Aspects Of Social Interaction Research Articles

ESPORTS: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES

<p>Esports are increasingly popular and are becoming more similar to conventional sports. This is due to the social interaction and community-building aspects, as well as the sporting elements embedded in the virtual environments of the video games they include. Esports are a topic of interest for the interdisciplinary field of Philosophy of Sport, which examines the various dimensions of sport in relation to human values. The aim of this paper is to illuminate the existing philosophical debate on the relationship between esports and the Philosophy of Sport. The paper is a philosophical work that aims to highlight the arguments of sports philosophers on esports over the last twenty years. The argument of this paper is that the focus of philosophical interest is not located in matters of ethics but also not in the human being itself. The majority of philosophical papers on esports focus on whether they can be considered real sports or Olympic sports. Other topics include their definition or institutionalisation, physicality, skill requirements, cheating, and corruption. Rules and the identity of esports players are also of concern to philosophers in the field of Philosophy of Sport. This research is significant due to its relevance and timeliness in the field of esports, as well as its contribution to philosophical discussions surrounding the topic. By advancing both philosophical and empirical research and providing ample material for reflection and debate, the paper is a valuable resource for researchers interested in studying and reflecting on esports.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0777/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Oral proficiency gains of study abroad students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Oral proficiency gains of study abroad students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Anxiety and depressive personality disorders in the modern world

The study's significance lies in the multitude of challenges facing individuals today, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, military conflicts like the war in Ukraine, and the escalating rates of cancer morbidity and mortality. These factors contribute to the onset of anxiety and depressive disorders, disrupting various aspects of individuals' mental functioning and social interactions. Addressing these disorders effectively necessitates a comprehensive approach, combining pharmacological interventions with psychotherapeutic strategies under the guidance of specialized professionals. In this regard, the study is aimed at identifying aspects and features of the development of psychological problems and personality disorders in the modern world filled with various stressors. The leading methods of studying this problem are analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison, experiment and systematisation of approaches that will help determine a wide range of mental disorders. Theoretical methods were used to analyze the literature and summarize theoretical material on anxiety and depressive disorders. Diagnostic methods were used to assess the psychological state of the study population. The study examines significant clinical syndromes and vegetative disorders that disrupt normal lifestyle, hinder daily activities, and impede professional growth. It evaluates the roles of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers in assisting individuals with anxiety disorders. It outlines preventive measures for anxiety and depression, while also delving into various types of anxiety disorders. The research proposes diverse methods to prevent emotional anxiety and instability. It underscores the importance of devising novel strategies for diagnosis and therapy, emphasizing a comprehensive approach involving psychotherapeutic support, medical intervention, and adaptive behavioral techniques. The findings of the study hold both practical and theoretical significance for professionals in psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and sociology who provide support for individuals with anxiety and depressive disorders. Furthermore, the insights provided may be pertinent to researchers and scholars investigating the psychological well-being of contemporary society amidst adverse external circumstances.

FamilyScope: Visualizing Affective Aspects of Family Social Interactions using Passive Sensor Data

This work presents FamilyScope, a sensor-based family informatics system that enables reflection upon family data collected from family activity scenarios (e.g., game playing and movie watching) that include affective aspects of a family's social interactions. We conducted a user study with ten families (n=30) in a smart home testbed to observe how our system supports data reflection of the affective and behavioral states among family members. Our findings showed that FamilyScope facilitated family data reflection on affective and behavioral aspects of family interactions. Overall, families reported that the system well reflected family members' general tendencies in terms of affective and behavioral responses and even helped them gain new insights about each other. Based on the findings, we provide practical design approaches for collective reflection in family informatics systems.

Comparative study of pregabalin and carbamazepine in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy at the tertiary care hospital

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of carbamazepine as well as pregabalin in lowering the degree of pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The results revealed noteworthy insights into the comparative effectiveness of these medications. Pregabalin, as a calcium channel modulator, has demonstrated efficacy in numerous neuropathic pain conditions. Beyond pain reduction, these drugs influence various aspects of daily functioning, emotional well-being, and social interactions is crucial for tailoring treatment approaches. The discussion explores Pregabalin medication stands out in improving overall quality of life of the patients. The results presented here indicated that among diabetic patients, age, HbA1c, DR, and the duration of their diabetes are related to considerably higher risks of DPN; however, BMI, smoking, TG, as well as TC did not show any evidence of an increased risk of DPN. The results of the study offer a scientific foundation for a deeper comprehension of the causes of peripheral neuropathy-complicated type 2 diabetes and the outcomes of preventative measures.Bottom of Form

Primary Health Care: the Relational Aspects of Social Interaction between Family Doctors and People with Disabilities

Strategic documents of the United Nations and the European Union express the belief that primary health care is a fundamental part of health care services and it must be accessible to all people and funded according to the means. Many research studies prove that enhancement of the primary health care system helps to effectively eliminate causes and risk factors for poor health and to prevent likely impairment of health in the future. However, the data of recent investigations demonstrate that the quality of health care services in Lithuania is much poorer than the average of the EU, and the institution of family doctors providing services of this type suffers from problems related to the efficiency of functioning. Therefore, it is worth investigating possible causes for this problem, to identify them and search for solutions. The paper presents the research that is aimed at examining one part of the aspects of the problem, specifically the relational aspects of social interaction between family doctors and people with disabilities from the point of view of people with disabilities and their relatives. 555 people with disabilities (PWD) and 540 respondents who had relatives with disabilities and took care of them (PWDcare) participated in the survey carried out in 2019–2020 and reported about their experience of social interaction with family doctors. The research indicated many positive tendencies, of which the most prominent was the satisfaction of the relationship, trust and understandment with family doctors. But at the same time the research revealed some more problematic areas, such as the lack of family doctors’ compassion and warmth to many patients. These results are important for improving the primary health care service and quality as well for strengthening the family doctors’ education.

The phenomenon of value conflict in the mass media space

The author examines in detail the phenomenon of value conflict in the mass media space. With the advent of mass media, political conflict has acquired a new scale and role, developing on several planes: in reality, in the media, in social media and in the minds of the audience. Modern society is oversaturated with information, which leads to the question of the effective use of media resources and their uneven distribution. In the context of the information society, new types of conflicts arise related to the relationship of factual and necessary information, which emphasizes the importance of studying the mediatization of political conflicts and their impact on public relations. The media space is an environment where political conflicts are formed and resolved, thereby defining many aspects of social life and interaction. The article focuses on the role of values in the political process, reveals the influence of the media on the formation of attitudes and behavior in conflict conditions. The object of the study is a political conflict in the media space. The subject of the study is the mediatization of political relations in the context of the value characteristics of society. The purpose of the study is to determine the role and place of media in the processes of managing political and value conflict in modern society. The research uses activity-based, axiological and systematic approaches that allow us to penetrate into the essence of the phenomenon of the mass media space and trace the transformation of values in it that are the subject of conflict relations. The theoretical and practical significance of the study lies in the fact that it substantiates the need to revise classical approaches to the consideration of such categories as: information war, political and value conflict in the media space. As part of the conflict agenda, the media can chronicle events, mediate and make forecasts. They influence the formation of attitudes and behaviors of social groups in conflict conditions, have the potential to form stereotypes of constructive (or not) behavior. The study of the mediatization of political conflict in a value-based way allows us to identify the features and patterns of formation of models of "conflict behavior" in the information field (participating and observing parties), the choice of motives, strategies and opportunities in the conflict, goals and ideas about the development of the conflict.

Examining the Moderating Effect of Parental Values on the Relationship between Conformity Interpersonal, Universalism Concern, Benevolence Dependability and Universalism Nature Using Structural Equation Modeling

This research focuses into the intricate dynamics of the relationship between Parental Values and key prosocial traits, namely Conformity-Interpersonal, Universalism-Concern, Benevolence-Dependability, and Universalism-Nature. Through the application of advanced statistical techniques, particularly Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study aims to uncover the moderating effects of parental values on the expression and manifestation of these prosocial behaviors in individuals. Prosocial behavior, characterized by acts intended to benefit others, is a critical aspect of social interactions and interpersonal relationships. The role of parental values in shaping such behaviors has been acknowledged, yet the specific mechanisms through which these values moderate the relationship between individuals and prosocial traits remain less understood. The theoretical framework guiding this research draws on social cognitive theories, which propose that individuals learn and acquire behaviors through observation and imitation, with the family serving as a primary socialization agent. Parental values, representing the moral and ethical principles transmitted within the family unit, are posited to influence the development and expression of prosocial behaviors.

The dimensions of the role of the educator in distance learning environments in covid19 era

The global pandemic that unfolded in recent years has left indelible marks on all aspects of daily life and social interactions. Universally, the prevalent form that dominated the Covid-19 era for the educational process at all levels was the use of teleconferencing and electronic communication tools. Educators of this new era have faced multiple and unexpected changes that have brought about transformations in their roles. For this reason, in Section 2, the multidimensional nature of the educator, as influenced by the pandemic, will be analyzed. Specifically, the second section of the main part will highlight the elements adopted during this period that will continue to shape future educational practices for achieving maximum learning outcomes. In contrast, the third section will address the key challenges faced by educators during the period of changes, as studied in the relevant literature. The fourth section of this work will provide a specific example for discussion, illustrating the difficulties that emerged from the challenges mentioned in the previous section. Finally, useful conclusions will be drawn from the literature review and the analysis of the subject.

Social associations and cardiovascular mortality in the United States counties, 2016 to 2020

BackgroundThe positive aspects of social interaction on health have been described often, with considerably less attention to their negative aspect. This study aimed to assess the impact of social associations on cardiovascular mortality in the United States.MethodsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data sets from 2016 to 2020 were used to identify death records due to cardiovascular disease in the United States population aged 15 years and older. The social association rate defined as membership associations per 10,000 population, accessed from the 2020 County Health Rankings data was used as a surrogate for social participation. All United States counties were grouped into quartiles based on their social association rate; Q1 being the lowest quartile of social association, and Q4 the highest quartile. Age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) was calculated for each quartile. County health factor rankings for the state of Texas were used to adjust the AAMR for baseline comorbidities of county population, using Gaussian distribution linear regression.ResultsOverall, the AAMR was highest in the 4th social association rate quartile (306.73 [95% CI, 305.72-307.74]) and lowest in the 1st social association rate quartile (266.80 [95% CI, 266.41–267.20]). The mortality rates increased in a linear pattern from lowest to highest social association rate quartiles. After adjustment for the county health factor ranks of Texas, higher social association rate remained associated with a significantly higher AAMR (coefficient 15.84 [95% CI, 12.78–18.89]).ConclusionsOur study reported higher cardiovascular AAMR with higher social associations in the United States, with similar results after adjustment for County Health Rankings in the state of Texas.

Selected Teaching Competency for Physical Education Teachers under the Applied Talent Cultivation Background

Background and Aim: Nowadays, the deepening reform of the teaching mode of Universities is constantly developing with the improvement of demand, Skill-based talent training has become an inevitable requirement for universities to comply with the education reform. In recent years, sports professional training in management, teamwork, social interaction, and other aspects of comprehensive competency appear to be insufficient, which puts forward a higher demand for the teaching competency of university physical education teachers. Materials and Methods: Using IOC expert testing, 21 experts conducted three rounds of Delphi indicator screening, and the AHP analytic hierarchy process assigned weights to the indicators. The competency of physical education teachers in universities was finally obtained (3 first-level indicators, 12 second-level indicators, and 46 third-level indicators). Results: The final results were as follows: 1) In the first level indicators, professional knowledge is considered a fundamental factor for teaching physical education teachers in universities; 2) In the second level, subject-oriented knowledge was considered the most important core factor in the professional knowledge; The competency to organize and guide extracurricular activities was considered the most important core factor; Perceived attitudes toward careers was considered the most important core factor; and 3) In the third level indicators, basic theoretical knowledge of physical education, teaching experience and knowledge of lessons learned, knowledge of Sports Injury Prescription and Rehabilitation etc., which were considered the most important core factor. Conclusion: It is recommended that school leaders and physical education teachers in each University establish new teaching concepts, update their teaching philosophy, strengthen further training for physical education teachers in their schools, and aim at comprehensive development, to establish the high-quality teaching competence of physical education teachers’ universities.

Dark triad personality traits are associated with decreased grey matter volumes in 'social brain' structures.

Personality traits and the degree of their prominence determine various aspects of social interactions. Some of the most socially relevant traits constitute the Dark Triad - narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism - associated with antisocial behaviour, disregard for moral norms, and a tendency to manipulation. Sufficient data point at the existence of Dark Triad 'profiles' distinguished by trait prominence. Currently, neuroimaging studies have mainly concentrated on the neuroanatomy of individual dark traits, while the Dark Triad profile structure has been mostly overlooked. We performed a clustering analysis of the Dirty Dozen Dark Triad questionnaire scores of 129 healthy subjects using the k-means method. The variance ratio criterion (VRC) was used to determine the optimal number of clusters for the current data. The two-sample t-test within the framework of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed to test the hypothesised differences in grey matter volume (GMV) for the obtained groups. Clustering analysis revealed 2 groups of subjects, both with low-to-mid and mid-to-high levels of Dark Triad traits prominence. A further VBM analysis of these groups showed that a higher level of Dark Triad traits may manifest itself in decreased grey matter volumes in the areas related to emotional regulation (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the cingulate cortex), as well as those included in the reward system (the ventral striatum, the orbitofrontal cortex). The obtained results shed light on the neurobiological basis underlying social interactions associated with the Dark Triad and its profiles.

Nucleus accumbens dopamine release reflects the selective nature of pair bonds

In monogamous species, prosocial behaviors directed toward partners are dramatically different from those directed toward unknown individuals and potential threats. Dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens has a well-established role in social reward and motivation, but how this mechanism may be engaged to drive the highly divergent social behaviors directed at a partner or unfamiliar conspecific remains unknown. Using monogamous prairie voles, we first employed receptor pharmacology in partner preference and social operant tasks to show that dopamine is critical for the appetitive drive for social interaction but not for low-effort, unconditioned consummatory behaviors. We then leveraged the subsecond temporal resolution of the fluorescent biosensor, GRABDA, to ask whether differential dopamine release might distinguish between partner and novel social access and interaction. We found that partner seeking, anticipation, and interaction resulted in more accumbal dopamine release than the same events directed toward a novel vole. Further, partner-associated dopamine release decreased after prolonged partner separation. Our results are consistent with a model in which dopamine signaling plays a prominent role in the appetitive aspects of social interactions. Within this framework, differences in partner- and novel-associated dopamine release reflect the selective nature of pair bonds and may drive the partner- and novel-directed social behaviors that reinforce and cement bonds over time. This provides a potential mechanism by which highly conserved reward systems can enable selective, species-appropriate social behaviors.

Minding your manners in the Gilded Age

ABSTRACT Etiquette manuals may be used as a tool in which to investigate the intricacies associated with dining during the Gilded Age. An exploration of these dining habits, using historic etiquette manuals as primary sources, enhanced by the analysis of secondary sources, deepens understanding of a complicated age in American history. These sources reveal that food could be a curse, particularly to those not tutored in the table manners of a wealthy and hypercritical social climate. Newcomers to the volatile landscape of late 1800s society strived to increase their rank in the social hierarchy. Those with upper class lineage were alarmed by the upheaval of the system that once deemed them superior. Unnerved by this threat to their authority, the established elite encouraged systems of behavior which judged and classified newcomers. The minutiae associated with dinner parties, menus and eating, was one way to sort unwelcome new arrivals. Etiquette manuals cautioned insecure readers that the dinner table was a dangerous arena, one which could expose “imposters,” who now had money, but not pedigree. These guides advised on all aspects of social interaction, with special detail given to the act of eating; arming anxious readers with the particulars needed to negotiate the treacherous rules of dining in the Gilded Age.

Hearing loss in juvenile rats leads to excessive play fighting and hyperactivity, mild cognitive deficits and altered neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex

BackgroundIn children, hearing loss has been associated with hyperactivity, disturbed social interaction, and risk of cognitive disturbances. Mechanistic explanations of these relations sometimes involve language. To investigate the effect of hearing loss on behavioral deficits in the absence of language, we tested the impact of hearing loss in juvenile rats on motor, social, and cognitive behavior and on physiology of prefrontal cortex. MethodsHearing loss was induced in juvenile (postnatal day 14) male Sprague-Dawley rats by intracochlear injection of neomycin under general anesthesia. Sham-operated and non-operated hearing rats served as controls. One week after surgery auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements verified hearing loss or intact hearing in sham-operated and non-operated controls. All rats were then tested for locomotor activity (open field), coordination (Rotarod), and for social interaction during development in weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 after surgery. From week 8 on, rats were trained and tested for spatial learning and memory (4-arm baited 8-arm radial maze test). In a final setting, neuronal activity was recorded in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). ResultsIn the open field deafened rats moved faster and covered more distance than sham-operated and non-operated controls from week 8 on (both p < 0.05). Deafened rats showed significantly more play fighting during development (p < 0.05), whereas other aspects of social interaction, such as following, were not affected. Learning of the radial maze test was not impaired in deafened rats (p > 0.05), but rats used less next-arm entries than other groups indicating impaired concept learning (p < 0.05). In the mPFC neuronal firing rate was reduced and enhanced irregular firing was observed. Moreover, oscillatory activity was altered, both within the mPFC and in coherence of mPFC with the somatosensory cortex (p < 0.05). ConclusionsHearing loss in juvenile rats leads to hyperactive behavior and pronounced play-fighting during development, suggesting a causal relationship between hearing loss and cognitive development. Altered neuronal activities in the mPFC after hearing loss support such effects on neuronal networks outside the central auditory system. This animal model provides evidence of developmental consequences of juvenile hearing loss on prefrontal cortex in absence of language as potential confounding factor.

Studying Daily Social Interaction Quantity and Quality in Relation to Depression Change: A Multi-Phase Experience Sampling Study.

Day-to-day social life and mental health are intertwined. Yet, no study to date has assessed how the quantity and quality of social interactions in daily life are associated with changes in depressive symptoms. This study examines these links using multiple-timescale data (iSHAIB data set; N = 133), where the level of depressive symptoms was measured before and after three 21-day periods of event-contingent experience sampling of individuals' interpersonal interactions (T = 64,112). We find weak between-person effects for interaction quantity and perceiving interpersonal warmth of others on changes in depressive symptoms over the 21-day period, but strong and robust evidence for overwarming-a novel construct representing the self-perceived difference between one's own and interaction partner's level of interpersonal warmth. The findings highlight the important role qualitative aspects of social interactions may play in the progression of individuals' depressive symptoms.

Drivers of social influence in the Twitter migration to Mastodon

The migration of Twitter users to Mastodon following Elon Musk’s acquisition presents a unique opportunity to study collective behavior and gain insights into the drivers of coordinated behavior in online media. We analyzed the social network and the public conversations of about 75,000 migrated users and observed that the temporal trace of their migrations is compatible with a phenomenon of social influence, as described by a compartmental epidemic model of information diffusion. Drawing from prior research on behavioral change, we delved into the factors that account for variations of the effectiveness of the influence process across different Twitter communities. Communities in which the influence process unfolded more rapidly exhibit lower density of social connections, higher levels of signaled commitment to migrating, and more emphasis on shared identity and exchange of factual knowledge in the community discussion. These factors account collectively for 57% of the variance in the observed data. Our results highlight the joint importance of network structure, commitment, and psycho-linguistic aspects of social interactions in characterizing grassroots collective action, and contribute to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms that drive processes of behavior change of online groups.

SOCIOLINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF VERBAL INTERACTION

The study of language communities, where language practices are subordinated to social behavior and shaped by linguistic innovations and traditions, opens up a wide area for research in sociolinguistics. For this reason, focusing on and studying language communities and implementing language practices as a means of learning is relevant for linguistics. The study aims to establish the effectiveness of incorporating sociolinguistic achievements into the work with students in linguistics. In particular, it includes an investigation of the specifics of verbal interaction and studying the communicative behavior of language communities and speech practices. It involves an analysis of the effectiveness of involving students in the research process and innovating their motivation to study sociolinguistics. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach, utilizing observation, descriptive methods, analysis, and synthesis. The main method employed is an experiment. Also, an assessment of the implementation of the new methodology includes surveys conducted at the final stage. The main hypothesis of the study assumes that using sociolinguistic theories during research and educational work with students is an effective academic practice. Furthermore, applying the study of language communities and speech practice models is necessary for a specialist in linguistics. Further research would be promising to consider the experience of successful students' research projects, as well as studies of the linguistic aspects of social interaction within university educational practices. In particular, the process of preparing and implementing team projects in education is the key to ensuring a friendly environment for all participants of the educational process.

Intact or impaired? The understanding of give-and-take interactions in children with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundUnderstanding and predicting others’ behavior in a dynamic and rapidly changing world is a fundamental aspect of social interactions. However, it remains unclear as to whether children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could understand and predict goal-directed social actions. AimsTo investigate the understanding of give-and-take interactions in children with ASD with the use of eye tracking. Methods and proceduresExperiment 1 and 2 investigated the understanding of giving and taking respectively in 5-to 8-year-old Chinese children with ASD and typically developing children by using the eye-tracking technology. Outcomes and ResultsWe found that children with ASD could predict actions, but they were less proficient in processing give-and-take interactions. Moreover, children with ASD showed impaired understanding of giving but not taking. ConclusionsThese results indicate that the basic mechanisms of action prediction are intact in children with ASD whereas there may be deficits in the top-down social processing of the giving gesture.

Families, alliances, clientage and urban space: the case of the late medieval Genoese alberghi (thirteenth-fifteenth centuries)

Within the multifarious context of communal Italy, the Genoese aristocratic alberghi, known thanks to the studies of Edoardo Grendi, Ennio Poleggi and Luciano Grossi Bianchi, and Jacques Heers, stand out as a peculiar example that enables to observe the relationship between aristocracy and urban space throughout the late Middle Ages. The Genoese case is peculiar not only because of its originality, already emphasised by past literature, but also in view of the presence of extremely rich documentary sources. In a city characterised by multiple and overlapping territorial divisions (compagne, conestagie, contrate), it is thus possible to follow the evolution of these aristocratic confederacies (involving around 200 families of different sizes) from the early communal period. Grendi had emphasised the ‘demotopographic’ character of the alberghi which express a principle of organisation of the urban space based on a common cognomen. The paper aims at reconsidering the relationship between the power of the late medieval aristocratic alberghi and urban territory by focusing not only on strategies for maintaining control of their residential buildings, but also aspects of social interaction.