Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Parent-offspring communication is widely regarded as having evolved to provide the parent with honest information about the hunger state of its offspring, thus enabling it to mediate conflict over resource allocation between parents and offspring. The conflict is caused by the offspring benefitting from receiving more care than the parents are selected to provide due to the costliness of care. I studied the role of parent-offspring communication as a mediator for the conflict in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. The burying beetle is an excellent study system for this question, as the larvae, that are raised on carcasses of small vertebrates and cared for by both the male and the female beetle, beg for food from their parents with highly distinguishable begging displays. First, I examined whether offspring adjusted their begging to different classes, or individual adult beetles. I found that while the larvae did not discriminate between male and female beetles, they adjusted their care to cues indicating individual recognition of adults. Second, I tested whether begging was based on offspring size at egg stage, and found no indication that offspring adjusted their begging to improve their innate quality. Third, I examined whether parental response to begging exhibits behavioural plasticity when the internal clock for the timing of reproduction for the parent, and the demand from the larvae do not meet. I found that the parents adjusted their care based on the amount of begging exhibited by the larvae. Fourth, I investigated whether parental adjustment of care based on offspring begging incurs a reproductive cost to them. I found that the females paid a cost in fecundity, but not in the number of dispersing larvae or their own survival. My original contribution to knowledge is therefore to show through these four studies, that offspring begging is adjusted based on parental cues, and can directly affect proximate parental behaviours, and also incurs a reproductive cost to their future reproductive success, thus providing more experimental evidence for the importance of parent-offspring communication, and its implications to the evolution of parental care.

Begging as a phenomenon has again become a hot topic of debate both in the public and the media. Actions have been discussed and motions have been given to social authorities in the country. During the last two years people from other parts of Europe who engage in street begging have been seen on the streets of Kristianstad. The purpose of this paper is to find out the individuals, certain authorities and other participants experiences of people begging in public places in Kristianstad. We have used a combination of qualitative, quantitative and literature review method and we have a social constructionist perspective as a basis. The participants and authorities we have included in the study are the police, the social services, security guards, a shop owner and two other assistance agencies. Interviews have been carried out with participants and authorities, and a survey has been done by individuals. A series of articles and history books have been reviewed since the begging is a historical phenomenon as well as a contemporary. The results show a clear division into two camps regarding experiences and opinions about street beggars and begging as a phenomenon. The majority expresses dissatisfaction and many propose measures and actions. Our final discussion is marked by our own thoughts and values ​​that emerged during the work, which we tried to moderate through the rest of the essay. / Tiggeri som fenomen har på nytt blivit ett hett ämne för debatt både för allmänhet och i media. Åtgärder har diskuterats och motioner om förbud lämnas till socialnämnder i landet. I Kristianstad har det under de senaste två åren kommit personer hit från andra delar av Europa som ägnar sig åt gatutiggeri. Syftet med denna uppsats är att ta reda på privatpersoners, vissa myndigheters och andra aktörers uppfattning av personer som tigger på offentlig plats i Kristianstad. Vi har använt oss av en kombination av kvalitativ, kvantitativ och litteraturstudie som metod och vi har ett socialkonstruktionistiskt perspektiv som grund. De aktörer och myndigheter vi tagit med i undersökningen är polis, socialtjänst, vakter, butiksägare och två andra biståndsverksamheter. Intervjuer har gjorts med aktörerna och myndigheterna och en enkätundersökning har gjorts med privatpersoner. En rad artiklar och historieböcker har gåtts igenom då tiggeri ju är ett historiskt fenomen såväl som ett nutida. Resultatet visar på en klar uppdelning i två läger gällande uppfattningar och åsikter om gatutiggare och tiggeri som fenomen. Majoriteten uttrycker ett missnöje och många föreslår åtgärder och insatser. Vår slutdiskussion präglas av våra egna tankar och värderingar som framkommit under arbetets gång, vilka vi försökt tona ner i resten av uppsatsen.

The purpose of this study was to reveal typical strategies used by beggars in Sweden and how interactions between beggars and passers-by affect behavioral patterns. The study aimed to analyze the results of the observation through a symbolic interactionistic perspective in order to reveal meanings of symbolic interactions in the begging encounter. The study was conducted in an ethnographic manner and the method of use was covert observation. The result showed that there are several types of strategies and symbols used by beggars in Sweden. The most used strategy is the passive, sitting type of begging where signs and photographs are used as symbols to convey distress. The study showed that the use of strategies are general, meaning there is no difference in use of strategies dependent on gender or age.  Furthermore, the study indicated that a connection between begging and organized crime is improbable. Moreover the study showed different counter strategies used by passers-by in the begging encounter. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka strategier som används av tiggare i Sverige och hur samspelet mellan tiggare och förbipasserande påverkar beteendemönster. Studien syftade till att analysera resultaten av observationerna med hjälp av ett symbolisk interaktionistiskt perspektiv för att belysa b   betydelser av symboliska interaktioner i mötet med tiggaren. Studien genomfördes i en etnografisk anda där insamlingsmetoden var dolda observationer. Resultatet visade att det finns flera typer av strategier och symboler som används av tiggare i Sverige. Den mest använda strategin är den passiva, sittande typen av tiggeri där skyltar och bilder används som symboler för att förmedla nödställdhet. Studien visade att användningen av strategier är generella, vilket innebär att det inte finns någon skillnad i användning av strategier som är beroende av kön eller ålder. Studien indikerade också att ett samband mellan tiggeri och organiserad brottslighet ter sig osannolikt. Därutöver visade studien olika former av motstrategier som används av förbipasserande.

The purpose of this study was to examine how the Swedish press produced begging phenomenon in Sweden during the year of 2014. The used method was a qualitative content analysis using the theoretical perspectives, social constructionism and labeling theory. This study has covered 90 articles focused on begging phenomenon within the Swedish press.The main results in this study were that Swedish media often present the phenomenon of begging on the basis of ethnic group, the Roma. Due to a long history of discrimination they lack social and economic security both in Sweden and in the rest of the EU. The phenomenon of begging is presented as a result of organized crime and the given solution resolving begging is to ban it. Social knowledge about who the involved individuals are and why they beg is represented clearly in the press. We acknowledge that the results, based on theories and previous research, not always integrates and correspond with reality. The press often forgets to mention that this ethnic group has no safe and secure place to call "home".

En este trabajo propongo una definición pragmática de la falacia de petición de principio. En la primera parte considero y rechazo la sugerencia de Frank Jackson de que la argumentación posee otro fin además del de convencer racionalmente a nuestro interlocutor de que algo es el caso. En la segunda parte ofrezco la definición. En la tercera parte hablo brevemente acerca de la representación de argumentos por medio de grafos. Finalmente, en la cuarta parte aplico la definición propuesta a algunos ejemplos de argumentos.---A Pragmatic Definition of the Begging the Question Fallacy”. A pragmatic definition of the Begging the question fallacy is presented in this paper. In the first part of it I consider and reject Frank Jackson’s suggestion according to which argumentation possesses a different end than rationally persuading an audience that something is the case. The definition is presented in part II. Part III refers briefly to the representation of arguments through graphs. Finally, in part IV, the proposed definition is applied to some argument examples.

Historiquement, les écoles coraniques sénégalaises (Daaras) sont majoritairement rurales. Les dégradations environnementales et la faillite des politiques agricoles ont appauvri le monde paysan et causé le déplacement de ces écoles vers les villes. Idéologiquement, un parent confie son enfant, l’élève (Talibé) à un maître coranique (Marabout). Ce dernier détient une autorité inconditionnelle sur l'enfant qui doit vivre humblement et se soumettre à une discipline rude. Cette interprétation coranique ajoutée à la valeur de l’aumône (Zakât) légitimise la mendicité des Talibés. Elle devient très urbaine à partir de la découverte par les maîtres coraniques d’une offre d’aumône monétaire citadine. Ce marché de l’aumône urbain, du don religieux, de l’offrande, du sacrifice résulte d'une grande offre d’aumône de citadins aux rapports sociaux monétarisés ; et aux religiosités incluant plus largement la dimension du don matériel. La thèse explore cette dimension marchande du don. Elle part du postulat que la mendicité des Talibés résulte de cette offre d’aumône urbaine à laquelle vient s’ajuster une demande. On retrace un processus migratoire superposant 4 logiques : Un don 1 immatériel et symbolique qu’est le « confiage » au maître coranique d’un enfant par ses parents ; un don 2 matériel et temporaire , sous forme de prêt foncier, qui met en relation un donateur propriétaire en ville d’une maison en chantier ou d’un terrain, et un maitre coranique donataire en quête d’hébergement pour ses Talibés ; un don 3 matériel où des citadins prennent en charge les besoins primaires des enfants ; enfin un don 4 purement monétaire où à travers l’obligation de l’enfant de rapporter une somme quotidienne d’argent au maître coranique (Sass), le Marabout le désigne donataire-intermédiaire . Cette dernière logique cristallise beaucoup plus les enjeux de la mendicité infantile. Un second système de don institutionnel vient se superposer à ce premier religieux. Il s’agit de la mobilisation de moyens par la société civile et l’État, pour éradiquer le problème. Ce marché parallèle de l’aide humanitaire au-delà des considérations sur les nombreuses actions concrètes d’aide qu’il produit, peut aussi quelque fois se coconstruire avec le marché de l’aumône religieux. C’est là où apparait un don 5 qui est l’aide internationale aux organismes de lutte contre cette mendicité ; et un don 6 constitué par l’aide de ces organismes aux écoles coraniques. En analysant un modèle de démantèlement des écoles coraniques par ces organismes qui financent un retour à l’agriculture des maîtres coraniques par exemple, on se rend compte très vite que le don 6 peut pervertir le don 1 initialement désintéressé matériellement, d’un parent qui confie son enfant symboliquement : une dimension de trafic et d’exploitation des enfants tend à supplanter celle éducative. Cette recherche a été menée dans quatre villes et six villages entre le Sénégal et la Guinée-Bissau. Une enquête par questionnaire a été effectuée auprès des enfants mendiants ; l’approche qualitative a été privilégiée concernant les acteurs ruraux et les enquêtés adultes. La thèse montre globalement que la non-résolution du problème résulte de différentes stratégies des acteurs concernés qui tendent à l’alimenter (volontairement et involontairement) et maintenir deux systèmes de donation qui s’auto-régulent. Cette analyse systémique , semble beaucoup mieux pertinente que celles causales linéaires qui amputent le phénomène de plusieurs de ses dimensions immergées : Une genrée et démographique étant donné la condition de la femme rurale et les forts taux de natalité ; une crise agricole et environnementale qui impose des logiques de survie de groupe ; ainsi qu’une frilosité Étatique à éradiquer le problème, entre injonctions internationales, impuissance budgétaire et considérations électoralistes vis-à-vis des pouvoirs musulmans. / Historically, Senegalese Quranic schools (Daaras) are predominantly rural. Environmental degradation and the collapse of agricultural policies have impoverished the peasant world and caused the schools to move to the cities. Ideologically, a parent entrusts his child, the student (Talibé) to a Koranic teacher (Marabout). The latter has unconditional authority over the child who must live humbly and submit to harsh discipline. This koranic interpretation added to the value of the alms (Zakât) legitimizes the begging of the Talibés. It becomes very urban from the discovery by the Koranic teachers of a supply of urban monetary alms. This market of urban alms, religious gift, offering, sacrifice, results from a large offer of alms from townspeople to monetarized social relations; and to religiosities including more broadly the dimension of the material gift. The thesis explores this market dimension of the gift. It is based on the assumption that the begging of the Talibés results from this offer of alms to which a demand has been adjusted. We retrace a migratory process superimposing 4 logical: A symbolic and intangible gift 1, that a parent gives his child to a Koranic teacher; a material and temporary gift 2, in the form of a land loan, which connects a donor who owns land in the city of a house under construction or a piece of land, and a Quranic master who has made a home in search of accommodation for his Talibés; a material donation 3, where city dwellers take care of the primary needs of children. And finally a purely monetary gift 4, where by the obligation of the child to bring a sum of money daily to the Quranic master (Sass), the Marabout designates him as intermediary-beggar. This last logic crystallizes much more the stakes of infant begging. A second system of institutional donation is superimposed on this first, religious. It is the mobilization of means by the civil society and the State, to eradicate the problem. This parallel market of humanitarian aid, beyond considerations of the many concrete aid actions it produces, can also sometimes be co-constructed with the market of religious alms. This is where a donation 5 comes which is international aid to the organizations fighting against this begging; and a gift 6 constituted by the help of these agencies to Koranic schools. By analyzing a model of the dismantling of Koranic schools by these organizations that finance a return to agriculture of Koranic masters for example, we realize very quickly that the gift 6 can pervert the gift 1 initially disinterested materially, a parent who entrusts his child symbolically: a dimension of trafficking and exploitation of children tends to supplant the educational one. This research was conducted in four towns and six villages between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. A questionnaire survey was conducted among begging children; the qualitative approach was favored for rural actors and adult respondents. The thesis shows globally that the non-resolution of the problem results from different strategies of the actors concerned who tend to feed it (voluntarily and involuntarily) and maintain two systems of donation that self-regulate. This systemic analysis seems much more relevant than the linear causal ones, which reduce the phenomenon of several of its immersed dimensions: A gender and demographic given the condition of the rural woman and the high birth rates; an agricultural and environmental crisis that imposes group survival logics; as well as a reluctance of the state to eradicate the problem, between international injunctions, budget impotence and electoral considerations vis-à-vis the Muslim powers.

This bachelor thesis examines how “begging” is represented in Swedish newspaper during the period between October 2017 until the end of January 2018. The selection of time was made in connection to a bill suggesting a national begging prohibition. The thesis problematizes how the image of begging is constructed and represented in the press. The empirical material consists of publications from the three biggest newspapers in Sweden. The material is analysed in relation to the (re)production of normality and deviance, with special attention to the concepts of ethnicity and class. The thesis adopts a theoretical framework informed by an intersectional analysis, and the empirical study was approached through critical discourse analysis. Concepts such as social constructionism, discourse analysis and intersectionality are central to the study. The thesis includes discussions on ethnicity, class, representation and power as well as highlighting the hegemonic Swedish perspective in connection to research of established conceptions of beggars in Europe. The result indicates that begging is understood as a social problem that implicit threatens the Swedish welfare. Begging is mainly described as a problem derived from other countries. However, there are also arguments that claim begging to be a symptom of poverty. These arguments support an international cooperation, but this application is often underrepresented. Due to the description of begging, it is positioned as a problem that Sweden can not be held accountable for. Furthermore, begging in terms of a discourse, is positioned as an instrument to attract both readers but also voters for the election that is to be held the fall of 2018. These positions are maintained by systematical constructions of beggars as deviant from the hegemonic Swedish perspective, mainly based upon conceptions of ethnicity and class.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vad ett antal människor har för åsikter och tankar kring fenomenet tiggeri. Syftet är uppdelat i fyra huvudfrågor: Vem tror informanterna är de som tigger? Hur tror informanterna att tiggarnas livssituation ser ut? Vad tror informanterna är orsakerna till tiggeri? Anser informanterna att tiggeri är ett problem? Det empiriska materialet består information av fyra öppna kvalitativa intervjuer med fyra olika människor i Sverige. Resultatet visar att det finns en slags spänning då informanterna beskrev tiggeri som en känsla av sympati för de som tigger men också att de beskrev egna känslor som kom upp hos dem när de pratar om tiggeri. När informanterna beskrev sin känslor om tiggeri och tiggare, uppdagades kategoriseringar och beskrivningar om vad de tyckte och tänkte. Vidare hade de flesta liknade tankar. Jag upptäckte ett tema av begrepp som kom upp under intervjuerna så som EU-migranter och romer. Informanterna beskrev deras livssituation som jobbig, deprimerande och förnedrande och att de som tigger oftast bor i tält i parker eller i baracker. När de beskrev orsakerna till tiggeri, ansåg samtliga informanter att det hade och göra med det svenska samhället och att tiggeri bör åtgärdas. Informanterna ansåg även att tiggeri är ett fenomen som alltid kommer att finnas. Resultaten av denna studie är gjord i samband med tidigare forskning, och med syfte att väcka nya frågor och tankar om tiggeri relaterat till socialt arbete och människors utsatthet i samhället. / The purpose of this study is to analyse what a number of people think and believe about the phenomenon begging. The purpose is broken down into four main questions: Who are the beggars in the opinion of the informants? What do the informants think the circumstance of life of the beggars looks like? What do the informants think is the cause of begging? Do the informants think that begging is a problem? The empirical material consists of four open qualitative interviews with four different people in Sweden. The results show that there is a kind of tension since the informants described begging as feeling sympathy for the beggars but also that them described feelings arising when talking about begging. When the informants described their thoughts about begging and beggars, the informants categorized and described what they believed. Further on, they had almost similar thoughts. I discovered a theme of conceptions that came up during the interviews like EU-migrants and Romani people. The informants described the circumstance of life of the beggars as troublesome, depressing, and degrading and that the beggars often live in tents in parks or in barracks. When describing the causes of begging the informants agreed on that it had to do with the society in Sweden, and also with the society in the home countries where the beggars come from. The informants think that begging is a problem for the beggars specific but also for the society and begging should be adjusted. However the informants did think that begging is a phenomenon that always is going to exist. I can conclude that the results of this study is done with previous research, and with the purpose to arouse new questions and thoughts about begging related to social work and humans’ vulnerability in the society.

This essay investigates and analyzes political problemrepresentations of begging within motions containing proposals to ban begging nationally in Sweden. The focus is on what is presented as problematic with the phenomenon of begging and how the same is constructed linguistically to appear as such. The investigation covers a period of time over that decade, from when the first proposal was submitted to Sweden's Riksdag in 2011 up to the last one (before the 2022 election), 2021. The approach is post-structuralist critical and founded in a discrepancy between principles of social work, to word for inclusion, equality and human rights, versus the legislation which risks offending vulnerable individuals in society. A total of 13 motions are analyzed using Carol Bacchi's discourse analysis called the WPR approach ("What's the problem represented to be?"). The result contains four different discourses (language acts) politicians use to problematize begging: that of alienation, ambiguity, disturbance and chain. The essay provides and contributes with an insight and a knowledge of how begging has been presented as a problem politically in Sweden during 2011–2021. The same meanwhile a national ban on begging is under investigation within the Swedish Riksdag, at the time led by the right-wing party Moderaterna and the nationalistic one The Swedish Democrats.