Brief Mindfulness Instruction Increases Prosocial Helping of an Ostracized Racial Outgroup Member

Two experiments tested whether brief instruction in mindfulness increased helping behavior toward an ostracized racial outgroup member by enhancing empathic concern. In Study 1, brief mindfulness instruction, relative to active and inactive control conditions, increased helping behavior toward an ostracized racial outgroup member in a private (but not in a public) context. In Study 2, which involved greater anonymity, mindfulness instruction increased both private and public helping behavior toward an ostracized racial outgroup member relative to the two control conditions. Importantly, measured empathic concern accounted for a portion of the variance in the causal relation between mindfulness and interracial helping behavior in Study 2. Together these studies suggest that brief mindfulness training increases interracial prosocial responsiveness in a digitally mediated context, particularly when personal anonymity was greater.

A public context with higher minority stress for LGBTQ* couples decreases the enjoyment of public displays of affection

This research investigated whether LGBTQ* minority stress and public displays of affection (PDA; e.g., kissing, hugging) among LGBTQ* couples are context-sensitive. We expected that (a) LQBTQ* minority stress would be more prevalent in a harmful (i.e., city center) versus a less harmful (i.e., university campus) context, and (b) PDA would be reduced for LGBTQ* couples in a harmful context. In three studies, LGBTQ* and Hetero/Cis students (NTotal = 517) reported LGBTQ*-specific minority stress and PDA in the city and on campus. The city center was higher in minority stress than the campus in all studies. Also, LGBTQ* participants’ PDA enjoyment was lower in the city than on campus (Studies 1 and 3). Minority stress mediated the context effect on PDA (Study 3). A qualitative analysis illuminated the harmful versus protective natures of public contexts. We conclude that a protective context can powerfully promote healthy LGBTQ* relationship behavior.

Exploring the masculinization of innovation practice within a municipality

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to generate an empirically informed theoretical framework which can be used to analyze the relationship between gender and innovation in the context of a municipality. The authors present and analyze three illustrative tales from a feminist perspective. The authors thus offer a more balanced approach to the conceptualization of gendered ascriptions with respect to the possible outcomes of innovation work in a public context.Design/methodology/approachAn ethnographic account which employed “shadowing” as a method of observation.FindingsThe article presents a debate on how the social construction of gender and innovation can be placed in the context of a municipal reality. Our analysis reveals how the complexities of a gendered work life within a municipality can create paradoxes. A constructionism approach was used in the identification of hidden and unspoken paradoxes that exist in public spheres.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors used empirical tales from a very specific context, namely a Swedish municipality. The central implication of this study is the recognition of innovation as being masculine-gendered within the feminine context. This implication thereby deepens our understanding of gender paradoxes in the public sector.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights to practitioners who intend to work with innovation in a public organization.Social implicationsThe social implications of this study is that when a male-gendered concept like innovation is implemented in a female-gendered context, like a municipality, it is of importance to contextualize the concept.Originality/valueThe empirical value of examples of a gendered work landscape at a Swedish municipality.

Identying Factors That Influences Fradulences in Non-Life Insurance Companies

Insurance fraud is the most common form of fraud in the world, aside from tax evasion. By its very existence, the insurance industry is prone to deception. Basic income levels in Vietnam have a tendency to steadily rise as a result of improving socioeconomic conditions. As a result, the need for citizen security has increased and become more diverse.The aim of this study is to study the predictor/s of anti-insurance fraud among non-insurer companies in Vietnam. This study was conducted using a questionnaire that was completed by 51 employees who are currently working in the 11 non-life insurance company in Vietnam. It can be concluded that there exists a significant relationship between all the four independent variables which are namely external regulations, public context, management functions as well as underwriting guidance.

Development and Testing of Psychological Conflict Resolution Strategies for Assertive Robots to Resolve Human–Robot Goal Conflict

As service robots become increasingly autonomous and follow their own task-related goals, human-robot conflicts seem inevitable, especially in shared spaces. Goal conflicts can arise from simple trajectory planning to complex task prioritization. For successful human-robot goal-conflict resolution, humans and robots need to negotiate their goals and priorities. For this, the robot might be equipped with effective conflict resolution strategies to be assertive and effective but similarly accepted by the user. In this paper, conflict resolution strategies for service robots (public cleaning robot, home assistant robot) are developed by transferring psychological concepts (e.g., negotiation, cooperation) to HRI. Altogether, fifteen strategies were grouped by the expected affective outcome (positive, neutral, negative). In two online experiments, the acceptability of and compliance with these conflict resolution strategies were tested with humanoid and mechanic robots in two application contexts (public: n1 = 61; private: n2 = 93). To obtain a comparative value, the strategies were also applied by a human. As additional outcomes trust, fear, arousal, and valence, as well as perceived politeness of the agent were assessed. The positive/neutral strategies were found to be more acceptable and effective than negative strategies. Some negative strategies (i.e., threat, command) even led to reactance and fear. Some strategies were only positively evaluated and effective for certain agents (human or robot) or only acceptable in one of the two application contexts (i.e., approach, empathy). Influences on strategy acceptance and compliance in the public context could be found: acceptance was predicted by politeness and trust. Compliance was predicted by interpersonal power. Taken together, psychological conflict resolution strategies can be applied in HRI to enhance robot task effectiveness. If applied robot-specifically and context-sensitively they are accepted by the user. The contribution of this paper is twofold: conflict resolution strategies based on Human Factors and Social Psychology are introduced and empirically evaluated in two online studies for two application contexts. Influencing factors and requirements for the acceptance and effectiveness of robot assertiveness are discussed.

Love and Hate in Deuteronomy

This chapter reviews recent scholarship on the roots “love” (אהב) and “hate” (שׂנא) used in Deuteronomy in both an interpersonal context and the description of the covenant between the Israelites and their deity. Scholarship has mainly focused on the uses of love and hate and in covenants and treaties, in the Hebrew Bible and the Near East more broadly; in this literary context, the two terms express the covenantal partners’ duties. More recently, scholars have questioned whether the terms, especially love, maintain a primary affective meaning. Drawing upon the cultural and historical study of emotions, this chapter underscores the contrast between contemporary Western concepts of love and hate—which tend to be understood as private and internal feelings—and the biblical uses of love and hate—which rather describe visible practices, performed in a social and often public context.

Evaluation of the main performance criteria of IT outsourcing for contract management in public companies: a bibliometric review

Although Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) is common in private companies, it is less common in public organizations. In addition, extant literature focuses mainly on private companies and researchers from public organizations use and replicate these results often without adequate validation for the public context. This points to a scenario in which ITO studies may have worse results due to the lack of an appropriate theoretical framework. To analyze this disparity, the existing literature on IT, public organizations and outsourcing is reviewed. A systematic review of the literature allows to extract the content organized by groups. Thus, a framework is proposed to understand the main dimensions of monitoring IT outsourcing for public organizations. The results point to four main criteria (monitoring, relationship, performance and uncertainty) divided into 16 sub-criteria. This study contributes to the literature by refining the IT outsourcing theories for the public sector and providing a platform for advances in future studies.

Relationship Between Equality Policies and Moral Legitimacy According to Experts’ Perceptions

The gender equality topic is gaining momentum both in the organizational and in the institutional management field. In order to close the gender gap that is common in the business environment, governments are promoting full and effective inclusion of women in all business areas and levels, developing useful policies to reach equal career progress opportunities and access to the highest level of the decision-making stages in the political, economic and public context. Companies also apply and implement these kinds of policies. The design and application of gender equality policies generates multiple benefits for companies’ intangible assets, such as positive reputation and legitimacy. Companies who apply effective equality policies can expect an improvement in their internal and external social acceptance, and, therefore, an increase in their moral legitimacy perception. The objective of this study is to verify how gender equality policies influence the corporate moral legitimacy. To measure this relationship, a sample of 75 experts in social responsibility has been used and a model of a regression has been applied to measure the impact of gender equality policies on moral legitimacy. Keywords: legitimacy, gender equality, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, ethics.

In vitro assessment of the virucidal activity of four mouthwashes containing Cetylpyridinium Chloride, ethanol, zinc and a mix of enzyme and proteins against a human coronavirus

Backgroundsaliva is established to contain high counts SARS-CoV-2 virus and contact with saliva droplets, contaminated surfaces or airborne particles are sources of viral transmission. The generation of infective aerosols during clinical procedures is of particular concern. Therefore, a fuller understanding of the potential of mouthwash to reduce viral counts and modulate the risk of transmission in medical professional and public context is an important research topic.Methodwe determined the virucidal activity of four anti-bacterial mouthwashes against a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2, Human CoV-SARS 229E, using a standard ASTM suspension test, with dilution and contact times applicable to recommended mouthwash use.Resultsthe mouthwash formulated with 0.07% Cetylpyridinium Chloride exhibited virucidal effects providing a ≥3.0 log reduction HCoV-229E viral count. Mouthwashes containing 15.7% ethanol, 0.2% zinc sulphate heptahydrate and a mix of enzymes and proteins did not demonstrate substantive virucidal activity in this test.Conclusionmouthwash containing 0.07% Cetylpyridinium Chloride warrants further laboratory and clinical assessment to determine their potential benefit in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2.HighlightsSARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted through contact with infective saliva.Studies are needed to understand if mouthwash can lower SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk.0.07% Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) mouthwash exhibited virucidal effects against HCoV-SARS 229E.Further studies on potential of 0.07% CPC mouthwash against SARS-CoV-2 are warranted.