The social science literature on caring is long on application and short on concepts about its nature. In this latter capacity leisure is seldom mentioned as a context within which people care for ...others. This article examines the relationship of caring and compassion as expressed during free time in leisure activities. This has never been done, with the result that many contextual and motivational properties unique to leisure have been overlooked, and consequently, have been unavailable to both the theoretic and the practical sides of the sociology and psychology of compassion. The present article attempts to demonstrate that such oversight has denied this field some useful conceptual tools.
A test of the Copernican principle Caldwell, R R; Stebbins, A
Physical review letters,
05/2008, Letnik:
100, Številka:
19
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The blackbody nature of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation spectrum is used in a modern test of the Copernican principle. The reionized universe serves as a mirror to reflect CMB ...photons, thereby permitting a view of ourselves and the local gravitational potential. By comparing with measurements of the CMB spectrum, a limit is placed on the possibility that we occupy a privileged location, residing at the center of a large void. The Hubble diagram inferred from lines of sight originating at the center of the void may be misinterpreted to indicate cosmic acceleration. Current limits on spectral distortions are shown to exclude the largest voids which mimic cosmic acceleration. More sensitive measurements of the CMB spectrum could prove the existence of such a void or confirm the validity of the Copernican principle.
The Brsnina Permian–Triassic nearshore marine sediments were deposited on the Adria carbonate platform in tropical latitudes at the western end of the Neotethys Ocean. Continuous channel samples ...across the boundary show no consistent change in element or element/Al ratios, except that most element/Al ratios increase in the top 0.5 m of the Permian strata. Though there are sporadic higher values of some element/element ratios, such as Ti/Zr, Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Cr/Ni, Y/Ni, Co/Th, Cu/Zn, and Nb/Ta, La/Sc, the overall geochemistry indicates that the sediments were derived from dominantly silica-rich continental rather than silica-poor sources though with some more silica-poor inputs at times. Sporadic high Ti/Zr ratios indicate periods of increased aridity, but no overall increase across the boundary. Various geochemical redox proxies suggest mainly oxic depositional conditions, with episodes of anoxia, but with little systematic variation across the boundary. Geochemical proxies for productivity indicate little change up the section with values two orders of magnitude less than elsewhere. The lack of consistent element geochemical changes across the boundary accompanied by significant C, S, and other isotopic changes suggests that atmospheric and oceanic chemical variations drove the Permian–Triassic boundary environmental changes at least on the sabkha environments of the tropical Adria platform.
Anselm Strauss observed 40 years ago that the idea of social world was suffering from weak conceptualization and application to those areas of social life where this formation figures prominently in ...everyday activities. This book provides a coherent statement about what social worlds consist of, what they do, where they fit in social theory.
Non-work obligations can undermine our well-being and lifestyles, but scholars of work and leisure alike have largely ignored this element of our lives. This book, written by an established authority ...in the field, shines a light on the significance of this 'third space' in our lives and offers a guide to finding contentment in discontentment.
What does it mean to be an individual and how can an individual exist within society? Serious Leisure and Individuality examines the circumstances in the modern world that make for individual ...distinctiveness, and the role of these conditions in personal and social life. "The individual," said Friedrich Nietzsche, "has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." Elie Cohen-Gewerc and Robert Stebbins explore the road to finding that privilege. They approach individuality by examining its relationship to freedom and being free, and by defining and elaborating on the concept of leisure space. They also look at individuality's place in community, citizenship, and globalization. The complex relationship between individuality and alienation is put under the microscope to highlight the negative side of being distinctive, which has adverse consequences for the individual and society. There are many studies on the modern individual that centre almost entirely on the person facing his local community and broader society. What is missing in the literature - and what Serious Leisure and Individuality provides - is a broad, comprehensive examination of individuality, particularly as it is rooted in leisure and the leisure-like areas of work.
Objectives
Assess the risk of ischaemic events associated with psychosocial stress in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).
Methods
Psychosocial stress was assessed by a questionnaire in ...14 577 patients (median age 65.0, IQR 59, 71; 81.6% males) with stable CHD on optimal secondary preventive therapy in the prospective randomized STABILITY clinical trial. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to assess associations between individual stressors, baseline cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes.
Results
After 3.7 years of follow‐up, depressive symptoms, loss of interest and financial stress were associated with increased risk (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) of CV death (1.21, 1.09–1.34; 1.15, 1.05–1.27; and 1.19, 1.08–1.30, respectively) and the primary composite end‐point of CV death, nonfatal MI or nonfatal stroke (1.21, 1.13–1.30; 1.19, 1.11–1.27; and 1.17, 1.10–1.24, respectively). Living alone was related to higher risk of CV death (1.68, 1.38–2.05) and the primary composite end‐point (1.28, 1.11–1.48), whereas being married as compared with being widowed, was associated with lower risk of CV death (0.64, 0.49–0.82) and the primary composite end‐point (0.81, 0.67–0.97).
Conclusions
Psychosocial stress, such as depressive symptoms, loss of interest, living alone and financial stress, were associated with increased CV mortality in patients with stable CHD despite optimal medical secondary prevention treatment. Secondary prevention of CHD should therefore focus also on psychosocial issues both in clinical management and in future clinical trials.
A main theme running through this book is that we cannot understand the virtues of humility and modesty without an equally good understanding of the vices of hubris and conceit. All four attitudes ...express self-esteem, which flourishes in the soil of achievement. Achievement is valued in any challenging field, be it art, science, sport, entertainment, business, politics, religion, or administration. And it is for this reason alone that achievers are inclined to discuss their excellence or may be forced to discuss it when others inquire about it or remark on it. By these routes achievement and self-esteem surface frequently in the diverse academic and political exchanges that spawn humility/modesty or hubris/conceit. Achievement in a respectable activity can be a wonderful personal milestone bathed in positive emotions, where in the modern world individualism and individuation are widely valued. It may also be wonderful for other people in the achiever's family, social network, community, or society when they are favorably affected. But in this book, when refracted through three additional analytic lenses – individualism and individuality, big- vs small-picture thinking, and tolerance and compromise – the expression of achievement-based self-esteem takes on some startling new dimensions. One of them is that, at the hubris/conceit end of the continuum of the expression of self-esteem, discussion risks becoming uncivil, owing to the disagreeable ways that achievement is sometimes conveyed (e.g., boasting, name calling, depreciating others' related achievements). Moreover, such can turn out to be enormously unproductive. Or as Leo Tolstoy once put it: "Conceit is incompatible with understanding."
Positive psychology and the study of leisure of leisure have more in common than meets the eye. Their shared ground is especially evident in the concept of leisure activity: a type of pursuit, ...wherein participants in it mentally or physically (often both) think or do something, motivated by the hope of achieving a desired end. Leisure activities are positive activities, identified psychologically by particular sets of behaviors and sociologically by their place in a leisure social world and often in a social institution (e.g. sport, art, entertainment). Leisure is defined and the concept of leisure experience examined. Next, the serious leisure perspective is introduced. The main part of the article explores the emotions of leisure experience in interpersonal relationships, contemplation/spirituality, volunteering, quality of life/well-being, happiness, and play and creativity. The serious pursuits offer the richest range of positive psychological states, but casual and project-based leisure are not to be ignored.
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