Social Motivation Research Articles

Exploring the impact of autistic traits and anxiety on visual attentional response to angry faces in adults with high autistic traits: An eye-movement study

This study investigated the impact of autistic traits and anxiety on the visual attentional response to angry faces among individuals with varying levels of autistic traits in the general population. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, eye-tracking methodology was used to compare 26 participants with high autistic traits to 26 individuals with low autistic traits. The latency of the first fixation on images of angry faces, neutral faces, and objects during a free viewing task was measured. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale. Experiment 2 utilized an overlap task to examine attentional response patterns toward angry faces in individuals with high and low autistic traits. The findings revealed that participants with high autistic traits displayed a longer latency to first fixation on angry faces during the free-viewing task compared to those with low autistic traits. However, no significant differences were observed for neutral faces and objects. In the overlap task, the group with high autistic traits demonstrated a significantly prolonged latency to first fixation on angry faces in peripheral positions when the central stimulus was a neutral face and the peripheral stimulus was an angry face, relative to the group with low autistic traits. Importantly, when taking anxiety traits into account as a covariate in both experiments, the previously observed group effects no longer remained significant. These results were discussed within the frameworks of social motivation theory and the autism continuum hypothesis.

I Won't Forget to Do It If It's Important: A Multinomial Processing Tree Analysis of Social Importance and Monetary Reward on Event-Based Prospective Memory.

While previous research has suggested that prospective memory may be enhanced by providing a social motive (i.e., social importance) or by promising a monetary reward for successful performance, to the best of our knowledge, the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects are still largely unexplored. In a sample of 96 younger adults, this study investigated how social importance and promising a monetary reward influence the prospective component and the retrospective component of event-based prospective memory separately, with the application of a multinomial modeling approach. Results revealed enhanced prospective memory performance for all importance conditions compared to a standard condition. This improvement was characterized by an increased allocation of resource-demanding attentional processes in performing the prospective memory task at the expense of the ongoing task without an increase in the perceived importance of the prospective memory task. The model-based analyses showed that the beneficial effects of importance arise from an increased engagement of the prospective component, leaving the estimates for the retrospective component unaffected.

From Metrics to Experiences: Investigating How Sport Data Shapes the Social Context, Self-Determination and Motivation of Athletes

Abstract In this paper, we use self-determination theory and its related mini-theories to investigate the influence of sport data on sports experience and motivation in sports. First, we reflect on the use of technology in sports and show how sport data thwarts and promotes motivation in sports. Second, we argue that human–computer interaction (HCI) has been too narrowly focused on the ‘performance’ aspect of sport data. We argue for a more liberal take on sport data, showing that it also relates to motivation in sports through basic human needs. By bridging SportsHCI studies with the insights we gain from self-determination theory, we uncover the interwoven relations between the objective measures that sports technology provides and their motivational aspects for athletes. Our paper ends with five emerging points for attention for SportsHCI that we think can pave the way towards a more holistic approach to considering sport data for motivation in sports.

Autistic Traits and Psychosocial Predictors of Depressive Symptoms.

Higher rates of depression and of depressed mood are associated with autistic traits, and both are associated with social interaction factors, such as social self-efficacy, social motivation and loneliness. This study examined whether these social factors explain the association between autistic traits and depression.658 participants (527 women) completed an online survey with measures of autistic traits (AQ), social self-efficacy (Social Self-Efficacy Scale), social motivation (Social Striving Assessment Scale), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II). A mediation analysis found the relationship between autistic traits and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by the other three factors (β[indirect] = .005, z = 2.63, p < .01; β[direct] = .05, z = 1.58, p > .05), forming a pathway from autistic traits, to social self-efficacy, to social motivation, to loneliness and finally to depressive symptoms. These results suggest that targeting social self-efficacy may break this pathway and disrupt this relationship. Interventions targeting supporting positive social interaction should be considered.

Individual differences in autonomy and sociotropy in relation to autistic traits, camouflaging and interpersonal functioning

The social motivation hypothesis has proposed that autism/autistic traits result developmentally from lower motivation to interact socially. However, counter to this hypothesis, a growing body of research on ‘camouflaging’ suggests many autistic people or those with high autistic traits work hard to appear more ‘neurotypical’ to foster friendships. “Sociotropy/dependency” and “autonomy/self-reliance” characterise different attachment styles. Despite their importance for understanding interpersonal functioning, their relationship with autistic traits and camouflaging is unknown. To investigate this question in 168 participants (71 % females, Mean age = 30; SD = 10), we used online self-reported measures including depressive and social anxiety (i.e. affective) symptoms. A large fraction of variability in interpersonal functioning and camouflaging in the respective models was explained (R-square: 0.40 and 0.50, respectively). Autistic traits and autonomy were both negatively and independently associated with interpersonal functioning (β = −0.23, p = .002 and β = −0.14, p = .045, respectively) after controlling for the influence of sociotropy and affective symptoms. Furthermore, sociotropy was independently associated with camouflaging (β = 0.22, p = .001) after controlling for autonomy and affective symptoms. This may suggest that social motivation is dissociable from autistic traits which could explain why a subgroup of people with autistic traits is highly motivated to camouflage.

The impact of social media-related motivation on fantasy sport users’ playing skills, sense of competition and performance expectancy

PurposeThis study investigated how sources of information across social media platforms influence fantasy users’ sport consumption and enhance their performance expectancy. Specifically, we examined the effects of social media-related motivation on fantasy users’ playing skills, sense of competition and performance expectancy based on the uses and gratifications theory.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 453 fantasy sport users on social media platforms. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess a measurement model and used serial mediation techniques to examine the relationship between social media-related motivation and fantasy sport users’ performance expectancy.FindingsResults showed that social media-related motivation had significant and positive impacts on fantasy users’ playing skills, sense of competition and performance expectancy. Additionally, we found that fantasy users’ playing skills increased their sense of competition and performance expectancy. A sense of competition was found to positively affect fantasy users’ performance expectancy.Originality/valueThis study provided a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge on social media by investigating the influence of social media-related motivation on fantasy sport users. The findings reveal that sharing content-based information on social media platforms plays a vital role in attracting and motivating individuals to engage in fantasy sports. The updated information enhances the playing skills of fantasy users, fosters a sense of competition and improves performance in virtual sport.

Exploring Consumer Preferences and Challenges in Hybrid Meat Products: A Conjoint Analysis of Hotdogs.

Plant-based meat has been the primary strategy to reducing meat consumption. While this category has demonstrated success, with the market value estimated to reach USD 20 billion by 2023, the subsequent reduction in meat consumption has not been proportionate. An alternative approach is hybrid products, which are thought to produce products that more closely resemble meat products. However, whether consumers will be willing to purchase hybrid products remains uncertain. Therefore, the present study uses a conjoint analysis approach to assess the product features driving the selection of a hybrid hotdog. This approach uncovers factors driving consumers' purchase intentions for hybrid meat products when offered as a choice against 100% plant-based and 100% beef products. In an online survey, participants (n = 454; 45.6% female) were asked to select the product they would be most willing to purchase, varying in four characteristics: protein source, price, fat content, and price. Following this task, participants answered questions related to meat attachment, food neophobia, health, ecological, social, and moral motives regarding food consumption. The results revealed that protein source was the most important factor driving product selection, followed by price, fat, and packaging claims (35%, 24%, 21%, and 20% relative importance, respectively). In this study, hybrid hotdogs were the least preferred to beef and plant-based (-16, -2.5, and 18 part-worth utility, respectively). These product-specific attributes (protein, fat, and price) had distinct relationships with the choices of hybrid, plant-based, and hybrid hotdogs, with these factors together explaining slightly more variability in the selection of hybrid (9%) compared to plant-based (7%) and beef hotdogs (4%). For hybrid hotdogs, protein had the greatest influence (B = -1.2) followed by fat (B = -0.8) and price (B = -0.5). Interestingly, person-related parameters (health, meat attachment, ethics, and food neophobia) had no relationship with the selection of hybrid hotdogs, contrary to plant-based (7%) and beef hotdogs (5%). This influence of the different parameters on the selection of hybrid meat is thought to be due to the lack of consumer knowledge and familiarity with hybrid products. The current understanding of plant-based products may not correspond to hybrid products. Engaging with consumers during the development of these products is critical to ensure consumer acceptance and thus support the transition to a more sustainable diet.

Strengthening Understanding of Customer Services and Practical Instructions for Hospital Financial Management

Increasing competition in the health industry at the national level makes the hospital management always tidy up in improving the quality of service to patients and improving the quality of medical infrastructure facilities according to the standard HNAC (Hospital National Accreditation Committee). Armed with the success of the value chain strategy concept training agenda at Elizabeth Semarang Hospital on May 16, 2018, I submitted the same training proposal to the Miriam Pratama Clinic, Kudus. The underlying factor is the urgency of the MIRIAM Pratama Clinic to raise the level of its business to become an C accredited hospital so that it can continue to survive and from the results of their communication with one of my relatives in Kudus who has heard me conduct training on the topic of value chain strategy at Elizabeth Hospital Semarang. So then I made a communication with the MIRIAM Pratama Clinic to get approval for the implementation of the training activities on March 18, 2019. Seeing the urgency of increasing the status of this business level, then I added aspects of financial management with the basis of considerations to raise the level of business and build a system of value chain strategies from Swayne, et.al. (2006) a large cash flow is needed. And this will be fulfilled with the right budgeting model. Finally, the activity was successfully carried out on March 18, 2019 with a very good response from participants who asked about how to regulate social and business motives in managing clinical businesses in the midst of a lack of cash flow and a budgeting model that does not have to be a month to month approach from Berger (2008). So the short answer is to raise the level of business, business motives should be a priority because improving the quality of services will require large costs and to fulfill them is not necessary with a month to month budgeting approach from Berger (2008) but can be from budget flexibility according to the clinical work calendar. In the mentoring activities on April 18, 2019 there were more positive results from the training activities on March 18, 2019 namely the more enthusiastic doctors, nurses and non-nursing staff working and more positive testimonials from key patients, mothers giving birth and their families. This has had a positive impact on status of the clinic as a C accreditation.

Demographics, culture and participatory nature of multi-marathoning-An observational study highlighting issues with recommendations.

The defining achievement of a multi-marathoner is completing 100 marathons. This study aimed to comprehensively document the phenomenon of multi-marathoning, addressing its demographics, culture and participatory nature, filling a gap in peer-reviewed research on the topic. Additionally, it aimed to provide recommendations for multi-marathon governing bodies, event organisers, health professionals and participants to address identified issues. A global survey was distributed to participants and individuals interested in multi-marathoning. It was distributed with support from major national and international multi-marathon clubs through their social media channels, email groups and newsletters. The survey was conducted anonymously and online. The survey garnered responses from 830 participants across 40 countries, with an average marathon completion count of 146.54 (SD 201.83) per respondent. Gender distribution showed 60.69% men, 39.3% women and 0.1% gender variant/non-conforming. Respondents' average ages were 51.6 (SD 9.96) years for men, 48.83 (SD 9.15) years for women and 35.00 (SD 8.76) years for gender variant/non-conforming. As participants age, social and travel motivations surpass competitiveness. A majority (57%) of respondents had at least one contravention to the pre-participation screening questionnaire PARQ-+ and 67% reported taking pain relief medication around events. Notably, 93% of respondents reported multi-marathoning as beneficial for their mental health. Multi-marathoning accommodates older athletes, but a significant gender imbalance exists in participation levels. Long-term health implications warrant attention from governing bodies, event organisers, health professionals and participants alike. Multi-marathoners should seek medical advice before participation, utilise modern equipment for health monitoring and optimise training accordingly. Recommendations include encouraging diversity at events, ensuring event directors have well-resourced health plans and promoting participants' proactive health management before and during their involvement in the sport. This study not only advances our understanding of multi-marathoning as a sport but also contributes to theoretical frameworks such as SDT and HBM.

Understanding daily and momentary drinking motives among transgender and gender diverse adults

Background Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults may be at increased risk for alcohol use due to gender minority stress (GMS) and specific drinking motives. Aim The current study evaluated the relations between GMS and resilience, drinking motives, and alcohol outcomes among TGD adults. Methods Twenty-five primarily White TGD adults (7 transgender men, 7 transgender women, and 11 gender diverse) who were 19 years of age or older (mean: 32.60; SD: 10.82), lived in Canada, and drank regularly were prompted to complete surveys multiple times per day indexing drinking motives, GMS and resilience factors, contexts, and alcohol use and craving. Multilevel models examined predictors of each drinking motive and relations between drinking motives and alcohol outcomes at the daily and momentary levels. Results Days with increased GMS corresponded with increased social (p<.05) and conformity motives (p<.01). Days with increased resilience also corresponded with elevated social (p<.01) and conformity (p<.05) motives. Days with higher enhancement and social motives predicted increased alcohol use (ps<.01). All momentary motives were elevated when participants reported higher momentary resilience (p<.001). Significant associations between drinking motives, contexts, and alcohol craving were also evident. Discussion GMS and certain drinking motives may contribute to increased alcohol use and craving among TGD adults. Findings encourage the development of gender-inclusive interventions that address GMS and specific drinking motives to support a reduction in this population’s alcohol use.

Who shares misinformation on social media? A meta-analysis of individual traits related to misinformation sharing

An important step in developing effective interventions to stop the spread of misinformation is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of people who are likely to share misinformation on social media. Accordingly, we conducted a meta-analysis of 60 articles on the individual traits of people who share misinformation. Results showed that the passing time motivation (r = 0.524) had the strongest positive relationship with misinformation sharing, whereas trust in information (r = 0.437) and the socialization motivation (r = 0.350) had a large positive effect. The motivations for entertainment (r = 0.276) and altruism (r = 0.220), and trust in social media (r = 0.219) all had medium positive effects. Prior exposure to misinformation (r = 0.191) and political conservatism (r = 0.119) both had a small positive association with misinformation sharing, whereas the personality trait of agreeableness (r = −0.094) had a weak negative association with misinformation sharing. Information literacy (r = −0.229) exerted a medium negative effect, but new media literacy was not significantly related to misinformation sharing. Finally, contextual and methodological factors emerged as important moderators. Older people and women were more likely to spread health misinformation, whereas younger people and men were more likely to share political misinformation. Overall, this study indicates that misinformation sharing is more strongly related to psychological traits than to personality and demographic traits. Moreover, the uses and gratifications theory, theories related to trust and credibility, and the illusory truth effect may well explain misinformation sharing in the online space.

Analysis of Image Interaction and Social Motivation in Virtual Communities

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between image interaction and social motivation in virtual communities, and take Instagram and TikTok as case studies. First, the conceptual characteristics of virtual communities and the defined forms of image interaction are analysed, and then the classification of social motivation and its impact on user behaviour are explored, as well as the role of image interaction in shaping the social ecosystem, the social atmosphere and the user's social network. In Instagram, image interaction behaviours were found to be positively correlated with user engagement, increasing users' exposure and social influence. In TikTok, on the other hand, social identity based on image interaction was closely related to user satisfaction, promoting user loyalty and stickiness to the platform. In summary, image interaction, as an important form of social behaviour in virtual communities, has a positive impact on the development of the community and the social experience of users, but it also needs to pay attention to issues such as information security and content regulation.

From Trolling Victimization to Reactive Trolling: Moderated Mediation Effects of Online Disinhibition and Motivations

Online trolling behavior is becoming prevalent and has received increasing attention. Although few qualitative studies demonstrated that victims of online trolling are more likely to troll others, quantitative evidence examining such a phenomenon is lacking. Drawing on the general aggression model, this study aimed to investigate how trolling victimization affects reactive trolling behaviors and the roles of two motivations (i.e., revenge and social recognition) and online disinhibition during the process. Results from an online survey in China ( N = 626) showed that online trolling victimization was positively associated with online reactive trolling and this relationship was mediated by revenge and social recognition motivations. Additionally, the indirect effect of trolling victimization on reactive trolling via revenge motivation was more pronounced when individuals had higher levels of online disinhibition. The findings of the study extend the existing literature on online trolling and provide insights into the mitigation of online trolling behaviors.

The social and organisational factors shaping acceptability of a self-management education and exercise intervention for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis in Greenland

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of people with osteoarthritis attending the “Osteoarthritis School” (OA School) in Nuuk, Greenland to generate insights and lessons that can inform the development of self-management education and exercise interventions for people with other lifestyle conditions in a Greenland context. We conducted a qualitative interpretive description (ID) study based on ten semi-structured interviews with people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. Using ID, we identified three themes: 1) perceptions and experiences of how the OA School intervention was organised (time and place); 2) perspectives and experiences of the education and exercise components (social factors, motivation, and education); and 3) significant change stories (physical and mental improvements and increased knowledge of OA). Social and organisational factors, such as working out with peers and the time and place of the intervention, influenced the participants’ acceptance of the OA School intervention. Knowledge from this study will help us gain insight into what to address when developing future self-management education and exercise interventions in the Greenlandic healthcare system.

Environmental enrichment enhances ethanol preference over social reward in male swiss mice: Involvement of oxytocin-dopamine interactions

The impact of environmental enrichment (EE) on natural rewards, including social and appetitive rewards, was investigated in male Swiss mice. EE, known for providing animals with various stimuli, was assessed for its effects on conditioned place preference (CPP) associated with ethanol and social stimuli. We previously demonstrated that EE increased the levels of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in the hypothalamus and enhanced ethanol rewarding effects via an oxytocinergic mechanism. This study also investigated the impact of EE on social dominance and motivation for rewards, measured OT-mediated phospholipase C (PLC) activity in striatal membranes, and assessed OT expression in the hypothalamus. The role of dopamine in motivating rewards was considered, along with the interaction between OT and D1 receptors (DR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Results showed that EE mice exhibited a preference for ethanol reward over social reward, a pattern replicated by the OT analogue Carbetocin. EE mice demonstrated increased social dominance and reduced motivation for appetitive taste stimuli. Higher OT mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were followed by diminished OT receptor (OTR) signaling activity in the striatum of EE mice. Additionally, EE mice displayed elevated D1R expression, which was attenuated by the OTR antagonist (L-368-889). The findings underscore the reinforcing effect of EE on ethanol and social rewards through an oxytocinergic mechanism. Nonetheless, they suggest that mechanisms other than the prosocial effect of EE may contribute to the ethanol pro-rewarding effect of EE and Carbetocin. They also point towards an OT-dopamine interaction potentially underlying some of these effects.

Social identity threat attenuates own-race bias in face recognition under the “Asian-Caucasian” context

People typically remember faces of their own race better than the faces of other races, which is known as the own-race bias. Social-cognitive theories on the own-race bias debate if motivation plays a role in racial face recognition under the “Asian-Caucasian” context. We investigated the effect of social-identity-threat based motivation on own-race bias. In Experiment 1, Chinese participants were primed with a negative image of own-race by associating Chinese (i.e., own-race) faces with negative personality traits. Results showed that such social identity threat marginally affect the own-race bias in face recognition sensitivity (Experiment 1a), and it did not influence participants' implicit positive attitudes toward their ethnicity (Experiment 1b). In Experiments 2, 3 and 4, the social identity threat was manipulated by reading an article before the face recognition task. Experiment 2 found that the social identity threat significantly affected the own-race bias in face recognition false alarm. Although we did not find the modulation effect of group on ORB with ANOVA in Experiments 3 and 4, we observed the significant indirect effect of group on ORB through the mediator of generalized threat. Together, the current study provides evidence of social motivation in the own-race bias in the “Asian-Caucasian” setting.

The Role of Everyday Executive Function in Observed Social Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Recent research suggests there may be differences in the social presentations of autistic males and females. Camouflaging is believed to account for some of these differences and executive function (EF) may support compensatory social behaviors. As few studies have explored the role of sex and everyday EF when evaluating specific social difficulties among autistic youth, the present study seeks to address this. The Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) was used to measure types of social difficulties and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2) served as a measure of everyday EF. Four three-step hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with SRS-2 social subscales as dependent variables. Autism symptom severity, BRIEF-2 EF Indices (i.e., behavioral, emotional, and cognitive regulation), and sex served as independent variables. Types of EF impairment significantly predicted social symptoms of autism. Behavioral dysregulation predicted all social symptoms assessed, cognitive dysregulation predicted social awareness and communication challenges, and emotion dysregulation predicted social motivation and communication difficulties. Sex significantly predicted social communication and cognition challenges, beyond the contributions of age, IQ, autism severity, and EF impairment. Findings from this study provide evidence for the contribution of EF to observed social symptoms of autism. Results suggest there may be sex-based differences in the relationship between EF and social problems for autistic youth. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Challenges in remote education: analysis of social interaction, motivation and engagement

This article analyses selected challenges of remote education, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is divided into a theoretical part, synthetically explaining the key challenges related to remote education: social interactions, students' motivation and engagement, and an empirical part, presenting the results of a survey conducted on 1828 students at the Cracow University of Economics. The empirical research enabled analysis of the impact of selected distance education factors on the level of perceived learning outcomes by students, with a particular focus on social interactions (both between teachers and students, and among students), student motivation, and engagement in remote learning environments. The data was collected through a survey distributed in 2020 and 2022, using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) technique via Google Forms. The results indicate moderate improvements in social interaction and motivation over time, with a slight decrease in the perceived effectiveness of remote learning. The literature review and empirical study reveal changes in the quality, motivation, and engagement of interaction, emphasising the need to adjust teaching strategies in the areas considered to increase the effectiveness of remote education. This study enriches the current literature by addressing gaps and providing suggestions for directions of future research, additionally providing practical recommendations for teachers and educational institutions to improve the efficacy of remote learning.

Prejudice is epistemically unwarranted belief

AbstractIn two preregistered online studies with U.S. adults, we provide evidence of a common psychological profile characterizing belief in prejudicial and non‐prejudicial epistemically unwarranted claims. We solicited self‐report ratings of beliefs in prejudicial and non‐prejudicial pseudoscientific, conspiratorial, and paranormal claims, as well as individual difference measures related to cognitive style, social dominance orientation (SDO), and trust in science. We found moderate to strong positive correlations between endorsing prejudicial and non‐prejudicial unwarranted claims, and robustly replicable associations between endorsement of all the assessed varieties of epistemically unwarranted beliefs, SDO, and perceptions of the credibility of science. Our findings suggest that individuals who endorse epistemically unwarranted beliefs are not only characterized by a rejection of epistemic authority (e.g., science), but also by preferences for a rigid, inequitably stratified society. This suggests that successfully challenging epistemically unwarranted beliefs may benefit by incorporating explicit challenges to social dominance motivations.

Daughter circumcision and maternal life satisfaction: a cultural moderation effect revealed across two multicountry studies

IntroductionThe present paper assessed the relationship between maternal life satisfaction (MLS) and the intergenerational transmission of female genital cutting (FGC, female circumcision). It was hypothesised that the association would be...