Articles tagged with Human Social Behavior
A new HIV/STI prevention program in Haiti is changing lives by empowering marginalized women to become health workers. The program increased HIV and STI knowledge, condom use, and decreased depression rates among participants.
The study reveals that the mammalian cerebral cortex is organized into eight distinct subnetworks, which are relatively segregated and highly interconnected. These subnetworks facilitate motor behaviors such as eating and drinking, reaching and grabbing, locomotion and exploration of the environment.
The University of Chicago Crime Lab has received a $1 million MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions to study interventions preventing violence. Researchers have found targeted tutoring programs improve school outcomes and reduce violence among high school students.
Researchers developed a procedure for comparing different crowd models and evaluating their accuracy using real-world data. A bottom-up model focused on individual behavior was found to best match real-world evacuation data, providing insights into safety planning and crowd dynamics.
Researchers at University of Vienna investigate how voluntary reward funds can help coordinate cooperators in threshold public good games. Their study finds that rewards can lead to high levels of cooperation and even 100% cooperation in certain conditions.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that avoiding information can be a motivated behavior, not just a practical one. The study suggests that people intentionally hide from information about their goals, such as finances or weight loss, due to fear of negative emotions associated with it.
New research found that six in ten 13-year-old girls are afraid of gaining weight or getting fat, with one in three girls and one in five boys avoiding fatty foods. The study also revealed that unhealthy weight-control strategies can lead to higher odds of being overweight and obese at age 15.
A review of medical literature reveals financial concerns, parental attitudes, and social influences as key barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescents. The study emphasizes the importance of targeted guidance for healthcare professionals to improve vaccine uptake.
Researchers found that addressing childhood deprivation is essential to prevent damaging health behaviors in adulthood. The study, based on a 1946 birth cohort, reveals that social and economic inequalities in early life significantly impact mortality in later life.
A new Dartmouth study suggests that chronic dieters overeat when their brain regions that balance impulsive behavior and self-control are disrupted. This depletion reduces a person's ability to engage in self-control by reducing connectivity between brain regions involved in cognitive control and rewards.
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that three educational sessions on nutrition had a significant impact on the knowledge and behaviors of 118 low-income women. The classes used a holistic approach and experiential learning, covering topics such as shopping, cooking techniques, and food se...
A new study by the UC Davis MIND Institute found that children with autism are six-to-eight times more likely to have gastrointestinal problems, including constipation, diarrhea, and sensitivity to foods. These symptoms are related to behavioral issues such as social withdrawal, irritability, and repetitive behaviors.
Anthropomorphizing social causes with a human-like face can increase support by appealing to feelings of guilt and empathy. This approach was found to be effective in boosting participation in social causes such as energy conservation, recycling, and environmental issues.
A three-day meeting of international experts highlighted the need for countries to develop relevant expertise in assessing biodiversity and ecosystem services. The UN's new IPBES platform aims to strengthen national capacities in this area, crucial for informed policy decisions.
A Baylor University study found that people with higher levels of religious certainty and those affiliated with high-tension congregations tend to give more. The research suggests that social exchange theory can explain why voluntary giving is a dominant aspect of America's philanthropy.
Researchers found that video-based group instruction promotes far-reaching gains for students with ASD in social behaviors. The method has been shown to be effective and practical, even with limited resources.
A recent study by Tufts University researchers found that exposure to social stress in new mothers can negatively impact their daughter's ability to provide maternal care. The transgenerational study used female rats to model postpartum depression, revealing similar behavioral and physiological changes in second-generation females.
Researchers analyzed customer behavior in pubs and clubs to determine effective signals for ordering a drink. They found that positioning themselves directly at the bar counter is a successful signal, while avoiding these behaviors indicates non-ordering intentions.
A new study found that specific genomic regions control the tendency of fish to school and their ability to do so effectively. The research has potential implications for understanding complex human social behavior, suggesting a possible genetic link between fish and humans.
A team of Penn biologists offers a mathematically based explanation for why cooperation and generosity have evolved in nature. Generous strategies, which involve cooperating with opponents but also forgiving defectors, are shown to be the only approaches that resist defectors over the long term.
Research shows that behavioral interventions improving delay of gratification can work equally well with overweight and obese women as with lean women. When participants mentally simulated future events, they reduced delay discounting and displayed fewer differences between groups.
A new study finds that better-educated middle-aged Americans are more inclined to make healthy behavior changes in response to new medical conditions. The research reveals significant differences in health habits between education levels, with college graduates more likely to quit smoking and engage in physical activity.
MacDonald, a University of Victoria associate professor, received the award for his research on cognitive aging and early identification of those at risk for cognitive decline. His work aims to detect early markers that can facilitate targeted intervention strategies.
A study by Indiana University found that higher-performing elementary school students received more diverse and abundant resources from their parents, including extracurricular activities and networking opportunities. Lower-performing students, however, only received targeted resources to improve their academic performance.
A study by Indiana University found that higher-performing elementary school students received a disproportionate number of resources from their parents. These resources included extracurricular activities, shared meals, and increased parental involvement in school activities.
Research found that five-to-six-year-old children are more likely to exhibit altruistic behavior towards peers who demonstrate helpfulness. Observing positive interactions with other children evokes positive emotions and encourages bystanders to reciprocate with kindness.
Research on Malagasy black-and-white ruffed lemurs found that communal nesting and creches significantly improve infant survival rates. Female lemurs can spend less time at their nests, increasing opportunities to feed elsewhere.
Research finds that children as young as 4-7 years old differentiate between living and non-living beings, but also show a paradox in moral thinking where harming plants is considered worse than breaking social rules. This suggests early development of environmental awareness tied to emotional experience.
Dr. Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate and CASBS Fellow, receives the award for his work integrating insights about decision-making from psychological research into economics. The SAGE-CASBS award recognizes outstanding achievement in advancing the understanding of behavioral sciences as they are applied to pressing social issues.
A new study found that college hooking up is influenced by pre-college hookups, personality traits, and substance use patterns, particularly marijuana use. The research suggests early hookup experiences may shape future behavior.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute developed a system to track mouse behavior, revealing signs of leadership and a class system in groups of normal mice. In contrast, experiments with autistic-like mice showed little emergence of dominant leaders or social structures.
A recent study by Penn State criminologists reveals that young people are disproportionately targeted in sexual assaults. The researchers found that females aged 15 are nine times more likely to be raped than 35-year-old females, and males aged 15 are also at high risk.
Researchers discovered malaria parasites can send signals to each other in infected red blood cells, triggering transformation into sexually mature forms that can be transmitted to mosquitoes. This social behavior could provide a target for developing new antimalarial drugs or vaccines.
A recent study found that living in the 'stroke belt' during teenage years significantly increases future stroke risk. People who spent their teenage years in the region were 17% more likely to have a stroke in later life compared to those who did not.
A new study uses computer simulation to explore how directional migration influences cooperation levels and population structure. The results show improved cooperation among individuals in dense clusters resembling social cohesion.
A monkey study by the University of Manchester and Liverpool has found that middle-ranking macaques experience high levels of social stress due to conflicts with both lower- and higher-ranking individuals. The research suggests a possible application to human hierarchies, particularly in workplace settings.
In a study published in Current Biology, vervet monkeys demonstrate self-control and learning without guidance to solve coordination problems. By playing the 'Forbidden Circle' game, they figure out rules through trial and error, showcasing the importance of individual learning and patience.
The article highlights how cultural norms influence parenting behaviors, with Western cultures emphasizing autonomy and many Asian, African, and Latino cultures valuing interdependence. Pediatricians can benefit from understanding these differences to provide culturally sensitive guidance and support.
A NYU project aims to examine social media's influence on political participation and attitudes by analyzing real-time data from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The study seeks to understand the causal processes that shape collective action and inform a growing debate about social media's role in politics.
Researchers identified a mutant mouse model of schizophrenia that exhibits mild chronic brain inflammation and cognitive deficits. The study found that Shn-2 deficiency leads to an 'immature Dentate Gyrus', which produces schizophrenia-related phenotypes. Chronic administration of anti-inflammatory drugs rescued working memory deficit ...
A study found that physical manifestations of shame in recovering alcoholics can predict relapse, with those displaying greater shame behaviors more likely to relapse and experience worsening health.
A new study finds that shame about past alcoholism is linked to increased risk of relapse and declining physical and mental health in recovering addicts. Behavioral displays of shame were found to predict likelihood of relapse, severity of relapse, and worsening health over time.
Researchers found juvenile bonobos (ages 3-7) displayed more consolation behavior than adults, suggesting sensitivity to emotions emerges early without advanced thought processes. Bonobos raised by their biological mothers showed higher comfort levels towards others.
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is pleased to announce £30m in funding for eight new research centres and large grants. These investments will focus on various subjects, including infrastructure, interdisciplinary working, and international collaboration.
A recent study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that behavior problems, including attention issues, delinquency, and substance use, are linked to lower grades for depressed adolescents. In contrast, depression itself is not directly associated with diminished academic achievement.
A new investigation into cooperative behavior suggests that humans developed skills to work with others due to mutual interdependence. This study proposes a two-step process where cooperation began in small groups and became more complex as societies grew.
New brain imaging studies show that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered wrong. This decreased use of language may also make generalization of knowledge more difficult for these children.
Research from Southern Methodist University found that students participating in Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas improved their grades, attendance, and overall GPA. The study suggests that homework support and a sense of success provided by the clubs may be key factors.
Research at Oregon State University found that diverse sources of information can aid in smart choices for young black teens. The studies identified approaches to prevention programs and emphasized the importance of collaboration between family, schools, medical clinics, churches, and other entities.
Adult men from divorced families are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than those from intact families, according to a new University of Toronto study. Researchers found that parental divorce was still associated with a tripled risk of stroke even after adjusting for other risk factors.
Researchers identified a link between a genetic variant in the MET receptor tyrosine kinase gene and changes in brain connectivity, particularly in social behavior. The 'C' variant was found to disrupt functional and structural connectivity of brain networks involved in social behavior in both healthy children and those with ASD, but h...
Christiane A. Hoppmann has received the 2012 Baltes Foundation Award from the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) for her groundbreaking research on lifespan human development and health psychology. Her work focuses on understanding the mechanisms linking social interrelations to long-term developmental outcomes.
A University of Missouri researcher studied the efforts of low-income Black men living in urban areas to negotiate social environments and found that many have developed five primary forms of resilience to overcome adversity. The study suggests that these resilience strategies can be taught and nurtured, and community members and gover...
An international study found living alone associated with increased four-year mortality and cardiovascular death among stable outpatients at risk of or with arterial vascular disease. The risk was highest among middle-aged individuals, suggesting that social isolation may be a significant contributor to cardiovascular risk.
The study found that cultural values associated with sustainability, such as being unselfish and prioritizing social responsibility, are linked to environmentally sustainable behaviors. The researchers observed strong correlations between these values and practices, suggesting that fostering sustainable attitudes can promote behavioral...
A new sociological study shows that alcohol consumption leads to increased social stress and poor grades among teens, especially those in tightly-connected friendship cliques. The study found a correlation between drinking and feelings of loneliness and not fitting in, which can lead to declining grades.
Research found that teens and young adults experiencing multiple forms of discrimination, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, report worse mental and physical health. Those from four disadvantaged groups experienced the most health problems, with 13% reporting all four forms of discrimination.
A new study from Georgia Tech found that nearly 15 percent of work emails are gossip, with lower-level employees sharing more information than higher-ups. The researchers analyzed hundreds of thousands of emails from the former Enron corporation and discovered that negative gossip is prevalent among employees.
Children in both US and Great Britain face similar risk factors for behavioral problems, including male children, health issues, and divorced mothers. Strong home environments with nurturing and safe conditions decrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both countries.
Research from North Carolina State University finds that US and British children share similar risk factors for behavioral problems, such as health issues and family structure. Strong home environments are shown to decrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both countries.