Changing participation paradigm

Full paper - Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication

Sebastian-Claudiu Nistor — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:24:36 +0000

Full paper - Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication Sebastian-Clau… Sat, 04/06/2024 - 19:24

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Author addressing title

Mr.

First Name

Sebastian-Claudiu

Last Name

Nistor

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Other

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10 Petru Rareș Street, Voluntari, Ilfov, Romania, 077190

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sebastian.nistor.23@drd.snspa.ro

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0734317046

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National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA)

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Changing participation paradigm

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Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication

Sebastian-Claudiu Nistor

Sebastian-Claudiu Nistor (born 1997, Bucharest) is a student at the PhD School of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, in the field of Communication Sciences. His areas of interest are online disinformation, political science and the influence of nonverbal elements in communication.

Contact information:

mailing address: 10 Petru Rareș Street, Voluntari, Ilfov, Romania, 077190

mobile phone: 0734.317.046

e-mail: sebastian.nistor.23@drd.snspa.ro

Abstract

Nonverbal elements play a fundamental role in interpersonal communication, giving expressiveness to social interactions. The main objective of this study is to provide a theoretical perspective on how nonverbal elements influence a conversation from the very first moments of an interaction. Although they often play an informative and constructive role in communication, there are situations in which such elements can play a persuasive role, for example when aiming to dominate a conversation, or when trying to determine people to act in a certain way. This article highlights both types of roles. In doing so, various communication situations, as discussed in the literature, are examined. Nonverbal elements analysed here are gestures, facial expressions and eye contact/gaze. Based on current literature in the field, I assumed that nonverbal elements may cause interlocutors to become vulnerable to persuasion when they are engaged in a dialogue or to adopt certain behaviors depending on the sender's intentions. For this purpose, I conducted a qualitative experiment involving 16 people, aged between 20 and 42. The findings of this study have shown that nonverbal elements could be used for persuasive purposes. In addition, the results highlight and provide new ways of empirical investigation of these persuasive effects of nonverbal elements, proposing innovative approaches in the field of nonverbal communication, and thus in the evolution/development of civil society.

Keywords: Nonverbal; Persuasion; Society; Interpersonal Relations

Introduction

Nonverbal elements play a fundamental role in interpersonal communication (Dash & Davis, 2022), whether referring to certain gestures that people use to adapt to various social situations, to facial expressions or to the functions performed by the role of gaze (Wang et al., 2022). While they can be used to enhance communication or facilitate the transmission of information, there are also situations where nonverbal elements can be used for persuasive purposes as well (Jackob et al., 2011).

Numerous studies have emerged on this topic, most of them examining the potential effects of using nonverbal elements on a large scale. However, it is not known what the effects might be in certain circumstances. There is little research examining their impact by geographical area, and in this context, it is not known whether these effects are universal or whether they differ across cultures.

This article investigate the potential effects of the use of nonverbal elements, the novelty being that it will analyse both their persuasive value and their positive influence on increasing the level of trust between interlocutors. The effects of using gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact will be discussed, testing the premises in Romanian society.

Concerning the first nonverbal element stated, an experiment shows that the absence of gestures in a conversation leads to a lack of expressiveness of speech. (Knapp et al., 2013). In certain situations, they can facilitate the transmission of information in interpersonal relationships and they are fundamental in interpersonal communication (Schneider et al., 2022). For instance, in a speech, gestures can be a way of emphasizing certain words to give credibility to the message, or to complete the language (Poggi & Vincze, 2009). The use of gestures could be useful, as it allows to deliver the essential information to audience/public. In this case, through certain types of gestures, the public can find out/understand what are the most important points of the discourse, and, at the same time, people can focus their attention on the essential elements of the speech. People use gestures when they want to steer the conversation in a certain direction or when they want to emotionally emphasize different parts of speech (Kapitanov et al., 2024). In this sense, gestures can help subjects to catch the interlocutor's attention, and to emphasize certain elements they consider important, when they are engaged in a dialogue. Therefore, their role in interpersonal communication is essential, as conversation involves an interaction based on a continuous transmission of information from sender to receiver (Dzamtoska-Zdravkovska & Haque, 2023).

However, if the broadcaster focuses only on information designed to influence people's opinions according to their own interests, the role of gestures becomes persuasive. Their possible persuasive value was highlighted by an experiment conducted by Maricchiolo et al. (2011). In the study, it was shown that during an interaction, words are not strong enough to support the conversation, but the use of gestures could be a way to uphold it, but also to dominate it. This is possible because most people tend to positively evaluate a speech in which the interlocutor has used certain gestures (Peters & Hoetjes, 2017). A pertinent example can be found in political discourses (Poggi & Vincze, 2009). Consequently, if the speech in question aims to influence people in the direction the speaker wants, gestures can become persuasive.

Although it can be claimed that gestures can play both a positive and a persuasive role in communication, their effects in certain circumstances are not well known. For instance, it is not known whether the use of gestures in interpersonal communication can increase the level of trust between interlocutors, how the use of gestures can influence interpersonal communication in a persuasive way, or what are the directly consequences for people.

Regarding the second nonverbal element discussed, i.e. facial expressions, they are essential in communication and in interpersonal relationships. This class of nonverbal elements can enhance the level of mutual confidence between individuals, being particularly important in human-to-human interactions (Azami et al., 2022). Conversation can be entertained in an adequate way, and interlocutors can exchange information, according to their own feelings, because there is a strong connection between facial expressions and people's emotions (Sajjad et al., 2023). Therefore, through facial expressions, people will be able to understand the sender's feelings. In this way, as with other nonverbal elements, the transmission of information from the sender(s) to the receiver(s) will be done in a proper way, and the interpersonal communication will be effective because the conversation will be expressive. Its expressiveness is a fundamental element for the development of interactions between individuals (Kimmel et al., 2023). Suppose certain political actors hold a discourse in public, and discuss certain civil society issues. If the speech is an expressive one, the confidence level of the interlocutors will increase, and they will emphasize its fundamental features. Therefore, the message of the political actors will be convincing, and if the issues discussed are of public interest, it will be correctly interpreted by the interlocutors. This situation highlights that such nonverbal elements can help the development of human relations/civil society, by correctly decoding a message and by improving the level of mutual trust between people involved in a conversation. In addition to conveying information that can be achieved, it is known that people can control the facial expressions they display at any given moment, or display other emotions, for persuasive purposes (Namba et al., 2022). The interlocutor's opinion can be influenced, and the conversation can be steered in the direction desired by the sender. In this regard, Yu et al. (2022) point out that in some situations, people's behaviour can be influenced by other people's facial expressions.

Persuasive action can occur when attempting to display certain emotions for a particular purpose. A relevant example is provided by Sülflow and Maurer (2019). The authors outline that facial expressions can, in certain situations, be powerful tools for creating a favorable impression of a particular person. The researchers also indicate that they can be used for the purpose of grabbing attention and emphasizing certain ideas. It follows that interlocutor can use facial expressions to underline only the information he wants to convey further.

In this case, the roles/effects of facial expressions in interpersonal communication can be outlined, but there are only few studies that show how this type of nonverbal element can increase confidence between speakers, or how it can affects the audience in a persuasive way.

The last nonverbal element examined in this paper is the eye contact/gaze. This is critical for effective communication, being a ubiquitous element in initiating a conversation (Luft et al., 2022). A relevant study has shown that during a job interview, eye contact is particularly important, sometimes being decisive for passing it successfully (Artiran et al., 2024). Thus, the idea has been put forward that maintaining eye contact with the employer increases the chances of being hired. The role of gaze in interpersonal relationships is significant because, as with facial expressions, it can lead interlocutors to trust each other more (Alforque et al., 2023). When their level of trust is high, communication between individuals is carried out in an efficient way, which can lead to the strengthening of interpersonal relationships and, also, to the correct transmission of information from sender(s) to receiver(s). The correct transmission and decoding of the message can be a fundamental component regarding social development, since civil society is shaped on a good interpretation of the content of communication (Burgoon et al., 2021).

However, in some situations, eye contact may be intended to dominate the interaction, or it may be used for persuasive purposes (Dzardanova et al., 2022). Fromme and Beam (1974) conducted an experiment, involving 32 people. Participants were divided into several groups, each of them having the task of approaching the other individuals until they felt comfortable. During this time, they were asked to maintain eye contact for as long as possible. The experiment results revealed that, in some cases, maintaining eye contact with interlocutors was increasingly difficult. The authors concluded that people who found it difficult to do so felt dominated by the rest of the group. If the individual feels dominated, there is a chance of becoming vulnerable to persuasion and acting differently, contrary to previous intentions.

Nevertheless, these persuasive effects are not generally valid, as perception may differ from culture to culture, and from individual to individual.

Given the issues involved, nonverbal elements can play different roles, depending on the context but also on the interlocutor's intention. This article aims to assess both how nonverbal elements can influence human behavior, including their possible persuasive value, and how they are interpreted/understood by the interlocutors in Romanian society.

Methods

Design

The research involved an experiment, as a qualitative research method. The qualitative experiment is exploratory and can help to identify certain similarities/differences in the behavioural patterns of participants (Steils, 2021). The aim of the present study is to be a preliminary research that will give the premises for a full quantitative experiment with a big sample. In this case, it's just checking if there are any premises worth investigating.

The present study was carried out on (N=16) people who were part of the experiment. The respondents were aged between 20 and 42 years, and were divided into two groups (experimental group and control group). People in the experimental group were exposed to a nonverbal persuasive action, and people in the control group were not exposed to any stimulus. The types of nonverbal elements used in this study are tapping on the shoulder, facial expressions displaying positive emotions, and maintaining eye contact. They were chosen considering their potential to have a persuasive impact on the audience, and were administered by the experimenter. Specifically, I examined the differences between the behaviors of people who had been subjected to a nonverbal manipulative act (tapping on the shoulder, facial expressions, and holding eye contact) and the behavior of people who had not been subjected to it (the control group). Handling consisted of trying to influence subjects in the experimental group to act according to the experimenter's intentions after being subjected to persuasive nonverbal actions.

Subjects

All participants were randomly selected in a face-to-face interaction. Of these, eight people were part of the experimental group and eight were part of the control group.

Research questions

This research is based on the following research questions:

RQ1. How can nonverbal elements influence interpersonal communication in a persuasive way?

RQ2. Is the level of trust on the interlocutor influenced by nonverbal elements?

Experimental steps

The experiment was conducted as follows:

All participants, regardless of which group they belonged to (control group or experimental group) were asked to express their opinion on various social situations. Participants were asked to state their opinion about the ideal political candidate, what the government's priorities should be, or what are the main ways to combat the current social problems. They were allowed to speak freely, with the aim of creating a pleasant environment, and also to encourage them to take part further in the experiment. After this stage, all participants were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of eight questions (Table 1) of which six were open questions and two were closed questions. The questions assessed both respondents' perceptions of the experience and their perceptions of other topics of public interest, again touching on various political and socially sensitive issues. Participants were intentionally informed that their answers would not remain anonymous, and would be passed on to specific press agencies. This fact was not true, but they were told so, because the purpose of the experiment was to see whether subjects would agree to complete the questionnaire knowing these details. Consequently, in addition to being verbally informed that responses would not be confidential, participants were, also, asked to fill in the questionnaire their full name, age, and gender. In an attempt to encourage them to answer the questions in the questionnaire, respondents who belonged to the experimental group were exposed to subtle persuasive nonverbal actions (tapping on the shoulder, using facial expressions that displayed positive emotions, and maintaining eye contact with them). On the other hand, respondents who belonged to the control group were not subjected to these nonverbal actions, and were asked to fill in their answers without using gestures, facial expressions, and without maintaining eye contact with them. Therefore, if subjects from the experimental group agreed to answer the questions after having been subjected to the nonverbal actions, it is considered that these nonverbal elements led them to act in this way, i.e. in compliance with the sender/experimenter's intentions. If control group respondents declined to answer the questionnaire questions, it was believed that the lack of use of the nonverbal elements mentioned above led to their refusal to complete it.

When subjects were asked to complete the questionnaire, their behavioural reactions were noted, regardless of which group they belonged to. This has been done in order to observe the possible behavioural reactions of both those who were exposed to the stimulus (experimental group), and those who were not subjected to nonverbal persuasion (control group). Also, this has been done for a better interpretation of the experiment results, and for identifying the behavioural reactions associated with the use of nonverbal elements.

At the end, all participants, regardless of their group, were informed that they had taken part in an experiment and the results of this research will be used for educational purposes only.

The experiment aimed to investigate the response differences between the experimental and control groups. It was assumed that the use of gestures, facial expressions and maintaining eye contact would cause the experimenters to have an increased level of confidence in experimenter, and to agree to complete the questionnaire.

The results of this study aimed to answer the research questions, when there were significant differences in response between the two groups. In short, the main idea behind this experiment is how nonverbal elements can persuade people, how they can cause people to act in a different way, and, at the same time, how they can influence the level of trust in interlocutor.

Responses

Experimental group

The first subject (20 years old, male) agreed to complete the questionnaire, even though he was informed that the answers would not be kept confidential. He answered all the questions, stating that he would like to have such interactions in the future. Behavioural responses identified: high level of trust in the experimenter, appreciation, safety. The second respondent (25 years old, female) agreed to answer the questions. Again, the participant answered all questions, specifying that she had a pleasant interaction with the experimenter. Behavioural reactions identified: high level of trust in the experimenter, relaxation, good mood. The third person (41 years old, female) answered all questions in the questionnaire. She also specified that she would like to participate in such activities again, stating that she did not feel nervous, because the interaction with the experimenter was pleasant. Behavioural reactions identified: high level of trust in the experimenter, relaxed behaviour, positive attitude. The next respondent (38 years old, male) did not agree to answer the questions in the questionnaire, even though persuasive nonverbal elements (tapping on the shoulder, facial expressions, and maintaining eye contact) were used. In this situation, the interaction with this individual did not lead in the expected direction. Behavioral reactions identified: lack of trust in the experimenter, lack of interest, suspiciousness. The following participant (34 years old, male) answered all the questions in the questionnaire. He provided positive communication feedback towards the experimenter. Behavioural reactions identified: high level of trust in experimenter, increased self-esteem, relaxation. The sixth participant (40 years old, female) agreed to answer all the questions in the questionnaire, specifying that the experience she had was enjoyable/interactive, and it was a pleasure to interact with the experimenter. She felt comfortable, and did not indicate any negative emotions. Behavioural reactions identified: engagement, trust in experimenter, self-confidence. The next subject (42 years old, male) agreed to complete the questionnaire and answered all the questions which were asked. He underlined he was not nervous when he found out that the answers would not remain confidential. Behavioural reactions identified: increased level of trust in the experimenter, relaxed behaviour. The last participant (25 years old, female) agreed to complete the whole questionnaire, explaining that it is normal to answer certain questions when being part of an experiment. The subject also did not seem bothered by the idea that the answers would not be anonymous. Behavioural reactions identified: positive attitude towards the experiment, positive attitude towards the experimenter, high self-esteem.

Control group

The first control group subject (24 years old, female) refused to complete the administered questionnaire. It was, therefore, noticeable that she refused to become further involved in the experiment. This was identified when the subject was informed that her answers would not remain anonymous. From the behavioural elements that were identified in relation to the communication attitude she had when she was asked to answer the questions in the questionnaire, one can highlight her lack of trust in the experimenter. Other behavioural reactions identified: insecurity/uncertainty, inferiority, disobedience. The second participant (41 years old, male) refused to complete the questionnaire. When it was explained to him that it would be helpful if he completed the questionnaire, but his answers would not remain anonymous, he indicated that he did not want to be any longer part of the experiment. So the conversation proceeded in the direction the sender wanted. Behavioural reactions identified: lack of communication, lack of motivation, anxiety. The following participant (23 years old, female) agreed to complete the questionnaire, even though it was explained that the answers would not remain anonymous. In this case, the conversation was not directed in the direction desired by the sender. She answered all the questions. Behavioural reactions identified: high level of trust in the experimenter, increased self-confidence, determination. The fourth subject (31 years old, male) did not agree to complete the questionnaire, when he was informed that the answers would not remain confidential. This participant's behaviour highlighted his lack of interest in completing the answers. This behaviour was underlined by the way he reacted when he subsequently heard what the experiment entailed. Behavioural reactions identified: keeping a long distance from the experimenter, ignorance, uncertainty. The following subject (38 years old, female) agreed to answer the questions in the questionnaire. In this situation, the interaction between experimenter and participant was not conducted in the direction expected by the experimenter. She answered 6/8 questions. Identified behavioural reactions: high level of trust in the experimenter, increased self-confidence. The following participant (26 years old, female) did not agree to complete the questionnaire, after finding out that responses would not remain confidential. In this case, the communication feedback highlighted her tendency to not empathise with the experimenter, although she showed engagement with this activity during the experiment. Behavioural reactions identified: lack of empathy, lack of involvement, concern. The seventh respondent (34 years old, male) did not agree to complete the questionnaire, after learning that the responses were not anonymous. The participant's attitude conveyed a lack of trust in the experimenter. Identified behavioural reactions: lack of confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety. The last subject (40 years old, male) refused to complete the questionnaire when he was advised that his answers would not remain confidential. Behavioural reactions identified: keeping a large distance from the experimenter, lack of trust, confusion.

Findings

The results of the experiment revealed that seven of the eight subjects who were part of the experimental group agreed to answer the questions in the questionnaire after nonverbal elements (tapping on the shoulder, facial expressions and maintaining eye contact) were used on them as manipulation techniques (Table 2).

On the other hand, results show that of the eight participants who were part of the control group, six did not agree to complete the questionnaire, when they learned that their answers would not remain anonymous and would be passed on to certain news agencies (Table 3).

Several fundamental differences can be observed between the two groups analysed. While positive emotions were specific to the experimental group, negative emotions predominated for the control group. In the case of the control group, the lack of nonverbal elements was associated with the following: lack of confidence, anxiety and insecurity, inferiority, keeping a large distance from interlocutors (both due to lack of self-confidence and due to lack of confidence in interlocutors), ignorance, confusion, indecision, lack of motivation, disobedience, lack of empathy, and lack of involvement. According to the responses, the lack of nonverbal components was associated with these negative characteristics, as verbal language does not have the capacity to fully sustain a conversation. Thus, it was observed that the absence of nonverbal elements of persuasion was primarily associated with a lack of trust in the experimenter, because this creates the impression that sender does not provide the desired communicative feedback. In the case of the participants, the lack of trust in the experimenter, created by the lack of nonverbal elements in the interaction, led to insecurity, from which confusion, indecision, and ignorance were subsequently engendered. These factors led to poor motivation and disengagement in the experiment. All this ultimately led to disobedience; a circumstance proven by the fact that majority of people who were not subjected to nonverbal elements as manipulative techniques did not agree to complete the questionnaire. Thus, most of the respondents who were not subjected to the elements of persuasive nonverbal action did not act according to the experimenter's intentions.

On the other hand, the use of persuasive nonverbal elements in the interaction was associated with positive emotions, with an elevated level of trust in the experimenter, with the involvement of participants in the experiment, and with a positive attitude towards the experiment. At the same time, however, it can be appreciated that their use caused most of the respondents involved in the experiment to act according to the sender`s intentions, causing them to answer the questions in the questionnaire after being subjected to nonverbal persuasion.

This suggests that nonverbal elements can influence people to make certain decisions or change their behaviour, being, sometimes, responsible for misleading interlocutors. At the same time, from the results of the present study, it can be seen there may be a connection between nonverbal elements and the action of dominating someone (Dzardanova et al., 2022).

Discussions and conclusions

The experiment highlights two fundamental matters regarding the use of nonverbal elements. The first is that gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact/gaze could be used as persuasive methods, because seven from eight participants exposed to nonverbal persuasion have acted in the broadcaster's desired direction; and the second is that, if used with positive intentions, they can contribute to the development of interpersonal relations, to the growth of trust between individuals, and also to the development of civil society (Azami et al., 2022).

RQ1. How can nonverbal elements influence interpersonal communication in a persuasive way?

I concluded that nonverbal elements can have a persuasive impact on the interlocutors, by making someone act differently, according to the sender's intentions. The research results revealed that, in certain situations, human behavior can change in the direction desired by the interlocutors.

RQ2. Is the level of trust on the interlocutor influenced by nonverbal elements?

Following the experiment, I concluded that people in the experimental group gave positive feedback to the sender, proving that the level of trust on the interlocutor could be influenced by nonverbal elements.

Although this is only an exploratory study, it seems that in Romania nonverbal elements can be used, in certain circumstances, as persuasive techniques, being, at the same time, related to enhancing the level of confidence in the interlocutor.

Limits

The limitations of this article are the small number of people who took part in the study, and also the qualitative interpretation of the results of this experiment. Therefore, this study cannot be representative for Romanian population, as people's responses may differ from individual to individual.

Literature

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[3] Azami Ritsuko, Mariko Kikutani, and Hideya Kitamura (2022): Perception of Hidden Confidence in Neutral Expressions: Interactions of Facial Attractiveness, Self-Esteem, and Names to Be Addressed by. Languages, 7(2): 1-14.

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Cultivating Civic Engagement. The Role of Universities in Promoting Democratic Values to Social Science Students

magdaalbulescu — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:18:21 +0000

Cultivating Civic Engagement. The Role of Universities in Promoting Democratic Values to Social Science Students magdaalbulescu Fri, 03/01/2024 - 15:18

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Author addressing title

Mrs.

First Name

Magdalena

Last Name

Albulescu

Academic title

Dr.

Address

Expozitiei, 30A

E-mail

magda.albulescu@politice.ro

Phone

0723464216

Institution/University

SNSPA

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

In contemporary society, the concept of civic engagement appears as an essential condition for the functioning of democracy and social well-being. Civic engagement transcends simple participation in the electoral process, and encompasses a wider spectrum of activities: civic and community participation, activism and public dialogue. Thus, cultivating civic engagement is a mission, duty, and responsibility for universities, and particularly for social science programs. They derive from the need to form and shape not only professionals, but also responsible and involved people from a civic and social point of view. However, the mechanisms by which higher education institutions can effectively cultivate such engagement among students remain a subject of debate and investigation. This study seeks to bridge this gap by exploring the strategies used by universities to promote civic awareness among students. Methodologically, this article proposes a case study on one of the most important universities in the field of social, political and administrative sciences in Romania. In this sense, a standardized questionnaire will be distributed to the students from the political science bachelor's degree program to analyze their perceptions and experiences regarding how the study programs and the teachers' activity incorporate the component of civic and political involvement. Data analysis will highlight how higher education cultivates and shapes student engagement through academic programs, extracurricular activities or community partnerships.

The contribution of civil society organisations to the implementation of the principles of good governance at the local level

Vanya.Nusheva — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:39:53 +0000

The contribution of civil society organisations to the implementation of the principles of good governance at the local level Vanya.Nusheva Thu, 02/29/2024 - 22:39

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Mrs.

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Vanya

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Kashukeeva-Nusheva

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Dr.

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125 Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd., Block 4, Sofia 1113, BULGARIA

E-mail

vnusheva@abv.bg, kashukeeva@uni-sofia.bg

Phone

+359-889-601292

Institution/University

Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

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Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

The contribution of civil society organisations to the implementation of the principles of good governance at the local level

The article examines the contribution of civil society organisations to the implementation of the principles of good governance at the local level. The analysis is based on the results of a comparative study on the interaction between civil society organisations and local authorities in the 27 largest municipalities in Bulgaria, which are regional centres. The research presents data on the forms of citizen participation in outlining policies for the development of local communities, modernization of local government institutions and increasing the accountability of local authorities. The article also presents results of a representative survey conducted in the autumn of 2023 in relation of the local elections. The main focus of the analysis in placed on the relationship between specific characteristics of the political culture and the electoral political behaviour of voters of the main political parties.

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Contribution of civil society organisations to good governance at local level

New models for the development of sustainable tourism: encouraging the participation of local communities.

PaoloPane — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:02:51 +0000

New models for the development of sustainable tourism: encouraging the participation of local communities. PaoloPane Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:02

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Mr.

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Paolo

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Pane

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Dr.

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via S Paolo, 21 - Sorrento (NA) - Campania, Italy

E-mail

paolopane@hotmail.it; paolo.pane@unina.it

Phone

+39 3389465973

Institution/University

University of Naples, Federico II

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Tourism has the ability to generate numerous economic and employment opportunities but, alongside these, it appears necessary to also investigate the negative externalities connected to this phenomenon. In fact, tourism tends to profoundly modify a territory and the quality of life of those who reside there, sometimes positively. From this perspective, sustainable tourism is a form of tourism aimed at reducing the environmental, social and economic impact caused by tourist activities, to encourage the protection of the natural and cultural resources of the destination places.

Through the review of the literature and the analysis of a case study, the contribution investigates the need to encourage models of participation and involvement of local communities as a tool to protect themselves and their territory, since tourism shared by the local community is more sustainable, ethical and responsible.

Keywords: sustainable tourism; local communities; participation.

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Pane Academos 2024 .docx

TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY: PERSPECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT

Zuzana Drakova — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 21:18:06 +0000

TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY: PERSPECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT Zuzana Drakova Sun, 02/25/2024 - 23:18

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Non-student author

Author addressing title

Mrs.

First Name

Zuzana

Last Name

Draková

Academic title

Dr.

Address

Bučianska 4/A, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia

E-mail

zuzana.drakova@ucm.sk

Phone

+421902340904

Institution/University

Faculty of Social Sciences, University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Predkladaný príspevok sa týka vplyvu technologického pokroku na transformáciu spoločnosti a jeho perspektívami pre individuálny rozvoj jednotlivcov. Vzhľadom na demografické ukazovatele, ktoré identifikovali, že populácia starne nielen na území SR, ale aj v Európe, sa v našom príspevku zameriavame na cieľovú skupinu seniorov, keďže ich počet vo svetle stúpa. Starnutie populácie sa javí ako demografický trend. Sú výsledkom faktorov, akými sú pokroky v lekárskej starostlivosti, lepší prístup k zdravotnej starostlivosti, zmeny v sociálno-ekonomických štruktúrach a životnom štýle. Zvyšuje sa teda prítomnosť technológií vo všetkých oblastiach života, ale aj nové príležitosti, pokiaľ ide o prispôsobenie a používanie technológií. Tento príspevok sa zameriava na nastavenie možností, ktorý technologický pokrok ponúka pre rozvoj seniorov v oblasti vzdelávania, zdravia, sociálneho kontaktu, ale aj aktívneho zapájania sa do spoločnosti. Zároveň analyzuje aj prekážky a obmedzenia, s ktorými sa seniori stretávajú pri využívaní nových technológií a navrhujú opatrenia a stratégie na podporu ich efektívneho a inkluzívneho zapojenia sa do digitálnej éry, pričom netreba zabúdať na našu spoločenskú zodpovednosť.

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My paper

The Political Recruitment of the PNL Members Selected in the Governments Related to the 2020-2024 Electoral Cycle

Lara.Varto — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 11:07:43 +0000

The Political Recruitment of the PNL Members Selected in the Governments Related to the 2020-2024 Electoral Cycle Lara.Varto Sun, 02/25/2024 - 13:07

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Student author

Author addressing title

Mrs.

First Name

Laura

Last Name

Vaartolomei

Academic title

Other

Address

Bucuresti

E-mail

lauravarto@yahoo.com

Phone

0723

Institution/University

SNSPA

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Abstract

The aura of power and prestige surrounding the ministerial positions, situated at the apex of the government, is much valued by the parties and political actors (Verzichelli, 2008). The paper explores the political recruitment of Romanian ministers affiliated with the National Liberal Party (PNL) in the governments related to the 2020-2024 electoral cycle. It delves into the processes and factors shaping the selection and careers of ministers within the party, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of political recruitment in the Romanian context. The research examines how elements such as personal ambitions, party positions, and the former local, national, or parliamentary offices held by the political actors (Ștefan, 2015) influence ministerial appointments. Since most of the PNL ministers were already members of parliament at their ministerial appointment and about three-quarters had obtained two parliamentary mandates, a previous parliamentary career appears to be one of the beaten paths toward the ministerial chair. Being cabinet members in previous electoral cycles was another possible reason for the party’s designation of certain individuals in ministerial positions as more than half of the liberal ministers had prior experience in cabinets. By analysing the career trajectories and tenures of PNL ministers, this study contributes to understanding the complexities involved in the political recruitment of executive members within the party that was continuously in government, along the Cîțu, Ciucă, and Colacu cabinets, in the 2020-2024 electoral cycle.

Keywords: political recruitment, political careers, Romanian executives, governmental elites, pathways to cabinet

Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication

Sebastian-Claudiu Nistor — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:45:39 +0000

Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication Sebastian-Clau… Tue, 02/13/2024 - 10:45

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Student author

Author addressing title

Mr.

First Name

Sebastian-Claudiu

Last Name

Nistor

Academic title

Other

Address

10 Petru Rares Street, Voluntari, Ilfov, Romania, 077190

E-mail

sebastian.nistor.23@drd.snspa.ro

Phone

0734317046

Institution/University

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA)

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Nonverbal elements play a fundamental role in interpersonal communication, giving expressiveness to social interactions. The overall objective of this study is to offer theoretical insights into the ways nonverbal elements influence a conversation from the very first moments of an interaction. Although they often play an informative and constructive role in communication, there are situations in which such elements can play a persuasive role, for example when aiming to dominate a conversation or when trying to drive people to act in a certain way. This paper highlights both types of roles. In doing so, various communication situations are examined, as debated in the literature. Nonverbal elements analysed here include gestures, facial expressions and eye contact/gaze. Considering the studies that have been published on this subject, I assumed that nonverbal elements can lead interlocutors to become vulnerable when they are engaged in a dialogue, to adopt certain behaviours depending on the sender's intentions, to change their own opinions on a given topic or to fail to express their views. This paper offers new ways of empirical investigation of such persuasive effects of nonverbal elements, proposing innovative approaches in the field of nonverbal communication.

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Persuasive effects of nonverbal elements in interpersonal communication

Reflections on Global Governance and Political Participation

Luís Lóia — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 11:20:38 +0000

Reflections on Global Governance and Political Participation Luís Lóia Mon, 02/12/2024 - 13:20

Registration fee details

Non-student author

Author addressing title

Mr.

First Name

Luís

Last Name

Lóia

Academic title

Prof.

Address

Rua da Mestra, n.º 35
n. 35
1600-506

E-mail

luisloia@ucp.pt

Phone

919502777

Institution/University

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Reflections on Global Governance and Political Participation

According with Daniel Bell "The national state has become too small for the big problems of life, and too big for the small problems," yet, in a Global Era, by means of access to information and economic globalization, people are facing, in their ordinary lives, small and big problems, and it seems that no one is capable to provide an adequate response to them.

In National-states level, in many of the developed countries, it seems that Democracy is backsliding as the phenomenon of Constitutional Retrogression is spreading. In a global level, the global governance institutions such as The United Nations, The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization, and alike ones, seems to act on a bases of calculation between benefits and costs. They are captured by economic interests that undermines the needed confidence that bound citizens and politicians and weakens the moral and social values that should be shared by peoples. One of the results is the increase of populist movements that could be understood has a response to those threats.

As Daniel Bell puts it: "We find that the older social structures are cracking because political scales of sovereignty and authority do not match the economic scales."

In our presentation we will address those issues intending to demonstrate that new mechanisms of political participation are needed to avoid the threats that we are facing.

Collaboration and Innovation in Social Services: Hybrid Organizations and Areas of Interaction

Milena_Yorgova — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:49:29 +0000

Collaboration and Innovation in Social Services: Hybrid Organizations and Areas of Interaction Milena_Yorgova Thu, 02/01/2024 - 22:49

Registration fee details

Non-student author

Author addressing title

Ms.

First Name

Milena

Last Name

Yorgova

Academic title

Dr.

Address

7 A Denio Chokanov, str.
Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgaria

E-mail

m.yorgova@ts.uni-vt.bg

Phone

+359887134395

Institution/University

St Cyril and St Methodius University of Veliko Tranovo

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

Welfare states in modern European societies face serious economic, political and demographic challenges. This requires new frameworks of cooperation and innovation, as well as a higher degree of interaction between the state, the market and civil society. Civil sector organizations respond to dynamic changes with hybridization. The research interest has been provoked by the expanded use of their hybrid potential to reduce social and economic risk and vulnerability.

Paper upload

Milena_Yorgova_2024.docx

Populism in Eastern Europe. New types of libertarian populism vs classic authoritarian populism. The Romanian case

dansultanescu — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:01:25 +0000

Populism in Eastern Europe. New types of libertarian populism vs classic authoritarian populism. The Romanian case dansultanescu Thu, 02/02/2023 - 21:01

Registration fee details

Non-student author

Author addressing title

Mr.

First Name

Dan

Last Name

Sultanescu

Academic title

Dr.

Address

Eroilor 5H, Otopeni, Romania

E-mail

dan.sultanescu@snspa.ro

Phone

0752070621

Institution/University

SNSPA

Co-authors

Dana Sultanescu

Daniel Buti

Bogdan Teodorescu

Conference Panels

Changing participation paradigm

Paper/Abstract submission

We assume that there is a different impact on growing populism in a European country like Romania, in an electoral context (like 2019, with two rounds of elections – European and Presidential) and post-covid context (2021).

Different academic studies of populism identify two important ideas to define populism: (1) "the people" is the main source of legitimacy, and the politicians must be accepted as serving the people, and (2) the regular people and the politicians' elite are two very different groups, with the public being much fitter to rule and govern than the corrupted elite. There are a lot of new measurements of populism, using these approaches, and our idea is to replicate this in a country like Romania.

We have measured populism with two questions: 1) ordinary people would do a better job/do no better solving the country’s problems than elected officials and 2) most elected officials care/don’t care what people like me think. These measures are used by scholars studying populism to capture attitudes about an antagonistic relationship between elites and the people (Stanley, 2011; Spruyt et al. 2016; Schulz et al. 2017). Romania is a relatively new democracy, with less civic participation and a lot of traditional values, and society is strongly affected by internal and external struggles (the effects of anti-Western propaganda, the crisis in the European Union etc). In Romania, the populist threat should be much more visible and more active than in other European countries. Because of that, we are interested in adding a third variable when measuring populism (3) the level of rejecting all politicians as corrupt and as people that should be sentenced to prison.

Using data from 11 surveys from 2019-2022, we will segment the public into different categories, and see if there are different types of populism.