Articles tagged with Social Influence
A new book by sociologist Amy McDowell examines how small talk can be used to block meaningful conversation in evangelical churches, leaving members feeling isolated and alienated. The study reveals that enforced 'biblical sameness' stifles diverse discourse and convinces minorities to conform to a restrictive majority view.
A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that psychosocial factors like motivation, confidence, and social support are strongly linked to diet quality among rural adults. Participants with higher scores in these areas consumed more fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and fewer ultraprocessed foods.
A new study by the University of Bath and Tampere University found that individuals exposed to problem gambling within family or friend networks are more likely to develop their own gambling issues. Strong family relationships significantly reduce this risk, whereas friendships do not provide a comparable protective effect.
A new Illinois study reveals that investing in farm demonstration networks can significantly increase the adoption of cover crops, which improve soil health and water quality. The study found a 50% increase in cover crop adoption within four years after implementation, with greater increases observed near demonstration farms.
Climate deniers employ scientific aesthetics to build credibility by presenting rational arguments and using technical reasoning, while also portraying climate activists as emotional and irrational. This strategy is effective in spreading disinformation through digital media.
A new University of Toronto study reveals that over one-third of boys and men know someone who uses steroids, increasing their own intention to use them. The research highlights the importance of targeted prevention efforts considering social environments and identity factors.
A study by Brown University researchers found that people tend to gossip less with friends of the subject and more with popular yet distantly connected individuals. The researchers used a computational model to simulate how brains predict gossip movement through social networks, revealing the sophistication of human gossiping abilities.
Researchers found that people in positions of influence have a strong understanding of the structure of their communities and cliques. This knowledge enables them to navigate their social networks effectively and rise through the ranks.
A study found that social influence and trust play key roles in older adults' adoption of demand-responsive transportation. The research, conducted in Senboku New Town, Osaka, revealed significant relationships between behavioral intention and performance expectancy among older people.
A study of Polish women found that their mothers' and daughters' views on feminism often converged, with pro-feminist attitudes being more prevalent among younger generations. The research suggests that family dynamics play a significant role in shaping women's worldviews on gender equality.
A study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid reveals that indirect social connections have a significant impact on the adoption of innovations, influencing about two-thirds and one-third of direct contacts for the second and third circles of influence, respectively.
A new study published in Communications Psychology found that older adults (60+ years) are more susceptible to social influence when making impulsive financial decisions. In contrast, younger adults tend to stick to their original preference even after seeing others opt for the impulsive option.
Researchers show that individuals can influence others to make decisions in the best interest of society through social norms and positive feedback loops. This approach can be more effective than centralized models in achieving collective action.
A recent study by the University of Sydney reveals that tight-knit communities can resist environmental initiatives due to the creation of echo chambers and groupthink. Strong local bonds can lead to resistance against sustainability programs and greenhouse gas reduction projects, making it challenging for policymakers to implement eff...
Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub analyzed friendships and listening habits to find social networks are a crucial predictor of song popularity. The study showed that individuals with strong influence and large friend circles accelerate a song's popularity, making social connections a key factor in music trends.
Mirta Galesic has been awarded a €3 million ERC Advanced Grant to investigate collective adaptation. The project, hosted at the Complexity Science Hub, aims to understand how human groups navigate complex problem landscapes using computational models and empirical data.
Researchers from SWPS University studied how participants adjusted their private moral judgments to conform with others' opinions in virtual environments. In two studies, they found that people conformed to group pressure in 43% and 30% cases when faced with avatars controlled by humans or AI, respectively.
A new study in The American Journal of Medicine highlights the correlation between social vulnerability and physical inactivity in the US, revealing geographic variance and disparities. Researchers stress the need for tailored health promotion campaigns and individual counseling approaches to address these disparities.
A group of researchers propose that social influence plays a key role in breaking conservation rules, leading to harm for species and ecosystems. They argue that understanding how people are influenced by their environment and social dynamics can help improve conservation efforts.
Researchers found that phone communication significantly impacts social influence, with a cascading effect reaching up to four degrees of separation. The study used mobile phone data to demonstrate how phone communications affect people's decisions to attend cultural events.
Researchers found that most people perceive climate change as an important and timely issue, contrary to the assumption that it is a distant problem. The study suggests that focusing on leveraging this perception can help drive climate action.
A study of 5,000 patients with breast cancer found that women from disadvantaged neighborhoods had shorter breast cancer-specific survival rates compared to those from advantaged areas. The findings suggest potential unaccounted mechanisms, including social determinants of health and access to care.
A new study reveals that first-generation college graduates often originate from more affluent families with greater resources. This challenges the notion of a meritocracy, where success is solely based on individual effort. The research highlights the significant advantage these students have due to their family's socioeconomic status.
A study of 37,000 pediatric head and neck cancer patients found significant decreases in care receipt and survival time with increasing social determinants of health vulnerability. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address social vulnerabilities in pediatric cancer care.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that stressed individuals tend to connect with others who are similarly overwhelmed, exacerbating feelings of stress. Certain personality traits, such as high neuroticism and low conscientiousness, can buffer the transmission of stress in social interactions.
Researchers created theoretical models to explain geographical clustering of vaccine hesitancy, attributing it to both social selection and social influence. The models found that these two processes independently generate clusters of high hesitancy, with social selection playing a key role when societies trust propaganda.
Researchers found that rhesus macaques with more grooming partners had larger brain areas for social decision-making and empathy, specifically the mid–superior temporal sulcus (STS) and ventral-dysgranular insula. The study suggests that social connections influence brain structure in nonhuman primates, with possible implications for h...
A study published in PLOS Biology reveals distinct brain regions associated with informational and normative social influence. The researchers found that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is active when people conform to information, while normative influence is linked to stronger connections between dACC and other social pro...
A new study reveals that online social network algorithms can distort and amplify biases against minority groups, leading to unequal visibility and ranking. Researchers found that homophily and the proportion of minorities in a network can contribute to this effect.
A University of Pennsylvania study found that clinician peer networks significantly reduce health care inequities and disparities. The study led by Professor Damon Centola showed that clinicians who initially exhibited significant bias could change their clinical recommendations to exhibit no bias.
A study found that combined drinking and smoking after the first trimester may be associated with a significantly increased risk of late stillbirth. The observational study suggests that this exposure may be particularly concerning for women who do not have pre-existing health conditions.
A study published in Nature Communications found that people with limited connections within a network are most effective at spreading new ideas and behaviors. Targeting small groups on the 'outer edge' of a social network can stimulate shifts in thinking, rather than relying on prominent influencers.
A new study suggests that the most common optimal launch strategy is to offer the paid version first, as it generates download revenues from the first day of sales. The researchers also find that the relative profitability of the free version tends to increase with app age, while that of the paid version declines.
A study of 6,674 people in 114 countries found that social influence played a crucial role in following COVID-19 guidelines. People were more likely to distance themselves if their close friends and family also did so.
A female-typical language style is associated with higher impact and more views in TED Talks, contradicting traditional gender stereotypes. The study found that female-typical language was connected to positive ratings like "beautiful" and "courageous," while male-typical language evoked ratings like "fascinating" and "informative."
Research shows that personal energy choices can be contagious, influenced by social norms, observation, word-of-mouth communication, and trusted community leaders. The study identifies factors that affect the impact of peer influence, including individual characteristics, relationship strength, learning processes, and behavior complexity.
A new study by Rice University found that freshly appointed CEOs can improve their job security through strategic social interaction. By ingratiating themselves with their predecessors and engaging in self-promotion, new CEOs can mitigate the negative impact of poor stock market reactions and maintain stability.
Participants showed improved accuracy in responding to controversial facts after being exposed to others' responses, reducing polarization and partisan bias. This finding contradicts traditional polarization theory and suggests that information sharing within homogeneous networks can increase belief accuracy.
Researchers found that surprises can have far-reaching effects on attitudes and behavior, making them a valuable tool for communication. Surprises can also rapidly spread through networks, creating collective effects on culture.
A psychology professor's new paper suggests that facial expressions are used to achieve specific social outcomes, rather than revealing emotions. The study finds that certain expressions serve as 'social tools' in behavioral negotiation, and can be used to subdue or intimidate others.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that social networking sites create awareness for gift-worthy occasions and inspire people to give more gifts. Online gift exchanges on Facebook were found to be reciprocal, with most givers reporting having received a gift in the past.
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 study by the University of Kent found no correlation between social influence and personal autonomy, suggesting that increased power actually diminishes feelings of freedom. The researchers also discovered a lack of personal power correlates with a lack of social power.
A new modeling framework allows scientists to study the impact of certainty on individual beliefs, shedding light on why people reject scientific consensus. The research reveals that underlying beliefs can influence interpersonal networks and shape views on controversial topics.
Researchers analyzed Skype data on 500 million users, finding that stable adopters play a key role in emerging global adoption patterns. Vulnerable adoptions induced by single neighbors are localized, while innovators and social influencers drive the spread of adoption.
A UNSW Australia-led study found that people eat less when their companion consumes a small amount of food, due to the social modelling effect. This psychological influence leads individuals to rely on external cues rather than internal hunger and fullness signals.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that empowering consumers through product development can lead to a backlash when combined with social media influence. Consumers who feel empowered are more likely to deliberately express opposing views and rebel against attempts to shape their opinions.
A recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers who receive unearned preferential treatment, such as free samples or upgrades, are less satisfied than those who do not. The authors suggest that companies should consider reaching consumers privately when giving away rewards to avoid social discomfort.
A new study by Brigham Young University professor Sarah Coyne analyzed 40 teen novels and found that 88% of them contained at least one instance of profanity. The study also discovered that characters with higher social status, better looks, and more money were more likely to swear.
A recent study found that children living near a child with autism are more likely to be diagnosed themselves in the following year. The proximity effect is strongest among children on the milder side of the autism spectrum and explains about 16% of the recent increases in diagnoses.
A study found that 59% of gifts were used less frequently than predicted by their recipients. Strangers and even informed observers tended to make more accurate predictions about how often gifts would be used, with only 10% overprediction rate among the latter group.
A study on Second Life data reveals that 50% of gestures making their way through the virtual world were transferred between friends, highlighting the role of social networks in influence. The researchers also found that early adopters and influencers tend to distribute assets differently.