Syftet med denna studie är att granska och undersöka de underliggande orsakerna till ungdomsbrottslighet samt att skaffa en fördjupad förståelse för de faktorer som bidrar till ungdomars deltagande i kriminella nätverk. Genom att genomföra intervjuer med företrädare för KRIS (Kriminellas Revansch i Samhället) och SSPF Grupp (skola, socialtjänst, polis och fritid i samverkan), har specifika faktorer som ligger till grund för ungdomsbrottsligheten kunnat identifieras och granskas. En kvalitativ forskningsansats har antagits för studien genom tillämpningen av två fokusgruppsintervjuer samt fyra individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer med sammanlagt tio respondenter. Denna studie har omfattat tillämpning av teorier såsom sociala bandteorin, social identitet och konformitet. Dessa väletablerade teorier har använts som ramar för att tolka och analysera resultatet. För att skapa en djupare förståelse för fenomenet har vi använt en socialpsykologisk ansats. Resultatet av studien präglas av upplevelser och erfarenheter hos våra intervjupersoner, vilka är yrkesverksamma på samhällsinstanser som arbetar med personer som antingen vill lämna eller har lämnat kriminalitet bakom sig. Slutsatsen i denna studie belyser faktorer som lockar ungdomar till kriminella sammanhang. Dessa inkluderar gemenskap, identitetssökande, grupptillhörighet, familjestruktur, skolgång, effekten av ungdomars vänskap, behovet av status, digitala lockbeten och rekrytering till kriminella nätverk. / The aim of this study is to explore the root causes of youth delinquency and gain deeper insights into the factors contributing to youths' involvement in criminal networks. Through interviews with representatives from KRIS (Criminals' Revenge in Society) and SSPF Group (School, Social Services, Police, and Leisure in Collaboration), specific factors underlying youth delinquency were identified and examined. This qualitative research utilized two focus group interviews and four individual semi-structured interviews with ten respondents in total. The study employed theories such as social bond theory, social identity, and conformity as analytical frameworks to interpret findings. By applying a social psychological approach, we aimed to understand the phenomenon more deeply. The results of our study are characterizedby the experiences and insights of our interviewees, who are professionals in social institutions working with individuals who either want to leave or have left criminality behind. The findings underscore various factors that attract youths to criminal contexts, including community, identity-seeking, group affiliation, family dynamics, schooling, peer influence, the pursuit of status, digital incentives, and recruitment into criminal networks. Through this research, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of youth delinquency and inform strategies for intervention and prevention.

This research explores the impact of proscription on non-state groups' behaviour, specifically regarding their use of violence. Recognizing that counterterrorism measures influence the behaviour of targeted groups, this thesis builds on existing literature that identifies proscription as a critical tool used by governments. Utilizing Social Identity Theory (SIT) and the naming and shaming principle to explain group behaviour, the analysis focuses on the shaming mechanism associated with terrorist designation. The developed theory posits that groups perceive their terrorist designation as an existential threat, prompting increased violence as a defensive strategy. A within-case comparison of Boko Haram before and after proscription reveals inconsistent shaming effects but shows changes in the group's narrative and identity. These findings challenge the proposed theory, suggesting that terrorist labels may bolster group identity. The study underscores the complex dynamics of labelling and its potential to increase violence and civilian casualties.

Although women increasingly contribute their labour to an ever-burgeoning workplace, little is understood about their roles and sense of identity at work. Adopting a phenomenological approach to this study will allow the researcher to discover what women’s experience of their sense of identity at work encompasses. Furthermore, a review of the contemporary literature, and a phenomenological approach to the study employing semi-structured interviews and an explication of the protocols using the ‘modified’ Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method (Creswell, 1998), may be used to explore women’s experience of their sense of identity in the workplace. Recommendations may be made for future research and organisational practice. The main findings indicated, inter alia, that the participants expressed their sense of identity at work from a ‘collective’ or social identity orientation. This finding also supports various feminist researchers’ viewpoints that women may develop a unique sense of identity relative to the environment in which they find themselves (Ely, 1994; Hakim, 1996). Themes that arose from the interviews with the participants included the concerns women express universally to a greater extent, yet included their interests, abilities, traits and material characteristics to a lesser extent (Ashforth & Mael, 1989; Hogg & Turner, 1987). The study findings also questioned psychology-based “person-centred” ideas about women’s relationships with other women at work, and added credence to the supposition that the demographic composition of an organisation may influence an individual’s experiences at work (Ely, 1994, p. 203). Furthermore, as social v identities are more significant in organisations, due to the incidence of social groups (Fisher, 1986; Mortimer & Simmons, 1978; Van Maanen, 1976), it would appear that as fewer women are employed in management and the upper echelons of organisations, they would therefore not benefit from being involved in the social environment of work, and would therefore not be in a position to adopt the identity of their counterparts (Becker & Carper, 1956). The contribution of this research to understanding women’s experience of their sense of identity, and the provision of a basic framework in this regard, may assist female employees, and their employers and managers, in their relationships at work, and in this way improve the employment prospects and retention of women. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past few decades the secular world has witnessed an increasing assault, specifically from the monotheistic religious fundamentalist community, on their beliefs and values. The undeniable intolerance shown by the religious fundamentalist community has often translated into violent terrorist attacks against the secular world. The fact that religious beings can resort to such atrocious acts of violence has certainly baffled many onlookers. It surely comes as no surprise that religious fundamentalism is generally viewed as a ''hard-to-understand‟ phenomenon. This literature review will describe the ''hard-to-understand‟ phenomenon that is religious fundamentalism by employing social identity theory. The social identity of religious fundamentalists is generally derived from sacred texts and what they consider to be absolute truths. These presumed absolute truths not only provide ample opportunity for the development of the ''us‟/''them‟ duality, but also provide a platform for an intense intolerance of the ''other‟, also referred to as the out-group. Of course, the ''us‟/''them‟ duality can be created on many social dimensions, but religion has proven to bring quite an extensive, even murderous, intolerance to in- and out-group characterizations. The ever increasing actions of religious fundamentalist groups over the past few decades have certainly illustrated this point with some conviction. The importance of social identity has been recognised in many major traditions of the social sciences, not excluding political science. Social identity forms the basis of any group‟s actions or reactions. Therefore, its significance stretches far beyond simply providing an identity to a social group. Social identity also acts as a preamble to how a social group, in this case religious fundamentalists, chooses to deal with invidious comparisons. By employing social identity in this particular way we can go beyond investigating how religious fundamentalists act and react to the point of understanding why they act and react the way they do. In this study it was found that although a number of options to deal with invidious comparisons are available to social groups, only a few of these options are likely to be pursued by religious fundamentalists in order to remain a relevant and competitive social group within the social hierarchy. This approach will provide important insights into a formerly ''hard-to-understand‟ phenomenon namely religious fundamentalism. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die laaste paar dekades het die sekulêre wêreld 'n toenemende aanslag op sy oortuigings en waardes waargeneem, spesifiek vanaf die monoteïstiese godsdienstige fundamentalistiese gemeenskap. Die onloënbare onverdraagsaamheid wat deur hierdie godsdienstige fundamentalistiese gemeenskap getoon word ontaard dikwels in geweldadige terroriste aanvalle op die sekulêre wêreld. Die feit dat godsdienstige individue hulself begwewe tot sulke wreedaaardige dade van geweld het verseker baie toeskouers verydel. Dis is sekerlik dan nie 'n verrassing dat godsdienstige fundamentalisme gesien word as 'n ''moelik-om-te-begryp‟ fenomeen nie. Hierdie literatuur oorsig sal die ''moelik-om-te-begryp‟ fenomeen wat godsdienstige fundamentalisme is beskryf deur gebruik te maak van die sosiale identiteits teorie. Die sosiale identiteit van godsdienstige fundamentaliste spruit oor die algemeen uit heilige teks en absolute waarhede. Hierdie absolute waarhede bied nie slegs ruim geleenthede vir die ontwikkeling van die ''ons‟/''hulle‟ dualiteit nie, maar bied ook 'n platform vir 'n intense onverdraagsaamheid van die 'ander‟, wat ook verwys word na as die buite-groep. Natuurlik kan die ''ons‟/''hulle‟ dualiteit op grond van baie ander sosiale dimensies ontwikkel word, maar godsdiens het telke male al gedemonstreer dat dit 'n omvattende, selfs moordadige, onverdraagsaamheid na binne- en buite-groep karakterisering bring. Die al ewige toenemende aksies van godsdienstige fundamentalistiese groepe oor die laaste paar dekades illustreer sekerlik hierdie punt met oortuiging. Die belangrikheid van sosiale identiteit word erken deur verskeie tradisies van die sosiale wetenskappe en politieke wetenskap word nie hier uitgesluit nie. Sosiale identiteit vorm die basis van enige groep se aksies en reaksies. Vir hierdie rede strek die betekenisvoheid ver verby die feit dat slegs 'n identiteit aan 'n sosiale groep verskaf word. Sosiale identiteit tree op as 'n voorrede vir die manier waarop 'n sosiale groep, in ons geval godsdienstige fundamentaliste, verkies om onbenydenswaardige vergelykings te hanteer. Deur sosiale identiteit op hierdie besondere manier aan te spreek kan ons verder gaan as om slegs ondersoek in te stel in hoe godsdienstige fundamentaliste optree en reageer tot die punt waar ons kan verstaan hoekom hulle optree en reageer op hierdie spesifieke manier. In hierdie studie is gevind dat alhoewel daar 'n aantal opsies beskikbaar is vir sosiale groepe om onbenydenswaardige vergelykings te hanteer, is daar slegs 'n paar van hierdie opsies wat mees waarskynlik nagestreef sal word deur godsdienstige fundamentaliste ten 'n einde 'n relevante en kompeterende sosiale groep binne die sosial hïerargie te wees. Hierdie benadering sal belangrike insigte bring tot die voormalige 'moeilik-om-te-begryp‟ fenomeen genaamd godsdienstige fundamentalisme.

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / See full text for abstract

This qualitative study examines the relationship between professional group belonging and what individuals deem valuable within the creative partnership projects they carry out together in schools. There were three consecutive stages to the research. The first stage was the phenomenographic analyses of interview transcripts from twenty three teachers and twenty three creative practitioners who partnered each other to run year long projects. The second stage was the aggregation of the resulting forty six analytic outputs into formats permitting inter-group comparisons to be made. This stage included three separate analyses: not only was an individual's professional group belonging shown to impact on what they deemed valuable, but partnership type, i.e. new versus established, also had a substantive impact. The influence of school type was examined and shown to have a lesser effect. The third stage was the use of formal, academic theories to interrogate trends appearing in the results: social identity theory and social representations theory, alongside discursive psychology and readings of identity from cultural studies, were mobilized as consecutive lens on the analytic outcomes. These theories were found to be apposite and a deeper comprehension of creative partnership dynamics was arrived at. This study evidences not only a difference between what teachers and creative practitioners respectively value, but shows how the application of theory is a valuable aid in understanding the variations. This represents a major contribution to the field as the use of formal academic theories does not, as yet, feature in the discourses underpinning creative partnership work.

登陸台灣人在中國大陸與台灣兩地的跨界生活，形塑了兩地的生活空間及社會網絡，本研究的問題意識在於，個人層次的接觸、互動與熟識，是否有助於個人在社會互動情境中親身認識及了解他人，減少以類屬性的刻板印象去看待外團體成員，因此可以降低族群偏見、促進移民的當地化？經過2007年及2008年兩次的田野調查，在東莞及上海地區深度訪談三十位當地台灣人之後，本研究初步發現，在接觸的第一階段，當台灣人接觸愈來愈多的大陸人之後，將消除原先的偏見，形成心理「基模」，一方面，部分受訪者表示其原先持有的偏見獲得證實，亦即台灣人對大陸人的偏見消除了，但因而產生負面態度，反之，有些受訪者破除其對大陸人的偏見，進而對大陸人抱持正面態度；到了接觸的第二階段，一旦個人的心理基模形成，其乃決定繼續接觸或阻絕接觸大陸人的關鍵；最後，來到接觸的第三階段，繼續接觸大陸人的台灣人，逐漸同情理解當地文化，反之，阻絕接觸大陸人的台灣人，始終無法融入當地人的社交網絡。 / The theory of intergroup contact maintains that the key to reduce intergroup prejudice is through contacts between the groups under optimal conditions. The main concerns of this dissertation are as following: Would it be possible for Taiwanese to reduce their prejudice toward Chinese through intergroup contacts? And, would the intergroup contacts help Taiwanese immigrants integrate into local community? Grounding on these two questions, this dissertation examines the impacts of intergroup contact between Taiwanese and Chinese through field study in Dongguan and Shanghai from 2007 to 2008. After interviewing thirty Taiwanese immigrants, my empirical research suggests that the contact process can be divided into three stages. First, at the earliest stage, by contacting more and more local residents, Taiwanese immigrants would reduce their prejudice and thus cultivate a sometimes positive and sometimes negative attitude toward Chinese. At the second stage, the attitude cultivated in earlier stage turns into the schema and then plays an important role in conditioning sequent contacts: those who have a positive attitude would open up and get along with local Chinese while those who have a negative attitude would refuse to get in touch with Chinese. At the third and final stage, those who open themselves up would have sympathetic understanding of local culture and adapt to local community gradually while those who refuse to contact Chinese would have difficulties integrating into local community. Keywords: intergroup contact, localization, social identity, Taishang Study

Un nombre important d’individus subit des conséquences négatives en lien avec une appartenance à un groupe peu adapté socialement (p. ex., membre d’un gang de rue). Certains parviennent à mettre fin à cette identification, alors que d'autres n’y arrivent pas. Nous proposons que les individus qui réussissent le peuvent grâce à l’intégration d’une nouvelle identité, davantage adaptée, et conflictuelle avec leur identité d’origine. Dans ce mémoire, nous mettons de l’avant l’argument que lors de conflit identitaire majeur entre deux identités, le processus d’intégration identitaire est soustractif. Cinq sous hypothèses ont été testées lors de deux études effectuées avec des participants vivant un conflit identitaire majeur. Un niveau élevé de conflit identitaire prédit un faible niveau d’identification envers l’identité au statut le moins élevé (hypothèse 1). Un lien prédictif est postulé entre le statut perçu d’une identité et le niveau d’identification à cette identité (hypothèse 2). Un niveau d’intégration identitaire élevé de la nouvelle identité prédit un faible niveau d’identification envers l’identité au statut le moins élevé (hypothèse 3). Un niveau d’intégration identitaire élevé de la nouvelle identité prédit un faible niveau de déviance (étude 1) et d’alcoolisme (étude 2) (hypothèse 4). Finalement, un niveau d’intégration identitaire élevé de la nouvelle identité prédit un niveau de bien-être élevé (hypothèse 5). Les résultats de la première étude (N=42), effectuée sur un échantillon de jeunes filles placées en Centre Jeunesse, vont dans le sens des hypothèses 2 et 3. Les résultats de la deuxième étude (N=28), effectuée sur un échantillon d’individus membres des Alcooliques Anonymes, vont dans le sens des hypothèses 2 et 5. / An important number of individuals suffer from negative consequences associated with a negative social identity (i.e., members of street gangs). A number of them are able to get rid of that identity, whereas others continue to belong to a negative group. We theorize that individuals who no longer identify to a negative group are those who integrate a pro-social identity, in conflict with their original identity. In this thesis, we bring forward the argument that in the presence of a strong identity conflict between two identities; the identity integration process follows a subtractive pattern. In order to support this statement, the five following sub-hypotheses have been tested: a high level of identity conflict predicts a low level of identification towards the identity with a perceived lower status (hypothesis 1). The status attributed to an identity predicts of the level of identification toward that identity (hypothesis 2). A high level of identity integration of the new identity predicts a low level of identification towards the identity with the perceived lower status (hypothesis 3). A high level of identity integration of the new identity predicts a low level of deviance (study 1) and alcoholism (study 2) (hypothesis 4). Finally, a high level of identity integration of the new identity predicts a high level of well-being (hypothesis 5). Results from the first study (N=42), conducted on a sample of young girls placed in a rehabilitation center, support hypothesis 2 and 3 whereas results from study 2 (N=28), conducted on a sample of individuals member of Alcoholics Anonymous, support hypotheses 2 and 5.

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur journalisters yrkesidentitet förändrats i och med mediebranschens stora förändringar på grund av teknologins utveckling. Vidare vill vi öka förståelsen för hur organisationer kan stötta personalens identitetsarbete i samband med stora förändringar som påverkar yrkesidentiteten. Metod: En fallstudie som undersöker journalisters yrkesidentitet med en abduktiv ansats. Den empiriska datan är insamlad med hjälp av intervjuer. Slutsats: Studien har visat på att journalister har en tydlig yrkesidentitet som grundar sig på de journalistiska idealen och värden som etik och neutralitet. Det har även konstaterats att på grund av ny teknologi har yrkesrollen för journalister förändrats och därmed har yrkesidentiteten också delvis förändrats. Vi kan se att oberoende vilken bransch som står inför stora förändringar på grund av ny teknologi så behövs en förståelse från organisationer om hur yrkesidentiteten kan påverkas. / Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how journalist’s professional identity has changed because of the large changes of the media industry due to new technology. We also want to increase the understanding of how organizations can support their employees in identity work in connection to organizational changes that may impact the professional identity. Methodology: We have conducted a case study that investigates journalist’s professional identity with an abductive approach. The empirical data was collected using interviews. Conclusion: The study shows that journalists have a distinct professional identity based on journalistic ideals and values such as ethics and neutrality. It was also found that due to new technology the work role as journalists has changed and consequently the professional identity has also partly changed. We can see that regardless of which industry that is facing large changes due new technology, organizations need to understand how the professional identity can be impacted.

Dans le cadre de ce projet de maîtrise, nous tentons d’identifier de quelle manière le goût musical affecte la mobilité sociale des adolescents en milieu scolaire montréalais. Pour ce faire, nous avons sondé plus de 150 étudiants dans trois écoles secondaires de la Commission Scolaire de Montréal (CSDM) de manière à obtenir un portrait réaliste du niveau de diversité de leur goût musical et de l’impact de celui-ci sur leurs interactions sociales. Premièrement, la diversité du goût musical fut analysée d’après le concept d’archipels de goût développé par Glevarec et Pinet Ceux-ci proposent une cartographie du goût musical organisée autour d’un axe ouverture/tolérance, c’est-à-dire selon une logique d’appréciation des genres (2009). Cette approche nous a permis d’organiser le goût musical de nos répondants selon leur cohérence autant en tant que genres (Rock, Punk, Métal) que dans les patterns de consommation de ceux qui l’écoutent (Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop, Dance et ainsi de suite). Ainsi, nous avons été en mesure d’opérationnaliser la diversité du goût musical de nos répondants selon le nombre d’archipels de goûts différents qui correspondaient à leurs musiques préférées. Au travers nos recherches, nous avons réussi à dresser le portrait de l’environnement, le portrait social et les différentes logiques d’interactions sociales des adolescents sondés. Grâce à nos recherches, nous sommes en mesure d’affirmer que bien que la majorité des adolescents sondés aient un goût musical limité, ils sont tout de même en mesure d’utiliser leurs connaissances musicales pour discuter avec leurs camarades aux goûts différents. L’adolescent moyen est socialement équipé pour parler de musique avec ses camarades de classe et est en contact constant avec sa bibliothèque musicale personnelle, qui lui permet de mieux développer son goût musical. Bien qu’il préfère écouter de la musique seul à la maison et dans les transports en communs, l’adolescent va chercher ses influences culturelles chez ses amis et dans les médias virtuels, au travers lesquels il a une plus grande liberté de mouvement et de consommation culturelle que dans l’univers physique dans lequel il évolue. L’adolescent au goût diversifié a un rapport plus profond à la musique et tend à considérer le rock comme son genre musical préféré. C’est aussi un adolescent qui tend à utiliser ses connaissances musicales pour créer des liens sociaux et qui a la capacité d’adapter son identité sociale de manière à faciliter l’intégration et la socialisation avec ses pairs. / This project was conceived to allow us to illustrate in what ways musical taste intervenes in the social interactions of Montreal teenagers in their school environment. In order to develop a working image of our target subjects, we polled over 150 students of the Montreal School Board in three learning establishments. This permitted us to identify and quantify the diversity of our subject’s musical tastes, how it affects their interactions with their peers, and how they use it to navigate their social environment. Using Glevarec and Pinet’s (2009) taste island concept, we were able to differentiate and organize the musical taste of our students by regrouping their favorite musical genres according to similarities (Rock, Punk, Metal) in style and by their social usage (Rap, Hip-Hop, Dance music). Students who preferred genres who were closely related in any ways were not considered to have a diverse musical taste. To have a diversified taste, the student needed to like more than two genres that belonged to archipelagos that were not linked. With the data that was collected, we were able to produce a valid working image of our subjects. Most of them had a limited musical taste but were still able to talk about music with people with different musical tastes. They maximised their knowledge of popular music and social news about their favorite artists to create social networks with their peers. They preferred listening to music in private and during their down time (in the bus, between classes), but tended to get their social knowledge and references from friends and via the internet and virtual networks. Those who had a diverse musical taste liked mostly Rock music and had an eclectic group of friends. The complexity of their taste made it harder for them to be recognized by the music they liked, but it made it a lot easier to join peer groups. These students showed the most social competences and prosocial skills and had much more rooted relation with music, than their peers with a limited taste.