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Study: Most partisans treat politics like sports rivalries, instead of focusing on issues

A study found that most partisans prioritize winning elections over policy or ideological goals, leading to increased partisan hostility and uncivil attitudes. The researchers analyzed survey data from the 2010 Cooperative Congressional Election Study and found that loyalty to the party is a primary motivator for many partisans.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalPolitical Research Quarterly·DateApr 15, 2015

Screen name matters in the online dating game

Choosing a screen name with a letter starting in the top half of the alphabet can maximise online dating success. A 70:30 ratio of who you are and what you're looking for is also key, while humour, physical fitness, and genuine profiles can increase likability. Men and women have different preferences when it comes to names and traits.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalEvidence-Based Medicine·DateFeb 12, 2015

Penn professor shows how 'spontaneous' social norms emerge

A new study led by Penn's Damon Centola reveals that social conventions can emerge spontaneously, with no centralized leader or media source, through the normal interactions of people in social networks. The research used a web-based game to test how large populations come to consensus, and found that random mixing allowed for the emer...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 2015

No gain if unfair

A study found that humans tend to turn down sure rewards if they derive from an unfair distribution of resources, regardless of whether the individual themselves or others are affected. Brain imaging revealed differing brain circuits in these two conditions.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateJan 13, 2015

Equation to predict happiness

Researchers at UCL developed an equation to predict happiness based on recent rewards, expectations, and neural activity. The study involved 18,420 participants and found that moment-to-moment happiness reflects not just how well things are going but whether they're better than expected.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2014

'Moral victories' might spare you from losing again

Researchers analyzed NBA coaching decisions over two decades, finding that hasty adjustments following close losses backfire, resulting in extra losses per season. Coaches also underreact to close wins, particularly those with large margins, making it essential to consider all information when evaluating performance.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalManagement Science·DateJul 21, 2014

A vote for cooperation

A study by Harvard University researchers found that allowing people to vote on resource harvesting led to the preservation of these resources for future generations. The voting system used was based on the median of all votes cast, which encouraged altruistic decisions and cooperation across generations.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateJun 25, 2014

When genes play games

A team of computer theorists and evolutionary biologists identified an algorithm to describe the strategy used by genes during sexual recombination, addressing a long-standing paradox in evolution. The multiplicative weight update algorithm helps explain how natural selection and diversity interact.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2014

Your genes affect your betting behavior

Researchers found that genetic variants in dopamine-regulating genes influence strategic thinking, with three genes linked to belief learning and two genes linked to trial-and-error reinforcement learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding diseases like schizophrenia and social interaction disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2014

When good people do bad things

Researchers studied brain activity in a part of the brain involved in thinking about oneself and found that group dynamics can lead individuals to harm others outside their group. This is due to reduced medial prefrontal cortex activation when seeing moral statements, which correlates with increased likelihood of harming opponents.

Outgrowing emotional egocentricity

Max Planck researchers identify supramarginal gyrus region crucial for children's ability to assess others' emotions, improving with age. The study reveals that adults can easily overcome egocentrism, whereas children between 6-13 tend to project their own emotions onto others.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateMay 26, 2014

Sense of obligation leads to trusting strangers, study says

A study published by the American Psychological Association found that people trust strangers more often due to a sense of moral obligation rather than expectation of reward. Researchers conducted six experiments involving 645 university students, showing that even those with low expectations of others tend to trust total strangers.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateMay 15, 2014

Strong institutions reduce in-group favoritism

A forthcoming study suggests that strong social and political institutions can reduce favoritism towards one's own group, making people more likely to follow impartial rules. Ineffective institutions, on the other hand, lead to favoritism towards local communities.

SourceCIFAR·JournalHuman Nature·DateMay 5, 2014

Study finds gaming augments players' social lives

A new study by North Carolina State University and other institutions found that online gaming supplements social behavior, rather than replacing it. Researchers observed thousands of gamers at public events and conducted in-depth surveys to conclude that gaming is a social activity that complements offline interactions.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication·DateMar 27, 2014

Who wants to be a millionaire?

A recent study by Renato Gianella found that lottery numbers can be analyzed using a colored template based on Pascal's rule, allowing players to identify combinations with the highest probabilities of winning. The method was tested across multiple countries and demonstrated its effectiveness in predicting lottery results.

SourcePublicase International·JournalREVISTA BRASILEIRA DE BIOMETRIA·DateMar 18, 2014

Game-winning momentum is just an illusion

A new study from Cornell University researchers challenges the notion that momentum plays a significant role in sports performance. Despite appearances, winning streaks have little to do with momentum. Winning the first game of a weekend series does not impact the probability of winning the second, according to the study.

SourceCornell University·JournalEconomics Letters·DateFeb 17, 2014

Outsmarting nature during disasters

Geophysicist Seth Stein warns that humans are often outsmarted by nature during disasters, causing unnecessary damage despite expensive mitigation measures. Stein advocates for a thoughtful approach to disaster preparedness, integrating science, economics, and policy formulation to make informed decisions.

Not safe at home

A new study found that tag plays at home plate have the highest injury rate in professional baseball, occurring 4.3 times more often than other base-running plays. The researchers suggest adopting the collegiate rule to reduce collisions and protect both catchers and baserunners.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalInternational Journal of Sports Medicine·DateJan 21, 2014