Seeing the Best or Worst in Others: A Measure of Generalized Other-Perceptions

How positively or negatively people generally view others is key for understanding personality, social behavior, and psychopathology. Previous research has measured generalized other-perceptions by relying on either explicit self-reports or judgments made in group settings. With the current research, we overcome the limitations of these past approaches by introducing a novel measurement instrument for generalized other-perceptions: the Online-Tool for Assessing Perceiver Effects (O-TAPE). By assessing perceivers’ first impressions of a standardized set of target people displayed in social network profiles or short video sequences, the O-TAPE captures individual differences in the positivity of other-perceptions. In Study 1 ( n = 219), the instrument demonstrated good psychometric properties and correlations with related constructs. Study 2 ( n = 142) replicated these findings and also showed that the O-TAPE predicted other-perceptions in a naturalistic group setting. Study 3 ( n = 200) refined the nomological network of the construct and demonstrated that the O-TAPE is invulnerable to effects of social desirability.

Scientific transactions: networks and hierarchies in social Sciences

How does the scientific "kitchen" - this question is devoted to the book. On the example of the situation in the economic Sciences and a number of other social Sciences, the organization of scientific transactions with North America and Russia is considered and compared. It is shown how scientists interact with colleagues and students in the immediate vicinity and with the "generalized Other", that is, with the readers of their works. Particular attention is paid to conflicts of interest and their impact on the review process and productivity of scientific work.

The role of the public in the French nuclear sector: the case of “Local Information Commissions” (CLIs) for nuclear activities

This dissertation seeks to understand what role the public plays, through CLIs (Commission of Local Information), in the governance of nuclear safety. It presents an in-depth longitudinal case from the French nuclear sector and proposes a pragmatist framework to study the construction and maintenance of the public over time. The author analyzes the circumstances in which the people potentially impacted by nuclear activities can become active participants in the governance of such high-risk industries, and how they can organize themselves and build a common voice. The dissertation establishes that when CLIs play both the role of a “Generalized Other” representing the public’s voice, and the role of a civil provider of second opinions, able to discuss the complex subjects at stake, they become a powerful and legitimate stakeholder in nuclear safety governance. In such circumstances, CLIs should be able to conduct investigations that are both commonsensical and technical. These characteristics would make CLI-led investigations all the more rich and useful for the governance of nuclear safety. The technical aspect (with the help of experts and specialists) would reinforce the legitimacy of such investigations in the eyes of nuclear actors, and their commonsensical or “layman’s view” aspect would provide an alternative view of nuclear questions in the safety debate, potentially leading to creative ways of addressing the issues and situations at stake.

Attitudes towards new romantic relationships

This chapter investigates the attitudes of older people towards intimate relationships in later life by asking two central questions: (1) Attitudes to what? For example marriage, dating, a romantic partner, living together or apart? Attitudes may well differ strongly depending on what one is asking about. (2) The attitudes of whom? Women or men? Divorcees, widowed or never married people? Singles, LATs, cohabitants or marrieds? Older people themselves or those in their surroundings, such as children, relatives or the generalized other? Attitudes are likely to depend on who the persons holding the attitudes are and what their experiences are. Finally, the chapter uses Swedish data to update and fill in some of the gaps in previous research. By not focusing solely on marriage it shows that older people’s interest in repartnering is likely higher than what has been proposed before.

Transformations of Experience

This chapter treats Notes of a Blockade Person, a heterogeneous narrative in multiple parts that is not only Ginzburg's most important and famous “single” work, but also her most misinterpreted in terms of its genre—it is often taken for a diary or memoir. It conducts a detailed exploration of the layers of this palimpsest in order to identify more precisely the genre of Notes, an undertaking that crystallizes the central features of Ginzburg's writings as investigated throughout this book. Her techniques of self-distancing create a third-person narrative about a slightly generalized other, in a well-defined historical situation.