Social Groups Research Articles

An assessment of Genetic and Social Aspects of Breeding (Endogamy and Exogamy Marriages) Practices in Homo sapiens

This study provides an extensive evaluation of the genetic and social aspects of breeding practices, specifically endogamy and exogamy, in Homo sapiens. Endogamy, the custom of being married within the custom of being married within a specific social, ethnic, or religious group, and exogamy, the tradition of being married outside one’s group, have profound implications for both genetic diversity and social structures. Socially, endogamy reinforces cultural identity and group cohesion, preserving traditional practices and hierarchical structures within communities. Conversely, exogamy promotes social integration and the alliances forming between various groups, reflecting modern shifts towards individual choice and inclusivity. Genetically, endogamy can lead to reduced genetic diversity and an increased risk of hereditary disorders due to inbreeding. Populations practicing endogamy may exhibit higher frequencies of genetic diseases as a result of the accumulation of deleterious alleles within a closed gene pool. In contrast, exogamy enhances genetic diversity, which can improve overall population health and adaptability by reducing the risks associated with inbreeding and introducing new genetic variations. However, exogamy may also dilute specific genetic adaptations unique to certain environments. The study highlights how these breeding practices impact genetic health and social dynamics, illustrating the balance between preserving cultural heritage and fostering genetic diversity. The findings underscore the importance of understanding these practices in the context of modern societal changes and technological advancements, which continue to shape human reproduction and social organization. This assessment provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of human breeding practices and their implications for future genetic and social outcomes.

When multiple talker exposure is necessary for cross-talker generalization: Insights into the emergence of sociolinguistic perception

Sociolinguistic research finds that: (i) the speech signal contains talker-specific and socio-indexical structure, with talkers varying idiosyncratically within the same social category and systematically across categories; (ii) both talker-specific and socio-indexical variation influence speech perception. What is unclear is how sociolinguistic perception arises—following exposure to an unfamiliar, socially-mediated variant, how do listeners learn that this feature is characteristic of a broader social group and can generalize to other group members? The current study exposed listeners to an unattested variant in L1-English (a /p/ to [b] phonetic shift), investigating how the number of exposure talkers mediates cross-talker generalization. All participants completed an exposure phase (phrase-final keyword identification) followed by a test phase (categorization along a buy–pie continuum for a novel female and male talker in separate blocks). Experiment 1 exposed listeners to a single shifted female talker (“The novel is now in brint”) and a single unshifted male talker. Experiment 2 presented two shifted female and two shifted male talkers. We find: (i) no generalization in Experiment 1 (no difference in buy–pie response between the novel talkers); (ii) robust generalization in Experiment 2 (greater pie response for the novel female than the novel male talker), but only when the novel female block is presented first (i.e., generalization is short-lived). Taken together, the results support a numerosity account: when a previously unheard social variant is presented, multiple talkers per social group seem to be necessary for socially-mediated, cross-talker generalization. This study highlights a critical role of the listener’s social experiences on generalization—multi-talker exposure might be unnecessary when exposed to more familiar types of speech (e.g., L2-accented English) and necessary when exposed to completely unfamiliar variants. Overall, the present experiments enhance our theoretical understanding of cross-talker generalization and offer insights into the emergence of sociolinguistic perception.

EXPLORING THE RESERVATION SYSTEM AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN INDIA: IDEA, IMPLEMENTATION, AND SOCIETAL IMPACT – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SOUTH INDIA

This paper explores the impact of social status on perceptions of the reservation system in South India, focusing on four key states: Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The study uses a survey-descriptive research design, incorporating a sample of 400 respondents selected through quota sampling, with 100 participants from each state. A mixed-methods approach combines qualitative techniques such as non-participant observation, and in-depth interviews with quantitative methods, including semi-structured interview schedules and statistical analyses (chi-square and ANOVA tests). The findings reveal significant variations in the rationale behind support for reservation policies among different social groups (EWS, BC, SC, OC), with each group citing different reasons, including historical deprivation, economic concerns, and physical weakness. The study also finds significant differences in perceptions regarding the impact of reservations on access to education, employment, healthcare, government administration, and other key societal areas. Notably, social status was found to influence perceptions of financial inclusion, discrimination, and societal unrest, while areas such as social acceptability and scientific temper showed no significant variation across groups. Additionally, a Chi-Square test revealed diverse opinions across demographic groups regarding the need for more flexible reservation policies, emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider these varying perspectives when discussing potential reforms to the reservation system. This research highlights the complexity of the reservation system’s impact and underscores the importance of considering social status in policy evaluations. KEYWORDS: Reservations: Caste-based-Reservations; Affirmative Action, Social Transformation; Social Change; South India.

Organ festivals in the context of sustainable development and heritage interpretation

The present study explores the topic of organ festivals/organ music as part of the world's cultural heritage. Its objective is to examine the role of organ festivals in heritage interpretation and sustainability in relation to organ festivals in Poland, including those with an international scope. The method used was a diagnostic survey directed to three social groups: students and research/teaching staff from various research centres in Poland, as well as organisers of organ festivals in Poland. Separate questionnaires were prepared for the audience (students, academics) and the organisers. The study also took into account secondary materials (mainly those available online). In addition to qualitative data, quantitative data was also obtained, thus giving a multi-faceted view of the subject under study. Festivals accessible to the public can not only help to bring forgotten or neglected historic organs back to concert condition or to support the building of new concert-grade instruments, but also to increase the sensitivity of audiences to beauty and stimulate their interest in their cultural heritage (i.e., instruments, venues, music). This requires a proper interpretation of the heritage and an emphasis on the relationship of organ culture with sustainable development.

Using Laboratory and Field Experiments to Examine the Impact of Stereotypes

This article offers a methodological exploration of the experimental approach in social science research, with a focus on studies that explore the economic impact of stereotypes. The latter are widely held but fixed and oversimplified images pertaining to social groups. The prevalence of such beliefs which may on average be incorrect, may lead to significant losses in economic efficiency and sub-optimal social and developmental outcomes. In this context, experiments provide a controlled environment to isolate causal relationships, enabling researchers to identify the effects of stereotypes on behaviour and performance. In studies of stereotype threat, for example, laboratory and field experiments allow the manipulation of identity salience and other contextual factors to observe their impact on outcomes such as cognitive performance, effort, and decision-making. As real-world micro data on the behaviour of agents within institutions is difficult to capture and metricize, experiments allow scholars an easy and rigorous way to test theoretical models and investigate mechanisms underlying complex social phenomena particularly in the study of inter-group discrimination in labour markets.

Guidance Counseling Can Reduce Inequality in University Enrollment in Germany: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Guidance counseling is well known to foster enrollment in higher education among students from low social origins in the United States and Canada. However, because students in these North American countries face obstacles that do not exist in many European countries, generalizing previous findings to the European context is difficult. Against this background, we use a randomized controlled trial to investigate guidance counseling in Germany. Our results reveal that individuals from low social origins are more likely to enroll in higher education due to the program. Furthermore, we find substantial effect heterogeneity across social origin groups. Due to the program, individuals from high social origins enroll less frequently in higher education and more frequently in vocational training. Based on these opposing effects across social origin groups, we find that the program reduces inequality in higher education enrollment by approximately 70 percent.

The Effects of Communication Networks on Shared Social Identity and Group Performance

We investigate whether communication networks influence group performance by affecting a group’s shared social identity. We hypothesized that a group’s communication network would influence members’ shared social identity by affecting similarities in individuals’ connections within the group. We manipulated the density and centralization of communication networks in a laboratory experiment. Density had a more positive effect on a shared social identity and group performance when networks were lower in centralization, which led to more similar patterns of connections, than in networks higher in centralization. Further, shared social identity mediated the effect of the network on group performance.

Exploitation of Riverbanks as a Temporary Space for the Production of Social Space Based on Urban Public Space Needs

Public space is formed through social processes or the production of space, which develops over time as a result of these processes. Social space is created within a specific temporal structure. The exploitation of the East Flood Canal riverbank functions as a public space based on its role as a temporary social space. The purpose of this research is to analyze the riverbank as a public space-based spatial layout and to identify the factors that influence its use as a temporary social space. The methods employed include descriptive evaluation and a literature review of related research results. Spatial analysis is conducted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, which involves an analysis of objectives, followed by factor levels, criteria, sub-criteria, and alternative levels. The final results of this research are influenced by three main factors: the spatial layout and its shaping elements, the users and economic actors, and the networks that connect and create ties between social actors, both individuals and community groups.

Automatic imitation of vocal actions is unaffected by group membership

Converging evidence from behavioural, neuroimaging, and neurostimulation studies demonstrates that action observation engages corresponding action production mechanisms, a phenomenon termed covert or automatic imitation. Behaviourally, automatic imitation is measured using the stimulus response compatibility (SRC) task, in which participants produce vocal responses whilst perceiving compatible or incompatible speech distractors. Automatic imitation is measured as the difference in response times (RT) between incompatible and compatible trials. It is unclear if and how social group membership, such as the speaker’s sex, affects automatic imitation. Two theoretical accounts make different predictions regarding effects of group membership: the first predicts that automatic imitation can be modulated by group membership, while the second predicts that automatic imitation likely remains unaffected. We tested these predictions for participant sex and distractor sex in an online vocal SRC task. Female and male participants completed an SRC task presenting female or male distractor stimuli. The results show that automatic imitation is not modulated by group membership as signalled by sex. Implications of these results regarding the nature of automatic imitation as a largely stimulus-driven process are considered.

How Gender Dissimilarity Moderates the Effect of Abusive Supervision on Work Engagement Via Job Insecurity

This study aims to examine the indirect effect of abusive supervision on work engagement through the mediating role of job insecurity. Supervisor-subordinate gender dissimilarity was tested to examine the moderating role of gender dissimilarity in this mediating mechanism. Resource-based, gender role, and group identity theories drew this study’s hypothetical model. Participants were recruited online through social media groups, professional networks, and researchers’ direct contacts. After removing 53 unusable responses, 420 (89% response rate) were included in the final analysis, with 70% of participants being females. Data were tested for potential subgroup differences (e.g., gender) to ensure no issues related to subgroup effect. The abusive supervision scale, job insecurity scale, and work engagement scale were used in the survey. The results suggested that the negative effect of abusive supervision on work engagement was mediated by job insecurity, and this indirect effect was moderated by supervisor-subordinate gender dissimilarity. Gender dissimilarity accentuated the threats brought by the abusive supervisors, increased employees’ job insecurity, and eventually lowered their work engagement. Gender dissimilarity between supervisors and subordinates should be considered to prevent workplace conflicts. This study is among a few that focus on investigating the role of gender dissimilarity in abusive supervision.

Ecofeminism as a Perspective of Studying 21st-Century Fantasy for Young Adults: Between Ecological Involvement and Postfeminist Paradigm

Abstract The article explores potential ecofeminist themes present in YA fantasy literature, represented by Donde los árboles cantan [Where the Trees Sing] by Laura Gallego, The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (Griffin, The Nature of Witches, Sourcebooks. mobi, Naperville, 2021), and The Lone City trilogy by Ami Ewing (Ewing, The Jewel, HarperTeen, New York, 2014;Ewing, The White Rose, HarperTeen, New York, 2015;Ewing, The Black Key, HarperTeen, New York, 2016;). The author posits that, since fantasy books have become a popular reading choice among young people, they play a pivotal role in the transmission of sociocultural patterns and beliefs, including those regarding gender roles and the natural environment, and in an era marked by a growing environmental crisis, there is a pressing need to examine YA literature for its role in shaping ecological awareness. Bridging ecocriticism and feminist criticism, this article examines how femininity is constructed in YA fantasy literature through an ecofeminist lens. The first section outlines the theoretical framework of ecofeminism and ecofeminist literary criticism, and the second section briefly discusses postfeminism. The analysis presented reveals various strategies used in the literary narratives to weave in ecofeminist topics and messages. While all the novels examined imply the need to develop an ethics of care and empathy towards the natural environment and marginalised social groups, question the binary categories of human/non-human and nature/culture, and aim to redefine relationships between women and nature, they also reveal ideological tensions, referring to both ecofeminist postulates and reflections, as well as anthropocentric and falsely feminist convictions.

Pecularities of collaboration during first soviet occupation

The specificity of collaboration in 1940 is its mass scale: collaboration had penetrated all segments of the population that was living in social illusions. The consequences of the collaboration were very painful; the occupiers succeeded in creating the appearance of Lithuania’s voluntary and legitimate entry into the USSR. The author analyses the attitudes of social groups within the context of the concept of collaboration during the Soviet occupation.

Rural gentrification and local food networks: the case of a shopping community in a small Hungarian rural town

ABSTRACT Academic literature identifies local food networks and producer-consumer communities as important initiators of local community development and sources of sustainable production and consumption. A small producer-consumer community, a so-called shopping community, in a small rural town in Hungary is examined in this case study. The size of the region and the limited number of potential consumers lead to a number of specific characteristics. Both the organisers and many of the producers in this shopping community are urban newcomers to the region, and are members of higher social status groups in the local society. The initiative is based on a number of principles and methods of environmental sustainability and applies very strict criteria for the involvement of the producers. Through interviews with organisers and producers and focus groups with consumers and local stakeholders, the case study analyses aspects of social inclusion and exclusion. Who is allowed to participate in the community, both to produce and to consume? How embedded is this shopping community in the local society? The case illustrates how a shopping community – a local food network – can contribute to the social exclusion of local producers and consumers, as well as to the process of rural gentrification, even though it also contributes to environmental sustainability. The article explores the pros and cons of local food systems from a social and community point of view.

DECORATIVE PLASTER AND BAS-RELIEF PAINTING AS ELEMENTS OF NEUROFITNESS IN PSYCHO- EMOTIONAL REHABILITATION

Modern research highlights the crucial role of neurofitness in maintaining mental and physical health. Neurofitness integrates cognitive training and physical activity, making it an effective tool for rehabilitating individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In particular, biofeedback, neurofeedback techniques, and decorative and bas-relief painting, are used to reduce stress levels, enhance concentration, and improve cognitive plasticity. A literature review indicates the positive effects of neurofitness on athletes, military personnel, and individuals who have experienced psychological trauma. Despite its promising potential, questions remain regarding the standardization of techniques and their adaptation for different age and social groups.

Exploring hidden risks and empowerment in women’s acquisition of medicinal cannabis from illegal markets: a qualitative study

Background: Women are a growing consumer base for medicinal cannabis (MC) in jurisdictions where it has been legalised, however, many still purchase MC from the unregulated illegal market. Little is known about women’s experiences of buying MC from these male-dominated illegal drug markets. This study explores women’s lived experiences accessing MC from illegal markets in New Zealand (NZ) to inform the need to ehance MC schemes for women. Methods: In-depth interviews with 15 women who purchased MC from the illegal market post MC legalisation. A qualitative description approach analysed their experiences, supplier relationships, and safety. Results: MC legalisation has facilitated a pathway to prescriptions, however, women face barriers including less disposable income, prioritising family expenses, and sexist attitudes among health professionals. Illegal markets were described as intimidating, with reports of sexual harassment, assault, and robbery. A novel finding waswomen-only social media groups for safety and supplier monitoring. Participants felt responsible for their own safety, as reporting to police posed legal risks. Conclusion: Women face gende-specific vulnerabilities when buying MC illegally, including safety risks and exposure to unregulated products. The findings are often overlooked in MC policy discussions, highlighting the need for gender-informed MC access.

Specialism and generalism in social animals in variable environments.

An important advantage to sociality is division of labour, which is often associated with specialization of group members, such as the polymorphic subcastes of ant workers. Given this advantage, it is puzzling that many social groups do not show clear specialization. Among ants, workers of closely related species have one, two or even three polymorphisms. The degree of specialism of asocial animals depends on environmental variability because specialists will perform poorly in some conditions. Here, we use a numeric model to consider whether the magnitude and type of environmental variability can help to explain the diversity of specialism in cooperative groups. By finding the optimal distribution of group members along a single dimension of specialization for two tasks, we predict when groups should be composed of specialists, generalists, both of these (trimodal) or moderate specialists. Generalism is predicted more when environments are unstable and when task importance-rather than demand-varies but depends on the likelihood that the group can complete all tasks in the range of experienced conditions. The benefit of sociality is strongest in invariable environments and there is selection for redundancy in the workforce, which may explain the widely observed inactivity in social insects.This article is part of the theme issue 'Division of labour as key driver of social evolution'.

Manifestations of Deviant Behavior in the Cities of Karakalpakstan in 1960s – 1980s (Based on Materials of the Central State Archive of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Archive of Jokargi Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan)

Introduction. The article presents the results of the research of everyday life and deviant behavior in the cities of Karakalpakstan, based on archival data. Materials and methods. The study is based on materials collected from two key archives of the Republic of Karakalpakstan: the Central State Archive and the Archive of the Jokargy Kenes (the supreme legislative body). The analysis used documents containing information on manifestations of deviant behavior and factors contributing to their occurrence in such cities as Nukus, Khodjeyli, and Kungrad. In particular, the documents of the State Committee of the Karakalpak ASSR on Television and Radio Broadcasting, as well as materials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Karakalpak ASSR and reports on the state of the fight against crime, were studied. The main method of the study was a documentary analysis of archival materials collected from the above archives. During the analysis, documents reflecting various aspects of drunkenness and hooliganism, as well as social factors influencing these phenomena, were studied. Analysis and discussion. The specific examples of hooliganism, drunkenness, and theft given in the article provide a deeper understanding of the social and cultural conditions that contribute to deviant behavior. Their analysis reveals the reasons for the increase in crime, including socio-economic changes such as migration and changes in the employment structure, which have significantly affected the lifestyle of local residents. Case examples illustrate the impact of youth gangs on public order and safety, highlighting the complex interactions between different social groups. Despite the measures taken by the authorities to combat crime, their effectiveness has proven to be limited. Results. The problem under consideration remains relevant in the modern context. Studying historical processes helps to gain a deeper understanding of how social, economic, and cultural changes affect societal phenomena, including crime and deviant behavior. This knowledge can be useful for the analysis of contemporary trends. Modern societies face similar challenges, and understanding their historical context can help in developing effective response strategies.

Mutualism and division of labour: a mutual expansion of concepts.

Division of labour within social groups and the interspecific relationships within mutualisms have traditionally been treated as separate research areas. In this opinion, we align terminologies and concepts between the two fields, by comparing within-group division of labour to the outsourcing of functions in mutualisms. Division of labour and interspecific outsourcing share fundamental similarities. Both are built from specialization of some individuals within the relationship on tasks or functions required for survival, growth and reproduction. Both also generate variable fitness outcomes. A key difference is that mutualisms generally generate direct fitness gain, while benefits from cooperative sociality often accrue from a mix of direct and indirect fitness. Additionally, the levels of physical and physiological specialization within many mutualisms expand far beyond the levels of differentiation seen in cooperative social groups, with the exception of reproductive division of labour. The consideration of between-species outsourcing in the context of division of labour allows expansion of our understanding of both fields and beyond, to consider general principles as drivers of division of labour, and role differences more broadly across levels of complexity.This article is part of the theme issue 'Division of labour as key driver of social evolution'.

Integrating Social Work Throughout the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Trajectory to Improve Patient and Caregiver Outcomes.

Integrating Social Work Throughout the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Trajectory to Improve Patient and Caregiver Outcomes.

The Style Game: Control, Cues, and Anchors in Real Time Speech Accommodation

ABSTRACTTheories of speech accommodation and audience design have tended to focus on social identity functions of convergence and divergence in interaction. In this article, I focus on additional interactional phenomena that are under‐studied but systematic. I present real‐time data to illustrate variable control of speech features in style‐shifting. These cues give listeners a sense of the default style of a speaker and their range of divergence from it, forming an ‘anchor’ from which to interpret the intended meanings of a specific person's style shifts. Rather than seeing convergence as a simple rapport‐building move, I propose a system of non‐linear inferential schemas, whereby the payoff of a style shift diminishes when it exceeds a certain threshold, due more to considerations of sincerity and credibility than social group indexicalities. These Bayesian inferences can be modelled within recent game‐theoretic frameworks, allowing us to account for social but also cognitive payoffs and costs as part of how speakers and listeners interpret each other's speech styles in real time.