"Employee of the Month" in Romania: a Study on Perceptions

Author(s): Sabina Irimie,Bianca Armean / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2012

An important and complex problem of labor economics in general and of human resource management in particular, is to effectively motivate employees. At the current juncture, under the spectrum of economic crisis, the controversies of theoretical and practical interest such as the importance of the money, the relationship between motivation, satisfaction and performance at work, are more pronounced and more focused on non-financial forms of motivation. At least in part, this is because the usual ways of saving costs in today's organizations seem to aim primarily the expenses on staff (wages, rewards, training funds and so on). In this context, the paper aims to highlight the perceptions of employees on the program "Employee of the Month", as it was implemented in a Romanian organization (in a hybrid approach, combining monetary rewards and recognition awards specific to most common forms of program). Thus, the main results of our study reflect the opinions of people involved in this program, and allow us to sketch some possible changes based on the feedback from employees, in order to further improve the effectiveness of the program.

"Kwestionariusz przekonań politycznych": własności psychometryczne

Author(s): Gabriela Czarnek,Piotr Dragon,Paulina Szwed,Bogdan Wojciszke / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 41/2017

The goal of this article is to present the psychometric properties of the Political Beliefs Questionnaire. It consists of four subdimensions: religious fundamentalism and xenophobia, which form the dimension of cultural beliefs; and acceptance of capitalism and anti-welfare, which form the dimension of economic beliefs. We present evidence for the validity of the questionnaire in identifying political beliefs on the rightleft dimension. Analyses were performed on a set of multiple samples (total N = 1673). Evidence for the theoretical validity was provided by confirmatory factor analysis, correlations with other – conceptually related – constructs, and a moderation of the strength and direction of the correlation between the cultural and economic beliefs dimensions by political sophistication. Concurrent validity of the questionnaire has been demonstrated based on the criterion of declared voting choices. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated based on a measure of homogeneity and absolute stability. The results indicate the good psychometric properties of "Political Beliefs Questionnaire".

"Skala typów przywiązania do miejsca" według typologii Davida M. Hummona (1992): ustrukturyzowana jakościowa metoda badania przywiązania do miejsca zamieszkania

Author(s): Alan Mandal,Marcin Moron / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 41/2017

The article presents the description of the construction stages and results of the validity analysis of Type of Attachment Scale, based on the typology of place attachment by David M. Hummon (1992). The Scale consist of descriptions of two types of attachment: everyday and active attachment, and three types of lack of place attachment: alienation, place relativity, and placelessness. A subject is ask to indicate which out of the five that are presented the description best suits their own relation toward their place of living. An examination of psychometric properties and validity of the Scale was conducted in a series of 3 studies on 912 participants. In the study 1 were 586 participants in age between 18 and 72 years (50% female). The participants filled out the prepared Type of attachment scale, Place attachment scale (Williams, & Vaske, 2003), a sociodemographic survey, and series of questions about the affective attitude toward their place of living. In the study 2 were 274 participants in age from 16 to 72. The participants filled out the Type of attachment scale, Place attachment scale and identity scale (Lewicka, 2012), and Scales measuring agency and communion (Wojciszke, Szlendak, 2010). In the study 3, with 52 participants, the reliability of the Scale was examined by test-retest procedure. The obtained results showed that Types of attachment scale is a reliable and valid measure of person-place relations according to categorization by Hummon (1992). Types of place attachment, included in Type of attachment scale, demonstrate a distinguishable profiles of sociodemographic and psychological characteristics. Individuals who identified themselves with everyday and active attachment were significantly stronger attached to the place than the other types of lack of attachment, differing with each other according to the length of residence and a level of place inherited dimension. Non-attached types have a similar profiles, that indicates a low place attachment. The place relativity type can be described as the lowest attached, with the highest mobility, the shortest length of residence and the weakest bond according to earlier generation presence in the place of living. Alienation was connected with neutral of negative attitude toward the place, and was described by a positive correlation with the European identity. A placeless type was reflected by a weak place attachment and low local identity, but a positive correlation with agency.

"Жизнь по доктору Комаровскому": конструирование родительства в советах по уходу за детьми

Author(s): Elena Strelnyk / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 2/2015

The article analyzes constructions of parenthood and childcare in childcare advice—disseminated through books, TV broadcasts, and websites—by popular Ukrainian pediatrician Evgenii Komarovskii. The article consists of three parts. The first part deals with the public, social, and pedagogical discourses of parental (ir)responsibility and (in)competence in Ukraine, as well as conceptions of parental competence in Doctor Komarovskii’s advice as the alternative to this discourse. The second part aims to evaluate the peculiarities of constructions of maternal and paternal roles and childcare in his advice. The author explores Evgenii Komarovskii’s role in the discursive actualization of parenting and childcare as important sociopolitical issues in the third part. The article draws on work in the sociology of parenting, exploring the role of expert knowledge in its construction.

(Rec.) R. Cybulska, J. Dryjańska, K. Gotlin, M. Kłoda, K. Pomorska, A. Pyzykiewicz, Uczeń z zespołem Aspergera w szkole ogólnodostępnej, (red. prowadzący i merytoryczny) M. Kłoda, K. Pomorska, Warszawa: Ośrodek Rozwoju i Edukacji 2016, ss. 113

Author(s): Marta Filipowicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2017

2nd International Conference on Behavioral Addictions

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): English / Issue: suppl.1/2015

Abstracts of the 2nd International Conference on Behavioral Addictions. March 16–18, 2015; Budapest, Hungary

4th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions February 20–22, 2017 Haifa, Israel

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): English / Issue: suppl.1/2017

“Collection of abstracts of the 4th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions, February 20-22, 2017, Haifa, Israel”

5th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA2018), April 23–25, 2018, Cologne, Germany

Author(s): Zsolt Demetrovics / Language(s): English / Issue: suppl.1/2018

1. Keynote presentations 2. Minitalks 3. Oral presentations 4. Author index

A Behavioral Economics Approach to Digitalisation – The Case of a Principles-based Taxonomy

Author(s): Julia M. Puaschunder,Dirk Beerbaum / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

A growing body of academic research in the field of behavioural economics, political science and psychology demonstrate how an invisible hand can nudge people’s decisions towards a preferred option. Contrary to the assumptions of the neoclassical economics, supporters of nudging argue that people have problems coping with a complex world, because of their limited knowledge and their restricted rationality. Technological improvement in the age of information has increased the possibilities to control the innocent social media users or penalise private investors and reap the benefits of their existence in hidden persuasion and discrimination. Nudging enables nudgers to plunder the simple uneducated and uninformed citizen and investor, who is neither aware of the nudging strategies nor able to oversee the tactics used by the nudgers (Puaschunder 2017a, b; 2018a, b). The nudgers are thereby legally protected by democratically assigned positions they hold. The law of motion of the nudging societies holds an unequal concentration of power of those who have access to compiled data and coding rules, relevant for political power and influencing the investor’s decision usefulness (Puaschunder 2017a, b; 2018a, b). This paper takes as a case the “transparency technology XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)” (Sunstein 2013, 20), which should make data more accessible as well as usable for private investors. It is part of the choice architecture on regulation by governments (Sunstein 2013). However, XBRL is bounded to a taxonomy (Piechocki and Felden 2007). Considering theoretical literature and field research, a representation issue (Beerbaum, Piechocki and Weber 2017) for principles-based accounting taxonomies exists, which intelligent machines applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Mwilu, Prat and Comyn-Wattiau 2015) nudge to facilitate decision usefulness. This paper conceptualizes ethical questions arising from the taxonomy engineering based on machine learning systems: Should the objective of the coding rule be to support or to influence human decision making or rational artificiality? This paper therefore advocates for a democratisation of information, education and transparency about nudges and coding rules (Puaschunder 2017a, b; 2018a, b).

A brief report on the relationship between self-control, video game addiction and academic achievement in normal and ADHD students

Author(s): Maryam Haghbin,Fatemeh Shaterian,Davood Hosseinzadeh,Mark D. Griffiths / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2013

Over the last two decades, research into video game addiction has grown increasingly. The present research aimed to examine the relationship between video game addiction, self-control, and academic achievement of normal and ADHD high school students. Based on previous research it was hypothesized that (i) there would be a relationship between video game addiction, self-control and academic achievement (ii) video game addiction, self-control and academic achievement would differ between male and female students, and (iii) the relationship between video game addiction, self-control and academic achievement would differ between normal students and ADHD students. Methods: The research population comprised first grade high school students of Khomeini-Shahr (a city in the central part of Iran). From this population, a sample group of 339 students participated in the study. The survey included the Game Addiction Scale (Lemmens, Valkenburg & Peter, 2009), the Self-Control Scale (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone, 2004) and the ADHD Diagnostic checklist (Kessler et al., 2007). In addition to questions relating to basic demographic information, students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) for two terms was used for measuring their academic achievement. These hypotheses were examined using a regression analysis. Results: Among Iranian students, the relationship between video game addiction, self-control, and academic achievement differed between male and female students. However, the relationship between video game addiction, self-control, academic achievement, and type of student was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although the results cannot demonstrate a causal relationship between video game use, video game addiction, and academic achievement, they suggest that high involvement in playing video games leaves less time for engaging in academic work.

A case of severe adolescent obsessive–compulsive disorder treated with inpatient hospitalization, risperidone and sertraline

Author(s): Mathew L. Nguyen,Michael A. Shapiro,Stephen J. Welch / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

The initial treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has generally been limited to serotonergic agents, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or a combination of the two. These findings were supported by the POTS study for OCD in children and adolescents. However, treatment with serotonergic agents or CBT can take several weeks before benefit is seen; severe cases of OCD may require more immediate treatment. Case report: The authors present a case of severe OCD in an adolescent that required immediate treatment due to her critical medical condition. The patient’s symptoms included not eating or taking medications or fluids by mouth due to fears of contamination. A medical hospitalization was previously required due to dehydration. As treatment with an SSRI would not have quick enough onset and the patient was initially resistant to participating in CBT, the patient was psychiatrically hospitalized and first started on liquid risperidone. After several doses of risperidone, the patient was able to participate in CBT and start sertraline. Discussion: The authors discuss the differential diagnosis of such a patient, including the continuum of OCD symptoms and psychotic symptoms. The authors discuss the different treatment options, including the utilization of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. The authors discuss the potential risks and benefits of using atypical antipsychotics in lieu of benzodiazepines for the initial treatment of severe adolescent OCD. The authors also discuss other current treatment recommendations and rationale for the treatment that was pursued. Conclusions: This patient received benefit of her symptoms relatively quickly with psychiatric hospitalization and an atypical antipsychotic. The diagnosis of a psychotic disorder should be considered. These treatment options must be weighed against the risks of atypical antipsychotics, including extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome; benzodiazepines also have their risks and benefits. Additionally, the cost of time and finances of inpatient hospitalization must be considered. More research is needed regarding the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of antipsychotics in the treatment of OCD in the child and adolescent population.

A Cluster Analysis of Senses Effects on Consumer Behavior. Lessons for Businesses

Author(s): Ioana-Octavia Bratulescu,Simona Vasilache / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2014

The paper tests the correlation between sensorial marketing and consumer behavior. Most of our buying decisions, in practice, are based on emotions, rather than rationality. Using an experimental design, we have tested the influence of human senses, under various stimuli, on purchasing behavior of selected customers. We have also tested the features of chocolate related to the idea of tenderness, in the consumers’ minds. The findings revealed that customers are less influenced by visual stimuli, reacting more to texture and packaging.

A cohort study of patients seeking Internet gaming disorder treatment

Author(s): Doug Hyun Han,Minkyoung Yoo,Perry F. Renshaw,Nancy M. Petry / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2018

Although Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is included as a condition in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, little is known about its nature or treatment response. This study is a follow-up of 755 patients who received professional treatment for IGD over a 5-year period. Methods. The initial recommended treatment course lasted for 8 weeks, with additional care provided as needed. Treatment completion rates in the complete sample, as well as baseline predictors of treatment completion and long-term recovery among the 367 patients who completed the follow-up, are reported. Results. Nearly two thirds of patients who initiated treatment for IGD completed the 8-week psychotherapy. Of these, about two thirds who had not recovered completely by the end were offered additional care. Independent predictors of extended treatment were higher baseline scores on the Young Internet Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Korean-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Rating Scale (K-ADHD-RS). Between 1 and 5 years later, 33.5% of the complete sample was considered as recovered from IGD. Significant predictors of recovery from IGD were older age, earlier admission to the clinic, lower baseline scores on the BDI and K-ADHD-RS, and no offer of extended treatment. Discussion and conclusions. The majority of the patients seeking treatment for IGD continued experiencing difficulties and randomized controlled trials of interventions, which are needed to be conducted to improve outcomes. Age, family, social factors, and psychological symptoms should be considered, while designing and evaluating interventions, because they impact initial and sustained response to treatment for IGD.

A comparison of university student and community gamblers: Motivations, impulsivity, and gambling cognitions

Author(s): Harvey H. C. Marmurek,Jessica Switzer,Joshua D’Alvise / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2014

The present study tested whether the associations among motivational, cognitive, and personality correlates of problem gambling severity differed across university student gamblers (n = 123) and gamblers in the general adult community (n = 113). Methods: The participants completed a survey that included standardized measures of gambling motivation, gambling related cognitions, and impulsivity. The survey also asked participants to report the forms of gambling in which they engaged to test whether gambling involvement (number of different forms of gambling) was related to problem gambling severity. After completing the survey, participants played roulette online to examine whether betting patterns adhered to the gambler’s fallacy. Results: Gambling involvement was significantly related to problem gambling severity for the community sample but not for the student sample. A logistic regression analysis that tested the involvement, motivation, impulsivity and cognitive correlates showed that money motivation and gambling related cognitions were the only significant independent predictors of gambling severity. Adherence to the gambler’s fallacy was stronger for students than for the community sample, and was associated with gambling related cognitions. Discussion: The motivational, impulsivity and cognitive, and correlates of problem gambling function similarly in university student gamblers and in gamblers from the general adult community. Interventions for both groups should focus on the financial and cognitive supports of problem gambling.

A counselling line for problem and pathological gambling in South Africa: Preliminary data analysis

Author(s): Dan J. Stein,Adele Pretorius,Heidi Sinclair / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2014

Various countries and states have established telephone counselling lines for people with pathological or problem gambling. Data from such services may contribute to describing systematically the nature of gambling problems in a particular area. To date, however, few data have been published on such a telephone counselling line in a low or middle income country. Method: Data on calls to the telephone counselling line of the National Responsible Gambling Foundation of South Africa were captured over a 6-month period. Such data include socio-demographic variables, the primary reason for calling, the source of the referral, preferred method of gambling, impairment as a consequence of gambling, and history of treatment for psychiatric disorders, comorbid alcohol abuse and illicit drug use. Results: Calls were received from a broad range of people; the mean age of callers was 37 years, the majority were male (62%) and many were married (45%). Primary reasons for calling included the feeling of being unable to stop gambling without the help of a professional (41%), financial concerns (32%), legal problems (13%), pressure from family (10%), and suicidal thoughts (2%). The majority of callers contacted the counselling line after having heard about it by word of mouth (70%). The most common forms of gambling were slot machines (51%) and casino games (21%). Fourteen percent of callers reported having received help for other psychiatric disorders, 11% reported alcohol use disorders and 6% illicit drug use. Conclusion: These data from South Africa are consistent with prior research indicating that pathological and problem gambling are seen in a range of socio-demographic groups, and that such behaviour is associated with significant morbidity and comorbidity. More work is needed locally to inform younger gamblers, gamblers using the informal gambling sector, and unemployed gamblers of the existing telephone counselling lines.

A critical review of “Internet addiction” criteria with suggestions for the future

Author(s): Antonius J. Van Rooij,Nicole Prause / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2014

In the last 5 years a deluge of articles on the topic of Internet addiction (IA) has proposed many candidate symptoms as evidence of this proposed disease. We critically reviewed the current approach to the measurement and identification of this new excessive behavior syndrome. Methods: Three popular models of IA were discussed: Griffith’s components model; Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT); and the criteria by Tao et al. (2010). We selected these models because they are widely cited and propose specific criteria for IA disorder. Our approach is not meant to provide an exhaustive review, but to discuss and critique the most salient trends in the field. Results: The models of Internet addiction share some criteria, including feeling a loss of control over Internet use; ensuing psychological, social, or professional conflict or problems; and preoccupation when not using the Internet. Other criteria inconsistently mentioned include: mood management, tolerance, withdrawal, and craving/anticipation. The models studied here share the assumption that the Internet can produce a qualitative shift to a diseased state in humans. Conclusions: We critically discussed the above criteria and concluded that the evidence base is currently not strong enough to provide support for an Internet addiction disorder. Future research areas are suggested: (1) Focusing on common impaired dimensions, (2) exploring neuroimaging as a model building tool, and (3) identifying shifts in the rewarding aspects of Internet use. Given the lack of consensus on the subject of Internet addiction, a focus on problem behaviors appears warranted.

A média hatása a szociális viselkedésre és a társas kapcsolatok alakulására serdülőkorban

Author(s): Anikó Zsolnai / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 2/2017

The aim of the present paper is to synthesize and analyze the results of studies on the impact of the media, mainly the Internet to social behavior in adolescence. The first part of the study interprets the learning process (social learning) in which social behavior is formed. The second part of the study analyses adolescents’ social behavior from the aspect of the Internet. The most important questions are whether there is any difference between social behavior online and offline, and whether the Internet has changes all facets of social life. As a consequence, the Internet may have had less impact on many aspects of social life and social behavior in adolescence than is supposed to.

A mindful model of sexual health: A review and implications of the model for the treatment of individuals with compulsive sexual behavior disorder

Author(s): Gretchen R. Blycker,Marc N. Potenza / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2018

Mindfulness-based approaches, derived from centuries of eastern philosophy and practice, have been increasingly incorporated into western medicine. For example, data support the efficacy of mindfulness-based therapies to reduce stress and promote mental health. Methods. In this study, we briefly review models and approaches to sexual health in the context of considering compulsive sexual behavior disorder, describe mindfulness-based approaches to stress, addiction, and compulsive sexual behaviors, and present a Mindful Model of Sexual Health (MMSH) that incorporates elements of eastern and western philosophies. We further illustrate the clinical utility of the MMSH in a clinical case description. Results. We propose the MMSH as a holistic and integrative model that honors and acknowledges individual differences and provides mindfulness-based tools and practices to support individuals to proactively manage, balance, and promote sexual and mental health. The MMSH may be used as a framework to organize information regarding physical, mental, emotional, sexual, and relational health, as well as a conceptual map offering navigational skills to access information within one’s mind/body to make informed decisions to promote well-being regarding sexual satisfaction and health. In its organizational structure, the MMSH is divided into eight domains that are theoretically linked to biological functions and may be used to identify and overcome barriers to sexual health through mindful inquiries in clinical practice or educational settings. Discussion and conclusion. Given its focus on awareness of interoceptive processes through mind/body connectedness, the MMSH may resonate with a wide range of individuals, including those with compulsive sexual behavior disorder.

A Model of Students’ University Decisionmaking Behavior

Author(s): Ionela Maniu,George Constantin Maniu / Language(s): English / Issue: 05/2014

Over the last decade the higher education institutional framework suffered a major transformation:the increasing influence of market competition on academic life - “marketization”.Consequently, HEI attention is increasingly focused on attracting high quality (human) resources and students. Such context demands a deeper understanding of students’ decision making process for HEI. Literature on higher education management provides a large number of models, which attempt to provide an understanding of student buying behavior and how they select a university. Based on literature review, this paper explores different university choice models (economic, status attainment, combined) that analyze the student behavior as consumers in the higher education marketplace and suggests a new one, considering the phases of the decision making process and the factors that influence university choice decision. Finally, implication of factors in different phases of the decision process are discussed.

A New Model for Customer Equity

Author(s): Pelin Ozgen / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2017

In this study, the fundamental model of customer equity is studied and an alternative model is tested where attitudinal and behavioral customer loyalty are treated as two additional individual components of customer equity. In gathering required data, survey method is used with 377 respondents based on judgement sampling. In order to test the proposed model, a different calculation for customer equity is applied. In model testing, LISREL package program is used and structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied. Results indicate that the proposed model stating that customer equity, has two more components, namely attitudinal loyalty and behavioral loyalty, is significant at 95% confidence level, has a high goodness of fit (GFI = .93) and has an acceptable level of root mean square error (RMSEA= .07). However, results also show a correlation between value equity and brand equity terms, which can be tested with different products or sample in future studies.