Social Behavior Research Articles

Measuring the Replicability of our own Research

In the study of transgenic mouse models of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, we use batteries of tests to measure deficits in behaviour and from the results of these tests, we make inferences about the mental states of the mice that we interpret as deficits in "learning", "memory", "anxiety", "depression", etc. This paper discusses the problems of determining whether a particular transgenic mouse is a valid mouse model of disease X, the problem of background strains, and the question of whether our behavioural tests are measuring what we say they are. The problem of the reliability of results is then discussed: are they replicable between labs and can we replicate our results in our own lab? This involves the study of intra- and inter- experimenter reliability. The variables that influence replicability and the importance of conducting a complete behavioural phenotype: sensory, motor, cognitive and social emotional behaviour are discussed. Then the thorny question of failure to replicate is examined: Is it a curse or a blessing? Finally, the role of failure in research and what it tells us about our research paradigms is examined.

Optimizing ELD in power systems applying GWO: A Practical Approach

Addressing the Economic load Dispatch (ELD) Problem in power systems is crucial for minimizing generation cost and transmission losses while meeting the load demand. This research explores the application of Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) to solve the ELD problem, leveraging ‘GWO’s inspiration from grey wolf social behavior. Through simulation, ‘GWO’s superior convergence speed and solution quality compared to traditional techniques is demonstrated. The finding highlights ‘GWO’s effectiveness in enhancing the economic and operational efficiency of power systems, offering promising avenues for sustainable energy management strategies.

Evolving testing scenario generation and intelligence evaluation for automated vehicles

Interaction between the background vehicles (BVs) and automated vehicles (AVs) in scenario-based testing plays a critical role in evaluating the intelligence of the AVs. Current testing scenarios typically employ predefined or scripted BVs, which inadequately reflect the complexity of human-like social behaviors in real-world driving scenarios, and also lack a systematic metric for evaluating the comprehensive intelligence of AVs. Therefore, this paper proposes an evolving scenario generation method, employing deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to construct human-like BVs that interact with AVs, and this evolving scenario is designed to test and evaluate the intelligence of AVs. Firstly, a class of BV driver models with human-like competitive, mutual, and cooperative driving motivations is designed. Then, utilizing the Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) algorithm and an improved level-k training procedure, the three distinct driver models acquire game-based interactive driving policies. And these driver models are combined to generate evolving scenarios in which they can interact continuously and evolve diverse contents. Next, a framework including safety, driving efficiency, and interaction utility are presented to evaluate and quantify the intelligence performance of 3 systems under test (SUTs), indicating the effectiveness of the evolving scenario for intelligence testing. Finally, the complexity and fidelity of the proposed evolving testing scenario are validated. The results demonstrate that the proposed evolving scenario exhibits the highest level of complexity compared to other baseline scenarios and has more than 85% similarity to naturalistic driving data. This highlights the potential of the proposed method to facilitate the development and evaluation of high-level AVs in a realistic and challenging environment.

Understanding the Social Interaction and Communication Skills in Autistic Children

Abstract: ASD (autism spectrum disorder) presents with social emotional difficulties for individuals who interpret and successfully communicate social signals. This paper reviews the effect of peer influence on social communication and interaction abilities in the children with autism. The paper reviews the available literature and offers intervention strategies that can better the social interaction status of the children. Research points to the fact that there are gender difference patterns in the social communication skills of ASD children, suggesting therefore the need for gender-sensitivity in their understanding and care. The research supports the need for personalized therapeutic strategies and care services. This allows for progressive social and communication advancements for children with autism spectrum disorder. On the other hand, the study also acknowledges several limitations, so that, proper diagnostic tools along with other approaches such as longitudinal studies should be considered for a better understanding of social interaction in ASD.

IOT based noise pollution and water quality monitoring system

Presently, noise pollution has become a very big issue around the world. The adverse effects of this pollution include hearing impairment, negative social behaviour, annoyance, sleep disturbance and intelligibility to understand people’s speech. In learning context, noise can affect understanding and behaviour of people and places with high noise level are not suitable for learning and teaching process. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is one of the best choices to monitor the noise or sound intensity in the environment for the safety of human being. The aim of this paper is to deliver a development of an IoT based noise monitoring system comprises of a sound sensor, an IoT platform called Node MCU, LCD and LEDs. The system will provide a real-time alert if the noise exceeds the threshold noise limit set by Environmental Department of Health standard. Equipped with an Android application, the data from the sound sensor will be transferred into the cloud server and subsequently transferred into the app for display and to enable remote monitoring. A case study is carried out using the developed prototype to ascertain the noise comfort for University Technology Malaysia (UTM) students for studying or learning purpose. The sound level is measured for two different days during weekend and weekday. Based on Charted Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE), 60dBA is the permissible ambient level and any readings that above 60dBA can interrupt speech intelligibility.

Loneliness is associated with more trust but worse trustworthiness expectations.

Subjective feelings of loneliness emerge due to unsatisfactory social relationships, representing a major risk for mental and physical well-being. Despite its social nature, evidence on how loneliness affects social behaviours and expectations is lacking. Using Bayesian analyses and economic games, we show in three different studies that lonelier individuals trusted their partners to a greater extent despite less favourable trustworthiness expectations, showing a greater discrepancy between their trusting behaviours and their expectations of others' trustworthiness. Such discrepancy was reversed in extravert individuals who also reported to be less lonely. These results provide evidence on two opposing effects of loneliness as a motivator for social connections and promoter of social withdrawal, and demonstrate the moderating role of personality traits. This work contributes to a better understanding of how loneliness impacts social behaviour and social expectations, with important downstream clinical implications for varying health conditions associated with heightened feelings of loneliness.

CSR perceptions, meaningful work and innovative behaviors: the moderated mediation effects of co-worker instrumental and emotional support

PurposeThis study examines the role of meaningful work in mediating the relationship between employees’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and innovative behavior. This study further examines how co-worker support, both instrumental and emotional, moderates the meaningful work–innovative behavior relationship.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing survey data from 355 employees in South Korea with a two-wave longitudinal design, path modeling with the M-plus PROCESS macro was performed to analyze the mediation and second-stage moderated mediation effects.FindingsThe results showed that the relationship between employee CSR perceptions and innovative behavior was mediated by meaningful work. Co-worker instrumental support strengthened the meaningful work–innovative behavior relationship, whereas co-worker emotional support had no significant moderating effect. The three-way interaction analysis indicated that the meaningful work–innovative behavior relationship was weakest when co-worker instrumental support was low. Additionally, instrumental support by co-workers moderated the indirect effect of CSR perceptions on innovative behavior via meaningful work.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on CSR perceptions and meaningful work. Our focus on meaningful work as a key psychological mechanism provides insights into how and why employee CSR perceptions promote desirable outcomes including innovative behavior, an underexplored yet important outcome. Furthermore, by identifying co-worker instrumental support as a significant boundary condition, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the social context that promotes innovative behavior.

MEM&SO protocol: understanding the determinants of social learning in neurodegenerative diseases

BackgroundPeople with neurodegenerative diseases may have difficulty learning new information, owing to their cognitive impairments. Teaching them techniques for learning in social contexts could alleviate this difficulty. The present study will examine the performances of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and patients with the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia on a memory test administered in three social contexts. The protocol will make it possible to identify determinants of social interactions, social abilities, cognition, and personality that can explain the potentially beneficial effect of social context on learning in these patients.MethodsThirty dyads (patient with primary memory impairment who meets criteria for Alzheimer’s disease paired with caregiver), 16 dyads (patient meeting criteria for semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia paired with caregiver), and 46 dyads (healthy controls with no cognitive complaints) will be recruited. A nonverbal memory test (social memory task) will be administered to each dyad in three different social contexts (presence-only, observation, collaboration). Patients and healthy controls will also undergo a neuropsychological assessment to measure social (interactions and abilities), cognitive and personality aspects. Patients will be compared with controls on differential social scores calculated between the presence-only and collaboration contexts, and between the presence-only and observation contexts. A multiple comparative case study will be conducted to identify social, cognitive and personality variables that potentially explain the differential scores in the collaboration and observation contexts.DiscussionFor the first time, memory will be assessed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and patients with the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia in three different contexts (presence-only, observation, collaboration). The multiple comparative case study will make it possible to identify the determinants of memory performance in the social context, in order to create the most beneficial learning context for individual patients, according to their profile.Trial registrationThis study was approved by the Ile de France XI institutional review board (2022-A00198-35), and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT05800028), on April 27, 2023.

Pariah Dog at the Chittagong University Campus: Home Range, Activity Pattern and Breeding

Home range, activity pattern and breeding aspects of the pariah dog (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus, 1786) were studied at the Chittagong University Campus in Chittagong of Bangladesh during September 2012 to January 2013. The average home range encircled during daytime by a pack was 10,120 m2. The activity pattern of two dog packs was monitored through scan sampling methods at 15 minutes intervals. The dogs spent their diurnal time in resting (24.5%), sitting and basking (17.1%), standing (2.4%), moving and walking (16.2%), running (17.5%), sleeping (5.3%), feeding, foraging and drinking (6.3%), social behavior (2.9%) and territorial behavior (7.8%). Parturition occurred from September to January and the peak period was in November. The average litter size was 4.7 (range 1-12, n=10). and the overall survival rate of puppies was 2.6 per litter (i.e., 55.32%) up to January. The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci. 8(1&2): 21-32, 2013

Corticosterone after early adolescent stress prevents social avoidance, aversive behavior, and morphine-conditioned place preference in adulthood.

Stress during childhood or adolescence increases vulnerability to psychiatric disorders in adults. In adult rodents, the delayed effects of stress can increase anxiety-like behavior. These effects, however, can be prevented with post-stress administration of corticosterone (CORT). The effectiveness of CORT in preventing adolescent stress-induced emotional behavior alterations in adulthood has yet to be investigated. Here, we investigated the interactions between early adolescent stress and exogenous corticosterone on adult social, aversive, and drug-seeking behavior in mice, which are translationally related to symptoms associated with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. A single administration of CORT in drinking water (400ug/mL) for 24h after social defeat or context fear conditioning prevents defeat-induced social avoidance, alters fear processing, prevents adolescent stress-induced anhedonia, and prevents stress-potentiated morphine place preference in adulthood. Exogenous CORT did not immediately prevent stress-induced potentiation of morphine conditioned-place preference in adolescents but did so in adult mice. However, when administered to adolescent mice, CORT also prevented the incubation of morphine-conditioned place preference into adulthood. Lastly, exogenous CORT administration blunted endogenous corticosterone but was unrelated to freezing behavior during a fear test. This is the first demonstration of adolescent post-stress CORT promoting socio-emotional resilience and preventing drug-seeking behavior. Our data suggest elevated corticosterone after a stress experience promotes resilience for at least 40 days across the developmental transition from adolescence to adulthood and is effective for socio-emotional and drug-seeking behavior. These results are critical for understanding how adolescent stress impacts emotional and drug-seeking behavior into adulthood.

Attendees' experiences of anime conventions in the United States: a netnography study

PurposeGuided by stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, this study analyzed the user-generated content (UGC) produced by attendees from six anime conventions in the USA.Design/methodology/approachA total of 739 online reviews and 1,932 photos were collected from the social platforms of six large anime conventions in the USA (Yelp and Facebook), and the study employed thematic analysis and image analysis to analyze the collected UGCs.FindingsThe findings revealed eight main themes (i.e. ambient and space, customers, service and products, sign and symbol, social density, emotional status, motivation, and behavior intention) and 32 subthemes across the three dimensions of SOR theory. Leveraging the power of cutting-edge image analysis, the image labels obtained from the analysis contributed to the creation of network clusters. The result of the image analysis also continued consistently with the thematic analysis result, which reflected SOR theory.Research limitations/implicationsTheoretically, the study applied SOR theory and blended thematic and image analyses to gain a comprehensive understanding of anime convention attendees’ experience and categorized the attendees’ emotional status as positive or negative to reflect their overall evaluation. Practically, this study highlighted some complaints from attendees and provided suggestions for operators. However, the study focused only on large anime conventions in the USA; future studies should compare attendees’ experiences with small and large conventions or anime conventions worldwide.Originality/valueThe study utilized UGCs to understand the key patterns essential to attendees during anime conventions in the USA and applied SOR theory to its investigation.

A Personalised Approach to Identifying Important Determinants of Well-being

Abstract Purpose To develop effective and personalized interventions, it is essential to identify the most critical processes or psychological drivers that impact an individual’s well-being. Some processes may be universally beneficial to well-being across many contexts and people, while others may only be beneficial to certain individuals in specific contexts. Method We conducted three intensive daily diary studies, each with more than 50 within-person measurement occasions, across three data sets (n1 = 44; n2 = 37; n3 = 141). We aimed to investigate individual differences in the strength of within-person associations between three distinct process measures and a variety of outcomes. We utilized a unique idiographic algorithm, known as i-ARIMAX (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average), to determine the strength of the relationship (Beta) between each process and outcome within individuals (“i”). All of the computed betas were then subjected to meta-analyses, with individuals treated as the “study”. Results The results revealed that the process-outcome links varied significantly between individuals, surpassing the homogeneity typically seen in meta-analyses of studies. Although several processes showed group-level effects, no process was found to be universally beneficial when considered individually. For instance, processes involving social behavior, like being assertive, did not demonstrate any group-level links to loneliness but still had significant individual-level effects that varied from positive to negative. Discussion Using i-ARIMAX might help reduce the number of candidate variables for complex within-person analyses. Additionally, the size and pattern of i-ARIMAX betas could prove useful in guiding personalized interventions.

Successful remote treatment of a client with Hikikomori using internet-delivered cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder: a case report

Hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) has been discussed as a hidden worldwide epidemic and a significant social and healthcare issue. Social anxiety disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder preceding the onset of Hikikomori. Although studies exist suggesting the effectiveness of family-support interventions, little is known about psychotherapeutic approaches for Hikikomori individuals. Here, we present a case of Hikikomori wherein an internet-delivered cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder (iCT-SAD) worked effectively in improving the client’s social anxiety symptoms and social interaction behaviors. This case study demonstrates the principle that evidence-based psychological interventions focusing on social anxiety can be effective for clients with Hikikomori. Furthermore, the online mode of treatment delivery, along with a variety of relevant modules, may facilitate clients’ engagement with treatment at home. The findings suggest that iCT-SAD might be a promising option for Hikikomori clients who have social anxiety problems, within the recommended stepped-intervention approach.

Cannabis Sativa Oil Promotes Social Interaction and Ultrasonic Communication by Acting on Oxytocin Pathway.

Objective: Cannabis sativa is the most used recreational drug worldwide. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis to treat a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. In particular, cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent, has been investigated for its potential prosocial effects on behavior, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a C. sativa oil CBD rich (CS oil) on social interaction and ultrasonic communication in mice. Study Design: Twenty-seven adult male mice (B6; 129P F2) were treated daily with vehicle or CS oil for 2 weeks. At Day 14, mice were tested for behavior (social interaction test and ultrasonic communication). Forty minutes before the behavioral tests, mice were exposed to intranasal treatment with vehicle or the oxytocin receptor antagonist, L-371,257. After behavioral tests, VH- and CS oil-treated mice were sacrificed, RNA was extracted from the hypothalamus and used for quantitative Real Time-PCR experiments. Results: We found that a 2-week treatment with the CS oil on mice exerted a prosocial effect associated with an increase in ultrasonic vocalizations. These effects were inhibited by pretreating mice with an oxytocin receptor antagonist. In addition, at the molecular level, we found that CS oil treatment caused a significant increase in oxytocin and a decrease in oxytocin receptor expression levels in the brain hypothalamus. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CS oil promotes social behavior by acting on oxytocin pathway.

Personal values and social behavior in early childhood: Understanding the contribution of social information processing and attitudes

AbstractValues, defined by Schwartz (1994) as basic motivational cognitive structures, guide life goals, transcend contexts, and affect individuals’ courses of action differently depending on their preferred values. With young children, an important question that emerges is what factors underlie the linkages between their preferred motivations (i.e., preferred values) and their behavior tendencies in key social contexts. This study proposed one potential socio-cognitive mechanism that may explain how children’s values are linked to their prosocial and antisocial behaviors in kindergarten via their values-oriented social information processing patterns (SIP) and their attitudes toward their kindergarten. The sample included 121 children (59 girls; Mage = 67.45 months). Children’s values, values-oriented SIP patterns, and attitudes toward kindergarten class were examined in one-on-one interviews. Teachers reported on the children’s social behaviors. Results showed children’s preferences for self-transcendence values were linked to their more prosocial behaviors and less antisocial behaviors in class via their self-transcendence values-oriented SIP patterns and their positive attitudes toward kindergarten. The findings offer important insights into the socio-cognitive elements that drive values-behavior relationships, as well as the links between various facets of young children’s social cognition and their social behavior in kindergarten.

The Influence of Cultural Diversity on Core Hr Functions Within Nigeria Public Sector

The study examines the influence of cultural diversity on core HR functions within Nigeria public sector Findings reveal a significant positive direct effect of Cultural Diversity on Recruitment and Selection (Estimate = 0.837, p < 0.001), Training and Development (Estimate = 0.783, p < 0.001), and Performance Evaluation (Estimate = 0.925, p < 0.001). Inclusive leadership policies influenced by cultural diversity positively impact Performance Evaluation (Estimate = 0.095, p = 0.029). Embracing diversity and implementing inclusive practices enhances HR processes, fosters training, ensures fair evaluations, and cultivates inclusive leadership. The study underscores diversity and inclusion's strategic importance for organizational success, supported by theories from social psychology, organizational behavior, and HR management. It suggests that by embracing diversity, organizations can foster cross-cultural understanding and develop effective solutions to implementation challenges, contributing to organizational effectiveness and success in the Nigerian public service.

The adaptive value of density-dependent habitat specialization and social network centrality

Density dependence is a fundamental ecological process. In particular, animal habitat selection and social behavior often affect fitness in a density-dependent manner. The Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) and niche variation hypothesis (NVH) present distinct predictions associated with Optimal Foraging Theory about how the effect of habitat selection on fitness varies with population density. Using caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Canada as a model system, we test competing hypotheses about how habitat specialization, social behavior, and annual reproductive success (co)vary across a population density gradient. Within a behavioral reaction norm framework, we estimate repeatability, behavioral plasticity, and covariance among social behavior and habitat selection to investigate the adaptive value of sociality and habitat selection. In support of NVH, but not the IFD, we find that at high density habitat specialists had higher annual reproductive success than generalists, but were also less social than generalists, suggesting the possibility that specialists were less social to avoid competition. Our study supports niche variation as a mechanism for density-dependent habitat specialization.

Exploring the Nexus of the Rights of Undertrial Prisoners in India with Emphasis on the BNSS(Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) 2023, and the United Nations' Role"

In India persons who are detained in jail while awaiting trial on criminal charges are referred to as under-trial prisoners.. How does a system that claims to be equitable and justifiable explain denying freedom to its people based on the presumption of ‘innocent until proven guilty’? An efficient criminal justice system must unavoidably guarantee that those who are accused get a fair trial for the crimes they are allegedly guilty of. This article looks forward to embracing the adaptation of a new approach towards prolonged incarceration in jails to recognize the rights of undertrials by analyzing the proposed changes under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023. In a comparable situation to the indigents wealthy people are impoverished to secure their freedom so why does the system of bail create prejudice based on economic discrimination? This article highlights the rights of undertrial prisoners mainly on humanitarian grounds internationally on the roles of the United Nations that enshrined the Right to personal liberty and the right to equality related to non-discrimination based on economic grounds. Because different groups have objectively different social ideals and social behaviours, the poorest and least fortunate members of society typically pay a disproportionate part of the socioeconomic consequences of crime.

Exploring the Landscape of Media Campaigns That Encourage or Discourage Sustainable Diet Transitions for Americans, 1917–2023: A Systematic Scoping Review

United States (U.S.) and global experts recommend that populations reduce red and processed meat (RPM) intake and transition to plant-rich, sustainable diets to support human and planetary health. A systematic scoping review was conducted to identify the landscape of media campaigns that promote plant-rich dietary patterns, traditional plant proteins, and novel plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) and that encourage or discourage RPM products to Americans. Of 8321 records screened from four electronic databases, 103 records were included, along with 62 records from gray literature sources. Across 84 media campaigns (1917–2023) identified, corporate marketing campaigns (58.6%) were most prevalent compared to public information (13.8%), corporate sustainability (12.6%), countermarketing (5.7%), social marketing (4.6%), and public policy (4.6%) campaigns. Findings indicate that long-running corporate RPM campaigns, many with U.S. government oversight, dominated the landscape for decades, running alongside traditional plant protein campaigns. Novel PBMA campaigns emerged in the past decade. Many civil society campaigns promoted plant-rich dietary patterns, but few utilized social norm or behavior change theory, and only the Meatless Monday campaign was evaluated. The U.S. government, academia, businesses, and civil society should commit more resources to and evaluate the impact of media campaigns that support a sustainable diet transition for Americans, restrict and regulate the use of misinformation in media campaigns, and prioritize support for plant-based proteins and plant-rich dietary patterns.

Characterizing the Supportive Environment of Informal Spaces on Cold Region University Campuses to Enhance Social Interaction Behavior

Characterizing the Supportive Environment of Informal Spaces on Cold Region University Campuses to Enhance Social Interaction Behavior