Heterogeneous Social Groups Research Articles

Intermarriage of Frontier Immigrant, Religious and Residential Groups: An Examination of Macrostructural Assimilation

Intermarriage among heterogeneous social groups has often been studied as a process of assimilation. The present paper extends this research through a unique application of macro‐structural propositions of intermarriage (Blau et al., 1982) to a nineteenth century American frontier population. Variants of these propositions are presented, used to address age patterns of nuptiality, and tested through a longitudinal application. Results support the utility of macro‐structural theories in analyses encompassing initial community formation as well as assimilation of later arriving immigrants. Analyses illustrate both the assimilation of initially arriving immigrant groups on the frontier and the initial emergence of new heterogeneities in the established native population and later arriving immigrants.

Contrasting effects of d-amphetamine on affiliation and aggression in monkeys

Amphetamine has been observed to alter conditioned or learned behavior in individually housed animals, as well as naturally-occuring behavior characteristic of animals living in groups. This study is concerned with the effects of d-amphetamine on affiliative and aggressive behavior in adult male stumptail macaques ( Macaca arctoides) living in a large, heterogeneous social group. Using standardized observational techniques, the affiliative and aggressive behaviors initiated by five adult male monkeys were characterized and quantitated in the absence of and following drug administration. Acute administration of a range of doses of d-amphetamine (0.003-0.56 mg/kg) resulted in a monotically depressive effect on the rate of affiliative behavior initiated by the experimental animals. In contrast, d-amphetamine increased the rate of aggressive behavior initiated by the highest- and lowest-ranking monkeys, and had little or no effect in the mid-ranking monkeys.These results show that d-amphetamine can have qualitatively different effects on affiliative and aggressive behavior in the same subjects. The results also provide evidence that the effects of d-amphetamine can be determined by the hierarchical or dominance position of the subject in the group.

Oppositions locales à des projets d'équipement

For the last ten years, local opposition to large-scale development and expenditure projects has been increasing in France as in most countries and expanding to an extent that suggests a phenomenon of considerable social significance. On the basis of a number of case studies, this paper seeks to answer four questions : Who are the opponents ? What are the psychological and sociological reasons for opposition ? How is it organized ? Over and above the immédiate aim of each conflict, is it possible to discern more fundamental social objectives ? These analyses show in particular that, behind the defence of the environment and the quality of life, thèse movements encompass extremely heterogeneous social groups, motives, objectives and strategies. Amongst such diversity, the author attaches particular importance to what he defines as the « militant element », which derives mainly from the middle classes, which sees these conflicts as an opportunity to express ils rejection of a certain type of industrialisation and its aspirations to a more rational society.

Project appraisal and income distribution

In spite of much lip service being paid to the equity and employment objectives, these objectives continue to be sacrified to the objective of increasing aggregate income. The first part of this paper criticizes three of the most commonly accepted justifications of the neglect of income distribution. The second part discusses the more recent attempt of incorporating income distribution weights in social cost-benefit analysis. It is argued that the result of this attempt has been satisfying neither to science nor to conscience. Blame is laid on the persistent tendency to aggregate costs and benifits accruing to highly heterogeneous social groups, as well as the tendency to replace unquantifiable phenomena by quantifiable ones.

Influence of Spatial Environment On Development of Mother-Infant Interaction in Pigtail Monkeys

Three groups of infant pigtail monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) were observed for the first 24 weeks of life: Group G consisted of 3 mother-infant pairs living in a heterogeneous social group of 20 monkeys ; Group L included 3 pairs maintained in individual large cages, and Group S consisted of 4 pairs maintained in individual small cages. Groups S and L infants did not differ in duration of time spent away from mother. Group G infants left later and for less time by the first eighth week, but from the 16th week on they spent more time separated from their mothers. Group S mothers punished their infants more than Group L mothers, and punishment was almost absent in Group G. At 28 weeks, Groups L and S infants were placed in a playpen situation where initial differences between the groups disappeared after about 4 weeks. At 36 weeks infants were separated from their mothers; two weeks later they formed a stable rank order as determined by a water dominance test.