Dance and Socio-Cybernetics: The Dance event of “K’na” As A Shaping Component of The Cultural Identity Amongst the Arvanites of Neo Cheimonio Evros, Greece

The research field of this paper is the wedding dance event of “K’na”, as this takes place by the Arvanites of Greek Thrace, an ethnic group moved to the area from Turkish Thrace in 1923. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the three components of dance, music and song of Greek traditional dance, as these reflected in the “K’na” dance event amongst the Arvanites ethnic group of Neo Cheimonio (Evros), are related to issues of ethno-cultural identity under the lens of socio-cybernetics. Data was gathered through ethnographic method as this is applied to the study of dance, while its interpretation was based on socio-cybernetics according to Burke’s identity control theory. From the data analysis, it is showed that through the “K’na” dance event the Thracian Arvanites of Neo Cheimonio shape and reshape their ethno-cultural identity as a reaction to the input they receive from their environment. Therefore, the “construction” of their identity, as a constant process of self-regulation and internal control, is subjected to the conditions of a cybernetic process.

An Identity Control Theory Approach to Managing Career Identity in Emerging Adults

Emerging adulthood provides an extended period during which potential career identities can be explored and feedback obtained before making a commitment. We tested an identity control theory model of the self-regulatory responses that emerging adults might make to negative feedback regarding their career identity. We surveyed 335 Australian emerging adults (mean age 19.28 years; 64% male) on negative career-related feedback, career-related goal discrepancy, career-related distress, career exploration, and identity defense. Consistent with theory, we found that more negative feedback was associated with greater perceived discrepancy between career goals and progress being made, which, in turn, was associated with greater distress. Distress was related to self-regulatory outcomes of identity defense and career exploration. The relationship was stronger for identity defense than for exploration. While defending might enable the current identity standard to be preserved, it might not be the most suitable response when the career goals are unsuitable or unobtainable.