Articles tagged with Human Social Behavior
Researchers discover a single gene, FLO1, that enables yeast cells to cooperate and protect each other from stress and harm. Cells expressing FLO1 form flocs, shielding inner cells from danger while excluding 'cheaters' that do not express the gene.
A study by The Lancet found that Sure Start programs in England boost children's social skills and parental involvement, creating better home-learning environments. The research also revealed that families in SSLP areas use more services to support child development.
Researchers found that black bisexual men fear disclosure of their bisexuality due to perceived risks, highlighting the need for social awareness and acceptance in HIV prevention. The study suggests a shift from individual-level behavior programs to broader social and structural approaches to curb the spread of HIV.
A UBC study of Olympic athletes found that pride and shame are innate biological responses to success and failure, expressed universally across cultures. The researchers used cross-cultural data gathered at the 2004 Olympics to analyze non-verbal expressions and body language.
A bi-national study found that male injection drug users deported from the US to Tijuana have a four-fold higher risk of HIV infection. The study suggests a need for cross-border prevention and treatment programs.
Researchers found that parasitic flies in bee cells affect the size and behavior of emerging bees. Smaller bees are more likely to act as workers, while larger ones become queens. The study suggests that parasites may promote sociality in certain situations.
A large study of six grade students found that early intervention is imperative to prevent teen alcohol abuse. The researchers identified several key factors, including parental influences, peer influences, environment, and involvement in sports and other activities.
Social anxiety disorder is a chronic and pernicious condition that can lead to depression and substance abuse in adulthood. Research highlights the importance of understanding its neurobiological underpinnings, including increased amygdala activity and heritable temperamental traits.
A new study reveals that some individuals, like slime moulds, are genetically programmed to cheat and benefit from it. In a complex evolutionary arms race, cheaters thrive when non-cheaters fail.
A genome-wide search for social genes has found that Dictyostelium discoideum have more than 100 genes regulating their cooperative behavior. Cheating mutations were identified in over 100 genes, highlighting the complex mechanisms behind social cooperation.
Research explores the growing impact of homelessness on families, particularly children and youth, highlighting the need for adequate and affordable shelter. The issue examines the consequences of homelessness on young people's lives, underscoring the urgency of addressing this critical issue.
Chimpanzees have been found to build 'cultures' through social learning, with different colonies adopting unique methods for food preparation and grooming. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that culturally-learned behaviors are unique to humans.
A new study from The University of Texas at Austin found that creative activity is key to maintaining good health. Employees who enjoy their daily activities and have more control over their work experience tend to be healthier.
Research by Atsuko Kasahara and colleagues found that mitochondrial respiration deficiencies are associated with changed social behavior and elevated spatial memory in laboratory mice. The study suggests a potential link between mitochondrial breakdowns and mental illness in humans.
Lynn M. Martire of the University of Pittsburgh has been awarded the 2007 Margret M. & Paul B. Baltes Foundation Award for her outstanding research on interplay of social roles, stress, and health in aging. The award highlights her work on dyadic psychosocial interventions and late-life depression's impact on family members.
The Gerontological Society of America has awarded USC's Mara Mather the 2007 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award for her groundbreaking research on memory in older adults. Her work challenges traditional notions of memory as an exact photograph, highlighting the role of cognitive control in emotional memory.
A Canadian study found that kids deemed unskilled by peers often experience sadness, isolation, and social rejection at school. Children perceived as athletic receive higher ratings from peers, lower loneliness levels, and better social acceptance.
A study of children aged 2.5-5.5 years found that daily TV viewing for two or more hours was associated with behavioral problems and poor social skills. However, reducing early exposure did not increase the risk of behavior problems, suggesting timing of media exposure is vital.
Researchers used 454 sequencing to analyze messenger RNA from wasp brains, correlating expression patterns with social behaviors. Insulin-related genes showed distinct patterns, suggesting eusociality involves major nutritional and reproductive pathways.
Iowa State University and Great Ape Trust are creating a world-class research center for primatology, providing opportunities for students to collaborate on tool use, culture, language, and intelligence. The partnership recognizes shared scientific and ethical values in primate research.
A new study by Iowa State University researchers found that wives exhibit greater situational power and domineering behaviors during problem-solving discussions in marriage. The study of 72 married couples revealed that wives were more likely to draw favorable responses from their husbands, indicating a healthy marriage dynamic.
A two-year study at McMaster University aims to find an effective treatment for children with severe autism who do not respond to Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI). The study will provide a functional behavioural skills program and additional training for parents.
A study reported in Current Biology shows that captive chimpanzees can acquire new traditions and spread them to other troops. This suggests a considerable capacity for cultural spread of innovations among chimpanzees, similar to what is seen in the wild.
A new NIH study is tracking the brain and behavioral development of over 500 healthy American children from birth to age 18. The study found that children approach adult levels of performance on many basic cognitive and motor skills by age 11 or 12, but there were no dramatic increases in cognitive growth during adolescence.
A new study by the Mailman School of PH found that marital sex is a single greatest risk for HIV infection among women worldwide. The study highlights the need for prevention programs that make extramarital sex safer rather than trying to eradicate it.
Researchers found that people tend to deviate from the norm in one direction before adjusting back when given information about their deviation. This 'boomerang effect' can offset positive behavioral changes and render marketing strategies ineffective.
A study published in The Lancet found that maternal seafood consumption during pregnancy is associated with better neurological development in children. High intake of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood was linked to higher verbal IQ and improved prosocial behavior, fine motor, communication, and social development scores.
Researchers discovered evidence that chimpanzees used stone tools to crack nuts around 4300 years ago, pushing back the origin of this behavior by thousands of years. The study found similarities between chimpanzee and human ancestors' cultural attributes, suggesting a possible common ancestor for these behaviors.
Researchers found graded associations between psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers, with cynical distrust strongly linked to increased inflammation. The study suggests that behaviors such as smoking may mediate the link between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular disease risk.
A new study found that frontotemporal dementia (FTD) devastates Von Economo neurons (VENs), a unique brain cell type involved in social behavior and emotion. VEN loss is selective to FTD, unlike Alzheimer's disease (AD).
A study led by UCL demonstrated that participants reacted as though the situation was real when administering 'electric shocks' to a virtual human. The results show that virtual environments can provide an alternative way of pursuing laboratory-based experimental research that examines extreme social situations.
Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) have specific deficits in memory for numbers and sequences, contributing to common math difficulties. The study provides a 'neurobehavioural profile' to refine assessments and ensure effective treatment.
Researchers have conducted virtual reprises of Stanley Milgram's classic obedience experiment, demonstrating that participants react as though the situation is real. The study shows that immersive virtual environments can provide an alternative way of pursuing laboratory-based experimental research.
Researchers found that men who are insecure about their bodies eat more when exposed to ideal-male images, while women who are insecure about their bodies eat less when exposed to ideal-female images. The study suggests that exposure to ideal-body media can lead to unhealthy eating habits and disordered eating behaviors.
Chronic disability rates decline significantly among older adults from 1982 to 2004/2005, with greatest improvements seen in most severely impaired individuals. The rate of decline accelerates over time, indicating continued improvement in health and function.
A review of global studies reveals that young people's sexual behavior is influenced by stereotypes about men and women's roles, leading to inadequate condom use. Social expectations, such as feeling pressure to have sex or worrying about one's reputation, can significantly hinder the effectiveness of safer sex campaigns.
Researchers at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center found that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, exhibiting complex behaviors like self-awareness and social complexity. This discovery suggests convergent evolution with humans and highlights the species' high level of intelligence and empathy.
Research suggests that teenage brains can quickly adapt to the effects of alcohol, leading to a disconnect between behavioral and physiological responses. This may result in teenagers being less impaired by alcohol but also more likely to engage in binge drinking, which poses significant risks to brain development.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered five transcription factors that correlate with socially regulated genes in honey bees. These findings suggest that the study may provide insights into social factors regulating gene expression in human brains.
A study by University of Virginia professor Angeline Lillard found that Montessori students excel in reading, math, executive function, and social skills. They showed greater creativity, emotional positivity, and community involvement compared to traditional school peers.
A new study examines how competition scales influence cooperative behavior in humans, finding that global competition leads to reciprocal cooperation and selfish conflict in local competition. The research suggests that the spatial scale of competition may drive evolutionary changes in social behavior.
The MANIAC Challenge is a two-year competition that will test algorithmic prowess and study actual, uncontrolled ad hoc networks, offering valuable data on network behavior. Researchers aim to address questions of cooperation in wireless networking and provide insights into the performance of mobile ad hoc networks.
A study by Arizona State University researchers found a connection between a bee's reproductive traits and its social behavior. The findings suggest that elements of a solitary ancestor's reproductive behavior may have evolved into the complex social structure and divisions of labor seen in highly social bees.
Dr. Anstey, a fellow at Australian National University, has been awarded the prestigious 2005 Margret M. Baltes Award by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) for her groundbreaking work on cognitive aging. The award recognizes her significant contributions to advancing our understanding of this critical aspect of human development.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) recognizes innovative research in aging with the 2004 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award. The award honors a paper that offers a new model of personality and great potential to stimulate research in gerontology.
A study by Stanford University researchers found that low-ranking male cichlids can quickly become dominant without a fight. They undergo rapid physical transformations, including changes in body coloration and the appearance of a prominent eyebar. This transformation allows them to defend their newly acquired breeding grounds.
A mentoring program aims to improve the retention of college students and faculty from historically underrepresented groups. The study suggests that standardized goal-setting and development skills can aid in this process, as well as discussing genealogy to foster a sense of belonging within the discipline.
Research teams from Tulane, LSU, and University of Edinburgh found that endocannabinoids play a role in regulating the neuroendocrine stress response and influencing social behavior. Endocannabinoids may have potential therapeutic applications in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
Researchers found that individuals with lower inhibitory ability were more prone to socially inappropriate behavior, even in low-pressure situations. The study suggests that our ability to suppress true feelings is disrupted under demanding conditions, affecting social etiquette and potentially career advancement.
Research by King's College London and City University found that shared environments, including prenatal factors and socialization effects, contribute significantly to gender-role behavior in early childhood. The study suggests that environmental influences are more important in shaping behavior than genetic factors during this age group.
Researchers found that preschool children's reaction to unwanted gifts predicts their ability to control reactive behavior and develop socially appropriate expressive behavior. This skill is crucial for future social success.
Research suggests people with poor inhibitory ability are more likely to behave inappropriately, even when trying to follow social norms. Inhibitory ability is disrupted under demanding conditions, affecting individuals' ability to suppress true feelings.
A progressive reduction in age at first intercourse has been observed among UK young people, with women twice as likely to regret their first experience. Meanwhile, social attitudes towards sexual behavior have relaxed, particularly for the young, but monogamy remains a widely accepted value.
Strong social attachments are associated with lower IL-6 levels, reduced mortality risk, and better quality of life among women with advanced ovarian cancer. Women with weak social connections have higher IL-6 levels, which promotes tumor growth and disease progression.
Researchers used mirror neurons to study human behavior and found that these cells can predict the intentions behind actions. This suggests a deeper level of understanding and prediction in human social interactions.
A three-week treatment with methylphenidate improved the attention and behavioral problems of children who survived childhood cancer, including leukemia and brain tumors. The study suggests that this treatment may help resolve some of the serious side effects of cancer treatment in these children.
Dr. Small receives Margret M. Baltes Award for groundbreaking research on cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease. His work has been instrumental in understanding the preclinical phase of the disease, advancing social/behavioral research on aging.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) presents the 2004 Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award to Dr. Connidis and Dr. McMullin for their groundbreaking paper on sociological ambivalence and family ties in aging and life course development.
By transferring vasopressin receptor genes into meadow voles, scientists observed a strong preference for current partners, mirroring the behavior of prairie voles. This study provides evidence that changes in a single gene can profoundly impact social behavior in animals.
Researchers suggest that male vulnerability to disease may drive female-biased societies and behaviors, such as division of labor. This 'sick-male' theory proposes that males are less resistant to infection due to genetic limitations, leading to social isolation and reduced exposure to disease.