The present study adds to the evolving literature on the relationship between social mindfulness (SoMi) and environmental concern (EC) on an individual level. Investigating this relationship is...Show moreThe present study adds to the evolving literature on the relationship between social mindfulness (SoMi) and environmental concern (EC) on an individual level. Investigating this relationship is valuable given the suggested implications of SoMi fluctuations for societal and environmental outcomes (e.g., scarcity and natural resources affecting future generations). Building on existing literature by Van Doesum et al. (2021) and Kirkland et al. (2022), we hypothesized a positive correlation between SoMi and EC on an individual level. We operationalized environmental concern across three dimensions based on the Theory of Planned Behavior: Attitude, behavior and intent (i.e., all towards being environmentally conscious), and investigated the expected SoMi-EC relationship per facet separately. Additionally, we examined the potential connection between SoMi and environmentally friendly consumer behavior, also expecting a positive correlation. Results from a survey of N = 108 participants revealed that greater levels of social mindfulness correspond to increased intentions to behave more environmentally conscious, emphasizing the importance of promoting these concepts to mitigate environmental harm. However, we did not observe a similar relationship between social mindfulness and the facets attitude and (consumer)behavior, indicating a gap between the three dimensions. Future research should focus on addressing this gap to gain a more nuanced understanding of the complete SoMi-EC relationship. As environmental concerns grow increasingly urgent, understanding these dynamics are imperative for future decision-making and the development of effective interventions.Show less
This study focuses on the quality of sibling relationships, measured in warmth and conflict, and its association with internalizing- and externalizing-behavior problems in adolescence. For the...Show moreThis study focuses on the quality of sibling relationships, measured in warmth and conflict, and its association with internalizing- and externalizing-behavior problems in adolescence. For the study, 26 sibling pairs aged 8-15 years were included. These were only biological siblings and all lived in or near Leiden. The sibling pairs came to Leiden University to individually complete a VR task and a computer task and to fill out a questionnaire (SRQ-S). The parent also completed a questionnaire (CBCL 6-18 years) during the study. For this study, the CBCL and the SRQ-S were used. For this specific study, the younger sibling was examined because the older sibling influences the younger sibling more than the younger sibling influences the older sibling. The study found that conflict in a sibling relationship was positively related to internalizing behavior problems in the younger sibling. This can be explained by the cognitive model of depression: conflict causes stress and this stress relates to negative distortions of reality. These negative distorions of reality can form negative cognitive schema’s which relate to internalizing problems. There were no associations between warmth and internalizing problems and between warmth, conflict and externalizing problems. These conclusions must take into account that a general population sample was used: there were no high or low rates of warmth, conflict, internalizing and externalizing problems; they were avarage.Show less
Despite numerous studies investigating need-supportive teaching, research on how students experience such teaching is scarce within the educational context. The current study aims to address this...Show moreDespite numerous studies investigating need-supportive teaching, research on how students experience such teaching is scarce within the educational context. The current study aims to address this gap by examining the influence of both emotional insight (i.e., one's clear understanding of emotions) and teacher expectations on the perceived need support among primary school students. The study involved 23 students aged 8 to 12 years (fifth to eighth grade). Mixed methods research was conducted – both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. The quantitative research includes questionnaire responses for emotional insight and need support. The qualitative research entailed semi-structured interviews, which involved comparing students' levels of emotional insight using vignettes based on either high or low teacher expectations. Using correlation analysis, the quantitative results indicate there is no correlation between emotional insight and need support. However, an association was found between high expectation teachers and experienced need support by students. The qualitative results suggest that through emotional insight, a student can process information, distance themselves from the situation, and then choose to deal with it in a positive way. Students with high and low emotional insight emphasize the importance of the bond they have with the teacher before asking for help. These findings show that the role of emotional insight in student-teacher interaction and experiencing need support contributes to the development of the literature on social interactions in the classroom.Show less
This thesis examines a collection of drawings by Abraham Delfos (1731-1820), an eighteenth-century engraver and draftsman from Leiden. Housed in the Print Room of Leiden University Libraries, these...Show moreThis thesis examines a collection of drawings by Abraham Delfos (1731-1820), an eighteenth-century engraver and draftsman from Leiden. Housed in the Print Room of Leiden University Libraries, these drawings predominantly consist of reproductions made after seventeenth-century paintings. Despite the fact that reproductions were a common practice and a typical eighteenth-century phenomenon, they have received limited attention from researchers. By examining Delfos' drawings within the broader context of his time, including his role as a director and his involvement in the establishment of drawing academy Ars Aemula Naturae, as well as his art dealership, this research uncovers the historical significance of these artworks. The study explores the factors that influenced changing attitudes towards reproductions and their growing popularity in the eighteenth century. Through a comprehensive analysis of Delfos' drawings, insights are gained into the influences shaping his artistic approach, the role of art education, and the perception of reproductions. These drawings serve as valuable windows into the past, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between art, education, societal development, and the evolving status of reproductions in the eighteenth century. The exploration not only highlights Delfos as an artist but also enriches our understanding of the artistic and cultural landscape of the time.Show less
This 3-wave study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive empathy (awareness and understanding of another’s emotion), affective empathy (experience of emotions consistent with those of...Show moreThis 3-wave study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive empathy (awareness and understanding of another’s emotion), affective empathy (experience of emotions consistent with those of the observed person), and self-perception of close friendships (one’s perception of the ability to form and maintain close friendships), both directly and indirectly through prosocial behavior (voluntary behavior intended to benefit another person) from late childhood to early adolescence. Participants were 127 adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years old who reported on their empathy, prosocial behavior, and self-perception of close friendships in three consecutive years, respectively. Simple mediation analyses revealed that cognitive and affective empathy did not have a significant positive effect on adolescents’ self-perception of close friendships two years later. Considering these findings, prosocial behavior was not found to be a mediator between adolescents’ cognitive or affective empathy and their self-perception of close friendships from late childhood to early adolescence. Moreover, cognitive and affective empathy did not significantly predict prosocial behavior one year later, whereas prosocial behavior did significantly predict the self-perception of adolescents’ close friendships one year later. These results underline the significance of developing tailored intervention programs targeting prosocial behavior to foster adolescents’ self-perception as close friends, a competence that is crucial during this developmental period considering the greater influence of peers.Show less
In this research the effects of childhood scarcity on adult inhibition and task switching while being in a current scarcity mindset, were explored. The hypotheses were based on the life history...Show moreIn this research the effects of childhood scarcity on adult inhibition and task switching while being in a current scarcity mindset, were explored. The hypotheses were based on the life history theory, an evolutionary perspective on learning adaptive behaviors in the childhood environment to adjust to similar situations in later life, and previous research by Mittal et al (2015). Mittal et al. (2015) observed positive effects of childhood unpredictability on switching scores. In this current research it was hypothesized that childhood scarcity has a main effect on inhibition scores, such that high childhood scarcity is related to lower performance on an inhibition task. It was also hypothesized that childhood scarcity has a main effect on switching scores, such that high childhood scarcity is related to higher performance on a switching task. Furthermore, these effects were expected to be moderated by whether a scarcity mindset is activated. This moderation effect was indicated by participants having experienced childhood scarcity to perform better on switching, but worse on inhibition tasks only with an activated current scarcity mindset. This effect was not expected when a current scarcity mindset is not activated. All hypotheses were rejected: no effect of childhood scarcity on adult switching and inhibition was found, and no moderation for this effect was detected.Show less
In 2021, Japan's gender wage gap was among the highest of all OECD countries. A big factor of this economic gender inequality lies in the fact that female participation in regular-work is...Show moreIn 2021, Japan's gender wage gap was among the highest of all OECD countries. A big factor of this economic gender inequality lies in the fact that female participation in regular-work is comparatively low to the participation rate in the more insecure and lower-paying irregular work jobs. Previous research has shown that there are three main obstacles to increased female participation in regular work positions. Those being the long-working-hours culture, a lack of enforcement of policies by the government, and the societal expectation that women are supposed to focus on housework and child-rearing. This paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced these obstacles and if there has been any positive change to the female participation rate in regular work. Using the concepts of exogenous shocks and critical junctures as a theoretical framework, this paper argues that the COVID-19 pandemic might have set the stage for real change in the Japanese labour market through the promotion of telework as a legitimate business practice. However, the pandemic has also highlighted or reinforced the existing obstacles to increased female participations in regular work due to the closure of schools and businesses in the hospitality industry, disproportionally affecting women.Show less
It has been demonstrated that exploring a new environment promotes memory in young adults. Animal studies propose that the enhancement of memory in novel settings is linked to hippocampal dopamine....Show moreIt has been demonstrated that exploring a new environment promotes memory in young adults. Animal studies propose that the enhancement of memory in novel settings is linked to hippocampal dopamine. While the dopaminergic system undergoes changes across the lifespan, little is known about the effects of novelty on memory throughout different life stages. This research contributes to the understanding of the effects of novelty in older adults. The participants (n=14) explored both novel and previously familiarised virtual environments to assess the influence of spatial novelty on declarative memory. Subsequently, participants were presented with a word list to memorise, and their memory performance was evaluated through both immediate and delayed recall. Our results indicate superior immediate recall compared to delayed recall, with no evidence for an effect of novelty. We found no difference in spontaneous eye blinking rate following exposure to a novel or familiar environment. Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between spontaneous eye blinking rate and memory recall. Finally, this sample showed that participants had a slightly better performance on day two compared to day three, especially when they had lower expectations. This suggests that there is an extra novelty effect that is noticeable on the second day, which is suggestive of a decreasing novelty effect over the course of subsequent days. Our findings could potentially be explained by the fact that the advantageous effects of novelty decrease as individuals age, likely due to deterioration in the neural pathways associated with novelty processing. In today's society, where the active contribution of older adults is increasingly valued, it is crucial to address age-related cognitive decline. In order to develop intervention for age-related memory decline, further research is necessary for the specific role of novelty-induced memory in older adults.Show less
In de huidige studie hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar de invloed van Intolerantie voor Onzekerheid (IU; nervositeit voor het onbekende) op processen zoals (1) zekerheid in het geven van een antwoord...Show moreIn de huidige studie hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar de invloed van Intolerantie voor Onzekerheid (IU; nervositeit voor het onbekende) op processen zoals (1) zekerheid in het geven van een antwoord en (2) reactietijd. Met kennis over mechanismen van IU kunnen we symptomen begrijpen en dagelijkse negatieve gevolgen verminderen. Gedurende het experiment kregen 54 gezonde participanten (37 vrouwen, 17 mannen) tussen de 18-40 jaar neutrale en negatieve afbeeldingen met bijhorende beschrijvingen te zien op twee verschillende dagen met 24 uur ertussen. Specifiek is gekeken naar dag twee, waarbij de participanten bij 75 neutrale en 75 negatieve afbeeldingen moesten aangeven of ze de afbeeldingen hadden gezien op de dag ervoor (oud) of niet (nieuw). Ze gaven aan hoe zeker ze waren over hun antwoord (betrouwbaarheidsbeoordeling; VAS 1-100; oud-nieuw). De reactietijd (ms) van deze respons werd voor beide condities gemeten. Daarna vulden participanten de Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale (IUS) in, bestaande uit 27 stellingen waarbij ze aangaven in welke mate de stelling hen typeert. De data zijn geanalyseerd middels niet-parametrische Friedmantoetsen, RMANCOVA en twee regressieanalyses met verschilscores. Daaruit kwamen de volgende bevindingen. Participanten met meer IU vertoonden minder spreiding in zekerheid van hun antwoord en waren gemiddeld langzamer in beide condities. Los van IU, vertoonden participanten meer spreiding in antwoordzekerheid en waren ze gemiddeld langzamer bij de negatieve dan bij de neutrale afbeeldingen. We concluderen dat IU effect heeft op de antwoordzekerheid en op de reactietijd. Of de getoonde afbeeldingen neutraal of negatief zijn blijkt hierbij niet van invloed.Show less
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique showing promise in stroke rehabilitation, with evidence indicating significant enhancement in motor function of...Show moreTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique showing promise in stroke rehabilitation, with evidence indicating significant enhancement in motor function of the contralateral limb following treatment. While TMS appears promising for stroke rehabilitation, there is variability in the level of improvement individuals exhibit. This variability may be attributed to oscillatory neurophysiology, which refers to the rhythmic electrical activity of the brain. Therefore, this study investigated phase-dependent changes in cortical excitability after TMS among stroke patients in affected and unaffected hemispheres. We investigated motor-evoked and TMS-evoked potentials at four phases of the ongoing motor cortical mu rhythm (trough, peak, rising, falling) in both hemispheres (affected, unaffected). Participants comprised N=11 chronic subcortical stroke patients (6 female, mean ± std age: 58 y ± 11.4) with affected lateralized upper-limb impairment. Four blocks of 150 TMS pulses were applied on each hemisphere, targeting the primary motor hotspot of the first dorsal interosseus muscle of the contralateral hand. Participants watched nature videos during stimulation to maintain consistent attention levels. Cortical excitability was assessed by analyzing motor-evoked potentials (MEP) and TMS-evoked potentials (TEP). Results showed that motor responses (measured through MEP amplitudes) were significantly larger at the trough and rising phase compared to the peak phase. No significant differences were observed between the affected and unaffected hemispheres. TEP components, the brain signals in response to TMS, did not exhibit significant phase-dependent changes. While our findings showed a nonsignificant effect of stroke severity, exploratory correlation analyses presented a positive association between higher remaining movement function and enhanced phase-dependent responses to TMS. The findings build upon previous research indicating phase-dependent changes in cortical excitability for MEPs but not for TEPs. The larger MEP amplitudes during trough and rising phases suggest that TMS can be more effective at specific points of cortical activity. Further exploration is needed to assess the efficacy of phase-specific TMS interventions in clinical settings, potentially through larger-scale clinical trials with longitudinal designs and comparative effectiveness studies, aiming to evaluate functional outcomes and determine their impact on motor recovery.Show less
This thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a...Show moreThis thesis studies the connection between suffering and sentience in Karel Capek’s R.U.R. (1921) and the first season of Westworld (HBO, 2016). Both R.U.R. and Westworld present suffering as a catalyst for the emergence of a human form of consciousness in artificial people. Initially, however, organic human characters in both texts are convinced that artificial people feel no pain and are unable to suffer. The organic human characters use this supposed inability to justify the inhumane treatment of the artificial characters. This thesis demonstrates how R.U.R. and Westworld reflect on the ways that theories about differences in sensitivity to pain were and continue to be used to justify the mistreatment of Others in real life. Additionally, the thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld offer illustrations of the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, in which one’s suffering in response to the Other’s suffering is the foundation of becoming a fully human subject. The thesis shows how R.U.R. and Westworld interweave these opposite ways of responding to the suffering Other, and thereby contribute to a better understanding of the role of suffering in the ongoing negation of what it means to be human.Show less
This thesis engages in the debate surrounding the EU's NextGenerationEU recovery fund: more than €800 billion to member states to help them through the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. These...Show moreThis thesis engages in the debate surrounding the EU's NextGenerationEU recovery fund: more than €800 billion to member states to help them through the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. These funds are raised through common EU debt and some of them are provided in the form of grants. This combination led to discussions about the significance of the programme for European integration and the EU's possible evolution from an international organisation towards a federal state, specifically whether it bears similarity to the 'Hamiltonian moment,' a set of 18th-century fiscal reforms in the United States. The thesis compares NGEU and the Hamiltonian moment in terms of their respective context, content and consequences. It finds that the NGEU programme did not constitute Europe's very own Hamiltonian moment due to its very different and much less significant impact on the functioning of fiscal policy in its polity.Show less
From the era of Daoud Khan to the rise of the Taliban, Pashtun-centric ideology has consistently influenced Afghan political discourse. This thesis investigates the impact of colonial legacies,...Show moreFrom the era of Daoud Khan to the rise of the Taliban, Pashtun-centric ideology has consistently influenced Afghan political discourse. This thesis investigates the impact of colonial legacies, Orientalist paradigms, and power dynamics on the shaping of Afghanistan's socio-political landscape. By analyzing the connections between national identity formation and ethnicization, the study aims to deepen the understanding of Afghanistan's complex political dynamics. Ultimately, it seeks to promote a more inclusive and diverse dialogue on Afghan politics and identity.Show less
