The social disembedding of business theory and practice. A (neo-)institutional analysis of the homo economicus and corporate social responsibility, and the inherent responsibility of business scholars

Aim Structure of the Thesis In the first article, I focus on the context in which the Homo Economicus was constructed - i.e., the conception of economic actors as fully rational, informed, egocentric, and profit-maximizing. I argue that the Homo Economicus theory was developed in a specific societal context with specific (partly tacit) values and norms. These norms have implicitly influenced the behavior of economic actors and have framed the interpretation of the Homo Economicus. Different factors however have weakened this implicit influence of the broader societal values and norms on economic actors. The result is an unbridled interpretation and application of the values and norms of the Homo Economicus in the business environment, and perhaps also in the broader society. In the second article, I show that the morality of many economic actors relies on isomorphism, i.e., the attempt to fit into the group by adopting the moral norms surrounding them. In consequence, if the norms prevailing in a specific group or context (such as a specific region or a specific industry) change, it can be expected that actors with an 'isomorphism morality' will also adapt their ethical thinking and their behavior -for the 'better' or for the 'worse'. The article further describes the process through which corporations could emancipate from the ethical norms prevailing in the broader society, and therefore develop an institution with specific norms and values. These norms mainly rely on mainstream business theories praising the economic actor's self-interest and neglecting moral reasoning. Moreover, because of isomorphism morality, many economic actors have changed their perception of ethics, and have abandoned the values prevailing in the broader society in order to adopt those of the economic theory. Finally, isomorphism morality also implies that these economic actors will change their morality again if the institutional context changes. The third article highlights the role and responsibility of business scholars in promoting a systematic reflection and self-critique of the business system and develops alternative models to fill the moral void of the business institution and its inherent legitimacy crisis. Indeed, the current business institution relies on assumptions such as scientific neutrality and specialization, which seem at least partly challenged by two factors. First, self-fulfilling prophecy provides scholars with an important (even if sometimes undesired) normative influence over practical life. Second, the increasing complexity of today's (socio-political) world and interactions between the different elements constituting our society question the strong specialization of science. For instance, economic theories are not unrelated to psychology or sociology, and economic actors influence socio-political structures and processes, e.g., through lobbying (Dobbs, 2006; Rondinelli, 2002), or through marketing which changes not only the way we consume, but more generally tries to instill a specific lifestyle (Cova, 2004; M. K. Hogg & Michell, 1996; McCracken, 1988; Muniz & O'Guinn, 2001). In consequence, business scholars are key actors in shaping both tomorrow's economic world and its broader context. A greater awareness of this influence might be a first step toward an increased feeling of civic responsibility and accountability for the models and theories developed or taught in business schools.

Predictions of the MCMI-III personality disorders from NEO-PI-R domains and facets: Comparison between American and Spanish samples

Este estudio ex post facto analiza las relaciones entre las dimensiones y facetas del NEO-PI-R y los 14 trastornos de personalidad del MCMI-III en una muestra no clínica española (N = 674). Se exploran las diferencias y similitudes con los resul- tados de Dyce y O’Connor en una muestra americana con los mismos instrumentos. Como se esperaba, los análisis factoriales de facetas reteniendo cinco factores mostraron un modelo de relaciones muy similar entre ambas muestras, con un coeficiente de la congruencia total de 0,92, y coeficientes de congruencia de factor aceptables, salvo para el factor Apertura (0,68). En consonancia con las predicciones de Widiger y Widiger et al. los porcentajes de correlaciones significativas estaban alrededor de 60% en ambas muestras, y la mayoría coincidían. El análisis de regresión múltiple con dimensiones también reveló un gran parecido entre los resultados americanos y españoles, Neuroticismo fue el predictor más relacionado con los trastornos de personalidad. Se encontraron diferencias en las regresiones por facetas, aunque la varianza explicada fue prácticamente la misma que en las dimensiones. Se discute la validez transcultural y el valor predictivo del NEO-PI-R sobre los trastornos de personalidad del MCMI-III, junto con las ventajas relativas de las facetas sobre las dimensiones.

Validez convergente y estructural del NEO-PI-R : baremos orientativos

El estudio que se presenta se diseñó para estudiar la validez convergen-te y de estructura del NEO-PI-R en una muestra amplia de universitarios y de la población general. Los resultados muestran una robusta estructura de cinco factores y buena validez convergente con los adjetivos bipolares de Goldberg. Se realiza un análisis comparativo de los resultados obtenidos en este estudio con los del estudio original americano y en el estudio normativo realizado en España. Se concluye que las medias de las cinco dimensiones son parecidas al comparar las muestras del estudio actual con el americano, pero muy diferentes respecto al estudio normativo español. Ello es probablemente debido a la naturaleza de las muestras empleadas en el estudio normativo español provenientes de selección de personal, inadecuadas para un estudio normativo. La procedencia de las muestras no afecta la estructura ni la fiabilidad del NEO-PI-R, pero si afecta los baremos obtenidos. A efectos de la interpretación del test en población sana española se proporcionan baremos en percentiles y notas T.

The five and seven factors personality models: differences and similitude between the TCI-R, NEO-FFI-R and ZKPQ-50-CC

The present study tests the relationships between the three frequently used personality models evaluated by the Temperament Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five Factor Inventory – Revised (NEO-FFI-R) and Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire-50- Cross-Cultural (ZKPQ-50-CC). The results were obtained with a sample of 928 volunteer subjects from the general population aged between 17 and 28 years old. Frequency distributions and alpha reliabilities with the three instruments were acceptable. Correlational and factorial analyses showed that several scales in the three instruments share an appreciable amount of common variance. Five factors emerged from principal components analysis. The first factor was integrated by A (Agreeableness), Co (Cooperativeness) and Agg-Host (Aggressiveness-Hostility), with secondary loadings in C (Conscientiousness) and SD (Self-directiveness) from other factors. The second factor was composed by N (Neuroticism), N-Anx (Neuroticism-Anxiety), HA (Harm Avoidance) and SD (Self-directiveness). The third factor was integrated by Sy (Sociability), E (Extraversion), RD (Reward Dependence), ImpSS (Impulsive Sensation Seeking) and NS (novelty Seeking). The fourth factor was integrated by Ps (Persistence), Act (Activity), and C, whereas the fifth and last factor was composed by O (Openness) and ST (Self- Transcendence). Confirmatory factor analyses indicate that the scales in each model are highly interrelated and define the specified latent dimension well. Similarities and differences between these three instruments are further discussed.

Adaptación para adolescentes de la versión española del NEO PI-R (JS NEO)

Este artículo presenta los primeros datos del desarrollo de la versión española para adolescentes, entre 12 y 17 años, del NEO PI-R (JS NEO). Noventa y dos de los 240 ítems fueron modificados con el fin de adaptar el vocabulario de los mismos a este grupo de edad. Las propiedades psicométricas del JS NEO han sido investigadas en una muestra de 2.505 adolescentes. Los resultados muestran cómo la estructura factorial encontrada con el NEO PI-R para adultos se replica en la versión junior. Las fiabilidades de consistencia interna y estabilidad temporal de las escalas fueron adecuadas en la mayor parte de los casos. Además, la correlación entre las escalas de las versiones para adultos (NEO PI-R) y adolescentes (JS NEO) muestran que la versión para adolescentes presenta una validez de constructo adecuada.

Nietzsche and Neo-Kantian historiography: points of contact

In the German academies of Nietzsche's period of writing, the Kantian tradition was largely displaced in favor of two independent schools that have since been labeled "Neo-Kantianism." This paper presents four key theses about philosophy of history from four Neo-Kantian thinkers, how they follow from their adaptation of the Kantian tradition, and how Nietzsche critically engaged the very same issues in the formation of his own historical theory. Although there is little direct influence between orthodox Neo-Kantianism and Nietzsche, their comparison on these points will illuminate their unique adaptations of the Kantian tradition.

Eternal recurrence in a Neo-Kantian context

In this essay, I argue that someone who adopted a falsificationism of the sort that I have attributed to Nietzsche would be attracted to the doctrine of eternal recurrence. For Nietzsche, to think the becoming revealed through the senses means falsifying it through being. But the eternal recurrence offers the possibility of thinking becoming without falsification. I then argue that someone who held Nietzsche's falsificationism would see in human agency a conflict between being and becoming similar to that in empirical judgment. In the light of this conflict only the eternal recurrence would offer the possibility of truly affirming life. I end by discussing how this reading of the eternal recurrence solves a number of puzzles that have bedeviled interpreters.

Julkari ja Neo : Julkaisuarkisto osana julkaisuprosessia

Esitys Ajankohtaista julkaisuarkistoista -seminaarissa 14.6.2012

De la sanidad del cuerpo a la sanidad del alma: estudio sobre la lógica de construcción de las identidades colectivas en el neo-pentecostalismo argentino

No presente artigo, o autor se propõe a estudar em grandes traços a lógica de construção das identidades coletivas que se desenvolvem dentro dos grupos evangélicos neo- pentecostais. Para isso analisa a síntese entre religião, psicanálise e auto-ajuda que expressa o discurso de "sanidade interior", desenvolvido no marco de uma igreja evangélica, localizada em um setor de altos ingressos na Cidade de Buenos Aires, Argentina. A teoria da hegemonia de Ernesto Laclau lhe permite analisar o lugar que os significantes flutuantes ocupam no trabalho religioso de construir uma identidade ampla que se nutre de diferentes universos simbólicos no momento de interpelar os sujeitos a partir da teologia da sanidade.

Neo-Timm staining in the thalamus of chronically epileptic rats

The thalamus is an important modulator of seizures and is severely affected in cholinergic models of epilepsy. In the present study, chronically epileptic rats had their brains processed for neo-Timm and acetylcholinesterase two months after the induction of status epilepticus with pilocarpine. Both controls and pilocarpine-treated animals presented neo-Timm staining in the anterodorsal nucleus, laterodorsal nucleus, reticular nucleus, most intralaminar nuclei, nucleus reuniens, and rhomboid nucleus of the thalamus, as well as in the zona incerta. The intensity of neo-Timm staining was similar in control and pilocarpine-treated rats, except for the nucleus reuniens and the rhomboid nucleus, which had a lower intensity of staining in the epileptic group. In animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy, zinc seems to modulate glutamate release and to decrease seizure activity. In this context, a reduction of neo-Timm-stained terminals in the midline thalamus could ultimately result in an increased excitatory activity, not only within its related nuclei, but also in anatomical structures that receive their efferent connections. This might contribute to the pathological substrate observed in chronic pilocarpine-treated epileptic animals.

Kerro viimeinkin, mitä neo-institutionalismi oikein on!

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Oletko iloinen kuin peipponen? – Persoonallisuusmittari NEO-PI-3:n suomennoksessa, ruotsinnoksessa ja ranskannoksessa käytetyt käännösstrategiat

Yhdysvaltapainotteisen psykologisen tutkimuksen takia psykologiset testit on useimmiten laadittu englanniksi ja amerikkalaiseen kohdekulttuuriin, ja tästä syystä ne pitää kääntää ja adaptoida eurooppalaiseen kohdekulttuuriimme. Tämän pro gradu -tutkielman tarkoituksena oli selvittää, mitä käännösstrategioita Costan ja McCraen (1992) NEO-PI-3-persoonallisuusmittarin suomen-, ruotsin- ja ranskankielisissä käännöksissä on käytetty. Kvalitatiivisessa tarkastelussa eri kieliversioissa esiintyneitä käännösratkaisuja vertailtiin Jan Pedersenin (2007; 2005) käännösstrategialuokitukseen perustuvan luokittelun avulla, jossa strategiat on jaettu lähde- ja kohdetekstiorientoituneisiin ratkaisuihin. Oletin tutkimushypoteesissani, että NEO-PI-3-persoonallisuusmittarin käännöksissä on käytetty enemmän kotouttavia eli kohdetekstiorientoituneita kuin vieraannuttavia eli lähdetekstiorientoituneita strategioita. Oletuksen vastaisesti tutkimustulokset osoittivat, että yleisimmin käytetty strategia oli lähdetekstiuskollinen suora käännös. Suomen- ja ruotsinkielisissä versioissa vieraannuttavia käännösratkaisuja esiintyi myös yhteenlaskettuna kotouttavia ratkaisuja useammin. Hypoteesia tuki kuitenkin tutkimustulos, jonka mukaan persoonallisuusmittarin ranskannoksessa kotouttavia strategioita oli käytetty vieraannuttavia ahkerammin. Yhteenvetona voi sanoa, että käytettyjen strategioiden kirjo oli laaja ja vaihteli tarkasteluun valitsemieni teemojen sisällä sekä kieliversioittain. Monenlaisilla käännösratkaisuilla voidaan saavuttaa käännös, joka on ekvivalentti ja toimiva uudessa kohdekulttuuriympäristössään. Kääntäjät kohdekielen ja -kulttuurin tuntijoina voivat tuoda psykologisten testimetodien kehittelyyn arvokasta asiantuntijuutta tarvittavan psykologisen tietämyksen lisäksi.