Articles tagged with Social Groups
A study by Salk researchers has identified an area of the brain responsible for encoding social rank in mammals, including mice. The discovery sheds light on how the brain represents social hierarchy and its impact on behavior, particularly in competitive situations.
A study on wild baboons reveals that they prioritize socializing and safety over sleep, even after poor sleep quality. The research used non-invasive technology to monitor sleep patterns across a group of individuals, showing that animals in the wild face competing demands that disrupt sleep homeostasis.
Bighorn sheep use a combination of past experience and visual information about habitat quality to make informed migratory decisions. The research found that these perception-informed decisions allow the species to better adapt to changing environmental conditions, increasing their chances of survival.
A study explores why people dislike certain music, identifying five main reference points: music composition, lyrics, performance, artist, and social environment. Musical dislikes serve similar functions as preferences but are expressed less openly, fulfilling roles such as maintaining mood or expressing identity.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded pre-existing inequalities among refugee adolescents in Jordan, leading to increased stress and high rates of depression. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to support these vulnerable populations.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that white men who have faced disadvantages at work, particularly those related to social identities such as disability or sexual orientation, are more likely to acknowledge their own racial privileges and empathize with the experiences of other groups. The research involved 5,124 white m...
A study in Current Biology found that hippos recognize individual voices, responding more aggressively to strangers than neighbors. The researchers hope to learn more about what hippos communicate through their calls, exploring how they recognize sounds and whether voices reveal characteristics like size or sex.
Researchers from Germany and UK found that civic engagement has little impact on well-being, despite common assumptions. Non-political engagement in old age showed a small positive effect on life satisfaction, but other benefits were limited.
A study found that UK adults' accuracy in estimating national statistics is influenced by their intelligence, religiousness, and political beliefs. Respondents were most accurate when estimating characteristics like vegetarianism and car ownership, but least accurate for minority groups like homosexuals.
A study by Dr. Felix Hagemeister found a significant link between right-wing populist party victories and an increase in far-right protests, particularly in areas with relatively liberal attitudes.
Researchers propose a new model linking cultural trauma to health disparities in US cultural groups, identifying cultural trauma as a fundamental cause of health disparities. The model suggests that damaging or destroying a group's culture can rob people of important resources for protecting their health.
A study of four US states finds that Black people are more likely to be nonfatally shot and injured by police, with disparities greater than seen for fatal shootings. The research highlights the need for comprehensive data on police shootings to draw reliable conclusions about racial disparities.
Research suggests that larger bee colonies with comfortable food stores are less willing to take risks, while smaller colonies with limited resources are more likely to ignore warning signals. This study provides insights into the complex communication system of bees and its implications for understanding biological collectives.
A modelling study suggests that COVID-19 could lead to the collapse of a population of mountain gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park. The risk is higher due to lower availability of treatments for gorillas, but measures like mask-wearing and vaccination can limit transmission.
A new study of 51,000 UK adults found that COVID-19 lockdowns had differential impacts on people's income, time use, and subjective well-being based on their gender, ethnicity, and educational level. The study suggests that these inequalities may persist even after lockdown restrictions eased.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that Asian elephants successfully cooperated in 80% of trials, using strategies like fighting back or moving sides to prevent cheating. However, cooperation quickly broke down when one partner could monopolize the reward, revealing a complex dynamic in their social behavior.
A new study reveals that male giraffes have higher social connectedness than females, with males forming more acquaintances and older males having shorter social paths. This complexity could impact conservation efforts for endangered giraffes.
Researchers study social support networks and health outcomes of over 670 Hispanic and non-Hispanic lung cancer patients to understand the Hispanic Health Paradox. The study aims to identify cultural differences in social interactions that influence health outcomes.
Researchers found that candidates' pro-gun messages and NRA funding influence voters' evaluations, with racial resentment moderating the effects. Voters who own guns or are racially resentful were more likely to support candidates with similar views, while those low in racial resentment preferred pro-gun control candidates.
A new study found that the public generally opposes repressive policing of protesters, but certain tactics by protesters increase fear and support for police repression. The goals of protests also impact support for police repression, with racially resentful individuals more supportive of repression.
A new study in rats reveals that empathetic responses to fellow group members drive the desire to help them, but not strangers. This finding suggests a common biological mechanism driving socially biased behavior in humans and potentially other mammals.
Researchers propose a new approach to predicting election outcomes and identifying social trends by analyzing people's perceptions of their friends' voting intentions. By asking about a person's social circle rather than individual beliefs, they can gather highly accurate information on emerging trends.
Research finds that actively addressing inequalities fosters social change when meeting the psychological needs of both groups. Meeting the needs of disadvantaged groups through empowerment and listening helps to bolster their interest in collective action.
A study of over 11,000 individuals found that actively addressing inequalities fosters social change when both disadvantaged and advantaged groups feel heard and accepted. Empowerment through active listening and acknowledgment of injustices are key factors in promoting social justice.
Researchers used meta-analytic methods to evaluate data from 22 studies involving 5,349 individuals in 1,356 groups, finding strong support for a general factor of collective intelligence. Group collaboration processes were twice as important for predicting CI than individual skill, and group composition, including female proportion an...
A new longitudinal study revealed that overhearing a stranger's negative comments about a social group can have a lasting impact on children's attitudes. Children aged 7-9 who overheard negative messages drew themselves further from the group and were less willing to be friends with someone from the group.
Wild bonobos have been observed adopting infants from different social groups, providing maternal care, including nursing and nesting. The findings suggest that adoption in bonobos may not be limited to kin relationships or pre-existing social bonds.
A study by UC Riverside found that adopting unique rituals to make everyday tasks more meaningful can reduce feelings of loneliness. Participants who engaged in ritualistic consumption of consumer products reported feeling less lonely and having a greater sense of meaning in their lives.
Researchers found that wolf social groups affect disease transmission within and between groups. The models account for individual death rates, group split or combination, and Allee effects, showing pathogens reduce population size mainly through reduced group numbers.
Researchers confirmed a theory that networks of no more than 150 are optimal for internally sharing information, a concept proposed by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar in the 1990s. Understanding this 'Dunbar Number' is crucial for training teams and forming cohesive groups.
Researchers studied 45 female colobus monkeys in Ghana to understand the impact of social groupings and distance on their gut microbiomes. They found that individuals from different groups with closer social connections had more similar gut microbiomes, suggesting microbes can be transmitted during occasional encounters.
The Elie 2.0 project aims to improve entrepreneurship opportunities for socially excluded groups by providing skills training, confidence boosting and local business partnerships. The programme will work across the UK, Poland, Bulgaria and Greece, building on success stories from the Eliemental programme.
A new study by Brigham Young University researchers found that 20% of college students experience strong feelings of impostorism. Seeking social support from individuals outside their major is a highly effective way to reduce these feelings, as opposed to seeking support within the same academic group. The study also highlights the imp...
Researchers Maayan Stavans and Renée Baillargeon found that infants as young as 17 months old expect leaders to rectify transgressions. The study suggests that abstract expectation of authority is part of the basic structure of human moral cognition.
New research from Duke University finds that reminding children of their various identities improves their problem-solving skills and flexible thinking about social groupings. This simple mindset switch can lead to better behavior in an increasingly diverse society.
A 15-year study tracking former child soldiers in Sierra Leone reveals that earning acceptance from families and communities is crucial for their mental health and social integration. The research highlights the importance of addressing stigma and improving social supports to help these individuals recover from childhood trauma.
Additive mortality events from human activities led to weaker social associations, reduced group size, and increased survival probability, ultimately resulting in a significant population decline. The study found that 98 individuals failed to re-associate in stable social groups after the event.
Online discussions with community expectations posting increased newcomer participation by 70% and rule compliance by 8.4%. Ensuring visible community norms benefits group dynamics.
Researchers used brain scans to explore unconscious biases in movie watchers, finding that the brain is naturally biased towards people who are like us, but also against those who are different. The study suggests that our brains can be influenced by learned knowledge and external factors, changing how we perceive others.
Research on social cognition reveals that implicit attitudes play a crucial role in shaping stereotypical beliefs about social groups. The study found that individuals' automatic positive-negative judgments supersede specific group traits or stereotypes.
Researchers found that evacuees who returned to their homes after initial evacuation had more children, while those who stayed in western Finland had fewer. Those who intermarried with the host population increased their social status, but were less likely to have children.
A study published in Psychological Science found that participants' self-reported attitudes toward various social groups have shifted towards neutrality over a decade, while their implicit attitudes also decreased in bias. Notably, changes in implicit sexual orientation and race attitudes occurred across all generations.
A study found that pain treatment is more efficient when provided by a stranger, revealing the analgesic effect of surprise. Participants experienced reduced neural pain responses and subjective pain judgments after being treated by someone from a different social group.
Researchers used laboratory economic games to demonstrate that societal stereotypes about group warmth and competence can predict treatment disparities. The study found patterns of disparity similar to those documented in educational and labor markets.
A study by University of Kansas researchers found that gun owners are a strong political group who hold significant influence despite being a minority in American politics. The study suggests that the growing politicization of gun ownership is driving increased political participation among gun owners, with implications for gun control...
A review by Yale psychologist Yarrow Dunham suggests that ingroup bias is a natural phenomenon driven by membership in a social group, explaining why people favor their own group over others. This bias may have evolved to boost group living and social learning.
Researchers found that primates choose grooming partners based on various factors, including reproductive state, social relationships, and dominance rank. They also consider the social environment, adapting their choice to maximize benefit. This study reveals impressive cognitive abilities in primates.
A new study suggests that ex-smokers often relapse due to a desire to recapture their lost social identity. The research found that quitting smoking can be a 'loss' for some individuals, leading them to struggle with feelings of guilt and shame upon regaining their identity as non-smokers.
Research suggests that children's tendency to share is linked to their social status in the classroom, with those having few interaction partners tending to be more generous. Higher levels of prenatal testosterone are associated with a 'masculinisation effect' leading to less sharing.
Scientists found wild Australian magpies from larger groups showed increased intelligence and produced more offspring. The research suggests that living in complex social groups may drive the evolution of intelligence.
Research at the Santa Fe Institute shows that living systems use collective computation to make decisions, with individuals contributing their own opinions and preferences. The system can produce accurate distributions of power, even in complex environments like primate social groups.
A recent study published in Springer's journal Sex Roles found that job ads intended to appeal to women can be flawed by stereotypical wording, discouraging them from applying. The researchers recommend using task-directed language to attract high-quality and gender-diverse applicants.
Research led by Jonathan Pruitt finds that the population majority determines whether influential individuals can emerge and lead a society, not just charismatic leaders. The study uses African social spiders to show that shy, generic spiders are key to creating advantageous social orders.
A new study reveals that female mongooses evict rivals to reduce reproductive competition and increase pup survival rates. This behavior also leads to the creation of new social groups and reduced chances of successful breeding for evicted females.
New research found that male killer whales are three times more likely to die in years with scarce food and when they are not at the centre of their social group. The study highlights the importance of social bonds for male killer whales, particularly during times of scarcity.
A study published in Evolutionary Psychology Science suggests that sincere religious beliefs are not associated with hostile attitudes toward outsiders. In contrast, those who use religion for non-religious goals, such as social status or group membership, tend to exhibit greater out-group hostility.
A team of scientists led by the University of Exeter aims to understand how individual characteristics and social relationships influence collective movements in birds. The project seeks to decipher the mechanisms behind flocking behavior, with potential implications for crowd safety, crop management, and robotics.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that US actors dominated the Academy Awards, winning over 50% of all prizes. Shared social group membership with judges was a significant factor in determining award winners. Nationality and film subject matter also played important roles in award wins.
A new study on Asian elephants found that they do not have clear dominance hierarchies or matriarchal leadership like African savannah elephants. This is due to their predictable and productive environment where food and water are readily available, allowing them to make independent movement decisions.
A new study found that infants expect people to share food preferences unless they belong to different social groups. However, disgust reactions are expected to transcend social boundaries. This early understanding has important implications for public health policies on obesity.