implications of the potential proliferation of sex robots into our lives has been heavily debated by activists and scholars from various disciplines. What is missing in the current debate on sex robots and their potential impact on human social relations is a targeted look at the boundedness and bodily expressivity typically characteristic of humans, the role that these dimensions of human embodiment play in enabling reciprocal human interactions, and the manner in which this contrasts with sex robot-human interactions. Through a fine-grained discussion of these themes, rooted in fruitful but largely untapped resources from the field of enactive embodied cognition, we explore the unique embodiment of sex robots. We argue that the embodiment of the sex robot is constituted by what we term restricted expressivity and a lack of bodily boundedness and that this is the locus of negative but also potentially positive implications. We discuss the possible benefits that these two dimensions of embodiment may have for people within a specific demographic, namely some persons on the autism spectrum. Our preliminary conclusion—that the benefits and the downsides of sex robots reside in the same capability of the robot, its restricted expressivity and lack of bodily boundedness as we call it—demands we take stock of future developments in the design of sex robot embodiment. Given the importance of evidence-based research pertaining to sex robots in particular, as reinforced by Nature (2017) for drawing correlations and making claims, the analysis is intended to set the stage for future research.

scholarly journals Convoys of social support in Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather R. Fuller-Iglesias ◽  
Toni Antonucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frequent Contact ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
The Social

The Convoy Model suggests that at different stages of the lifespan the makeup of the social support network varies in step with developmental and contextual needs. Cultural norms may shape the makeup of social convoys as well as denote socio-demographic differences in social support. This study examines the social convoys of adults in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether social network structure varies by age, gender, and education level, thus addressing the paucity of research on interpersonal relations in Mexico. A sample of 1,202 adults (18–99 years of age) was drawn from the Study of Social Relations and Well-being in Mexico. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated older adults had larger, more geographically proximate networks with a greater proportion of kin but less frequent contact. Women had larger, less geographically proximate networks with less frequent contact. Less educated individuals had smaller, more geographically proximate networks with more frequent contact and a greater proportion of kin. Age moderated gender and education effects indicated that younger women have more diverse networks and less educated older adults have weaker social ties. This study highlights socio-demographic variation in social convoys within the Mexican context, and suggests implications for fostering intergenerational relationships, policy, and interventions. Future research on Mexican convoys should further explore sources of support, and specifically address implications for well-being.

Mobilizing in Black Boxes: Social Networks and Participation in Social Movement Organizations

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kitts
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Movement ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Movement Organizations ◽  
Black Boxes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Movement Organizations ◽  
Movement Participation

Recent research has focused on the role of social networks in facilitating participation in protest and social movement organizations. This paper elaborates three currents of microstructural explanation, based on information, identity, and exchange. In assessing these perspectives, it compares their treatment of multivalence, the tendency for social ties to inhibit as well as promote participation. Considering two dimensions of multivalence—the value of the social tie and the direction of social pressure—this paper discusses problems of measurement and interpretation in network analysis of movement participation. A critical review suggests some directions for future research.

Contingency detection in a complex world

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Bolz Northrup
Keyword(s):  
Social World ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Contingency Detection ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The Social ◽  
Atypical Development

The present article proposes a new developmental model of how young infants adapt and respond to complex contingencies in their environment, and how this influences development. The model proposes that typically developing infants adjust to an increasingly complex environment in ways that make it easier for them to allocate limited attentional resources and increase opportunities for positive learning experiences. Increased positive experiences with contingency lead to improvements in contingency detection, social behavior, and, ultimately, the development of social and communicative competency. Research relevant to the proposed model will be reviewed and analyzed. In addition, implications for atypical development in the case of autism spectrum disorder will be examined. Specifically, it is predicted that difficulty detecting and responding to increasingly complex contingencies in the environment would lead to particular deficits in interacting with the social world due to the inherent relative complexity of the social world compared to the non-social world. Furthermore, experiences with an unpredictable and confusing social world may lead individuals to increase their experiences with predictability and contingency through restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. Limitations and areas for future research are presented.

A Naturalistic Behavioral Intervention to Increase Interaction between Siblings with and without Autism

2020 ◽  
pp. 014544552092081
Author(s):  
Laci Watkins ◽  
Theodore Tomeny ◽  
Mark O’Reilly ◽  
Katherine H. Sillis ◽  
Claudia Zamora
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Intervention Package ◽  
Adult Instruction ◽  
The Social ◽  
Reversal Design ◽  
High Level ◽  
Typically Developing Sibling

Research suggests that including typically developing siblings in interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be beneficial. However, studies have predominantly involved only participants with mild symptoms of ASD and have not also reported outcomes for the typically developing sibling. The purpose of this study was to address these gaps by replicating and extending an intervention package consisting of structured, interest-based play activities, adult instruction and modeling, and response to child questions. A reversal design across two sibling dyads was used to demonstrate the effects of the intervention on the social interaction behaviors of the child with ASD and typically developing sibling. Social interaction increased for both sibling dyads, results generalized for one dyad, and multiple measures indicated a high level of social validity. Recommendations for practitioners and caregivers working with children with ASD and potential areas of future research are discussed.

A Comprehensive Review of Particle Swarm Optimization

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 141-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Bright Benuwa ◽  
Benjamin Ghansah ◽  
Dickson Keddy Wornyo ◽  
Sefakor Awurama Adabunu
Keyword(s):  
Particle Swarm Optimization ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Optimization Technique ◽  
Particle Swarm ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Swarm Optimization ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Low Constraint

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a heuristic global optimization method. PSO was motivated by the social behavior of organisms, such as bird flocking, fish schooling and human social relations. Its properties of low constraint on the continuity of objective function and the ability to adapt various dynamic environments, makes PSO one of the most important swarm intelligence algorithms and ostensibly the most commonly used optimization technique. This survey presents a comprehensive investigation of PSO and in particular, a proposed theoretical framework to improve its implementation. We hope that this survey would be beneficial to researchers studying PSO algorithms and would also serve as the substratum for future research in the study area, particularly those pursuing their career in artificial intelligence. In the end, some important conclusions and possible research directions of PSO that need to be studied in the future are proposed.

Language and cognition in development

Pragmatics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Hickmann
Keyword(s):  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Child Language ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Substantial Evidence ◽  
Developmental Theories ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face ◽  
Language And Cognition ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Different Levels

The relation between language and cognition in child development is one of the oldest and most debated questions, which has recently come back to the forefront of several disciplines in the social sciences. The overview below examines several universalistic vs. relativistic approaches to this question, stemming both from traditional developmental theories and from more recent proposals in psycholinguistics that are illustrated by some findings concerning space in child language. Two main questions are raised for future research. First, substantial evidence is necessary concerning the potential impact of linguistic variation on cognitive development, including evidence that can provide ways of articulating precocious capacities in the pre-linguistic period and subsequent developments across a variety of child languages. Second, relating language and cognition also requires that we take into account both structural and functional determinants of child language within a model that can explain development at different levels of linguistic organization in the face of cross-linguistic diversity.

Peer-Mediated Joint Attention Intervention in the Preschool Classroom

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah G. Hansen ◽  
Tracy J. Raulston ◽  
Wendy Machalicek ◽  
Rebecca Frantz ◽  
Christine Drew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Joint Attention ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Social Communication Skills ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Social ◽  
Inclusive Settings ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
The Impact

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities are at risk of isolation from same-aged peers. Furthermore, research indicates that even in inclusive settings, children with ASD benefit from targeted interventions and support. Among the social communication skills that are frequently absent in children with ASD is joint attention. Joint attention can be defined as shared engagement between two individuals on a third object or event and has been identified as potential pivotal skill for later development of age-appropriate social skills and communication. A growing body of literature documents effective intervention on joint attention skill for young children with ASD; however, few studies document the effects of an intervention mediated by a natural change agent. In the present study, independent concurrent multiple-baseline designs were used to evaluate the impact of a joint attention intervention combined with peer training on the response to joint attention (RJA) behaviors exhibited by seven preschoolers with ASD. Results indicated that RJA behaviors increased overall, the seven peers were able to carry out a simple intervention with fidelity, and that both bids from peers and responses to those bids increased following intervention. Limitations and opportunities for future research are discussed.

Trait and Ability Emotional Intelligence in Adolescents With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 282-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Boily ◽  
Sydney E. Kingston ◽  
Janine M. Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ability Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Core Symptoms ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Social-emotional impairments are considered core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although numerous interventions have been developed to remediate the social deficits in children with ASD, few have been designed to meet the needs of youth. Given research demonstrating relations between emotional intelligence (EI) and social outcomes in adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS), the current study examined both trait and ability EI to elucidate the nature of the EI strengths and impairments in youth with and without ASD. Twenty-five adolescents with ASD and 25 adolescents without ASD aged 13 to 17 years completed measures of ability and trait EI. Findings suggest that aspects of both trait and ability EI were significantly weaker in adolescents with ASD compared with typically developing adolescents. Implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Creativity: The Influence of Cultural, Social, and Work Contexts

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Erez ◽  
Rikki Nouri
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Task Structure ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Contextual Characteristic

The present article aims to answer the question of whether creativity is universal or culture-specific. We develop a conceptual framework that expands the existing knowledge in two ways. First, it distinguishes between the two dimensions of creativity – novelty and usefulness, and their relationship to culture. Second, it clarifies how the social context moderates the relationship between culture and creativity. We focus on the social context where cultural differences are likely to be more salient because of the presence of others, relative to the private work context where no one observes whether a person performs in a normative or a unique way. In addition, we propose that task structure, whether a task is tightly or loosely structured, is an important contextual characteristic that moderates the relationship between culture and creativity. Lastly, we offer several propositions to guide future research.

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