Bullying has been shown to have adaptive functions, and some research has suggested this may be partly due to perpetrators making flexible use of both coercive and prosocial strategies. The current study probes this possibility further by examining whether bullying is differentially associated with two distinct affiliative strategies-genuinely cooperative affiliation and manipulative affiliation. Our study also examines whether bullying and the two affiliative strategies have differential relations with cooperative and competitive aspects of social power. A sample of 477 adolescents (45.5% girls; Mage = 15.50) completed peer nomination measures assessing direct and indirect bullying, cooperative affiliation, manipulative affiliation, and three facets of social power: social dominance (dominance and popularity), peer affection (likeability and number of friendships), and dating popularity. Multigroup path modeling by gender indicated that both direct and indirect forms of bullying were significantly associated with manipulative affiliation but not cooperative affiliation. Path analyses examining bullying and the two affiliative strategies in relation to social power found that bullying was positively associated with social dominance and dating popularity (direct bullying only), but these links depended on the level of manipulative affiliation. Manipulative affiliation had significant positive relations only with competitive aspects of social power (social dominance and dating popularity), whereas cooperative affiliation had significant positive associations with all three aspects of social power, and most strongly with peer affection. These findings underscore the importance of understanding how bullying may be combined with manipulative affiliation and highlight the potential of promoting genuine cooperation as an alternative to bullying within anti-bullying interventions.

Prosocial behavior is vital for societal well-being. However, people often display it selectively, treating certain individuals more favorably than others. Such selectivity reinforces social inequalities, highlighting the need to understand its roots. Prior research focused on the situational factors driving selective prosociality (e.g., group membership), largely neglecting person characteristics of actors. To close this gap, we systematically investigated the dispositional basis of selective prosociality across four preregistered studies applying two different incentivized behavioral paradigms. We studied the predictive power of basic (honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, dark factor) and specific, theoretically relevant personality traits for selective prosociality (Studies 1-4) and assessed its temporal stability (Study 3). We also compared selective prosociality (i.e., selectivity in giving to different recipients) with general prosociality (overall giving) regarding their personality correlates and stability. Findings show that selective prosociality is linked to certain personality traits, which are largely distinct from those linked to general prosociality. The dark factor of personality was the strongest positive predictor of selective prosociality across studies, followed by right-wing authoritarianism. Furthermore, social dominance orientation was positively correlated with selective prosociality, whereas openness was negatively correlated in three out of four studies. Selective prosociality also showed moderate stability over 4 weeks (rs = .58), supporting its conceptualization as a traitlike construct. Additionally, a thematic analysis of open-ended responses revealed that selective prosociality was driven by attitudinal preferences. Our findings provide evidence for a dispositional basis of selective prosociality, suggesting some individuals are consistently more selective than others and offering theoretical insights into the construct and its drivers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Identity and diet: Politics, religion, social class and vegetarian diet.

Blurred lines or clear boundaries? Synchrony and social dominance shape domain-specific self-other processing.

ABSTRACT Gender inequality persists in entrepreneurship, yet the role of language in shaping entrepreneurial evaluations remains poorly understood. Drawing on social role theory and social dominance theory, we examine whether gendered verbiage appears in entrepreneurship texts and how such language influences new venture assessments. Using mixed-method design, we analyse popular press articles, academic research publications, and teaching cases, and conduct an experiment assessing new venture evaluations. Across all text genres, we find that masculine wording significantly outweighs feminine wording, regardless of industry gender-typing. Experimental results show that ventures described using masculine language are evaluated more favourably, perceived to have greater long-term growth potential, and granted higher cognitive legitimacy than those described with feminine language. These effects hold irrespective of the entrepreneur’s gender. Together, our findings reveal a linguistic mechanism through which gender inequality is reproduced in entrepreneurship and highlight how seemingly neutral texts can systematically advantage ventures aligned with masculine norms.

Rape myth acceptance has been connected to increased victim blaming and reduced perpetrator blame. However, variability exists in how scholars conceptualize relationships between rape myth stereotypes and assignment of victim and perpetrator blame. The current study sought to examine how social dominance orientation and personal and social power perceptions predict blame assignment in sexual assault scenarios among a community sample recruited from social media (N = 462). Social dominance orientation significantly predicted greater victim blame and lower perpetrator blame after controlling for sex assigned at birth, prior victimization, and knowledge of others' victimization. Findings have applied implications for therapeutic interventions and system-level prevention.

Exploring the motivations behind collaboratively dishonest behaviour, is often done using dice-rolling experiments, where coordinated cheating increases participant pairs' earnings. Here we present a preregistered dice-rolling experiment that investigates how participants' dishonest (cheating) behaviour is influenced (i) by the dishonest (cheating) behaviour of their experimental partners and (ii) by by-product altruism (or cost-free charity) that is a direct consequence of a monetary reward in this experiment. We studied a 2 × 2 factorial design of the dice-rolling game, with the presence or absence of (i) a cheating partner and (ii) by-product altruism. Following the game, participants filled out the Moral Foundations Questionnaire and the Social Dominance Orientation questionnaire. We found that without the opportunity of cost-free charity, cheating was not detectable, independent of the cheating behaviour of the partner. However, the opportunity of donating to a chosen charitable foundation (cost-free charity) significantly increased the level of cheating. We found that the relationship between the degree of dishonesty and the measured psychological traits is complex and, in some cases, contradictory. Our results do, however, confirm that participants with a stronger moral integrity were less likely to cheat. Our results showed that the level of collaborative cheating to obtain a monetary benefit is significantly increased by participants' perception of acting in a socially beneficial way as a by-product of their unethical behaviour.

Indirect evidence from preclinical and neuropharmacological studies suggests that oxytocin may attenuate social dominance relationships and modulate social memory. In humans, oxytocin may also modulate self- versus other-oriented reward learning and in-group/out-group decisions differently. Although the neural bases of learning social hierarchy by observation have been identified for linear hierarchies (a1 < a2 < an), the brain mechanisms engaged in learning more complex rank relationships (i.e. <, =, >) in social networks remain unknown. Here, we investigated the modulatory role of oxytocin on the neurocomputational mechanisms engaged when learning ranks in social networks and when making transitive inferences based on social memory retrieval. Participants learned rank relationships between members of two social networks, one in which they were embedded and the other not. During a subsequent test phase, they inferred rank relationships between pairs of members not encountered before. During training, oxytocin (vs. placebo) improved choice accuracy regarding rank relationship between pairs of members for other-oriented network and increased activity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. During the test phase, oxytocin modulated the balance between self/other social memory, boosting performance and amygdala responses for memory retrieval concerning social networks in which participants were not embedded. These findings demonstrate that oxytocin modulates the brain computations needed to learn and retrieve rank relationships in social networks in a manner that depends upon reference-frame.

Hormones, rank, and aggression during periods of social stability: examining the Challenge Hypothesis and the Dual Hormone Hypotheses in male white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator).

(1) The importance of social structure and dominance hierarchies in cooperative-breeding species is well-documented, yet the inclusion of these processes in conservation translocation planning remains limited. Here, we empirically measured the social networks of three populations of the endangered Floreana Mockingbird, then used model simulations of different translocation scenarios to test the effects of social disruption on the social networks. (2) We used social network analysis and Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) to characterise dominance hierarchies, group structure, and the consequences of selectively removing individuals from family groups. (3) Dominance hierarchies were strongly transitive, with age emerging as the primary determinant of dominance relationships. Simulated removals demonstrated that the loss of individuals occupying different network positions produced variable levels of social disruption. (4) Although age is the principal driver of antagonistic interactions, network properties such as high betweenness centrality and the presence of a broker (individuals that occupy a strategic position) are also critical considerations for translocation design. Incorporating social network structure into management strategies can minimise group disruption and enhance the success of conservation translocations for endangered cooperative breeders.

Human TDP-43 expression worsens FTD-related phenotypes in progranulin-insufficient mice.

Many people tend to think that the social groups they belong to deserve more than other social groups, and for some, this tendency is more pronounced. National entitlement represents this tendency in national identities and refers to one's unrealistic belief that one's nation is privileged and entitled to more than other nations. In other words, national entitlement reflects one's belief that one's nation should achieve various gains, regardless of whether the nation actually deserves them. To date, no comprehensive, valid, and reliable scale exists to measure national entitlement. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research is to adapt the Psychological Entitlement Scale to the national level and to examine its relationship with social dominance orientation and psychological sense of global community. The participant group included 335 young and middle-aged Turkish adults (55.2% men; M = 29, SD = 7.27). The factor structure of the 8-item National Entitlement Scale was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The relationship between national entitlement, social dominance orientation (SDO), and psychological sense of global community (PSGC) was examined using Pearson correlation analyses and the PROCESS macro (Model 4). Factor analyses suggested a one-factor structure with high reliability for the National Entitlement Scale. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that national entitlement was positively correlated with SDO and negatively correlated with PSGC. SDO was also negatively correlated with PSGC. Importantly, PSGC significantly mediated the relationship between SDO and national entitlement. The results indicate that the 8-item National Entitlement Scale is psychometrically valid and reliable. Moreover, the findings highlight the role of PSGC in the relationship between SDO and national entitlement.

The amygdala serves as a critical neural hub for interpreting social cues, with its distinct subregions and diverse neuronal populations playing specialized roles in processing these signals. Here, we employ single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to characterize neuronal responses in the mouse amygdala to olfactory cues associated with social dominance, uncovering distinct activation patterns within glutamatergic and GABAergic populations. We find that a glutamatergic cluster closely aligned with Slc17a7 (VGLUT1) medial amygdala (MEA) neurons preferentially responds to dominant cues. In contrast, a larger glutamatergic Slc17a6 (VGLUT2) cluster associated with MEA, cortical, and basomedial amygdala neurons exhibits a heightened response to subordinate cues, underscoring the MEA's role in processing social olfactory information. Additionally, a glutamatergic cluster resembling dorsal endopiriform (EPd) neurons responds more strongly to dominant stimuli, supporting the EPd's role in olfactory perception. We also identify a GABAergic cluster with elevated dopamine receptor 2 (Drd2) expression that predominantly responds to dominant cues, consistent with this receptor's role in mediating threat responses. Finally, gene co-expression network analysis links cluster-specific gene expression to distinct biological processes. Together, these findings reveal neuronal and molecular mechanisms underlying social processing of dominance-related olfactory signals, enhancing our understanding of the neural substrates of social behavior.

Facial cues or racial hues? The role of fWHR and racial bias in perception of leadership.

Social dominance and moral decision-making: An investigation of cognitive and emotional processing as indicated by contingent negative variation and late positive potential.

The influence of endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones and social hierarchy on decision-making: A systematic review.

"Simps" are individuals (primarily men) who engage in costly or extravagant gestures toward a romantic interest without receiving reciprocation. As its first empirical validation, the current study newly operationalizes simping behaviors as well as the motivating factors predicting simping. Act nomination and act frequency designs (Total N = 415) were used to identify the defining behaviors of simps. Correlational (N = 200) and experimental designs (N = 584) were then employed to examine effects of the fear of being single on simping. Across three studies, we found that simps were perceived as low in mate value, lacking self-identity, engaging in excessive and obsessive pursuit behaviors, as well as exhibiting exploitative tendencies. Furthermore, participants with greater fears of being single reported greater tendencies of simping behaviors, and when individuals were primed with the fear of being single, they reported greater tendencies to engage in simping behaviors. Predictors including mate value, social status, and social dominance did not predict simping behaviors. The fear of being single contributes significantly to the motivation behind male simping behaviors. We posit that the current precursory findings carry evolutionary (mal)adaptive implications concerning mate selection that are ripe for future avenues of research.

Plastic pollution is a growing ecological threat, yet the behavioural and social factors influencing susceptibility to microplastic ingestion remain poorly understood, particularly under varying environmental conditions. We tested how social dominance, group dominance structure and water flow interact to shape microplastic ingestion in a group-living freshwater fish, the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Capture, ingestion, retention and swallowing of food pellets and weathered microplastics by individuals within social groups in static and flowing water were quantified in a controlled experiment. The results showed that dominant individuals consistently captured and ingested more microplastics than subordinates in both flow regimes, but swallowing rates increased with dominance rank only in flowing water, suggesting that environmental factors can modulate rank-related asymmetries in microplastic exposure. Groups with steeper dominance hierarchies did not ingest more microplastics overall, but instead rejected them more frequently, indicating enhanced collective discrimination in groups with more defined dominance structures, despite higher ingestion rates by dominants. Flowing water reduced total microplastic ingestion across individuals and groups, probably due to the transient availability of items, yet also intensified the disproportionate exposure of dominants. These findings show that abiotic and social contexts jointly influence microplastic exposure risk, and that in polluted environments, traits that normally confer a competitive advantage may instead create a socially mediated evolutionary trap.

Racialized individuals experience different interactions with the police compared to non‐racialized individuals. This study investigates biases among German police officers (N = 208) towards individuals perceived as Arab. Police officers demonstrated shooter biases in a first‐person shooter task, rated Arab individuals as less trustworthy, and expressed a preference for White individuals over Arab individuals. These biases closely mirrored those found in a civilian convenience sample (N = 237), with one notable difference: police officers showed significantly greater distrust towards Arab individuals than civilians. This heightened distrust was mediated by social dominance orientation and negative perceptions of intergroup contact. Additionally, internal motivation to suppress prejudice was as a strong predictor of both group preference and distrust in both samples. Collectively, these findings highlight that police officers, as a reflection of society, exhibit pervasive biases towards racialized groups, which might impact their interactions with minoritized communities.

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to examine whether social dominance orientation influences dating violence perpetration among college student-athletes, and whether gender moderates this relationship. A total of 325 heterosexual, male and female, Division III college student-athletes answered survey questions about their preference for social hierarchies and their dating violence behaviors within the past year. Quantitative survey data were collected using Qualtrics and analyzed via negative binomial models. Social dominance orientation was significantly associated with increased perpetration of physical violence in male participants. While not statistically significant, we found a potential pattern in which higher social dominance orientation was associated with increased perpetration of all forms of dating violence, and the association was stronger in men. Our findings offer preliminary evidence of social dominance orientation’s relevance in dating violence perpetration within collegiate athletic contexts. Future studies may expand on these findings by assessing differences across athletic levels or sport types.