Skúsenosť s fajčením v skorej adolescencii a fajčenie rodičov; moderačná rola vzdelania rodičov

Author(s): Mária Bačíková,Marianna Berinšterová,Oľga Orosová / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 1/2016

The relationship between parental smoking and adolescent smoking behavior has been well documented in previous studies. Less is known, however, about possible moderators of such relationship. The present study focuses on the relationship between parental smoking and adolescent smoking experience in early adolescence. This period has been sofar neglected in research. Further, we study parental education level as possible moderator of this relationship. Questionnaire data were collected among 1098 early adolescents (mean age 11.5 years; 54% girls). Logistic regression analyses revealed following results: (1) maternal and paternal smoking is associated with early adolescents smoking experience; (2) moderating effect of parental education was found in sense that having smoking mother with higher education increased the probability of smoking, while having smoking father with lower education increased the probability of smoking. Results are further discussed.

ЭКЗОГЕННЫЕ БОЛЕЗНИ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ ИНДУСТРИАЛЬНЫХ ГОРОДОВ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СЕВЕРА РОССИИ (ВТОРАЯ ПОЛОВИНА 1960-Х – ПЕРВАЯ ПОЛОВИНА 1980-Х гг.)

Author(s): R.S. Kolokolchikova / Language(s): Russian Issue: 1/2014

The author reveals the conflicting processes of the controlled Soviet urbanization in the European North of Russia coming out in increased diseases incidence of the population in the industrial cities – engines of industrial development of the region. The risk factors in the cities of those typological groups for the incidence of the sexually transmitted diseases, dynamics and trends of morbidity are analyzed too.

Godišnji izvještaj o stanju prava žena u Bosni i Hercegovini tokom 2013. godine

Author(s): Esther Garcia Fransioli / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2013

Žene u Bosni i Hercegovini se još uvijek suočavaju sa diskriminacijom i sa nejednakim mogućnostima pri pristupanju i ostvarivanju svojih prava u odnosu na muškarce. Formalno zakonodavstvo i javne politike koje se odnose na zaštitu prava žena u Bosni i Hercegovini znatno su se poboljšale tokom proteklih godina. Kreiran je Zakon o ravnopravnosti polova (2003. i 2009. godina sa usklađenom verzijom iz 2010. godine), te novi Gender akcioni plan (2013. - 2017.) na državnom nivou (usvojen u septembru 2013. godine); rodna kvota od 40% uvedena je u Izborni zakon BiH (april 2013.), a kreirane su i nove odredbe na entitetskim nivoima i javnim politikama za prevenciju i borbu protiv nasilja u porodici. Uz sve ovo, Bosna i Hercegovina je potpisala i ratificirala sve važnije međunarodne dokumente iz oblasti ljudskih prava žena, uključujući i Konvenciju Vijeća Evrope o prevenciji i borbi protiv nasilja nad ženama i nasilja u porodici (Istambulska konvencija) 2013. godine. Međutim, istinske promjene u praksi su veoma spore; žene ostaju bez mogućnosti uživanja ljudskih prava kako u privatnoj tako i u javnoj sferi, a dijalog i partnerstvo između vlade i nevladinih organizacija za unapređivanje i zaštitu ljudskih prava i dalje su daleko od zadovoljavajućeg. Prisutan je ozbiljan problem nejednakosti utemeljenih na rodu i diskriminacije žena pri pristupu tržištu rada koje se obično dešava u kombinaciji sa strukturalnim stereotipiziranjem i problemom neplaćenog rada koji neproporcionalno pogađaju žene. Trenutne strategije za zapošljavanje ne pristupaju ozbiljno pitanju učešća žena na tržištu rada tako da se ne dešava poboljšanje koje bi trebalo doprinijeti smanjenju siromaštva. Svi ovi faktori odražavaju se na veoma nizak broj zaposlenih žena u 2013. godini: samo oko jedne trećine (37,3%) zaposlenih su žene, što znači da se u 2013. nije desio značajan napredak u odnosu na prethodne godine. Također, činjenica da postoji dva puta više nezaposlenih žena sa univerzitetskom diplomom nego nezaposlenih muškaraca je alarmirajuća. Imajući u vidu činjenicu da su porodiljski dodaci regulirani drugačije u različitim dijelovima BiH, te da postoje mjesta gdje žene nemaju pristup porodiljskim dodacima ili dobivaju otkaze nakon što ostanu trudne, može se zaključiti da je situacija po pitanju prava roditelja također stagnirala tokom 2013. godine. U javnoj i političkoj sferi žene i dalje nisu dovoljno zastupljene; situacija je gora za žene koje pripadaju nekoj od grupa koje se suočavaju sa duplom diskriminacijom i koje su pod većim rizikom od socijalne isključenosti. Značajan problem se očituje u lošoj uvezanosti i nedostatku sistematizacije kvalitativnih i kvantitativnih informacija o ovim grupama žena (tj. nisu dostupni podaci o ženama sa posebnim potrebama). Također, alarmirajuće je to što tokom 2013. godine potrebe žena nisu specifič- no izražene pri reviziji mnogih postojećih akcionih planova za čije sprovođenje još uvijek ne postoji dovoljno novca (tj. Revidirani Akcioni plan Bosne i Hercegovine o obrazovnim potrebama Roma iz 2010. godine). Tokom 2013. godne u Izborni zakon Bosne i Hercegovine uvedena je rodna kvota od 40% učešća spola koji je manje prisutan u vladajućim strukturama, što označava povećanje u odnosu na prethodnih 33%. Imajući u vidu činjenicu da su trenutno žene nedovoljno zastupljene na svim političkim poljima, istinski napredak će biti moguće vidjeti samo ukoliko se navedeni zakon bude pravilno primjenjivao tokom izbora u 2014. godini. Inicijative koje su se desile tokom 2013. godine su: uspostavljen je Klub parlamentarki Predstavničkog doma Federacije (mart 2013.), nekoliko NVO-a kreirali su Žensku platformu za ustavne promjene i rodne perspektive, a potpisan je i prvi Memorandum o razumijevanju za nadgledanje sprovođenja Akcionog plana UN rezolucije 1325 (oktobar 2013.). Rezultati ovih inicijativa će biti praćeni tokom narednih nekoliko godina. Nasilje nad ženama i djevojčicama je i dalje ozbiljno pitanje u BiH. Za nadati se da će novi podaci iz oblasti nasilja u porodici, koji su dostupni od početka 2013. godine pružiti dobru osnovu za buduće mjere prevencije i intervencije nad žrtvama. Nalazi pokazuju da je gotovo polovina žena u BiH starijih od 15 godina najmanje jednom u životu bila žrtva neke vrste nasilja, te da su žene izložene izrazito visokom riziku od nasilja: prvo u njihovom neposrednom intimnom okruženju i odnosu sa partnerom i porodicom, a onda i u široj zajednici. Još jedan dugotrajan i ozbiljan problem u BiH jeste ratno seksualno nasilje nad ženama koje je prije 20 godina pretrpilo desetine hiljada žena. Ovim ženama je još uvijek potrebna pomoć, pogotovo u traženju pravde i reparaciji za proživljene traume. U okviru posjete Specijalne predstavnice za seksualno nasilje i konflikt Generalnog sekretara UN-a u 2013. godini, potvrđeno je da je BiH napravila skandalozno malo napretka pri radu na ovim slučajevima, te da je potrebno da se razvije sveobuhvatni pristup za unaprjeđivanjem statusa i pozicije svih žena žrtava rata, uključujući borbu protiv stigme vezane za seksualno nasilje, te proširenje odredbi za kompenzaciju, podršku i mjere rehabilitacije, beneficije, kao i osiguranje jednakog pristupa takvim uslugama za sve žene žrtve bez obzira na njihovo mjesto stanovanja. Kada govorimo o trgovini ljudima u toku je pitanje efikasne procedure identifikacije žrtava, naročito Romkinja i interno raseljenih žena koje su sve više pogođene ovim problemom. Nije se poboljšala ni saradnja između državnih institucija i nevladinih organizacija koje su angažovane na sprječavanju trgovine ljudima. U ovom tematskom radu o ljudskim pravima pokušava se staviti naglasak na status prava žena u Bosni i Hercegovini tokom 2013. godine, kako bi se istakao dosadašnji napredak, te kako bi se naglasila marginalizacija i sistematska diskriminacija koju žene konstantno doživljavaju. Ovaj rad sadrži informacije zasnovane na analizi sadržaja najrelevantnijih i skorih dokumenata koje su objavile vladine institucije, nevladine i međunarodne organizacije, nedavne podatke lokalnih i državnih istraživanja o ženskim pitanjima, te zapažanja sa terena.

Chimerical Groups in School as a Social and Educational Phenomenon

Author(s): Nikolay Tsankov,Veska Guyviiska / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

The problem discussed is related to the need for clear socio-pedagogical parameters of (criminal groups) gangs in schools. The different interpretations link them to difficult children, youth subcultures, and street gangs while chimerical groups are a possible conceptual projection on them. We are attempting at a socio-pedagogical reading of a community of children and adolescents with deviant behavior but not juvenile offenders, which makes us face legal terms and delinquent behavior. A chimerical group of dealers, pimps, prostitutes and other subjects with deviant behavior at school imitates the behavior of criminal groups in society, borrowing mechanisms and means and also creating their own social networks. Unlike real life criminal groups, though, chimerical groups are a subject of education activities as a function of the school institution. The most timely the pedagogical intervention of the school institution (not only as socializing and training), the greater the chances these children and adolescents’ lives to be saved and their personality preserved.

Спортът – алтернатива на агресивното поведение

Author(s): Tatiana Iancheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2017

This article focuses on whether sport can be an alternative to aggressive behaviour. The author views sport as a specific social phenomenon, as a “magic” that attracts the interest of millions of supporters around the world. The idea is to look for the preventive and corrective effect of sports activities on the behaviour, the psychics and the personality of children and adolescents. Based on a specialized analysis of sport is given the floor for viewing sport as “behavioural therapy” and thus to serve as an alternative to aggressive behaviour. Sports activity – as a strictly regulated and regulated activity, may have a developing, regulating, corrective and preventive effect. Shown are also a number of measures that make it possible to realize the social functions of sport and turn it into an alternative to aggressive behaviour - through purposeful professional management and stimulation of physical activity and sport in school and leisure.

Filozofski život

Author(s): Matija Vigato,Nikolina Koprivnjak,Jan Defrančeski,Jakov Erdeljac,Štefanija Kožić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 04/160/2020

Events: 1) Interdisciplinarna radionica »American Studies Today – Paths, Paradigms, Strategies« 2) 3. Osječki dani bioetike 3) 3. Međunarodni transdisciplinarni simpozij Bioetika i aporije psihe 4) Godišnji simpozij Hrvatskog filozofskog društva »Filozofija, obrazovanje i škola«

Dimensions of Crime Involving Women in Drug Trafficking - Literature Review From Dependent Behavior to Relapse

Author(s): Miana Dina,Jose Manuel Rodriguez Gomez,Cornelia Rada / Language(s): English Issue: 11/2021

Objectives. The aim of this study was to review the most important factors influencing women's involvement in drug trafficking. Material and methods. A systematic search of literature was carried out using Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, ProQuest Central, PsychInfo. The inclusion criteria were met by fifty- two studies. In order to facilitate the understanding of the behavior of women who commit this crime, factor analysis was grouped into social-cultural, personal and psychological factors. Results. The main social and cultural factors considered were the adopted political system, the racial element, the cultural-regional peculiarities, the geographical positioning, the socio-economic status and the sociofamilial environment. The personal factors identified were age, occupation, lifestyle, system of norms and values, and psychological ones referred to indicators of psychological disorders, addictive behavior, the ability to control reactions and the perceived level of self-efficacy. Conclusions. The factors with the highest share of drug trafficking among women were group membership, economic and social status, educational level of parents and friends, prison history and drug use. If in the rural area the main factor that determines women to get involved in drug trafficking is the lack of a job and a low level of education, in the urban area, the influence of the group is significant. Regarding the reasons behind the involvement of women in such criminal acts or in the manifestation of addictive behaviors, these are often compensatory mechanisms, adopted in the absence of effective coping strategies.

Use of Mobile Applications in Smoking, Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders

Author(s): Halil İbrahim Bilkay,Nermin Gürhan,Burak Şirin / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Currently, technology and mobile health applications are developing and being applied in different fields every day. Especially the use of mobile technology in many health fields offers various opportunities for the use of mobile applications in smoking, alcohol and substance use disorders, which is an important public mental health problem. The aim of this review study was to examine 16 mobile applications designed for the treatment and monitoring of smoking, alcohol and substance use. It was concluded that self-monitoring, notification and warning systems, location services, peer and expert support services were frequently used in the analyzed mobile applications. As a result of the studies, the use of mobile applications as a preventive intervention in the prevention of addiction and as an additional treatment option in addiction treatment is promising. However, this situation brings along various harms, risks and obstacles. This review of the relevant literature provides a critical update of mobile applications used in smoking, alcohol and substance use disorders. This review is expected to be an important guide for mental health professionals and mobile application designers working on addiction.

Превенция на употребата на психоактивни вещества в прогимназиалния етап на образование чрез приложението на училищна проектопрограма: анализ на резултатите от експертна оценка

Author(s): Daniel Polihronov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2023

The article presents the results of an expert evaluation of a program for the prevention of the use of psychoactive substances in the junior high school stage of education. The project program was constructed by students from the Faculty of Pedagogy of Sofia University in the profile "Prevention and correction of deviant behavior". The results of the empirical research are presented on the basis of a mathematical-statistical analysis of a built-in rating scale with predefined criteria and indicators and a content analysis of comments and recommendations of specialists involved in the prevention of the use of psychoactive substances.

DIGITAL HUMAN BEING AND THE MEDIA ADDICTION

Author(s): Anca Delia Dabija / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 29/2022

The great evolution of technology it is a reality which we all feel. We are permanently abounded by new inventions and innovations that fill our lives, which may give us conflicting emotions: somehow, we integrate with the progress, we are happy because we can use high-performance equipment that make our lives easier, our physical effort greatly more comforting, reduce our production cost and time, expose our actions and feeling, all of this translating in more easier expressions and tasks; on the other hand, we ask ourselves where is the whole world heading when it is governed by technology, how I will live ten years from now, how our relation with ourselves and other people will be and if/how we can remain authentic. In today’s world we use a lot of electronic devices, multimedia devices, state of the art gadgets very useful in our workplace, or at home, on holiday in order to communicate, learn or enjoy ourselves. The disagreements and disadvantages appear only when we don’t know how and how long we should use them to reach our goals, finally being their tools. The contemporary man is far from being able to strike a balance, an optimum to be and to do when he is surrendered by pseudo-values proposed and passed on through social media, the internet or the mobile phone. In the digital age, an ethical base of education becomes obvious to re-organize naturally the way of thinking, of choosing, of deciding, of acting, essentially the way of being. The free human being but also responsible has to re-organize his moral values and norms based on his actions of conscience and knowledge, involving in his social and personal sphere. Human freedom and responsibility has to make their presence felt in a world swallowed quickly by false values that practically invade the essence of humanity.

Изкуственият интелект в звукорежисурата

Author(s): Pavel Stefanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4s/2023

Artificial intelligence is more and more present into all areas of human activity. Art, and music in particular, is no exception to this trend. In the field of sound engineering, there are numerous activities where AI can assist the human sound engineer with great success. For some sound engineering tasks, AI applications are very useful and have great practical positives. In sound processing, analysis and decomposition of a stereophonic mix into its component parts, AI has had considerable success. Cleaning up certain elements of the phonogram is also an area of enviable achievement for AI applications. In a process such as music mastering, AI is again doing quite well (though not perfectly) insofar as its functions consist of application of detailed analytical operations, established algorithms, extrapolation, and synthesis. In more complex tasks such as mixing, for example, where different approaches make the possible variations immeasurably more numerous, AI still has relatively modest success.

Икономическите девианти сред нас: интерпретация на нагласите, формиращи склонност към девиантно поведение в икономическата сфера

Author(s): Emilia Chengelova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2023

The current paper presents and analyzes recent empirical data from a nationally representative study of the factor determinism of the „shadow economy“. Within the framework of the study assessments were collected, revealing the dependencies between the demographic characteristics of the individual and the tendency to deviant behavior in the economic sphere. Depending on the inclination and attitudes towards deviant economic behavior, we distinguish between economic deviants and economic conformists. Economic deviants tolerate and get engaged in various manifestations of the „shadow economy“, although under certain circumstances economic conformists also ould be tempted by the shadowy practices.

Годишна конференция на Асоциацията за човешко развитие и способности и възможности за реализация (HDCA) „Уязвимост, човешко развитие и кооперативно възстановяване в турбулентни времена“ (11–13.09.2023 г., София)

Author(s): Petya Klimentova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2023

The Aggressiveness of Institutionalized Minors Depending on the Type of Residence

Author(s): Catalin-George Fedor,Daniela Cojocaru / Language(s): English Issue: 86/2024

This article presents the findings of a research study that sought to identify and compare the levels of aggression exhibited by institutionalised minors, contingent on the type of residence in which they are situated. To this end, the research was conducted on a sample of 200 minors residing in four different forms of care: foster care, traditional placement centre, and apartment. The Buss and Perry aggression questionnaire was employed to assess four dimensions of aggression: verbal, physical, anger and hostility. The results demonstrate the presence of all forms of aggression in the research subjects, albeit with varying levels contingent on the type of residence of the institutionalised minor. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the child protection system requires reform, with an emphasis on developing the maternal care component and reducing the proportion of traditional foster care centres.

Social Marketing Strategy for Social Care Programs for Victims of Human Trafficking Crimes

Author(s): Ahmed Nasser Almogbel,Abdelwanis Mohamed Elrashidy / Language(s): English Issue: 7/2024

This study aimed to determine the social marketing strategy for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes by identifying the reality, mechanisms, challenges, and proposals for activating social marketing for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes. The research is descriptive research that aims to describe the social marketing strategy for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes. In line with the type of research, the researcher relied on the social survey method with a sample, which is one of the most appropriate methods for descriptive research. The research community was represented by officials in the department of combating human trafficking crimes at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and in shelter centers in the kingdom's regions. The research sample was determined by a simple random sample of officials in the Department of Combating Human Trafficking Crimes at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and shelter centers in the kingdom's regions, consisting of 121 individuals. The research results confirmed that The challenges of social marketing for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes were represented in: interest in superficial advertising aspects of social marketing, lack of marketing skills among those in charge of social marketing programs, lack of good planning for social marketing programs, and poor training of workers in the field of social marketing. The proposals to activate social marketing for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes represented: interest in conducting social surveys to determine the needs of victims, building a specialized department in social marketing for social care programs for victims of human trafficking crimes, interest in realistic advertising aspects of social marketing, and measuring victims’ satisfaction with the programs scientifically provided to them.

Moderating effects of PER3 gene DNA methylation on the association between problematic mobile phone use and chronotype among Chinese young adults: Focus on gender differences

Author(s): Tingting Li,YUMING CHEN,Yang Xie,Shuman Tao,Liwei Zou,Yajuan Yang,Fangbiao Tao,Xiaoyan Wu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

Objective: To investigate the rates of problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and chronotypes in young adults, and examine the associations of PMPU with chronotypes, as well as its gender differences. Furthermore, we explored the moderating role of PER3 gene DNA methylation on the associations. Methods: From April to May 2019, a total of 1,179 young adults were selected from 2 universities in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. The Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU) and reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) were adopted to investigate PMPU and chronotypes in young adults, respectively. Moreover, 744 blood samples were collected to measure PER3 gene DNA methylation. Multivariate logistic regression models were established to analyze the associations between PMPU and chronotypes. Moderating analysis was used to determine whether PER3 gene DNA methylation moderated the relationships between PMPU and chronotypes. Results: The prevalence of PMPU, morning chronotypes (M-types), neutral chronotypes (N-types), and evening chronotypes (E-types) of young adults were 24.6%, 18.4%, 71.1%, and 10.5%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that PMPU was positively correlated with E-types (OR 5 3.53, 95%CI: 2.08–6.00), and the association was observed only in females after stratified by gender (OR 5 5.36, 95%CI: 2.70–10.67). Furthermore, PER3 gene DNA methylation has a negative moderating role between PMPU and chronotypes and has a sex-based difference. Conclusions: This study can provide valuable information for the prevention and control of circadian rhythm disturbance among young adults from the perspective of epidemiology and biological etiology.

PRECISION: A COMPREHENSIVE REINTEGRATION APPROACH FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY IN ROMANIA

Author(s): Bogdan BORȘ / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The PRECISION project (Promote Rehabilitation, Empowerment of Children and Support for Youth OffeNders) was implemented by Terre des hommes Foundation in Romania across the four detention facilities for children and youth, has significantly improved the prospects of 225 children and youth deprived of liberty for successful reintegration into society. This multifaceted programme focused on training staff on child-friendly practices, engaging the young detainees in psychosocial activities, a mentoring programme and vocational training. The qualitative analysis of the project shows that it effectively enhanced the perceived wellbeing, psychosocial competencies, reintegration knowledge and skills, and vocational capabilities of its beneficiaries. The training of detention staff in the COPOSO and Movement, Games and Sports methodologies has led to transformative shifts in staff attitudes and behaviours, promoting empathy, calmness, and positive role modelling. The introduction of psychosocial activities has empowered children and youth to develop crucial life skills such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and self-confidence. The mentoring programme has played a pivotal role in guiding incarcerated youth towards personal and professional growth, fostering self-awareness, and inspiring positive change. The vocational training component has equipped the youths with practical skills and instilled values of self-discipline and independence, enhancing their employability. PRECISION serves as a compelling model for preparing children and youths deprived of liberty for a successful return to society, highlighting the significance of holistic support in facilitating their reintegration journey.

Association of Pornography Consumption with Health and Risky Sexual Behaviors of Youngsters in Pakistan: A Quantitative Approach

Author(s): Shahzad Ali,Ali Ab Ul Hassan,Ahmer Safwan,Muhammad Umar Saeed / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

The present study aimed to examine the association of pornography consumption with the health and risky sexual behaviors of youngsters. Two hundred and twenty-four participants (166 males, 58 females) from the public and private sector educational institutions of Multan, Pakistan, responded to the survey. The participants were selected through snowball sampling as it was an uphill task to identify the participants and persuade them to fill out the questionnaire. The findings indicated a strong correlation between frequent consumption of pornography with health (psychological & physical) and risky sexual behaviors of viewers. Despite a conservative society, heavy consumption of pornography on a daily and weekly basis (72%) is associated with risky sexual behaviors, i.e., using medicines to increase sexual power (p=0.045), intercourse with commercial sex workers without protection (condoms) (p=0.033), forceful sex with a life partner (p=0.038), sexual imitation as watched in pornography (p=0.005), and excessive masturbation after every exposure (p=0.018). Psychologically, frequent pornography consumption was related to feelings of loneliness and depression, while physically with a higher heartbeat and sweating on the body. The association between pornography consumption by youngsters and their health and risky sexual behaviors has been well established. Further research is warranted to obtain more outcomes and reasons behind the consumption of pornography content to suggest valuable measures to policymakers.

Противодействие срещу използването на оскърбителни и заплашителни думи и изрази в гражданските производства

Author(s): Aleksandar Angelov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

Resorting to degrading or threatening words and expressions when exercising procedural rights in the context of civil proceedings presents a complex judicial issue because it affects the legal sphere of the person at aim but it also has negative impact on the general legal order. Some remedies to the problem are available at the present moment and some existed in retrospect.

Beauty as an Investment: The Relationship between Physical Appearance, Social Status, and Mental Well-Being

Author(s): Svetlana NIKSON,Stefan COJOCARU / Language(s): English Issue: 88/2025

Throughout history, additional dimensions have been ascribed to the human body, reflecting both individuals’ self-perception and the way they are viewed by others. As a result, the body has constantly been influenced by rituals, customs, and treatments aimed at enhancing, modifying, displaying, adorning, or concealing certain features. The advancement of medicine in general and aesthetic medicine in particular, has made the pursuit of beauty more accessible. With the growing tendency to perceive the body as an evolving process and a “project”, modern society increasingly treats it as a long-term investment, intended to confer advantages, prestige, and recognition. Researchers and sociologists have explored the connection between physical appearance and social or personal status, revealing a strong correlation between one’s external look and societal standing. Their studies indicate that individuals actively strive to present themselves in the best possible way, aligning with social norms and class expectations. This pursuit involves maintaining a proper diet, engaging in physical activities, and undergoing various medical and cosmetic procedures. Aesthetic clinics serve as hubs for these services, helping individuals align their physical appearance with their personal and social aspirations. As a result, such clinics have witnessed a significant rise in popularity in recent years. This paper describes the effect of outer appearance s on the individuals’ social position, what people are willing to do in order to change their appearance due to a social motive, and how this effect can be explained by theories and paradigms in the field of social sciences.