Social Interaction Motives Research Articles

Why Young People use Social Media for Sports: A Uses and Gratifications Perspective

Background/Objectives: This study examined characteristics and trends in the ways college students utilize social media for college athletics. Methods/Statistical Analysis: An online survey was conducted at a Southwestern University. A total of 468 college students responded to the online survey. 391 valid survey responses were used to analyze the data. Findings: The results of this study suggested four motivations - entertainment, information seeking, social interaction and surveillance - for using social media of college athletics. Thus, information seeking and social interaction motivations, both motivations for using social media for college athletics, were related positively to gratification of social media use for college athletics. Younger users of social media for college athletics were more likely to use Facebook to gather college athletics information. In addition, Twitter users have higher channel loyalty in sports communication than do Facebook users. Application/Improvements: This study may contribute to understanding motivations and uses of social media in sports communication.

Predicting Social Networking Site (SNS) use: Personality, attitudes, motivation and Internet self-efficacy

Few studies have considered the personal characteristics that may predict the use of Social Networking Sites (SNSs). We examined the prediction of SNS use from distinct personality traits (i.e., sociability and shyness), attitudes toward SNS use, motivations for SNS use and Internet self-efficacy. Participants were 352 Chinese college students who used the QQ zone. Results indicated that sociability, shyness, attitudes, motivations and self-efficacy predicted SNS use, prediction depending on the function of SNS use. Specifically, sociability, attitudes, social interaction motivation, entertainment motivation and self-efficacy were significant predictors of SNS’s social function. In contrast, shyness, attitudes, relaxing entertainment motivation and self-efficacy were significant predictors of its recreational function.

Mouse model of OPRM1 (A118G) polymorphism increases sociability and dominance and confers resilience to social defeat.

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the human μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1 A118G) has been widely studied for its association in drug addiction, pain sensitivity, and, more recently, social behavior. The endogenous opioid system has been shown to regulate social distress and reward in a variety of animal models. However, mechanisms underlying the associations between the OPRM1 A118G SNP and these behaviors have not been clarified. We used a mouse model possessing the human equivalent nucleotide/amino acid substitution to study social affiliation and social defeat behaviors. In mice with the Oprm1 A112G SNP, we demonstrate that the G allele is associated with an increase in home-cage dominance and increased motivation for nonaggressive social interactions, similar to what is reported in human populations. When challenged by a resident aggressor, G-allele carriers expressed less submissive behavior and exhibited resilience to social defeat, demonstrated by a lack of subsequent social avoidance and reductions in anhedonia as measured by intracranial self-stimulation. Protection from social defeat in G-allele carriers was associated with a greater induction of c-fos in a resilience circuit comprising the nucleus accumbens and periaqueductal gray. These findings led us to test the role of endogenous opioids in the A112G mice. We demonstrate that the increase in social affiliation in G carriers is blocked by pretreatment with naloxone. Together, these data suggest a mechanism involving altered hedonic state and neural activation as well as altered endogenous opioid tone in the differential response to aversive and rewarding social stimuli in G-allele carriers.

Atypical modulation of hypothalamic activity by social context in ASD

High-functioning individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and age- and verbal IQ-matched controls (CTL) were fMRI scanned when playing “stone paper scissors”. They believed they were playing against three different opponents: a Human, a Robot endowed with an artificial intelligence attempting to win the game, and a Computer running a random number generator. No differences between ASD and CTL reached significance in canonical mentalizing regions, in the medial prefrontal cortex and right temporoparietal junction. In contrast, activity in a cluster located in the left hypothalamus, attributed to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PHN), increased in the CTL, but not ASD, group when participants played against the human compared to the artificial agent. The left temporoparietal junction (lTPJ), that has been previously associated with anthropomorphization, influenced this PHN cluster activity differently between groups, with a significantly negative functional connectivity when CTL played against the robot and when ASD participants played against the human. Brain activity results are consistent with the hypothesis that hypothalamus-secreted neurohormones, including oxytocin, could support motivation for social interactions and be impaired in autism. Brain connectivity results suggest that cortical encoding of social context information, putatively related to anthropomorphism, has a reversed effect on hypothalamus activity in autism.

News use, nationalism, and Internet use motivations as predictors of anti-Japanese political actions in China

Although the rise of nationalistic activism in the Chinese online sphere has drawn much scholarly attention, few studies have examined how nationalism, usages, and motivations of the Internet affect nationalistic actions among general Internet users in China. Using Sino-Japanese diplomatic disputes as a testing ground, this study investigates the effects of news use from traditional and new media, nationalistic attitudes, and motivations for Internet use on anti-Japanese political behaviors such as boycotting and protest participation. Analyses of online survey data revealed that nationalism is positively correlated with information-seeking and social-interaction motivations for Internet use regarding Sino-Japanese disputes. Results also showed that the stronger the motivation for using the Internet to discuss topics associated with Sino-Japanese disputes, the more likely respondents engaged in anti-Japanese behaviors. This study indicates that nationalistic attitudes and motivations involved in the use of new media technologies have significant effects on mobilizing supporters for anti-Japanese actions.

페이스북 이용자의 자존감, 삶의 만족도, 성별의 차이가 자아표현 동기 및 사회교류 동기에 미치는 영향

페이스북 이용자의 자존감, 삶의 만족도, 성별의 차이가 자아표현 동기 및 사회교류 동기에 미치는 영향

Electrophysiological evidence for the importance of interpersonalcuriosity

Interpersonal curiosity (IPC) is an important intrinsic motivation in social interaction, yet studies focused on its neural mechanism are rare. In a three-agent (Self, Other, or Computer) interactive gambling task, we recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) to a cue stimuli indicating whether participants will be informed of their own, of another participant's or the computer's outcomes such that curiosity will be satisfied (CWS) or curiosity will not be satisfied (CWN). The results showed that relative to the CWS cue stimuli the CWN cue evoked a larger late positive component (LPC) between approximately 400ms and 700ms after cue onset in both the Self and Other conditions, but not in the Computer condition. Additionally, participants reported stronger curiosity in the Other's outcomes than in the Computer's outcomes. Most importantly, participants’ subjective rating of curiosity was significantly correlated with the amplitude of the LPC elicited by the CWN cue. Furthermore, scores in the “curiosity about emotion” subscale of the IPC Scale was significantly correlated with the LPC amplitude when the participants learn they will not be informed of the Other's outcomes. We suggest that (1) interpersonal information is of great significance to individuals and IPC is an important social motivator, and (2) LPC amplitude is sensitive toIPC.

Motivating the U.S. Voter: The Functions of Elaboration and Political Motives When Using TV and the Internet

This study tests the assumptions underlying a model that would combine elements of uses and gratifications and the elaboration likelihood model. The assumptions are as follows: (a) Media goals are more adequately fulfilled by using multiple channels, (b) there is a relationship between ritualized and instrumental media use orientations, and central and peripheral route message processing, (c) those who process information via the central route are likely to use both television and the Internet to seek political information, and (d) those who use political media message instrumentally and process them through the central route are likely to participate in political activities. The results showed that those who used both television and the Internet for political needs were more gratified than those who used only one of these channels. For television viewers, age, education, political content affinity, and receiver involvement predicted greater political activity. For Internet users, age, education, social interaction motivation, receiver involvement, and need for cognition predicted greater political activity. These results were discussed in relation to demonstrating connections between the uses and gratifications perspective and the elaboration likelihood model.

Linking HRM and knowledge transfer via individual‐level mechanisms

AbstractIn response to recent calls for more research on micro‐foundations, we seek to link human resource management (HRM) and knowledge transfer through individual‐level mechanisms, arguing that individual‐level conditions of action influence the extent to which employees engage in knowledge exchange. We examine four such conditions empirically using data from 811 employees in three Danish multinational corporations (MNCs). Our findings suggest that individual‐level perceptions of organizational commitment to knowledge sharing, and extrinsic motivation, directly influence the extent to which employees engage in firm‐internal knowledge exchange. We also find that intrinsic motivation and engagement in social interaction significantly mediate the relationship between perceived organizational commitment and knowledge exchange. Given that HRM can influence such conditions through an overall signaling effect and various practices, an understanding of these micro‐foundations will shed light on how organizations can effectively enhance knowledge transfer through HRM. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SNS 이용동기가 참여활동에 미치는 영향 연구

The purpose of this study was to examine major motivations for using SNSs and the effect of them on SNS participation. In order to address the research questions, 253 undergraduate and graduate students participated. Results of the study were summarized as follows. First, Cyworld was mainly used followed by Facebook and Twitter. Most of the respondents had access to SNSs via smart devices. The average frequency of SNS use was 1-3 times a day and they used them less than 30 minutes a time. The reasons why they started to use SNSs were mainly to follow current trends, maintain friendship, and accept acquaintances recommendations. Second, the result of component analysis derived four primarily underlying dimensions related to SNS use; self-satisfaction, social interaction, recreation, and information seeking. Third, both self-satisfaction and social interaction motivation had significant correlation with SNS participation. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that self motivation was more influential on active participation than social interaction and information seeking motivation.

Differential impact of polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV knockout on social interaction and aggression

Previous studies using neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) -/- knockout (KO) mice provided evidence for a role of NCAMs in social behaviors. However, polysialic acid (PSA), the most important post-translational modification of NCAM, was also absent in these mice, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the specific involvement of either PSA or NCAM in social interactions. To address this issue, we assessed two lines of mice deficient for one of the two sialyltransferase enzymes required for the polysialylation of NCAM, sialyltransferase-X (St8SiaII or STX) and polysialyltransferase (ST8SiaIV or PST), in a series of tests for social behaviors. Results showed that PST KO mice display a decreased motivation in social interaction. This deficit can be partly explained by olfactory deficits and was associated with a clear decrease in PSA-NCAM expression in all brain regions analyzed (amygdala, septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and frontal cortices). STX KO mice displayed both a decreased social motivation and an increased aggressive behavior that cannot be explained by olfactory deficits. This finding might be related to the reduced anxiety-like behavior, increased locomotion and stress-induced corticosterone secretion observed in these mice. Moreover, STX KO mice showed mild increase of PSA-NCAM expression in the lateral septum and the orbitofrontal cortex. Altogether, these findings support a role for PSA-NCAM in the regulation of social behaviors ranging from a lack of social motivation to aggression. They also underscore STX KO mice as an interesting animal model that combines a behavioral profile of violence and hyperactivity with reduced anxiety-like behavior.

Examining Relations of Entertainment with Social Interaction Motives and Team Identification

The goal was to investigate a potential causal pattern between the motives of sport spectators and team identification by using a cross-lagged panel design. Questionnaires were completed by 229 participants at the beginning and end of one NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) college football season for 4 mo. in the USA. The questionnaire included three items for each motive (Social Interaction and Entertainment), three items measuring team identification, and demographic items. The relation of Entertainment at Time 1 to team identification at Time 2 was larger than the relation of team identification at Time 1 to Entertainment at Time 2. This suggests that the motivation of Entertainment may lead to the formation of team identification more than team identification leads to Entertainment. However, the motive of Social Interaction did not show the same pattern. As results of this study suggested some spectator sport motives might lead to identification with a team, the hypothesis that all motives would be the basis of team identification might not be correct.

Dominance in domestic dogs—useful construct or bad habit?

Abstract The term is widely used in the academic and popular literature on the behavior of domestic dogs, especially in the context of aggression. Although dominance is correctly a property of relationships, it has been erroneously used to describe a supposed trait of individual dogs, even though there is little evidence that such a trait exists. When used correctly to describe a relationship between 2 individuals, it tends to be misapplied as a motivation for social interactions, rather than simply a quality of that relationship. Hence, it is commonly suggested that a desire ‘to be dominant' actually drives behavior, especially aggression, in the domestic dog. By contrast, many recent studies of wolf packs have questioned whether there is any direct correspondence between dominance within a relationship and agonistic behavior, and in contrast to wolves, hierarchical social structures have little relationship with reproductive behavior in feral dog packs. Nor do the exchanges of aggressive and submissive behavior in feral dogs, originally published by S. K. Pal and coworkers, fit the pattern predicted from wolf behavior, especially the submissive behavior observed between members of different packs. In the present study of a freely interacting group of neutered male domestic dogs, pairwise relationships were evident, but no overall hierarchy could be detected. Since there seems to be little empirical basis for wolf-type dominance hierarchies in dogs, the authors have examined alternative constructs. Parker's Resource Holding Potential (RHP) appears to be less useful when applied to domestic dogs than to other species, although it has the advantage of incorporating the concept of subjective resource value (V) as a factor influencing whether or not conflicts are escalated. The authors propose that associative learning, combined with V, can provide more parsimonious explanations for agonistic behavior in dogs than can the traditional concept of dominance.

Exploring Internet Motives and Life Satisfaction Among Hungarian and Israeli Medical Students, Living in Hungary

Objective Using the Internet can influence psychological well-being, for instance life satisfaction has been negatively related to Internet uses. The first aim of this study was to compare the motives for Internet use and life satisfaction. The second aim was to explore nation- and gender-based differences in Internet uses. Method The questionnaires related to Internet motives and life satisfaction, and were filled out by 300 medical students, including 150 Israeli students (75 females, 75 males) and 150 Hungarian students (75 females, 75 males). Results In the Israeli and Hungarian sample, the entertainment motive was rated the highest while the escape motive was rated the lowest. There were significant differences between the Israeli male and female students in arousal and information-seeking, while for the Hungarian male and female students there were significant differences for pass time. Life satisfaction was higher in the Israeli sample. In both samples it was shown that the higher the life satisfaction was, the less likely the students were to use the Internet for companionship purposes. Again in both samples, a higher life satisfaction predicted less frequent use of the Internet for the social interaction motives.

Types of Fantasy Sports Users and Their Motivations

Over 15 million people participate in online fantasy sports. Applying a uses and gratifications framework, we use Q-methodology, a quantitative means for developing typologies of people, to examine types of online fantasy sports users and their motivations. Five types of players emerged, with casual players, skilled players, and isolationist thrill-seekers being the three most common types. Differences among types of users were primarily associated with two motivations—arousal and surveillance—while entertainment, escape, and social interaction motivations were judged to be less important. The minimal importance of social interaction to fantasy sports users in this study was unexpected, based on previous research, and implies that not all online communities build or maintain relationships.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Motivations and Perceived Interactivity: A Comparative Study of American and Korean Internet Users

The purpose of this study was to examine cultural differences in motivations for using the Internet and consumers' interactivity on a website. Cultural context was used to explain cultural differences in motivations and interactivity between South Korea and the United States. The results showed that subjects from the low context culture had a higher degree of information and convenience motivation and perceived a higher degree of human-message interaction, while subjects from the high context culture had a higher degree of social interaction motivation and human-human interaction.

Rzeczpospolita blogow [Republic of Blog]: Examining Polish Bloggers Through Content Analysis

While researchers are increasingly interested in understanding the social context of weblogs, or blogs, most existing studies rely on analysis of English-language content. This study is a quantitative content analysis of Polish blogs (N=358) aimed at understanding the content elements and user-initiated features, such as hyperlinks, of blogs under the theoretical framework of uses and gratifications. Results indicate that self-expression is the primary motivation for blog posts. Furthermore, Polish bloggers appear to be driven more by self-expression than by social interaction motivations. Additional findings explored the relationship among motivations, gender, and topics discussed in blogs.