Search Results (627)

Mistreatment is a pervasive and normalized feature of medical culture. In medical residencies, it functions as a structural rite of passage that shapes professional socialization. While the prevalence of mistreatment is documented, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring its role as a mechanism of identity construction. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of mistreatment among internal medicine residents in Medellín, Colombia, through the lens of ritual theory and symbolic violence. A particularistic ethnographic study was conducted with 12 residents selected via theoretical sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a reflexive field journal. Rigor was ensured using investigator triangulation and analytical bracketing to manage researchers’ biases. The training process follows a three-stage rite. (1) Separation: Symbolic violence and social pressure to specialize frame general medicine as “mediocre,” turning admission into a “battlefield” where self-worth is tied to success. (2) Marginalization (Liminality): Residents endure systemic mistreatment, including sleep deprivation (3.5 h rest cycles), public ridicule (“pimping”), and physical/verbal abuse (e.g., being hit with stethoscopes or called “testicles/jerks”). This stage is governed by a “purificatory logic” where suffering is internalized as a meritocratic requirement. This leads to high morbidity, with clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. (3) Integration (Postliminality): Professional autonomy and financial stability act as a “redemption” that justifies past suffering. Mistreatment is not an isolated interpersonal issue but a structurally embedded ritual and a core element of the hidden curriculum. It reinforces toxic hierarchies and a “tyranny of merit” that obscures structural barriers. These findings offer analytically transferable insights for global medical education, calling for a deconstruction of ritualized violence to foster more humanistic training environments. Full article

Traditional evaluation systems in the current process of urban–rural integration are guided by the goal of “equalization.” They predominantly focus on material facilities and services while neglecting both the integration of socio-cultural dimensions and the disparities between urban and rural areas. Consequently, they are ill-equipped to systematically assess or facilitate the formation of urban–rural communities. To address this gap, this study, grounded in community theory, constructs a county-level comprehensive evaluation framework for urban–rural equivalence that integrates the three dimensions of “material, service, and social” spheres, encompassing material infrastructure, socioeconomic services, and cultural identity. This framework consists of three dimensions, seven criteria, and twenty-one indicators, which are operationalized through statistical data, questionnaire surveys, and field investigations. An empirical application to Xiapu County, Fujian Province, yields a composite urban–rural equivalence index of 0.8184, indicating a moderate level of equivalence, with relatively balanced development across the three dimensions. Furthermore, diagnostic analysis reveals that the key bottlenecks constraining progress toward a higher level of equivalence are not absolute resource shortages but rather the organizational efficiency of spatial linkages, the grassroots-level transmission capacity of public services, and deficiencies in social identity and public participation. Accordingly, differentiated planning response pathways are proposed from the three perspectives of territorial community, governance community, and relational community. By constructing a multidimensional comprehensive evaluation framework, this study advances urban–rural equivalence assessment from mere “disparity description” toward “mechanism diagnosis,” thereby offering a more systematic and operationally feasible evaluation tool and strategic reference for county-level urban–rural integration. Full article

In multi-ethnic villages, public space serves as more than just a venue for social interaction; it is the vital ground where cultural integration and community identity take root. This study examines Cizhong Village in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan, employing a mixed-methods approach that combines questionnaire surveys (N = 120), semi-structured interviews (N = 32), and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to compare the village’s planned spatial network with residents’ actual movement patterns. Findings reveal a significant structural mismatch: while the planned network exhibits higher density (0.32) and clustering (0.70), the behavioral network demonstrates a stronger small-world index (2.14 vs. 1.94), indicating that villagers organically form compact activity clusters around key social hubs such as the church and supermarket. QAP correlation analysis further shows that Tibetan and Naxi behavioral networks are highly similar (r = 0.833, p < 0.001), whereas Han networks exhibit weaker correlations (r = 0.527–0.607, p < 0.05), revealing a spatial pattern of “broad integration with localized ethnic preferences”. Grounded theory coding of interview data (55 initial concepts, 14 categories, 4 core categories) validates these structural findings and identifies the core theme of “superposed space of multi-ethnic dynamic sharing”. Based on these results, three optimization strategies are proposed: improving connectivity between public spaces, revitalizing key social hubs, and respecting established ethnic spatial traditions. These insights provide an evidence-based framework for managing public spaces in multi-ethnic rural communities. Full article

This study explores how internal and external brand management synergistically construct employee brand equity in contemporary organizations. Drawing on social identity theory, brand equity theory, and relationship quality theory, we conducted a systematic literature review of research published from 2019 to 2024 to analyze the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mechanisms underlying this process. Our findings reveal that internal brand management activities (brand-oriented HR practices, brand communication) and external initiatives (CSR, marketing strategies) jointly shape employees’ brand cognition, while brand relationship quality mediates emotional connections through brand commitment, trust, and advocacy. These elements ultimately manifest in behavioral expressions including brand citizenship behavior, loyalty, retention intention, and positive word-of-mouth. This research provides organizations with an integrated framework for strategically aligning internal and external brand activities to enhance employee brand support, thereby strengthening competitive advantage through consistent brand delivery across all stakeholder touchpoints. Full article

To activate conscious reflection regarding personal identity and identity-building processes in our daily lives is an increasing social concern. With this aim, we designed an Alternate Reality Game that invites participants to collectively explore these themes. Participants played with a prototype, evoking themes of identity through emergent dynamics from gameplay and interpersonal interactions. We analyzed participants’ appropriation of the prototype through logged activity, direct observation and interviews. The identified dynamics enabled iterative redesign and further exploration of the players’ interaction and behaviors. From this process, we synthesized four design insights as our main findings that may guide further research in the field: (1) how to explore design–play–reflect as a co-design process supported on individual appropriation, (2) how ARGs generate reflective social phenomena, such as varied social identity and power narratives, (3) how ARG design can open doors to balance power dynamics, and (4) how ARG designs can become generative social theories. Our main contributions, alongside the designed prototype, are these four insights, and their potential scalability to other ARG designs that seek to provoke social phenomena and collaborative interventions. Full article

As organizations globally pursue the twin transitions of digitalization and sustainability, whether digital tools inherently facilitate green objectives remains a critical debate. Drawing on Social Information Processing (SIP) theory, this study develops an affective–cognitive dual-path model, examining how perceived leader prosocial motivation catalyzes employees’ green innovation intention. Utilizing a mixed-methods design in China, we first conducted a scenario-based experiment (Study 1, N = 184) to establish internal validity, followed by a two-wave, multi-source field survey (Study 2, N = 428) across diverse industries to enhance ecological validity. Regression analyses confirm that perceived leader prosocial motivation positively relates to employees’ green innovation intentions. This relationship is mediated by green organizational identity and green mindfulness, underscoring the pivotal role of individual affective and cognitive factors in translating organizational green visions into employee innovation. Crucially, we reveal a critical signal interference effect: high workplace digitalization acts as a negative boundary condition that weakens the positive influence of leader motivation. Our findings highlight the necessity for leaders to cultivate and signal prosocial motivation to effectively inspire employees’ green innovation intentions. Furthermore, our study challenges the synergy myth of the twin transition. We provide critical insights for digital governance by revealing that excessive digital embedding can trigger cognitive overload and attention fragmentation among employees, ultimately stifling the organizational green transition. Full article

Surf tourism, a form of sustainable experiential tourism, directly shapes the socio-economic sustainability of coastal destinations. However, existing research has not uncovered how cognitive appraisal processes and status-seeking motives interact to shape tourists’ behavioral intentions and resilience amid experiential setbacks. Based on a cross-sectional survey design, and grounded in Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT) and the Theory of the Leisure Class (TLC), this study empirically tests an integrated socio-cognitive framework using data from 395 surf tourists in Hainan, China. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate that cognitive appraisals (outcome desirability, agency, certainty) and status-driven imperatives are powerful predictors of behavioral intentions. Conspicuous Consumption Motivation (CCM) acts as a critical boundary condition, amplifying the positive effect of affective states on intentions, and serving as a psychological buffer that facilitates consumer resilience against tourism setbacks. We further extend a “social-symbolic reappraisal” mechanism—rather than a directly measured variable—through which tourists reframe negative experiences as a “badge of honor” to signal leisure-class status via the moderation effect of CCM. This fills an important gap in existing research on emotion regulation and tourist behavior. This study clarifies the psychological pathway of behavioral sustainability in symbolic experiential tourism and delivers high-impact actionable insights for coastal destinations: operators can leverage the social-symbolic reappraisal mechanism to design identity-focused experience narratives, stabilize tourist flow and revenue streams, increase investments in sustainable infrastructure and marine conservation, and benefit from sustainable management of coastal surf tourism destinations. Full article

As sportswear becomes everyday attire, brands are increasingly investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. However, the psychological mechanisms linking these multidimensional efforts to consumer behavior remain insufficiently integrated in the existing literature and have rarely been tested simultaneously within a unified framework, particularly regarding the transition from green brand loyalty to green brand evangelism. This study addresses this gap by disaggregating perceived ESG initiatives into three distinct dimensions and modeling dual behavioral outcomes (green brand loyalty and green brand evangelism), while also examining the moderating role of self-green brand congruity. By integrating Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) and Self-Congruity Theories, data from 308 Chinese consumers were analyzed using PLS-SEM by SmartPLS 4.1. Results indicate that all three perceived ESG dimensions significantly enhance green brand attachment, with environmental initiatives exerting the strongest effect. Green brand attachment serves as a key mediator linking perceived ESG stimuli to behavioral responses, and green brand loyalty is found to be positively associated with brand evangelism. Furthermore, self-green brand congruity plays a moderating role in the relationship between ESG perceptions and green brand attachment, suggesting that identity alignment amplifies the impact of sustainability cues. These findings provide actionable strategies for managers to leverage perceived ESG and identity-based marketing to transform loyal consumers into vocal brand advocates. Full article

Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, made it the first country worldwide to implement a nationwide prohibition on major platforms for adolescents. This narrative literature review compares Australia’s age-based restriction with international approaches to protecting young people from online risks. The review synthesized 26 academic studies and 15 grey literature sources (policy documents, legislation, and official reports published between 2015 and 2025). It employed Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to examine effects across family, platform, institutional, and broader socio-legal contexts. Three key themes emerged: (A) Empirical findings on age-threshold policies remain inconclusive and context-dependent. While unregulated use relates to psychological vulnerabilities, structured and intentional engagement can promote social connection, identity exploration, and support access, especially for marginalized youth. (B) Global responses vary, favoring alternatives like parental consent, platform duty-of-care obligations, and screen-time control measures. (C) Balanced, sustainable harm reduction depends on combining parental involvement, platform accountability, and digital literacy education. Overall, while Australia’s precautionary approach addresses legitimate developmental and public health concerns, its effectiveness seems limited by enforcement challenges, risks of digital exclusion, and potential human rights issues. Bronfenbrenner’s framework underscores the need for coordinated governance across interconnected systems to lessen online harm. Full article

This study examined the critical sustainability challenge of regional demographic decline in South Korea by analyzing how young people’s mobility decisions are intricately influenced by structurally and socially constructed meaning systems. Countering strictly economic deterministic views, this research posited that youth out-migration is a complex socio-cognitive process mediated by social representations of place—collectively constructed and circulated meanings attached to regions. Applying a secondary analysis of Q-sort data from 24 undergraduate students at a regional national university, the study integrated Q methodology with Social Representation Theory to systematically identify youth typologies regarding regional identity, territorial stigma, and local extinction. Participants sorted 44 statements encompassing place attachment, local consumption, cultural experiences, and policy effectiveness. Rigorous factor analysis revealed four distinct perception typologies: identity-based strategic mobility, conditional leaving based on internalized success norms, re-anchoring toward alternative lifestyles, and skeptical leaving rooted in profound institutional distrust. The findings empirically demonstrated that identical structural constraints can produce highly divergent mobility trajectories—ranging from active retention to complete resignation—depending entirely on the region’s socio-cognitive representation. This study demonstrates that local extinction is not merely a demographic condition, but a socially constructed framework of meaning and an object of social representation that shapes youth perception typologies and mobility judgments. Accordingly, moving beyond conventional technical interventions, meaning governance, and strategic communication are needed to help reimagine regional futures. Full article

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption remains critically low in Thailand despite government initiatives, with limited understanding of how adoption factors vary across different user segments. This study investigates the determinants of EV adoption intentions across three distinct groups—internal combustion engine (ICE) users, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV/PHEV) users, and current EV users—to develop targeted adoption strategies. Data were collected from 3794 Thai vehicle users through on-site administered questionnaires and analyzed using multi-group structural equation modeling, integrating the Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Planned Behavior, and environmental psychology constructs. Results reveal significant differences in adoption pathways across groups: ICE users show the strongest sensitivity to perceived ease of use, indicating technology apprehension as the primary barrier; HEV/PHEV users demonstrate transitional characteristics with the highest experience-usefulness relationship, while current EV users exhibit stronger influence from environmental identity and social norms. All 14 hypotheses were supported, though with varying effect magnitudes across groups. Surprisingly, the attitude-intention relationship was consistently weak across all segments, suggesting unmeasured cultural or contextual factors. This study contributes the first empirical evidence of segmented adoption patterns in an emerging market, revealing a progression pathway from technology-focused concerns (ICE) through balanced considerations (HEV/PHEV) to identity-driven adoption (EV). Findings provide actionable insights for policymakers to design segment-specific interventions: technology familiarization for ICE users, transition facilitation for hybrid users, and community-building for EV users. Full article

Background: Autobiographical memory undergoes qualitative changes across the lifespan, influencing self-understanding, emotional regulation, and psychological adaptation. Research shows memory is a dynamic process, reconstructed through retrieval, narration, and social interaction. How narrative construction and empathic engagement shape memory reconsolidation and self-continuity remains insufficiently integrated. Objectives: This narrative review synthesizes theoretical, empirical, and applied findings on autobiographical memory, narrative processes, and empathy, proposing an integrative model linking memory reconsolidation, identity reconstruction, and adaptive functioning. Methods: A theory-oriented narrative review was conducted across psychology, neuroscience, gerontology, and narrative research, drawing on literature from PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, J-STAGE, and CiNii. Peer-reviewed empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical papers were organized around three interrelated conceptual domains: (1) autobiographical memory and self-related processes, (2) neurobiological and emotional mechanisms relevant to memory updating and reconsolidation, and (3) narrative construction within empathically mediated social interaction contexts, with additional consideration of evidence from narrative-based and creative interventions. Results: The reviewed literature suggests that autobiographical memory functions as a plastic, socially embedded system supporting self-continuity, although the strength and consistency of evidence vary across studies and contexts. Narrativization within empathically responsive and psychologically safe contexts enhances narrative coherence, emotional integration, and perspective-taking, promoting psychological stability, although these effects are not uniformly observed across all populations and study designs. Creative narrative activities further facilitate retrieval and meaning reconstruction, extending memory updating beyond recall, while the underlying mechanisms and causal pathways remain to be fully established. Conclusions: We propose an empathy-mediated narrative reconstruction model in which creative activity, narration, empathic response, and retelling interact cyclically to support memory reconsolidation and self-narrative updating. By integrating cognitive, social, and creative dimensions, this model provides a theoretically grounded framework with implications for clinical, educational, gerontological, and creative applications. Full article

This article examines the early formation of Confucian–Islamic synthesis during the Yuan dynasty, arguing that institutional and intellectual adaptations in this period laid the groundwork for the later systematic synthesis known as “Yi-Ru Huitong” (伊儒會通). Moving beyond narratives of assimilation or resistance, it analyzes how Muslim communities navigated China’s pluralistic sociopolitical landscape through a process of creative adaptation. Employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates textual analysis, historical comparison, and transcultural theory, the study investigates three key dimensions: the development of hybrid religious institutions, legal-political negotiations, and mechanisms of social integration. Drawing on multilingual sources—including Persian Islamic manuals, Yuan administrative archives, and epigraphic evidence—it demonstrates how Yuan-era Muslims established patterns of selective adaptation that preserved Islamic identity while enabling meaningful engagement with Chinese cultural norms. These developments not only ensured the survival of Islam in China but also generated a range of transcultural achievements in astronomy, medicine, architecture, and the literary arts, thereby creating the necessary conditions for the profound philosophical syntheses of the Ming-Qing era. By positioning the Yuan period as a crucial incubator of Sino-Islamic civilization, this study offers insights for comparative philosophy and the global history of civilizational dialog, inviting reflection on the early Chinese Islamic experience as a significant case of sustainable cross-civilizational engagement. Full article

This study examined how perceived social media affordances, self-presentation, and online engagement collectively shape experiences of social validation among Nigerian youths within an integrated framework that combines Affordance theory, Goffman’s Dramaturgical perspectives, and Uses and Gratifications. Using a quantitative survey of 480 active social media users across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X), data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, regression, and regression-based sequential mediation modelling. Our findings indicate that perceived social media affordances significantly predict self-presentation behaviours (β = 0.79, p < 0.001), self-presentation significantly predicts online engagement (β = 0.43, p < 0.001); and online engagement predicts perceived social validation (β = 051, p < 0.001). Our findings also reveal that self-presentation and online engagement jointly and sequentially mediate the relationship between perceived affordances and perceived social media validation, with a significant indirect effect (β = 0.13, 95% CI [0.09, 0.19]) and a non-significant direct path from affordances to validation. Within a connectivity-constrained environment of Nigerian youths, our findings support a process-based understanding of digital interaction, showing how technological affordances are translated into social outcomes via structured, theoretically grounded user practices. Apart from validation emerging as a salient gratification, the study noted other motivational cues (sociability, identity expression, and information seeking) behind youth engagement with social media, suggesting that validation is just one of many reasons underlying youth social media use. The study contributes to Global Majority Media scholarship by providing a theoretically integrated process-based framework and a mechanism-oriented narrative of social media use in a non-Western setting. Full article

This study examines how tourists engage with non-daily and non-modern experiences through Hanfu costume tourism in China. In the context of the growing revival of Hanfu and the expansion of cultural heritage tourism, the research explores how costume-based practices enable participants to immerse themselves in imagined historical lifeworlds and negotiate cultural meaning. A mixed-method design was adopted, combining a quantitative survey of 476 tourists with qualitative textual analysis of travel blogs and vlogs shared on social media platforms. The findings support a three-dimensional framework: cultural–historical imagination (embodied nostalgia and connection to an idealized past), ritualized festivity (collective performance and liminal engagement in heritage spaces), and aesthetic appreciation (non-utilitarian visual and sensory pleasure contrasting with everyday clothing). We conclude that Hanfu costume tourism is not historical reenactment but an active, embodied process of cultural engagement and identity negotiation, predominantly practised by a subculture of young, educated, urban Han Chinese women. By providing empirical evidence for a three-dimensional framework, this research contributes to theories of nostalgia, liminality, and embodied heritage in cultural tourism and offers practical implications for designing immersive heritage experiences. Full article