A new study in rats reveals that empathetic responses to fellow group members drive the desire to help them, but not strangers. This finding suggests a common biological mechanism driving socially biased behavior in humans and potentially other mammals.
A new study from Oregon State University found that recess quality plays a major role in student behavior and social-emotional development. Schools with high-quality recess measures saw positive outcomes in classroom behavior and socio-emotional markers, including higher scores in resilience and self-control.
A recent study found that women are penalized in performance evaluations when exhibiting traditionally feminine leadership characteristics, while men are viewed more positively for similar behaviors. The research emphasizes the need for organizational change to provide equal opportunities for women and men in leadership roles.
Researchers at Penn develop a framework for designing public institutions that promote cooperation regardless of social norms, exploring indirect reciprocity and reputation monitoring systems. The model finds cooperation can flourish under various social norms and institutions adhere to assessments by social contagion, holding potentia...
A recent study from the University of Notre Dame found that disagreeable married men who do not contribute equally to household chores often have higher salaries due to increased focus on their careers. This phenomenon suggests that imbalanced social exchanges at home, particularly with spouses, play a crucial role in determining indiv...
A five-pronged strategy addressing behavioural and socio-demographic factors is proposed to combat vaccine hesitancy. Confidence in vaccine safety is crucial, while addressing complacency among younger people and those of lower socioeconomic status is essential for increased uptake.
Researchers found that men are more likely to exhibit extreme behaviors in various areas, such as altruism, trust, fairness, and risk-taking. The study suggests that policies aimed at regulating these behaviors should be tailored towards men.
Researchers found that Siberian jays exclusively trust warning calls from members of their own group, ignoring those from neighboring territories. This social knowledge mechanism may have played a role in the diversification of human languages and dialects.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to significant changes in human health behavior worldwide. Experts in various fields discussed influencing factors and trends in the virtual panel discussion.
Researchers will use a new framework to understand people's behavior in large-scale cooperation problems, including caring for the climate. The five-year study aims to explain cultural and demographic variability of rule-following and how it shapes cooperative behavior.
Researchers are using machine learning to identify mouse pups' cries that may predict social abnormalities in autism. The study aims to develop a diagnostic algorithm for ASD, enabling early intervention and potentially improving outcomes.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that preschoolers around age three start going along with the crowd more than following authority. Children tend to stick to their initial choices but may switch if presented as a group norm, suggesting they're developing moral reasoning capacity and sense of shared identity.
A new study analyzing nearly 300 morphological traits in bees reveals strong evidence that complex social behavior developed just once in pollen-carrying bees, rather than multiple times. The research suggests a single evolutionary branch for honey bees and stingless bees, contradicting previous molecular genetic analysis.
Recent research confirms Darwin's insights on human evolution, revealing shared characteristics with apes, talent for high-level cooperation, and expanded social learning capacity
A study of over 4,000 children in England found that physical activity supports academic attainment and helps close the achievement gap between wealthy and less-advantaged pupils. Engaging in sports like swimming or ball sports promotes self-regulation, leading to better emotional control and academic progress.
Researchers create unified model of direct and indirect reciprocity, demonstrating how cooperation can be a successful strategy. The study reveals that reputation and experience significantly influence willingness to cooperate, paving the way for new insights into human social norms.
Researchers found that participants overestimated minority groups and looked more often at these groups, even in quick visual scans. This bias occurs regardless of social context and is driven by a fundamental feature of human perception
Researchers have uncovered the oldest known human burial in Africa, dating back to 78,000 years ago. The discovery, made at Panga ya Saidi cave site in Kenya, reveals evidence of an intentional burial and suggests that Homo sapiens practiced mortuary rites similar to those of Neanderthals.
Children born preterm remain at high risk of developmental difficulties affecting behavior and learning ability. Rates of neurodevelopmental disabilities increase as gestational age decreases, with 28% severe to moderate disabilities among those born 24-26 weeks.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified a specific node in the human brain that modulates sounds made in social situations. This discovery may lead to better treatments for social disorders like depression and autism by understanding how emotions are regulated.
Prof. Zeleny proposes new systems, such as Integrated Productive Environments (IPE), to help human systems evolve and thrive in a rapidly changing world. He emphasizes the need for competent cooperation, multidisciplinary education, and adaptable management strategies to overcome the challenges of disequilibrium.
A new study published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that virtual reality avatar-based coaching programs can spark dialogue about dietary habits and behavior among children and adults. The program showed promise to increase access and extend the reach of nutrition education for lower-income kids and families.
A longitudinal study found that prosocial behavior in young children can protect against academic risk in low-socioeconomic neighborhoods. Children who displayed high levels of helping behavior had better academic outcomes compared to those with low levels of prosocial behavior.
A study published in American Journal of Primatology found that common marmosets exhibit distinct personality traits, such as explorativeness, boldness, and extraversion. These findings are consistent across captive and wild settings, suggesting that personality is a stable trait in these animals.
A new study identifies 13 emerging 'COVID-19 personality types' in humans, including Deniers, Spreaders, Harmers, and Worriers. The research highlights the importance of recognizing individual diversity to foster societal resilience and an ethical COVID-19 agenda.
A new study reveals that human hunter-gatherer populations share common behavioral traits with their non-human neighbors, including diet composition, child-care duties, and community organization. The findings support the idea that environmental pressures shape behaviors across species.
ASU researchers Kim Hill and Rob Boyd advocate for a new, fully integrated evolutionary theory of human behavior, combining adaptive behavioral ecology and cultural evolution approaches. Recent studies show that cultural history plays a significant role in shaping human behavioral variation, persisting for hundreds or thousands of years.
A study by McGill University researchers found that child marriage remains a practice in Canada, with the majority of marriages being common-law unions. The study highlights the need for innovative approaches to address the issue and sheds light on the persistence of child marriage in the country.
A recent national study found that factors such as perceived importance of others, confidence to wear a face covering, and personal importance of use positively associated with intention to wear a face covering. The study suggests that messaging strategies targeting individual intentions and social norms may be more effective than focu...
Scientists have identified two paralogous androgen receptor genes that control social status in African cichlid fish, shedding light on the molecular basis of social hierarchy. These findings suggest independent mechanisms for regulating coloration and behavior, providing a framework for studying human social dominance.
A Boston University study reveals that physical distancing policies had little effect on lower-income individuals, who were more aware and motivated to protect themselves but lacked the means to stay home. The research used anonymized mobility data from smartphones in over 210,000 neighborhoods across the US.
A new study found that violent encounters between social units hindered the growth of a high-density mountain gorilla population. The researchers analyzed five decades of data and discovered that infant mortality resulting from these interactions contributed to a dramatic slowing of the population growth rate.
A new study reveals that mammals developed social behavior much earlier than previously thought, interacting with dinosaurs in tightly packed clusters. The fossils, which are about 75.5 million years old, show evidence of multiple mature adults and subadults congregating, indicating a complex social structure.
Researchers found that certain types of nudges, such as social norming and information-based interventions, were more likely to fail. The study suggests that understanding the reasons behind these failures can help develop successful behavioral interventions.
Researchers found that adult wolves form individualized social bonds with their human handlers and display attachment-like behaviors when separated. These findings suggest that the evolution of dog-human attachment may be linked to the common ancestor's social system.
The new paper reveals that redesigning New York City's summons form and sending text message reminders reduced failure to appear rates by 13% and 21%, respectively. The findings suggest that many defendants who fail to appear are not intentionally skipping court, but are effectively unaware of court information.
Researchers found that countries with more agreeable and conscientious populations tend to be more compliant with mobility restrictions. In contrast, societies with higher openness and extraversion exhibit counter-compliant behavior, displaying increased mobility despite restrictions.
A series of Insights pieces examines democracy's current state, highlighting key findings on political campaigns, gerrymandering, and racialized governance. Experts propose reforms to better serve marginalized populations and improve democratic governance.
This study aims to provide suggestions on how to ensure compliance with health-promoting behaviors and manage negative feelings associated with the pandemic. The research project focuses on three sub-studies: message framing, coping with negative emotions, and social distancing messages.
Researchers found that when flying alone, individual fruit flies freeze as a response to an imminent threat, but this behaviour changes in the presence of others. When other flies begin to move after the threat has passed, it signals safety and causes the freezing fly to exit its frozen state.
Researchers at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown have discovered that fruit flies freeze as a social cue of danger, but also resume movement when others start moving again, signaling safety. Group size plays a crucial role in this behavior, with smaller groups freezing less and larger groups showing a more complex response pattern.
Researchers argue that protracted debates about face coverings as a medical intervention have delayed implementation of a valuable preventive tool. By framing face coverings as a social practice, the public is more likely to wear them regularly, according to Helene-Mari van der Westhuizen and colleagues.
A new study by Dolores Albarracin and colleagues found that people tend to conflate intentions and behaviors in routine actions, creating false memories. This phenomenon has significant implications for healthcare settings and self-reporting of following through on actions.
A Rutgers-led study found that community and law enforcement partnerships can significantly improve PTSD screening and treatment for children who witness home violence. The Child Trauma Response Team model, which provides immediate outreach and victim safety assessments, showed a three-fold increase in child PTSD screens among families...
A recent study challenges previous theoretical predictions on justified defection, a mechanism that ensures benefits are returned to cooperative individuals. Researchers found that people have a neutral attitude toward justified defection, unlike cooperation with a bad person, which is viewed as good.
Researchers identified six domains of nonbiological factors that contribute to mortality risk, including health behaviors, psychological characteristics, and socioeconomic conditions. The study highlights the importance of behavioral, psychological, and social factors in mortality risk assessments.
Researchers have improved Wi-Fi network operation and performance for the 5G/6G ecosystem by applying machine learning techniques. A new algorithm, ε-sticky, is proposed to reduce service disruptions and network instability, benefiting both stations that have found a suitable access point and those that haven't.
Researchers found that Rhesus monkeys avoid lifeless monkey faces but show social facial expressions towards a natural-looking avatar with fur and details. The study suggests using this type of avatar in social cognition studies for standardization and replicability.
A study by evolutionary psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin identified universal qualities like intelligence, honesty, and bravery that increase a person's social value. The findings also revealed cultural differences in what influences social status, with certain traits being more valuable in some societies than others.
A new study found that older men are less worried about COVID-19 than women their age or younger people, despite being at higher risk of severe or fatal infections. The study suggests that accurate perception of risk may be more effective in predicting preventive behaviors than worry.
In western chimpanzees, females play a crucial role in territorial behavior, cooperating with males to maintain borders and engage in conflicts. Larger groups gain advantages over smaller communities through access to larger territories and reduced neighbor pressure.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that AI can accurately predict personality traits from 'selfie' photographs, with women's faces being more reliable than men's. The technology has potential applications in customer service, dating, and online tutoring.
A study found that 82.7% of female university students had engaged in Drunkorexic behaviors, including skipping meals and exercising after drinking to reduce calorie intake from alcohol. Researchers identified two key social norms driving these behaviors: consuming alcohol and thinness.
A new analysis from NYU researchers outlines ways to manage life under COVID-19 by combating racially driven bias and fake news. The study suggests using pre-bunking approaches and social norms understanding to reduce misinformation and increase cooperation.
Researchers warn of the risks of virtual and augmented reality becoming increasingly realistic, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between reality and virtual experiences. This can result in problems such as remembering virtual events as real and failing to distinguish between actual and simulated events. The study also highligh...
A University of Helsinki study reveals significant differences in fearfulness among urban and rural dog populations. Socialisation in puppyhood, activity levels, and breed-specific factors all contribute to fearfulness in dogs.
A team of researchers found a specific brain region responsible for influencing social behaviors and reward valuations in monkeys. They discovered that this region, the lateral hypothalamus, plays a crucial role in shaping socially motivated behavior.
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior confirms that frequent family meals are associated with better dietary outcomes and improved family functioning. The research found a positive relationship between family meal frequency and increased fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as measures of family c...
Researchers compared oxytocin administration methods to improve treatment for social difficulties. The study found that nasal delivery using a nebuliser reached specific brain areas more effectively than standard nasal spray or intravenous injection.
Researchers found that brain activity while resting can reveal a person's empathic disposition, potentially helping health care professionals better assess those with autism or schizophrenia. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to analyze brain scans and machine learning algorithms to predict participants' empathy levels.