Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Radu Mihai Dumitrescu Author-Workplace-Name: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Bucharest, Romania Title: "Empathy - Angel of Humanity against Dehumanization - the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse" Abstract: This study sought to provide a better understanding of the way Jewish population used a series of internal resources to resist, survive and continue thereafter to lead a life as close to what we consider normal as possible. Trying to identify a theory in order to explain human behavior in situations of terror drove to Terror Management Theory. Despite the diversity of cultures around the world there are some psychological defense mechanisms which have a unique role: defusing awareness of death through a set of beliefs that give meaning and value to life (Solomon, Greenberg & Pyszczynski 1989). The starting point of this theory is the book written by Ernest Backer whose central idea was that awareness of death has a devastating effect, with the risk that the fear of death paralyzes the person (Becker 1976). To check how the situation of the Jews imprisoned in concentration camps or work camps fits this theory I have used 15 interviews selected from the archives of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. I have done an initial encoding of 5 interviews obtaining several themes and subthemes. Next, I extended the coding to the rest of the interviews following only the most relevant 6 themes: genocide awareness, leadership, manifestations of empathy, heritage, faith and religious practices, gratitude. Religious beliefs (the promise of immortality, the belief in resurrection, eternal soul and surviving through legacy) seem to support individuals during traumatic experiences and I have examined them in the overall context of religious faith by performing a subsequent qualitative interpretation. Also, I considered following two of the essential virtues from the theory: empathy and gratitude for the preservation of life. The results of this qualitative research confirmed only in small measure the theory with regard to Holocaust situation. I assumed two possible explanations for this result: either the terror to which Jews were subjected surpassed the intensity of terror assumed by the theory or the time was a determinant factor (the amount of time during which they were subjected to dehumanizing treatment was too long for most protective mechanisms). Manifestations of empathy probably remain the most important resources. Classification-JEL: F50, F51; F52 Keywords: Terror Management Theory; Holocaust; empathy; genocide awareness; coping mechanism. Journal: Sociology and Social Work Review Pages: 7-29 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2024 Month: December File-URL: https://globalresearchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/Empathy-Angel-of-Humanity-against-Dehumanization-the-Fifth-Horseman-of-the-Apocalypse-1-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEC:edr:sswrgl:v:8:y:2024:i:1:p:7-29 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mariateresa Gammone Author-Workplace-Name: University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy Author-Name: Nicola Ferrigni Author-Workplace-Name: Link Campus University, Rome, Italy Author-Name: Mustafa Yunus Eryaman Author-Workplace-Name: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Türkiye Title: "The Influence of Institutional Contexts on Entrepreneurship" Abstract: This article empirically examines various hypotheses about young people's perceptions of entrepreneurship. Bulgarian, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, and Maltese students participated anonymously and voluntarily in a survey conducted simultaneously across five universities in these countries. The results were analyzed comparatively. Traditional perceptions suggest that young people in the Global South lack entrepreneurial drive, but the findings offer new perspectives. Although students are intensely interested in entrepreneurship, few are inclined to start their own businesses, with most expecting to work in salaried roles. This seeming contradiction stems from limited access to information, opportunities, and training. While many students aspire to excellence and creativity, they are also aware of lacking practical resources, balancing a desire to learn about entrepreneurship with an understanding of the need to adapt to available opportunities. Classification-JEL: I20, I25, M13 Keywords: Entrepreneurship; youth; sociology; education; democracy. Journal: Sociology and Social Work Review Pages:30-45 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2024 Month: December File-URL: https://globalresearchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Influence-of-Institutional-Contexts-on-Entrepreneurship-1-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEC:edr:sswrgl:v:8:y:2024:i:2:p:30-45 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ana-Andreea Cristea Author-Workplace-Name: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Bucharest, Romania Author-Name: Adrian-Nicolae Dan Author-Workplace-Name: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Bucharest, Romania Author-Workplace-Name: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Bucharest, Romania Author-Name: Ionut-Virgil Șerban Author-Workplace-Name: University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania Title: "Public Perspectives on Introducing Sex Education in Romanian Schools: A Quantitative Analysis" Abstract: Many international organisations agree that sexuality education is a useful topic for the development and well-being of students and society, as they have the right to receive safe and scientifically based information to prevent and combat aggression and possible sexually transmitted diseases. However, the introduction of sex education into the curriculum in Romania has been heavily debated in recent years, with negative opinions from religious and political leaders at the forefront. This research approaches the topic from a quantitative perspective in which the sociological survey was used as the research method, with the research instrument being the survey. The survey also included a number of open-ended questions so that qualitative information could be collected and analyzed. The main aim of this article is to capture the general opinion of parents and adults regarding the introduction of sex education in schools and to identify their possible fears related to the content of this education. The research question we want to answer is: "What is the opinion of adults and parents about the introduction of sex education in schools? The survey was conducted over a two-week period (May 2023) and comprised a series of 29 questions with different answer options. For this study, we used a group of 518 respondents who were analyzed by gender, age, religion, origin and last completed education. The survey was created in Google Forms and sent online via various social networks. We can therefore not speak of a representative sample, but rather of a random sample, but the relatively large number of responses collected, namely 518, allows us to test the hypotheses, but not to generalize. When analyzing the respondents' answers (using Microsoft Excel), surprising results were obtained that are consistent with the data from the literature, but also in contrast to some recent studies. To summarize, despite the controversial political and religious information circulating in the public sphere today, the majority of adults and parents who participated in our survey believe that sex education should be included in the school curriculum. The results of this survey were unexpectedly promising for the future of Romania, but unfortunately, we cannot generalize them. Respondents want this topic to be taught as early as possible and believe that it will help students to become responsible adults. Classification-JEL: I20, I21, I18 Keywords: sexuality education; educational system; national curriculum; sociological survey; health education. Pages: 46-72 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2024 Month: December File-URL: /https://globalresearchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/Public-Perspectives-on-Introducing-Sex-Education-in-Romanian-Schools-A-Quantitative-Analysis-.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEC:edr:sswrgl:v:8:y:2024:i:2:p:46-72 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sergio Cecchi Author-Workplace-Name: University of Verona, Department of Human Sciences, Verona, Italy Title: " Between ideals and reality. Critical reflections on basic training in Italian social work in the light of the results of research involving a group of municipal social workers". Abstract: Is the Italian social work today capable of developing its own cultural and scientific knowledge? What conditions influence this internal production process within the professional community of social workers? These questions are the focus of a reflection conducted with a group of 70 social workers from the municipal social services. More than twenty years after the inclusion of social work within university education, the discussion on the ability of this discipline to produce original scientific knowledge is intense in Italian social work. Caught between an operation increasingly guided by bureaucratic models and an increasingly complex social reality, social work must find a way to produce knowledge through reflective processes that often find little space in the institutions in which social workers operate. Classification-JEL: I30, I31, I38 Keywords: Social work training; scientific knowledge; scientific production; reflexivity; institutional constraints; bureaucracy. Journal: Sociology and Social Work Review Pages: 73-86 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2024 Month: December File-URL: https://globalresearchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/Between-ideals-and-reality.-Critical-reflections-on-basic-training-in-Italian-social-work-in-the-light-of-the-results-of-research-involving-a-group-of-municipal-social-workers.-.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEC:edr:sswrgl:v:8:y:2024:i:2:p:73-86 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lucia Landolfi Author-Workplace-Name: University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy Title: "Associations: Mirrors for people living with Parkinson’s disease" Abstract: Parkinson’s disease, with its profound impact on individuals and communities worldwide, calls for a comprehensive understanding of the social dimensions of the illness. This study explores the pivotal role of associations in influencing coping strategies and shaping identity among individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. Through a grounded theory approach, the research examines how participation in associative networks provides a platform for self-expression, mutual support, and engagement, fostering resilience and adaptation. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s and facilitators actively involved in Italian Parkinson’s associations from northern, central, and southern regions of the country. The findings underscore the critical role associations play in addressing the collective needs and aspirations of their members while highlighting significant regional differences in activities, strategies, and support systems. Associations promote solidarity and shared understanding through homophily, offering a sense of belonging and mutual aid. They not only provide access to essential social and healthcare resources but also create spaces where individuals can reflect on their past, navigate the present, and envision a future beyond the limitations of their condition. This dynamic interplay of social engagement and identity transformation underscores the indispensable contribution of associations to the broader care ecosystem and their transformative impact on the lives of people with Parkinson’s. Classification-JEL: I10, I12, I18 Keywords: social identity; disease management; patient support services; community networks; social interaction. Journal: Sociology and Social Work Review Pages: 87-105 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2024 Month: December File-URL: https://globalresearchpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/Associations-Mirrors-for-people-living-with-Parkinson%E2%80%99s-disease.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEC:edr:sswrgl:v:8:y:2024:i:2:p:87-105