Strong Social Ties Research Articles

Group-level cooperation in chimpanzees is shaped by strong social ties

Humans maintain extensive social ties of varying preferences, providing a range of opportunities for beneficial cooperative exchange that may promote collective action and our unique capacity for large-scale cooperation. Similarly, non-human animals maintain differentiated social relationships that promote dyadic cooperative exchange, but their link to cooperative collective action is little known. Here, we investigate the influence of social relationship properties on male and female chimpanzee participations in a costly form of group action, intergroup encounters. We find that intergroup encounter participation increases with a greater number of other participants as well as when participants are maternal kin or social bond partners, and that these effects are independent from one another and from the likelihood to associate with certain partners. Together, strong social relationships between kin and non-kin facilitate group-level cooperation in one of our closest living relatives, suggesting that social bonds may be integral to the evolution of cooperation in our own species.

Lethal Coalitionary Aggression Associated with a Community Fission in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Many animals engage in aggression, but chimpanzees stand out in terms of fatal attacks against adults of their own species. Most lethal aggression occurs between groups, where coalitions of male chimpanzees occasionally kill members of neighboring communities that are strangers. However, the first observed cases of lethal violence in chimpanzees, which occurred at Gombe, Tanzania in the 1970s, involved chimpanzees that once knew each other. They followed the only observed case of a permanent community fission in chimpanzees. A second permanent fission recently transpired at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. Members of a large western subgroup gradually ceased associating peacefully with the rest of the community and started behaving antagonistically toward them. Affiliation effectively ended by 2017. Here, we describe two subsequent lethal coalitionary attacks by chimpanzees of the new western community on males of the now separate central community, one in 2018 and the second in 2019. The first victim was a young adult male that never had strong social ties with his attackers. The second was a high-ranking male that had often associated with the western subgroup before 2017; he groomed regularly with males there and formed coalitions with several. Other central males present at the start of the second attack fled, and others nearby did not come to the scene. Several western females joined in the second attack; we suggest that female-female competition contributed to the fission. This event highlighted the limits on protection afforded by long-term familiarity and the constraints on costly cooperation among male chimpanzees.

The Social Effects of COVID-19 Pandemics

Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure people's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior regarding the New Coronavirus Pandemic and the process itself in our country, to examine social tendencies towards the pandemic, and to develop recommendations for policymakers based on the findings. Methods: According to the survey, 40 percent of the participants said their anxiety about death and dying has increased. In comparison, 51 percent reported that their anxiety about getting the virus has increased, and 79 percent stated that their anxiety about losing their loved ones has increased. Especially the existential anxiety of women, those in the lowest income group working in jobs that require close contact, is much higher than men. Strong social ties are an influential factor in alleviating people's anxiety. Results: Sixty-six percent of the respondents stated they feared that they will not be able to meet their basic needs in the future, and 58 percent reported that their income has decreased after the pandemic;only 14.80 percent stated that they find people to be generally trustworthy. As the variables of age, income, and education level decrease, so does trust. The findings reveal that the level of trust is lower among women than men. The percentage of those who see coronavirus as “a conspiracy of the great powers” is 56.5 percent in Turkey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reported that verbal violence, and 17 percent said physical violence has increased around them after the coronavirus. On the other hand, 11 percent stated that verbal violence, while 4 percent stated that physical violence against them has increased during the same period. Conclusion: This research shows that existential anxiety in society increases as the duration of the pandemic increases. Over time the people have become tired. The pandemic has triggered some negative attitudes such as indifference, weariness, and denial, resulting in developing a type of come-what-may mood in some people. Those who have relatively strong social ties (high level of trust) and those who rely on state institutions cope more easily with the uncertainty and anxiety posed by the pandemic. Social policies to be followed by the state are of vital importance to reduce the economic and psycho-social problems of the society. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.

TBHEB 2021-3 Vol 78 Full Printed Journal

Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure people's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior regarding the New Coronavirus Pandemic and the process itself in our country, to examine social tendencies towards the pandemic, and to develop recommendations for policymakers based on the findings. Methods: According to the survey, 40 percent of the participants said their anxiety about death and dying has increased. In comparison, 51 percent reported that their anxiety about getting the virus has increased, and 79 percent stated that their anxiety about losing their loved ones has increased. Especially the existential anxiety of women, those in the lowest income group working in jobs that require close contact, is much higher than men. Strong social ties are an influential factor in alleviating people's anxiety. Results: Sixty-six percent of the respondents stated they feared that they will not be able to meet their basic needs in the future, and 58 percent reported that their income has decreased after the pandemic;only 14.80 percent stated that they find people to be generally trustworthy. As the variables of age, income, and education level decrease, so does trust. The findings reveal that the level of trust is lower among women than men. The percentage of those who see coronavirus as “a conspiracy of the great powers” is 56.5 percent in Turkey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reported that verbal violence, and 17 percent said physical violence has increased around them after the coronavirus. On the other hand, 11 percent stated that verbal violence, while 4 percent stated that physical violence against them has increased during the same period. Conclusion: This research shows that existential anxiety in society increases as the duration of the pandemic increases. Over time the people have become tired. The pandemic has triggered some negative attitudes such as indifference, weariness, and denial, resulting in developing a type of come-what-may mood in some people. Those who have relatively strong social ties (high level of trust) and those who rely on state institutions cope more easily with the uncertainty and anxiety posed by the pandemic. Social policies to be followed by the state are of vital importance to reduce the economic and psycho-social problems of the society. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Economic and Legal and Psychological Conditions of Professional Self-Realization of Youth in Ukraine

The article notes that young people are the most mobile part of society, due to their active search for their place in life and lack of strong economic and social ties, and that young people are the most vulnerable category in the labor market, without work experience. The reason for this is the gap between theoretical training in vocational schools and the requirements of practical activities. The main legislative acts regulating employment and economic and legal conditions of professional self-realization of youth are analyzed, which is the basis for ensuring the increase of youth employment. It is determined that the normative component of organizational and methodological support for increasing the level of youth employment is represented by the legislation that regulates the issue of work with youth in Ukraine. These are the main legislative acts, orders of the Cabinet of Ministers, strategies and concepts that contain basic guidelines for the development of youth and youth policy and national programs governing youth employment, their professional self-realization, etc. The author reveals how youth policy and youth work create conditions for self-realization and psychological adaptation of young people in the process of entering the labor market. The article emphasizes that large-scale program and educational events in the field of youth work and work on strategic initiatives have been launched in Ukraine, which in the future may include a definition of the concept of "youth work". It is noted that an important mechanism for young people in achieving positive changes in society and intensifying the process of self-realization of young people is volunteering and promoting the development of youth entrepreneurship. The author analyzes that young people involved in volunteering believe that it complements formal education by teaching soft skills that are necessary for the labor market. It is noted that the main sources of funding for youth work in terms of their professional self-realization are state budgets, local government budgets and international donors

Innovation in Churches: A Theoretical Framework

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many changes in the present socio-cultural context point to the importance of innovation in churches. A theoretical framework for understanding innovation in churches is presented, featuring 6 key elements. These elements include the cultural context of the church and the church’s target audience, a culture of innovation within the church, innovations in church programs, processes, and personnel, social capital (social ties) which permits church members to navigate the changes associated with innovation, program loss (that which is lost when programs change), and progress toward the church’s goals. The church’s goals and the church’s context determine which innovations would be most appropriate. A culture of innovation and strong social ties permit innovations to be implemented successfully. Program losses may reflect aspects of the church’s goals that are neglected when innovations are implemented.

Who is at the table? Civic engagement in small town housing decision-making

ABSTRACT Small towns possess many of the components needed for stakeholder-led governance models, including strong social ties, frequent interactions and social norms that support participation in civic life. This study seeks to better understand civic engagement with housing decision-making in rural small towns. We examine the diversity of actively engaged stakeholder groups and the ways in which stakeholder participation is related to community characteristics using survey responses from representatives of 164 small towns within one Southeastern state. For the small towns in our study, population size, limited administrative capacity and access to human capital resources were associated with fewer engaged stakeholder groups. Relatively few stakeholder groups were involved in housing decision-making on average and those experiencing the greatest disadvantage were likely not at the table. This research adds to the limited body of research on civic engagement by exploring stakeholder engagement in housing decisions and policies in small towns using a unique dataset. Our study highlights the ways in which the potential for civic engagement in small towns is hindered, limiting the capacity and equity of housing policy among rural communities that likely have an array of housing problems. Understanding how and why local governments in small towns engage stakeholder groups for housing planning and decision-making is an area for future research.

Some aspects of protection in criminal proceedings of corruption crimes

The article examines some aspects of protection in cases of corruption crimes. The work of a lawyer in criminal proceedings on corruption crimes is analyzed. In particular, important aspects of protection are highlighted at the stage of detention and precautionary measures. It is stated that the state of health, strong social ties, positive characteristics, the presence of dependents can be taken into account by the court to choose a measure of restraint not related to detention. It was also established that the position on the disclosure of materials of covert investigative (search) actions during the trial changed, which caused a number of questions for the defense. In our opinion, a corruption crime is an offense that consists in using one's official position for one's own selfish purpose. People with high social status are usually suspected of corruption crimes. In this category, suspects usually have strong social ties, which plays a positive role in choosing a measure of restraint and allows them to choose a mild measure of restraint not related to imprisonment. In addition, persons wishing to become guarantors must be questioned in court.Analyzing the protection of corruption in criminal offenses, the lawyer must clearly understand that the basis of the evidence base in these proceedings are covert investigative (investigative) actions. An important point is the defender's understanding of the presence or absence of provocation of the crime. Some people, pursuing various goals, resort to illegal actions to provoke corruption crimes.

Gendered Strategies among Northern Migrants in Ghana: The Role of Social Networks

The migration trends from Northern to Southern Ghana is not a new phenomenon and it is rooted in historical antecedents. Migration scholars in Ghana have attributed these migration trends from an economic lens, arguing that migration has become a household strategy to diversify incomes. However, little research has focused on social networks serving as migration channels for migrants in the informal sector. In view of this, this paper explores the gendered strategies and social networks that the northern migrants use to gain access to the labour market. This study used a qualitative approach. Primary data was collected using the in-depth interview tool. A sampled population of 58 (37 women and 21 men) migrants from Northern Ghana to the Greater Accra Region (Madina), constituted the respondents. Findings indicate that integration and assimilation of migrants into their new community is a function of ethnicity. Strong and weak social ties facilitate migration differently. Whereas the former facilitates migration, the latter offers an enduring support for new migrants in searching for jobs and accommodation on arrival. The study concludes that knowledge of how social networks organize gender strategies within the migration continuum is important for policy intervention to close the poverty gap between North and South.

Empathy and Coping: Older Adults’ Social Encounters and Mood Throughout the Day

Scholars have proposed empathy as a key characteristic of strong social ties, but little is known about the role empathy plays when tensions occur in these ties. We examined whether older adults’ empathy was associated with their (a) coping strategies for interpersonal tensions, and (b) momentary mood when tensions occurred throughout the day. Data were from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study. Older adults (n = 302) rated empathy, reported avoidant, constructive, and destructive coping strategies, and indicated tensions and mood every 3 hours each day over 5 to 6 days. More empathic older adults used constructive strategies more often and destructive strategies less often than less empathic older adults. Interpersonal tensions were associated with reduced positive mood throughout the day, but this link was attenuated by older adults’ empathy. This study advances our understanding of empathy and social experiences in later life with a focus on the negative moments.

Empathy and Coping: Older Adults’ Interpersonal Tensions and Mood throughout the Day

Introduction: Scholars have proposed that empathy is a key feature of strong social ties, but less is known about the role empathy plays when tensions arise. Objective: We examined whether older adults’ empathy was associated with (a) coping strategies for interpersonal tensions, and (b) mood when there were tensions throughout the day. We also explored whether coping strategies explained the potential buffering effect of empathy on older adults’ momentary mood. Methods: Older adults (N = 302) from the Daily Experiences and Well-Being Study completed a baseline survey on empathy and coping strategies. They also completed ecological momentary assessments every 3 hours each day for 5–6 days, which included questions about interpersonal tensions and mood. This study considered tensions with close partners (e.g., family and friends) and with non-close partners (e.g., acquaintances and service providers). Results: In the face of interpersonal tensions, more empathic older adults reported using more constructive and less destructive coping strategies than less empathic older adults, regardless of their closeness to social partners. Being more empathic also buffered older adults’ mood when tensions occurred with close partners, but this buffering effect was not mediated by older adults’ general preference for coping strategies. Conclusion: This study advances our understanding of empathy and interpersonal tensions in later life, with a focus on daily experiences.

Estimating tie strength in social networks using temporal communication data

Even though the concept of tie strength is central in social network analysis, it is difficult to quantify how strong social ties are. One typical way of estimating tie strength in data-driven studies has been to simply count the total number or duration of contacts between two people. This, however, disregards many features that can be extracted from the rich data sets used for social network reconstruction. Here, we focus on contact data with temporal information. We systematically study how features of the contact time series are related to topological features usually associated with tie strength. We focus on a large mobile-phone dataset and measure a number of properties of the contact time series for each tie and use these to predict the so-called neighbourhood overlap, a feature related to strong ties in the sociological literature. We observe a strong relationship between temporal features and the neighbourhood overlap, with many features outperforming simple contact counts. Features that stand out include the number of days with calls, number of bursty cascades, typical times of contacts, and temporal stability. These are also seen to correlate with the overlap in diverse smaller communication datasets studied for reference. Taken together, our results suggest that such temporal features could be useful for inferring social network structure from communication data.

The Impact of MCK+ Prangkuti Luhur towards the Improvement of Community Life Quality in Bustaman Village

At the global level, many efforts to fulfil the availability and access to sanitation have always been the main focus of human development goals and framework at every level of government. In the city level (Semarang), access to sanitation has already started since 2005 when the city government launched a community-based sanitation program in Bustaman Village. There are four locations become pilot project Bustaman village, Plombokan village, Bandarharjo district and Kebonharjo district, and till now only Bustaman village are still running and successful. Based on management in sanitation, this study aims to know the impact of community-based sanitation and how the community in self-reliance manage MCK+. The method used is a qualitative approach. The analysis conducted is an analysis of knowledge on the impact and how the community manage the sanitation facilities. Research findings showed that the impact of MCK+ is the improved public awareness for healthy and clean living, conscious effort to manage MCK+, making wastes into renewable energy becoming biogas. The existence of an institution named Prangkuti Luhur, which overshadowed the existence of MCK+, continuously form strong social ties, besides cohesion, due to the similarity of fortune. It also strengthened the framework of communal MCK+ institutions in Bustaman Village.

How Social Ties Influence Customers’ Involvement and Online Purchase Intentions

A major challenge confronting online retailers is that of stimulating consumer online purchase intention. Many studies have explored the factors that affect consumer purchase behavior; however, few have described the underlying mechanism that links the online shopping experience to social ties and the effect of their strength on purchase intentions. This study adapted the stimuli–organism–response (S–O–R) model to analyze the effects of the online shopping experience on customer involvement and online purchase intention under conditions of weak and strong social ties. Two quasi-experiments were conducted to test the research model and hypotheses. The results showed that online shopping experience had a positive effect on customer involvement, and this involvement in turn had a positive effect on online purchase intention in the strong-tie group and the weak-tie group. Cognitive and affective involvement played partial mediating roles between the online shopping experience and online purchase intention in the weak-ties group and full mediating roles in the strong-ties group. The effects of online shopping experience on customer involvement and online purchase intention differed between the two tie strength groups. The implications of these findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Delinquency abstainers in adolescence and educational and labor market outcomes in midlife: A population-based 25-year longitudinal study.

Research has suggested that adolescent delinquency abstainers might have unfavorable characteristics, impeding their access to peer networks. However, recent studies have emphasized the possible heterogeneity of abstainers. We know little about the long-term adaption of delinquency abstainers. We identify subtypes of delinquency abstainers and investigate subsequent adult academic careers, income levels, and possible marginalization in the labor market. We use the population-based Young in Norway Longitudinal study, where participants (N = 2,494) are followed up by surveys and registers from their teens until their mid-30s. By means of latent class analysis, abstainers were divided in three groups according to degree of social integration. Results showed that delinquency abstainers performed as well or better in adulthood than those with moderate delinquency involvement and markedly better than the highly delinquent. Lonely abstainers performed just as well as all other groups when it comes to higher education and earnings. However, they had a higher probability of marginalization in the labor market than the social abstainers. We conclude that no group fared better than delinquency abstainers with strong social ties. The outcomes of the lonely abstainers were close to those of the majority. Thus, in this cohort who came of age in the 1990s, delinquency abstainers are not particularly vulnerable, and theory about abstainers needs to be modernized. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Food Insecurity in the Post-Hurricane Harvey Setting: Risks and Resources in the Midst of Uncertainty.

Food insecurity is of heightened concern during and after natural disasters; higher prevalence is typically reported in post-disaster settings. The current study examines food insecurity prevalence and specific risk/resource variables that may act as barriers or advantages in accessing food in such a setting. Using a modified quota sample (n = 316), Hurricane Harvey survivors participated in face-to-face interviews and/or online surveys that assessed health, social and household factors, and sociodemographic characteristics. Using logistic regression analyses we find that social vulnerabilities, circumstantial risk, and social and psychological resources are important in determining the odds of food insecurity. Hispanic and/or Nonwhite survivors, renters, and those persons displaced during the natural disaster have higher food insecurity odds. Survivors with stronger social ties, higher levels of mastery, and a greater sense of connectedness to their community are found to have lower food insecurity odds. A more nuanced analysis of circumstantial risk finds that while the independent effects of displacement and home ownership are important, so too is the intersection of these two factors, with displaced-renters experiencing significantly higher odds than any other residence and displacement combinations, and particularly those who are homeowners not displaced during the disaster. Strategies for addressing differential risks, as well as practical approaches for implementation and education programming related to disaster recovery, are discussed.

When abortion becomes public - Everyday politics of reproduction in rural Zambia.

This article takes the public reaction to the discovery of an aborted foetus in a rural Zambian community as the empirical starting point for exploring the everyday politics of reproduction. It builds on eleven months of ethnographic fieldwork on abortion and abortion policy in Zambia in 2017 and 2018, including participant observation in the community where the episode took place and interviews with clinic staff and neighbours. The article explores local dynamics of abortion opposition in a country where abortion is legally permitted on broad grounds. By analysing this case as an anthropological event, it discusses how opposition to abortion is dynamic and changes depending on the situation at hand. While abortions that avoid public attention may be silently tolerated, abortions that become openly known are harshly condemned. Through scrutiny of a specific case of collective moral judgement of abortion, the article examines how values like responsible motherhood, sexual virtue and protection of life emerge and are shared, allowing participants to protect and accumulate their own integrity in a moral economy that forges stronger social ties within the community. The article argues that even the harshest expressions of opposition to abortion may not be as categorical as they first appear. It calls for increased attention to dynamics of moral and political opposition to abortion to understand what is socially at stake for those who engage in it.

Metropolitan Networks: A Socio-spatial Analysis of Social Ties in Tehran

Previous research shows that residents of metropolitan areas tend to have social ties outside their neighborhoods, but ties’ locations and what they indicate in terms of social relations and urban structure are not sufficiently studied. Using survey data and interviews collected in Tehran, Iran, I examine the level of propinquity of strong social ties. Measuring the geographical distance and relative orientation between participants and their ties, I discuss the implications of having ties outside residential neighborhoods. I examine how these relations are formed and sustained and analyze how they impact class relations and perceptions of social structure. Results indicate that ties who reside in other neighborhoods offer points of reference for situating oneself in relation to others, both in socioeconomic and cultural sense. Participants’ narratives suggest that ties’ locations, together with ties’ origins and types, impact interpretations of group relations and social hierarchies associated with location in the metropolitan area.

Cancer in Moroccan elderly: the first multicenter transverse study exploring the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profile and quality of life of elderly Moroccan cancer patients

BackgroundMoroccan incidence of cancer is increasing with the lengthening of life expectancy. Data regarding elderly Moroccan cancer patients are lacking. In the context of our project aiming to develop an adapted version of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment CGA to the Moroccan population, we launched the first Moroccan multicenter transverse study to explore the characteristics of elderly Moroccan cancer patients.MethodsThe study was conducted in nine Moroccan medical oncology departments. Patients were enrolled over 4 months. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 65 years or over with verified solid cancer. The questionnaire included four sections: socio-demographic and economic data, clinical data, vulnerability and EORTC-QLQ C30. We explored the entire included population. Then, we compared the results according to age (65–70 years old and ≥ 71 years old) and sex. We also explored the correlation between G8 scores and the ability to practice religion as an indicator of fitness level.ResultsIn total, 164 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 73.18 ± 6.01 years. The majority of patients were married, lived with their children and received their financial income from them. Fifteen percent of families asked to hide the diagnosis from the patient. Breast (23%), colorectal (15.9%) and lung (14%) cancers were the most frequent, and 83.5% had an abnormal G8. The majority of the patients were independent for basic daily activities. Female patients had poorer social and economic conditions. Abnormal G8 was correlated with religious practice and quality of life scores.ConclusionThis is the first multicenter prospective study designed to collect data on the lifestyle and clinical profiles of elderly Moroccan cancer patients as an Arab and Muslim population. Our study shows that it is a well-cared-for population with strong social ties. However, there is deep economic vulnerability, especially among women, requiring urgent care. Religious practice is an important daily activity for our elderly patients and should be included in the Moroccan CGA.

Social relationships among adult male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii): variation in the strength and quality of social bonds

Socioecological environments that promote frequent interaction and social tolerance have favored the evolution of strong and equitable social bonds, which facilitate cooperation and confer fitness benefits. In most species, kinship is the primary predictor of bond strength and quality, but it does not adequately explain partner choice among adult male chimpanzees. Instead, most bonds and cooperative interactions occur among unrelated individuals, likely because of a lack of brothers among available partners. To identify what factors drive partner choice when kinship does not, we investigated the strength and quality of social bonds among adult male chimpanzees (N = 26) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Maternal brothers, when present, formed stronger bonds than other dyads, and maternal brothers who were close in age or rank formed the strongest bonds. Among dyads that were not maternal brothers, however, the strength of social bonds was not associated with either age difference or rank difference. Additionally, dyads with stronger bonds groomed more equitably than other dyads, as did maternal brothers and dyads close in rank. Bonds were stable, community-wide, for 2 years on average, while lasting up to 13 years. Overall, there remains no clear-cut explanation for partner choice among male chimpanzees. Demographic constraints limit the impact of kinship, and the effects of age and rank difference are small or nonexistent, suggesting that bond strength results from a more complex process than a simple accounting of basic characteristics. Instead, dyads may possess some distinct quality that engenders strength and stability, such as compatible personalities. Strong social ties are associated with increased fitness in several species, including humans, baboons, feral horses, and dolphins. Although close kin typically form the strongest bonds, kinship explains only a limited number of bonds (and associated cooperation) among adult male chimpanzees. To identify what factors influence partner choice when kinship does not, we examined social bonds among adult male chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Males formed strong, stable bonds and groomed more equitably with strong bond partners. Nevertheless, kinship, age difference, and rank difference did not fully explain male partner choice. These results contrast with findings in other species, where stronger and more equitable bonds are typically formed by kin as well as those that are close in age and rank. Instead, male chimpanzee dyads may possess some distinct quality that promotes strength and stability, such as compatible personalities.