Is society caught up in a Death Spiral? Modeling societal demise and its reversal

Frontiers in Sociology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: March 12, 2024

Just like an army of ants caught in ant mill, individuals, groups and even whole societies are sometimes up a Death Spiral, vicious cycle self-reinforcing dysfunctional behavior characterized by continuous flawed decision making, myopic single-minded focus on one (set of) solution(s), denial, distrust, micromanagement, dogmatic thinking learned helplessness. We propose the term Spiral Effect to describe this difficult-to-break downward spiral societal decline. Specifically, current theory-building review we aim to: (a) more clearly define Effect; (b) model decline as well upward spiral; (c) how why society at large might be Spiral; (d) offer positive way forward terms evidence-based solutions escape Effect. Management theory hints occurrence phenomenon offers turn-around leadership solution. On level strengthening democracy may important. Prior research indicates that historically, two key factors trigger type decline: rising inequalities creating upper layer elites lower masses; dwindling (access to) resources . Historical markers steep increase inequalities, government overreach, over-integration (interdependencies networks) rapidly decreasing trust institutions resulting collapse legitimacy. Important issues shed light behavioral underpinnings decline, question if can reversed. explore extension these theories from company/organization level, make use insights both micro-, meso-, macro-level (e.g., Complex Adaptive Systems collapsology, study risks industrial civilization) explain process demise. Our furthermore draws such Social Safety Theory, Conservation Resources management fall groups, companies societies, ways reverse trend.

Language: Английский

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Employing critical realism within and beyond social studies of health: tenets, applications, possible future research and action

Journal of Critical Realism, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 23(3), P. 274 - 291

Published: May 21, 2024

Critical realism provides an alternative to positivism and interpretivism. It foregrounds ontology evaluative approach knowledge, while promoting eclectic reasoning, transdisciplinarity, ethical research across the quantitative/qualitative, macro/micro other divides. Health researchers have usefully employed critical realism, though it has also been dismissed as strange, a source of self-deception hubris. Furthermore, accused dehumanizing many people. Responding these charges, this article makes case for carefully employing within beyond social studies health. first outlines some basic realist tenets before summarizing two exemplars sociology health, illness medical work. The discussion section, observing principle hermeticism, engages with criticisms offering prolegomenon on COVID-19 pandemic response. In conclusion, 'radical' proposal is ventured possible transformative action so that society less hierarchical, more equal salutogenic.

Language: Английский

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What Lessons can Be Learned From the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

International Journal of Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 70

Published: May 30, 2025

Language: Английский

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Unravelling Insights into the Evolution and Management of SARS-CoV-2

BioMedInformatics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(1), P. 385 - 409

Published: Feb. 3, 2024

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by brand-new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has claimed a sizable number of lives. The virus’ rapid spread and impact on every facet human existence necessitate continuous dynamic examination its biology management. Despite this urgency, does not currently have any particular antiviral treatments. As result, scientists are concentrating repurposing existing medications or creating ones. This comprehensive review seeks to provide an in-depth exploration our current understanding starting with analysis prevalence, pathology, evolutionary trends. In doing so, aims clarify complex network factors that contributed varying case fatality rates observed in different geographic areas. work, we explore world SARS-CoV-2 mutations their implications for vaccine efficacy therapeutic interventions. viral landscape pandemic poses significant challenge, leading investigate genetic foundations virus mechanisms underlying these alterations. Numerous hypotheses been proposed as developed, covering various subjects like selection pressures driving mutation, possibility escape, consequences clinical therapy. Furthermore, will shed light trials investigating novel medicines development, including promising field drug repurposing, providing window into changing treatment approaches. study provides compiling huge evolving body knowledge highlighting complexities public health, igniting additional investigation control unprecedented global health disaster.

Language: Английский

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Pandemic Open Data: Blessing or Curse?

IntechOpen eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 9, 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic spawned an abundance of open data originally collected by local public health agencies, then aggregated, enriched, and curated higher-level jurisdictions as well private corporations such the news media. COVID-19 datasets often contain geospatial references making them amenable to being presented cartographically part map-centered dashboards. Pandemic have been a blessing in that they enabled independent scientists citizen researchers verify official proclamations published narratives related COVID. In this chapter, however, we demonstrate these also are cursed with serious issues around variable definitions, classification, sampling methods. We illustrate how interfere unbiased insights instead support “pandemic unvaccinated.” Nevertheless, can serve tool counter dominant state-sanctioned misinformation. To advance purpose, need demand disaggregated transparent metadata multiple classification schemes.

Language: Английский

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Schematising COVID-19 pandemic responses: An ideal typical analysis

Social Science & Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 349, P. 116872 - 116872

Published: April 16, 2024

This article utilises ideal typical models, or sociological heuristics, when analysing COVID-19 pandemic responses in an international context. Axes of differentiation include Authoritarian-Libertarian and Left-Right tendencies, encapsulating four generic worldviews that potentially patterned societal to the novel coronavirus: (1) hierarchical, (2) dismissive fatalistic, (3) individualistic, (4) egalitarian. Taking 'shock period' (circa 2020–2021) as primary window analysis, schematises contrasting orientations have since left their mark a context endemicity. In conclusion, case is made for explicitly egalitarian anti-authoritarian stance amidst countervailing, even fascistic, tendencies. The possibility another politics life underscored given spectre ongoing crises global

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Ireland's healthcare students

Critical Social Policy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43(3), P. 557 - 569

Published: May 22, 2023

International debate on COVID-19 policy issues, notably negative social consequences, is vital when grappling with the pandemic legacy. Drawing from second author's experiences in Irish healthcare and higher education sectors, this commentary scrutinises measures that discriminated against students who declined novel pharmaceuticals. In so doing, it serves as a point of contrast to fear-based interventions. Connections are made relevant literature urging those authority ensure policies intended maximise vaccine coverage seen be fair convincing. The concludes some reflections could underpin more defensible policymaking inform future research.

Language: Английский

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Why elderly in rural China didn’t wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative narrative interview study

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: Sept. 9, 2023

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, ageism and stigmatization towards elderly have been prominent issues. In addition, there debates on Chinese social media as to why people in rural areas are not wearing masks. While some factors that affect mask-wearing behaviour of analyzed, little attention has given lived experiences behavioral intentions who choose wear masks, despite government mandates do so. Method this research, 50 semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals three villages were carried out using qualitative method interviews. Following verbatim recording transcription conversations, subject was analyzed Theory Reasoned Action. Results We identified four influence non-masking elderly, including past experiences, cultural concepts, cognitive attitudes, health safety anxiety, nine sub-themes based overarching themes. Past knowledge, experience, history led distrust government's mandatory “mask mandate,” believing they need Rural concepts habits make feel masks only fail provide protection but also become obstacles, resulting poor daily experiences. Cognitive attitudes emotions determine elderly's evaluation which turn affects their use Finally, individuals’chronic diseases directly physical pain life caused by is a major objective factor for non-masking. Conclusions Although numerous studies concluded wore collectivism conformity during marginalized groups' opposition contains distinctive, individualized elements underlying causes. By exposing these reasons, we can better comprehend peculiar behavior particular groups while fighting pandemic. The needs populations should be prioritized public policy makers more equitable services.

Language: Английский

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New Trends and Challenges in Open Data

IntechOpen eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 11, 2023

Data is often open to all users and sharers. Governments provide data on publicly available websites this may pertain specific regions or be aggregate national international issues. that in the public domain but not a machine-readable format considered only accessible via right-of-access request. Maintaining accuracy management major obstacle when it comes systems solutions. governance describes rules, procedures, responsibilities outline data's acquisition, storage, retrieval use. security privacy refer safeguards put place protect information from being seen, copied, distributed, altered, destroyed without permission. integration interoperability involve combining exchanging many sources, systems, formats, as well facilitating sharing collaboration across various platforms, apps, organizations. Defining standards, implementing quality checks, assigning ownership responsibility, monitoring performance utilization are important steps toward resolving problem. This book contains two sections. "Trends Challenges of Open Data" "Case Studies". Each section three chapters.

Language: Английский

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When Claims of ‘Revisionism’ and ‘Misinformation’ are Themselves Misinformed: Implications for Policy Decision-Making

Published: Oct. 19, 2023

A recent publication defined lockdown “revisionism” as “the spread of misinformation on lockdowns and other public health measures.” We used this to analyze the claim that questioning or interventions mandates amounts “misinformation”. suggest term ‘revisionism’, like ‘misinformation’ contained in its definition, were merely labels denigrate evidence-based contrary conclusions so avoid having critically appraise best evidence itself. aim describe how, by glossing over topics without fully engaging with available, assertions made do not withstand critical scrutiny. that, ensure lessons are learned for future, we must be willing engage rigorous open debate – calling reasonable scrutiny ‘misinformation’, ‘disinformation’, ‘revisionism’ is supportive goal. Finally, a main lesson from COVID-19 pandemic have an increased focus so-called but rather re-discover emergency management process making decisions multidisciplinary representation, transparency, cost-benefit analyses courses using protects against censorship groupthink.

Language: Английский

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