This meta-scientific dissertation comprises three research articles that investigated the reproducibility of psychological research. Specifically, they focused on the reproducibility of eye-tracking research on the one hand, and studying preregistration (i.e., the practice of publishing a study protocol before data collection or analysis) as one method to increase reproducibility on the other hand. In Article I, it was demonstrated that eye-tracking data quality is influenced by both the utilized eye-tracker and the specific task it is measuring. That is, distinct strengths and weaknesses were identified in three devices (Tobii Pro X3-120, GP3 HD, EyeLink 1000+) in an extensive test battery. Consequently, both the device and specific task should be considered when designing new studies. Meanwhile, Article II focused on the current perception of preregistration in the psychological research community and future directions for improving this practice. The survey showed that many researchers intended to preregister their research in the future and had overall positive attitudes toward preregistration. However, various obstacles were identified currently hindering preregistration, which should be addressed to increase its adoption. These findings were supplemented by Article III, which took a closer look at one preregistration-specific tool: the PRP-QUANT Template. In a simulation trial and a survey, the template demonstrated high usability and emerged as a valuable resource to support researchers in using preregistration. Future revisions of the template could help to further facilitate this open science practice. In this dissertation, the findings of the three articles are summarized and discussed regarding their implications and potential future steps that could be implemented to improve the reproducibility of psychological research.

Cette contribution pratique présente les principales méthodes d’analyse qui peuvent être utilisées dans diverses matières à l’école, mais qui peuvent aussi favoriser la réflexion sur des conflits personnels qui surviennent au sein de la famille, de la classe ou de la communauté scolaire.

　

This thesis contains four parts that are all connected by their contributions to the Efficient Market Hypothesis and decision-making literature. Chapter two investigates how national stock market indices reacted to the news of national lockdown restrictions in the period from January to May 2020. The results show that lockdown restrictions led to different reactions in a sample of OECD and BRICS countries: there was a general negative effect resulting from the increase in lockdown restrictions, but the study finds strong evidence for underreaction during the lockdown announcement, followed by some overreaction that is corrected subsequently. This under-/overreaction pattern, however, is observed mostly during the first half of our time series, pointing to learning effects. Relaxation of the lockdown restrictions, on the other hand, had a positive effect on markets only during the second half of our sample, while for the first half of the sample, the effect was negative. The third chapter investigates the gender differences in stock selection preferences on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. By utilizing trading data from the Taiwan Stock Exchange over a span of six years, it becomes possible to analyze trading behavior while minimizing the self-selection bias that is typically present in brokerage data. To study gender differences, this study uses firm-level data. The percentage of male traders in a company is the dependent variable, while the company’s industry and fundamental/technical aspects serve as independent variables. The results show that the percentage of women trading a company rises with a company’s age, market capitalization, a company’s systematic risk, and return. Men trade more frequently and show a preference for dividend-paying stocks and for industries with which they are more familiar. The fourth chapter investigated the relationship between regret and malicious and benign envy. The relationship is analyzed in two different studies. In experiment 1, subjects had to fill out psychological scales that measured regret, the two types of envy, core self-evaluation and the big 5 personality traits. In experiment 2, felt regret is measured in a hypothetical scenario, and the subject’s felt regret was regressed on the other variables mentioned above. The two experiments revealed that there is a positive direct relationship between regret and benign envy. The relationship between regret and malicious envy, on the other hand, is mostly an artifact of core self-evaluation and personality influencing both malicious envy and regret. The relationship can be explained by the common action tendency of self-improvement for regret and benign envy. Chapter five discusses the differences in green finance regulation and implementation between the EU and China. China introduced the Green Silk Road, while the EU adopted the Green Deal and started working with its own green taxonomy. The first difference comes from the definition of green finance, particularly with regard to coal-fired power plants. Especially the responsibility of nation-states’ emissions abroad. China is promoting fossil fuel projects abroad through its Belt and Road Initiative, but the EU’s Green Deal does not permit such actions. Furthermore, there are policies in both the EU and China that create contradictory incentives for economic actors. On the one hand, the EU and China are improving the framework conditions for green financing while, on the other hand, still allowing the promotion of conventional fuels. The role of central banks is also different between the EU and China. China’s central bank is actively working towards aligning the financial sector with green finance. A possible new role of the EU central bank or the priority financing of green sectors through political decision-making is still being debated.

　

　

Der vorliegende Beitrag greift die öffentliche Diskussion um den rechtspolitischen Umgang mit Hass, Hetze und Antisemitismus auf, die insbesondere nach dem Terroranschlag der Hamas am 07.10.2023 an Intensität und Dringlichkeit zugenommen hat. Dabei beleuchtet er einerseits das Straf- und Zivilrecht, legt andererseits einen besonderen Fokus auf öffentlich-rechtliche Konstellationen. Auf jedem dieser Gebiete werden Schwächen und Potenziale des Rechts und der Rechtsprechung aufgezeigt, zugleich aber auch die Grenzen staatlicher Gewalt verdeutlicht. Denn letztlich handelt es sich um ein gesellschaftliches Problem, dem – trotz aller Notwendigkeit staatlichen Handelns – in erster Linie durch Information, und erst in zweiter Linie durch das Recht begegnet werden muss.

In machine learning, classification is the task of predicting a label for each point within a data set. When the class of each point in the labeled subset is already known, this information is used to recognize patterns and make predictions about the points in the remainder of the set, referred to as the unlabeled set. This scenario falls in the field of supervised learning. However, the number of labeled points can be restricted, because, e.g., it is expensive to obtain this information. Besides, this subset may be biased, such as in the case of self-selection in a survey. Consequently, the classification performance for unlabeled points may be limited. To improve the reliability of the results, semi-supervised learning tackles the setting of labeled and unlabeled data. Moreover, in many cases, additional information about the size of each class can be available from undisclosed sources. This cumulative thesis presents different studies to combine this external cardinality constraint information within three important algorithms for binary classification in the supervised context: support vector machines (SVM), classification trees, and random forests. From a mathematical point of view, we focus on mixed-integer programming (MIP) models for semi-supervised approaches that consider a cardinality constraint for each class for each algorithm. Furthermore, since the proposed MIP models are computationally challenging, we also present techniques that simplify the process of solving these problems. In the SVM setting, we introduce a re-clustering method and further computational techniques to reduce the computational cost. In the context of classification trees, we provide correct values for certain bounds that play a crucial role for the solver performance. For the random forest model, we develop preprocessing techniques and an intuitive branching rule to reduce the solution time. For all three methods, our numerical results show that our approaches have better statistical performances for biased samples than the standard approach.

　

Visualizing brain simulation data is in many aspects a challenging task. For one, data used in brain simulations and the resulting datasets is heterogeneous and insight is derived by relating all different kinds of it. Second, the analysis process is rapidly changing while creating hypotheses about the results. Third, the scale of data entities in these heterogeneous datasets is manifold, reaching from single neurons to brain areas interconnecting millions. Fourth, the heterogeneous data consists of a variety of modalities, e.g.: from time series data to connectivity data, from single parameters to a set of parameters spanning parameter spaces with multiple possible and biological meaningful solutions; from geometrical data to hierarchies and textual descriptions, all on mostly different scales. Fifth, visualizing includes finding suitable representations and providing real-time interaction while supporting varying analysis workflows. To this end, this thesis presents a scalable and flexible software architecture for visualizing, integrating and interacting with brain simulations data. The scalability and flexibility is achieved by interconnected services forming in a series of Coordinated Multiple View (CMV) systems. Multiple use cases are presented, introducing views leveraging this architecture, extending its ecosystem and resulting in a Problem Solving Environment (PSE) from which custom-tailored CMV systems can be build. The construction of such CMV system is assisted by semantic reasoning hence the term semantic-aware CMVs.

Physically-based distributed rainfall-runoff models as the standard analysis tools for hydro-logical processes have been used to simulate the water system in detail, which includes spa-tial patterns and temporal dynamics of hydrological variables and processes (Davison et al., 2015; Ek and Holtslag, 2004). In general, catchment models are parameterized with spatial information on soil, vegetation and topography. However, traditional approaches for eval-uation of the hydrological model performance are usually motivated with respect to dis-charge data alone. This may thus cloud model realism and hamper understanding of the catchment behavior. It is necessary to evaluate the model performance with respect to in-ternal hydrological processes within the catchment area as well as other components of wa-ter balance rather than runoff discharge at the catchment outlet only. In particular, a consid-erable amount of dynamics in a catchment occurs in the processes related to interactions of the water, soil and vegetation. Evapotranspiration process, for instance, is one of those key interactive elements, and the parameterization of soil and vegetation in water balance mod-eling strongly influences the simulation of evapotranspiration. Specifically, to parameterize the water flow in unsaturated soil zone, the functional relationships that describe the soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity characteristics are important. To define these functional relationships, Pedo-Transfer Functions (PTFs) are common to use in hydrologi-cal modeling. Opting the appropriate PTFs for the region under investigation is a crucial task in estimating the soil hydraulic parameters, but this choice in a hydrological model is often made arbitrary and without evaluating the spatial and temporal patterns of evapotran-spiration, soil moisture, and distribution and intensity of runoff processes. This may ulti-mately lead to implausible modeling results and possibly to incorrect decisions in regional water management. Therefore, the use of reliable evaluation approaches is continually re-quired to analyze the dynamics of the current interactive hydrological processes and predict the future changes in the water cycle, which eventually contributes to sustainable environ-mental planning and decisions in water management. Remarkable endeavors have been made in development of modelling tools that provide insights into the current and future of hydrological patterns in different scales and their im-pacts on the water resources and climate changes (Doell et al., 2014; Wood et al., 2011). Although, there is a need to consider a proper balance between parameter identifiability and the model's ability to realistically represent the response of the natural system. Neverthe-less, tackling this issue entails investigation of additional information, which usually has to be elaborately assembled, for instance, by mapping the dominant runoff generation pro-cesses in the intended area, or retrieving the spatial patterns of soil moisture and evapotran-spiration by using remote sensing methods, and evaluation at a scale commensurate with hydrological model (Koch et al., 2022; Zink et al., 2018). The present work therefore aims to give insights into the modeling approaches to simulate water balance and to improve the soil and vegetation parameterization scheme in the hydrological model subject to producing more reliable spatial and temporal patterns of evapotranspiration and runoff processes in the catchment. An important contribution to the overall body of work is a book chapter included among publications. The book chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the topic and valua-ble insights into the understanding the water balance and its estimation methods. Moreover, the first paper aimed to evaluate the hydrological model behavior with re-spect to contribution of various sources of information. To do so, a multi-criteria evaluation metric including soft and hard data was used to define constraints on outputs of the 1-D hydrological model WaSiM-ETH. Applying this evaluation metric, we could identify the optimal soil and vegetation parameter sets that resulted in a “behavioral” forest stand water balance model. It was found out that even if simulations of transpiration and soil water con-tent are consistent with measured data, but still the dominant runoff generation processes or total water balance might be wrongly calculated. Therefore, only using an evaluation scheme which looks over different sources of data and embraces an understanding of the local controls of water loss through soil and plant, allowed us to exclude the unrealistic modeling outputs. The results suggested that we may need to question the generally accept-ed soil parameterization procedures that apply default parameter sets. The second paper attempts to tackle the pointed model evaluation hindrance by getting down to the small-scale catchment (in Bavaria). Here, a methodology was introduced to analyze the sensitivity of the catchment water balance model to the choice of the Pedo-Transfer Functions (PTF). By varying the underlying PTFs in a calibrated and validated model, we could determine the resulting effects on the spatial distribution of soil hydraulic properties, total water balance in catchment outlet, and the spatial and temporal variation of the runoff components. Results revealed that the water distribution in the hydrologic system significantly differs amongst various PTFs. Moreover, the simulations of water balance components showed high sensitivity to the spatial distribution of soil hydraulic properties. Therefore, it was suggested that opting the PTFs in hydrological modeling should be care-fully tested by looking over the spatio-temporal distribution of simulated evapotranspira-tion and runoff generation processes, whether they are reasonably represented. To fulfill the previous studies’ suggestions, the third paper then aims to focus on evalu-ating the hydrological model through improving the spatial representation of dominant run-off processes. It was implemented in a mesoscale catchment in southwestern Germany us-ing the hydrological model WaSiM-ETH. Dealing with the issues of inadequate spatial ob-servations for rigorous spatial model evaluation, we made use of a reference soil hydrologic map available for the study area to discern the expected dominant runoff processes across a wide range of hydrological conditions. The model was parameterized by applying 11 PTFs and run by multiple synthetic rainfall events. To compare the simulated spatial patterns to the patterns derived by digital soil map, a multiple-component spatial performance metric (SPAEF) was applied. The simulated DRPs showed a large variability with regard to land use, topography, applied rainfall rates, and the different PTFs, which highly influence the rapid runoff generation under wet conditions. The three published manuscripts proceeded towards the model evaluation viewpoints that ultimately attain the behavioral model outputs. It was performed through obtaining information about internal hydrological processes that lead to certain model behaviors, and also about the function and sensitivity of some of the soil and vegetation parameters that may primarily influence those internal processes in a catchment. Accordingly, using this understanding on model reactions, and by setting multiple evaluation criteria, it was possi-ble to identify which parameterization could lead to behavioral model realization. This work, in fact, will contribute to solving some of the issues (e.g., spatial variability and modeling methods) identified as the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology in the 21st century (Blöschl et al., 2019). The results obtained in the present work encourage the further inves-tigations toward a comprehensive model calibration procedure considering multiple data sources simultaneously. This will enable developing the new perspectives to the current parameter estimation methods, which in essence, focus on reproducing the plausible dy-namics (spatio-temporal) of the other hydrological processes within the watershed.

　

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have become a valuable treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. Women appear to be disadvantaged in the usage of LVADs and concerning clinical outcomes such as death and adverse events after LVAD implant. Contrary to typical clinical characteristics (e.g., disease severity), device-related factors such as the intended device strategy, bridge to a heart transplantation or destination therapy, are often not considered in research on gender differences. In addition, the relevance of pre-implant psychosocial risk factors, such as substance abuse and limited social support, for LVAD outcomes is currently unclear. Thus, the aim of this dissertation is to explore the role of pre-implant psychosocial risk factors for gender differences in clinical outcomes, accounting for clinical and device-related risk factors. In the first article, gender differences in pre-implant characteristics of patients registered in The European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) were investigated. It was found that women and men differed in multiple pre-implant characteristics depending on device strategy. In the second article, gender differences in major clinical outcomes (i.e., death, heart transplant, device explant due to cardiac recovery, device replacement due to complications) were evaluated for patients in the device strategy destination therapy in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulation (INTERMACS). Additionally, the association of gender and psychosocial risk factors with the major outcomes were analyzed. Women had similar probabilities to die on LVAD support, and even higher probabilities to experience explant of the device due to cardiac recovery compared with men in the destination therapy subgroup. Pre-implant psychosocial risk factors were not associated with major outcomes. The third article focused on gender differences in 10 adverse events (e.g., device malfunction, bleeding) after LVAD implant in INTERMACS. The association of a psychosocial risk indicator with gender and adverse events after LVAD implantation was evaluated. Women were less likely to have psychosocial risk pre-implant but more likely to experience seven out of 10 adverse events compared with men. Pre-implant psychosocial risk was associated with adverse events, even suggesting a dose response-relationship. These associations appeared to be more pronounced in women. In conclusion, women appear to have similar survival to men when accounting for device strategy. They have higher probabilities of recovery, but higher probabilities of device replacement and adverse events compared with men. Regarding these adverse events, women may be more susceptible to psychosocial risk factors than men. The results of this dissertation illustrate the importance of gender-sensitive research and suggest considering device strategy when studying gender differences in LVAD recipients. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of specific psychosocial risk factors that lead to higher probabilities of adverse events, to intervene early and improve patient care in both, women and men

Internet-Memes sind ein globales, populäres Medium, oft und zumeist unproblematisiert rezipiert und in ihrer Komik meist nur fragmentarisch, auf bestimmte Aspekte fokussiert analysiert. Die vorliegende Arbeit bemüht sich um eine möglichst umfassende Darstellung der Komik in Memes basierend auf klassischen und modernen Komikkategorien. Auf Grundlage einer umfassend-kritischen Synthese der vorliegenden Fachliteratur und eines präzisen Analysemodells kann so eine begründete Diskussion über memetische Komik, ihre Funktionen und ihre positiven wie problematischen Aspekte geführt werden.

This thesis consists of four highly related chapters examining China’s rise in the aluminium industry. The first chapter addresses the conditions that allowed China, which first entered the market in the 1950s, to rise to world leadership in aluminium production. Although China was a latecomer, its re-entry into the market after the oil crises in the 1970s was a success and led to its ascent as the world’s largest aluminium producer by 2001. With an estimated production of 40.4 million tonnes in 2022, China represented almost 60% of the global output. Chapter 1 examines the factors underlying this success, such as the decline of international aluminium cartels, the introduction of innovative technology, the US granting China the MFN tariff status, Chinese-specific factors, and supportive government policies. Chapter 2 develops a mathematical model to analyze firms’ decisions in the short term. It examines how an incumbent with outdated technology and a new entrant with access to a new type of technology make strategic decisions, including the incumbent’s decision whether to deter entry, the production choice of firms, the optimal technology adoption rate of the newcomer, and cartel formation. Chapter 3 focuses on the adoption of new technology by firms upon market entry in four scenarios: firstly, a free market Cournot competition; secondly, a situation in which the government determines technology adoption rates; thirdly, a scenario in which the government controls both technology and production; and finally, a scenario where the government dictates technology adoption rates, production levels, and also the number of market participants. Chapter 4 applies the Spencer and Brander (1983) framework to examine strategic industrial policy. The model assumes that there are two exporting firms in two different countries that sell a product to a third country. We examine how the domestic firm is influenced by government intervention, such as the provision of a fixed-cost subsidy to improve its competitiveness relative to the foreign company. Chapter 4 initially investigates a scenario where only one government offers a fixed-cost subsidy, followed by an analysis of the case when both governments simultaneously provide financial help. Taken together, these chapters provide a comprehensive analysis of the strategic, technological, and political factors contributing to China’s leadership in the global aluminium industry. Chapter 1: The Rise of China as a Latecomer in the Global Aluminium Industry This chapter examines China’s remarkable transformation into a global leader in the aluminium industry, a sector in which the country accounted for approximately 58.9% of worldwide production in 2022. We examine how China, a latecomer to the aluminium industry that started off with labor-intensive technology in 1953, grew into the largest aluminium producer with some of the most advanced smelters in the world. This analysis identifies and discusses several opportunities that Chinese aluminium producers took advantage of. The first set of opportunities happened during the 1970s oil crises, which softened international competition and allowed China to acquire innovative smelting technology from Japan. The second set of opportunities started at about the same time when China opened its economy in 1978. The substantial demand for aluminium in China is influenced by both external and internal factors. Externally, the US granted China’s MFN tariff status in 1980 and China entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. Both events contributed to a surge in Chinese aluminium consumption. Internally, China’s investment-led growth model boosted further its aluminium demand. Additional factors specific to China, such as low labor costs and the abundance of coal as an energy source, offer Chinese firms competitive advantages against international players. Furthermore, another window of opportunity is due to Chinese governmental policies, including phasing out old technology, providing subsidies, and gradually opening the economy to enhance domestic competition before expanding globally. By describing these elements, the study provides insights into the dynamic interplay of external circumstances and internal strategies that contributed to the success of the Chinese aluminium industry. Chapter 2: Technological Change and Strategic Choices for Incumbent and New Entrant This chapter introduces an oligopoly model that includes two actors: an incumbent and a potential entrant, that compete in the same market. We assume that two participants are located in different parts of the market: the incumbent is situated in area 1, whereas the potential entrant may venture into the other region, area 2. The incumbent exists in stage zero, where it can decide whether to deter the newcomer’s entry. A new type of technology exists in period one, when the newcomer may enter the market. In the short term, the incumbent is trapped with the outdated technology, while the new entrant may choose to partially or completely adopt the latest technology. Our results suggest the following: Firstly, the incumbent only tries to deter the new entrant if a condition for entry cost is met. Secondly, the new entrant is only interested in forming a cartel with the incumbent if a function of the ratio of the variable to new technology’s fixed-cost parameters is sufficiently high. Thirdly, if the newcomer asks to form a cartel, the incumbent will always accept this request. Finally, we can obtain the optimal new technology adoption rate for the newcomer. Chapter 3: Technological Adoption and Welfare in Cournot Oligopoly This study examines the difference between the optimal technology adoption rates chosen by firms in a homogeneous Cournot oligopoly and that preferred by a benevolent government upon firms’ market entry. To address the question of whether the technology choices of firms and government are similar, we analyze several different scenarios, which differ in the extent of government intervention in the market. Our results suggest a relationship between the number of firms in the market and the impact of government intervention on technology adoption rates. Especially in situations with a low number of firms that are interested in entering the market, greater government influence tends to lead to higher technology adoption rates of firms. Conversely, in scenarios with a higher number of firms and a government that lacks control over the number of market players, the technology adoption rate of firms will be highest when the government plays no role. Chapter 4: International Technological Innovation and Industrial Strategies Supporting domestic firms when they first enter the market may be seen as a favorable policy choice by governments around the world thanks to their ability to enhance the competitive advantage of domestic firms in non-cooperative competition against foreign enterprises (infant industry protection argument). This advantage may allow domestic firms to increase their market share and generate higher profits, thereby improving domestic welfare. This chapter utilizes the Spencer and Brander (1983) framework as a theoretical foundation to elucidate the effects of fixed-cost subsidies on firms’ production levels, technological innovations, and social welfare. The analysis examines two firms in different countries, each producing a homogeneous product that is sold in a third, separate country. We first examine the Cournot-Nash equilibrium in the absence of government intervention, followed by analyzing a scenario where just one government provides a financial subsidy for its domestic firm, and finally, we consider a situation where both governments simultaneously provide financial assistance for their respective firms. Our results suggest that governments aim to maximize social welfare by providing fixed-cost subsidies to their respective firms, finding themselves in a Chicken game scenario. Regarding technology innovation, subsidies lead to an increased technological adoption rate for recipient firms, regardless of whether one or both firms in a market receive support, compared to the situation without subsidies. The technology adoption rate of the recipient firm is higher than of its rival when only the recipient firm benefits from the fixed-cost subsidy. The lowest technology adoption rate of a firm occurs when the firm does not receive a fixed-cost subsidy, but its competitor does. Furthermore, global welfare will benefit the most in case when both exporting countries grant fixed-cost subsidies, and this welfare level is higher when only one country subsidizes than when no subsidies are provided by any country.

Differential equations yield solutions that necessarily contain a certain amount of regularity and are based on local interactions. There are various natural phenomena that are not well described by local models. An important class of models that describe long-range interactions are the so-called nonlocal models, which are the subject of this work. The nonlocal operators considered here are integral operators with a finite range of interaction and the resulting models can be applied to anomalous diffusion, mechanics and multiscale problems. While the range of applications is vast, the applicability of nonlocal models can face problems such as the high computational and algorithmic complexity of fundamental tasks. One of them is the assembly of finite element discretizations of truncated, nonlocal operators. The first contribution of this thesis is therefore an openly accessible, documented Python code which allows to compute finite element approximations for nonlocal convection-diffusion problems with truncated interaction horizon. Another difficulty in the solution of nonlocal problems is that the discrete systems may be ill-conditioned which complicates the application of iterative solvers. Thus, the second contribution of this work is the construction and study of a domain decomposition type solver that is inspired by substructuring methods for differential equations. The numerical results are based on the abstract framework of nonlocal subdivisions which is introduced here and which can serve as a guideline for general nonlocal domain decomposition methods.

Der zentrale Gegenstand der Untersuchung ist die Rechtsfigur des Indigenats im Kontext der württembergischen und preußischen Staatenlandschaft. Das Indigenat lässt sich als ein Recht bestimmen, das seine potenziellen Rechtsträger maßgeblich über das Abstammungsprinzip definiert und ein Verhältnis zwischen Rechtsträger und einem übergeordneten Rechtssubjekt zum Ausdruck bringt, sei es lehns- oder standes-, staats- oder auch bundes- beziehungsweise reichsrechtlicher Natur. Der zeitliche Schwerpunkt der Betrachtung liegt auf dem 19. Jahrhundert. Es werden jedoch auch Rückblicke in die Frühe Neuzeit geworfen, weil Wandel und Kontinuität in der Entwicklung des Indigenats in einer solch langen Perspektive besonders klar hervortreten können. Die zentrale These dieser Arbeit ist, dass ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen der im 19. Jahrhundert entstehenden und bis heute geläufigen Form der Zuordnung von Menschen zum Staat und den aus diesem Verhältnis entspringenden Rechten einerseits und dem frühneuzeitlichen Indigenat andererseits besteht. Dabei kann gezeigt werden, dass Gesellschaften ihre politischen Machtpositionen gegenüber „fremdstämmigen“, etwa zuwandernden Personen abschirmten, indem sie sich auf indigenatrechtliche, ethnische Bestimmungen beriefen.

In the present study, we tested whether processing information in the context of an ancestral survival scenario enhances episodic memory performance in older adults and in stroke patients. In an online study (Experiment 1), healthy young and older adults rated words according to their relevance to an ancestral survival scenario, and subsequent free recall performance was compared to a pleasantness judgment task and a moving scenario task in a within-subject design. The typical survival processing effect was replicated: Recall rates were highest in the survival task, followed by the moving and the pleasantness judgment task. Although older adults showed overall lower recall rates, there was no evidence for differences between the age groups in the condition effects. Experiment 2 was conducted in a neurological rehabilitation clinic with a sample of patients who had suffered from a stroke within the past 5 months. On the group level, Experiment 2 revealed no significant difference in recall rates between the three conditions. However, when accounting for overall memory abilities and executive function, independently measured in standardized neuropsychological tests, patients showed a significant survival processing effect. Furthermore, only patients with high executive function scores benefitted from the scenario tasks, suggesting that intact executive function may be necessary for a mnemonic benefit. Taken together, our results support the idea that the survival processing task – a well-studied task in the field of experimental psychology – may be incorporated into a strategy to compensate for memory dysfunction.

Wie gestaltet sich die politische Kultur in Rheinland-Pfalz aus? Vor dem Hintergrund verschiedener Prägungen der Bundesländer in Deutschland nimmt das Monitoring eine spezielle Vermessung der in Rheinland-Pfalz verbreiteten politischen Einstellungen und Haltungen vor.

　

Introduction: Across various cultural contexts, success in goal realization relates to individuals’ well-being. Moreover, commitment to and successful pursuance of goals are crucial when searching for a meaningful identity in adolescence. However, individuals’ goals differ in how much they match their implicit motive dispositions. We hypothesized that successful pursuance of affiliation goals positively relates to commitment-related dimensions of interpersonal identity development (domain: close friends) that, in turn, predict adolescents’ level of well-being. However, we further assumed that the links between goal success and identity commitment are particularly pronounced among adolescents who are characterized by a high implicit affiliation motive. Methods: To scrutinize the generalizability of the assumed relationships, data were assessed among adolescents in individualistic (Germany) and collectivistic (Zambia) cultural contexts. Results: Regardless of adolescents’ cultural background, we found that commitment-related dimensions of interpersonal identity development mediate the link between successful attainment of affiliation goals and well-being, particularly among adolescents with a pronounced implicit affiliation motive; that is, the strength of the implicit affiliation motive moderates the association between goal success and identity commitment. Conclusion: We discuss findings concerning universal effects of implicit motives on identity commitment and well-being.

　

When humans encounter attitude objects (e.g., other people, objects, or constructs), they evaluate them. Often, these evaluations are based on attitudes. Whereas most research focuses on univalent (i.e., only positive or only negative) attitude formation, little research exists on ambivalent (i.e., simultaneously positive and negative) attitude formation. Following a general introduction into ambivalence, I present three original manuscripts investigating ambivalent attitude formation. The first manuscript addresses ambivalent attitude formation from previously univalent attitudes. The results indicate that responding to a univalent attitude object incongruently leads to ambivalence measured via mouse tracking but not ambivalence measured via self-report. The second manuscript addresses whether the same number of positive and negative statements presented block-wise in an impression formation task leads to ambivalence. The third manuscript also used an impression formation task and addresses the question of whether randomly presenting the same number of positive and negative statements leads to ambivalence. Additionally, the effect of block size of the same valent statements is investigated. The results of the last two manuscripts indicate that presenting all statements of one valence and then all statements of the opposite valence leads to ambivalence measured via self-report and mouse tracking. Finally, I discuss implications for attitude theory and research as well as future research directions.

Nachdem er in den 1750er und 1760er Jahren graphische Bildsatiren zu aktuellen innen- und außenpolitischen Themen veröffentlich hatte, wurde William Hogarth selbst in zahlreichen Karikaturen verspottet und verleumdet. Ausgehend von dieser Beobachtung fragt die vorliegende Dissertation, welche Haltung sich den politischen Blättern des Künstlers entnehmen lässt und mit welchen künstlerischen Mitteln er dieser Ausdruck verlieh. Durch Analyse der politischen Ikonographie lassen sich die Themen und Akteure beschreiben. Mit der rezeptionsästhetischen Methode unter Hinzunahme der Sprech- und Bildakttheorie und der Propaganda Studies werden ihre tendenziösen Aussagen und manipulative Absichten entschlüsselt. In ihrer Regierungsaffinität unterscheidet sich Hogarths politische Kunst maßgeblich von der oppositionellen Bildsatire Londons. Die Differenz spiegelt sich v. a. in den persönlichen Angriffen, mit denen zeitgenössische Satiriker Hogarth kritisierten. Als erstes reagierte Paul Sandby („The Painter’s March from Finchly“, 1753) auf Hogarths Darstellung des Jakobitischen Aufstandes 1745, womit er eine Begründung für die von William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland angestrebte Militärreform lieferte („March of the Guards to Finchley“, 1751); Für seine Gin Act-Kampagne („Gin Lane“ und „Beer Street“, 1750/51) erweiterte er die Pro-Gin-Ikonographie der 1730er Jahre (Anonymous: „The lamentable Fall of Madam Geneva”, 1736, Anonymous: „To those melancholly Sufferers the Destillers […] The Funeral Procession of Madam Geneva“, 1751), um sich für die staatliche Reglementierung der Destillen auszusprechen. In seinen Publikationen zum Siebenjährigen Krieg, mit denen er die Politik der jeweiligen Regierungen unter Thomas Pellham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle und William Pitt (the Elder) („The Invasion“, 1756) oder John Stuart, Earl of Bute („The Times Pl. 1“, 1763) unterstützte, zeigt sich Hogarths Opportunismus. Letztlich wurde seine Fürsprache für die unbeliebte Tory-Regierung und seine Kritik an William Pitt Anlass für Hogarths Herabwürdigung durch die Whig-treue Satire. Nach diesem Bruch publizierten beide Seiten verunglimpfende Portraitkarikaturen, die auf Rufmord des Gegners durch Kriminalisierung, Deformation und Dämonisierung setzten (William Hogarth: „John Wilkes Esqr.“, 1763, Anonymous „Tit for Tat“, 1763, Anonymous: „An Answer to the Print of John Wilkes Esqr. by WM Hogarth“, 1763, Anonymous: „Pug the snarling cur chastised Or a Cure for the Mange“, 1763). Die Bildvergleiche zwischen Hogarths politischen Werken und den Reaktionen, die sie hervorriefen, zeigen, dass der Unterschied nicht im Bildgegenstand oder der politischen Ikonographie liegt, sondern in der Ausrichtung ihrer politischen Einflussnahme. Dabei ist vor allem Hogarths regierungsloyale Haltung hervorzuheben. Folglich muss die Forschungsmeinung von einer grundsätzlich kritischen Haltung Hogarths redigiert werden, da er sich nachweislich konservativ positioniert und dem Regierungshandeln und Machterhalt der Eliten Vorschub leistete. Das vorliegende Dissertationsvorhaben untersucht die propagandistische Qualität der Werke Hogarths im Vergleich zu den zeitgenössischen Satirikern und macht die unterschiedliche politische Stoßrichtung sichtbar. Aufschluss gibt dabei die Anwendung künstlerischer und karikaturesker Mittel (das „Wie“) zum Zweck der burlesque (Posse/Parodie), des ridicule (Lächerlichmachung/Spott) bis bin zur Agitation, sowohl in Hogarths Werken als auch in den Karikaturen, die gegen ihn gerichtet waren. Da William Hogarth diese Stilmittel maßgeblich prägte und ihre Entwicklung forcierte, werden sie in der vorliegenden Arbeit unter dem Begriff Hogarthian Wit summiert. Mithilfe der Methode und Begriffe der Propaganda Studies lassen sich Intention und Zweck (das „Was“) als Bildakte beschreiben: Während es sich bei den Werken grundsätzlich um bias handelte, die basierend auf einer Ideologie die öffentliche Meinung beeinflusste, nahm ihre Schlagkraft in den 1760er Jahren stark zu; auf verrätselte Stellungnahmen folgte persönliche und offene Kritik an öffentlichen Personen, bis hin zum Rufmord. Dabei rezipierten sich die Künstler gegenseitig und bildeten Thesen und Antithesen aus. Hogarths einseitige Darstellungen wurden korrigiert und ergänzt, seine politische Kunst als Propaganda enttarnt. Schließlich wurden ihm Lügen und üble Nachrede vorgeworfen. Indem sie ihn anklagten oder durch Sekundärstigmatisierung eine Bestrafung in effigie vornahmen, forderten die Werke vom Rezipienten ein strafendes Urteil. Zu den künstlerischen Mitteln, die dabei zur Anwendung kommen, gehören eine politische Ikonographie und stereotype Feindbilder sowie nationale Konstruktionen, rezeptionsästhetische Mittel wie Juxtapositionen, Rezeptions- und Identifikationsfiguren sowie rhetorische und Mittel des Sprechakts, bis hin zu Perlokutionen. Die Werke lassen sich als Propaganda und somit als hierarchische Kommunikation beschreiben, die manipulative Bildstrategien nutzten, welche nicht nur der Beeinflussung der öffentlichen Meinung dienten, sondern politische Handlungen forcierten. Bezeichnend ist, dass beide Seiten dieselben Ikonographie, Stil-, Kompositions- und Kommunikationsmittel anwendeten, unabhängig von ihrer politischen Aussage, wodurch der Hogarthian Wit gefestigt und stetig weiterentwickelt wurde.

Job crafting is the behavior that employees engage in to create personally better fitting work environments, for example, by increasing challenging job demands. To better understand the driving forces behind employees’ engagement in job crafting, we investigated implicit and explicit power motives. While implicit motives tend to operate at the unconscious, explicit motives operate at the unconscious level. We focused on power motives, as power is an agentic motive characterized by the need to influence your environment. Although power is relevant to job crafting in its entirety, in this study, we link it to increasing challenging job demands due to its relevance to job control, which falls under the umbrella of power. Using a cross-sectional design, we collected survey data from a sample of Lebanese nurses (N = 360) working in 18 different hospitals across the country. In both implicit and explicit power motive measures, we focused on integrative power that enable people to stay calm and integrate opposition. The results showed that explicit power predicted job crafting (H1) and that implicit power amplified this effect (H2). Furthermore, job crafting mediated the relationship between congruently high power motives and positive work-related outcomes (H3) that were interrelated (H4). Our findings unravel the driving forces behind one of the most important dimensions of job crafting and extend the benefits of motive congruence to work-related outcomes.