Is a downwards head tilt a cross-cultural signal of dominance? Evidence for a universal visual illusion

The present pre-registered research provides the first evidence that a downwards head tilt is sufficient to communicate dominance from a neutral facial expression among the Mayangna, members of an unindustrialized, small-scale traditional society in Nicaragua who have had minimal exposure to North American culture. Consistent with the Action Unit imposter effect observed in North American populations (Witkower and Tracy in Psychol Sci 30:893–906, 2019), changes to the appearance of the upper face caused by a downwards head tilt were sufficient to elicit perceptions of dominance among this population. Given that the Mayangna are unlikely to associate a downwards head tilt or related apparent facial changes with dominance as a result of cross-cultural learning, the present results suggest that perceptions of dominance formed from a downwards head tilt, and the visual illusion shaping these perceptions, are a widely generalizable, and possibly universal, feature of human psychology.

The effect of Christianity on the tradition and culture of the Idoma people of Nigeria: A comparative study

Some of the traditions and cultural beliefs and practices of the Idoma people of Nigeria have been influenced both positively and negatively as a result of the advent of Christianity in the area. The aim of this research is to investigate some of the cultural beliefs and practices of the Idoma people before the advent of Christianity, the people’s response to the new faith and the propelling factors behind the responses of the people. In doing so, a comparative study on these beliefs and practices after the advent of Christianity in Idoma traditional society was done. The study adopts a qualitative phenomenological research design and descriptive method for data analysis. Personal interviews form a primary source of data collection, while the secondary source includes library sources. This method of study was chosen to allow the data collected to speak for themselves without any interference from the researchers. The study unveils that the advent of Christianity in the Idoma traditional society had some impact and consequences on the traditional and cultural practices of the people, such as death and burial ceremonies, the Aje-alekwu festival and widowhood practices among others. The study recommends that there should be a synergy between Idoma traditional beliefs and practices and Christianity for peaceful co-existence, progress and development in the area.Contribution: It is erroneously believed that in the contemporary society, traditional religious practices are going to die and become a thing of the past. However, one would observe from this study that Idoma people still hold their traditional beliefs and practices in high esteem despite the influence of Christianity in the area.

MOVING GAMES AND COMPETITIONS IN THE MEN'S SUBCULTURE OF TRADITIONAL OSSETIAN SOCIETY

Мужская субкультура и свойственные ей мировоззренческие установки имели особенно большое значение в жизни традиционного общества. В трансформированном виде мужская система ценностей, образ мышления и форма поведения, свойственные традиционному обществу, продолжают существовать и в современном обществе. Этим обусловлена актуальность всестороннего изучения мужских субкультур традиционного общества. Комплексное исследование традиционных мужских субкультур важно для осмысления скрытых тенденций эволюции и объективного восприятия принципов развития современного общества. В значительной степени мужская субкультура проявляется в бытовавших в мужской среде состязаниях, играх и забавах. В настоящей работе проанализированы традиционные осетинские мужские игры и состязания, характерными элементами которых были быстрое передвижение, бег, лазанье, прыжки. Научная новизна определяется тем, что данная работа является первым комплексным исследованием подвижных мужских игр на осетинском материале. Источником при разработке поставленной проблемы послужили этнографический материал и фольклорные тексты. В данной статье выявлены и рассмотрены наиболее распространенные среди осетинского мужского населения состязания и игры, предполагавшие быстрое передвижение; отмечены стереотипы мужского поведения во время участия в исследуемых состязаниях и играх; проанализированы видоизменения, встречающиеся в некоторых из мужских игр и состязаний; выявлено влияние подвижных игр и состязаний на укрепление внутригрупповой солидарности в мужских коллективах в традиционном обществе; определено военно-прикладное значение некоторых из рассмотренных игр и состязаний; установлено существование корреляционной зависимости между религиозно-магическими обрядами и традиционными мужскими играми в традиционном осетинском обществе; определено воздействие трансформаций в общественном сознании на мужские состязания и стереотипы мужского игрового поведения. The men’s subculture and its inherent ideological attitudes were especially important in the life of the traditional society. In a transformed form, the men’s value system, way of thinking and form of behavior inherent in traditional society continue to exist in the modern society. This explains the relevance of a comprehensive study of men’s subcultures of the traditional society. A comprehensive study of traditional men’s subcultures is important for understanding the hidden trends of evolution and the objective perception of the principles of development of the modern society. To a large extent, the men’s subculture manifests itself in the competitions, games and amusements that existed in the men’s environment. This work analyzes Ossetian traditional men's games and competitions, a characteristic element of which was fast movement, running, climbing, jumping. The scientific novelty is determined by the fact that this work is the first comprehensive study of active men’s games based on the Ossetian material. Ethnographic material, folklore texts served as a source in the development of the problem posed. This article identifies and examines the most common competitions and games among the Ossetian men’s population, which involved fast movement; noted stereotypes of men’s behavior during participation in the reviewed competitions and games; analyzed the modifications found in some of the men's games and competitions; the influence of active games and competitions on the strengthening the intragroup solidarity in men's teams in the traditional society was revealed; the military-applied significance of some of the games and competitions considered is determined; the existence of a correlation between religious and magical rituals and traditional men’s games in the traditional Ossetian society has been established; the impact of transformations in public consciousness on men’s competitions and stereotypes of men’s play behavior is determined.

Exploring the Possible Contributions of the African Palaver towards a Participatory Synodal Church

This essay argues for a participatory synodal Church and the possible contributions of the African palaver as a model for participatory dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church. The African palaver is the art of conversation, dialogue, and consensus-building in traditional society that can be appropriated in the current search for a more inclusive and expansive participatory dialogue at all levels of the life of the Church. I will develop this essay first by briefly exploring some theological developments on synodality between the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis and some of the contributions of the reforms of Pope Francis to synodality in the Church. Secondly, I will identify how the African palaver functions through examples taken from two African ethnic groups. I will proceed to show how the African palaver could enter into dialogue with other new approaches to participatory dialogue for a synodal Church.

E.G. PCHELINA ON SLAVERY IN THE OSSETIAN TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

Настоящая статья предлагает публикацию очерка подготовленного известным осетиноведом Евгенией Георгиевной Пчелиной (1895–1972) и до сегодняшнего дня остававшегося не опубликованным. Рукопись не завершена полностью и хранится в архивном фонде Е.Г. Пчелиной в Санкт-Петербургском филиале Архива РАН (фонд № 1017). Рукопись состоит из 11 листов, ее научный аппарат составлен на отдельных карточках. Изучение архивного материала позволило сформировать относительно завершенный очерк и частично восстановить научный аппарат к нему. Текст посвящен вопросу рабства и продажи в плен в традиционном осетинском обществе и был написан для докторской диссертации, которую Пчелина готовила в течение ряда лет, но защита которой так и не состоялась. Удалось восстановить круг научных работ и источниковую базу, на основе которых был написан этот очерк Пчелиной. В статье предложена датировка этой работы – не позднее 1953 г. В публикуемом очерке Пчелиной изложены вопросы осетинской терминологии по изучаемой проблеме, описаны категории рабов, отношение в обществе к разным категориям рабов, способы пленения и доставки в дома пленных, невольничьи рынки на территории Осетии и соседних земель, стоимость рабов и др. Это исследование содержит все те черты, которые являются характерными для научного творчества Пчелиной: прекрасное знание научных работ и использование широкого круга источников, с обязательным обращением к фольклорному материалу и сведениям, полученным от информантов. This article proposes the publication of an essay written by the famous scholar of Ossetian studies Evgenia Georgievna Pchelina (1895–1972); this work has remained unpublished until today. The manuscript is not fully completed and is kept in the archive fund of E.G. Pchelina in the St. Petersburg Branch of the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences (fond No. 1017). The manuscript consists of 11 sheets, its scientific apparatus is compiled on separate cards. The study of archival material made it possible to form a relatively complete text of the essay and partially restore the scientific apparatus to it. The text is devoted to the issue of slavery and captivity in the traditional Ossetian society and was written for a doctoral dissertation, which Pchelina had been preparing for a number of years, but the defense of which has never taken place. It was possible to restore the range of scientific works and the source base used by Pchelina for this essay. The article suggests the dating of this work – no later than 1953. In the essay by Pchelina under consideration, the issues of Ossetian terminology on the studied problem is presented, the categories of slaves, the attitude in society to different categories of slaves, methods of captivity and delivery to the homes of prisoners, slave markets on the territory of Ossetia and neighboring lands, the cost of slaves, etc. are described. This work of Pchelina contains all the features that are characteristic of her scientific creativity: excellent knowledge of scientific works and the use of a wide range of sources, with mandatory reference to folklore material and data received from informants.

Price Paid by Common Mass due to Cultural Clashes among our Societies

A society may be classified as traditional, modern or post-modern. Traditional society lays emphasis on religion and magic in behavioural norms and values, implying connection yawning acquaintances with a authentic or illusory past. It broadly accepts rituals, sacrifices and holy feasts. Modernity is considerable break with traditional society. Modern society focuses on science and cause. Post-modern society or late modernity, concentrate on decisive consciousness and is anxious about the destructive belongings of practical science on nature, environment and humanity.

POWER GAMES IN THE MEN’S SUBCULTURE OF THE TRADITIONAL OSSETIAN SOCIETY

Мировоззренческие установки, характерные для мужской субкультуры, являются важными элементами духовной культуры традиционного общества. В силу доминирующего положения мужчин в традиционном обществе их система ценностей оказывала большое влияние на весь социум. Мужские ценности и нормы поведения, характерные для традиционного общества, в трансформированном виде существуют и в современном обществе. Вследствие этого комплексное исследование мужской субкультуры прошлого необходимо для объективного понимания путей развития и выявления скрытых тенденций в эволюции современного общества. В значительной мере мужская субкультура отражена в бытовавших среди мужского населения каждого этноса традиционных играх, забавах и развлечениях. В предлагаемой статье на осетинском материале рассмотрены традиционные силовые игры как один из аспектов мужской субкультуры. Научная новизна определяется тем, что настоящая работа является первым комплексным исследованием мужских силовых игр у осетин. Источниками при разработке поставленной проблемы послужили этнографический материал, фольклорные тексты и данные осетинского языка. В ходе исследования рассмотрены бытовавшие в прошлом у осетин игры и состязания, требовавшие от участников значительной физической активности, мышечной силы и силы духа. Выявлены варианты некоторых из рассматриваемых игр и состязаний и их деление на индивидуальные, парные и групповые. Определены место и роль силовых игр и состязаний в мужской субкультуре осетин. Рассмотрены стереотипы поведения мужчин при проведении различных силовых состязаний. Установлено воздействие силовых игр на упрочение мужской коллективной идентичности в традиционном обществе. Обосновано наличие тесной связи между мужскими силовыми играми и магическо-ритуальными церемониями в традиционном осетинском обществе. The ideological attitudes characteristic of the men’s subculture are important elements in the structure of traditional society. Due to the dominant position of men in a traditional society, their value system exerted great influence on the entire society. Men’s values and norms of behavior characteristic of a traditional society in a transformed form exist in the modern society as well. As a result, a comprehensive study of the men’s subculture of the past is necessary for an objective understanding of the ways of development and identification of hidden trends in the evolution of modern society. To a large extent, the men’s subculture is reflected in traditional games, amusements and entertainment that existed among the men’s population of each ethnic group. This article examines traditional power games as one of the aspects of the men’s subculture based on the Ossetian material. The scientific novelty is determined by the fact that this work is the first comprehensive study of men’s power games among the Ossetians. Ethnographic material, folklore texts and data of the Ossetian language served as the sources for the development of the problem. In the course of the research, the Ossetians in the past were considered games and competitions, which required from the participants significant physical activity, muscle strength and fortitude. Variants of some of the games and competitions under consideration have been established and their division into individual, pair and group ones. The place and role of power games and competitions in the men’s subculture of Ossetians has been determined. Stereotypes of men's behavior during various power competitions are considered. The influence of power games on strengthening men’s collective identity in the traditional society has been established. The presence of a close connection between men’s power games and magic-ritual ceremonies in the traditional Ossetian society was revealed.

Cultural Dynamics of Women Population as Inheritable Property in Anambra Traditional Society in South-Eastern Nigeria: Implications for Women’s Health

The study examined the practice of women as inheritable property among the Anambra Igbo. This was with a view to analysing how this practice has impacted on women’s population health and ascertain whether there have been changes in this practice. Feminism theory was employed to explain the inferior social status, subordination and exclusion of women population from partaking in the societal resources such as family property. This paper argued that women’s lack of access to inheritable property is the cause of women’s poverty and their poor health in Igboland. The study indicated that women are seen and treated as property and that women are inherited by their husbands’ kinsmen at the death of their husbands. The study also revealed neglect in the welfare of the widow and her children for her refusal to observe certain cultural but inhumane practice. The study also revealed that some communities practice widow cleansing in which the village deity priest must have sex with the widow after the burial of her husband so that she should be allowed to stay in that community. The study recommended that women as inheritable property have economic and health implications for all women in Igboland whether they are widowed, married or single. The study concluded that the concept of women as inheritable property impoverishes women and constitutes a barrier to women’s attainment of their full potentials in Igboland, and it has serious implications for their health.

INSTITUTE OF LEVIRATE IN INDIVIDUAL MOUNTAIN SOCIETIES OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS (ERRORS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE CHECHEN PEOPLE)

В данной статье приводятся примеры исторического искажения некоторых правовых институтов возникновения семейных правоотношений между чеченцами и возникшего в результате заблуждения. Выдающиеся российские кавказоведы второй половины XIX века относят широкое распространение левирата у чеченцев как одну из основных форм брака. Основным из посылов научного исследования будет являться постижение данной проблематики с учетом более глубокого критического изучения и анализа уже существующих работ в области кавказоведения, а также через прямые векторы информации - через непосредственных носителей информации, самих представителей традиционного общества. This article provides examples of the historical distortion of some legal institutions of the emergence of family legal relations between Chechens and the resulting delusion. Prominent Russian Caucasian scholars of the second half of the 19th century consider the widespread use of levirate among Chechens as one of the main forms of marriage. The main message of scientific research will be the comprehension of this problem, taking into account a deeper critical study and analysis of already existing works in the field of Caucasian studies, as well as through direct vectors of information - through direct carriers of information, representatives of traditional society themselves.

Contribution of the Kazakh intelligentsia to the transformation of society in the XIX-XX centuries

В данной статье рассматривается существенный вклад казахской интеллигенции в развитии и модернизации общества во время переломного этапа в развитии Казахстана. В современном обществе тенденции развития направлены на глобальность и единообразие культур, которые набирают обороты во многих государствах. Эти государства стараются не потерять свое единство и обращаются к истокам. Казахстан прошел несколько этапов переустройства, во время которых образованная часть населения, а именно казахская интеллигенция сыграла важнейшую роль в преодолении кризисных ситуации. В период присоединения Казахстана к России конца XIX- начало XX веков потребовалось сохранить национальное, историческое и культурное наследия и отвоевать свою независимость. Именно на данном этапе казахская интеллигенция достигла основных результатов в изменении традиционного общества путем «совершенствовании» самосознания. Актуальность статьи обусловлена тем, что и на данном этапе, постсоветский Казахстан часто обращается к началу XX века, когда интеллигенция боролась за независимость, за модернизацию сознания традиционного общества, поэтому изучение этого опыта позволит ответить на многие вызовы современности. Цель статьи заключается в выявлении участия и вклада интеллигенции в переустройстве и развитии общества начала XX века. Таким образом, статья посвящена исследованию того, каким образом казахской интеллигенции удалось привнести новые элементы в традиционное общество и сформировать особую идентичность казахов. This article examines the significant contribution of the Kazakh intelligentsia to the development and modernization of society during a critical stage in the development of Kazakhstan. In modern society, development trends are aimed at globality and uniformity of cultures, which are gaining momentum in many states. These states try not to lose their unity and turn to the sources. Kazakhstan has gone through several stages of reconstruction, during which the educated part of the population, namely the Kazakh intelligentsia, played a crucial role in overcoming crisis situations. During the period of Kazakhstan's accession to Russia in the late XIX- early XX centuries, it was necessary to preserve the national, historical and cultural heritage and win back its independence. It was at this stage that the Kazakh intelligentsia achieved the main results in changing the traditional society by "improving" self-awareness. The relevance of the article is due to the fact that at this stage, post-Soviet Kazakhstan often refers to the beginning of the XX century, when the intelligentsia fought for independence, for the modernization of the consciousness of traditional society, therefore, the study of this experience will allow us to answer many challenges of modernity. The purpose of the article is to identify the participation and contribution of the intelligentsia in the reconstruction and development of society at the beginning of the XX century. Thus, the article is devoted to the study of how the Kazakh intelligentsia managed to introduce new elements into traditional society and form a special identity of the Kazakhs.