Coping with Concerns: An Exploratory Comparison of Australian,Colombian, German,and Palestinian Adolescents

Consistent with an emphasis on positive psychology, and on ability rather than deficit, this study of adolescents in 4 communities sought to examine how young people cope with their concerns. Samples of Australian, Colombian, German, and Palestinian students completed the general form of the Adolescent Coping Scale, an 80-item instrument used to measure coping. A comparison of young people's usage of 3 coping styles and 18 coping strategies within these communities indicated that Palestinian youth report greater usage of all but three strategies (namely, physical recreation, relaxation, and tension reduction), and German youth report the least usage of 2/3 of the strategies assessed. Both Palestinian and Colombian youth were noted to utilize more seek to belong, focus on the positive, social action, solving the problem, seeking spiritual support, and worry than were German or Australian adolescents. When the relative usage of coping strategies within national settings was considered, some noticeable differences were apparent. For example it was found that regardless of the national setting young people reported most frequent use of working hard and use of problem solving strategies. When it comes to more culturally determined activities such as physical recreation, the Australian and German students ranked this strategy more highly in their coping repertoires than do the Colombians, and more noticeably, the Palestinian students. For example, although physical recreation is ranked as the second most commonly used strategy for the German sample, it is ranked 16th by the Palestinians. The study demonstrates the importance of identifying coping strategies that are reflective of each community under investigation. Similarity in coping cannot be assumed across different student populations. Consequently caution needs to be exercised when importing coping programs from one community to another.     

From Active Learning to Taking Action: Incorporating Political Context Into Project-Based,Interdisciplinary, International Service Learning Courses

Educational approaches that enable students to actively and directly participate in “real-world” projects are increasingly recognized as valuable pedagogical tools and, as such, being incorporated into university curriculums worldwide. Though not traditionally associated with political science courses, project-based international service learning presents a tremendous opportunity to bring classroom concepts and theories to life, provide an active approach to addressing international challenges, and assist students in the development of the hands-on, problem-solving, team-based, critical-thinking skills that are increasingly important to employers across all sectors. This article seeks to encourage political science faculty to incorporate international service learning—and/or project-based approaches—into their educational offerings. Through examination of the course Global Synthesis in Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies at California Polytechnic State University, we have identified multiple factors that can help promote successful execution of project-based international service learning as a pedagogical tool, and provide additional suggestions for faculty interested in adopting specific aspects of these educational approaches, and/or in doing so closer to home.     

Does it pay to break male gender stereotypes in advertising? A comparison of advertisement effectiveness between the United Kingdom,Poland and South Africa

Advertisers shy away from using non-traditional (vs. traditional) male gender portrayals even though theory suggests they may be more effective cross-nationally. Two main hypotheses were tested cross-nationally for the first time. H1: ‘paternalistic’ male stereotypes (e.g. Househusband) would be more effective than ‘envious’ male stereotypes (e.g. Businessman) across countries confirming the stereotype content model (SCM). H2: the match between initial male gender role attitudes and advertisement type would increase advertisement effectiveness only in countries with relatively low egalitarian norms (i.e. Poland and South Africa). A cross-national study was conducted through the use of student samples following a 3(country: United Kingdom, Poland and South Africa) × 2(advertisement type) × (gender attitude) mixed design (N = 373). A three-way multivariate analysis of variance showed support for H1 and partial support for H2 (i.e. the second hypothesis held on purchase intent and for South Africa). The study provides evidence for the cross-national applicability of the SCM to advertising and the limited predictive value of gender attitudes for purchase intent depending on country. Thus, contrary to mainstream advertising practices, breaking male gender stereotypes does appear to pay cross-nationally. Theoretical and practical implications alongside the potential for change in practices are discussed.     

跨文化交际与英语教学

学习一种语言,交际是目的,语言是方法,文化是背景。为达到此目的,我们不但要学习语言本身,而且更应该了解以文化为基础的交际形式。本文初步总结了中西方文化在语义、语用中的若干文化差异,以加深学习者对语言本质的理解,避免交际中的文化冲突,以期顺利地完成交际。同时,努力为从事英语教学的工作者提供一些思路,使他们在英语教学实践中选择更好的方法和策略,以适应现代英语教育的需求。     

高校社团育人机制的跨文化研究——对中美高校社团的比较分析

中美高校都十分重视学生社团工作，但两国高校社团在与社会的联系程度、社团活动经费的筹集与充裕度、社团经费管理制度方面存在差异。因此，我们要完善政策体系，构建高校社团育人机制政策平台；加强组织领导，健全高校学生社团管理制度；加大资金投入，保证高校社团育人机制良好运行；增强相互交流，强化高校社团育人功能。     

跨文化视野下台湾原住民的族群认知与“族称”

台湾原住民的“族称”演变，是两千年来以“汉番（原汉）”关系为主轴的跨文化互动与认知的反映。由于台湾原住民缺乏本民族自身的文献历史，族群历史的被动记忆保留在异文化的文本中，从汉唐宋明时期“化外”接触中的“夷”、“番”，清代“理番教化”中的“生（野）番”与“熟（化）番”，日据时代“皇民化蕃政”下的“生蕃”与“高砂族”九族，光复以来“山地行政”下的“山胞”十族，从笼统、概括的“统称”到各族群的识别与相应“族称”，都是它文化视野下的认知符号。最近一段时期以来，“原住民运动”过程中“正名”的“原住民”十四族，则潜伏着来自原住民族群以外的“台独”政治用力。     

中外合资企业跨文化建设的探索与思考

中外合资企业文化建设处于鲜明的跨文化环境,必然存在着不同文化的冲突与碰撞。解决这种冲突的主要途径在于:加强多元文化的沟通与融合,构建新的共同管理文化。     

内地西藏班(校)学生的跨文化适应

跨文化适应是指身处异文化环境中的个体或群体有意识、有倾向地调整自己的心理活动和行为方式,以便更好地融入异文化的过程,分为社会文化适应和心理适应两个维度。前者以学习适应、生活适应和交往适应为标志;后者以主观幸福感和心理健康为指标,内地西藏班(校)学生的跨文化适应状况是喜少忧多,在诸多方面适应不良。造成这种状况的根源是文化中断。从外部加强社会支持、缩短文化距离,消除歧视与偏见;从内部确立合理的评价与应对方式,增加与文化相关的知识技能,是应对跨文化适应不良的有效措施。     

清朝来华耶稣会士卫方济及其儒学译述研究

“四书”域外传播史是“中学西传”跨文化研究中的重要课题。结合“礼仪之争”这一时代背景，可对比利时来华耶稣会士卫方济的儒学译介成果进行梳理，重点关注他于1711年在布拉格出版的儒学典籍译著《中华帝国六经》（Sinensis Imperii Libri Classici Sex ）。进而以该书《中庸》译文为例，比较卫氏译文与其他拉丁文译本之间的异同。一方面勾勒出16-18世纪来华耶稣会士对儒学典籍翻译与阐释的基本路径；另一方面着重探讨卫氏译文的独特之处及个中缘由。