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New venture team success requires collective ownership -- with boundaries, study says

A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that successful startups require leaders who both seek input and set boundaries with their team members. The researchers call this 'territorial-marking' behavior beneficial for startups. Leaders who establish limits signal their psychological investment, encouraging team members to inv...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of information and organizational sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

Start-ups must be aware of star employee pitfalls

Research from Washington State University reveals that hiring star employees alongside founders can stall product innovation efforts due to conflicting influences. The study advises start-ups to establish clear chain of command, hire experienced start-up employees, and adapt to change as the organization evolves.

SourceWashington State University·JournalStrategic Entrepreneurship Journal·DateAug 28, 2019

Uncovering the roots of discrimination toward immigrants

A new study in Germany found that religious differences can drive anti-immigrant bias, even when immigrants follow local social norms. The researchers used an experimental approach to measure bystanders' behavior and found that Muslim immigrant women who wore a hijab received less assistance than native German women.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 29, 2019

Youth dating violence shaped by parents' conflict-handling views, study finds

A recent study led by University of Illinois social work professor Rachel Garthe found that parents' conflict-handling views play a significant role in shaping their children's behavior. The study surveyed over 1,000 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students about their parents' views on handling conflicts. Results show that students ...

Hugs may help protect against conflict-related distress

Receiving hugs on days with interpersonal conflict was associated with smaller decreases in positive emotions and increased negative emotions. The effects of hugs may have lingered, as interviewees reported continued attenuation of negative mood the next day.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 3, 2018

The evolution of conflict resolution

A study published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface examines how humans resolve conflicts through social constructs, finding that 'host-guest norms' are a common solution. The research suggests that these norms may have evolved due to the dynamic nature of social networks and the importance of resource ownership.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMay 10, 2018

Study: Parental conflict can do lasting damage to kids

New research shows that even low-level parental conflict can have lasting damage on children's emotional development. Shy children are particularly vulnerable, with shyness exacerbating the problem. Children from high-conflict homes struggle to accurately identify neutral interactions, leading to potential instability in adulthood.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateMar 28, 2018

Racial, political identities influence how people view cause of deadly police encounters

A recent study by University of Kansas researchers found that people's racial and political identities strongly influence how they view the causes of deadly police encounters. African Americans, liberals, and Democrats generally attribute fatal encounters to broader problems in policing. The researchers recommend that police department...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAnalyses of Social Issues and Public Policy·DateDec 13, 2017

How monkey fights grow

Conflict durations in monkey societies grow more quickly as others join, according to researchers studying dynamic conflict patterns. The first interaction sets the tone for the fight, with brief episodes likely to follow if initial interactions are brief.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateSep 6, 2017

Building trust, not hate

When anonymity is lifted, cooperation increases significantly due to mutual understanding. Participants who knew each other were more likely to cooperate rather than engage in retaliatory sentiments or punishment.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 29, 2017

Monkey fights help explain tipping points in animal societies

Researchers analyzed conflicts within a captive community of macaque monkeys to understand how agitated individuals can trigger large-scale brawls. They found that a small number of agitated monkeys can destabilize the system, but individual differences among group members may allow for more controlled distance from criticality.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 10, 2017

Friend or foe? Each creates national unity, a mix creates divisions, study shows

A new study published in PNAS reveals that peace brings people together in Scandinavian countries, while groups band together against other groups for a united cause in conflict-ridden war zones. In countries with a mix of indigenous and immigrant populations, intergroup relations are more challenging, leading to ambivalent stereotypes...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 9, 2017

What sports matches reveal about gender roles

Men spend more time engaged in peaceful physical contact after sports matches than women do, suggesting traditional gender roles influence conflict resolution. The study lends support to the warrior hypothesis, which proposes males prioritize cooperation over individual hard feelings.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 4, 2016

After the fight, friendship

A new study by Joyce Benenson found that men are more likely to engage in friendly physical contact after competition than women. This finding supports the 'male warrior hypothesis,' which suggests that males broker good feelings after conflict to ensure they can call on allies to defend their group.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 4, 2016

Maintaining healthy relationships: University of Waterloo studies identify a promising way

A University of Waterloo study found that thinking about the future helps people shift their focus away from current feelings and mitigate conflicts in romantic relationships. By envisioning their relationship a year into the future, individuals can adopt a more positive perspective and show more forgiveness.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJul 28, 2016

Climate disasters increase risk of armed conflict in multi-ethnic countries

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that climate disasters like heat-waves or droughts enhance the risk of armed conflicts in countries with high ethnic diversity. The research analyzed data from the international reinsurance market leader Munich Re and a conflict dataset establishe...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 25, 2016

Students with influence over peers reduce school bullying by 30 percent

Researchers found that students who are socially influential can shape their peers' behaviors and social norms, leading to a 30% reduction in student conflict reports. The Roots program, which engages these student influencers in spreading anti-conflict messages, is a promising solution to curb school bullying.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016