Exposure to traumatic situations is routine for child welfare workers in California, and the attrition rate for newly hired social workers in some states is estimated to be nearly 50% in the 1st year of employment. Prior research has indicated that reasons for dissatisfaction included dysfunctional organizational climate and culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which trauma exposure contributed to secondary traumatic stress and intent to quit and to examine the degree to which organizational climate moderated the exposure among direct service child welfare employees. Kurt Lewin's field theory, Figley's theory of secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue, and McCann and Pearlman's constructivist self-development theory were foundational for this study. The research questions determined whether a) trauma exposure to would relate positively with secondary traumatic stress and intent to quit, b) organizational climate would relate negatively with secondary traumatic stress and intent to quit, and c) organizational climate would moderate the relationship between trauma exposure and secondary traumatic stress as well as intent to quit. Pearson correlations indicated that exposure to traumatic situations was statistically related to secondary traumatic stress but not intent to quit, and organizational climate was statistically significant in relation to secondary traumatic stress and intent to quit. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated no interaction effect on either dependent variable but might have approached significance with a larger sample. Positive social change can occur through child welfare organizations emphasizing strategies that can reduce secondary traumatic stress and turnover.

The purpose of this research study was to explore the symptoms of compassion fatigue as experienced by teachers in grades 9-12 during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the research on the effects of compassion fatigue on educators is relatively sparse, the literature regarding compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma in other helping professions revealed a 12-symptom framework. Data collection strategies included individual virtual interviews and field notes. Analysis of data occurred in four phases: (a) analyzing transcripts and identifying themes, (b) categorization of data under the 12 symptoms of compassion fatigue, (c) building the explanation in narrative form, and (d) re-examination of the data. The triangulation of data protected the credibility of the analysis through multiple interview sources and member checking. The results revealed that the physical, emotional, professional, and personal experiences described in the teacher interviews exemplified the 12 established symptoms of compassion fatigue. The results suggested that concern for student experiences during the pandemic combined with other contributing factors to manifest a variety of individual symptoms in participants. The most common contributing factors for participants included concerns for the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of students, student academic issues, feelings of being overwhelmed/overloaded at work, and anger and frustration with the school administration and the school system. The themes that emerged from the data analysis indicate that the most common manifested symptoms include lack of sleep, stress and anxiety, thoughts of leaving the teaching profession, and disconnection from family and friends.

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of gender, grade level, family relationships, and vicarious victimization on self-esteem and attitudes of bullying. A self-report questionnaire was administered to sixth and seventh graders at a middle school to 436 students of whom 209 were males and 224 were females. Each home base classroom was systematically sampled for a random sample. The survey consisted of several demographic questions as well as questions regarding the previously mentioned variables. The mean age was 11.8 with 80.7% indicating they were white and 19.3% indicating another race. In the overall regression equations, gender and family relationships were significantly related to attitudes of bullying and family relationships was the only variable significant in the self-esteem equation. Several correlations between variables were found to be significant.

Although previous research has established that therapists who work with sexually-abused children experience symptoms of vicarious trauma, few studies have addressed the process by which the therapist is affected. In order to understand therapists' personal experiences and how working with sexually-abused children impacts them in their personal lives, the researcher interviewed therapists who were currently working with this specific population. Data analysis was completed by using ethnographic research methods and three major themes emerged during the interviews. The first theme included the "job characteristics" inherent in working with sexually-abused children. This theme refers to how the therapists entered the field of therapy, why they wanted to become therapists, and how they began working with children who had been sexually-abused. The subjects also referred to both the challenges and rewards that came from working with sexually-abused children. The second theme that emerged was the impact of working with sexually-abused children on the therapist's personal and professional life. Therapists also talked about how this work affected their view of the world and their relationships with other people. The third theme included coping with stresses associated with working with sexually-abused children. Therapists spoke about ways they individually coped with the stress and how the agency as an organization helped the therapists cope as well. Recommendations for therapists in this field are given and future research is discussed. Implications for clinical practice, training, supervision and structuring agencies are included.

Cette thèse se situe dans un axe novateur de recherches en ingénierie et en management des systèmes d’information, elle articule à la fois les aspects de quatre domaines de recherche issus de l’Informatique, des Sciences des Systèmes d’information et des Sciences Humaines et des aspects pratiques liées aux entreprises du Web 2.0. Le «Crowdsourcing», comme son nom l’indique, désigne l’approvisionnement par la foule; Les études et les recherches sur cette thèse se font rares mais celles qui existent confirment l’intérêt managérial des plateformes de Crowdsourcing, grâce à leur rôle incontestable dans la création de valeur. Néanmoins, la foule est composée de groupe d’amateurs hétérogènes, c’est pour cela qu’elle représente aussi une source d’incompétence. Dans ce cadre, notre hypothèse opérationnelle pose que l’apprentissage de la foule stimule la création de valeur dans les plateformes Crowdsourcing. Ainsi, notre travail est, principalement organisé autour de la conception et l’élaboration d’un outil pour l’apprentissage de la foule au sein des plateformes de Crowdsourcing. Ce travail est de nature complexe et relève à la fois d’un travail de recherche et d’une pratique d’ingénierie. C’est pour cela que nous optons pour une démarche constructiviste exploratoire de type qualitative moyennant la méthode de recherche ingénierique qui vise à définir et à concevoir une approche d’apprentissage adaptée aux plateformes de Crowdsourcing et à l’implémenter par la suite au sein d’une plateforme Crowdsourcing de test spécialisée dans les Backlinks. Des expérimentations basées sur des entretiens semi-directifs viendront, à la fin de ce travail, confirmer ou infirmer nos hypothèses. / This thesis is situated in an innovative line of research in engineering and management information systems, it articulates both the aspects of four disciplines of research in the Computer Science, Information Systems, Human Sciences and practical aspects related to Web 2.0 companies. The "Crowdsourcing" as its name suggests, refers to the sourcing by the crowd, studies and research on this topic are infrequent but those that exist confirm the managerial interest of Crowdsourcing platforms, thanks to their undeniable role in value creation. Nevertheless, the crowd is composed of heterogeneous group of amateurs that is why it is also a source of incompetence. Our operating hypothesis posits that learning the crowd stimulates the creation of value in the Crowdsourcing platforms. Thus, our work is mainly organized around the design and development of a tool for learning the crowd in Crowdsourcing platforms. This work is complex and involves both a research work and practical engineering. That is why we choose an exploratory qualitative constructivist approach and an ingénierique research method to define and develop a suitable approach of learning adapted to the Crowdsourcing platforms and implement it thereafter within our test Crowdsourcing platform specializes in Backlinking. Experiments based on semi-structured interviews will, confirm or deny our hypotheses.

Diese rechtsvergleichende Arbeit behandelt die Haftung für Erfüllungsgehilfen. Dass § 278 BGB im chinesischen Recht keine wörtliche Erwähnung findet, veranlasst zum Nachdenken, wie und auf welcher gesetzlichen Grundlage chinesische Gerichte den Fällen begegnen, die im deutschen Recht mit dem Stichwort „Erfüllungsgehilfe“ verbunden sind. Hinsichtlich des deutschen Rechts sind vor allem die Grundgedanken sowie der historische Ursprung des § 278 BGB zu berücksichtigen, da eine genaue wissenschaftliche Untersuchung dieser Aspekte bei der praktischen Rechtsanwendung zu einem wertvollen Erkenntnisgewinn führen kann. Trotz der Vielschichtigkeit der Einzelfragen stellt vor allem die ausführliche Behandlung von tatbestandlichen Voraussetzungen der Erfüllungsgehilfenhaftung einen besonders elementaren Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit dar. Die Bedeutung einer derartig detaillierten Auseinandersetzung ergibt sich aus Sicht eines rechtsvergleichenden Betrachters insbesondere daraus, dass ebendiese für die Untersuchung von chinesischen Parallelvorschriften unerlässliche, instruktive Vergleichsmaßstäbe liefert. Mit Art. 121 CVG, der hinsichtlich der Zurechnung fremden Verhaltens zumindest äußerlich einige Gemeinsamkeiten zum § 278 BGB aufweist, können chinesische Gerichte in einigen Fallkonstellationen zu vergleichbaren Lösungen gelangen. Eine zu wortgetreue Anwendung bzw. die Vernachlässigung der dem Art. 121 CVG zugrundeliegenden Wertung birgt aber die Gefahr einer uferlosen Haftung seitens des Schuldners. Darüber hinaus spielt in diesem Zusammenhang die chinesische kollektivistische Volkstümlichkeit in Bezug auf die Verschuldenszurechnung eine nicht unwesentliche Rolle. Das Zurückgreifen auf derartig abstrakte und oft schwer fassbare Vorstellungen ist doch bedenklich. Außerdem ist das Zusammenwirken mit Art. 65 CVG und Art. 43 CAGZ erforderlich, um die Regelungslücke des missglückten Art. 121 CVG auszufüllen und eine Flexibilisierung der Rechtsanwendung zu sichern. / This comparative work focuses on the liability of the debtor for persons whom he uses to perform his obligation (as “vicarious agents”). The fact that Art. 278 of the German Civil Code (GCC) does not have a corresponding term in the Chinese law leads to wonder how and with which term Chinese courts deal with the cases that regularly connected with the keyword "vicarious agent" in German law. On the part of German law, the basic ideas and the historical origin of Art. 278 GCC that leads to fruitful knowledge gain both in academic research and in the practical application must be taken into account. Despite the complexity of individual questions, a detailed discussion of the prerequisites for the responsibility of the obligor for third parties also constitutes a particularly interesting subject of this work. For a comparative legal scholar from China, the significance of such a detailed examination is especially evident in providing instructive benchmarks for the research of Chinese parallel regulations. With Article 121 of Chinese Contract Law (CCL), which at least has some similarities with regard to the responsibility for the wrongdoing of those others, the Chinese courts can reach comparable solutions in some case constellations. However, a rigid understanding of Article 121 CCL or the neglecting of his basic concepts entails the risk of unlimited liability of the debtor. In addition, Chinese collectivistic values play a significant role in terms of fault attribution. Relying on such an abstract and often elusive concept is however debatable. To rectify the existing legal omission due to Article 121 CCL and ensure the flexibilization of the application of law is applying Article 65 CCL and Article 43 of General Principles of the Chinese Civil Law necessary.

This essay examines Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close through an application of a theoretical framework of trauma studies, aiming to showcase the elements of personal trauma displayed in the novel. Moreover, it wishes to discern the mental and physical sufferings and working through of the trauma through a thematic analysis aimed at the concepts of loss, vicarious trauma and isolation. The study’s results indicate that trauma is inexplicably linked to the individual, demonstrating that prior trauma has a substantial impact on how one deals with more recent trauma. They also suggest that it is impossible to distinguish between first-hand trauma and second-hand trauma, instead focusing on the term vicarious trauma to describe the elements of personal trauma in a better way. Although Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a work of fiction, this essay argues that it is valid in its portraying of trauma as it showcases the complex nature of trauma and its different aspects. In terms of the pedagogical implications of trauma, the essay suggests ways in which one can utilize and address fictional works in the Swedish EFL classroom supported by suggestions articulated by the Swedish National Agency for Education. It is done by raising students’ awareness for the elements of personal trauma, while at the same time improving their all-round communicative skills enabling them to discuss these issues at length.

Die vorgelegte Arbeit behandelt die Haftungsbelastung des Arbeitnehmers, wenn dieser im Rahmen seiner Arbeitstätigkeit einen Dritten schädigt. Es handelt sich um eine rechtsvergleichende Betrachtung, die sich die Erstellung eines europäischen Regelungsentwurfes zum Ziel gemacht hat. Rechtsvergleichend konnte festgestellt werden, dass im europäischen Rechtsraum teils gravierende Unterschiede bei der Haftungsinanspruchnahme des Arbeitnehmers zu verzeichnen sind. Diese Unterschiede beruhen auf divergierenden Wertungen der Frage ob eine Haftungsaufteilung zwischen Arbeitgeber und Arbeitnehmer geboten ist. Von den untersuchten Argumenten für und wider einer Haftungsentlastung des Arbeitnehmers haben sich die Fürsorgepflicht des Arbeitgebers und das Betriebsrisiko als tragende Argumente für eine Haftungsverlagerung erwiesen. Es wird daher die Haftung des Arbeitnehmers nur für vorsätzliches Verhalten vorgeschlagen. Im übrigen wird das Haftungsrisiko dem Arbeitgeber zugewiesen. Für den europäischen Rechtsraum wird eine Versicherungspflicht empfohlen. Die Pflichtversicherung tritt hierbei für den entstehenden Schaden ein. Nur im Falle der Vorsatzhandlung durch den Arbeitnehmer kann diesem gegenüber Regress genommen werden. Die Versicherung wird nach diesem Modell durch den Arbeitgeber abgeschlossen. Eine Mindestversicherungssumme soll festgelegt werden. Im Einzelfall wird bei hinreichend nachgewiesener Liquidität eine Befreiung von der Versicherungspflicht ermöglicht. Die Beitragsgestaltung richtet sich nach der Gefahrgeneigtheit der im Betrieb durchgeführten Arbeiten sowie nach der Häufigkeit von Haftungsfällen, so dass das individuelle Schadensrisiko des Unternehmens berücksichtigt wird. Eine zuverlässige Kontrolle des Versicherungsabschlusses soll von staatlicher Seite aus gewährleistet werden. Eine Vereinheitlichung dieser Haftungsfrage im europäischen Rechtsraum sollte nur im Rahmen eines europäischen Zivilrechtsbuches erfolgen. Es wurden die bestehenden Harmonisierungsmöglichkeiten untersucht. Eine Privatrechtsvereinheitlichung kann nach Autorenauffassung am besten über den Weg eines Modellgesetzes umgesetzt werden. / The present dissertation deals with the liability an employee bears in case he injures a third person in course of employment. It’s a comparative study which aims to draft an outline for a unified European rule. There were apparent differences between the compared European laws regarding the topic of vicarious liability. The variations in how liability is shared between employee and employer are created by dissimilar morals and values. Of the studied arguments for or against the principle of vicarious liability have two persuaded in favour of a shared liability between the parties of employment. The first is the employers obligation to care for the welfare of his employees and the second the inherent risk of the business itself which puts an obligation on the employer to share the liability for damage done to third parties in course of employment. In detail this study suggests to keep the employee liable for intended acts only. Apart the liability is to be carried by the employer. The concept proposes further a compulsory insurance which is to be paid for by the employer. The insurance however is obliged to step in for all the damage done in course of the employment by the employee. Only in case of intention there is the right of the insurance to take regress at the employee. Part of the concept is a minimum sum to be insured. State enterprises and comparable solvent companies shall have the opportunity to apply for an exception of the requirement to insure. Insurance rate should connect to the individual risk of the business, considering the risk-level in course of the operation of the particular business and the quantity of actual damages done. A reliable control by officials is necessary to ensure that the employer cared for the insurance. A unification of the matter should only take place in a European context of a unified civil law. A study of the existing possibilities to harmonise private law in Europe led to the conclusion that the subject of vicarious liability within a new European civil code should be drawn in the shape of a model law.

Mental health professionals in all settings work with clients who are affected by trauma. Traumatic events expose mental health professionals to the negative psychological and emotional impact of witnessing and listening to client stories. Vicarious trauma is the emotional consequence of this empathic engagement with clients. The purpose of this correlational study was to identify predictors of vicarious trauma in mental health professionals that had not been studied before. The theoretical framework guiding the study was the Bowen family systems theory and the construct of differentiation of self. A regression analysis was conducted with a purposive sample of 83 licensed or certified mental health professionals from community counseling agencies in the Midwest. Five research questions were evaluated using multiple regression analysis and determined that subcomponents of differentiation of self (i.e., emotional reactivity, I position, emotional cutoff, and fusion with others) predicted vicarious trauma. An additional regression analysis showed that vicarious trauma was best predicted by 2 subcomponents of differentiation of self; emotional reactivity was the most significant predictor followed by I position. By identifying characteristics in mental health professionals that predict vicarious trauma, counselor educators and supervisors can better educate, train, develop programs, and advocate for the emotional welfare of mental health professionals in the field.

The aim of this study is to investigate and analyze the potential effects on a number of social workers that may arise from listening to stories of domestic violence, and how these social workers deal with the potential effects. The study is based on qualitative interviews with seven social workers that work with domestic violence. The theoretical perspective that we used was the theory of coping. The results of this study have indicated that the respondents have been affected of listening to the stories of domestic violence. Examples of different impacts that the work has had on some of the social workers is that they avoid movies and/or books with elements of violence, they are more aware of the domestic violence in the surroundings and there has also been changes in their cognitive schemas. The respondents have also developed coping strategies such as feelings to cope with a situation and collegial support. Another significant coping strategy is the organizational aspects such as professional tutoring, a balance in the workload and additional education. The aforementioned results and the results from previous studies are comparable, and we have been able to identify some similarities, which could indicate vicarious traumatization.