Articles tagged with Social Decision Making
Researchers discovered that while older rats were as social as younger ones, a subpopulation preferred familiar peers. Altering neural communication reversed this preference, enhancing approach towards new peers. This suggests a distinct neural system underlying aging-related social behavior.
In a study, participants preferred feedback providers who provided overly optimistic feedback to avoid hurting others, even if it meant telling the truth. This suggests that people strategically adjust their preferences for honesty based on social cues and prioritize the well-being of others.
A study found that when people work together on a shared task, their brains process information in similar ways. After an initial period of synchronized neural activity, the alignment of brain activity increased as the pairs worked together and followed agreed-upon rules.
Researchers identified a 'sweet spot' in clinical decision-making, where presenting two or more appropriate treatment options increases the odds of physicians selecting a high-quality alternative. The study challenges the widely cited status-quo bias theory and suggests that more options can lead to better care decisions.
A study from the University of Victoria suggests that humans can smell testosterone and associate it with dominance. The research found that participants rated men with higher testosterone levels as more dominant than those with lower levels, indicating a link between body odour and perceptions of social status.
The Universitat Jaume I is participating in four joint research actions under the EDUC-WIDE project, focusing on materials science, psychology, communication, and education. The projects aim to advance sustainable water purification methods, explore social perception mechanisms, bridge communication gaps, and build an international net...
Researchers at OIST investigate the neural basis of social hierarchy in male mice, identifying brain cells involved in determining dominance. The study found that the 'loser effect' is attributed to activity of certain brain cells, called cholinergic interneurons, and has implications for understanding human social behaviors.
Researchers used neuroimaging to study how people evaluate honesty in friend and stranger interactions. Participants believed lies more frequently when they promised potential gains, linked to brain regions involved with risk evaluation and reward. Shared brain activity between friendly pairs can even predict deception success.
A computational framework has been created to understand how the brain's striatum region influences everyday decisions and impaired decision-making in individuals with psychiatric disorders. The study suggests that modulating striosomal activity could be a new approach to addressing psychiatric abnormalities.
The study found that the programme reduced AIDS incidence by up to 47% and AIDS-related mortality by up to 55%, particularly among brown or black mothers living in extreme poverty and with higher education. The BFP's integrated social and health policy approach also supports HIV prevention and treatment.
A new study shows that higher levels of hope are linked to reduced bullying and cyberbullying, with students with more hope being less likely to engage in these behaviors. Strengthening hope could be a powerful strategy in preventing bullying by helping young people build resilience and invest in their futures.
A recent study by University of Arkansas researchers found that stress makes people more prone to riskier decisions due to decreased loss aversion. In contrast, under stress, women are better at predicting outcomes and men have a stronger grasp of consequences.
A study by Bayes Business School found that people are more concerned about violating the norm of waiting for others to be served than they are about others doing so. The research suggests that restaurants and dinner hosts could improve dining experiences by serving guests at the same time, reducing social awkwardness.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that executives with subprime credit scores tend to follow the advice of advisers, even when it's inaccurate, while those with prime credit scores critically evaluate data and make objective decisions.
Community policies can leave members feeling frustrated; Carnegie Mellon's PolicyCraft tool helps create policies with stronger community support through a systematic, three-step process. Researchers found that groups using PolicyCraft develop policies with greater consensus.
A new review paper suggests that social drinking is a significant contributor to alcohol use disorder, contrary to the common perception of solitary drinking. Research highlights the importance of social contexts in driving excessive alcohol consumption and related societal harms.
A study by Complexity Science Hub found that in 7.54% of DAOs, a single contributor controlled decisions due to concentrated governance tokens. This raises concerns about the true level of democracy in these organizations, which aim to distribute power and promote fairness and transparency.
A new study found that damage to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) makes people more likely to be influenced by other people's impulsive decisions. The researchers also discovered that this type of brain damage is linked to increased impulsivity, even before being influenced by someone else.
A University of Ottawa-led study reveals that serotonin neurons are connected and interact with each other, controlling serotonin release in specific regions of the brain. This complex system has implications for understanding decision-making and developing targeted therapeutics for mood disorders.
A new study from the University of Missouri highlights how 'smoothed' graphs can help doctors better manage patients with hypertension. The findings suggest that these graphs can reduce errors in assessing blood pressure control, potentially alleviating pressure on the healthcare system.
A leadership trap known as the 'accidental dictator' can be avoided by embracing circumscribed empowerment, shared vision, and long-term perspective. Leaders must empower their team members within defined boundaries, engage them in the process of creating a shared vision, and prioritize a long-term perspective to build effective teams.
The USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness is leading a four-year project to identify and overcome obstacles in adopting the latest trauma triage guidelines. The goal is to produce guidelines that are equally useful and relevant for anyone, whether they are in urban or rural areas.
Researchers used rhesus monkeys to study neural activity during decision-making processes, revealing that amygdala neurons process probability and magnitude of rewards independently. The study also showed that these cells dynamically integrate information about probability, magnitude, and risk to form the basis for decision-making.
A new paper highlights emerging alternatives to traditional diabetes medicines, such as continuous glucose monitors and lifestyle interventions like GEM, which can improve patient adherence and long-term health outcomes.
A new study reveals how hunger influences dietary decisions by prioritizing tastiness over healthiness, leading to poorer nutritional choices. Researchers used eye-tracking technology and computational modeling to demonstrate that hungry individuals focus more on the visual appeal of food options and ignore nutritional information.
The University of Texas at Arlington has contributed 23 patents to UT System's total of 234, increasing by 15% over 2023. This recognition showcases the university's role in translating research into daily innovations.
A qualitative study identified key teamwork strategies that high-performing clinics use to promote regular follow-up visits for adults with chronic conditions. These strategies include close working relationships between staff members, structured follow-up systems, and proactive patient outreach.
Researchers found that perceiving prices significantly different from expectations triggers a strong N400 signal in the brain, engaging regions involved in evaluating rewards and learning. This suggests that consumers' perceptions of value are part of automatic cognitive mechanisms activated long before conscious decision-making.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that presenting information in areas where participants are naturally drawn to it can influence cooperative choices. This is particularly effective when cooperation information is placed at the bottom of the screen, contrary to natural reading patterns.
Experts propose evidence-based work design to mitigate administrative harms and improve patient safety, quality of care, and workforce well-being. The new framework aims to integrate short-term financial metrics with long-term outcomes, sparking a transformation in organizational decision-making.
Researchers at University College London found that the brain uses specific patterns of activity, or 'building blocks,' to understand social interactions. These fundamental patterns are thought to represent common interaction patterns across various situations, allowing brains to simplify complex information and make decisions quickly.
Researchers found that emotional social media posts increase short-term willingness to pay for sustainable chocolate, but this effect diminishes within two weeks. The study suggests that emotional content can be an effective way to promote sustainable consumption in the short term.
A study developed an integrated assessment framework to help policymakers and urban planners translate digital participation data into actionable strategies. The framework balances transparency and representativeness in decision-making, highlighting the need for long-term tracking of participation outcomes.
A study by the University of Exeter finds that Lebanon's dual education system exacerbates social inequalities, with parents favoring private schools over public ones. The economic crisis has led to reduced government funding, causing school days to be shortened and curricula to be rushed.
A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Business School suggests that major sports events often cost more than expected due to underestimation of costs. Researchers propose spreading events across multiple facilities to avoid new construction and reduce waste.
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute found that practicing episodic future thinking reduced impulsivity and enhanced brain connectivity in key regions. The study suggests that this approach may be a valuable early intervention therapy for substance use disorders.
A Cornell University study found that people who go against their better judgment feel greater feelings of control and culpalibility, even if they received input from an adviser. This effect may extend beyond small decisions to major life choices.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has published a governance model for the wellbeing economy, which aims to balance social, economic, and ecological sustainability in national-level decision-making. The model proposes using citizens' consultation processes and long-term wellbeing targets to guide government programs.
Researchers discovered that trying to make ourselves happier actually makes us less happy by draining our ability to use self-control and willpower. This 'happiness paradox' is caused by mentally exhausting efforts to regulate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Researchers used fMRI to investigate how the brain processes ambiguous messages, finding that more complex tasks engage multiple brain regions. The study reveals that understanding others' thoughts and emotions contributes to successful performance, with greater flexibility in reasoning.
Research from the University of Kent found that socially dominant individuals are more confident in their decisions, debunking the notion that confidence equals competence. The study, published in Personality and Individual Differences, used two-choice statistical learning tasks to assess participants' performance.
A new study from the University of Surrey emphasizes the need for transparency and trustworthiness in AI models. The research proposes a comprehensive framework known as SAGE to ensure that AI explanations are contextually relevant to end-users.
Researchers at the University of Navarra present a new prediction methodology to improve fairness and reliability of AI models used in critical decision-making. The methodology optimizes parameters of reliable machine learning models, reducing inequalities related to sensitive attributes.
Researchers found that eBay sellers who respond slowly to buyer offers may be signaling they are close to accepting the price. Buyers, on the other hand, are discouraged by slow responses and less likely to make counteroffers. By taking a slow response as a positive sign, buyers can potentially get better deals.
A new laparoscopic imaging technique uses stereo depth estimation and speckle-illumination SFDI to accurately map the optical properties of biological tissue. The device provides detailed optical property maps, enabling surgeons to identify critical tumor margins and improve clinical outcomes.
A new study by Dr Clare Stovell found that women usually lead conversations about parental duties, perpetuating traditional gender roles. Couples rarely discuss or negotiate work and family decisions, with men often assuming full-time work schedules.
A new University of Virginia study found that providing clear information and collaborative learning sessions between patients and healthcare providers increased willingness to get vaccinated. Sixty-three percent of patients reported a strong recommendation from their healthcare provider motivated them to get vaccinated.
A study published in Appetite found that positioning main course options from lowest to highest calorie amounts increases the likelihood of adolescents choosing healthier meals. The experiment showed a significant reduction in calorie content when lower-calorie options were made more accessible.
New research suggests that educating low-knowledge luxury consumers about the appeal of counterfeit goods can help combat the trillion-dollar counterfeit market. Consumers with high subjective knowledge in this domain are less likely to partake in counterfeits, while those with lower knowledge are more drawn to them.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that heavy cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during working memory tasks, associated with worse performance. Abstaining from cannabis before cognitive tasks may help improve performance.
A new review article highlights the potential of behavioral science for public policy, focusing on developing self-control and decision-making skills. The authors argue that boosting is essential to navigate and resist manipulative forces in a highly commercialized environment.
Researchers at UTEP aim to understand how drugs impact decision-making processes and drive costly behaviors. The study will use animal models and computational neurobiology to simulate neural activity and test hypotheses about the relationship between drug use, decision-making, and brain activity.
A new study led by UCL researchers reveals that people at risk of hereditary dementia significantly impact their choices about having children and parenting. Genetic risk is viewed in the context of other factors, with concerns including practical and emotional challenges of caring for someone with familial frontotemporal dementia.
A study published in PLOS ONE investigates how early hominins selected rocks for toolmaking between 1.6-1.0 million years ago in the Ethiopian highlands. The research demonstrates that early humans made informed decisions based on factors like durability and efficiency, providing new insights into their technological behaviors.
Climate change advocate Kelley T. Lê argues that schools are crucial in mobilizing a global response to the climate crisis. Her new book provides practical tools to equip teachers with the knowledge to teach climate science and inspire students to take action.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Human Development identified five key dimensions of transformative life decisions: conflicting cues, change of self, uncertain experiential value, irreversibility, and risk. The study proposes simple decision strategies to address these dimensions, including tallying, ideal self-realization, lear...
Researchers reveal that contradictory findings on territorial self-governance and ethnic civil war risk are primarily due to variations in measurement definitions. The study highlights the importance of considering the nuances of data choice in understanding conflict resolution.
A recent study by Mizzou researchers found that nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias are more likely to experience avoidable hospital transfers due to a mismatch between care provided and personal preferences. Increasing staff support, training, and resources can help improve outcomes for these residents.
In a Weizmann Institute experiment, groups of ants demonstrated superior problem-solving skills compared to human groups and individuals. Humans struggled to improve performance when working together, relying on individual calculation rather than collective strategy.
Researchers warn that AI assistants will combine intimate psychological and behavioral data with persuasive technologies to build trust and manipulate social behavior. The 'Intention Economy' could lead to a lucrative yet troubling marketplace where human intentions are commodified.