The threat superiority effect refers to an ability to quickly and efficiently detect threatening cues in one’s environment. Hence, ensuing and appropriate behavioral defense responses entail greater chances of survival for an organism. Some researchers argue that natural selection has led us to automatically prioritize threats that would have been salient during the period of evolutionary adaptation; as for example snakes. However, others have also argued that activation of our defense response system is more flexible, thus able to also be triggered to dangers of more recent age: such as guns or airplane crashes. The present study has sought to impact this debate, by measuring the electrodermal activity (EDA) – more specifically the skin conductance responses (SCRs) – of subjects who were visually presented with both evolutionary (snakes and spiders) and modern (guns and knives) fear-relevant stimuli. The results demonstrated no significant difference between the two categories within subjects, suggesting that both evolutionary and modern threatening cues activate the defense response system in a similar manner. Although the results are preliminary, and would need further verification in higher powered studies, they can be seen to favor the view that our defense response system is flexibly adaptive in relation to the age of a given threat.

It would possibly face a great challenge under the framework of WTO (World Trade Organization), our domestic agri-market should be impacted by the opening up international market. Our farmers are habituated for the payment and protection policies by the government for a long time, so that the market competence is rather poor. Therefore, after joining WTO, as the international market opens up, the direct payment and set-aside premium would only palliative the short term problem. With the shortage of the exchequer, the deficiency could reveal. And the basic and essential trend of the future agricultural changeover pattern is to consider how to establish a competitive and distinctive operating prototype for our agriculture for the long-term solution. This research takes the important agricultural area of Koahsiung County in southern Taiwan as an example. The main topic of this research focuses on the production of the tropical fruit for the specialized agricultural products. Step by step aiming at internal advantage, disadvantage and external possibility, and threats. And examine the organizational environment for the research by collecting of documents and references, interviewing with related personnel and further having questionnaire from academics, experiment units, agricultural administration personnel, farmers¡¦ union (farmers¡¦ association), production-line & sales farmers. According to the result of the questionnaire, we have the following conclusion: 1: Overall evaluation (Tropical Fruit) found the following conclusion: (1) Top four tropical fruits that are considered to be most competitive in southern Taiwan, the first is Wax-apple, the second is Jin-Huang Mango, the third is Guava and the forth is Lychee with over 50% identification. (2) The less competitive is Longan at ninth position (14.2%) with the less identification percentage. 2: We have the following conclusion after analyzing each characters of SWOT on its identification level: (1) For the Strength we found (S) that the weather condition in southern Taiwan is beneficial local tropical fruit planting and has more confident in technological and quality aspects. (2) For the Weakness (W) we found that that having high labor cost, lacking marketing personnel, petty farmland, and aging population are becoming growing burden. (3) In the Opportunity (O) we found that by establishing quality brand, diversifying operation and strategic alliance, referring the experience from member nations, create business possibility for weekend holiday as to change the operating style and method for strategic direction. (4) In The Threats (T) we found that under the pressure of being threatened with foreign low cost, abundance and diverse agriculture products by developed member countries in WTO, and production circle and nature condition etc. are also to be concerned in order to break through for the strategic direction decision. To sum up, this research hope to bring out and present a correct strategic direction with eight concrete policy and ten advisement for the agricultural policy department to follow the right direction to suit the agriculture operation style for both government related agricultural governing body and farmer to face and challenge the coming impact for our agricultural development after joining WTO.

Three studies tested the integrated threat theory by examining the causal role that threats play in attitudes toward immigrants. In Study I, students were presented with information about an immigrant group indicating that it posed realistic threats, symbolic threats, both types of threat or no threats to the ingroup. Attitudes toward the immigrant group were most negative when it posed both realistic and symbolic threats to the ingroup. In Study II, information was presented indicating that an immigrant group possessed negative traits, positive traits, or a combination of positive and negative traits. The results indicated that the negative stereotypes led to significantly more negative attitudes toward the immigrant group than the other types of stereotypes. In the third study, group descriptions leading to high levels of intergroup anxiety led to negative attitudes toward foreign exchange students. Empathizing with the foreign exchange students reduced these negative attitudes. The implications of the results of these studies for theory and practice are discussed.

Alliances continue to remain fundamental at the core of international politics. How states make their alliance choices is important for international order and security. The end of the Cold War brought ethnic conflicts and political instabilities in the Balkan region. Based on its size and geographical configuration, Romania again confronted its history in the alliance dilemma of whether to "balance" against threatening states or to "bandwagon" with the states that posed the greatest threats in order to appease their power. Stephen M. Walt (1987) predicted that in a case like that of Romania, the statesmen would most likely choose to bandwagon because of two motives: (i) for "defensive" purposes in order to maintain its independence in the face of a potential threat and (ii) for "offensive" reasons in order to acquire territory. After reviewing Romanian historical records on alliances since 1878, the evidence is compelling that the case of Romania conforms to Walt's (1987) theory only to the extent that "balancing is not universal." Thus, it depends on which perspective balancing or bandwagoning is considered from in forming alliances. Romania either formed alliances to balance threats, or allied with the threat. Territorial security was one of the most recurrent motives prevalent in Romanian historical records that prompted Romania to form alliances. As expected, Walt's (1987) last three factors did not provide a great explanation for Romanian alliances. Modest support was found for ideological solidarity,but little for economic ideology and transnational political penetration. / Master of Arts

This thesis seeks to explain the discursive construction of national security threats facing the United States from 2001-2018. The driving argument is that the nation's perception of threats and conceptualization of itself are vulnerable to Presidential rhetoric. Presidents convey threats through rhetorical frameworks, a simplified means to present a manipulated perception of reality to a wider audience, which intentionally provoke reactions from the nation to garner consensus towards executive decision-making. Presidents apply frames from prior administrations as well as new frames to define adverse states, organizations, groups of people, etc., and to justify disciplinary practices, military action, or policy implementation against threats. Primarily, they portray threats as the binary opposite of the American national identity to reinforce the country's legitimacy in national security decision-making. This discourse influences how the public internalizes major issues facing the nation and triggers emotions that can either unite or divide the national identity. This research maps variation among the rhetorical frameworks and strategies of President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, and President Donald J. Trump to evaluate: how national security threats are constructed, how the nation interprets threats, and the resulting social and political effects. / Master of Arts

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 296-328).

The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the relationship between recitation in the classroom and changes in the cardiac rate, (2) to determine the effects on cardiac rate of anticipation of recitation and tests, (3) to determine the effects on cardiac rate of compliments and assurance directed toward students by the teacher, and (4) to determine the effects on the cardiac rate of verbal threats and ridicule.

<p>The aim of this study is to describe what teachers and principals experience in schools regarding threats, violence and harassment towards teachers. A phenomenographical inspired approach has been used to describe and analyse the conceptions of five teachers and five principals. The findings of the study indicate that there is no impending risk for teachers to suffer from violence, threats or harassment. However, it does occasionally happen, and the findings of the study indicate that there are some factors that increase the risk. The major three factors are: fear, personality and inexperience. The conceptions also indicate that media can have a negative effect concerning violence in schools.</p><p> In order to prevent violence in schools, the findings of the study suggest three preventive measures: active relationship building, increased information, as well as increased authority for teachers. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of support where teachers have been violated. This support is required from principals and supporting authorities, and it is important that school violence is reported to the police to discourage the threat of future violent conduct in schools. The findings of our study indicate that the school of education needs to be reorganised, and new methods developed, in order to prepare teachers for their coming profession.</p>

The aim of this study is to describe what teachers and principals experience in schools regarding threats, violence and harassment towards teachers. A phenomenographical inspired approach has been used to describe and analyse the conceptions of five teachers and five principals. The findings of the study indicate that there is no impending risk for teachers to suffer from violence, threats or harassment. However, it does occasionally happen, and the findings of the study indicate that there are some factors that increase the risk. The major three factors are: fear, personality and inexperience. The conceptions also indicate that media can have a negative effect concerning violence in schools. In order to prevent violence in schools, the findings of the study suggest three preventive measures: active relationship building, increased information, as well as increased authority for teachers. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of support where teachers have been violated. This support is required from principals and supporting authorities, and it is important that school violence is reported to the police to discourage the threat of future violent conduct in schools. The findings of our study indicate that the school of education needs to be reorganised, and new methods developed, in order to prepare teachers for their coming profession.

Maritime conflict in the next decade or three, when it happens, will not be the full-blown war that our carriers and strategic submarines are designed for. Instead, it will be economic warfare through the interdiction of maritime trade, harassment of naval vessels as rising nations attempt to expand their sphere of influence, and development of cheap (or uncounterable) technologies that keep potential adversaries or rivals at bay. All of this will take place in blue-water environments as access to the littorals is effectively denied by these new technologies. As it stands, the United States is inadequately prepared to face this possibility. This paper will examine how and why this strategy will arise, identify the most likely locations and actors, and explore how these scenario are likely to play out. Additionally, this paper will examine potential remedies that the United States (or other interested powers) could undertake to reduce the impact of these strategies, perhaps even avoiding their occurrence altogether.