La grande majorité de nos actions et décisions s’élaborent en présence d’autres individus. De nombreux travaux en psychologie sociale attestent de l’existence d’influences sociales sur les comportements observables par autrui. Nos travaux ont pour objectif de déterminer dans quelles mesures des informations sociales influencent également les processus internes de monitoring métacognitif qui accompagnent les actions cognitives et les prises de décisions. Les indices sociaux non-verbaux (tels que des directions de regards et les expressions faciales) constituent une part importante de la communication humaine. Nos études ont ainsi testé si i) les indices sociaux non-verbaux sont intégrés aux processus de monitoring métacognitif rétrospectif (i.e. à l’élaboration de jugement de confiance); ii) des mécanismes de filtrage permettent de moduler l’impact de ces indices sur les jugements de confiance, en fonction de la pertinence des indices iii) la culture des participants (collectiviste versus individualiste) module l’impact de ces indices sur les jugements de confiance. Nos travaux explorent ces questions à travers quatre ensemble d’études comportementales, dont deux explorant également l’électromyographie faciale des participants, et deux explorant les différences interculturelles (en comparant des participants japonais et français). Dans leur ensemble, ces résultats indiquent que des indices sociaux non-verbaux qui confortent les choix des individus augmentent automatiquement le sentiment de confiance des individus en leur choix, alors même que ces indices ne sont pas fiables. Le traitement de ces indices sociaux particuliers, dans le contexte d’élaboration d’un jugement de confiance, semble reposer sur une voie de type heuristique. Les effets sont très similaires chez les participants Japonais et Français, bien que partiellement plus marqués chez les participants Japonais (i.e. dans les cultures collectivistes). Les réactions électromyographiques faciales suscitées par des expressions faciales signifiantes dans le contexte de réalisation de la tâche cognitive refléteraient différents mécanismes en fonction des valeurs culturelles des individus. Nous discutons des implications de nos résultats dans les domaines cliniques et de l’apprentissage. / Actions and decisions most often take place in the presence of others. Previous social psychology studies have shown the effects of social information on external and observable behaviors. In this work, we aim to determine to what extent social information also influences the internal metacognitive monitoring processes underlying cognitive actions and decision-making. Non-verbal social cues (such as gaze direction and facial expressions) constitute an important part of human communication. Here, we have tested (i) whether non-verbal social cues are integrated into the processes of retrospective metacognitive monitoring (i.e. into the assessment of confidence-based judgment); (ii) whether filtering mechanisms are used to modulate the impact of these cues on confidence-based judgment, depending on cue relevance; and (iii) whether participants’ culture (collectivist versus individualist) modulates the impact of these cues on confidence-based judgment. Our work explores these issues through four sets of behavioral studies, two of which also exploring facial expressions using electromyography, and two of which exploring intercultural differences (comparing Japanese and French participants). Overall, we observed that non-verbal social cues that reinforce individuals' choices automatically increase their confidence in those choices, even when the cues are unreliable. The processing of these particular social cues (in the context of the assessment of confidence-based judgment) follow a heuristic pathway. The effects are similar among Japanese and French participants, although somewhat more marked among Japanese participants (i.e. the collectivist culture). The electromyographic recordings of significant facial expressions during the cognitive task likely reflect different mechanisms depending on individuals’ cultural values. We discuss our findings in the context of their clinical and learning applications.

Nesta tese desenvolvemos modelos de apreçamento de ativos financeiros baseados no conceito de influência social, analisamos também algumas das consequências destes modelos e comparamos com os modelos correspondentes clássicos. Por meio das funções de utilidade generalizadas exponencial e quadrática, deduzimos o CAPM com influência social. Obtivemos que o coeficiente beta da fórmula do CAPM depende de uma aversão ao risco efetiva do mercado que depende da distribuição de riqueza dos agentes do mercado. Supondo que distribuição de riqueza dos agentes do mercado segue uma distribuição de Pareto, fomos capazes de conectar, aversão ao risco média efetiva do mercado, volatilidade e distribuição de riqueza dos agentes, estabelecendo a previsão empírica de que a volatilidade aumenta com a concentração da distribuição de riqueza dos agentes do mercado, a qual foi corroborada por meio de análise estatística. Através da função generalizada tipo potência são feitas algumas considerações sobre alguns \"puzzles\" econômicos bem conhecidos (o \"Equity Premium Puzzle\" e o \"Riskfree Rate Puzzle\") que mostram que a modelagem da influência social pode ter impacto no esclarecimento destes \"puzzles\". / In this thesis we develop pricing models for financial assets based in the concept of social influence, we analyze too some of consequences of this models and we compare with the corresponding classical models. By means of the exponential and quadratic generalized utility functions, we deduce the CAPM with social influence. We obtained that the coefficient beta from the formula of the CAPM depends of a market effective risk aversion that depends of the wealth distribution of the market agents. Supposing that the wealth distribution of the market agents follows a Pareto distribution, we were able to connect, market effective average risk aversion, volatility and wealth distribution of the agents, establishing the empirical forecasting that the volatility grows with the concentration of the wealth distribution of the market agents, which was corroborated by means of statistical analysis. Through the generalized power function are made some considerations about some economic puzzles well-known (the Equity Premium Puzzle and the Riskfree Rate Puzzle) that show us that the modeling of the social influence can to have impact in the clarification these puzzles.

The multicultural classroom is becoming more prominent in Sweden. Students from different cultures and ethnicities meet to learn in the same environment. In a changing society, the need to develop acceptance towards others is more important than ever.  Thus, in this essay, post-colonial and social influence theories have been applied to the analysis of Octavia E. Butler’s novel Kindred. This essay argues that by integrating post-colonial literature in the EFL- classroom, students can gain deeper intercultural knowledge and learn to understand the power of the social environment concerning its influential effects on people’s racial attitudes and prejudices.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att bygga vidare på den tidigare forskningen inom hållbar konsumtion och skapa en förståelse för hur konsumenten påverkas i valet att gå ifrån en positiv attityd till handling i köpprocessen. Tonvikten av studien kommer placeras på den sociala påverkan och ämnar ge en ingående bild av dess innebörd i valet av att handla hållbara livsmedel.   En kvantitativ studie genomfördes där primärdata samlades in genom en enkätundersökning vilket resulterade i 304 giltiga svar. Studien baserades på en mängd vetenskapliga artiklar inom ämnet hållbar konsumtion och närmare bestämt attityd-handlingsgapet.     De undersökta påverkansfaktorerna social påverkan, pris, upplevd effekt och tillgänglighet visade sig ha olika stark inverkan på respondenterna, med endast pris och upplevd effekt som signifikant betydelse att påverka beteendegapet gällande attityd och handling. Social påverkan uppnådde ingen signifikans i att ha en betydelse för konsumentens attityd till handling. Vid en närmare undersökning av social påverkan påvisades skillnader inom denna variabel, där familjens tyckande och den rådande / The purpose of this study is to extend knowledge in previous research conducted within sustainable consumption and create a deeper understanding how different factors affect the customer in the buying process. The emphasis in the study is to enhance the understanding regarding effects from social norms in the process of a sustainable food consumption.    A quantitative study was conducted where the primary data was gathered through an online survey. The survey resulted in a total of 304 valid responses. The study was based on previous scientific articles related to the area of sustainable food consumption and the attitude-behaviur gap.   The examined factors regarding social influence, perceived customer effectiveness, availability and price had different impacts in reducing the gap, but only price and perceived customer effectiveness proved significant regarding attitude and actions in the behavior gap. Social influence had the least impact on customers’ decisions to buy sustainable food, however in a further analysis family and current trends had some impact.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’explorer les effets persuasifs de la formulation des communications de santé et les processus psychologiques qui les sous-tendent sur l’intention de suivre une recommandation de santé. Ainsi, nous nous proposons d’expliquer les raisons de l’influence persuasive de la présentation d’un individu modèle dans des campagnes de promotion de la santé. Nous avons mené 9 études expérimentales (1221 participants au total) dont les résultats mettent en exergue des schémas d’explication de l’impact de l’exposition à un individu modèle en tant que stratégie sociale de motivation. Nos données défendent la thèse selon laquelle les individus modèles positifs ou négatifs activent une orientation motivationnelle respectivement en promotion ou en prévention, qui fait varier l’effet du cadrage d’un message de santé : un modèle est plus motivant lorsqu’il est cohérent avec l’orientation motivationnelle cadrée dans un message. Un Autrui positif engendre une hausse de l’intention des individus à suivre une recommandation de santé dès lors qu’elle est préconisée avec un message cadré en promotion, se focalisant sur l’accomplissement. A contrario, un Autrui négatif engendre une hausse de l’intention des individus lorsque le comportement cible est recommandé avec un message cadré en prévention, se focalisant sur la protection. Nous définissons ce phénomène cohérence motivationnelle par individu modèle, et nous expliquons ses effets à l’aide de deux modèles causaux. Le premier modèle démontre que l’effet de la cohérence motivationnelle sur l’intention de suivre une recommandation de prévention (i.e. adopter une alimentation équilibrée) est médiatisé par les dimensions d’efficacité et d’auto-efficacité comportementale. Le deuxième modèle, expliquant l’effet de la cohérence motivationnelle sur l’intention de suivre une recommandation de dépistage (i.e. faire le test de dépistage du cholestérol), démontre que cet effet est médiatisé par les dimensions d’auto-efficacité comportementale et d’auto-efficacité de la gestion des conséquences. En se positionnant dans le cadre des recherches sur l’influence sociale et la persuasion, cette thèse apporte des réflexions théoriques concernant le rôle de l’exposition à un Autrui en tant que force motivationnelle, et ainsi la régulation sociale du fonctionnement cognitif amenant les personnes à s’engager dans des comportements d’amélioration de la santé. / The goal of the present research is to explore the persuasive effect of the framing of health communications on the intention to follow the promoted recommendation, and to understand the psychological processes underlying such effects. More precisely, we aim to explain the persuasive effect of presenting a role model in health-promotional campaigns. We carried out 9 experimental studies (for a total of 1221 participants), which led to an explanatory model of the impact of exposure to role models as a social source of motivation. Our findings show that positive or negative role models temporarily prime the individuals’ regulatory focus on respectively promotion or prevention, altering the effects of message framing: a role model is more motivating when it fits the regulatory framing of the message. A positive role model, which primes a promotion focus, increases individuals’ intention to engage in health behaviours when these are recommended by a promotion-framed message focusing on accomplishment. Correspondingly, a negative model, which primes a prevention focus, motivates individuals when the health behaviours are recommended in a prevention-framed message focusing on safety. We name this phenomenon regulatory fit by vicarious experience, and we explain its effects by validating two causal models. We show that the effect of regulatory fit by vicarious experience on the intention to engage in a preventive behaviour (i.e. a healthy diet) is mediated by the perceived response-efficacy and behavioural self-efficacy (first causal model). On the other hand, its effect on the intention to engage in a detection behaviour (i.e. a cholesterol screening) is mediated by the perceived behavioural self-efficacy and coping self-efficacy (second causal model). Rooted in the field of social influence and persuasion, the present research offers theoretical and innovative insights into the role of exposure to a role model as a motivational force, as well as the social regulation of the cognitive processes leading individuals to engage in health behaviours.

Background: Mentoring is an intervention for implementing evidence into practice, but little is known about this intervention. The overall aim of this dissertation was to examine mentoring as a knowledge translation (KT) intervention to inform clinical practice. Methods: 1) A systematic review was used to determine the effectiveness of mentoring as a KT intervention. 2) An interpretive descriptive qualitative study was conducted to explore the use of mentoring in the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario’s Best Practice Guidelines Implementation/ Knowledge Transfer Fellowship program. Findings: 1) Of 10,669 citations from 1988 to 2012, 10 studies were eligible. Findings showed that mentoring alone (n = 1 study) improved one behavioral outcome. When mentoring was used as part of a multi-faceted intervention (n = 9), there were various effects on knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, use of research evidence in clinical practice, and the impacts on healthcare professionals, patients and organizations. 2) Qualitative interviews with 6 fellows, 8 mentors and 4 program leaders revealed that mentoring involved building relationships, establishing a learning plan, and using teaching and learning activities. Mentors were described as accessible, dedicated, and having expertise; fellows were described as dedicated, self-directed, and having mixed levels of expertise. Mentoring was described as positively impacting upon mentoring relationships, fellows, mentors, and organizations. Participants reported no negative outcomes. Conclusion: Mentoring was used as a KT intervention to support the implementation of evidence into clinical practice. The systematic review and qualitative study findings informed the Mentoring for Guideline Implementation model. Mentoring involved mentees selecting more experienced mentors who provided individualized support based on mentees’ learning needs, which resulted in mutual benefits for mentees and mentors. Future research is required to validate this new mentoring model, develop an instrument to measure the mentor-mentee relationship, and evaluate the effectiveness of mentoring as a KT intervention for guideline implementation in nursing.

Without question, it is apparent that organizations are predominantly dependent on the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to conduct their daily operations. As a result, information is rapidly flowing throughout the workplace and being exchanged at a rate unlike ever before. Unfortunately, this rapid flow of information has increased the potential for information overload to occur among employees. Through a phenomenological based approach, this study explored the experiences of information overload that occur as a result of CMC use in the workplace, from the subjective point of view of ten participants. Findings indicated that the experiences described among these participants can be understood through the examination of four descriptive themes: Constant Communication, Unpredictability, Miscommunication, and lastly Increased Workload and Responsibilities. Furthermore, two theories: Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Influence Theory (SIT), served as the theoretical framework for this study.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The first objective of this study is to show if diffusion of contraception in areas of traditional high fertility has gone through profound changes. Indeed, we would like to know if contraceptive behaviours have evolved because of new fertility perceptions and also because partners now have greater freedom to make choices in a relationship. The second objective of this study is not only to highlight the levels and trends of contraception and the factors influencing their use (government policies, role of family planning, etc.) in developing countries, but also to consider the population of unmet-needs of contraception. Indeed, the level of contraceptive use depends obviously on users, but also on non-users with no needs and non-users with unsatisfied needs. The understanding of this last category of females is essential to a more accurate estimation of contraception levels, and, therefore for the estimation of fertility levels. This study analyses the contraceptive use in several developing countries in Africa and highlights the unsatisfied needs of contraception, to understand why such needs exist. To do so, we shall analyse available demographic data for thirty-five African countries by using the available Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), from the 1980's to 2000's considering the DHS I, DHS II, DHS III and DHS IV. This great variety of surveys, seventy-nine in total, permits one to compare levels of contraception and 'unmet-needs' from country to country. The surveys also, make it possible to compare the evolution over time of specific countries or specific regions, and to subsequently comprehend the determining factors of contraceptive use or non-use. / South Africa

Social media channels are today an important marketing platform where companies effectively can reach their target groups online through paid advertisements, sponsored posts and electronic word of mouth. Electronic word of mouth can be used by companies to spread their brand through individuals sharing experiences and information with others within their social network in a process called influencer marketing. The challenge is identifying and selecting influencers who have a significant impact on the brand’s target audience. The purpose of this descriptive essay is therefore to gain a better understanding of how companies choose influencers to strengthen their brand and customer relationship.  The theories used to examine the purpose above are the Bandwagon-effect, the Source Credibility-model, Keen’s competence-theory, Competence-based view, Bacharach and Lawler’s power-theory, the Social Media Power-model and the Social Media Influencer Value-model. These theories presented in the theoretical framework is the foundation of the study used to investigate factors that affect companies’ choice of influencers. To verify or falsify these theories a qualitative case study consisting seven interviews with companies using influencer marketing have been executed. This was followed by observations of posts on social media from influencers whom the interviewed companies collaborate with, for the purpose of increasing the validity of the interviews.  Based on the results from the collected empirical data an interaction model, including significant factors when choosing an influencer, was formed. The model presents the factors in different levels of significance where the first level includes the most important factors to consider. The results also show a variance of each factor’s significance depending on company circumstances such as industry or target audience.  The contribution of the study is, above all, increased opportunities for companies in identifying influential people to benefit from in their influencer marketing. If companies are aware of these significant factors they will have a greater chance of success in choosing the right influencer for strengthening the company brand and customer relationship.

With the development of technology, the speed of social media development is getting fasterand faster. The relationship between the company and its customers is getting closer.Company profits are increasingly affected by the quality of the relationship betweencustomers and the company. Therefore, relationship quality has become a key research topicfor the company. The interaction of social media will affect the quality of the relationshipbetween the company and its customers to a certain extent. This study examines therelationship between the quality of the relationship between the company and its customersand their interactions on social media. In addition, this research also examines commitment,trust, satisfaction, responsiveness, social influence, and media richness. These factors mainlyaffect the relationship between relationship quality and social media interaction. This studydescribes how to analyze the impact of social media interactions on relationship quality froma customer's perspective. In order to answer the research questions and obtain customers'opinions, this paper uses quantitative research to interview customers of different types ofbrand social media through questionnaires. From what customers feel about the company’scommitment to customers, trust, and customer satisfaction through social media interactions,the impact of social media interactions on the quality of the relationship between thecompany and customers can be derived. In order to promote the development of the company