The digitalisation of political expression impacted social movement organisation. The global proliferation of information and communication technology (ICT) digitalised social movements towards...Show moreThe digitalisation of political expression impacted social movement organisation. The global proliferation of information and communication technology (ICT) digitalised social movements towards networked collective action. This fuelled the optimism about ICTs as liberalisation tool. Yet, authoritarian regimes showed increasing sophistication in digital repression which urges to investigate the link between digital repression (DR) and mobilisation. I use complementary insights from connective action theory and disconnective action theory to address the research question: What is the effect of DR on mobilisation? By arguing DR is multi-dimensional, the goal of this analysis is to establish the relationship between DR and mobilisation in authoritarian regimes. To this end, I conduct a systematic, global analysis. With an OLS regression, my large-N study analyses authoritarian regimes from 2000 until 2021. The findings are qualitatively supported with two case studies to address endogeneity concerns. On the one hand, I expect a prevention effect on mobilisation if DR is performed as long-term information manipulation. On the other hand, I hypothesise an escalation effect on mobilisation if DR is executed in form of a short-term information vacuum. Though the results are mixed, I conclude that there is initial support for both prevention and escalation effect of DR. I derive that DR is multi-dimensional and can prevent, but also escalate mobilisation.Show less
This study investigated the relationship between Pyrrhonism and happiness, moderated by a present-fatalistic time perspective. Pyrrhonism is a philosophical tradition which can be regarded as an...Show moreThis study investigated the relationship between Pyrrhonism and happiness, moderated by a present-fatalistic time perspective. Pyrrhonism is a philosophical tradition which can be regarded as an art of living, with happiness as its ultimate goal. The Pyrrhonist recognises that for every outlook on life an equal amount of affirming and disconfirming arguments can be found and thus suspends his judgement, which leads to tranquillity. The Pyrrhonian trait, indicated by an investigative, considerate and open mind, was measured using the self-constructed Pyrrhonian Trait Scale (PTS). Data were collected using an online test battery, which in addition to the PTS also consisted of the Satisfaction with Life Scale and Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the PTS to confirm the presence of underlying factors on which the scale was based. Subsequently, a regression analysis and moderation analysis were conducted using IBM SPSS. Although no significant relationships were found, Pyrrhonism was positively associated with happiness. This association was only positive in respondents scoring moderately on the present-fatalistic time perspective. Pyrrhonism might serve as a guide in daily life. Moreover, future studies could asses its effect in clinical settings.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Indonesia is one of the countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its geography. Climate change has threatened the agriculture industry and the country’s ability for food security...Show moreIndonesia is one of the countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its geography. Climate change has threatened the agriculture industry and the country’s ability for food security which can be a severe problem in the future. However, there are problems with how the government of Indonesia is trying to manage the impact of climate change on agriculture, especially on rice paddy farming, due to the impacts of the past neo-liberal policy (the green revolution) and challenges within the political reformation after the downfall of the Soeharto regime. In this thesis, I am trying to explore the implications and the causes of agricultural and climate issues management problems in Indramayu, Indonesia, by utilizing Aryo Danusiri’s (2018) visual methods of menjaring (trawling) and berburu (hunting). In understanding the implications, I was using the trawling method where I argue that climate change and agricultural management problems in Indonesia are creating a precarious situation for the rice paddy farmers, in line with Anna Tsing’s (2015: 20) statement of precarity being the condition of our time. Lastly, I was using the hunting method where I found out that ‘sectoral ego’ problems within the government and aggressive neo-liberal politics as one of the major causes.Show less
Background and aim: Although literature suggests that quality of life (QoL) in women with substance use disorders (SUDs) is lower than in men, it remains unknown whether this 1) applies to SUD...Show moreBackground and aim: Although literature suggests that quality of life (QoL) in women with substance use disorders (SUDs) is lower than in men, it remains unknown whether this 1) applies to SUD patients with psychiatric comorbidities in the Netherlands; and 2) whether there is a gender difference in QoL gain during treatment. This study therefore aimed to compare QoL (gain) between genders. Because research linked mood problems to worse QoL and substance usage in women, it was also the aim to compare genders in the association between (change in) mood problems and (change in) QoL. Methods: The longitudinal design involved data of day-patient treatments between 2018-2020. Sixty nine females and one hundred and thirty males with SUDs and comorbidities were assessed, using the EQ-5D-3L and the ICECAP-A. Analysis of variance and moderation analyses were performed with multiple imputation, controlling for treatment group. Results: At pretest, QoL in women was significantly lower when compared to men. There was no significant gender difference concerning gain in QoL, as well as regarding the association between mood problems and QoL at pretest and posttest. Conclusions: Women with SUDs and comorbidities experience lower QoL than men, a gender gap that is less profound in the normal population. Stigma and adverse life conditions arguably play a role. There is no evidence that men and women profit differently from treatment. In any case, mood problems, trauma experiences and meaningful activities could be considered more in future studies, as their association with QoL seems to be critical.Show less
As inertia lacks a comprehensive definition, this thesis aids the formulation of a singular yet widely applicable definition. This is accomplished by examining the feasibility of definitions...Show moreAs inertia lacks a comprehensive definition, this thesis aids the formulation of a singular yet widely applicable definition. This is accomplished by examining the feasibility of definitions obtained through the scientific literature (a top-down approach) and laypeople (a bottom-up approach). A single definition for inertia proves to be elusive due to inertia’s many different uses, interpretations, and overlap with other constructs. For this reason, several distinguishing features were identified to differentiate inertia. In addition, a dichotomy between inertia as a behaviour and tendency was proposed to reconcile contradictions within the literature. Nevertheless, a classical definition with clear boundaries proved to be problematic. Therefore, a bottom-up approach examined through a prototype analysis whether inertia may have a prototype structure. In this case, inertia is best explained through many distinct, yet overlapping concepts instead of a few boundary conditions. In Study 1, participants freely generated features of financial decision-making. In Study 2, the resultant features were adapted to financial inertia and were tested for their representativeness. These preliminary analyses indicated that inertia might indeed have a prototype structure as numerous features were considered central to inertia. While these inferences are somewhat tentative until inertia’s prototype structure is fully confirmed in subsequent tests, there are indications that the dichotomy following from the top-down approach may mirror patterns in the most centrally rated features from the bottom-up approach.Show less
Midfrontal EEG oscillations in the theta (4-8 Hz) band reflect a threat-detection mechanism, which might work differently in individuals with fear of negative evaluation (FNE) due to attentional...Show moreMidfrontal EEG oscillations in the theta (4-8 Hz) band reflect a threat-detection mechanism, which might work differently in individuals with fear of negative evaluation (FNE) due to attentional biases. This study aimed to examine FM theta reactivity to social-evaluation in a probabilistic feedback learning experiment, and possible biased learning processes in individuals with FNE, a hallmark feature in social anxiety. Additionally, the current study explored the possible mediating role of FM theta power in the relationship between FNE and emotion regulation. Fifty-nine undergraduate students (mean age = 20.5 years) participated in the newly developed SELF-profile paradigm. The participants received social rejection or acceptance feedback by (predominantly positive and negative) peers, which was either congruent or incongruent with prior expectations. Results revealed that unexpected peer feedback, regardless of the valence (acceptance or rejection), elicited a significant increase in FM theta power, as did feedback from the most negative peer. No association between FM theta power and FNE was found, and FM theta power did not mediate the relationship between FNE and emotion regulation (positive reappraisal or rumination). Behaviourally, participants had more difficulties in learning the probability of acceptance feedback for the negative peer than the positive peer. Individuals with FNE were slower in predicting acceptance feedback for the most positive peer, and felt more rejected after the experiment. Together, the results provided evidence that individuals with higher FNE seemed to display increased negative affect after receiving feedback and an attention bias towards threat. Furthermore, FM theta power seemed to reflect uncertainty-driven exploration.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
open access
Identical sensory input may be perceived differently, based on expectations and goals. For example, object recognition is facilitated for expected or task-relevant objects. At the same time,...Show moreIdentical sensory input may be perceived differently, based on expectations and goals. For example, object recognition is facilitated for expected or task-relevant objects. At the same time, unexpected objects are found to elicit a stronger neural response. These effects can be explained by predictive coding accounts of visual processing, presenting perception as a process of minimizing the difference between predicted and observed sensory input. However, as expectation and task-relevance are often conflated, it is insufficiently clear how these factors influence sensory processing in conscious perception. The current study aimed to investigate the relative influence of expectation and task-relevance on behavioral and neural measures of perception. During two EEG sessions, participants performed a task in which they discriminated between masked face and house images while we independently manipulated expectation and task-relevance. We find that images were more often correctly recognized when they were expected or task-relevant. In addition, we used multivariate pattern analysis to show that a classifier trained on sensory representations of face and house stimuli is better able to distinguish between expected or task-relevant face and house images than between unexpected or task-irrelevant images. These results suggest that expectation and task-relevance have independent effects on sensory processing. Finally, our results show that cue-based manipulations may activate sensory templates even before stimulus onset. We therefore recommend that future studies manipulate expectation and task-relevance without the use of explicit cues.Show less
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with adverse psychological symptoms. Psychotropic prescription drugs are a critical tool in treating and controlling a variety of...Show moreThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with adverse psychological symptoms. Psychotropic prescription drugs are a critical tool in treating and controlling a variety of psychopathological conditions, which raises concern in terms of potential overuse and irrational use. Available data regarding the use and prescribing practices of psychotropic prescription drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic are inconsistent. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of investigating the change in psychotropic prescription drug use and dispensing in relation to COVID-19. Pub-med and Web of Science Databases were systematically searched, and a total of 30 studies were included (23 prevalence estimates, and 19 correlation coefficient estimates; total N = 5,133,032). The yielded findings demonstrated a statistically significant increase of 16.34% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 9.11 to 23.57) in prevalence estimates of psychotropic prescription drug use. Furthermore, the conducted meta-analysis yielded a small positive statistically significant correlation r = 0.11 (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.16), implying a small increase in psychotropic prescription drug use and dispensing pre relative to post COVID-19. The association between COVID-19 and adverse mental health, as well as the increased use of psychotropic medications, may lead to an upsurge in substance use related disorders and overdose-related deaths. This is important to know, given that many substance use treatment programs during the pandemic have been disrupted. It may be essential for policy makers and health officials to address mental and behavioral health through telemedicine.Show less
Research master thesis | Psychology (research) (MSc)
open access
Recent work has shown that we can achieve a better understanding of learning behavior by integrating reinforcement learning models with evidence accumulation models (RL-EAM). RL-EAM predict that as...Show moreRecent work has shown that we can achieve a better understanding of learning behavior by integrating reinforcement learning models with evidence accumulation models (RL-EAM). RL-EAM predict that as people learn they respond faster and more accurately. However, two recent experiments showed that when learning under speed pressure, people demonstrated a learning-related increase in accuracy, but not in response speed. We hypothesized that this might be caused by a proportion of responses resulting from a timing accumulation process that keeps track of time in parallel to the evidence accumulation process during a decision. We compared RL-EAM with and without the addition of time estimation on data from two independent experiments. We found no compelling evidence that the proposed mechanism of time estimation aid in decision-making in learning.Show less
