Renunciation feminised? Joint renunciation of female–male pairs in Bengali Vaishnavism

The Indic category of renunciation is generally constructed in radical opposition to that of householder/worldly life (saḿsāra), by actors and analysts alike. Yet, as an institution, renunciation is also traditionally modelled on householder structures. It is created through an idiom of ‘birth’ into patrilines, albeit generated through ‘guru’ rather than ‘blood’ lineages. These contrary facets of renunciation feature in the unusual Bengali Vaishnava phenomenon of joint renunciation of a female–male pair. On the one hand joint renunciation is ostensibly a matter of death to one (householder) patriline and of birth into another (renouncer) patriline. In this sense it is a male-oriented phenomenon, replicating householder structures. On the other hand Vaishnava renouncers also construct renunciation in opposition to householder life, that is, in terms of liminality and transcendence of categories. These characteristics are in turn identified as ‘female’ and are associated with a high valuation of women. Renunciation has often been considered a conservative or marginal force in South Asian society, although a few scholars have argued for its radical potential among subaltern groups. Studies of female renouncers have shown that the price of greater autonomy conferred by renunciation is often the virtual denial of ‘womanhood’ itself. My intention here is to highlight a shift in balance, in which renunciation is feminised in significant respects, with potentially liberating results for women. This suggests indigenous sources for ideas of gender equality or even female superiority, normally assumed to be of ‘Western’ provenance.     

Learning what feelings to desire: socialization of ideal affect through children's storybooks

Previous findings suggest that cultural factors influence ideal affect (i.e., the affective states that people ideally want to feel). Three studies tested the hypothesis that cultural differences in ideal affect emerge early in life and are acquired through exposure to storybooks. In Study 1, the authors established that consistent with previous findings, European American preschoolers preferred excited (vs. calm) states more (indexed by activity and smile preferences) and perceived excited (vs. calm) states as happier than Taiwanese Chinese preschoolers. In Study 2, it was observed that similar differences were reflected in the pictures (activities, expressions, and smiles) of best-selling storybooks in the United States and Taiwan. Study 3 found that across cultures, exposure to exciting (vs. calm) storybooks altered children's preferences for excited (vs. calm) activities and their perceptions of happiness. These findings suggest that cultural differences in ideal affect may be due partly to differential exposure to calm and exciting storybooks.     

视觉的知觉-动作双系统理论中的论争

视觉的知觉-动作双系统理论认为,视觉的腹侧和背侧通路是两个独立系统,功能分别为表征世界和指导动作,相对应的视觉加工是彼此分离的。有关两条通路之间关系的其他观点可归结为两类：一类否认这种分工,另一类强调两个系统能相互影响。首先评述各种理论的核心问题、实验证据和贡献,进而分析视觉加工发生在一个特定系统的条件,得出的结论是：两个系统之间的功能划分是相对的,并因此导致了视觉加工的多变性。     

Self-esteem and depression in abusive,neglecting, and nonmaltreating mothers

Groups of 18 physically abusive mothers, 19 neglecting mothers, and their matched controls were compared on depression and self-esteem. The controls were matched on maternal age, ethnic background, and years of education. The physically abusive mothers had significantly higher levels of depression and lower self-esteem than did the matched controls. The neglecting mothers had higher levels of depression, but not lower self-esteem than did the matched controls. The abusive and neglecting mothers had very similar levels of depression and dissimilar levels of self-esteem. Ameliorating these psychological factors when working with maltreating mothers and their children should be one emphasis of treatment intervention programs.     

Correction to: “Till at last there remain nothing”

Synthese - The original article has been corrected. Erroneously, a comma and a space were added in line 164 to 500, 500, and the authors would like readers to know that this should instead read...     

Young Children Selectively Hide the Truth About Sensitive Topics

Starting in early childhood, children are socialized to be honest. However, they are also expected to avoid telling the truth in sensitive situations if doing so could be seen as inappropriate or impolite. Across two studies (total N = 358), the reasoning of 3- to 5-year-old children in such a scenario was investigated by manipulating whether the information in question would be helpful to the recipient. The studies used a reverse rouge paradigm, in which a confederate with a highly salient red mark on her nose asked children whether she looked okay prior to having her picture taken. In Study 1, children tended to tell the truth only if they were able to observe that the mark was temporary and the confederate did not know it was there. In Study 2, children tended to tell the truth only if they were able to observe that the mark could be concealed with makeup. These findings show that for children as young as age 3, decisions about whether to tell the truth are influenced by the likelihood that the information would be helpful to the recipient.     

人的设定与环境伦理理念

人的设定是指人对人自己的基本认识、定位、定性,及其在此基础上对人自己未来的展望、设计.人的设定与环境伦理理念具有密切的互动关系,这既可从理论上也可从环境伦理理念的变迁史上得以阐述.这样的互动关系研究,特有助于人们展望人的设定方面的新变化,同时期待环境伦理理念的新发展.     

成败操纵对轻度抑郁者自尊影响的实验研究

通过大规模测试筛选出轻度抑郁者和非抑郁者,以自编智力测验为工具操纵不同的反馈情境,采用2（轻度抑郁,非抑郁）×3（无反馈,正反馈,负反馈）的两因素混合实验设计进行实验,对被试的外显自尊及内隐自尊分别进行了测量,结果发现：1）抑郁者的外显自尊显著低于非抑郁者,而内隐自尊不存在显著性差异。2）成败操纵后个体的外显自尊与内隐自尊并无显著变化,即外显自尊和内隐自尊均具有一定的稳定性。3）无反馈、正反馈情况下抑郁者和非抑郁者的内隐自尊和外显自尊的分离状况显著不同,而在负反馈情况下,抑郁者与非抑郁者的自尊分离状况不存在显著性差异。     

日本侵华战争的国民责任探析

日本侵华战争的责任不能仅归咎于少数统治者,普通民众对战争也负有不可推卸的责任.二战时期,日本社会各界都投入拥护支持战争的浪潮之中,掀起了"举国战争狂热".传统国民性是日本掀起全民战争狂热的重要原因.浓重的狭隘民族主义是近代日本民族的基本特征,他们中的多数人曾虔诚地投入了侵略战争,并把自己的命运与之紧密地联系在一起,才使得在整个战争期间乃至战后,没有多少人对自己的错误思想、行为做出反省,这也是日本总不能对这场战争有彻底的正确认识的民众根源.