Artificial life and ‘nature’s purposes’: The question of behavioral autonomy

This paper investigates the concept of behavioral autonomy in Artificial Life by drawing a parallel to the use of teleological notions in the study of biological life. Contrary to one of the leading assumptions in Artificial Life research, I argue that there is a significant difference in how autonomous behavior is understood in artificial and biological life forms: the former is underlain by human goals in a way that the latter is not. While behavioral traits can be explained in relation to evolutionary history in biological organisms, in synthetic life forms behavior depends on a design driven by a research agenda, further shaped by broader human goals. This point will be illustrated with a case study on a synthetic life form. Consequently, the putative epistemic benefit of reaching a better understanding of behavioral autonomy in biological organisms by synthesizing artificial life forms is subject to doubt: the autonomy observed in such artificial organisms may be a mere projection of human agency. Further questions arise in relation to the need to spell out the relevant human aims when addressing potential social or ethical implications of synthesizing artificial life forms.

Ψυχολογικοί και κοινωνικοψυχολογικοί συσχετιστικοί παράγοντες της ηθικότητας στην εφηβεία: τυπολογική προσέγγιση

The purpose of the present study was to explore the moral schemas of adolescents in relation to psychological and social-psychological factors. The theoretical background derives from the neo-Kolbergian approach, which proposes four psychological processes of moral behavior (moral sensitivity, moral motivation, moral character, moral judgment) and three operating levels of moral judgment (codes of conduct, intermediate beliefs, moral schemas). In addition, we rely on the assumption that morality, like every developmental goal, is shaped by the dynamic interplay of individual/psychological and social psychological factors. A person-centered approach was adopted. Apart from the adolescents’ moral schemas, measures also included psychological identity, behavioral autonomy, locus of control, and beliefs about justice. The sample consisted of 369 Senior High School students (58% female, 77% living in the wider Athens metropolitan area). The psychometric tools were drawn from recent international studies and were culturally adapted into Greek. The results generally confirmed the main research hypotheses. More complex moral schemas were associated with more mature psychological identity types, higher behavioral autonomy with parental consent, internal locus of control, and lower general belief in a just world.

Parenting and Healthy Teenage Lifestyles

How can one promote adolescent adjustment toward a healthy lifestyle? The first step is to locate the healthy habit configuration within the family environment. The hypothesis is that, if adolescent lifestyles are assumed autonomously during adolescence, then it is very likely that they will last throughout life. How does this relate to parenting styles? After reviewing the literature of the last four decades on adolescent behavioral autonomy and scientific articles that link healthy lifestyles with parenting, several conclusions have been reached, such as the relevance of recovering the biopsychosocial richness of healthy lifestyles, the need to use a dialogue strategy to resolve discrepancies between adolescents and their parents, and the adequacy of the personalistic parenting style to promote adjusted adolescent behavioral autonomy, and with it maintain healthy lifestyles in the long term.

How Cooperation Reinforces Conflict Over Time

Managing projects raises multiple tensions such as the need to balance cooperativeness and assertiveness. By adopting a process perspective, we analyze why a project group consisting of three heterogeneous subgroups is failing to uphold such balance over time. Instead, overemphasizing cooperativeness in the early phases of the project led to over-assertiveness and escalation of group conflict. We identify three mechanisms for reinforcing dynamics. First, we find that subgroups overestimate other subgroups’ behavioral autonomy, which promotes holding simplified, negative images of each other. Second, subgroups adopt vertical disidentification when they define their own particular role. Third, cooperativeness conceals pejorative perceptions.

The development of adolescent behavioral autonomy and parental control on the example of independent city movements

The article is centered on the disclosure of links between the formation of child behavioral autonomy (self-reliance), manifested in independent movements around the city, and parental practices, primarily – the practice of controlling and supporting the autonomy of the child. It has been found that a number of environmental factors influence the way parents perceive the environment and, as a result, how early and freely they allow children to move around the territory without adult supervision. Also, the socio-economic status of the family, the number of children, their gender, age and the subjective assessment of their maturity by parents have an impact on the accessibility of independent movements for children. Empirical evidence confirms that different forms of control – behavioral, providing the activity framework, and manipulative (psychological) aimed at tracking a child's thoughts and experiences – have different effects on a child's development. The perspective of empirical studies of independent movement of children is discussed.

STUDIU PRIVIND AGRESIVITATEA ȘI AUTONOMIA PERSONALĂ LA MILITARI ȘI PERSOANE CIVILE

This study aims to analyze the possible differences between the level of aggression and of personal autonomy among samples of civilian and military personnel from Romania. This study was attended by 103 people, including a group of 50 active militaries and a second group of 53 civilians working in different sectors of the civilian environment. The data obtained were quantitatively and qualitatively processed to accurately capture any identified differences. There were no statistically significant differences between the level of aggression and of personal autonomy in terms of military and civilians. However, differences have been identified in terms of a single dimension of personal autonomy, behavioral autonomy. Contrary to the stated hypothesis, the results indicate a higher level of behavioral autonomy in the military, compared to the civilians who participated to this study.

Perceived Availability of Office Shared Spaces and Workplace Sitting: Moderation by Organizational Norms and Behavioral Autonomy

A large amount of time spent sitting is a newly identified health risk. Although desk-based workers spend much of their time at work sitting, little is known about how office spaces may be related to workplace sitting time. This study examined cross-sectional associations of the perceived availability of office shared spaces with workers’ sitting time, and the potential role of workplace normative-social factors in the relationship. Participants ( N = 221) wore an activity monitor (activPAL3) and reported availability of shared spaces (for formal meetings, informal discussion, collaborative working), organizational norms, and workplace behavioral autonomy. No shared-space variables were associated with workplace sitting time. However, the perceived availability of sufficient informal discussion space was associated with lower levels of sitting among those who reported more-supportive organizational norms and greater behavioral autonomy. These findings highlight environmental, organizational, and psychosocial factors that will be important to address in future initiatives to reduce work place sitting time.

STUDIU PRIVIND AGRESIVITATEA ȘI AUTONOMIA PERSONALĂ LA MILITARI ȘI PERSOANE CIVILE

This study aims to analyze the possible differences between the level of aggression and of personal autonomy among samples of civilian and military personnel from Romania. This study was attended by 103 people, including a group of 50 active militaries and a second group of 53 civilians working in different sectors of the civilian environment. The data obtained were quantitatively and qualitatively processed to accurately capture any identified differences. There were no statistically significant differences between the level of aggression and of personal autonomy in terms of military and civilians. However, differences have been identified in terms of a single dimension of personal autonomy, behavioral autonomy. Contrary to the stated hypothesis, the results indicate a higher level of behavioral autonomy in the military, compared to the civilians who participated to this study.