Writing on Self, Writing on the Other: Literary Journalism as Theoretical Parameter for the Biographical Genres

This text proposes a theoretical approach of the biographical genres from the field of Literary journalism, having in perspective the discursive possibilities involved in this narrative construction. The “writing of oneself” and the “writing of the other” pass through frontiers of discourse in which Literary journalism, as it has been conceived in the contemporary world, also moves. To improve this debate, we bring the knowledge of Narrative and New History theories, in which there is an intense discussion about the work that unites objective data of reality and the capacity to elaborate a discourse that deepens in subjectivities. Our central argument is that Literary journalism, when articulated with biographical texts, can contribute to the theorizing and production of works of these genres.Este texto propõe uma abordagem teórica dos gêneros biográficos a partir do campo do jornalismo literário, tendo em perspectivas as possibilidades discursivas envolvidas nessa construção narrativa. A escrita de si e a escrita do outro transitam por fronteiras do discurso em que o jornalismo literário, tal como tem sido concebido na contemporaneidade, também se movimenta. Para aprimorar este debate, trazemos os conhecimentos de teorias da narrativa e da nova história, em que há uma intensa discussão acerca do trabalho que une dados objetivos da realidade e a capacidade de elaborar um discurso que se aprofunda em subjetividades. Nosso argumento central é o de que o jornalismo literário, quando articulado com os textos biográficos, pode contribuir para a teorização e produção de trabalhos desses gêneros.Este texto propone un abordaje teórico de los géneros biográficos a partir del campo del periodismo literario, teniendo en perspectiva las posibilidades discursivas involucradas en esa construcción narrativa. La “escritura de sí” y la “escritura del otro” transitan por fronteras del discurso en que el periodismo literario, tal como ha sido concebido en la contemporaneidad, también se mueve. Para perfeccionar este debate, traemos los conocimientos de teorías de la narrativa y de la nueva historia, en que hay una intensa discusión acerca del trabajo que une datos objetivos de la realidad y la capacidad de elaborar un discurso que se profundiza en subjetividades. Nuestro argumento central es que el periodismo literario, cuando se articula con los textos biográficos, puede contribuir a la teorización y producción de trabajos de esos géneros.

Does observability affect prosociality?

The observation of behaviour is a key theoretical parameter underlying a number of models of prosociality. However, the empirical findings showing the effect of observability on prosociality are mixed. In this meta-analysis, we explore the boundary conditions that may account for this variability, by exploring key theoretical and methodological moderators of this link. We identified 117 papers yielding 134 study level effects (total n = 788 164) and found a small but statistically significant, positive association between observability and prosociality ( r = 0.141, 95% confidence interval = 0.106, 0.175). Moderator analysis showed that observability produced stronger effects on prosociality: (i) in the presence of passive observers (i.e. people whose role was to only observe participants) versus perceptions of being watched, (ii) when participants’ decisions were consequential (versus non-consequential), (iii) when the studies were performed in the laboratory (as opposed to in the field/online), (iv) when the studies used repeated measures (instead of single games), and (v) when the studies involved social dilemmas (instead of bargaining games). These effects show the conditions under which observability effects on prosociality will be maximally observed. We describe the theoretical and practical significance of these results.