Search Results (85)

Consciousness remains one of the most critical yet least understood functions of the brain, not only in humans but also in certain highly organized animal species. In this review, we propose treating consciousness as an emergent, goal-directed informational system organized by the subjective “self” as an active system-forming factor. We present an integrative theoretical–systems framework in which subjectivity functions as system-forming factor of consciousness (SFF) throughout biological evolution. Beginning with proto-conscious invertebrates, we trace progressive elaborations of working and long-term memory, the refinement of behavioral programs, and the emergence of an internal arbiter capable of resolving competing drives. In endothermic vertebrates, subjectivity acquires distinct functional features—sensory filtering, causal reasoning, and adaptive arbitration—underpinned by increasingly complex neural architectures. This evolutionary trajectory culminates in humans, where subjectivity attains its highest level of organization through culturally mediated networks. Although the framework does not assume any specific neural substrate, it provides a testable roadmap linking evolutionary biology, information theory, and quantitative modeling. By clarifying why consciousness arose and how subjectivity shapes complex networks, this perspective also lays the groundwork for exploring possible nonbiological extensions of subjectivity. Full article

This philosophical essay reconsiders and redefines the moral attributes, virtues, and duties of an excellent secondary school teacher, emphasizing their pivotal role in the moral development of adolescents during secondary socialization. Grounded in Kantian deontological ethics, it formulates 15 maxims as categorical imperatives to guide morally acceptable teacher behavior, focusing on their function as role models in shaping students’ moral consciousness, as informed by Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Through a multidisciplinary approach integrating philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, sociology, and anthropology, the essay provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexity of the teaching profession. The results offer a foundation for future empirical studies and the development of teacher training programs to enhance educational quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health consciousness has emerged as a key driver of healthy food purchase decisions in the post-pandemic era. Despite growing interest in health-oriented products, the psychological mechanisms through which health consciousness influences purchase intentions remain understudied. This research examined how health consciousness impacts healthy food purchase intentions through multiple psychological pathways, integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior with additional constructs. Methods: Data were collected through an online survey of 573 Peruvian consumers. Healthy foods were operationalized based on their nutritional quality, including a high nutrient content, low saturated fats and added sugars levels, and minimal processing. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized relationships between health consciousness, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, self-identity, moral norms, and purchase intention. Results: Health consciousness demonstrated significant direct effects on all psychological mediators (attitudes: β = 0.643; perceived behavioral control: β = 0.593; self-identity: β = 0.638; moral norms: β = 0.613) and purchase intention (β = 0.163). However, only perceived behavioral control (β = 0.261) and self-identity (β = 0.107) significantly influenced the purchase intention, while the effects of attitudes and moral norms were non-significant. Conclusions: The findings challenge traditional assumptions about the primacy of attitudes in consumer decision making and highlight the importance of perceived behavioral control and self-identity in translating health consciousness into purchase intentions. Successfully promoting healthy food consumption requires strategies addressing both practical barriers and identity-related aspects of food choice, providing valuable insights for food marketers and public health initiatives. Full article

This research explores the intersection of health informatics and behavioral science through the lens of fitness technologies, specifically Fitbit products. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examines how these technologies influence user acceptance and physical activity motivation. Employing a qualitative approach, the paper analyzed Fitbit user reviews to reveal insights into real-world interactions and perceptions, thereby deepening the understanding of technology adoption behaviors in health contexts. The findings highlight the significance of perceived ease of use and usefulness, as well as the integration of health consciousness in technology acceptance, enriching the TAM framework. Additionally, the study confirms Self-Determination Theory’s proposition of intrinsic motivation being more effective for lasting behavior change, as seen in users’ evolving interactions with Fitbit features. Furthermore, this study contributes to health behavior theories by demonstrating the role of technological devices in altering health routines. Full article

(1) Background: With the growing severity of global environmental issues and increasing consumer health consciousness, green consumption has become a prominent focus in both research and practice. However, studies on the mechanisms of health consciousness and environmental awareness influencing the purchase intentions of sports enthusiasts toward sustainable sports products remain relatively limited. This study investigates how health consciousness and environmental awareness impact the green consumption behavior of sports enthusiasts through psychological pathways, including attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, aiming to reveal their underlying mechanisms. (2) Methods: Based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study developed a theoretical model incorporating health consciousness and environmental awareness. Data were collected via a questionnaire survey, yielding 407 valid responses. The sample was gender-balanced (52.8% male, 47.2% female), predominantly consisting of young individuals aged 26–35 (44.7%) and 18–25 (28.0%), with primary occupations being company employees/managers (46.2%) and students/teachers (25.3%). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software to systematically evaluate the research hypotheses and the model’s applicability. (3) Results: The model exhibited excellent fit indices, with a χ²/df value of 2.129, an RMSEA value of 0.053, an RMR value of 0.029, and GFI, CFI, NFI, and NNFI values all exceeding 0.90, indicating that the model structure adequately explained the relationships among latent variables. All research hypotheses were significantly supported (p < 0.01), demonstrating that health consciousness and environmental awareness not only directly influence purchase intentions but also exert significant indirect effects through attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. (4) Conclusions: Health consciousness and environmental awareness are critical drivers of sports enthusiasts’ purchasing behavior for sustainable sports products. This study deepens the understanding of the mechanisms underlying green consumption behavior and offers practical implications for related businesses. Companies should enhance product healthiness and environmental friendliness while optimizing consumer psychological perceptions to increase purchase intentions. Full article

We present and develop local prospect theory (LPT), a novel framework for understanding consciousness, and, in particular, subjective experience and free will. While predictive processing (PP) theories model the brain as trying to optimize the accuracy of predictions, LPT sees uncertainty as an essential feature of conscious decision-making. This is achieved by creating a “local prospect”—a range of potential developments colored by subjective experience from which an agent can freely choose how to react. Drawing on global workspace theory, LPT conceptualizes consciousness as a self-maintaining process of circulating neural activation, creating a temporary working memory where thoughts and feelings coming from different brain modules enter into an asynchronous, non-linear interaction. This contrasts with unconscious processes, which operate automatically and deterministically. LPT proposes entropy-based measures, including the determination of actions by conditions and the breadth of prospect, to quantify the range of potential developments considered. This framework allows us to understand Buddhist practices and concepts, such as mindfulness, liberation from attachments, and meditation, which broaden consciousness and de-automatize reactions by reducing the influence of conditioning. The proposed prospect measure may be operationalized by indicators such as the variety of action, breadth of perception, and unpredictability of behavior, thus allowing for the empirical testing of the theory. Full article

While environmental consciousness has gained global momentum, the influence of climate advocacy on consumer behavior within tourism has rarely been examined. The present study investigated the impact of climate advocacy on regenerative tourism intentions while examining the moderating effects of data privacy-conscious marketing and social moral licensing. Drawing on theoretical frameworks focusing on social psychology and digital marketing ethics, the present study employed a survey-based quantitative approach to collect online data from environmentally conscious tourists in Hawaii (N = 526). The findings highlighted that the positive impact of climate advocacy on regenerative tourism intention is significantly reinforced by data privacy-conscious marketing and social moral licensing. The present study extends theoretical implications by underscoring the integration of behavior change theories in understanding consumer decision-making processes in regenerative tourism. Importantly, the practical implications of this study advocate for ethical digital marketing strategies and climate advocacy initiatives to support regenerative tourism practices. Hence, the present study offers ground-breaking evidence on the nuanced interplay between climate advocacy, privacy-conscious marketing, social moral licensing, and regenerative tourism intention. These strategic insights can aid tourism marketers and destination managers in fostering a more environmentally responsible tourism industry amidst global environmental challenges. Full article

This study aimed to examine the factors influencing Chinese tourists’ shopping behavior during shopping tourism in Korea using a theoretical framework based on the modified theory of planned behavior (TPB). A quantitative research method was used; the questionnaire for this study was posted on Wenjuanxing for data collection and 269 valid questionnaires were analyzed in September 2024 using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of analyzing the 269 questionnaires showed that attitude, conformity, perceived behavioral control, and perceived quality of goods influenced shopping intention. However, face consciousness did not affect shopping intentions. Additionally, Chinese tourists’ shopping intentions influenced their shopping behavior during shopping tourism in Korea. The results of this study reveal the potential mechanisms of the influence of shopping intentions with conformity (a factor of Chinese-subjective norms) and the perceived quality of goods (a new factor) in shopping behavior, and they provide theoretical guidance and appropriate marketing strategies for companies in the Korean tourism field. Full article

Online health service (OHS) platforms can provide sustainable healthcare services in China where healthcare demand continues to grow along with the scarcity of healthcare resources. This study investigated the levels of satisfaction of Chinese consumers’ experiences with OHS platforms and their reuse and electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) recommendation intentions. This study provides data for educating consumers on OHS platforms and for guiding strategic business planning for the OHS market. The theoretical model applied was the theory of planned behavior, augmented by integrating factors such as perceived service quality and subjective knowledge into its framework. Data were collected in April 2024 through an online survey of Chinese consumers who had used OHS platforms in the past year. The data were assessed using structural equation modeling and multiple group analysis. The findings indicate that various factors, including attitudes, perceived interaction quality, behavioral control, perceived system quality, perceived information quality, and subjective knowledge concerning OHS platforms, are significant enhancers of user satisfaction and reuse and e-WOM intentions. Health consciousness is a moderating variable in the dynamics between consumer satisfaction and their propensity to engage in e-WOM. Strategies targeting factors that influence satisfaction require development. Full article

Sustainable food consumption is critical for addressing global environmental challenges and promoting health and ethical practices. Understanding what drives sustainable food choices among younger generations, particularly Generation Z, is essential for developing effective strategies to encourage sustainable consumption patterns. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework, this study aims to explore how the variables of the theory (personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), along with consumer knowledge, trust, and health concerns, affect Generation Z’s intentions to buy sustainable food. The research was carried out in Poland via the online interview method (CAWI), with 438 users ranging between the ages 18 and 27. The results show that attitudes and knowledge are significant predictors of sustainable food consumption among Generation Z, while subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, health consciousness, and trust do not significantly affect purchase intentions. This research underscores the importance of educational campaigns and marketing strategies that enhance consumer knowledge and shape positive attitudes towards sustainable food. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers, marketers, and educators aiming to encourage sustainable practices. Understanding the drivers of Generation Z’s sustainable food consumption behaviors can provide valuable insights for developing effective strategies to promote sustainable consumption patterns. This study adds to the body of knowledge on sustainable food consumption by highlighting the specific factors that drive Generation Z’s purchasing intentions. Full article

Generation Z (Gen Z) is widely acknowledged for their heightened eco-consciousness. Nevertheless, a notable research gap persists in the empirical examination of eco-friendly preferences within this demographic group, particularly concerning low-carbon transportation and hotel selections. Utilizing structural equation modeling and data collected from 357 Gen Z travelers, this study investigates the interconnected factors influencing Gen Z travelers’ intentions toward adopting low-carbon transportation and making low-carbon hotel choices based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The results indicate that perceived value and environmental concern exert significant influence on the formation of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control among Gen Z travelers. As a result, these psychosocial constructs make a substantial contribution to the intention of Gen Z travelers of adopting low-carbon tourism behaviors. Additionally, the study uncovers a positive correlation between the propensity to use low-carbon transportation and the inclination to choose low-carbon hotels for accommodation. These findings underscore the interconnected facets of Gen Z’s preferences for low-carbon tourism, thereby indicating the prospect for collaborative efforts to bolster sustainability within the tourism industry. Full article

This study comprehensively examines the coupling effect of government policies, enterprise behavior, and existing technology on the diffusion of innovative technology. Utilizing multiplex network theory, a multiplex network model is constructed to couple policy incentives, enterprise innovation consciousness, and technology diffusion. Both global- and local-order parameters are introduced to characterize the interaction mechanisms between new and old technologies. By employing the microscopic Markov chain approach (MMCA), the threshold for technology diffusion is derived, theoretically revealing the mechanisms behind the diffusion of innovative technology. Considering the heterogeneity of enterprises, a numerical simulation is conducted on a scale-free network. The results indicate that, as the intensity of policy incentives increases, the threshold for technology diffusion decreases, promoting the spread of innovative technology. Additionally, the coupling relationship between existing technology and innovative technology influences the diffusion scale of the latter. The innovation behavior of enterprises further facilitates the adoption and dissemination of innovative technology. Full article

The simulation analogy presented in this work enhances the accessibility of abstract quantum theories, specifically the stochastic hydrodynamic model (SQHM), by relating them to our daily experiences. The SQHM incorporates the influence of fluctuating gravitational background, a form of dark energy, into quantum equations. This model successfully addresses key aspects of objective-collapse theories, including resolving the ‘tails’ problem through the definition of quantum potential length of interaction in addition to the De Broglie length, beyond which coherent Schrödinger quantum behavior and wavefunction tails cannot be maintained. The SQHM emphasizes that an external environment is unnecessary, asserting that the quantum stochastic behavior leading to wavefunction collapse can be an inherent property of physics in a spacetime with fluctuating metrics. Embedded in relativistic quantum mechanics, the theory establishes a coherent link between the uncertainty principle and the constancy of light speed, aligning seamlessly with finite information transmission speed. Within quantum mechanics submitted to fluctuations, the SQHM derives the indeterminacy relation between energy and time, offering insights into measurement processes impossible within a finite time interval in a truly quantum global system. Experimental validation is found in confirming the Lindemann constant for solid lattice melting points and the ⁴He transition from fluid to superfluid states. The SQHM’s self-consistency lies in its ability to describe the dynamics of wavefunction decay (collapse) and the measure process. Additionally, the theory resolves the pre-existing reality problem by showing that large-scale systems naturally decay into decoherent states stable in time. Continuing, the paper demonstrates that the physical dynamics of SQHM can be analogized to a computer simulation employing optimization procedures for realization. This perspective elucidates the concept of time in contemporary reality and enriches our comprehension of free will. The overall framework introduces an irreversible process impacting the manifestation of macroscopic reality at the present time, asserting that the multiverse exists solely in future states, with the past comprising the formed universe after the current moment. Locally uncorrelated projective decays of wavefunction, at the present time, function as a reduction of the multiverse to a single universe. Macroscopic reality, characterized by a foam-like consistency where microscopic domains with quantum properties coexist, offers insights into how our consciousness perceives dynamic reality. It also sheds light on the spontaneous emergence of gravity in discrete quantum spacetime evolution, and the achievement of the classical general relativity limit in quantum loop gravity and causal dynamical triangulation. The simulation analogy highlights a strategy focused on minimizing information processing, facilitating the universal simulation in solving its predetermined problem. From within, reality becomes the manifestation of specific physical laws emerging from the inherent structure of the simulation devised to address its particular issue. In this context, the reality simulation appears to employ an optimization strategy, minimizing information loss and data management in line with the simulation’s intended purpose. Full article

In today’s society, the consumption of organic products presents both significant benefits and potential barriers, as evidenced by the intrinsic and extrinsic factors shaping consumer behavior among university-aged millennials. This study explores the motivators influencing consumer behavior toward organic product purchases and identifies barriers that may inhibit university-aged millennials from engaging in such consumption practices. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with thirty-eight university students in Ecuador and Peru. The analysis employed Grounded Theory methods. The findings of this research indicate that intrinsic factors, including environmental awareness, eco-consciousness, habitual tendencies, health considerations, and personal values, in conjunction with extrinsic factors, such as familial and social influences and concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, are significant drivers of the adoption of organic goods. Conversely, challenges related to product availability, cost implications, and prevalent skepticism occasionally hinder the acquisition of these products. An innovative aspect of this study lies in its pioneering use of Grounded Theory in Ecuador and Peru. It sheds light on millennials’ perceptions of organic products and elucidates the factors influencing their purchasing decisions in the organic market. Full article

As mobile health (mHealth) offers several advantages in healthcare, researchers are exploring the motivational factors for its adoption. However, few studies have elucidated the complex relationship between social influence and behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth among young adults in China. This study explored the impact of social influence on young adults’ behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth, the mediating roles of trust and health consciousness, and the moderating effect of mHealth user experience on the relationship between the predictors. In total, 300 valid responses were collected from a university in China, and a research model was developed. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to verify the relationship between the main research variables. mHealth adoption behavioral intentions among young adults were significantly positively impacted by social influence; it indirectly increased mHealth adoption behavioral intentions by positively affecting trust and health consciousness. mHealth use weakened the positive impact of social influence on trust and health consciousness, while user experience positively moderated the relationship between health consciousness and behavioral intentions. Trust and health consciousness play important roles in the complex multivariate relationships between social influence and behavioral intentions to adopt mHealth. Future research should consider the moderating role of the mHealth user experience. These findings enrich the mHealth technology acceptance theory framework and provide specific guidance strategies for marketing mHealth applications. Full article