Social Participation,Social Status and Extremist Political Attitudes*

Two measures of extremist political attitudes are used to test the relationship between social participation, social status, and extremist attitudes. The expected relationships are found only for a measure called “support for democratic institutions.” Another measure of political attitudes, vigilantism, was found not to relate to the independent variables. We conclude that people who may adhere to abstract democratic ideals, at the same time may not reject the use of extralegal force to further their political goals. The findings also suggest that the “mobilization function” of social participation will need to be further specified.     

Aces and Bombers: The Post-Exam Impression Management Strategies of Students

In this study we attempted to develop a classification of the strategies students employ to manage self-impressions after grades have been awarded and examination papers returned. These encounters between students are of three types: first, when students who have scored a top grade in this exam (Aces) encounter other students who received a low or even failing grade (Bombers); second, when Aces encounter other Aces; and, third, when Bombers encounter other Bombers. The impression management strategies employed in these encounters are constrained by well-known rules of modesty in regard to one's own achievements and considerateness for lesser achieving peers, dictated by the particular encounter type described above. These rules are spelled out and an attempt made to generalize the findings to a wider universe of interactions.     

Black identity: The O. J. Simpson case

The purpose of this paper is to review the White and Black perspectives regarding the O.J. Simpson trial. The hermeneutic-dialectic (HD) method of inquiry will be utilized in order to comprehens how Whites and Blacks reached their respective conclusions concerning O. J. Simpson's guilt or innocence. This method of inquiry employs discourses, separately by Blacks and Whites, the interchange of the recorded discourses, and last, the coming together of both groups of participants for further discourse. Blacks, in contrast to Whites, experienced justice through a common sense of identity forged historically by a minority people rather than by the immediate circumstantial evidence gathered at the time of the trial.     

Towards automated image understanding

In this paper, we discuss an approach to the pattern synthesis and analysis of biological shapes which show a lot of variability, but at the same time also show a characteristic structure. This structure is captured by way of ‘shape classes' which are constructed via a deformable template. Examples of pattern analysis in both two and three dimensions are presented. We define what we call intrinsic and extrinsic understanding of images and apply this to the detection of abnormalities.     

To participate or not to participate: that is the question

Do I wish to participate or not to participate in this program? That is the question that young people ask themselves when considering a new opportunity. What can be done to increase the likelihood that they will choose to participate in out-of-school-time (OST) programs? This chapter describes a qualitative study that examined reasons for participating or not participating in OST programs. Some common reasons emerged, but the study also revealed differences among youth from different ethnic groups. It is clear that those who design and conduct programs must understand the processes through which diverse adolescents initiate their participation in programs and either persist or drop out. Given the apparent benefits of active participation in youth programs, it is important to remove barriers and increase access and, equally important, design programs that are of interest to youth in the contexts in which they live.