Visualising Textual Knowledge about Risks to Aid Risk Communication

This paper demonstrates a potential application for latent semantic analysis and similar techniques in visualising the differences between two levels of knowledge about a risk issue. The HIV/AIDS risk issue will be examined and the semantic clusters of key words in a technical corpora derived from specific literature about HIV/AIDS will be compared with the semantic clusters of those in more general corpora. It is hoped that these comparisons will create a fast and efficient complementary approach to the articulation of mental models of risk issues that could be used to target possible inconsistencies between expert and lay mental models

Mass Media and Polarisation Processes in the Bounded Confidence Model of Opinion Dynamics

This paper presents a social simulation in which we add an additional layer of mass media communication to the social network \'bounded confidence\' model of Deffuant et al (2000). A population of agents on a lattice with continuous opinions and bounded confidence adjust their opinions on the basis of binary social network interactions between neighbours or communication with a fixed opinion. There are two mechanisms for interaction. \'Social interaction\' occurs between neighbours on a lattice and \'mass communication,\' adjusts opinions based on an agent interacting with a fixed opinion. Two new variables are added, polarisation: the degree to which two mass media opinions differ, and broadcast ratio: the number of social interactions for each mass media communication. Four dynamical regimes are observed, fragmented, double extreme convergence, a state of persistent opinion exchange leading to single extreme convergence and a disordered state. Double extreme convergence is found where agents are less willing to change opinion and mass media communications are common or where there is moderate willingness to change opinion and a high frequency of mass media communications. Single extreme convergence is found where there is moderate willingness to change opinion and a lower frequency of mass media communication. A period of persistent opinion exchange precedes single extreme convergence, it is characterized by the formation of two opposing groups of opinion separated by a gradient of opinion exchange. With even very low frequencies of mass media communications this results in a move to central opinions followed by a global drift to one extreme as one of the opposing groups of opinion dominates. A similar pattern of findings is observed for Neumann and Moore neighbourhoods.Opinion Dynamics, Mass Media, Polarisation, Extremists, Consensus

A Taxonomy of Non-verbal Responses to Gossip

Gossip is the exchange of socially relevant information. Sending and receiving gossip is a communicative process that involves evaluation of the information by the sender and receiver, with the receiver signalling their response by facial expressions or acoustic social signals. Responses to gossip may be positive or negative. Positive responses may be visual or acoustic, and negative responses may be indifferent or neutral. Here we will present a preliminary development of a taxonomy of the types of facial and acoustic responses displayed when an individual receives gossip information. This research will be developed to encompass a wider variety of  social interaction and conversation events

A Taxonomy of Non-verbal Responses to Gossip

Gossip is the exchange of socially relevant information. Sending and receiving gossip is a communicative process that involves evaluation of the information by the sender and receiver, with the receiver signalling their response by facial expressions or acoustic social signals. Responses to gossip may be positive or negative. Positive responses may be visual or acoustic, and negative responses may be indifferent or neutral. Here we will present a preliminary development of a taxonomy of the types of facial and acoustic responses displayed when an individual receives gossip information. This research will be developed to encompass a wider variety of  social interaction and conversation events

Social and acoustic determinants of perceived laughter intensity

Existing research links subjective judgments of perceived laughter intensity with features such as duration, amplitude, fundamental frequency, and voicing. We examine these associations in a new database of social laughs produced in situations inducing amusement, embarrassment, and schadenfreude. We also test the extent to which listeners’ judgments of laughter intensity vary as a function of the social situation in which laughs were produced

Social and acoustic determinants of perceived laughter intensity

Existing research links subjective judgments of perceived laughter intensity with features such as duration, amplitude, fundamental frequency, and voicing. We examine these associations in a new database of social laughs produced in situations inducing amusement, embarrassment, and schadenfreude. We also test the extent to which listeners’ judgments of laughter intensity vary as a function of the social situation in which laughs were produced

Cross-Cultural Patterns in Dynamic Ratings of Positive and Negative Natural Emotional Behaviour

Studies of cross-cultural variations in the perception of emotion have typically compared rates of recognition of static posed stimulus photographs. That research has provided evidence for universality in the recognition of a range of emotions but also for some systematic cross-cultural variation in the interpretation of emotional expression. However, questions remain about how widely such findings can be generalised to real life emotional situations. The present study provides the first evidence that the previously reported interplay between universal and cultural influences extends to ratings of natural, dynamic emotional stimuli.Participants from Northern Ireland, Serbia, Guatemala and Peru used a computer based tool to continuously rate the strength of positive and negative emotion being displayed in twelve short video sequences by people from the United Kingdom engaged in emotional conversations. Generalized additive mixed models were developed to assess the differences in perception of emotion between countries and sexes. Our results indicate that the temporal pattern of ratings is similar across cultures for a range of emotions and social contexts. However, there are systematic differences in intensity ratings between the countries, with participants from Northern Ireland making the most extreme ratings in the majority of the clips.The results indicate that there is strong agreement across cultures in the valence and patterns of ratings of natural emotional situations but that participants from different cultures show systematic variation in the intensity with which they rate emotion. Results are discussed in terms of both 'in-group advantage' and 'display rules' approaches. This study indicates that examples of natural spontaneous emotional behaviour can be used to study cross-cultural variations in the perception of emotion

A qualitative study of the label of personality disorder from the perspectives of people with lived experience and occupational experience

Purpose: The label ‘Personality Disorder’ continues to divide opinion. Challenges to the terminology of personality disorder led by people with lived experience and supported by critical practitioners and academics are tempered by acknowledgement of certain positive social consequences of obtaining a diagnosis. As such, it is opportune to engage service users and staff in a process of inquiry to better understand the complexities of views on the terminology of Personality Disorder. Design / Methodology / Approach: This study set out to qualitatively explore the views of a range of people with lived, occupational and dual lived experience / occupational expertise, relating to the diagnostic label of Personality Disorder, via participatory and critical group debate. The World Café approach is an innovative methodology for participatory inquiry into subjective views suited to exploring contested subject matter. Findings: This study identified contrasting opinions towards the label of Personality Disorder and provides insight into the concerns described for both keeping and losing the label. Although many felt the words ‘personality’ and ‘disorder’ are not in themselves helpful, certain positive views were also revealed. Perspectives towards the label were influenced by the way in which diagnosis was explained and understood by patients and practitioners, alongside the extent to which service provision and evidence-based interventions were offered. Originality: This study brings together a wide range of views and experiences of mental health professionals, individuals lived experience and those who align to both lived and occupational expertise. A safe space was provided via the uniquely co-produced world café research event to bring together discussion and debates from mixed perspectives makes this a novel study. The focus being on perspectives towards contested language, labelling and social impact adds to scholarship in this field Research / Practical / Social Implications: The findings have potential to contribute to ongoing critical debate regarding the value of the Personality Disorder construct in the provision of care and support. Specific emphasis upon the relational framing of care provision offers a means to ameliorate some of the negative impacts of terminology. Perspectives are influenced in the way the label understood hence attention is required to enhance these processes in clinical practice. There is much more work required to overcome stigmatisation, prejudice, and lack of knowledge and understanding. Further research identifying means for challenging stigma and the factors contributing to positive clinical interactions are required