Articles tagged with Human Social Behavior
A new special section investigates how human motivations drive children's prosocial behavior, including empathy, sharing, and helping. The study reveals that children's cardiac patterns can predict their empathetic responses to others.
Repeatedly thinking about work-family conflict is associated with negative outcomes in six health categories, including life satisfaction and fatigue. Mindfulness can help reduce repetitive thought and related issues like worry and rumination, improving overall well-being.
Researchers at Rockefeller University used Caenorhabditis elegans worms to study the impact of genetic variations on social behavior. They found that certain genetic variants affect sensitivity to pheromones, leading to changes in foraging strategies, and suggest a link between population density and behavioral adaptations.
A study by Michigan State University found that many children enter kindergarten unprepared for self-regulation, a critical skill for academic success. Around 20% of preschoolers showed little improvement in self-control, leaving them behind their peers.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering discovered zebrafish are more attracted to 3D-moving robotic models of themselves than other stimuli. The team used a controllable robotic platform to study freshwater fish behavior, exploring mechanisms behind human disorders like anxiety and schizophrenia.
Researchers found that preschoolers monitor their private speech for errors and correct them, even without a listener. Adults can encourage this behavior in children by talking aloud while working on tasks.
A study published by Oregon State University found that preschoolers' fine and gross motor skills are indicative of later performance on two key measures of kindergarten readiness. Children with strong motor skills showed better executive function skills and social behavior.
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid identified four basic personality types based on social dilemma responses from 541 volunteers. The study found that the Envious type is the most common, accounting for 30%, while Optimists and Pessimists make up 20% each.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that infants as young as 5 months old give more attention to objects presented by their native speaker. This preference for native language is thought to aid infants' quick acquisition of societal knowledge and cultural adaptation.
Researchers found that men prefer masculine men as allies in a physical fight but feminine-looking women in emotional support, while women's preferences are the opposite. This suggests an evolutionary basis for these differences, with alliances benefiting ancestral males and improving their social rank.
In emergency situations, people tend to behave either egotistically or prosocially, with some individuals being more cooperative than others. A study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that most participants helped others less in emergency situations due to time pressure, while prosocial individuals were more willing to help.
A new study published in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience suggests that many dogs prefer praise from their owners over food. The study, led by Gregory Berns at Emory University, used brain-imaging data and behavioral experiments to investigate canine reward preferences.
Susanne Wurm, a professor of psychogerontology, has received the 2016 Baltes Foundation Award for her outstanding work on healthy aging. Her research focuses on the impact of individual views on aging and their role in shaping health outcomes.
A team of international researchers found that altruism is favored by random fluctuations in nature, proposing a simple answer to the longstanding puzzle as to why cooperation evolved. This discovery suggests that cooperators benefit more than they lose out due to random decreases in cheating populations.
Exposure to social-based messages promoting healthy eating increases consumption of fruit and vegetables, while reducing high-calorie snack consumption. The researchers found that a 'liking social norm' message had a powerful effect on food choices.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze caregiver responses and identified five ADI-R questions that maintained 95% of the instrument's performance. This could reduce administrative time and customize questions for individualized intervention. The study suggests a more data-informed approach to autism diagnosis and support.
State insurance mandates requiring coverage for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were associated with increased diagnoses. The treated prevalence of ASD was higher in states with mandates compared to those without, suggesting that the mandates have had a positive effect on identifying children with ASD.
Research shows that 5-year-old children outperform younger counterparts in taking turns, a fundamental social behavior. Chimpanzees also demonstrate cooperation but fail to adopt consistent turn-taking strategies.
A study by New York University found that women are more likely to be saved or not harmed in moral dilemmas compared to men. In experiments involving the trolley dilemma and financial rewards, women showed a stronger aversion to harming females than males, even when it came at their own expense.
Researchers discovered differences in male and female brain activity while cooperating with a partner, with males performing better in mixed-sex pairs. The study used hyperscanning to track brain function and found increased interbrain coherence in same-sex pairs, which correlated with better performance.
A new study found that each additional residential move is associated with a decline in reading and math scores, as well as less positive social skills and higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems. Moving during early childhood had the most detrimental effects on children's cognitive skills.
A new study found that parental depression is linked to increased brain activity in areas responsible for risk taking in adolescent children, leading to more rule-breaking behaviors. The study suggests that even mild depressive symptoms in parents can influence teens' behavior through changes in the brain's response to rewards.
Behavioral economists develop theoretical model explaining humans' drive to make sense of lives and worlds, influencing curiosity, boredom, confirmation bias, and decision-making. The model also sheds light on phenomena like political polarization and emotionally charged beliefs.
A survey of older American men who frequent sex work websites found that those over 60 paid for sex more frequently as they aged. The study also revealed that these men sought out specific experiences, such as the 'girlfriend experience', and were willing to pay for non-sexual activities with providers.
A new study found that autistic and non-autistic adults equally condemn actions requiring harm for the greater good. Researchers identified two facets of autistic personality: increased self-oriented distress and reduced empathy, which counterbalance each other.
Researchers used an experimental game to study how government representatives make decisions in social dilemmas. The results show that selfish representatives who contribute less than their fair share can still be re-elected and lead their countries to reach the target sum, while others contribute more. This study highlights the comple...
A study by Georgia State University found that genetics and specific brain regions are linked to sex differences in chimpanzees' scratching behavior, a common indicator of anxiety. The researchers identified the vasopressin V1a receptor gene as a key factor, with males showing higher rates of scratching and females showing lower rates.
Using stories to teach human values to artificial agents is a technique developed by Mark Riedl and Brent Harrison at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The method aligns an AI's goals with human values by training robots to read stories, learn acceptable sequences of events and understand successful ways to behave in human societies.
Researchers discovered well-preserved ancient ant species in Burmese amber, revealing evidence of social behavior dating back to the Cretaceous period. The findings suggest that ants were highly competitive and territorial, with some species exhibiting unusual characteristics such as mammoth jaws.
A recent study by Michigan State University suggests women are more likely to get irked at irritating behavior exhibited by acquaintances and partners. Women's heightened social awareness may contribute to their increased sensitivity to annoyance.
A new study found that medical complications at birth, maternal education, early motor assessments, and early cognitive assessments are key predictors of later cognitive function and motor performance in children born premature. Research also shows that mild impairments remain a challenge for preterm children into later childhood.
A new study by James Burkett and colleagues found that prairie voles console loved ones who are feeling stressed, suggesting a complex form of empathy. The researchers discovered that the 'love hormone' oxytocin is involved in this behavior, which occurs only between familiar individuals, not strangers.
A new study by researchers at Dartmouth College finds that certain types of parental debt, such as mortgage and student loans, can have a positive impact on children's socioemotional well-being. Children whose parents have higher levels of home mortgage and student debt tend to have fewer behavioral problems than those with less debt.
Researchers at Oxford University conducted a series of experiments that challenged traditional economic game assumptions. The results showed that people are more generous towards computers, which cannot benefit from cooperation, and that misunderstanding the game can lead to altruism in some cases.
A joint study by researchers at York University, the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto found a significant association between schools with dangerous driving and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions. Unsafe parking and child drop-offs were identified as common dangerous driving behaviours near 104 schools.
A Baylor University study found that young white students at elite colleges perceive Asian-Americans as more competent than other minority groups. The study, published in Social Psychology Quarterly, surveyed 898 participants from 27 prestigious universities and found that perceptions of competence were linked to attitudes towards raci...
Research suggests that symptoms of illness are not caused by direct infection but rather serve as a mechanism to isolate the infected individual and prevent further transmission. This 'selfish gene' hypothesis proposes that evolution has preserved such behavior over millennia.
A recent study spanning 40 years examined the 'question-behavior effect,' finding that asking people about performing a certain behavior influences whether they do it in the future. The effect has been shown to last more than six months after questioning, making questioning a simple yet effective technique to influence human behavior.
A study by Friederike Range and colleagues found that dogs donated food to familiar partners more often than to unfamiliar ones. The researchers also discovered that the degree of familiarity among the dogs influenced this behavior, with prosocial behavior exhibited less frequently towards unfamiliar dogs.
A new study found that women who had their first child in their early 20s didn't report better health at midlife than those who waited until they were over 24. In fact, single black women who had a child and later married reported worse health at midlife compared to those who stayed single.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that natural selection drives prairie voles to be either fully monogamous or seek multiple partners due to genetic brain differences. The findings suggest that these genetic variations are not favored by natural selection, but rather co-exist in the population.
A new study finds that young whites are significantly more optimistic about their chances of living to 35 compared to minority peers. The study controlled for various risk factors and found that foreign-born Mexicans were the most pessimistic about their future survival, even after accounting for socioeconomic status.
A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has found that weekday sleep changes may raise the risk of developing metabolic problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Researchers discovered a link between social jetlag, which refers to the mismatch between an individual's biological...
ETH Zurich researchers Prof. Dirk Helbing and Dr. Evangelos Pournaras propose a citizen-led platform called Nervousnet to enable self-determination and sustainability. The platform allows users to measure, analyze, and share data in real-time, promoting participatory governance and environmental awareness.
Researchers found that living environments contribute to health disparities among US men, with integrated communities showing less difference in behaviors compared to national data. Socio-economic factors and environmental conditions play a significant role in explaining racial disparities.
A new study found that using e-cigarettes is related to problematic drinking, with women more likely to use them socially. The researchers suggest that e-cigarette use could make it harder for people with alcohol addiction to quit drinking.
Researchers mapped the human brain's experience of gratitude using Holocaust survivors' testimonies, revealing areas responsible for feelings of reward and moral cognition. The study also showed that gratitude enhances empathy and understanding of historical events.
A $3.5 million grant will fund a five-year study to evaluate the efficacy of virtual world and classroom groups in teaching diabetes self-management skills to minority women with type 2 diabetes. The study aims to increase physical activity levels and measure technological development milestones.
Physicians' unconscious attitudes toward special patient populations like LGBT and disabled individuals may be responsible for poorer overall health. This is due to reluctance in discussing important health concerns with these patients, depriving them of high-quality care.
Ram, an associate professor at Penn State, received the award for his work on longitudinal research methodology and life-span development. His research focuses on understanding human behavior through novel longitudinal methods that address fundamental questions about behavioral change.
Researchers have found that pairs of rabbitfishes coordinate their vigilance activity to provide safety for one partner while the other feeds, presenting evidence for reciprocal cooperation. This behavior is unique among fishes and suggests that cooperation may not be exclusive to highly developed organisms.
University of Missouri researchers are using a self-management and mindfulness skills program called STARS to help fifth-grade students exhibit improved classroom behavior, social-emotional learning, and academic achievement. The four-year study aims to address the growing need for mental health support in schools.
A new study by Derek A. Kreager found that girls who have sex experience a 45% decrease in peer acceptance, while those who 'make out' without sex see a 25% increase. In contrast, boys who engage in casual sex gain friendships, but those who 'make out' lose them.
A recent study published in PNAS journal suggests that collaborative settings can provide fertile ground for corrupt behavior, including lying and dishonesty. The researchers found that levels of corruption were highest when profits were shared equally among group members.
A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine suggests that low levels of vasopressin, a hormone involved in social behavior, are associated with social deficits in children with autism. Researchers found that autistic children who had the lowest vasopressin levels in their blood also displayed greater social impairment.
A CU Denver researcher discovered that male exotic dancers continue stripping due to enhanced self-concept and positive feelings of self-worth, contradicting common assumptions.
A recent study found that bisexual men and women experience poorer health outcomes compared to gay, lesbian, and heterosexual adults. The study discovered that bisexual individuals are more likely to be disadvantaged on socio-economic factors strongly linked to well-being, such as educational attainment and income levels.
A recent review highlights the impact of stress on cat behavior and welfare, including changes in exploratory behavior, social grooming, and urine marking. Strategies to prevent or reduce stress include a three-phase reintroduction protocol, environmental enrichment, and breeding strategies that promote well-balanced temperament.
People who earn a college degree before getting married are less likely to become obese, with a significant gap in risk compared to those who graduate after marriage. This association holds even when controlling for other factors, such as income and exercise habits.
Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that inducing a sense of awe can promote altruistic, helpful, and positive social behavior. Awe diminishes emphasis on individual self, encouraging people to prioritize others' welfare.