When Can One Requirement Override Another?

I argue that any theory of moral obligation must be able toexplain two things: why we cannot be thrust into a moraldilemma through no fault of our own, and why we can get intoa moral dilemma through our own negligence. The most intuitivetheory of moral obligation cannot do so. However, I offer atheory of moral obligation that satisfies both of these criteria,one that is founded on the principle that if you are required todo something, then you would be blameworthy for failing to do it.I conclude by relating these results to the current literatureon moral dilemmas.     

Cyberbullying: Another main type of bullying?

Cyberbullying has recently emerged as a new form of bullying and harassment. 360 adolescents (12-20 years), were surveyed to examine the nature and extent of cyberbullying in Swedish schools. Four categories of cyberbullying (by text message, email, phone call and picture/video clip) were examined in relation to age and gender, perceived impact, telling others, and perception of adults becoming aware of such bullying. There was a significant incidence of cyberbullying in lower secondary schools, less in sixth-form colleges. Gender differences were few. The impact of cyberbullying was perceived as highly negative for picture/video clip bullying. Cybervictims most often chose to either tell their friends or no one at all about the cyberbullying, so adults may not be aware of cyberbullying, and (apart from picture/video clip bullying) this is how it was perceived by pupils. Findings are discussed in relation to similarities and differences between cyberbullying and the more traditional forms of bullying.     

The major's therapy: Ernest Hemingway's “In Another Country”

“In Another Country” draws upon Hemingway's experiences during World War I. Narrated by a wounded young American, this story is a parable of early machine-rehabilitation therapy, one in which the strong optimism of a physician employing new machines is contrasted with the skepticism of an Italian major (“the greatest fencer in Italy”) who, disbelieving in the machines, nevertheless comes regularly for therapy to his hand. That daily attendance is interrupted only when the major's young wife dies suddenly. The major, who had instructed the American never to put himself “in a position to lose,” has himself just “lost” the wife he had married when he felt sure that his own wounding had effectively taken him out of danger of being killed at the front. His continued stoicism offers the young soldier an example of ethical and moral behavior, for after her funeral he resumes his daily routine of machine-therapy. Seen against the ineffectiveness of the machines, the major's behavior seems to offer an example of the only “therapy” possible in this world of wounds and machines.     

Does Exercising with Another Enhance the Stress-Reducing Benefits of Exercise?

This study sought to determine if the stress-reducing benefits of exercise are improved by exercising with others rather than alone. One hundred and thirty-six participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring levels of tension, calmness, energy, and tiredness before exercise, immediately following exercise, and later that day before bedtime. Participants exercised on a laboratory stationary bicycle for 30 minutes at moderate intensity either alone, with another person while talking, or with another person while remaining silent. A series of ANOVA procedures revealed that participants generally experienced more energy and calmness and less tiredness after exercise. Furthermore, exercising with someone resulted in more calmness but also more tiredness than when exercising alone. Males generally reported more positive psychological effects than females. Results suggest that exercise with someone may be calming but more tiring due to a potential increased competition or workload.     

Another look at the ‘learned Tracts published long since’

Abstract

Recent scholarship has largely ignored Henry Jacob’s contribution to Richard Hooker’s early reputation. This article demonstrates that Jacob not only read Hooker but also used the latter’s ideas for rhetorical purposes in order to gain polemical advantage over his conformist opponents. This study draws on overlooked references to Hooker in three Jacob writings (1604–09). A dissenter believing that the Hampton Court Conference had failed to implement adequate reform, Jacob approached Hooker’s conformist text from a critical vantage point. Since Hooker was clearly a source of learning and inspiration for Jacob’s conformist opponents, Jacob understood Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie as a threat to his campaign for further reform. Thus, while Jacob had little appreciation for Hooker’s ecclesiology and conformity, he nonetheless used the Lawes rhetorically to gain polemical advantage over admirers of Hooker. Evidence from Jacob’s works also indicates that Hooker had a posthumous reputation for irenicism. Moreover, Jacob’s polemics would indicate that Hooker’s Lawes has been underappreciated by those who study the ecclesiastical debates in the early years of King James I’s reign.     

Another look at impulsivity: Could impulsive behavior be strategic?

In the present article, we propose that impulsive behavior may be a response to certain needs or goals that people have in the moment and could therefore be strategic. We review briefly the dominant approaches and findings in the impulsivity literature. We then examine different behaviors that are typically considered impulsive such as delay discounting, risky sexual behavior, risk taking in the context of emotion dysregulation, and adolescent risk behavior and present evidence suggesting that they follow the general principles of goal pursuit. Specifically, they are (a) enacted when perceived as relevant to the individual's motivation; (b) less likely when alternative means to fulfill these goals are available; and (c) supported rather than reduced by sufficient executive control, a hallmark of goal pursuit. We do not argue that there is no impulsive behavior. Rather, we suggest that such behavior may represent individuals' attempts to fulfill current motivations or needs. This approach emphasizes the functionality and dynamism of the behavior, it provides a framework to explain the inconsistencies in the literature, it helps us to move away from pathologizing or moralizing the behavior, and it provides insights about potential strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of acting impulsively.     

“I and thou”: Another barrier to societal change?

The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive barriers to the incorporation of information about societal discrimination against groups of which the individual is a member. Information about discrimination, personal efficacy, and the control of reality was presented to comparable groups of students enrolled in courses on women. Items were phrased either in terms of the self (first-person singular) or generically (in the third person). The results showed that individuals are more aware of discrimination against others than against themselves, and are more likely to attribute personal efficacy and control to themselves than to others. It is suggested that the differential use of identical information when applied to the self vs others is a cognitive mechanism that leads people to ignore evidence about sociostructural biases that affect themselves.     

Another language,another place: To hide or be found?

The author examines some specifi c features of the analytic encounter when both patient and analyst are émigrés from the same cultural and linguistic background. This can result in splitting processes that operate silently and are diffi cult to reach, but can also provide rich material, as they offer the couple the opportunity to work through the pain and the guilt over what is lost—ultimately the lost mother—murdered and betrayed. Working through the split faces the analyst with important technical considerations, bearing in mind that the shared cultural identity can conceal itself in the more undifferentiated features of the couple's psyche and be projected on to the setting. As such, it needs to be put to analytic scrutiny if the treatment is to avoid a stalemate. These are specifi c cultural defences deployed in the problematic existential encounter with the foreigner other within oneself. Using clinical material from two cases, the author shows how the couple's access to a dual linguistic signifying system can enrich the analytic dialogue, but can also result in enactment. Careful monitoring of the transference-countertransference relationship is essential to the progress of the analytic work.     

As Good as GOLD: Gram–Schmidt Orthogonalization by Another Name

Generalized orthogonal linear derivative (GOLD) estimates were proposed to correct a problem of correlated estimation errors in generalized local linear approximation (GLLA). This paper shows that GOLD estimates are related to GLLA estimates by the Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization process. Analytical work suggests that GLLA estimates are derivatives of an approximating polynomial and GOLD estimates are linear combinations of these derivatives. A series of simulation studies then further investigates and tests the analytical properties derived. The first study shows that when approximating or smoothing noisy data, GLLA outperforms GOLD, but when interpolating noisy data GOLD outperforms GLLA. The second study shows that when data are not noisy, GLLA always outperforms GOLD in terms of derivative estimation. Thus, when data can be smoothed or are not noisy, GLLA is preferred whereas when they cannot then GOLD is preferred. The last studies show situations where GOLD can produce biased estimates. In spite of these possible shortcomings of GOLD to produce accurate and unbiased estimates, GOLD may still provide adequate or improved model estimation because of its orthogonal error structure. However, GOLD should not be used purely for derivative estimation because the error covariance structure is irrelevant in this case. Future research should attempt to find orthogonal polynomial derivative estimators that produce accurate and unbiased derivatives with an orthogonal error structure.     

Yet Another Revised DDE? A Note on David K. Chan's DDEd

David K. Chan wants to save the DDE from the considerable criticism levelled against it, by making the moral distinction it refers to rest on a difference in desire instead of in intention. I argue that the revised version, too, is counter-intuitive and confuses the blameworthiness of an actor with the wrongness of the act. It also invites abuse instead of preventing it. Besides, Chan's DDE omits three of the four criteria of the traditional DDE, and it is couched in terms of lesser objectionability, while the traditional DDE is couched in terms of permission. Therefore, Chan's DDE has so little in common with the traditional DDE that it should not even count as a revised version of it.     

Just Another Face in the Crowd? Distinctiveness Seeking in Sweden and Britain

Previous literature on the impact of culture on distinctiveness seeking shows diverging predictions and inconclusive results. We propose that this may be partly due to the fact that distinctiveness can be sought on various levels of awareness. We theorize that cultural values will influence explicit, intentional forms of distinctiveness seeking, but will not necessarily moderate the underlying strength of the identity motive for distinctiveness. Participants in the UK and Sweden completed a measure of cultural values and explicit and implicit measures of distinctiveness seeking. National differences were found in two explicit measures of distinctiveness seeking, and these were partially mediated by individual differences in value priorities. However, no difference was found in our implicit measure of the distinctiveness motive. These findings highlight the importance of attending to the multi-faceted and culturally flexible nature of identity motives.     

Lose One Another ... and Find One Another in Nanospace. ‘Nanotechnologies for Tomorrow’s Society: A Case for Reflective Action Research in Flanders (NanoSoc)’

The main objective of the Flemish research project ‘Nanotechnologies for tomorrow’s society’ (NanoSoc) is to develop and try out an interactive process as a suitable methodology for rendering nanoresearchers aware of underlying assumptions that guide nanotech research and integrating social considerations into the research choices they face. In particular, the NanoSoc process should sustain scientists’ capacities to address growing uncertainties on the strategic, scientific and public acceptance level. The article elaborates on these uncertainties and involved dilemmas scientists are facing and proposes a process approach which addresses strategic uncertainty by alternating between ‘visioning’ and ‘technology assessment’; a process design which manages complexity by promoting reflexivity among scientists by exposing them to deliberations in civil society (social experts, stakeholders, citizens) on plausible futures with nanotechnologies; and as an answer to societal ambivalence, certain process quality requirements such as an attitude of perplexity or openness towards ‘plurality’ and an attitude of ‘temporary closure’, both in support of understanding and learning from differences.

Another look at “tummy time” for primary plagiocephaly prevention and motor development

It is three decades since it was recommended that infants sleep on the back to reduce risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). The SUID prevention program is known as “back to sleep” or “safe sleeping”, and this initiative is not questioned. Sleeping on the back is associated with, but not the cause of, the development of infant positional plagiocephaly, also known as deformational or a non-synostotic misshapen head when the skull sutures are open, not fused. This paper provides a synthesis of the history and impact of positional plagiocephaly. It includes a scoping review of plagiocephaly prevention facilitating motor development and reveals few articles on primary prevention which aims to prevent it developing in the first place. It is concerning that preschool-aged children with a history of infant plagiocephaly continued to receive lower developmental scores, particularly in motor development, than unaffected controls, and this may be a marker of developmental delay. Tummy-time (prone) for play is the mainstay of plagiocephaly prevention advice to minimize development of plagiocephaly and to facilitate infant motor development, particularly head control. While tummy-time has shown benefit for infant development, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in preventing plagiocephaly and some evidence that it promotes only prone-specific motor skills. Most of the published literature is concerned with treatment post-diagnosis, in the form of reviews, or clinical notes. There is a plethora of opinion articles reinforcing tummy-time from birth for plagiocephaly prevention. The review shows that there are gaps in advice for early infant development of head control. An accepted test of head control in infants is “pull to sit” from supine which demonstrates antigravity strength of the neck flexors and coordination of the head and neck when the infant is drawn to sit from supine. This motor skill was cited as achievable by 4 months in the earliest paper on plagiocephaly in 1996. Physical therapists and others should revisit the mechanism of early infant head control development against gravity, particularly antigravity head, neck and trunk coordinated flexion movement in supine, as there has been little attention to early facilitation of this motor skill as a plagiocephaly prevention strategy. This may be achieved by considering “face time” as well as tummy time for primary prevention of plagiocephaly.     

Another wrinkle on the dual-task SRT experiment: It’s probably not dual task

In the standard serial reaction time (SRT) experiment, subjects are required to respond rapidly to a structured sequence of visual targets. Evidence that subjects have acquired knowledge of the structure is obtained by modifying the structured nature of the sequence and noting whether reaction times increase. In the dual-task SRT experiment, a “secondary” tone-counting task is introduced, and the extent to which learning of the “primary” target sequence is compromised is noted. Here we present data that strongly imply that while the psychologists who designed this “dual-task” experiment may have viewed it this way, this may not be the best way to characterize it. The suggestion is that this “duality” is illusory and that we should probably be treating the tone-counting task as a potential source of additional patterns of covariation in a complex, multicomponent display and not as a “secondary,” attention-diverting factor.     

Another fundamental social category? Spontaneous categorization of people who uphold or violate moral norms

Studies of social categorization have shown that humans robustly categorize others along dimensions of sex, age, kinship, and coalition. Drawing on a functional perspective, we predicted that humans should also categorize others along the dimension of morality (i.e., violating vs. upholding moral norms). In a study employing the memory confusion paradigm, university undergraduate participants (N = 39) were presented with same-sex targets randomly matched with sentences indicating violation or upholding of moral norms, and with sentences indicating competence or incompetence. Results showed that participants spontaneously categorized along morality but not along competence, suggesting that morality (beyond general valence) may be an important dimension of social categorization.     

‘As in a Mirror’: Jonathan Edwards,Self-Love and Enlarging to Receive Another

Through a robust deployment of visual metaphors, Jonathan Edwards’s theology utilizes notions of vision to articulate his doctrine of God, creation, anthropology, redemption and ultimately glorification. Focusing on anthropology, this article attends to how human beings are constituted through sight, and reconstituted (i.e. regenerated) as they are contemplated in the Son and as they are given a vision of the Father in the Son by the Spirit of illumination. Put differently, Edwards’s anthropology is ordered around its teleology of becoming like God only if one can ‘see him as he is’ (1 Jn 3:2), which is anticipated by faith in this present age and ‘through a mirror dimly’ (1 Jn 13:12). After mooring his anthropology to broader theological concerns, the article narrows to consider how Edwards’s idiosyncratic personalism is developed around the notion of a ‘reflective self’ that can enlarge to internalize an ‘other’. Clarifying this notion is a brief comparison of a similar construction in Thomas Aquinas, showing how Edwards’s theory of loving neighbor as oneself is a unique contribution to questions concerning personhood, self-love and neighbor-love.     

The octopus and the child—Another perspective on American culture: A commentary on Stearns

Stearns argues that, in the twentieth century, American parents increasingly treated their children as frail and vulnerable. But the parental protectiveness that he describes is only one part of the story. Some American parents did hover over their children; others ignored, neglected, or abused them. Some did shore up their suspect self-esteem; others trusted in their strength and sturdiness and even demanded a new toughness and competitiveness. American culture is more complicated and contested than Stearns allows.