Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within... more Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within both humanities and social science disciplines, the Handbook of Human Rights not only provides a solid foundation for the reader who wants to learn the basic parameters of the field, but also promotes new thinking and frameworks for the study of human rights in the twenty-first century. The Handbook comprises over sixty individual contributions from key figures around the world, which are grouped according to eight key areas of discussion: foundations and critiques; new frameworks for understanding human rights; world religious traditions and human rights; social, economic, group, and collective rights; critical perspectives on human rights organizations, institutions, and practices; law and human rights; narrative and aesthetic dimension of rights; geographies of rights. In its presentation and analysis of the traditional core history and topics, critical perspectives, human rights culture, and current practice, this Handbook proves a valuable resource for all students and researchers with an interest in human rights.
This paper discusses preliminary findings from the 3 year research project, ‘Mediated Humanitaria... more This paper discusses preliminary findings from the 3 year research project, ‘Mediated Humanitarian Knowledge; audiences’ responses and moral actions’. The project investigates what happens in the gap between knowledge and action: through what socially constructed scripts do audiences come to understand humanitarianism and make sense of their responsibility towards distant suffering? What roles are humanitarian agencies perceived to play in facilitating or preventing audiences’ moral responses to distant suffering? What role do biography and emotions play in audiences’ responses? While reporting on the project’s general findings, the presentation will concentrate on how ideologically laden notions of what constitutes a ‘deserving victim’ mediate audiences’ responses to humanitarian communication.
This study re-analyzes focus group data on responses to human rights abuses, to investigate how p... more This study re-analyzes focus group data on responses to human rights abuses, to investigate how participants' experiences in their local social and physical worlds influence empathy with distant suffering others.Metaphors, metonymies, narratives, and typifying scenarios were identified in the discourse dynamics. Scenarios, metaphors, and metonymies of space and place emerge as particularly significant in the dialogic co-construction of moral reasoning. Embodied experiences, specifically encounters with people begging in the street, become emblematic of perceived threats to personal space that should feel private and secure. Systematic spatial metaphors construct a landscape of empathic understanding with an optimal distance for empathy, neither too close nor too far. Faced with distant suffering others in prompt materials, participants respond with parallel reasoning on the symbolic landscape. Implications for increasing empathic understanding of distant others are discussed.
Empathy, vulnerability and identification play an important role in the wish to protect children ... more Empathy, vulnerability and identification play an important role in the wish to protect children who are perceived to be helpless, blameless and therefore the ideal victim. This article offers an empirically based discussion of responses to humanitarian communications depicting children. Although most participants recognized that a communication involving a child has immediate impact, overall they displayed a reflexive and critical awareness of their own propensity to automatically empathize in response, with many expressing irritation for being manipulated. The study suggests that focusing exclusively on a de-contextualized and dyadic ‘audience-victim’ relationship offers only partial insight into audiences’ responses and reactions. Instead, it is argued that the usefulness of the use of children in humanitarian communication can be properly gauged only in the context of media saturation, audiences being sophisticated and media-savvy about appeals and communications, and a general ...
Caring in Crisis? Humanitarianism, the Public and NGOs, 2017
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The belief that ‘if only people knew what was going on they would do something’, is contradicted ... more The belief that ‘if only people knew what was going on they would do something’, is contradicted daily by the ample evidence that, when it comes to human rights violations, knowledge is not a guarantee for action. Many have tried to make sense of public passivity from the fields of Sociology (e.g. Geras, 1999; Boltanski, 1999), Psychology (e.g. Latane and Darley, 1970, 1976; Staub, 1989, 2003), and Media and Communications (e.g. Tester, 2001; Chouliaraki, 2006, 2012). The knowledge produced is rich and enlightening but also somewhat fragmented and confined to the disciplinary boundaries within which it was generated.
As mentioned in Chapter 2, the majority of empirical research into public charitable behaviour fo... more As mentioned in Chapter 2, the majority of empirical research into public charitable behaviour focuses on monetary donations. This psychological research has generated a fragmented and disconnected list of factors that positively or negatively influence monetary donations. For example, monetary donations are positively affected when information is provided about other people making gifts and when affordability is reinforced (Bartolini, 2005). A token given in exchange might facilitate donations by signalling a reference price; however, requests for donations accompanied by a specified amount have an even stronger positive impact on donations (Briers et al., 2007). Finally, Sturmer, Snyder (2010) and Omoto (2005) demonstrated the key role played by whether the recipient of assistance is an in-group member. In terms of clusters of motivational factors of charitable giving, Hur (2006) found six: a good deed, altruism, a desire for social responsibility, a desire for the common good, mass psychology and reward expectation. Polonsky et al. (2002) identified charity brand, appeal, facts and images, mode of request, portrayals of individuals in need, demographic characteristics, past experiences with the cause, feelings of pity, social justice, empathy, sympathy, guilt and fear, and the need for self-esteem.
What happens in the gap between knowledge and action has been of interest to many different disci... more What happens in the gap between knowledge and action has been of interest to many different disciplines and schools of thought, each addressing specific aspects of the phenomenon from within its specific epistemological and intellectual tradition. In offering a specific framing, each discipline also offers explicit or implicit solutions and ways to promote change. These universes of understanding have developed in almost complete isolation from each other and have rarely benefited from cross-fertilisation.
Event synopsis: Empathy -- understanding another person’s emotions and perspective -- plays a vit... more Event synopsis: Empathy -- understanding another person’s emotions and perspective -- plays a vital role in societies affected by conflict, reducing the probability of violence and offering the potential for reconciling differences. This conference will present new research into empathy in dialogue from the Global Uncertainties project Living with Uncertainty, led by Professor Lynne Cameron at the Open University. Examining empathy across international contexts (responses to terrorism in UK and to urban violence in Brazil, police-community interactions in USA, conflict transformation in Northern Ireland and Kenya) has revealed how people block empathy through the interaction of emotions, moral reasoning and social dynamics. If these blocks can be dismantled, then empathy with others is made more possible. Tracking successful empathy has identified strategies that can support better understanding of others through dialogue, even in times of increasing uncertainty.
This chapter continues to investigate the role played by identity in participants’ accounts. In t... more This chapter continues to investigate the role played by identity in participants’ accounts. In the previous chapter the focus was on the discursive and rhetorical function of ‘self-other’ constructions in bolstering the speaker’s positive self-image. Here, the focus is on the emotional component of identity-based accounts.
Book synopsis: Feminist research is informed by a history of breaking silences, of demanding that... more Book synopsis: Feminist research is informed by a history of breaking silences, of demanding that women’s voices be heard, recorded and included in wider intellectual genealogies and histories. This has led to an emphasis on voice and speaking out in the research endeavour. Moments of secrecy and silence are less often addressed. This gives rise to a number of questions. What are the silences, secrets, omissions and and political consequences of such moments? What particular dilemmas and constraints do they represent or entail? What are their implications for research praxis? Are such moments always indicative of voicelessness or powerlessness? Or may they also constitute a productive moment in the research encounter? Contributors to this volume were invited to reflect on these questions. The resulting chapters are a fascinating collection of insights into the research process, making an important contribution to theoretical and empirical debates about epistemology, subjectivity and identity in research. Researchers often face difficult dilemmas about who to represent and how, what to omit and what to include. This book explores such questions in an important and timely collection of essays from international scholars.
This paper follows the discursive and emotional work around constructions of refugees in a focus ... more This paper follows the discursive and emotional work around constructions of refugees in a focus group with non-refugee mature students at a British University. The psychosocial discursive analysis of the data illustrates how participants were split into two camps, emotionally arguing for and against a refugee presence in Britain. The paper offers an exploration of the various discursive constructions of refugees used by the participants to warrant their position. Side by side with a discursive analysis, the paper also provides a psychosocial investigation of the emotional dimensions and states of mind associated with the constructions. Theoretically and methodologically, the paper argues for the need to look psychosocially at the resistance and hostility towards the 'other': in social and political relations but also in their emotional and psychodynamic manifestations.
Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within... more Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within both humanities and social science disciplines, the Handbook of Human Rights not only provides a solid foundation for the reader who wants to learn the basic parameters of the field, but also promotes new thinking and frameworks for the study of human rights in the twenty-first century. The Handbook comprises over sixty individual contributions from key figures around the world, which are grouped according to eight key areas of discussion: foundations and critiques; new frameworks for understanding human rights; world religious traditions and human rights; social, economic, group, and collective rights; critical perspectives on human rights organizations, institutions, and practices; law and human rights; narrative and aesthetic dimension of rights; geographies of rights. In its presentation and analysis of the traditional core history and topics, critical perspectives, human rights culture, and current practice, this Handbook proves a valuable resource for all students and researchers with an interest in human rights.
Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within... more Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within both humanities and social science disciplines, the Handbook of Human Rights not only provides a solid foundation for the reader who wants to learn the basic parameters of the field, but also promotes new thinking and frameworks for the study of human rights in the twenty-first century. The Handbook comprises over sixty individual contributions from key figures around the world, which are grouped according to eight key areas of discussion: foundations and critiques; new frameworks for understanding human rights; world religious traditions and human rights; social, economic, group, and collective rights; critical perspectives on human rights organizations, institutions, and practices; law and human rights; narrative and aesthetic dimension of rights; geographies of rights. In its presentation and analysis of the traditional core history and topics, critical perspectives, human rights culture, and current practice, this Handbook proves a valuable resource for all students and researchers with an interest in human rights.
This paper discusses preliminary findings from the 3 year research project, ‘Mediated Humanitaria... more This paper discusses preliminary findings from the 3 year research project, ‘Mediated Humanitarian Knowledge; audiences’ responses and moral actions’. The project investigates what happens in the gap between knowledge and action: through what socially constructed scripts do audiences come to understand humanitarianism and make sense of their responsibility towards distant suffering? What roles are humanitarian agencies perceived to play in facilitating or preventing audiences’ moral responses to distant suffering? What role do biography and emotions play in audiences’ responses? While reporting on the project’s general findings, the presentation will concentrate on how ideologically laden notions of what constitutes a ‘deserving victim’ mediate audiences’ responses to humanitarian communication.
This study re-analyzes focus group data on responses to human rights abuses, to investigate how p... more This study re-analyzes focus group data on responses to human rights abuses, to investigate how participants' experiences in their local social and physical worlds influence empathy with distant suffering others.Metaphors, metonymies, narratives, and typifying scenarios were identified in the discourse dynamics. Scenarios, metaphors, and metonymies of space and place emerge as particularly significant in the dialogic co-construction of moral reasoning. Embodied experiences, specifically encounters with people begging in the street, become emblematic of perceived threats to personal space that should feel private and secure. Systematic spatial metaphors construct a landscape of empathic understanding with an optimal distance for empathy, neither too close nor too far. Faced with distant suffering others in prompt materials, participants respond with parallel reasoning on the symbolic landscape. Implications for increasing empathic understanding of distant others are discussed.
Empathy, vulnerability and identification play an important role in the wish to protect children ... more Empathy, vulnerability and identification play an important role in the wish to protect children who are perceived to be helpless, blameless and therefore the ideal victim. This article offers an empirically based discussion of responses to humanitarian communications depicting children. Although most participants recognized that a communication involving a child has immediate impact, overall they displayed a reflexive and critical awareness of their own propensity to automatically empathize in response, with many expressing irritation for being manipulated. The study suggests that focusing exclusively on a de-contextualized and dyadic ‘audience-victim’ relationship offers only partial insight into audiences’ responses and reactions. Instead, it is argued that the usefulness of the use of children in humanitarian communication can be properly gauged only in the context of media saturation, audiences being sophisticated and media-savvy about appeals and communications, and a general ...
Caring in Crisis? Humanitarianism, the Public and NGOs, 2017
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The belief that ‘if only people knew what was going on they would do something’, is contradicted ... more The belief that ‘if only people knew what was going on they would do something’, is contradicted daily by the ample evidence that, when it comes to human rights violations, knowledge is not a guarantee for action. Many have tried to make sense of public passivity from the fields of Sociology (e.g. Geras, 1999; Boltanski, 1999), Psychology (e.g. Latane and Darley, 1970, 1976; Staub, 1989, 2003), and Media and Communications (e.g. Tester, 2001; Chouliaraki, 2006, 2012). The knowledge produced is rich and enlightening but also somewhat fragmented and confined to the disciplinary boundaries within which it was generated.
As mentioned in Chapter 2, the majority of empirical research into public charitable behaviour fo... more As mentioned in Chapter 2, the majority of empirical research into public charitable behaviour focuses on monetary donations. This psychological research has generated a fragmented and disconnected list of factors that positively or negatively influence monetary donations. For example, monetary donations are positively affected when information is provided about other people making gifts and when affordability is reinforced (Bartolini, 2005). A token given in exchange might facilitate donations by signalling a reference price; however, requests for donations accompanied by a specified amount have an even stronger positive impact on donations (Briers et al., 2007). Finally, Sturmer, Snyder (2010) and Omoto (2005) demonstrated the key role played by whether the recipient of assistance is an in-group member. In terms of clusters of motivational factors of charitable giving, Hur (2006) found six: a good deed, altruism, a desire for social responsibility, a desire for the common good, mass psychology and reward expectation. Polonsky et al. (2002) identified charity brand, appeal, facts and images, mode of request, portrayals of individuals in need, demographic characteristics, past experiences with the cause, feelings of pity, social justice, empathy, sympathy, guilt and fear, and the need for self-esteem.
What happens in the gap between knowledge and action has been of interest to many different disci... more What happens in the gap between knowledge and action has been of interest to many different disciplines and schools of thought, each addressing specific aspects of the phenomenon from within its specific epistemological and intellectual tradition. In offering a specific framing, each discipline also offers explicit or implicit solutions and ways to promote change. These universes of understanding have developed in almost complete isolation from each other and have rarely benefited from cross-fertilisation.
Event synopsis: Empathy -- understanding another person’s emotions and perspective -- plays a vit... more Event synopsis: Empathy -- understanding another person’s emotions and perspective -- plays a vital role in societies affected by conflict, reducing the probability of violence and offering the potential for reconciling differences. This conference will present new research into empathy in dialogue from the Global Uncertainties project Living with Uncertainty, led by Professor Lynne Cameron at the Open University. Examining empathy across international contexts (responses to terrorism in UK and to urban violence in Brazil, police-community interactions in USA, conflict transformation in Northern Ireland and Kenya) has revealed how people block empathy through the interaction of emotions, moral reasoning and social dynamics. If these blocks can be dismantled, then empathy with others is made more possible. Tracking successful empathy has identified strategies that can support better understanding of others through dialogue, even in times of increasing uncertainty.
This chapter continues to investigate the role played by identity in participants’ accounts. In t... more This chapter continues to investigate the role played by identity in participants’ accounts. In the previous chapter the focus was on the discursive and rhetorical function of ‘self-other’ constructions in bolstering the speaker’s positive self-image. Here, the focus is on the emotional component of identity-based accounts.
Book synopsis: Feminist research is informed by a history of breaking silences, of demanding that... more Book synopsis: Feminist research is informed by a history of breaking silences, of demanding that women’s voices be heard, recorded and included in wider intellectual genealogies and histories. This has led to an emphasis on voice and speaking out in the research endeavour. Moments of secrecy and silence are less often addressed. This gives rise to a number of questions. What are the silences, secrets, omissions and and political consequences of such moments? What particular dilemmas and constraints do they represent or entail? What are their implications for research praxis? Are such moments always indicative of voicelessness or powerlessness? Or may they also constitute a productive moment in the research encounter? Contributors to this volume were invited to reflect on these questions. The resulting chapters are a fascinating collection of insights into the research process, making an important contribution to theoretical and empirical debates about epistemology, subjectivity and identity in research. Researchers often face difficult dilemmas about who to represent and how, what to omit and what to include. This book explores such questions in an important and timely collection of essays from international scholars.
This paper follows the discursive and emotional work around constructions of refugees in a focus ... more This paper follows the discursive and emotional work around constructions of refugees in a focus group with non-refugee mature students at a British University. The psychosocial discursive analysis of the data illustrates how participants were split into two camps, emotionally arguing for and against a refugee presence in Britain. The paper offers an exploration of the various discursive constructions of refugees used by the participants to warrant their position. Side by side with a discursive analysis, the paper also provides a psychosocial investigation of the emotional dimensions and states of mind associated with the constructions. Theoretically and methodologically, the paper argues for the need to look psychosocially at the resistance and hostility towards the 'other': in social and political relations but also in their emotional and psychodynamic manifestations.
Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within... more Book synopsis: In mapping out the field of human rights for those studying and researching within both humanities and social science disciplines, the Handbook of Human Rights not only provides a solid foundation for the reader who wants to learn the basic parameters of the field, but also promotes new thinking and frameworks for the study of human rights in the twenty-first century. The Handbook comprises over sixty individual contributions from key figures around the world, which are grouped according to eight key areas of discussion: foundations and critiques; new frameworks for understanding human rights; world religious traditions and human rights; social, economic, group, and collective rights; critical perspectives on human rights organizations, institutions, and practices; law and human rights; narrative and aesthetic dimension of rights; geographies of rights. In its presentation and analysis of the traditional core history and topics, critical perspectives, human rights culture, and current practice, this Handbook proves a valuable resource for all students and researchers with an interest in human rights.
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