Subverting Heteronormativity: An Intervention to Foster Positive Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Among Indian College Students

ABSTRACT

Prejudice against gay and lesbian persons remains largely an unaddressed issue in India. This experimental study involved designing, implementing, and assessing the effectiveness of an intervention to foster positive attitudes toward the homosexual community among Indian college students. The experimental group (n = 60) received a three-component module including perspective taking, education, and direct contact with gay and lesbian persons. Attitudes toward homosexuals, empathy, and self-esteem were measured using standardized questionnaires 15 days before the intervention and immediately following the intervention. No intervention was carried out with the control group (n = 55). Their attitudes were measured 15 days apart, parallel to the experimental group. Results showed that attitudes toward homosexuality improved significantly in the experimental group. The control group also showed a significant, but small, improvement in attitudes. Further, levels of empathy were found to increase only in the experimental group. Limitations, future directions, and implications of the study are discussed.     

Effectiveness and feasibility of a 10-minute employee stress intervention: Outdoor Booster Break

There is a growing recognition that workplace environments affect employee health. Nature contact exposures in the workplace have been shown to be healthful for employees. This pilot study was designed to test the feasibility and efficacy of a daily outdoor work break (Outdoor Booster Break) compared to a daily indoor break. A census of university office staff was invited to participate (N?=?244). Phase 1 focused on feasibility—participants (n?=?119) reported that the Outdoor Booster Break was feasible (74%), practical (80%), and worthwhile (83%). During Phase II we used a single-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of an Outdoor Booster Break—compared with a control indoor work break group—for 4 weeks on employee stress. Perceived stress was measured at pretest and posttest for both conditions. Mean posttest stress scores were lower for both the control group (n?=?19) and the treatment group (n?=?18). A main effects ANCOVA model controlling for baseline stress revealed posttest stress was lower for the treatment group compared to controls (p?=?.041). Taking a work break appears to have stress-reducing benefits, but the Outdoor Booster Break reduced stress significantly more than an indoor break. Implications for employers, worksite health promoters, and future research are discussed.     

Multimarket pioneers: Does multimarket contact improve their performance?

First-mover advantages (FMA) and multimarket contact (MMC) have evolved independently in the strategic management literature. This is surprising because FMA erode as a result of competition which, in turn, is affected by MMC. This paper links these literatures through the concept of spheres of influence and analyses the effect of MMC on pioneers' profitability. We use the order of market entry to identify spheres of influence and to determine their distribution among multimarket firms. The distribution of spheres of influence allows us to distinguish between reciprocal MMC and non-reciprocal MMC and to study how each of them determines pioneers' profitability. We test our hypotheses in the mobile telecommunications industry. Our findings show that reciprocal MMC has a positive effect on pioneers’ results, but non-reciprocal MMC negatively affects them.     

区间直觉模糊数环境下基于犹豫度和相关系数的多属性群决策模型研究

多属性群决策问题是当今复杂决策环境下的研究热点,而区间直觉模糊数可以从隶属度、非隶属度和犹豫度三方面描述不确定信息,具有很强的表现能力,因此学界基于区间直觉模糊数对多属性群决策问题进行了大量研究。但是现有研究一方面在处理共识达成问题时所广泛采用的"多数原则"策略会导致某些关键信息或知识被视为冲突意见而被修改或忽视;另一方面基于距离的区间直觉模糊数相似性测算方法忽略了犹豫度的影响,会造成评价信息损失。针对上述不足,提出区间直觉模糊数环境下基于犹豫度和相关系数的多属性群决策模型。首先,通过个体犹豫度和群体犹豫度的提出,保证了决策群体内部信息和知识的有效交流,使关键性决策信息或知识不会通过强制修改或删除的方式失效;其次,采用区间直觉模糊数相关系数测量相似度,避免基于距离测算而可能出现的错误结果;继而,将决策主体权重设置为区间直觉模糊数形式,通过计算不同决策者之间的相对优势值和劣势值进行主观赋值,保证了决策者权重的客观性和真实性;此外,结合TOPSIS和线性规划方法求解得到最优属性权重,保证了属性赋值的精确性,最后,通过具体的应用实例以及与当前学界主要研究成果的比较分析,进一步论证了所提模型的优势和创新性。     

品牌接触点战略管理研究

本文以品牌接触点管理的含义为切入点,从战略层面对品牌接触点管理的层次和路径进行分析,提炼出品牌接触点战略管理的六大要素,构建了基于品牌价值视角的六大战略要素协同的品牌接触点战略管理钻石模型,进而提出品牌接触点战略管理对策。     

张籍的方外之交及佛道思想研究

张籍虽一生笃信儒教,但他和僧人道士亦有较为频繁的交往,且有诗歌酬唱赠答。张籍晚年思想较为消沉,受佛道思想影响较深,甚至有服食丹药的经历。     

最难消遣是黄昏——黄昏意象生成的文化机制及其先秦至唐代的嬗变

黄昏意象是古典文学意象群里运用最频繁的原型意象之一,它具有丰富的情感内涵和文化底蕴。同时也具备农耕文化的情感归依意向特征,具体体现为上古婚俗文化、血缘伦理纽带的理性支配等集体无意识理念的浸润。从先秦一直到唐代,黄昏意象经历了复杂而多变的嬗变过程,其在文人的表述中已远远超出了时间和空间的范畴而被主体情感化,心灵化。     

Taking risks when communicating on the Internet: the role of offline social-psychological factors in young people's vulnerability to online risks

Children and young people encounter a range of risks on the internet relating to communication. Making friends online has attracted particular attention as a risky behaviour, especially when this leads to offline meetings, as has giving out personal information online. This article, based on the 'UK Children Go Online' survey, seeks to explain the online communication of 9-19-year-olds in terms of their offline socio-psychological characteristics (shyness, life satisfaction, risk-taking), family communication patterns and online behaviour/skills. Findings show that older teens engage in more online communication activities than do younger children and so encounter more communication risks. Although girls communicate more on the internet, this seems not to put them more at risk. It was found that children's offline social psychological characteristics, particularly their levels of life satisfaction and risk-taking, influence their online communication, with different online communication activities being predicted by different patterns of off- and online characteristics. There are weak indications that, in families which have a more conversational style of communication, teens may take fewer risks online, including a lower likelihood of meeting online friends offline. Multiple regression analyses show that those children and teens who are less satisfied with their lives and who have become more frequent and skilled internet users are more likely to value the internet as a communicative environment in which they feel more confident than they do offline, particularly in relation to the potential for anonymous communication. Since this in turn leads some into risky activities, the implications for research and policy are discussed.     

谢灵运与慧严、慧观

在晋宋之际,谢灵运是名士、诗人和佛教学者,慧严、慧观则是当时名僧,在“什门八俊”、“什门十哲”之列。史载他们有一定的交往,但语焉不详。本文挖掘相关文献,梳理他们各自佛教活动的线索,标注他们交往的结合点及其情形,认为他们曾相会于庐山,复聚于荆州,共译经于建康,在《华严经》、《大般涅槃经》的汉译润改过程中有过重要的合作。     

元代文学与当代文学

当代文学上承元杂剧余绪,创作了一些颇为优秀的作品,这既可见出当代文学与元代文学的历史联系,又为研究当代文学与古典文学的联系提供了新的观察角度。