Behavioral Principles Research Articles

Welfare assessment of dromedary camels kept under pastoralism in Pakistan

Standardized welfare assessment protocols are crucial to enhance animal welfare; up to date, there is no data on the level of welfare of camels kept under pastoralism. A tailored protocol for measuring welfare in dromedary camels kept under nomadic pastoralist conditions was recently developed, drawing from the currently available welfare protocol for dromedary camels kept in intensive systems. This study, therefore, aimed to apply the newly developed tailored protocol and assess the welfare of dromedary camels kept under pastoralism in the Southern Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 44 welfare indicators (animal-, resource, and management-based measures) aligning with animal welfare principles (“Good Feeding”, “Good Housing”, “Good Health”, and “Appropriate Behavior”) were gathered into two assessment levels: “Caretaker-Herd level” and “Animal level”. Data were collected in 2023 in the Cholistan desert in the southern Punjab province. Fifty-four herds were evaluated for a total population of 1,186 camels, of which 510 (495 females and 15 males; average age: 5–6 years old) were assessed at the animal level. The indicators were scored and aggregated to obtain Principle Aggregated Indexes (PAIs) and a total Welfare Index (TWI). Using the PAIs classification, 4 herds were categorized as excellent, 42 satisfactory, and 8 unsatisfactory. Total Welfare Index (TWI) varied from 55.7 to 82.2, and the thresholds for classification into tertiles were 65.4 and 70.6. Good feeding and Good housing were the most problematic PAIs, with Good feeding as the most influential variable for classification into welfare categories. As expected, camels kept under pastoralism had a higher level of welfare than those reported in the literature for intensive systems, especially concerning the Appropriate Behavior principle. Our findings are a first step in proposing welfare standards for dromedary in Pakistan and worldwide.

Correlates of using behavioural sciences to design health promotion interventions and programs

Abstract Background The World Health Organization highlighted the need to better integrate behavioural science in the field of public health. Based on the theoretical domains framework, this study examined correlates of public health practitioners’ use of behavioural science principles to plan public health actions aim at promoting physical activity and healthy eating. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional design. A convenience sample of 160 public health practitioners were recruited from different public health agencies (non-profit organizations, governmental and para-governmental agencies). They were asked to complete a survey questionnaire online and self-reported their use of behavioural science to plan health promotion interventions. Regression analyses were conducted to examine correlates of behaviour and behavioural intentions. All analyses were controlled for sex, number of years of experience in public health and the type of organization they work for. Results Skills (OR = 4.1, 95%CI: 1.3, 13.5) and intentions/goals (OR = 9.2, 95%CI: 2.3, 36.1) were the two domains significantly associated with the use of behavioural science. Perceived capacity to overcome the fact that none of their colleagues rely on behavioural sciences in their organization (OR = 7.2, 95%CI: 1.7, 30.3) was also associated with behaviour. Knowledge (OR = 8.6, 95%CI: 1.9, 39.1) and beliefs about consequences (OR = 4.0, 95%CI: 1.1, 14.7) were in turn associated with intentions/goals. Conclusions This unique study provides important insights for the development of future knowledge transfer activities aim at supporting positive attitudes and motivations toward the use of behavioural science as well as developing competencies and a normative use of behavioural science. The development of a strong knowledge basis would also need to be a core component of trainings to support the integration of behavioural science in public health to design physical active lifestyles and healthy eating interventions. Key messages • Increasing knowledge and skills in behavioural sciences is a key for a better integration in public health practices. • Changes in norms and attitudes toward the use of behavioural sciences will also support a better uptake.

Evaluating robo-advisors through behavioral finance: a critical review of technology potential, rationality, and investor expectations

The mini review assesses the value propositions of robo-advisors through the lens of behavioral finance. Despite their promise of data-driven, rational investment strategies, robo-advisors may not fully replicate the personalized service of human financial advisors or eliminate human biases in decision-making. A content analysis of 80 peer-reviewed articles and publications was conducted, focusing on the intersection of financial technology and behavioral finance. Literature was retrieved using The Chicago School University Library's OneSearch and the EBSCO host database, with key terms including “robo-advisor,” “investment behavior,” “risk tolerance,” “financial literacy,” and “affective trust.” The review identifies four key limitations of robo-advisors: (1) their inability to replicate the service-relationship of human advisors; (2) the presence of human bias in supposedly rational algorithms; (3) the inability to minimize market risk; and (4) their limited impact on improving users' financial literacy. Instead, robo-advisors temporarily compensate for a lack of financial knowledge through passive investment strategies. The findings suggest that integrating behavioral finance principles could enhance the predictive power of robo-advisors, though this would introduce additional complexities. The review calls for further research and regulatory measures to ensure that these technologies prioritize investor protection and financial literacy as they continue to evolve.

Cultural Adaptation of RUBI Intervention with Korean Families(K-RUBI): A Mixed Method Study.

Challenging behaviors of young autistic children remain a major parenting challenge for many of their family members, including caregivers. Caregivers from underrepresented cultural or linguistic backgrounds may experience exacerbated difficulties related to challenging behaviors due to limited access to culturally sustaining and responsive interventions. Evidence-based behavior parent training programs, such as RUBI, are highly effective in increasing caregivers' capacity in preventing and responding to these behaviors in naturalistic settings using behavior analytic principles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of the culturally adapted RUBI program with underserved families. We conduct a convergent mixed-methods study using a pilot randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control group and focus group interviews with 31 Korean families of young children with or suspected of autism. The Korean RUBI underwent rigorous cultural adaptation using the Cultural Adaptation Checklist, including the use of multiple community advisory boards to inform cultural adaptation. Both quantitative and qualitative findings revealed significant improvements in parents' confidence and knowledge in behavioral principles and decrease in severity of challenging behaviors, which suggest clinical utility of RUBI in an underrepresented, low-resourced community. A culturally adapted intervention for a different population can be perceived as a newly constructed intervention. This study provides insight on the systematic process of cultural adaptation of an established autism intervention and effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of RUBI.

거시경제학의 근본적인 문제점: 항등식을 인과성으로 사용

GDP, which only measures the value of the final product, ignores the various production processes that take place in the real world before the final product is produced. In this sense, GDP is not a reflection of the real world, but rather an artificially constructed measure of a ‘fictitious economy’. A bigger problem with GDP is that the identity equation, by which GDP is expressed as the sum of consumer spending, business investment spending, government spending, and net exports, is used in a causal way. Using this identity equation, governments often implement policies that increase spending to stimulate the economy and grow the economy. However, the principle of human behavior that one must first produce in order to consume implies that production is the cause and consumption is the effect. The idea, which implies that consumption is the cause, is thus incorrect because it goes against the principle of human behavior. This idea is based on Keynes's theory. Keynes's theory, as presented in his General Theory, is a misinterpretation of Say's Law of the Market, which states that “when one product is produced, it creates a demand for another product,” as “supply creates its own demand.” Macroeconomics, which was started based on the wrong Keynes' theory, is also a theory that is far from the real world and does not explain the economic problems that are occurring in the real world, such as the financial crisis. Therefore, in order for macroeconomics to properly explain the real world, it is necessary to establish a new macroeconomics. The new macroeconomics should be based on the principles of human behavior and should include the actual production process and the activities of entrepreneurs, who play an important role in the production process. The Austrian Business Cycle Theory, which covers these aspects, can serve as the cornerstone of a new macroeconomic theory.

Visitors’ perspectives of ethical behaviour at the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa

ABSTRACT There are growing calls for travellers to apply the principles of ethical visitor behaviour (EVB) however, only a few studies have been conducted to date to measure the extent to which visitors perceive such calls and heed them at World Heritage Sites located in developing countries. This study was conducted at the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa with the aim was to measure visitors’ perceptions of the importance and application of EVB at the IWP. A total of 323 respondents were conveniently surveyed to rate EVB items related to perceptions of importance and behaviour. Results revealed that, although respondents perceived EVB as being important few actively applied the principles in a heterogeneous manner. The study revealed that different socio-demographic groups perceived ethical behaviour patterns differently. Such findings have practical implications, as an awareness of visitors’ perceptions of EVB patterns might assist authorities in formulating effective strategies to encourage EVB.

Using Positive Reinforcement to Increase Inhaler Tolerance and Medicine Adherence in a Domestic Short Hair Cat (Felis Catus) with Asthma

One common and effective treatment for feline asthma is corticosteroids. However, when administered systemically, it is likely they will have negative side effects, which means they are not a viable long-term treatment option. Thus, delivering corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone) via an inhaler is a more desirable treatment pathway. It can be difficult to administer medication via an inhaler to a cat, as it necessitates using an adapter, and it is unlikely a cat will tolerate the adapter being placed over their nose and mouth and breathe the requisite number of times to take the medication. We used a training protocol based on positive reinforcement and related behavioral principles to train a cat with asthma to tolerate an inhaler adapter and take fluticasone delivered via an inhaler. Results showed that the training effectively taught the patient to tolerate the adapter and take the medication. In short, the patient reliably emitted the terminal goal of 10 breaths in the adapter after training. A follow-up clinical exam and radiographs confirmed substantial improvements in functioning and reductions in clinical presentation.

KONSEP PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER DALAM TINJAUAN HADITS : STUDI ANALISIS TENTANG HADITS-HADITS TARBAWI

Character education is the process of instilling certain values ​​and attitudes in students, while providing them with a foundation to develop their own unique characteristics when interacting in society. The emphasis on the concept of character education, in this context, refers to the teachings taught by the Prophet in his hadiths. The Prophet's hadiths include moral and behavioral principles that are considered important to learn and apply in everyday life. This concept is an important focus in research, with the aim of understanding how character is formed, the types of character that exist, and how this character can be applied in everyday life, especially from the perspective of tarbawi hadith. This research aims to provide parents, educators and students with a better understanding of the moral values ​​taught by the Prophet through hadiths, with the hope that they will be able to implement these teachings in the practice of their daily lives. The implementation of these values ​​is expected to create individuals who have good character, morals, and are full of compassion for others.

Нужен ли философской антропологии «социогенетический поворот»?

Philosophical anthropology, which arose each time in a specific historical reality, sought to create a universal image of man, calling this process the revelation of his essence. This problem was solved by Russian philosophy, which developed the Orthodox Christian tradition within certain historical boundaries. Modern philosophy, solving this problem, cannot ignore the basic philosophical and anthropological ideas of different civilizations, primarily Eastern, Western and Russian philosophy. The space for their comparison and synthesis can be the semantic conceptual field of sociogenesis, which opens up a universal approach to the formation of a human being as a global cultural and biological species. The sociogenetic approach reveals the opportunity to compare two main essential models of man, which are represented by the version of the self-sufficient individual, which developed in the European Enlightenment, and the version of the conciliar (communal) man, the discussion of which began in Russian philosophy of the 19th century. In the context of sociogenesis, the basis for distinguishing anthropological versions is the opposition of individualistic and communal (conciliar) principles of behavior. A specifi c synthesis of these principles in one or another cultural-historical model appears as a solution to the contradiction between the individual and species model of behavior within the cultural-biological species “human being”. In the natural world, the coordination of individual and species behavior is resolved through the genetic inheritance of species behavior, eliminating the conflict between species and individual. The sociogenetic evolution of a human being has posed the task of searching for species-specifi c universal principles of behavior, which has complicated the solution of the problem of harmonizing species and individual behavior. The complexity of the situation is that human behavior is directed by cultural programs in the context of a sociogenetic search for a species program capable of ensuring the global consolidation of the human species. In this context, philosophical anthropology requires a sociogenetic support, and the appeal to it can be called the “sociogenetic turn” in philosophical anthropology.

Rethinking the low profile: The evolving stance of China’s strategic culture

In recent decades, the concept of strategic culture has emerged as the core focus of cultural approach theories to explain a state’s strategic behavior, given that existing theories have failed to convey deviations from the universal principles of rational state behavior. Relying on the conceptual framework of strategic culture, complemented by Barry Buzan’s “revisionist” approach, this article strives to fill the existing gap in the literature by presenting motives and evidence of revisionism in China’s culture-based conduct. By investigating China’s revisionist behavior vis-à-vis its strategic culture, we conclude that both are correlated. China’s territorial claims, its rapid military modernization, the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, and its ambiguous alignment with Russia, emphasize the evolution of China’s strategic culture from a defensive to a more resolute stance.

How to implement compassionate leadership in nursing teams.

This article explains how to implement compassionate leadership in nursing teams. Compassionate leadership is an approach that aims to empower and support staff through four main behavioural principles - attending, understanding, empathising and helping. • Compassionate leadership can be practised by all nurses, irrespective of their role or position, and with individuals or groups. • For the nurse, understanding and reflecting on their own leadership style is the starting point for compassionate leadership, after which nurses may consider leading others. • Implementing compassionate leadership can empower teams, enhancing team members' performance, motivation and well-being. • Compassionate leadership can also support improved outcomes for patients, since motivated nurses are more likely to provide high-quality care. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might help you to introduce compassionate leadership into your nursing team. • How you could use this article to educate nursing colleagues and students about the role of compassionate leadership in nursing teams.

User Behavior Analysis and Optimization Countermeasures in Shopping APP Interface Design

In this study, the interface design and marketing strategy of shopping APP were deeply discussed, and a series of optimization countermeasures were put forward. The principles of interface design and user behavior are analyzed, and the design problems such as information overload, complicated navigation, low usage frequency and high user loss are pointed out. The countermeasures of interface design optimization, user behavior guidance and marketing strategy adjustment are put forward, including simplifying interface, optimizing navigation, personalized recommendation, incentive mechanism, brand building and marketing promotion. These measures are aimed at improving user experience, enhancing user stickiness and enhancing market competitiveness. Through this research, it provides theoretical basis and practical guidance for shopping APP interface design optimization and market strategy adjustment.

Augmented Reality as an Aid to Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders worldwide. These conditions are characterized by excessive anxiety that is difficult to control. In most anxiety disorders, symptoms are triggered by exposure to specific objects or situations. This leads sufferers to avoid such exposures, leading to impaired social and occupational functioning and reduced quality of life. Therapies based on behavioral principles, either alone or in combination with cognitive techniques, are the most effective psychological interventions for anxiety disorders. However, the effectiveness of these therapies may be limited due to a lack of generalization from clinic to real-world settings. Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that provides an interactive experience by superimposing computer-generated content, often in multiple sensory modalities, on the real world. Emerging evidence suggests that AR may be useful in treating a broad range of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders. This review examines the evidence for the use of AR-based techniques as an aid to behavioral or cognitive-behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders. The available evidence suggests that this method may offer significant advantages over conventional therapies, particularly in the case of specific phobias, but also in social anxiety disorder. AR can also be combined with other novel technologies to monitor psychophysiological markers of anxiety and its reduction over the course of treatment. The advantages of AR could be related to its combination of real and simulated content, allowing for better generalization of the benefits of conventional exposure-based therapy. Though the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of this method need to be confirmed in larger samples, it could lead to a paradigm shift in the way behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders are conceptualized and delivered.

PSLBI-25 Students’ perceptions of an artificial intelligence photo generation tool in upper-level animal science curriculum

Abstract Domesticated livestock behavior (DLB) is an advanced animal science lecture course that emphasizes behavior associated with domestication of various animal species such as livestock, equine, companion animals and exotic species. Meat Science (MS) is an introductory dual lecture and laboratory course that focuses on muscle biology, food-borne illnesses, humane livestock harvesting, and fabrication techniques. With the emerging usage of artificial intelligence (AI) generative technologies, an assignment was developed utilizing the free AI photo generation tool, Craiyon. Students in DLB and MS were tasked with completing an AI assignment, generating images relevant to either DLB or MS concepts, to expose students to AI technologies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine students’ perceptions, knowledge, concerns, and willingness to use AI generative tools and evaluate differences relative to course enrolled (DLB compared with MS). Students (n = 60) enrolled in DLB and MS completed a post-completion survey instrument that consisted of demographic and 5-point Likert-scale questions to gauge student perceptions of the AI assignment. Student survey responses were compiled online using Qualtrics and subsequent respondent data was analyzed using JMP. To give some demographic information relative to the population of students enrolled in DLB and MS, 81 and 76% of the students were female while 19 and 24% were male, respectively. Both courses contained students further along in their degree-seeking program (> 80% Junior or Senior classification). Approximately, 43% of respondents were first generation college students and 66% commute over 14 km daily. When asked about their previous experience using AI generative technologies, 75% of respondents reported no previous experience using AI generative programs. Students enrolled in MS showed a greater concern (P ≤ 0.03) of AI technologies limiting their opportunity to interact and socialize with others as compared with DLB students. Student experience, knowledge, and willingness to use AI tools was not impacted by course enrolled (P ≥ 0.14). Most students reported that they had a positive experience with the AI assignment and felt the experience would be useful in their future (53 and 73%, respectively). Additionally, a majority of students reported that the AI assignment allowed them to visualize concepts and offered a unique learning experience. Participants seemed to have a solid understanding of AI technologies reporting knowledge in tool limitations and inaccurate output. Students were neutral regarding concerns in becoming over-reliant on AI tools and AI use hindering the development of transferable skills. Students felt that AI image generation tools boosted creativity and could be useful in the realm of DLB and MS. Overall, students possessed a general knowledge of AI generative technologies and saw value in using AI image generation tools as it relates to domesticated animal behavior and meat science principles.

A cognitive bias awareness matrix for enhancing ERP Decision-Making in entrepreneurial firms

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address a critical gap in enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation process for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by acknowledging and countering cognitive biases through a cognitive bias awareness matrix model. Cognitive biases such as temporal discounting and optimism bias often skew decision-making, leading SMEs to prioritize short-term benefits over long-term sustainability or underestimate the challenges involved in ERP implementation. These biases can result in costly missteps, underutilizing ERP systems and project failure. This study enhances decision-making processes in ERP adoption by introducing a matrix that allows SMEs to self-assess their level of awareness and proactivity when addressing cognitive biases in decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The design and methodology of this research involves a structured approach using the problem-intervention-comparison-outcome-context (PICOC) framework to systematically explore the influence of cognitive biases on ERP decision-making in SMEs. The study integrates a comprehensive literature review, empirical data analysis and case studies to develop the Cognitive Bias Awareness Matrix. This matrix enables SMEs to self-assess their susceptibility to biases like temporal discounting and optimism bias, promoting proactive strategies for more informed ERP decision-making. The approach is designed to enhance SMEs’ awareness and management of cognitive biases, aiming to improve ERP implementation success rates and operational efficiency. Findings The findings underscore the profound impact of cognitive biases and information asymmetry on ERP system selection and implementation in SMEs. Temporal discounting often leads decision-makers to favor immediate cost-saving solutions, potentially resulting in higher long-term expenses due to the lack of scalability. Optimism bias tends to cause underestimating risks and overestimating benefits, leading to insufficient planning and resource allocation. Furthermore, information asymmetry between ERP vendors and SME decision-makers exacerbates these biases, steering choices toward options that may not fully align with the SME’s long-term interests. Research limitations/implications The study’s primary limitation is its concentrated focus on temporal discounting and optimism bias, potentially overlooking other cognitive biases that could impact ERP decision-making in SMEs. The PICOC framework, while structuring the research effectively, may restrict the exploration of broader organizational and technological factors influencing ERP success. Future research should expand the range of cognitive biases and explore additional variables within the ERP implementation process. Incorporating a broader array of behavioral economic principles and conducting longitudinal studies could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and dynamics in ERP adoption and utilization in SMEs. Practical implications The practical implications of this study are significant for SMEs implementing ERP systems. By adopting the Cognitive Bias Awareness Matrix, SMEs can identify and mitigate cognitive biases like temporal discounting and optimism bias, leading to more rational and effective decision-making. This tool enables SMEs to shift focus from short-term gains to long-term strategic benefits, improving ERP system selection, implementation and utilization. Regular use of the matrix can help prevent costly implementation errors and enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, training programs designed around the matrix can equip SME personnel with the skills to recognize and address biases, fostering a culture of informed decision-making. Social implications The study underscores significant social implications by enhancing decision-making within SMEs through cognitive bias awareness. By mitigating biases like temporal discounting and optimism bias, SMEs can make more socially responsible decisions, aligning their business practices with long-term sustainability and ethical standards. This shift improves operational outcomes and promotes a culture of accountability and transparency. The widespread adoption of the Cognitive Bias Awareness Matrix can lead to a more ethical business environment, where decisions are made with a deeper understanding of their long-term impacts on employees, customers and the broader community, fostering trust and sustainability in the business ecosystem. Originality/value This research introduces the original concept of the Cognitive Bias Awareness Matrix, a novel tool designed specifically for SMEs to evaluate and mitigate cognitive biases in ERP decision-making. This matrix fills a critical gap in the existing literature by providing a structured, actionable framework that effectively empowers SMEs to recognize and address biases such as temporal discounting and optimism bias. Its practical application promises to enhance decision-making processes and increase the success rates of ERP implementations. This contribution is valuable to behavioral economics and information systems, offering a unique approach to integrating cognitive insights into business technology strategies.

Behavioural Economics in Marketing: Understanding consumer Decisison Making

Consumer decision-making, which is susceptible to emotional and social effects in addition to cognitive flaws, is the focus of behavioural economics, which integrates findings from economics and psychology. Examining the impact of behavioural economic principles such as limited rationality, prospect theory, and heuristics on customer behaviour, this abstract outlines important ideas and new developments in the field of applied behavioural economics to marketing. To determine which techniques are most successful in influencing customer decisions, we examine framing effects, anchoring, and nudging. Furthermore, the significance of data analytics and digital marketing in comprehending and capitalising on customer behaviour patterns is addressed. Businesses may boost engagement, happiness, and revenue by integrating behavioural data into marketing campaigns. In order to better understand consumer decision-making and its practical implications for marketers, the article also proposes topics for further research, such as the influence of new technology and ethical issues in consumer manipulation.

Pembelajaran Behaviorisme dan Penerapannya dalam Pendidikan Biologi

Philosophy is an integral part of education, serving as its very foundation. Throughout history, various philosophical frameworks have emerged, including behaviorism. Despite some opinions that dismiss behaviorism as outdated in contemporary education, it possesses notable strengths alongside its weaknesses. Behaviorism is predicated on the idea that education involves changes in behavior, which can be achieved through guided repetition by educators. This approach offers advantages applicable to various subjects, including biology, as it addresses students' comprehensive competencies. Educators should selectively apply behaviorist principles in suitable learning contexts to maximize its benefits while mitigating its drawbacks.

Team case formulation for challenging behaviour on acute psychiatric wards

Due to the high prevalence of challenging behaviours on acute psychiatric wards, there is a need for more therapeutic interventions that utilize psychological theory to support staff and patients. This study assessed feasibility, effectiveness and mechanisms of multidisciplinary team case formulation to reduce challenging behaviours of patients. This was a cohort study with a pre‐ and post‐formulation analysis of patients from five acute wards. Structured team case formulation sessions were held using an integrative psychological model incorporating cognitive behavioural principles and the Newcastle model. Staff attendance and fidelity to formulation components were recorded. Frequency of staff-rated challenging behaviours and the frequency of incidents of violence and self‐harm pre‐ and one‐week post‐formulation were assessed. To test mechanisms, changes in staff perceptions of the overall frequency of challenging behaviours and the number of incidents of violence and self‐harm were compared to the number of strategies identified, the number of strategies implemented, and the number of staff present. Participants (N = 50) had a range of serious mental health conditions, including 50% with F20???F29 schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorder. Fidelity to formulation model components was found to be high. There was a significant decrease in staff perception of the frequency of patients’ challenging behaviours, with large effect sizes. There was strong evidence of a reduction in the number of violent incidents and self‐harm post‐case formulation. None of the mechanism tests were significant. Case formulation sessions appear to be a feasible and effective intervention to reduce challenging behaviours within acute inpatient care.

Mating proximity blinds threat perception

Romantic engagement can bias sensory perception. This ‘love blindness’ reflects a common behavioural principle across organisms: favouring pursuit of a coveted reward over potential risks1. In the case of animal courtship, such sensory biases may support reproductive success but can also expose individuals to danger, such as predation2,3. However, how neural networks balance the trade-off between risk and reward is unknown. Here we discover a dopamine-governed filter mechanism in male Drosophila that reduces threat perception as courtship progresses. We show that during early courtship stages, threat-activated visual neurons inhibit central courtship nodes via specific serotonergic neurons. This serotonergic inhibition prompts flies to abort courtship when they see imminent danger. However, as flies advance in the courtship process, the dopaminergic filter system reduces visual threat responses, shifting the balance from survival to mating. By recording neural activity from males as they approach mating, we demonstrate that progress in courtship is registered as dopaminergic activity levels ramping up. This dopamine signalling inhibits the visual threat detection pathway via Dop2R receptors, allowing male flies to focus on courtship when they are close to copulation. Thus, dopamine signalling biases sensory perception based on perceived goal proximity, to prioritize between competing behaviours.

ECONOMIC REFORMS IN UKRAINE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BEHAVIORAL ECONOMY

The article shows that when developing and implementing economic reforms, irrational behavior of economic entities is not sufficiently taken into account. For its more complete consideration, it is proposed to make wider use of the theory and principles of behavioral economics – a special direction of institutional economics, within which the influence of psychological factors on the behavior of the economic subjects is investigated. It is noted that behavioral economics originated against the background of criticism of the theory of rational choice, which in its constructions traditionally relied on the concept of «economic man». It is noted that the «sprouts» of the theory of behavioral economics appeared in the works of the representatives of classical political economy, Keynesianism and neo-institutionalism, its beginnings – in the works of M. Alle, D. Ellsberg, L. Savage, G. Simon and J. Katons, and the basics – in the works of D. Kahneman, A. Tversky and their followers. It is shown that the work of D. Kahneman and A. Tversky stimulated the process of differentiation of behavioral economics and contributed to the emergence within its framework of several theories, namely: the choice of decisions in conditions of uncertainty and risk (prospects and cognitive heuristics), intertemporal choice (anomalies and behavioral finances), behavioral games (social preferences and equitable distribution, as well as the theory of nudging. For the practical use of theories of behavioral economics on their basis the basic principles of behavior of economic subjects are allocated: painful attitude to risks and losses; permanent improvement; compliance with a certain style of the behavior; problems of self-control; imitating crowd behavior; incorporating equity into the utility function; paternalism; nudging (najing). It is emphasized that the theories and principles of behavioral economics should be used when carrying out economic reforms. The experience of their use in foreign countries is summarized. The possibilities of their use in Ukraine during the implementation of the following reforms are revealed: institutional (state administration, national security and defense system, deoligarization, decentralization and regional policy) – to improve public management of the socio-economic development of the country, regions and territorial communities, to protect the country from russian military aggression; financial sector of the economy (monetary policy, tax and budget policy) – to encourage business and citizens to save, lend to the economy and pay taxes, improve control over budget expenditures; real sector of the economy (land, agriculture, industry and infrastructure) – to eliminate the monopoly on state property, in particular land, restoration of the effective owner, innovative development of the economy; social sphere (education, labor market, medical, pension and social protection system of the population) – to improve the quality of education and the level of employment, improve the system of providing social services, etc.; spheres of nature use (subsoil use and systems of state supervision in the field of environmental protection) – to ensure sustainable development of the country.