The thesis reviews three explanatory models (game theory, performativity, and asymmetry) that are used to explain the different outcomes of the state-domestic terrorist group interactions in West...Show moreThe thesis reviews three explanatory models (game theory, performativity, and asymmetry) that are used to explain the different outcomes of the state-domestic terrorist group interactions in West-Germany and The Netherlands during the 1970s. The thesis highlights the relevance of explanations that discuss the factor of asymmetry.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
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In The Netherlands, the objection procedure (or ‘bezwaarprocedure’) is considered one of the top-10 bottlenecks in public administration. Hence, four municipalities in the Leiden area redesigned...Show moreIn The Netherlands, the objection procedure (or ‘bezwaarprocedure’) is considered one of the top-10 bottlenecks in public administration. Hence, four municipalities in the Leiden area redesigned their objection procedure. The new way of working is based on mediation skills. Yet, it is unclear what these mediation skills signify in this context. And how are they applied by the objection committee (known as mediation style)? Likewise, how do the conflicting parties react to this new way of working (known as conflict style)? And, last but not least – what causes all these styles? In order to answer these questions, qualitative data from 12 hearings is presented in a linguistic corpus. Excerpts are taken out and assessed to offer a comprehensive answer. The results were as follows. Generally, objectors maintained a competing, defensive style; authority representatives retreated to the law, failing to make their contributions relevant for the objector; interested third parties were resentful; and the committee had a facilitative mediation style – for the benefit of the conflicting parties. One probable cause of these conflict styles is the existence of four types of asymmetry between the objector and the remaining parties. Furthermore, it is possible that mental association with contexts of fighting is a cause of said conflict styles. The consequence of these styles was that the objector often put in extra effort, whereas the authority representative took a step backwards in effort. As a small-scale study, this papers offers incentives for larger studies into the government-citizen relationship; into power in negotiation; and into face negotiation theory.Show less
Emotions have motivating characteristics: either you approach or withdraw in reaction to emotional stimuli. This approach-withdrawal system has been the focus of emotion studies for several decades...Show moreEmotions have motivating characteristics: either you approach or withdraw in reaction to emotional stimuli. This approach-withdrawal system has been the focus of emotion studies for several decades now. Asymmetric frontal cortical activity has been widely used in these studies, using electroencephalogram (EEG). Two separate neural circuits are involved in different emotional reactions. The first is involved in emotional reactions that are more positive and elicit goals to approach or engage in a situation, and the second is involved in emotional reactions that are more negative and elicit goals to withdraw from a situation. Recently, another measurement has been hypothesized to be related to emotion, and particularly the approach-withdrawal system, namely tympanic membrane temperature (TMT). TMT would be a powerful instrument to use as an alternative for EEG, particularly in infant research. However it is not yet clear if a relationship between EEG and TMT exist, which is analysed in this study. A relationship between those two measurements means that TMT might be of use in emotion studies. This is of great importance, because TMT is less invasive and can be easily used in research. The study population consisted of 18 infants of 10 months old. The current study used EEG to measure asymmetric frontal cortical activity and TMT was measured using an ear thermometer. The findings suggest that no relationship can be found between TMT and EEG, indicating that TMT does not measure the same thing as EEG. Hence, the hypothesis that TMT is a cheaper and easier replacement for EEG measurements cannot be endorsed in light of present data.Show less
