This PhD dissertation covers the dynamics of floodplain fisheries in the Waza Logone floodplain (Far North region, Cameroon) and conflicts between fishers. The main objective is to understand the... Show moreThis PhD dissertation covers the dynamics of floodplain fisheries in the Waza Logone floodplain (Far North region, Cameroon) and conflicts between fishers. The main objective is to understand the dynamics of the fisheries sector in the Waza Logone floodplain and specifically the level of fishing effort, diversity of fishing gear and conflicts between fishermen. It__s aims to (i) assess the current situation of the fishing effort and catches in the Waza Logone floodplain, (ii) evaluate the sustainability of fisheries practices, and (iii) provide a means to better understand the factors influencing conflicts and conflict resolution between fishers in the Waza Logone floodplain. Methodology consisted mainly of a rural appraisal technique and included an open workshop with 18 traditional and municipal authorities, leaders of international and national NGOs, an interview survey in 91 villages and a daily survey on fishermen, canoes and fishing materials, between August 2008 and June 2009 in 13 fishing spots. In addition, fishing channels along the Logomatya River, the Lorome Mazera River and around the Abana natural mares were counted, after which thirteen (13) of them were selected for a more detailed survey. It also included an institutional analysis on conflict management and fisheries policy in Cameroon and the Central and West African region. Show less
This dissertation comprises an empirical study and a meta-analytical study on autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning and attachment representations in maltreating parents. For the empirical... Show moreThis dissertation comprises an empirical study and a meta-analytical study on autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning and attachment representations in maltreating parents. For the empirical study we recruited a sample of 45 mothers with substantiated abuse and neglect and 45 non-maltreating control mothers. Mothers listened to infant cry sounds of varying pitches while their heart rate, vagal tone, pre-ejection period, skin conductance, and salivary α-amylase were measured. Maltreating mothers showed a blunted ANS response to the cry sounds, as well as a lack of coherence between ANS components, compared to the non-maltreating group. During a second appointment we conducted the Adult Attachment Interview. More maltreating mothers had an Unresolved/disoriented (U/d) attachment representation and maltreating mothers showed lower coherence of mind. In turn, U/d attachment was associated with a decrease in skin conductance during an attachment-related computer paradigm, while coherence of mind was associated with higher skin conductance during the paradigm. A meta-analysis of 11 studies (N = 524)showed that (risk for) child maltreatment was associated with higher levels of baseline ANS activity, while a second meta-analysis (k = 11, N = 503) showed no differences in ANS stress reactivity between maltreating parents/at-risk adults and non-maltreating/low-risk comparison groups. Show less
This subject of this thesis is toleration in the Netherlands after 2000. It presents an analysis of a number of parliamentary debates that have bearing on the treatment of religious and cultural... Show moreThis subject of this thesis is toleration in the Netherlands after 2000. It presents an analysis of a number of parliamentary debates that have bearing on the treatment of religious and cultural diversity in the Netherlands and on the integration of newcomers to Dutch society. It focuses on parliamentary debates since 2000 because of reports of diminishing tolerance and increasing assimilationism in the Netherlands post-2000. The question this research attempts to answer is how parliament conceives of the place and role of __moral communities__, i.e. ethnic, religious, or cultural communities, in the Netherlands. It specifically aims to determine to which degree and on what grounds moral communities are regarded as having the liberty to remain distinct from Dutch society and to what extent and on what grounds their members are required to integrate or assimilate. To that end liberal political philosophy, i.e. political philosophy investigating the grounds, form, and scope of individual liberty, is applied as an analytical tool in this research. Show less
New states seldom have new borders. The outcome of international negotiations is typically to maintain existing international borders and to follow administrative borders in demarcating the new... Show moreNew states seldom have new borders. The outcome of international negotiations is typically to maintain existing international borders and to follow administrative borders in demarcating the new international borders in line with the uti possidetis principle. These existing boundaries however prove rather volatile international borders. This begs the question: How are borders drawn? More specifically, how do diplomatic actors manage the implications of changes in state sovereignty for international borders? This study builds an analysis on a genealogy and sociological analysis of international negotiations concerning the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. It shows that practices are socially constructed on the basis of shared opinions and largely unquestioned beliefs that are instilled in (groups of ) negotiators who gain influence in the practice of boundary politics. While professionals in diplomacy tend to act on the basis of a fear of disturbance of international order by nationalism and state dissolution, public and military influences in diplomacy regularly introduce practices to prevent outbreaks of crises between entitled or antagonistic communities. Boundary maintenance is the response to the fear of professionals in diplomacy. This fear has prevailed in boundary politics since conflict broke out after the territorial division of India in the 1950s. Show less
The general aim of the studies in this dissertation is to provide more insight in the role of family characteristics, parent characteristics, and child characteristics in early child emotion... Show moreThe general aim of the studies in this dissertation is to provide more insight in the role of family characteristics, parent characteristics, and child characteristics in early child emotion socialization and children’s social-emotional development. In Chapter 2 the degree to which fathers and mothers elaborate on emotions with their daughters and sons is examined from toddlerhood to preschool age. In addition, the role of gender stereotypes in parents’ use of emotion talk is examined. Chapter 3 reports on the role of the gender combination of siblings on everyday (emotion-related) parent-child interactions. Chapter 4 focuses on the potential influence of the proportion of male siblings in fathers’ and mothers’ family of origin on their current gender-typed parenting characteristics, including parents’ gendered use of emotion talk. In addition to a direct relation between parents’ family background and their gender-typed parenting, an indirect effect through parents’ testosterone levels is tested. In Chapter 5 a mediation model is tested in which the link between parents’ psychopathology symptoms and preschoolers’ social-emotional functioning is mediated by the degree to which parents elaborate on negative emotions with their children. Finally, in Chapter 6 the main findings of these empirical studies are reviewed and integrated. Show less
Parenting influences many aspects of child development, including socio-emotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. Yet most studies report only modest effect sizes. An increasingly likely... Show moreParenting influences many aspects of child development, including socio-emotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. Yet most studies report only modest effect sizes. An increasingly likely explanation is that not all children are equally affected by environmental factors, including parenting. The differential susceptibility theory proposes that some children might be more susceptible to both positive and negative environmental influences, compared to other children. Such differences in susceptibility are thought to be due to genetic, temperamental, or physiological susceptibility factors. In the current thesis, we tested the theory of differential susceptibility of children to the effects of parenting in a large population-based cohort, the Generation R Study. Doing so, we went beyond common methods. First, we investigated differential susceptibility from a developmental perspective by including multiple measures over time. Second, we went beyond single-gene/polymorphisms in the investigation of gene-environment interplay by aggregating genetic variation in a set of dopamine genes. Third, we extended previous research on mild perinatal adversity as a susceptibility factor by examining its moderating role in the association between harsh parenting and hair cortisol levels, taking into account background factors that we demonstrated to be of influence on hair cortisol levels. Show less
Adolescence, defined as the transition phase between childhood and adulthood, is a time of many physical, cognitive and social-emotional changes. It is a natural time of exploring, thrill seeking,... Show moreAdolescence, defined as the transition phase between childhood and adulthood, is a time of many physical, cognitive and social-emotional changes. It is a natural time of exploring, thrill seeking, and for eventually setting long-term goals and aspirations. One of the most prominent findings is that adolescents take more risks than children or adults. The focus of this thesis is on adolescent risk taking behavior. The goal is to identify individual difference factors that are related to risk taking behavior and assess how these variables change over development. Adolescence is associated with major changes in hormonal levels, brain function and social environment. In this thesis it is tested how changes in pubertal development, brain function and social environment together influence real life risk taking. The studies in this thesis show that neural responses to rewards in the striatum are elevated during adolescence. This response is influenced by chronological age, pubertal development, personality and the social context. Importantly, the striatum response to rewards is related to real life risk taking behavior and therefore has functional relevance. The results of this thesis provide vital insight in the complex relationship between reward processing and real life risk taking behavior. Show less
Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) is associated with a wide range of behavioral problems, including autism symptomatology. In the current thesis, brain structure and function were assesed in boys with... Show moreKlinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) is associated with a wide range of behavioral problems, including autism symptomatology. In the current thesis, brain structure and function were assesed in boys with 47,XXY, boys with idiopathic autism spectrum disorder, and non-clinical controls, using multiple imaging techniques. The goal was to assess the mechanisms underlying social dysfunction in 47,XXY, and to investigate to what degree these mechanisms differ from those in individuals with idiopathic autism. The results show that individuals with 47,XXY show characteristic deviations in brain structure and function associated with higher order cognitive functions, social emotional information processing, and language processing. Additionally, while boys with 47,XXY show considerable overlap with boys with idiopathic ASD in autism symptomatology, there are specific differences in the underlying neural mechanisms that revolve around the frontal lobes and insular cortices. These findings may have implications for intervention studies (e.g. focused on real time fMRI neurofeedback), as well as clinical practice. It may impact the selection of mental health care strategies that take into account this variability in mechanisms underlying social dysfunction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Show less
The overall aim of the studies presented in this dissertation is to provide insight in the differences and similarities between mothers' and fathers' parenting practices. Further, this... Show moreThe overall aim of the studies presented in this dissertation is to provide insight in the differences and similarities between mothers' and fathers' parenting practices. Further, this dissertation examines the effect of biological factors (i.e., parental sex hormones) and child factors (i.e., gender, age, and birth order) on parenting behavior of mothers and fathers. In Chapter 2 differences between mothers and fathers with respect to parental sensitivity and nonintrusiveness are studied, also examining child gender and birth order. Further, in Chapter 3 the effect of child age and birth order on mothers' and fathers' sensitivity and nonintrusiveness is examined longitudinally. Chapter 4 focuses on the association between sex hormones (i.e., testosterone) and parental sensitivity and nonintrusiveness of mothers and fathers towards their two young children. In Chapter 5 differences between mothers' and fathers' discipline strategies towards their firstborn and second-born children are examined, also taking into account child gender. Finally, in Chapter 6 the main findings and implications of the studies presented in this dissertation are discussed and suggestions for future research are made. Show less
Challenging or provocative student behavior, such as talking back to the teacher, or disruptive classroom behavior, is an issue for schools around the world. In the Netherlands there is a growing... Show moreChallenging or provocative student behavior, such as talking back to the teacher, or disruptive classroom behavior, is an issue for schools around the world. In the Netherlands there is a growing need for school time-out programs that are meant to cater to the needs of students who have been expelled due to their maladaptive behavior and are not accepted in another school for this same reason. The most common school time-out program in the Netherlands is called Rebound. Rebounds are meant to achieve two goals: (1) care and interventions for students who are referred, and (2) a positive and safe school climate for their non-referred peers. Using comparative empirical approaches, this study focuses on the fit between referred students’ characteristics and the program offered in Rebounds, the effects of Rebound facilities on students’ social adjustment, and the association between leisure activities and school adjustment. Show less
Globally, the call for impact of science on society is louder than ever. The Netherlands is no exception. In 2004, valorisation was introduced as a core element of Dutch science policy, aiming to... Show moreGlobally, the call for impact of science on society is louder than ever. The Netherlands is no exception. In 2004, valorisation was introduced as a core element of Dutch science policy, aiming to increase the societal benefits of academic research. In scientific practice, the introduction of valorisation meant scientists got a new task, in addition to teaching and education. This thesis studies the valorisation policy from a principal-agent perspective. It aims to answer two questions. 1) How has the valorisation policy of Dutch government been translated to academic practice in the Netherlands between 2004 and 2014? And 2) How can societal benefits of academic research be evaluated? Scientists from a multitude of disciplines have been interviewed and surveyed and policy documents have been studied. The first key result is that the Dutch science system is in a transition. Scientists are motivated to engage with society and do so in many different ways. However, they have a limited understanding of valorisation policies and feel poorly equipped for the task. The second key result is that valorisation should be evaluated as a process. This facilitates learning among scientists and as such allows for improving valorisation practices. The study ends with policy recommendations. Show less
Even though John Bowlby (1907-1990) is generally regarded as the founder of attachment theory, Mary Ainsworth’s (1913-1999) contribution is considerable and goes beyond the design of the Strange... Show moreEven though John Bowlby (1907-1990) is generally regarded as the founder of attachment theory, Mary Ainsworth’s (1913-1999) contribution is considerable and goes beyond the design of the Strange Situation Procedure and the introduction of maternal sensitivity as decisive for a secure attachment relationship. Ainsworth worked in Toronto with William Blatz (1895-1964) for almost two decades before she moved to London and worked with Bowlby in 1950. Ainsworth was heavily influenced by Blatz and his security theory and infused Bowlby’s attachment theory in the making with elements of Blatz’s security theory. These elements, like for instance the secure base phenomenon, are clearly recognizable even now. The Strange Situation Procedure, an instrument Ainsworth designed to measure the quality of attachment in young children, can also be traced back to her time with Blatz: in the 1930s she designed instruments to measure the concept of security. The Strange Situation Procedure, however, was not the first of its kind: since the 1930s researchers had been experimenting with children, alone or in the company of their parents in unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes in the presence of a stranger. Taken together, we conclude that Ainsworth’s contribution to attachment theory is more significant than hitherto believed. Show less
This dissertation explores the involvement of the locus-coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NE) system in both temporal attention and uncertainty processing. To this end, a number of cognitive tasks are... Show moreThis dissertation explores the involvement of the locus-coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NE) system in both temporal attention and uncertainty processing. To this end, a number of cognitive tasks are used (Stroop, passive viewing, attentional blink, accessory stimulus, auditory oddball) and a number of techniques are utilized (electroencephalogram [EEG], pupillometry, phsychopharmacology). Show less
The studies described in this thesis aim to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that result in vulnerability to autism and ADHD symptomatology in individuals with the 22q11 deletion... Show moreThe studies described in this thesis aim to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that result in vulnerability to autism and ADHD symptomatology in individuals with the 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). The objective of the current thesis was to investigate the association between neurocognitive functioning and severity of autism and ADHD symptomatology in individuals with 22q11DS. For this purpose intellectual functioning, executive functioning and social cognition were assessed in a sample of children and adolescents (aged 9-18.5 years) with 22q11DS. Our findings show that children and adolescents with 22q11DS present with severe impairments on various domains of neurocognitive functioning. Some of these impairments are associated with the variable expression of social behavioral problems within the syndrome, underlining the importance of monitoring the cognitive development within this population. This knowledge can be used as a starting point for the development and adjustment of preventive interventions and for treatments of children and adolescents with 22q11DS who are at risk of these developmental problems. For clinical practice and future research it is important to be aware of the role of both genetic factors and neurocognitive functioning in the presence and severity of behavioral problems in syndromes like 22q11DS. Show less
Children and adolescents who are chronically rejected by their peers suffer from widespread impairments in daily life, ranging from poor academic achievement and dropping out of school, to... Show moreChildren and adolescents who are chronically rejected by their peers suffer from widespread impairments in daily life, ranging from poor academic achievement and dropping out of school, to delinquency and the development of mental health problems. To gain a better understanding of the developmental processes that give rise to such impairments, the research described in this dissertation examined the neurocognitive underpinnings of processes that play a role in the emergence and maintenance of peer group rejection and acceptance. The first part of this dissertation focuses on neurocognitive processes underlying reactions to social exclusion. The second part concentrates on the neurocognitive processes involved in sharing valuable resources, based on the widely established finding that frequent displays of prosocial behaviors, such as cooperating, helping, and sharing, are associated with both gaining and maintaining acceptance among peers. The empirical work in this dissertation demonstrates that a developmental cognitive neuroscience approach provides unique insights into the emotional, regulatory, and socio-cognitive processes thought to play a role in the emergence and maintenance of peer group acceptance and rejection. Show less
This thesis aimed to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms of adolescent onset depression and anxiety disorders. A longitudinal fMRI study design was used that included both task related brain... Show moreThis thesis aimed to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms of adolescent onset depression and anxiety disorders. A longitudinal fMRI study design was used that included both task related brain activation and resting state functional connectivity. All participants were scanned three times in a six-month period. In between scan sessions the adolescents from the clinical group received treatment as usual. Adolescents from the control group were scanned within the same time interval but did not receive treatment. During a scan session several MRI parameters were collected including task based fMRI (emotional face processing task) and resting state fMRI. We also administered several questionnaires about derpession and anxiety symptomatology. It was demonstrated that adolescents with depressive and anxiety disorders show differentiating patterns of amygdala reactivity and connectivity compared to a healthy control group. Furthermore, using a dimensional approach and taking individual differences in self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms into account highlighted the role of self-reported anxiety symptoms in amygdala reactivity during emotional faces processing. These findings indicate that the amygdala indeed is an important region involved in emotional face processing and that focusing on this region can provide further insights in the development and persistence of depressive and anxiety disorders in adolescents. Show less
Digital humanities is an emerging field whose practitioners apply digital technology to humanistic research problems. Its manifestations are diverse: from the use of online annotation tools in the... Show moreDigital humanities is an emerging field whose practitioners apply digital technology to humanistic research problems. Its manifestations are diverse: from the use of online annotation tools in the collaborative study of empirical sources, the computational analysis of large corpora of textual data, to the use of provocative digital performances for exploring the twists and turns of poststructuralist theory. At the same time, such engagement with novel technologies is often full of tension. In contrast to the single-author, monograph-oriented research that characterizes established forms of scholarship, digital humanities is often practiced in collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that produces digital output rather than traditional publications. The use of digital technology thus creates exciting new possibilities to supplement and extend humanistic knowledge production, but it also entails uncommon requirements regarding the epistemic, social, and material organization of research. Drawing on a combination of ethnographic work and theories from Science & Technology Studies, this thesis investigates the conflicts that arise as scholars try to incorporate digital approaches into their established practices. Its main argument is that lasting innovations in the scholarly work process will only be possible if they are informed by a reflexive sensibility for the history and organizational specificities of the humanities. Show less
BookStart has been developed to enhance parent-child verbal interactions in early childhood by promoting book sharing. Parents receive a voucher for a baby book and free access to baby books in... Show moreBookStart has been developed to enhance parent-child verbal interactions in early childhood by promoting book sharing. Parents receive a voucher for a baby book and free access to baby books in the library. In a large-scale research, we found that if parents complied with the BookStart suggestion to start in the first year with book sharing, their children’s language scores in the second year were higher than those of a similar group of children not exposed to BookStart. In addition we found that book reading was a better predictor of language skills at 22 months than at 15 months, which may indicate a snowball effect. A reactive temperament proved a risk factor for language development, due to low verbal stimulation from parents in the first years, but an asset when parents increased verbal parent–child interaction under influence of BookStart. Lastly, we found that parents from children with a difficult temperament participated more frequently in BookStart, possibly because they felt that the quality of verbal interaction in their family needed improvement. Parents with a low educational background appeared to be less attracted to BookStart, probably because they do not realize the importance of early book sharing for child language development. Show less
Based on the available empirical evidence, it was investigated in the present dissertation which features of electronic storybooks are beneficial for young children's language and literacy... Show moreBased on the available empirical evidence, it was investigated in the present dissertation which features of electronic storybooks are beneficial for young children's language and literacy development. In a meta-analysis interactive features like 'hotspots' and games were found to distract children from the story. Switching between listening to a story and playing with interactive elements requires multitasking and might be too demanding for young children's cognitive capacities. In contrast, multimedia elements like animation, background music and sound effects that illustrate the abstract language of narrative stories were found to facilitate children's comprehension of the story and word learning. For instance, motion in animated illustrations were found to attract children's attention to the part of the picture that is relevant to the oral narration and thus facilitate story comprehension. Guidelines for developers, parents and teachers are discussed. Show less
Gender is one of the most important organizers of social life, from the cradle to the grave. In the family context gender shapes biological, social, and cognitive processes at both the parent and... Show moreGender is one of the most important organizers of social life, from the cradle to the grave. In the family context gender shapes biological, social, and cognitive processes at both the parent and child level. The general aim of the studies presented in this dissertation is to provide more insight into the role of child gender, parent gender, and sibling gender composition in the socio-emotional development of children. In Chapter 2 the extent to which mothers and fathers use differential control strategies with their sons and daughters is examined meta-analytically. Chapter 3 reports on the implicit gender stereotypes of preschoolers and their parents. Chapter 4 focuses on our newly developed picture book, designed to elicit parental statements about gender. Mothers’ and fathers’ gender talk towards their young sons and daughters are examined. In Chapter 5 a moderated mediation model is tested in which the link from child gender, via parental physical discipline, to child aggressive behavior a year later, is moderated by parents’ gender stereotypes. Chapter 6 presents a literature review on gender-related processes in the family context and the newly developed Gendered Family Process model. In Chapter 7 the main findings of these studies are integrated and discussed. Show less
