In this article, we examine how religious minorities in the densely populated Netherlands manage burial norms in the face of scarcity of land. Using legal pluralism, we explore how local and... Show moreIn this article, we examine how religious minorities in the densely populated Netherlands manage burial norms in the face of scarcity of land. Using legal pluralism, we explore how local and national authorities; funeral agents; and three religious minority communities deal with the spatial and temporal dimensions of death and burial, both inside and outside the Dutch conurbation The Randstad, in a context where the Dutch tradition of consociationalism lingers on. Based on fieldwork and legal analysis, our findings show that religious burial norms have peripheral existence, both within Dutch law where they are treated as exceptions, and geographically, as religious cemeteries still remain situated outside The Randstad. Furthermore, tensions can emerge not only between communities, but also within them, as exemplified by challenges faced by non-believers. In a context of migration, Dutch cemeteries become spaces where multiple normative orders concerning emotion, (non)belief, religion, society and the state intersect. This turns the space for the dead into a place where some members of minority groups can find the rest they are longing for, while others cannot. Show less
Reflections on the sovereign debt crisis often portray the Eurogroup and the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) as inaccessible for euro area outsiders. Yet, common wisdom suggests that Council... Show moreReflections on the sovereign debt crisis often portray the Eurogroup and the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) as inaccessible for euro area outsiders. Yet, common wisdom suggests that Council representatives can circumvent exclusion due to differentiated integration (DI) by complying with insider norms. This article studies whether and how compliance with procedural norms socialised amongst representatives from euro area member states (EAMS) determined patterns of non-EAMS involvement in Eurogroup and EWG interaction during the sovereign debt crisis. The argument highlights the role of deliberation and consensus-building norms, suggesting that they gained particular robustness amongst EAMS representatives. Those non-EAMS representatives who consistently complied with these insider norms could secure involvement in intergovernmental debates amongst EAMS. Exclusion was mostly relevant to norm violators. This article sheds light on the institutional consequences of DI in Economic and Monetary Union, highlighting its structural effects on governance and decision-making processes during the sovereign debt crisis. Show less
The aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal’ in March 2016 in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, despite the fact that the agreement... Show moreThe aim of this article is to understand why the EU opted to conclude the ‘EU–Turkey refugee deal’ in March 2016 in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, despite the fact that the agreement deeply contradicts fundamental EU values and norms. The article seeks to explain the outcome—the conclusion of the EU–Turkey refugee deal—by analysing not only the ability of EU institutions to shape decisions, but also their motivations, ideas and preferences in justifying the EU’s actions in responding to the refugee challenge. It is argued that the deal results from ideational and power struggles between supranational (the European Parliament and the European Commission) and intergovernmental institutions (the European Council and the Council of the European Union). It is demonstrated that while the former put forward normative arguments, the latter invoked security as a main concern to avoid internal divisions between Member States. This article also reveals that such ideational and power struggles have consequences for the EU’s identity. Theoretically, the article builds on the new intergovernmentalist claims and on the normative/civilian power literature. Empirically, it explores the usage of normative justifications by EU institutions and points to inter-institutional tensions in framing the EU’s response to the refugee challenge. Show less
The primary aim of the NormQuest study described in this thesis was to generate evidencebased, reference values for 19 self-report and observational questionnaires. The focus was on questionnaires... Show moreThe primary aim of the NormQuest study described in this thesis was to generate evidencebased, reference values for 19 self-report and observational questionnaires. The focus was on questionnaires measuring mood, anxiety, and somatoform (MAS) disorders used in Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM). The set of cut-off values of the ROM reference group (__healthy__) can be used in specialized mental health care by therapists to support the decision whether a patient is sufficiently recovered to be considered as a member of the healthy population, and no longer as a member of the patient population. These reference values are suitable as decision support for referral back to primary care physicians. Additionally, the set of the ROM patient group (__clinically ill__) cut-off values can be used by primary care physicians as decision support for referral to the specialized mental health care. To allow determination of cut-off points for skewed distributions, percentile scores were used. In addition, we assessed the discriminative power of the questionnaire scores by means of Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analyses. Finally, we calculated reference values in separate strata of gender and age. The secondary aim of the NormQuest study concerned the need for the development of public domain questionnaires. In the NormQuest study, the generic Symptom Questionnaire-48 (SQ-48), aimed at broad applicability in patients with MAS disorders, was developed. Also, for the SQ-48 reference values were calculated Show less
Aardoom, J.J.; Dingemans, A.E.; Landt, M.C.T.S.O.; Furth, E.F. van 2012
The first aim of this study was to provide norms for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in a diverse and large clinical sample of individuals with an eating disorder (ED), and a... Show moreThe first aim of this study was to provide norms for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in a diverse and large clinical sample of individuals with an eating disorder (ED), and a general population sample without an ED. Norms for individuals with obesity without an ED were also provided, as a more relevant comparison group for individuals with binge eating disorder. The second aim was to investigate the discriminative validity of the EDE-Q. A sample of females with an ED (N=935), women from the general population without an ED (N=235), and obese females without an ED (N=321) completed the EDE-Q Explorative factor analyses did not support the theorized four subscales of the EDE-Q. Norms for EDE-Q global scores were provided for each of the three samples. Within the ED sample, norms were provided separately for patients with different ED diagnoses. Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed the EDE-Q global score to be highly accurate in discriminating individuals with an ED from those without, and moderately accurate in discriminating individuals with binge eating disorder from those with obesity. The presented norms contribute to a more accurate interpretation of EDE-Q scores, providing an index of the severity level of ED psychopathology. Furthermore, these norms can be used to assess clinical significant change during treatment. In addition, this study demonstrates that the EDE-Q when using its global score, is a valid instrument to assess levels of ED psychopathology. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Show less
The making of commitments is often used as an intervention aimed at increasing pro-environmental behavior. Research shows that when people commit to changing their environmental behaviors, they... Show moreThe making of commitments is often used as an intervention aimed at increasing pro-environmental behavior. Research shows that when people commit to changing their environmental behaviors, they tend to adhere to their commitments. In this dissertation it is investigated whether commitment making is effective in improving agricultural nature conservation and with that, environmental quality of farm lands. Furthermore, a conceptual review is offered, as well as an experimental investigation of the conditions under which people are willing to make such commitments. Results show that commitment making combined with tailored information is indeed effective in improving farmers’ nature conservation. Several explanations of the effect of commitment making on behavior are offered. Also, it is shown that that the willingness to invest in commitment making is contingent on the interplay of dispositional trust and situational expectations. Taken together, this dissertation aims to provide the reader with a perspective on the entire process of commitment making: under which conditions people engage in it, if it is successful in altering behavior, and how it is successful. Show less
