Humans frequently need to cooperate, especially when facing collective threats such as natural disasters, pandemics or climate change. Recent scientific findings suggest that the model response to...Show moreHumans frequently need to cooperate, especially when facing collective threats such as natural disasters, pandemics or climate change. Recent scientific findings suggest that the model response to threats is not, as previously thought, characterized by selfishness, but rather prosocial in nature. The current study aims to replicate a previously observed positive effect of threat on cooperation, and investigates whether the effect of threat is comparable to the cooperation-inducing effect of peer punishment. During a public goods game, participants in groups of three were exposed to the threat of an electric shock, while their heart rate and skin conductance were recorded to verify the successful induction of the neurophysiological freezing response. Additionally, half of the groups were given the option to utilize costly peer punishment to enforce cooperation. The analysis suggests that the freezing response was successfully induced and that peer punishment facilitated cooperation. However, contrary to our expectations, threat did not have a significant positive effect on cooperation.Show less
The “Intention Method” of the Identity-orientated Psychotrauma Theory (IoPT) is a therapeutic method that uses the resonance phenomenon to reveal unconscious psychological processes. During a...Show moreThe “Intention Method” of the Identity-orientated Psychotrauma Theory (IoPT) is a therapeutic method that uses the resonance phenomenon to reveal unconscious psychological processes. During a psychotherapeutic session, resonators intuitively represent suppressed psychological processes of the client. It is yet to be proven that resonance is a reliable means to accurately uncover unconscious processes of the client. Therefore, the study examined the accuracy and the emotional and psychological impact of resonances in a therapeutic setting. The sample included 43 clients from 16 different nations who are currently in psychotherapeutic treatment based on the IoPT. The researcher observed 50 therapeutic sessions and evaluated the expressed resonances as coherent or incoherent with the life experiences of the clients. Additionally, any visible psychological or emotional changes during the session were noted. These changes were then interpreted in relation to the expressed resonances. Results showed that resonance is an accurate means to uncover suppressed psychological conflicts, and improve the psychological and emotional well-being of the clients. The results implicate that the IoPT has the potential to establish a new form of psychotherapy in which unconscious inner conflicts, suppressed feelings, and false identification can be directly processed.Show less
Quality sleep is paramount for the mental and physical health of university students and for their academic success. Stress was found to be a precipitator and a maintaining factor of poor sleep....Show moreQuality sleep is paramount for the mental and physical health of university students and for their academic success. Stress was found to be a precipitator and a maintaining factor of poor sleep. Moreover, vulnerabilities in the student population may maintain and/or exacerbate a possible association between stress and sleep quality; one of which is the development or the existence of poor coping strategies to deal with stress, such as a propensity to engage in perseverative negative cognitions (PNCs). This study examined whether an increase in academic stress was related to a decrease in the sleep quality of university students. Additionally, moderation by two different PNCs (i.e., excessive worry and rumination) were expected, with high levels of PNCs associated with an exacerbation of the relationship between academic stress and sleep quality. Lastly, the unique contribution of the two PNCs to the moderation effect was explored. Cross-sectional data from 49 university students were obtained using a series of questionnaires (Mage = 19.6 years, female = 95.9%). A simple regression analysis failed to indicate that an increase in academic stress predicts a decrease in sleep quality (p = .30). In addition, a hierarchical multiple regression failed to establish that PNCs moderate the relationship between academic stress and sleep quality (p = .18), suggesting that high levels of PNCs may not be associated with an exacerbation of the relationship. Furthermore, this study did not find evidence for the individual contribution of both types of PNCs to the moderation effect of PNCs in the association between academic stress and sleep quality (p = .28 for worry as a moderator; p = .47 for rumination as a moderator). These findings inform that academic stress might not share the same link with sleep difficulties as other types of stress have demonstrated. Furthermore, there is the possibility of additional concomitant difficulties (i.e., depression and anxiety) being relevant for the associations investigated, either as subsequent outcomes or as determinants of these associations. These findings provide a basis for future research on possible resistances experienced by this population and inform interventions that could help ameliorate sleep quality in university students.Show less
The Information Sampling Trust Game (ISTG) is an updated model of the classic trust game – a paradigm originally designed to assess the perceived benefit of information acquisition prior to making...Show moreThe Information Sampling Trust Game (ISTG) is an updated model of the classic trust game – a paradigm originally designed to assess the perceived benefit of information acquisition prior to making a decision in comparison to the potential cost; financial, social, or otherwise. Previous studies have suggested that narcissistic traits may also influence the decision to invest socially in another individual; that is, whether or not to place one’s trust in another person (Franken, 2016). In addition, previous studies have suggested that both narcissistic traits and information sampling behaviours develop throughout adolescence (Jenkins, 2019; Ma, Westhoff, et al., 2020). Results from the ISTG - in terms of information sampled and proportion of investments - in a group of 157 adolescent participants (10-24) were investigated in relation to the narcissistic traits of the participants; the effects of age on this relationship were also investigated. A significant relationship was found between N-R trait scores and proportion of investments. Results also suggested that this relationship varied between age groups; with younger age groups (10-14 and 15-18 year olds) showing a positive relationship between N-R traits and proportion of investments, while adults (19-24 year olds) showed an inverse relationship. Neither a significant relationship between N-A and trust decisions nor significant effects on sampling were found. These findings indicate that N-R traits in particular have a relationship with social decision-making behaviours, and that this relationship between narcissism and social behaviour may change throughout adolescent development.Show less
Modern research in cognitive neuroscience aims to understand the persistent human experience of selfhood. In extension to this, recent research proposed a fundamental difference between homeostatic...Show moreModern research in cognitive neuroscience aims to understand the persistent human experience of selfhood. In extension to this, recent research proposed a fundamental difference between homeostatic regulation and goal-directed behaviour. Our approach suggests that these two may be prone to the very same learning principles of action-effect learning, and therefore share a cognitive overlap. This study investigated this overlap by applying action-effect learning to pupillometric data. The design consisted of three phases, during which subjects looked at a LED screen whilst the eye tracker collected data. In the first phase, an average pupil size of subjects was established in three different light conditions (neutral, high and low luminance). In the second phase pupillometric adjustment to high and low luminance was paired to two different tones, establishing action-effect bindings. In the third phase, these tones were presented again to the subject, to check whether they still made corresponding pupil adjustments. 53 healthy adults completed the experiment. Results indicate no significant difference in pupillometric adjustment between the two sounds presented in the last phase. Although these results present no evidence for a cognitive overlap between goal-directed behaviour and homeostasis, conclusions should be drawn with caution. Potential factors of noise in the pupillometric data are discussed, along with recommendations for future research. Finally, we argue that the design of this study could be applied to a younger group of subjects, as these are more likely to achieve cognitive control over homeostasis.Show less
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
Most studies that examine the relationship between rebel movements and collective action often only tackle a certain dimension of the rebel movement. This being either the creation of a rebellion,...Show moreMost studies that examine the relationship between rebel movements and collective action often only tackle a certain dimension of the rebel movement. This being either the creation of a rebellion, the methods that are used to reach the set-out goal by a rebellion, or the way in which collective action can explain the resolution to the conflict. This thesis attempts to provide a clear explanation that is grounded in the study of collective action and is applicable to all the above-mentioned dimensions of a rebel movement. The goal of this thesis is to expose how collective action can explain the success or failure of a rebellion. In this thesis, a discourse analysis on the relationship between the rebel experience, which encompasses the creation, mobilisation, used tactics and behaviour during attempts at peace by the movement, and the solving of collective action problems which are associated with rebel movements was carried out. This relationship was further assessed by examining two examples of rebel movements who were active in Europe. These cases are the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA). The analysis provided insight into the importance of leaders within a rebel movement. From assessing the cases, it was established that leaders utilised certain collective action solutions, to overcome the associated collective action problems a rebellion deals with. Further assessment into the cases of both the IRA and ETA established that the willingness and capability of leaders to form peace, is instrumental in the ultimate success or failure of a rebel movement. ultimately, the relevance of leaders in solving collective action problems in a rebellion requires more research to explain where and why rebellions fail or succeed.Show less
This thesis analyses which factors have contributed to the increase of remittances in Mexico. Three factors have been researched: governmental policies in Mexico, the social bonds of migrants and...Show moreThis thesis analyses which factors have contributed to the increase of remittances in Mexico. Three factors have been researched: governmental policies in Mexico, the social bonds of migrants and the financial costs of remitting. The results show that more inclusive and supportive governmental policies have been implemented to help Mexican migrants and at the same time of the increase of remittances, the costs of remitting have decreased substantially. There was, however, no substantial difference between the migrants that have remitted and the migrants that have not remitted and their social bonds. The remittances in Mexico have thus likely been boosted by more inclusive and protective governmental policies and by lowering of the financial costs of remitting.Show less
The green growth paradigm has been the dominant approach to climate policymaking in recent decades, such as in the European Green Deal. This research analyzes green growth using mixed methods by...Show moreThe green growth paradigm has been the dominant approach to climate policymaking in recent decades, such as in the European Green Deal. This research analyzes green growth using mixed methods by examining the impact of green growth policies on carbon emissions in the EU for the period of 2000-2019 and evaluating the design of current green growth policies in the European Green Deal. The corresponding results show that green growth has led to a decoupling of economic growth from carbon emissions, but not sufficiently to achieve the European Green Deal goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050. Green growth policies under the European Green Deal represent to some extent an evolvement of past policies, but at the same time a continuation of past shortcomings. Following the results, it is concluded that green growth is necessary but can only be a transitional strategy to achieve carbon-neutrality in the EU by 2050. Furthermore, implications are drawn for improving current green growth policies under the European Green Deal in terms of their impact on decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions.Show less
Forced migration is an endemic and worldwide phenomenon that results from human or nature induced conflicts such as (violent) conflicts, persecution or natural disasters. People are coerced to...Show moreForced migration is an endemic and worldwide phenomenon that results from human or nature induced conflicts such as (violent) conflicts, persecution or natural disasters. People are coerced to migrate to seek safety since they are often at the risk of their life. The issue of forced migration is generally tackled through institutions and international legal systems through top-down approaches, especially because forced migrants often have to cross international borders. While some forced migrants have improved living conditions in comparison to their pre-migration situation, a lot of forced migrants end up in refugee camps, where they experience poor living conditions. There, they are often excluded from their host community and their humanitarian needs are not always met. A more collaborative and communal approach through human agency has been neglected in comparison to the top-down approaches. For voluntary migrants, interactions and relationships with the host community have been shown to benefit their well-being. This thesis aims to examine how the sense of community affects the quality of life of forced migrants, especially when they arrive in their host community, because forced migrants often have to leave their home community and family network behind.Show less
