Abstract Books of The Global Conference on Social Sciences
The Global Conference on Social Sciences (GSSCONF) presents carefully peer-reviewed research presented at the annual Social Sciences conference organized by Proud Pen. This collection captures original work across the field of Social Sciences, spanning theoretical frameworks to applied studies. Each volume serves as a reference for ongoing research and study in the discipline.
Valency Alternations: Anti-Causative Constructions in MSA
The present work is a study of anti-causative constructions in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The study highlights the various types of the construction and provides a characterisation of its various aspects. It indicates the thematic roles and syntactic properties of the arguments and investigates the relationship between the anti-causative verbs and their causative variants. It also shows the relationship between anti-causatives and other transitivity alternations such as passives and middles. The paper also presents an analysis of the types of the anti-causative constructions within the lexical functional grammar (LFG) approach; focusing on the argument structure and the functional structure representations and presents the mapping between the independent levels. The study thus contributes to a better description and understanding of the construction, and of argument structure, valency-change and the morphology-syntax interface.
Copyright (c) 2025 Safiah Ahmed Madkhali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Passing the Torch in Rural America through Stories of Trauma, Resilience, and Service from First Responders
This study examines how trauma, resilience, and service-oriented identities are passed across generations of rural first responders. Data were drawn from the first dozen interviews in the ongoing Trauma Survivors Turned Trauma-Informed First Responders Research Project, funded by the American Psychological Foundation to the first author. Participants included 12 firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and law enforcement officers from Southwest Virginia in the United States. Semi-structured interviews explored career motivations, early exposure to helping behaviors, family and community influences, and strategies for coping with the demands of high-stress work. Thematic analysis revealed that familial legacy, cultural expectations, and community norms play a central role in fostering a service-oriented identity and supporting resilience. Participants consistently described helping others as both a moral obligation and a source of personal meaning and emotional strength. By capturing these narratives, the study highlights how first responders “pass the torch” of service across generations and offers insights for policies, training, and support systems designed to sustain the well-being and commitment of individuals in high-stress, service-oriented professions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kee Jeong Kim, Makenzi Sadler, Harper Gordon (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Self-Harming Behaviour and Its Comorbidities
The study provides an overview of the frequency and structure of comorbid mental disorders among individuals who engage in self-harm, with additional consideration of gender differences and age-related associations. Data were collected from psychologists and psychiatrists reporting on 135 cases of self-harming clients in Slovakia (age: 12-55 years; M = 18.57; SD = 6.975; 85.2% women). Comorbidities were assessed according to DSM-5 categories, supplemented by the units Relational Problems (in family), Abuse and Neglect, and Suicidal Behavior Disorder. Results indicate that self-harm is accompanied by a wide spectrum of psychological difficulties, with all monitored diagnoses present in the sample. The most prevalent comorbidities were Relational Problems (in family) (96.2%) and Anxiety Disorders (88%). Age correlated positively with the occurrence of Personality Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, and Abuse and Neglect. Significant gender differences emerged: males more frequently exhibited Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders, and Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, whereas females more often presented with Feeding and Eating Disorders and Relational Problems (in family). Overall, the findings highlight the strong comorbid profile of self-harming individuals and underscore the need for broad, multidimensional assessment in both research and clinical practice.
Copyright (c) 2025 Slavka Demuthova, Andrej Demuth (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Charismatic Authority: Gender and the Architecture of Social Power Across Cultures
Charisma is the aptitude to project a vision and an attitude through a calibrated interplay of language, bearing and public presence such that a distinctive connection arises between a person and those who perceive and acknowledge that person as charismatic. It is neither innate nor private, but a relational dynamic in which verbal choices, posture, warmth, power and the broader framing of presence converge to generate recognition, legitimacy and a willingness to follow. Conventionally associated with high power, high warmth and the interplay of ethos, pathos and logos, charismatic authority is still interpreted through gender‑coded and culturally narrow assumptions. Popular beliefs often align charismatic conduct with masculine traits and occidental models of leadership, obscuring the structural biases and cultural templates that shape its attribution. This study treats charisma as an acquired, context‑specific construct, tracing how its signals are expressed, perceived and validated across distinct cultural settings. By examining the verbal cues, delivery patterns and culturally anchored modes of presence that guide this reciprocal process, the research identifies the mechanisms through which charismatic legitimacy is extended or withheld, particularly for women negotiating pre‑inscribed social roles. The project ultimately demonstrates how charisma is produced at the intersection of gender norms, cultural expectations and social structure, and how these intersections shape its recognition across societies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dounia Gnaou (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Measuring What Matters: A Multidimensional Framework for Assessing Real Sovereignty
Contemporary sovereignty research reveals profound paradoxes that challenge conventional assumptions about national power and autonomy. Using the International Burke Institute's Sovereignty Index (Burke Index)—a comprehensive measurement system evaluating political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive, and military sovereignty across 700 points derived from UN agencies, World Bank, UNESCO, and expert assessments from 100+ specialists across 50 countries. In this presentation, we will first demonstrate how the Index methodology was applied to all UN-member states, then explore three counterintuitive empirical cases. First, tiny Cyprus significantly outperforms wealthy Gulf oil monarchies in cognitive sovereignty due to educational pluralism, media freedom, multilingual proficiency, and geopolitical hybridity rather than resource wealth (Wójcik, 2023). Second, heavily-sanctioned Iran demonstrates higher economic sovereignty than EU-member Italy because sanctions forced Tehran to develop autonomous production systems, parallel financial networks, and indigenous technological capacities, while Italy's European integration reduced control over monetary policy, fiscal decisions, and regulatory frameworks (Vuori & Hakli, 2023). Third, micro-state Liechtenstein achieves superior economic sovereignty compared to resource-rich Norway through strategic specialization, selective European compliance, and structural flexibility, whereas Norway's deep EEA integration obligates regulatory adoption without decision-making authority. This presentation aims to propose and demonstrate a new operationalized framework and research tool that fundamentally redefines how scholars and policymakers should assess national power in multipolar, deglobalized contexts. This tool will be shortly available for public usage hosted by International Burke Institute.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hagit Cohen Fox (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Greatest Common Decision Maker as a Group Decision Cooperative Game
This research is understanding and managing consensus and conflict, under the context of a single voter whose preferences determine the social outcome, regardless of the preferences of all other voters. As established by the Gibbard-Satterthwaite (G-S) Theorem, which states that in a group social choice with three or more eligible alternatives, a voting rule or grouping function is strategy-proof only if it is dictatorial. The rule of the Greatest Common Decision Maker (GCDM) can be interpreted as a Cooperative Game Theory problem or as a Group Decision Game (GDM), given that agents seek a collective outcome that satisfies their individual objectives in an environment of strategic interdependence. GCDM as a non-dictatorial Preference Selection Rule (PSR) that achieves strategic stability in the domain of a static voting game with incomplete information. The success of the GCDM in reducing conflict suggests that its mechanism can discourage manipulation by not seeking a direct winner among the alternatives, but rather an agent whose strategy is already aligned with the "common good" (highest match). It differs from classical game theory methods in a change of approach: instead of simply identifying a single winning alternative, it linearly ranks all alternatives to better understand the consensus or conflict profile of the group decision without imposing a dictatorship or leadership over any alternative or profile.
Copyright (c) 2025 Pedro García-del-Valle-y-Durán (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Error Taxonomy and Benchmark Framework for Kazakh Morphological Analyzers Annotation
Automating the morphological analysis of the Kazakh language faces constant difficulties due to its agglutinative structure, diverse affixation patterns, and high variability in surface forms. Despite the development of several linguistic tools and statistical resources, the evaluation of such systems remains fragmented and lacks methodological standardization. Existing publications demonstrate heterogeneous evaluation protocols, incompatible datasets, and local performance metrics, which hinder reproducibility and make cross-system comparison unreliable. This study addresses these limitations by proposing a unified error taxonomy and a benchmark system for evaluating Kazakh morphological analyzers. We present a four-level error classification – structural, syntactic, segmentation-based, and semantic – accompanied by a multi-stage testing protocol that evaluates surface-level recognition, lemmatization accuracy, and the reliability of morphological tags. The foundation was tested on a manually annotated corpus containing linguistically complex constructions marked by expert philologists. Three main paradigms were evaluated: rule-based systems, CRF-based models, and transformer architectures (mBERT, KazBERT, KazRoBERTa). For each model, we conduct a detailed evaluation based on errors and a statistical classification of failure cases. The results show that the proposed framework allows for an objective comparison of different models, identifies hidden algorithmic shortcomings, and supports targeted model improvement. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to create a standardized error taxonomy and a reference protocol for the morphological analysis of the Kazakh language, which can also be applied to other Turkic languages. The proposed methodology has practical value for error-based learning, corpus development, and the evaluation of future NLP systems for low-resource agglutinative languages.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gauhar Munaitbas, Laura Baitenova, Gulnar Mukhamejanova (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Divergent Architectures of Trust:Comparative Lessons from AI Governance
Across contemporary legal systems, states pursue notably different approaches to AI governance. The European framework conceptualises regulatory distrust as a structural safeguard: by institutionalising skepticism toward decision-making power, it seeks to generate social trust through transparency, contestability and constitutional oversight. The United Arab Emirates operates on a fundamentally different epistemology of governance. Instruments such as the UAE Charter for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence reveal a system in which regulatory distrust is not treated as a normative virtue. Instead, social trust is cultivated through coherent state direction and alignment with national strategic objectives. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships modernises labour relations by promoting predictable standards and employer obligations. Likewise, the AI Charter frames responsible AI development within a coordinated, state-led ecosystem. In this architecture, trust emerges not from institutionalised suspicion but from the perceived competence, continuity and centrality of state authority. The contrast becomes clearer when compared with the U.S. and China. In the U.S., regulatory distrust is channelled through markets and litigation, producing reactive social trust. In China, distrust is exercised top-down as an instrument of state control, not as a safeguard protecting societal actors. Without such adjustment of the fragile antinomy between regulatory distrust and social trust, the Copernican shift introduced by AI risks eroding not only established rights and freedoms, but also the trust upon which institutional legitimacy ultimately depends.
Copyright (c) 2025 Chiara Toscano (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Almost Me: Reflections and Responses to Writing About Miscarriage and Postpartum Depression as A Muslim Woman in South Africa
Almost Me, an autobiographical account of my journey through miscarriage and postpartum depression was published in 2020. Reflecting on the seven-year writing journey, the book represents the processing of grief through writing. As a cathartic release through the journey of writing, this chapter offers an autoethnographic reflection on the process of writing, publishing and its role in my response to grief since. It locates itself within the Muslim community in South Africa, which heralds motherhood as a cornerstone of identity, such that conversations around miscarriage or postpartum depression are quite rare. Based on the publication of the book which sparked conversation around these usually silent subjects, the chapter explores reactions and responses to the book from readers. This autoethnographic study, based on personal narratives as well as responses from readers underscores the role of writing and reading while grieving the loss of a baby as well as the loss of one’s identity as one enters motherhood. This is particularly nuanced by the cultural and societal expectations that are placed on Muslim women in South Africa.
Copyright (c) 2025 Quraisha Dawood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging Depth Psychology and Social Sciences: Archetypal Polarities in Human Development
This study explores the Estrophrodite–Androphrodite polarity within the framework of archetypal psychology, emphasizing its relevance to human development, leadership, and social dynamics. Unlike traditional binary models of gender or personality, this framework conceptualizes masculine (Androphrodite) and feminine (Estrophrodite) qualities as coexisting and interacting within every individual. Drawing on classical and Neo-Jungian theories, as well as insights from anthropology, gender studies, and leadership research, the study examines how awareness and integration of these internal polarities enhance self-awareness, emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptive decision-making. The discussion highlights practical implications for leadership development, emphasizing the balance of assertiveness and empathy, rationality and intuition, and discipline and relational sensitivity. Furthermore, the framework offers a lens to understand social behavior, interpersonal dynamics, and inclusive engagement across cultural contexts. By integrating psychological, social, and spiritual perspectives, the Estrophrodite–Androphrodite model provides a holistic approach to human growth, leadership effectiveness, and societal well-being. The study underscores its potential for interdisciplinary research and practical applications in education, organizational development, and counseling. This paper presents a novel framework in human development: the estrophrodite–androphrodite archetypal polarity, which proposes that every individual carries within them dual psychological contents—masculine (androphrodite) and feminine (estrophrodite), that dynamically interact to shape personality, behavior, and social relationships. While traditional depth psychology recognizes the unconscious and Jungian archetypes, this model extends those insights to explore the integration of these polarities as a central process in both personal and social development.
Estrophrodite–Androphrodite Polarity & Archetypal Psychology
Copyright (c) 2025 Chacko George (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Immigrant Labor Rights and Intersectionality: Unpacking Barriers and Pathways to Equity
In an era marked by increasing uncertainty and systemic inequities in immigration, critical social work is called upon to reaffirm its commitment to social justice, decolonization, and anti-oppressive practice. This study investigates how Canada’s immigration system—shaped by enduring colonial legacies and neoliberal policy frameworks—contributes to the deskilling and marginalization of highly educated, racialized immigrants. Such processes not only devalue the knowledge, skills, and experiences of immigrants but also reproduce systemic hierarchies that privilege whiteness and Western credentials. Drawing on intersectionality theory and primary data from three focus group discussions with immigrant women, the analysis highlights how race, immigration status, and gender intersect to generate compounded barriers. Racialized immigrant women, in particular, experience both horizontal and vertical segregation in the labour market, encountering a persistent glass ceiling that restricts access to equitable employment opportunities and professional mobility. These structural exclusions reflect deeply embedded colonial, racialized, and gendered power relations that continue to shape Canada’s socio-economic landscape. The findings underscore the urgent need for social workers to resist institutional forms of oppression by centering marginalized voices, engaging in advocacy, and advancing transformative, anti-oppressive practices that contribute to the broader struggle for equity and social justice.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Rita Dhungel, Dr. Karun K. Karki (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Religion and cultural nationalism insights – Serbian, Bulgarian and Romanian Orthodox Churches
This paper explores the dynamics of the rise of cultural nationalism in Southeast Europe with a pronounced nativist and populist overtones. The paper explores into the historical experiences of the region regarding the relationship between state and church, cultural nationalism and religion, critically analyzing how these relationships developed in the last decades of the 20th century under communism and during the period of accession to the European Union of former socialist countries. Analyzing the relevant literature, the paper explores the intertwining of state and religious institutions, a national identity and religion, and how they are mobilized today. The research is based on the Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches. The leaders of the cultural nationalism "lift" the demoralized population, offering positive alternative social visions based on the so-called “golden past”. The cultural projects of nationalists are only a means to achieve a political goal, while the goal of cultural nationalism is to activate and defend the historical community, refreshing the past in an appropriate narrative. Cultural nationalism, which reinterprets discarded and re-adopted traditions, acted as a driving force in the process of social change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The pattern of cultural nationalism is seen as a model that is recognized in Orthodox Christian churches in Europe. The example of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the intellectual elite is being shown as a model recognized in other Orthodox Christian churches in Europe that, after emerging from communism, began searching for their place in social reality.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maja Kaninska (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Awareness, Adoption, and Wellbeing Impact of AI-Driven Health Communication Tools among Indigenous Language Speakers in Nigeria
The improvement in primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria through the use of advanced technologies holds significant potential for improved healthcare access, and improved well-being, especially in bridging health information gaps, among underserved populations. This study investigated the level of awareness, adoption, and potential well-being impact of AI-driven health communication tools among indigenous language speakers in Nigeria. The study used a cross-sectional quantitative survey technique to collect data among 436 indigenous language speakers in Nigeria who have access to or have interacted with AI-driven health communication tools. A stratified random sampling approach was used to ensure representation across major indigenous language groups (e.g., Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo). Two patterns of statistical procedures were adopted, namely, the descriptive and inferential analyses. The descriptive segment used frequencies, distribution, means and graphs, while the inferential deployed binary logistic regression to test for significant factors influencing AI-tool's adoption. The result shows a low level of awareness in rural areas that could be attributed to low digital literacy and limited internet access. However, among those exposed to AI tools, there is growing trust and perceived usefulness in accessing health information and remote care. The significant determinants identified are trust in AI systems and internet access. The study highlighted a positive correlation between AI tool usage and improved health-seeking behaviour and well-being (β = 1.671, p = 0.011, OR =5.317, 95CI (1.55-3.75)). This implies that for every one-unit increase in AI-tool usage, the odds of improved wellbeing increase by a factor of approximately 5.317. The study underscores the need for inclusive digital health innovation policies that prioritize linguistic and cultural diversities, based on its findings.
Copyright (c) 2025 Evaristus Adesina, Abiodun Salawu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ancient Faith in Digital Era:The Transformative Journey of Thai Buddhist Beliefs
Background: Thai society has a large population of Buddhists which there is a diversity of beliefs that vary from person to person and society regarding diversity of beliefs as well. Objective: The article entitled “Ancient Faith in Digital Era: The Transformative Journey of Thai Buddhist Beliefs” aims to explore the persistence of religious and supernatural belief systems among Thai Buddhists in an increasingly modernized society. Methodology: The article explores how traditional Buddhist cosmology coexists alongside scientific advancement and technological innovation in contemporary Thailand. Philosophical investigation, content analysis and descriptive method was employed for the studies Result: Despite rapid socioeconomic transformation and global interconnectivity, findings reveal remarkable continuity in faith practices that transcend historical periods. The investigation documents a complex belief landscape encompassing formal Buddhist doctrine centered on the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), alongside more diverse contextual practices including astrological divination, veneration of sacred objects, ritual magic, and talismanic protection. These supernatural dimensions of faith appear to serve important psychological functions by providing believers with emotional resilience and existential security amidst societal flux. While acknowledging the subjective nature of faith traditions. Conclusion: Thai Buddhists beliefs can coexist with Science and Technology advancement in Digital Era Unique contribution: This work contributes to our understanding of how religious beliefs adapt and persist within evolving cultural frameworks, suggesting that modernization does not necessarily diminish spiritual practices but may transform their expression and social significance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tanet Ketsil, Phrajaroenphong Dhammadīpo, Pattamawadee Sankheangaew (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Media Portrayals of Depression and Alcohol Dependence on Social Distance and Emotional Response
The present study examines the impact of media portrayals of depression and alcohol dependence on social distance and emotional responses among the general population. A total of 173 participants in Germany were surveyed online between April and July 2021. The quantitative data collection was based on an experimental group assignment, in which participants read a newspaper article describing one of the respective mental disorders and subsequently reported their emotional responses and desired social distance toward individuals affected by depression or alcohol dependence. The results of the multifactorial analyses of variance demonstrate that the type of media portrayal has a significant influence on the perception of mental disorders. In particular, negative reporting led to greater social distance and more negative emotional responses toward those affected. These findings highlight the important role of the media in shaping public attitudes toward mental illness and offer valuable implications for the development of destigmatizing media strategies.
media potrayals of depression and alcohol dependence
Copyright (c) 2025 Tabea Gottwald (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Caught in the Net: Sustainability and Social Equity in Iceland’s Fisheries Policy
The management of Iceland's fisheries is a well-researched case of how market-based incentives may foster economic performance as well as environmental sustainability. Confronted with significant overfishing, fleet overcapacity, and deteriorating profitability in the early 1980s, Iceland reacted with a number of legislative changes, most notably the introduction of the Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system. The ITQ system allowed long-term, science-based management of fish stocks by giving individual operators transferable catch shares, hence reducing excessive rivalry and encouraging efficiency. These changes have significant economic and environmental advantages. Commercial species like cod have recovered, fishing capacity has steadied, and industry profitability has enhanced. Iceland is so frequently mentioned as a benchmark for sustainable fisheries management. These successes, nevertheless, have not been equally distributed. The market-driven character of the system has caused notable concentration of quota ownership, hence increasing entrance obstacles for smaller and new businesses. Job losses and less local access to marine resources in many rural and coastal areas have fueled discussions on social equality, regional development, and the commercialization of shared resources. This study analyzes the long-term effects of Iceland's fisheries reform, hence judging its success in striking a balance between sustainability, economic efficiency, and social inclusion. Though it has increased social inequality, the ITQ system has improved environmental and financial results. The Icelandic example also provides important insights for other small, export-dependent countries trying to create equitable and robust resource management frameworks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Stefan Gunnlaugsson (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Letting Banks Fail: Iceland’s Unconventional Road to Economic Stabilization
Among the most intense financial crises suffered by any sophisticated economy in recent history, Iceland's 2008 banks crisis ranks high. Triggered by an unsustainable growth of its banking industry, too much borrowing, and lax regulatory supervision, the crisis nearly overnight drove insolvency of the three main banks of the nation. The subsequent collapse set off a series of macroeconomic shocks including a steep króna depreciation, increasing inflation, a severe GDP drop, and more unemployment. Iceland took a very unusual route unlike many countries who resorted to broad austerism and massive bailouts. Iceland's recovery depended on the choice to let its failed banks fall under the burden of international obligations, therefore protecting the local financial system. To stabilize currency flows, the government put temporary capital limits, revamped public finances, and changed financial rules to bring back confidence and openness. This heterodox policy framework left room for delayed recovery and gave local economic stability priority over international creditor interests. However, tourism contributed to the recovery, particularly as a foreign cash generator following the currency depreciation, Iceland's dedication to policy adaptation and institutional reform was the main driving force. Though they highlighted the weaknesses of tiny, open economies exposed to worldwide financial markets, the crisis and its aftermath also showed how smart, sovereign decision-making might strengthen resilience and reduce harm. Emphasizing lessons for crisis management, financial governance, and macroeconomic recovery in small economies negotiating systematic shocks, this study looks at the origins, policy actions, and results of Iceland's financial collapse.
Innovation of Environmental Management System as Prototype of Eco-Temple Models in Nakohon Pathom Province, Thailand
The research entitled “Innovation of Environmental Management System in Temples as a Prototype of Eco-Temple Models in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand” has three objectives. 1) to study the design of environmental management systems in temples, 2) to develop activities to drive the environmental management system, and 3) to evaluate the environmental management system of temples as eco-temple models in Nakhon Pathom Province. This mixed-methods investigation examined the development and implementation of sustainable environmental management systems in temples as localized contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action). The methodological approach utilized a concurrent triangulation design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection protocols. Key informants (n=25) included senior monastic leadership, environmental management specialists within monastic communities, institutional governance committees, community leaders, local stakeholders, and environmental science scholars. Data acquisition occurred through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group methodologies with qualitative participants, complemented by structured questionnaires and standardized evaluation instruments administered to quantitative respondents (n=100). Quantitative analysis employed descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations) while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis through systematic categorization, interpretative coding, and iterative data processing protocols. Results revealed three significant findings: (1) Effective environmental management systems demonstrated five interdependent structural components. (2) Environmental management intervention activities were developed and implemented across four dimensions. (3) Evaluation metrics demonstrated high overall implementation efficacy (M=3.72), with environmental policy formulation achieving highest performance indicators (M=3.77) followed by strategic planning processes (M=3.70). Assessment utilizing GREEN principles framework indicated satisfactory performance in waste management systems, sanitation facilities, nutritional practices, energy utilization, and environmental protection measures. The research culminated in the development of the "GREEN TEMPLE Model” which consists of two complementary components: (1) The GREEN operational framework focusing on five critical intervention areas—Garbage (integrated waste management), Restroom (sanitation infrastructure), Energy (conservation and renewable resource utilization), Environmental (ecosystem protection measures), and Nutrition (food and water safety)—enabling systematic approaches to environmental challenges within institutional boundaries; and (2) The TEMPLE conceptual framework emphasizing six foundational elements: Temple (institutional context), Environmental (ecological systems), Management (governance structures), Participation (stakeholder engagement), Learning Space (educational capacity), and Energy (resource utilization). These elements are grounded in the Apassena principle (virtues to lean on), providing a decision-making framework for sustainability initiatives, and reinforced by Sappāya principle (seven favorable conditions), establishing core objectives for environmental development in religious institutions. The integration of these frameworks offers a culturally appropriate, holistic approach to preserving ecological integrity while advancing sustainable development objectives within religious and community contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Phra Jaroenphong Wichai, Phra Maha Narongsak Sutnato, Phra Maha Thanom Thanomwaro, Pattamawadee Seankheankaew, Tanet Ketsil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Several Notes on the Phenomenological Analysis of Hatred in Íngrid Vendrell Ferran
This study examines the relationship between anger and hatred within the context of Martin Heidegger’s philosophical reflections and phenomenological approaches to hatred, particularly as interpreted by Íngrid Vendrell Ferran. Heidegger distinguishes anger as an immediate affective reaction and hatred as a passion that enables a constitutive perception of the object of hatred. This study explores this distinction and analyzes how the repeated experience of anger can lead to its transformation into hatred, with hatred being understood as an affective disposition. Vendrell Ferran emphasizes the plurality of approaches to defining hatred in the academic literature and highlights its complexity. Through an analysis of Sternberg’s psychological theories and the phenomenological interpretations of Scheler, Pfänder, and Kolnai, she identifies hatred as a specific emotional state that is not homogeneous but consists of multiple components, including the negation of intimacy, passion, and the devaluation of the object. This study also investigates the epistemic function of hatred within Heidegger’s phenomenology of moods. Furthermore, it examines whether hatred is purely a destructive phenomenon or whether it may also play a constitutive role in human understanding of values and relationships. Drawing on phenomenological and psychological approaches, the study analyzes the fundamental aspects of hatred and its experience, exploring its relationship to love, resentment, and the moral evaluation of objects. The conclusion offers a critical reflection on the extent to which hatred can be understood as a specific mode of affective perception of the world and how it differs from other negative emotional states. By integrating perspectives from philosophy and psychology, this study contributes to a broader interdisciplinary understanding of the phenomenon of hatred.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andrej Démuth, Slávka Démuthová (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sacred Spaces: The Evolution of Architecture, Interior Design and Human-centered Approaches in Spiritual Environments
Sacral architecture has long served as a bridge between humans and the ethereal power, having shaped spaces that foster spiritual connection, contemplation, and transcendence. Throughout history, religious structures have evolved in response to cultural, philosophical, and technological advancements while maintaining their essential purpose: to create an environment that facilitates reflection. The design of spiritual spaces ranging from the grand temples of Classical Civilizations to the intimate chapels and minimalist meditation spaces of contemporary times, reflect diverse interpretations of human connection to the divine. This research explores the fundamental aspects of sacral architecture from an interdisciplinary approach between architectural evolution, interior design and design thinking placing the human at the center of sacral architectural design. This paper will examine how architectural monumentality, interior spatial configurations, materials, light, and ornamentation influence spiritual experience and human perception. It investigates the human approach from a design thinking point of view, underlining the connection between the involvement of the societal community in shaping the “space” that links them to the divine consciousness. Additionally, the study considers the integration of sustainability in modern sacral design, addressing how innovations in materials and both ecological and societal consciousness shape contemporary sacred spaces. By tracing the evolution of sacral architecture across time, this research highlights key design innovations and their impact on human spirituality.
Copyright (c) 2025 El Zein Farah, Jaber Mohammad, Choueiry Halim, Tawk Gaelle (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Addictive Behaviour Predicts Self-Harm in Adolescents
Self-harm is a growing and high-risk undesirable phenomenon that occurs primarily during adolescence and in young adulthood. It causes serious disruption to the physical and psychological integrity of an individual and in its more intense forms can even be life-threatening. The severity and prevalence of this behaviour direct the attention of professionals to help affected individuals as well as to the most effective methods of its prevention. In this context, it is exceptionally important to know the concurrent and especially the risk factors of self-harm. One area that research focuses on is the identification of addictive features of self-harming behaviour as well as the possible connection of self-harm with various other addictions. This work focuses on verification of a relationship between addictive and self-harming behaviour, on exploration of the type of mutual connections as well as on the gender specifics of this relationship. The study was conducted on a sample of 203 participants aged 15 – 19 years (mean age = 16.62 years), 58.6% (N = 119) of whom were women. Spearman’s non-parametric correlation demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.001), moderately strong (rs = 0.549) positive correlation between addictive behaviour and self-harm. Linear regression analysis showed that addictive behaviour caused 40.3% of self-harm in the studied research sample of adolescents. The strength of the prediction is notably determined by gender – while for boys R2=0.252, for girls the coefficient of determination reached double the value at 0.520. It is evident from the results that addictive behaviour significantly influences the occurrence of self-harm, a fact that significantly affects not only the understanding of the typical features of self-harming behaviour, but also indicates the nature of the mechanisms sharing in its emergence and maintenance in the repertoire of maladaptive coping strategies. It is also an important implication for psychological intervention and therapy of self-harming adolescents, especially girls.
Copyright (c) 2025 Demuthova Slavka, Demuth Andrej, Chylova Sabina (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring the Use of Immersive Narratives for Social Awareness: Gender Equality
This study examines how immersive storytelling influences perceptions of gender equality within a university setting, offering insights applicable to broader global contexts. A qualitative, participatory design methodology was employed, incorporating storytelling techniques and data collection through focus group discussions (FGDs) and thematic analysis. The study involved 20 participants aged 18 to 30, representing diverse gender identities and varying levels of prior engagement in gender activism. Findings indicate that while immersive narratives contribute to greater awareness of gender biases, they have limitations in addressing systemic inequalities, highlighting the need for multi-faceted approaches to social change. This study situates immersive storytelling within a transdisciplinary framework, proposing its role as a complementary tool in educational and activist strategies. It contributes to discussions on gender equity and aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality). The research offers insights for policymakers, educators, and activists seeking to integrate immersive storytelling within broader strategies for critical engagement with gender discourse and advocacy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rakel Cogliatti, Juliana Valentim, António Coelho (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reconstructing Taxonomies in Law and Social Sciences: A Novel Framework through Conceptual Engineering and Intersectionality
Taxonomies are essential in organising complex legal and social phenomena, yet traditional frameworks often reflect Eurocentric and single-axis biases, failing to capture the complexity of modern challenges. This study introduces a novel methodology combining analytical philosophy’s conceptual engineering and intersectionality to reconstruct more inclusive and adaptive taxonomies. Conceptual engineering allows for the redefinition of core concepts such as “discrimination” and “identity,” while intersectionality ensures a multidimensional approach addressing overlapping systems of oppression. Using discrimination law as a case study, this paper demonstrates how this framework refines classification systems to better reflect the lived realities of marginalised groups. It further explores interdisciplinary applications across governance, human rights, and sustainability, emphasising how re-engineered taxonomies can foster epistemic justice and challenge normative assumptions. This work highlights the transformative potential of taxonomies not only as academic tools but as catalysts for systemic change in global social and legal structures.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bernardo Carvalho de Mello (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing the Impact of Racial Traumain School Children
The death of George Floyd in May 2020 marked a pivotal moment in the fight against systemic racism, sparking global protests and prompting widespread conversations about racial injustice. The term “racial trauma” started to be discussed more, especially among the African American community in the US. In schools, Floyd's death reinforced the urgent need to assess and address racial trauma experienced by students of color. Many children face the psychological toll of racism, which can manifest in behavioral, emotional, and academic challenges. Schools and mental health professionals, play a critical role in creating supportive environments where racial trauma is acknowledged and assessments that are used for culturally sensitive assessments. This research study hopes to provide an analysis of the ongoing racial trauma of children of color in schools and the importance of assessing for racial trauma. Impactful and appropriate assessment methods will be presented to all school professionals to use in order to see “the full picture” of a child. These assessment methods are to be used in different settings when assessing children. The assessments mentioned in this research have been studied to prove validity and reliability. These tools will attempt to provide mental health professionals with the tools to screen and provide guidance based on unequivocal, unbiased methods for helping these children.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriela Macera-DiFilippo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integrating AI, Art, and History in Language Learning and Culture
Second language learning has always emphasized language learning development by using technology in language teaching as one of the tools that can contribute to learning and make it more interesting. Although the teachers used technology as a pedagogical tool, there have been concerns on how to use AI tools can be implemented teaching. To effectively utilize AI tools, teachers need to experiment and develop new AI-based language learning activities to assist students learning. Therefore, this study focuses on two projects that used AI tools in class in relation to culture. The first project focused on converting a text to a voice to demonstrate learners gains of the language abilities and knowledge. The AI tool that is used is the Micmonster, which is a free tool and learners can access it easily. The main goal of using the tool is to help students to use their own words to summarize a text in Arabic and elaborate on it. The second project focused on using “ Autocad” software to design the project and using AI tools, like “Revisely” by drawing sketches related to the vocabulary used, “Quizlet” by asking questions, and “Storyboard”, by writing instructions step by step to utilize the language functions in a creative way. This study will present pedagogical implications and emerging themes in the future research of AI-based language learning methodology.
Copyright (c) 2025 May George (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of Student Club for Health Promotion
The research study entitled "The Role of Student Clubs in Health Promotion" investigated the actions and results of health promotion efforts executed by student clubs at Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, with the cooperation of a network of public health agencies. The exercises were structured around three fundamental domains. The clubs prioritized health education to enhance physical activity and mitigate risk factors, including alcohol consumption, smoking, and mental health concerns stemming from lifestyle issues. Secondly, they promoted policy-level modifications in partnership with the university, encompassing rules to regulate the sale of health-affecting products and enhancements to campus cafeterias to guarantee food safety and nutritional integrity. Thirdly, the clubs endorsed research programs that emphasized the examination of health literacy, with the objective of establishing a comprehensive database to guide future health promotion efforts for the university community. The results indicated that student clubs significantly contributed to health awareness among young adults by utilizing social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X. These platforms successfully garnered attention and facilitated information exchange and collaborative actions, consequently augmenting the overall efficacy of health promotion campaigns.
Copyright (c) 2025 Phoobade Wanitchanon (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Water Resources Management in Action: Lesson Learn from Thailand
Water management is a critical issue in Thailand. Particularly in the central lowland region, where much of the land is dedicated to commercial agriculture. Promoting local community participation in shaping policies and developing models for water resource diversion is therefore of paramount importance. Insights derived from case studies in Suphanburi Province indicate that participatory processes that enable community members to engage in learning about watershed mapping and sustainable water resource utilization have significantly enhanced their decision-making capacity. When communities are empowered to negotiate with government agencies on water resource management, the potential for conflicts between governmental bodies and local stakeholders diminishes. This empowerment fosters improved collaboration and trust between communities and government organizations. Consequently, community members exhibit higher levels of satisfaction and a willingness to cooperate with state-led water management initiatives. Additionally, the participatory approach has elevated awareness about the importance of engaging in activities aimed at enhancing agricultural income. These activities incorporate technologies that not only boost productivity but also mitigate the financial burdens associated with flooding and drought.
Copyright (c) 2025 Asst.Prof.Dr. Saichol Panyachit (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Perception of the Public Relations Profession from the Perspective of Experts: The Case of Konya/Türkiye
For nearly a century, the field of Public Relations has been frequently observed in Türkiye, and in the last quarter of a century, quite professional works have been conducted. However, nowadays, evaluations detached from reality can be found regarding this field. It is thought-provoking that an area with significant responsibilities such as creating an image, reputation, or positive perception of an institution, product, or service through various communication tools between institutions and their target audiences has a debatable identity in today's Türkiye. Understanding the factors that affect the professional perception is of great importance to elevate the profession's reputation and positive image and to correct false expectations. Identifying the perception of public relations in a major city outside of Türkiye's three largest cities holds additional importance. The aim of this study is to determine the perception of the public relations profession in Konya/Türkiye. In this context, the phenomenology design was used within the framework of qualitative analysis methods. To obtain the data, in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 public relations experts living in Konya. The interviews revealed that the public relations profession is not sufficiently known in Konya, it is difficult to practice this profession in Konya, and its respectability and ethical practices are subjects of debate.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mikail Batu, Mustafa Aydin (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ambivalence Reversed: Discovery Of Original Identity in J. A. Mensah’s Castles from Cobwebs
In contemporary English fiction, ambivalence is described as a byproduct of the Western biased outlook on the Oriental culture. Accordingly, in Khalid Hosseini’s The Kite Runner (2003), Amir Khan and his father’s migration to the USA because of the sectarian conflicts, the lack of security as a result of the coup d’état in Afghanistan, and their experience of economic difficulties as well as their consideration as not an integral part of the American society account for their ambivalent identity. Similarly, Changez’s exposure to verbal abuse in his workplace and the termination of love between him and Erica in post-9/11 American context despite his successful university life in Princeton and his healthy romantic relation with Erica in pre-9/11 social area in the USA in Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) epitomise ambivalence as a byproduct of Western prejudice against the immigrants. However, different from these works, J. A. Mensah’s debut novel, Castles from Cobwebs (2021) elaborates on the issue of ambivalence from the reversed perspective. In the work, the protagonist, Imani’s innate ambivalence based on her situation as a foundling, and her consideration as an “outsider” despite her education in the church by Reverend Mother embody her split identity early in her life, while her observations of funeral traditions, religious belief and patriarchal social system in Ghana signify a discovery of her original cultural self. Hence, Castles from Cobwebs invites reading as a story representing the discovery of the original cultural identity transformed from a split sense of belonging.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Tarik Ziyad Gulcu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Internet Search Frequency-FDI Inflow Relationship: The Moderating Impact of Cultural Factors
Contemporary research methods now go beyond traditional approaches to analyze how Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into countries and the key drivers behind it. An innovative approach involves utilizing the Google Search Volume Index (SVI), which considers public interest and sentiment by examining Internet search queries related to specific topics or regions. In addition to conventional factors like market size, labor costs, macroeconomic conditions, and regulatory frameworks, the cultural aspects of both the host and origin countries significantly influence the strength and direction of the relationship between SVI and FDI inflow. The study investigates a sample of 104 countries spanning from 2004 to 2022, incorporating cultural dimensions from Hofstede's framework and the Google Search Volume Index (SVI) which allows a detailed investigation of the role of culture and internet search behavior on FDI inflow. The findings from the pooled OLS regression show that cultural variations between the host and origin countries, as measured by Hofstede dimensions, have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between SVI and FDI inflow. A closer cultural alignment between the host and origin countries leads to more accurate predictions of FDI inflow through SVI, highlighting the importance of cultural similarity in forecasting.
Copyright (c) 2024 Vusal Mammadrzayev (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0