International Journal of Current Research in Philosophy and Social Values

Artificial Intelligence as a Socio-Cultural Force: Examining Its Influence on Culture, Human Behaviour, Cognitive Intelligence, and the Reinforcement of Social Stereotypes

Paul Andrew Bourne, Dr.PH., PhD. — 2026-09-08

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a specialised computational technology into one of the most influential socio-cultural forces shaping contemporary society. Beyond its widespread application in healthcare, education, finance, manufacturing, media, and public administration, AI increasingly influences how individuals acquire knowledge, communicate, make decisions, construct identities, and interpret social reality. Although existing scholarship has extensively examined technological adoption, organisational performance, and algorithmic efficiency, comparatively limited attention has been devoted to understanding AI as a multidimensional phenomenon that simultaneously transforms culture, human behaviour, cognitive development, and the reinforcement of social stereotypes. This study addresses this gap by critically synthesising interdisciplinary literature to examine the complex interactions between AI technologies and contemporary society. Drawing upon Social Constructionism, Media Ecology Theory, Social Learning Theory, Cognitive Load Theory, and Algorithmic Bias Theory, the current study develops an integrated conceptual framework explaining how AI reshapes cultural values, behavioural patterns, intellectual engagement, and social inequalities. The analysis demonstrates that AI creates unprecedented opportunities for innovation, knowledge democratisation, productivity, and personalised services; it also introduces significant challenges relating to cognitive dependency, declining critical thinking, algorithmic discrimination, cultural homogenisation, misinformation, and ethical governance. AI systems frequently reproduce historical biases embedded in training datasets, thereby reinforcing stereotypes relating to race, gender, socio-economic status, age, and political ideology. The study contributes to the literature by integrating previously fragmented research into a comprehensive interdisciplinary framework that conceptualises AI as a transformative socio-cultural institution rather than merely a technological innovation. The findings have important implications for educators, policymakers, technology developers, business organisations, and civil society by highlighting the necessity of responsible AI governance, algorithmic transparency, digital literacy, and human-centred technological development.

Discovering Your Purpose: Applying the Golden Circle and “Start with WHY” in Real Life

Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip — 2026-09-08

This article explores Simon Sinek’s “Start with WHY” concept and the Golden Circle model, offering a framework for individuals to identify and articulate their personal “WHY.” The process includes self-reflection exercises, crafting a personal WHY statement, and applying this purpose in personal and professional contexts. Ultimately, understanding one's "WHY" enables clearer decisions, stronger leadership, and a more meaningful life.

Marriage, Common-Law Unions, and Health Inequalities in Jamaica: A Life-Course and Socioeconomic Analysis of the 2023 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions

Paul Andrew Bourne, PhD, DrPH — 2026-09-08

Background: Marriage and common-law partnership are established forms of intimate union in Jamaica. Yet evidence comparing their socioeconomic and health profiles remains limited. This study examined differences between married and common-law adults using the 2023 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC), guided by social-determinants-of-health, life-course, and socioeconomic-selection perspectives.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted among 1,093 respondents restricted to married (n = 697; 63.8%) and common-law (n = 396; 36.2%) unions. Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health-insurance, healthcare-utilisation, chronic-disease, and functional-health indicators were examined using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, and Cramer's V, with statistical significance set at p-value <0.05.

Results: Union status was strongly differentiated by age, with common-law respondents concentrated in younger adulthood and married respondents disproportionately represented at older ages. Married respondents were more concentrated in higher per capita population quintiles and had greater private health-insurance coverage, whereas common-law respondents showed greater representation in lower economic quintiles. Several chronic diseases and functional limitations were more prevalent among married respondents. However, these crude health differences must be interpreted cautiously because age demonstrated a substantially stronger association with union status than most socioeconomic and health indicators, making life-course stage a potential confounder.

Conclusion: Marriage and common-law partnership in Jamaica are embedded in distinct demographic and socioeconomic profiles. Observed health differences should not be interpreted as causal effects of union status without multivariable adjustment, particularly for age and socioeconomic circumstances. The findings highlight the importance of integrating family demography, socioeconomic inequality, and life-course processes in Jamaican public-health research and policy.

Revisiting the Legacy of Michael Norman Manley: Democratic Socialism, National Development, Cold War Geopolitics, and External Intervention in Jamaica's Political Economy

Paul Andrew Bourne DrPH., PhD. — 2026-09-08

Michael Norman Manley remains one of the most influential yet contested political leaders in Jamaica's post-independence history. This paper critically reassesses his developmental legacy by examining the extent to which his democratic socialist agenda contributed to national development while simultaneously confronting structural underdevelopment and external geopolitical constraints. The work employs a qualitative historical political-economy methodology and synthesises evidence from peer-reviewed scholarship, government publications, multilateral reports, declassified diplomatic documents, and archival sources. For this study, the analysis is informed by an integrated theoretical framework combining Dependency Theory, Plantation Economy Theory, Democratic Socialism, Historical Institutionalism, Human Development Theory, World-Systems Theory, and Geopolitical Statecraft. This paper indicates that Manley's administration substantially advanced institutional modernisation, educational expansion, labour rights, healthcare, literacy, social justice, regional integration, and national sovereignty, thereby strengthening Jamaica's long-term human and institutional development. However, these achievements were constrained by severe macroeconomic instability arising from the interaction of domestic policy choices, inherited structural dependency, the global oil crises, international recession, Cold War geopolitical tensions, and increasing reliance on international financial institutions. The current study argues that neither democratic socialism nor external intervention alone adequately explains Jamaica's developmental trajectory during the 1970s. Instead, development and underdevelopment emerged through the interaction of domestic political agency and international structural forces. This paper contributes to Caribbean political economy by providing a balanced reassessment of Manley's legacy and offers broader insights into the developmental challenges confronting small island developing states operating in an unequal global political economy.

Masculinity in the Twenty-First Century: Transformation, Perceived Threat, and Its Relationship with Human Development

Paul Andrew Bourne PhD, DrPH — 2026-09-08

Masculinity remains a powerful social institution through which societies organise expectations concerning men’s identities, responsibilities, relationships, labour, authority, protection, fatherhood, and citizenship. Although men have made indispensable contributions to infrastructure, science, industry, defence, religion, education, transportation, governance, and economic development, these achievements cannot be attributed to masculinity alone or separated from women’s labour, institutions, technology, class relations, and collective organisation. Contemporary debates nevertheless suggest that masculinity is under threat because women have entered occupations and leadership positions historically reserved for men, men are increasingly encouraged to express vulnerability, provide care, reject violence, and share domestic responsibilities. This paper critically examines whether these developments represent the destruction of masculinity, a crisis affecting groups of men, or an adaptive transformation in the social meanings of manhood. Drawing on hegemonic masculinity, social constructionism, gender-role strain, precarious manhood, intersectionality, and caring masculinities, the analysis argues that there is no singular masculinity that can be either universally preserved or uniformly destroyed. Some men face serious disadvantages in education, health, employment, family life, and social belonging. But the problems arise from interactions among economic restructuring, class inequality, racialisation, institutional neglect, technological change, and restrictive gender expectations rather than simply from women’s advancement. The present paper concludes that human development requires neither the feminisation of men nor the masculinisation of women, but the construction of plural, ethical, protective, emotionally competent, productive, and caring masculinities compatible with gender equality and human dignity.