Не ни е забавно – неуспелият хумор при общуването. Nancy Bell. We Are Not Amused: Failed Humor in Interacton. Munich: De Gruyter Mouton, 2015

Author(s): Dafina Genova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2018

Book review

Илюстриктурата като некласически философски идиом: перспективи и проекции

Author(s): Kristian Enchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2018

In this text-experiment I will try to think in a new direction the proximity of illustricture with the figurology of Boyan Manchev. Illustricture is a dynamic mode of work of the introduced here concept figure-form (dynamized form), through which it becomes understandable why and how a figurative potentiality can evolve to a conceptual opportunity. Figurativеness can also be thought as one unlocking its own field of potentiality and self-actualizing forceful virtuality. The non-classical hypothesis of that experiment is: the being’s act of affirmation of linguistic meanings illustricturatively creates (unpredictable) essences, as long as it contains within itself repetitive structure charged with deviation.

The Consciousness of the Posthuman in Peter Watts’ Blindsight

Author(s): Michał Różycki / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2017

The purpose of the paper is to analyze what seems to be one of the main themes of Blindsight – the treatment of the human brain and consciousness as yet another part of the body that can be enhanced to maximize its efficiency, with all the unnecessary parts to be remade or removed. This point seems to be emphasized by Watts’s characterization of the extraterrestrials – star faring, resilient and superintelligent, but lacking any sort of individuality or consciousness. Having, or being,a “self” is, it would seem, more of a flaw than a positive trait.

Conventional and Extended Versions of Means-end Chain Theory

Author(s): Elena Borgardt / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2018

This methodological and concept paper reviews the role and complexity of the recently emerged yet already well-established value-based cognitive model – Means-end Chain (MEC). The paper compares the most commonly used approaches to MEC. It examines the compatibility of available models with the theory behind MEC, reveal the conceptual gaps and outlines opportunities for future research. Leading papers, books and publications on MEC address either technical aspects of the theory or the interaction of MEC and values. The present paper paves the way for understanding the MEC from a novel, motivational perspective by integrating micro- and macro-levels into the theory. The theoretical framework is based on a critical view of the scientific literature and includes the identification of methodologies focusing on laddering techniques, statistical methods and programmes to plot Hierarchical Value Maps. Particular attention is paid to extended MEC models intersecting with value instruments (RVS, LOV), lifestyle approaches (AIOs, RISC, CCA, FRL, etc.), dual process models (the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the Heuristic-systematic Model) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. These are used to outline the prospects prevailing in modern marketing and consumer research. The results of the investigation point to opportunities for enlarging the latitude of MEC by integrating micro and macro elements to enhance the model with symbolism, dynamics and multi-dimensionality.

Representation of mental oddity in two novels by Philip K. Dick

Author(s): Damian Podleśny / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2017

The paper focuses on two novels featuring several examples of Dick’s characters who experience mental incapacities, breakdowns or suffer from serious mental states. In one of his novels, Martian Time-Slip (1964), the writer makes use of the possibilities of the “space-opera” setting to create a dramatic narrative featuring two people whose comprehension of the surrounding reality differs from that of the “normal” characters. The novel discusses the social incongruity of those who are considered mentally ill, and their struggle to overcome society’s conformity and ignorance, when it comes to accepting such people in society. The two focal characters are Manfred Steiner and Jack Bohlen; the former is an autistic child and the latter suffers from a latent form of schizophrenia. Both of them struggle to survive in the grim and oppressive environment of human colonies on Mars. In a much later novel, A Scanner Darkly (1977), Dick explores the process of gradual disintegration of human mind, resulting from excessive use of drugs. Bob Arctor, a local junkie, who is, in fact, an under-cover government agent, infiltrates the community of drug users. However, his cover forces him to take drugs, which leads him to serious brain damage resulting in schizophrenic fits and imminent mental disintegration.

“No amount of serotonin will bring Darcy to the door.” Understanding mental illness in contemporary autobiographical writing in English

Author(s): Katarzyna Szmigiero / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2017

Autobiographic writing about the experience of illness is becoming increasingly popular in English-language literature. Among many subjects addressed in patographies, the origin and treatment of mental disorders is a recurrent theme. Authors who have received a psychiatric diagnosis analyse the nature of their mental suffering, attributing it to biology, upbringing, traumatic life events or cultural stressors. Their opinions make an important contribution to contemporary discussions about mental health issues, gender roles and medicalisation of everyday life.The aim of this article is to present various approaches to mental illness and the brain-mind dichotomy voiced in many narratives. Although contemporary psychiatry tends to see mental disorders as brain diseases, some patients find this view reductionist as it robs them of agency. Others, on the other hand, support the biomedical model of madness and seem fascinated with neurological and biochemical explanations of their own moods and emotions. The third group comprises individuals who try to find an eclectic explanation, combining biology and socio-cultural factors.

Being her own biographer – Su Meck’s memoir I Forgot to Remember and the fallibility of memory from the perspective of neuroscience and cognitive psychology

Author(s): Anita Jarczok / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2017

Su Meck’s memoir relates her loss of memory as a result of the brain injury that she suffered when a kitchen fan fell on her head. Meck never recovered her memories from before the incident, and for some time after it she was also unable to form any new memories. In this dramatic account of the loss of memory, Meck tries to understand her experiences and to rebuild her sense of self. I describe the dire consequences of such a total memory failure, especially to our sense of self. However, I also argue that this memoir is about the fallibility of memory in general, not only in such an extreme case as the brain injury. Trying to reconstruct her story, Meck discovers that others have either incomplete or conflicting stories to tell her. I Forgot to Remember brings the transient and biased nature of our own memories into sharp focus. However, Meck’s narrative not only exposes the limitation of our memory and highlights its importance to our sense of self but also brings to light the fluid boundaries of various life writing genres and reveals the pitfalls of placing too much emphasis on memory in relation to self.

Znaczenie diagnozy funkcjonalnej w edukacji uczniów ze specjalnymi potrzebami edukacyjnymi

Author(s): Ewa Domagała-Zyśk,Tomasz Knopik,Urszula Oszwa / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2018

The aim of the article is to define and describe the functional diagnosis as a model for providing psychological and pedagogical assistance to students with special educational needs (SEN). Due to the use of this term in many scientific contexts (pedagogy, psychology, medicine), as well as in the area of diagnostic and therapeutic practice, it is difficult to give its coherent explanation. The analyzed methods of applying the concept of functional diagnosis indicate a selective understanding of the role and tasks attributed to educators, psychologists, teachers and other specialists. Because of that the main value of the functional diagnosis, namely the complexity of support, is not sufficiently implemented, which directly translates into the quality of education of students with special educational needs.

SAMOWIEDZA OSÓB ZE SPEKTRUM AUTYZMU W KONTEKŚCIE TEORII UMYSŁU

Author(s): Mirosława Kanar / Language(s): Polish Issue: 8/2018

Teza. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest analiza teoretyczna wpływu zaburzenia teorii umysłu na samowiedzę u osób z zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu.Omówione koncepcje. Teoria umysłu jest zdolnością do wyjaśniania zachowań innych osób poprzez odczytywanie ich intencji, pragnień i uczuć oraz odnosi się również do umiejętności rozpoznawania własnych emocji. Zamiennie do tego pojęcia stosowany jest termin mentalizacja lub doświadczanie empatii. Nieprawidłowy proces mentalizacji u osób z zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu znajduje potwierdzenie w badaniach opartych na neuroobrazowaniu. W artykule odniesiono się do literatury przedmiotu dotyczącej dynamiki samowiedzy jednostki ujęciu poznawczym oraz posłużono się charakterystyką zaburzeń ze spektrum autyzmu zgodną z DSM IV oraz DSM V.Wyniki i wnioski. Niniejsze opracowanie jest hipotezą wyłaniającą się w oparciu o analizę dotychczasowych badań dotyczących teorii umysłu osób z autyzmem. Koncepcja ta stanowi fundament do badań empirycznych nad samowiedzą osób z ASD.Oryginalność/wartość poznawcza podejścia. Obecnie nie ma badań dotyczących wpływu teorii umysłu na obraz siebie osób z ASD. Autorka artykułu jest w trakcie realizacji badań odnoszących się do niniejszych rozważań.

Psychologiczne konsekwencje zatłoczenia społecznego i zaangażowania technologicznego u adolescentów i młodych dorosłych

Author(s): Anna Pyszkowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 8/2018

Cel badań. Celem niniejszej pracy było przedstawienie wyników badań eksploracyjnych mających na celu określenie związków i zależności pomiędzy zatłoczeniem, uzależnieniem od technologii, anhedonią i poczuciem jakości życia.Metodologia. W badaniu wzięło udział 410 osób (351 kobiet, średnia wieku 22,38). 64% zamieszkiwała miasta powyżej 100 tysięcy mieszkańców. Wykorzystano dane zarówno ilościowe (kwestionariusze: TUI, SHAPS, KPJŻ) oraz jakościowe (pytania otwarte do respodentów).Wyniki. Wykazano istotne statystycznie związki pomiędzy subiektywnym poczuciem zatłoczenia w sferze publicznej a spadkiem poczucia jakości życia w sferze psychofizycznej (r=-0,21) i psychospołecznej (r=-0,16). Z kolei poczucie zatłoczenia w sferze domowej wiązało się z wyższym uzależnieniem od technologii (r=0,17) i niższym poczuciem jakości życia w sferze psychofizycznej (r=-0,26), psychospołecznej (r=-0,25) i podmiotowej (r=-0,21). Wnioski. Wyniki wskazują, że poczucie zatłoczenia społecznego istotnie wiąże się z niższym dobrostanem jednostek oraz wykorzystywaną przez niego technologią, z drugiej strony – jest zjawiskiem heterogenicznym, niejednoznacznym i wymagającym dalszych badań w tym kierunku, biorąc pod uwagę wykazane różnice w przeżywaniu tego zjawiska przez jednostki ze względu na subiektywnie odczuwany dyskomfort oraz specyficzne czynniki sytuacyjne.

Nabywanie wiedzy praktycznej przez osoby osadzone zatrudnione poza zakładem karnym

Author(s): Monika Podczasik / Language(s): Polish Issue: 8/2018

Cel badań. Celem badań jest wykazanie istotności walorów pracy osób pozbawionych wolności poza zakładem karnym w ramach procesu resocjalizacji. Praca i edukacja są jednymi z głównych oddziaływań podejmowanych przez jednostki penitencjarne mające na celu wzbudzenie w skazanym woli współdziałania w kształtowaniu jego społecznie pożądanych postaw.Metodologia. Przedmiotem badań jest możliwość wykorzystania pracy poza zakładem karnym w procesie resocjalizacji. Populacja badanych liczyła 108 osób odbywających karę pozbawienia wolności pracujących w sektorze prywatnym i publicznym województwa opolskiego. Badania przeprowadzono również wśród 30 pracodawców zatrudniających skazanych. Główną metodą badań jest sondaż diagnostyczny; badania wykonano techniką ankiety oraz obserwacji i wywiadów.Wyniki. Pracodawcy zatrudniający skazanych zauważają efekty ich pracy oraz oceniają ich stosunek do pracy jako dobry. Natomiast osoby odbywające karę pozbawienia wolności zatrudnione poza zakładem karnym deklarują, iż dzięki pracy podnoszą swoje umiejętności zawodowe. Jednakże wśród pracujących skazanych występują zróżnicowane opinie dotyczące zmiany pracy.Wnioski. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, iż skazani wykazują zaangażowanie w powierzone obowiązki zawodowe. Może to być spowodowane profitami, które otrzymują skazani, takimi jak Przepustki czy wokandy. Praca skazanych podczas odbywania kary jest najbardziej punktowanym czynnikiem w prognozie kryminologiczno-społecznej. Znaczące jest, iż skazani, przebywając w środowisku zawodowym poza murami więzienia, mają możliwość modyfikowania swoich negatywnych postaw poprzez kontakt z osobami ze środowiska zawodowego oraz wyrobienia nawyku pracy, którego większość skazanych wcześniej nie posiadała.

Мост над голямото разделение: Изследването на конспиративните теории в XXI в.

Author(s): Michael Butter,Peter Knight / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 48/2017

This article starts from the observation that research on conspiracy theories is currently thriving, but that it is also fragmented. In particular there is an increasing divide between disciplines with culturalist and qualitative approaches, such as history, cultural studies and ethnology, and disciplines with quantitative and empirical approaches, such as psychology and political science. The article argues that this ‘great divide’ has to be bridged for research to arrive at a genuine understanding of conspiracy theories. As a first step in such a bridge building process, the article engages, from the vantage point of (American) cultural studies, with research done on the other side of the divide, namely in psychology and political science. It summarizes the work done in these fields and evaluates it critically, concentrating on methodology; the assumptions about the dysfunctionality of conspiracy beliefs; the circularity of some arguments; the focus on individual rather than social and collective aspects; the lack of engagement with the definition of the phenomenon; and the neglect of cultural and historical difference. The article ends with recommendations for future collaborative research projects.

„Лудите, лудите – те да са живи!“. Анатол Анчев. Вицове за луди, садисти и канибали. София, 2017 г.

Author(s): Bogdan Dichev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2018

Международна научна конференция “Uses of the Past in Eastern and Southeastern Europe in Modern and Contemporary Period”

Author(s): Desislava Pileva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2018

NETWORK COMMUNITIES AS AN EXPRESSION OF INCLUSIVE CULTURE OF PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL PROTESTS: THE SUNFLOWER MOVEMENT CASE STUDY

Author(s): Grażyna Piechota / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

This article offers an analysis of the ways creation of a community influences the activity of users expressed in their network behaviour. It has been assumed that a varied choice of used tools and channels of communication characterising societies with a high level of technological development simultaneously influences fragmentation of network communication processes. Inclusive culture of participation becomes limited, which is the result of the degree of engagement of users which influence participation in a virtual community. This leads to their differentiation in relation to content and choice of the used channels during network communication. Another factor limiting participation is also communication activity of administrators of a virtual community who impose the dominating content of messages. The research results are a part of scientific research concerning the role of leaders in network communication as well as the creation of network communities that accompany political protests and demonstrations.

INFLUENCER MARKETING AS A MODERN PHENOMENON CREATING A NEW FRONTIER OF VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Author(s): Zdenka Kádeková,Mária Holienčinová / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Social media influencers are winning over the Internet with their outstanding work and presence. Their opinions have a powerful impact on people, especially on young generation. We can mark them as a modern phenomenon that has seen a huge increase in cooperation with marketing agencies over recent years. More and more people are following such influencers so that they do not miss out on their content. Brands flock to such influencers for mentions, reviews and recommendations. Even though influencer marketing is a relatively new strategy, it continues to be a viable solution for marketers who are willing to think outside the box while building relationships with their target market. The aim of the study is to offer a comprehensive reflection on influencer marketing opportunities and determine the impact of influencers on consumer behaviour of Generations Y and Z. We wanted to find out whether influencers, who promote products, can attract potential customers and encourage them for purchase, as well as find differences between the given consumer generations. In order to meet the objectives of the study, own research was conducted (459 respondents from the Slovak Republic belonging to Generations Y and Z were involved in the inquiry). The research findings confirm that there are significant differences between the above-mentioned consumer generations in the area of impact of influencers on consumer behaviour, which leads to different marketing opportunities. For statistical processing of the results, we used the Kruskal-Wallis Test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, Fisher’s Exact Test and Dunn’s Test of Contrasts.

DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS – A KEY TO THE MUSEUMS’ ‘SECRET CHAMBER’ OF MARKETING?

Author(s): Michal Lukáč,Jaroslav Mihálik / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Intensive financial investments in marketing communication of museums are connected, in parallel, to their visual presentation as well as to strengthening the communication efficiency toward public. However, the unresolved question remains whether these finances are spent effectively or rather whether the communication strategy plan attracts the adequate target audience. How many visitors did react to a given campaign? Unfortunately, there is no single and definite answer on how to measure the efficiency of marketing communication in museums. The aim of the study is to use the Data Envelopment Analysis method to introduce a model for helpful assessment of the marketing communication efficiency within museums. While searching for the solution, we were inspired by the production economics, from which we chose the statistical method of Data Envelopment Analysis. This allowed us to evaluate the efficiency of production units and also to identify inefficiencies. In the public and non-profit sector, this methodological approach appears very rarely, and according to our findings, it has not been applied yet in the museum sphere in Slovakia.

RECURSION AND EQUIFINALITY IN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FILM AND THEATRE: BEING JOHN MALKOVICH

Author(s): Peter Getlík / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

The essay focuses on the intersemiotic relationship of film and theatre that inevitably forces a metatextual dialogue of these semiotic systems in artworks. We have chosen the play-element of art to be the centre of our theorising, because we assume that it is often a significant interpretational key to the metatextual dialogue of multiple arts. These metatextual dialogues might be compared to ‘artistic games’. They mix multiple ‘artistic games’ and experiment with the combination of their principles and rules. They are metatextually explaining the rules of ‘artistic games’ during these experiments by revealing the hidden and hiding the obvious. They try to bend some rules and break some rules without spoiling the ‘game’. We observe the types of the play principle in these arts and then we describe behaviour of these semiotic systems through the opposition of recursion and equifinality. We extract models of the theatre fractal and the film net, verifying the legitimacy of this point of view via an analysis of the film Being John Malkovich.

Architectural Gestalt and some aspects of architectural thinking

Author(s): Gorun MANOLESCU / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

We are largely surrounded by increasingly complex technical systems. These systems often border on the absurd even though they rely on logical and physical reality. This is because they move away from the “logical efficiency”of natural forms. This text approaches some specific aspects of entities which are achieved by human beings,i.e. those connected to their “formative structure”.I emphasize that the aesthetics and the functions of such products are determined by the consonance between the formative structure and a natural structure, and I called this “architectural thinking”. As an example, I consider the well-known “golden number” found both in the human body and in artistic and technical products such as Parthenon.Two questions which thistext addresses are: What is a “formative structure”? How can the consonance, or harmony, between such structure and that of a “natural” one be approached?

THE GAMER’S BRAIN: HOW NEUROSCIENCE AND UX CAN IMPACT VIDEO GAME DESIGN

Author(s): Marián Hosťovecký / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Review of: HODENT, C.: The Gamer’s Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design. Boca Raton : CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018. 250 p. ISBN 978-1-498-77550-2.