Search

Predation threat is a major driver of behavior in many prey species. Animals can recognize their relative risk of predation based on cues in the environment, including visual and/or chemical cues released by a predator or from its prey. When threat of predation is high, prey often respond by altering their behavior to reduce their probability of detection and/or capture. Here, we test how a clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), behaviorally responds to predation cues. We measured aggressive and social behaviors both under 'risk', where chemical cues from predatory fish and injured conspecifics were present, and control contexts (no risk cues present). We predicted that mollies would exhibit reduced aggression towards a simulated intruder and increased sociability under risk contexts as aggression might increase their visibility to a predator and shoaling should decrease their chance of capture through the dilution effect. As predicted, we found that Amazon mollies spent more time with a conspecific when risk cues were present, however they did not reduce their aggression. This highlights the general result of the 'safety in numbers' behavioral response that many small shoaling species exhibit, including these clonal fish, which suggests that mollies may view this response as a more effective anti-predator response compared to limiting their detectability by reducing aggressive conspecific interactions.

Instant messaging (IM) platforms are believed to foster intimate and controlled conversations within small groups and hence provide safe social settings for political conversations, and yet we know little about how political talk emerges from the everyday social interactions in these environments. To fill the gap, this study examines how sociability within small, private WhatsApp groups shapes the extent and forms of political talk among young adults. Relying on in-depth interviews conducted in the Netherlands, we find that young people perceive politics as personal, offensive, divisive, and depressing, hence unsafe for WhatsApp groups where they find comfort in communicating care and phatic exchanges. Nonetheless, rules, relationship qualities, and strategies enacted in these groups allow some political talk to become temporarily possible. However, they perceive that what makes political talk safer also makes it unproductive. Our findings thus contribute to a finer-grained understanding of political talk in the closed digital spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has lacked a comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of characteristics of solitude and sociability, and how they are associated with changes in psychosocial adjustment before and during the pandemic. The current study surveyed 1071 adolescents (Mage = 10.6, SD = 1.69, 49.86% female, age range = 8–14 years at Year 1) over six years (three years before pandemic, three years during pandemic). Piecewise linear mixed-effects analysis showed that adolescents with higher solitude and lower sociability reported improvements in adjustment during the pandemic, whereas adolescents with lower solitude and higher sociability reported declines in adjustment. The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple characteristics of solitude and sociability, as well as contextual factors (e.g., pandemic), to better understand the implications of solitude on adolescent adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have focused on children's friendship relationships more than antipathy (disliking) relationships. The present one-year longitudinal research examined the relation of different forms of antipathy nominations (Mutual, Unilateral Given, Unilateral Received) to children's social competence (self-reports of loneliness and peer optimism, classroom peer nominations for sociability behaviors) for 121 third and fourth graders (fourth and fifth graders in Year 2). From path analyses, the pattern between forms of antipathy relationships to the measures of social competence was identical for concurrent findings at Time 1 and between forms of antipathy relationships and the measures of social competence one year later. Higher numbers of Mutual Antipathies and higher numbers of Unilateral Received Antipathies were related to greater loneliness and fewer peer nominations for sociability behaviors. In addition, higher numbers of Unilateral Received Antipathies were related to less peer optimism. Interestingly, numbers of Unilateral Given Antipathies were not significantly related to any of the social competence measures at Time 1 or one year later. These findings suggest that dislike relationships, whether mutual or unilateral received, may have important negative associations for children's concurrent and later social competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, hegemonic leisure concepts, practices, and spaces have been conceived and imposed upon society, even in the face of agency and resistance. In this context, this study sought to analyse leisure practices in a disadvantaged community in the Brazilian Amazon. From an ethnographic perspective, informal conversations, participant observation, and interviews were conducted. The results revealed that although the community reproduces hegemonic understandings, it has practices and spaces of entertainment, including conversations, rock doido [crazy rock], jogo do bicho [the animal game], and outings. These are characterized by unique dynamics that enable residents to exist and resist daily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposing a model through which to document Romantic translation that is focused on recovering the translators who organised its processes, the present article coordinates two recently prominent concepts; that is, sociability and performativity. It argues that these two terms should be studied in tandem, and that they require close attention to concrete material and technological practices and contexts of mediation in order to become fully tractable. The German-English historical novel Walladmor (1823–1824) is examined as a case study to demonstrate the potential of this article's proposals for reading Romantic translation. This text initially appears as a pseudotranslation, and is such a key example of that mode that it was the first pseudotranslation to be branded as such; however, it soon morphs into a pseudo-backtranslation upon its translation into its pseudo-original language, revealing layers of performativity and sociability in this involuted interlinguistic movement. Building on this case, the article offers a detailed discussion of sociability and performativity in Romantic contexts and beyond, showing that the presumption all Romantic translation is service translation ignores its potential as a wellspring of creativity and freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tourist-to-tourist interaction (TTI) has been identified as an essential element in tourist experiences, the effect of TTI quality on tourist loyalty, and the mechanism underlying this effect is scarcely discussed in the literature. Based on the self-determination theory, this study aims to examine whether and how TTI quality influences tourist loyalty, representing a significant means to achieve destination sustainability. More specifically, this study tested a moderated mediation model in which basic psychological needs satisfaction mediated the relationship between TTI quality and tourist loyalty, while sociability moderated the link between TTI quality and basic psychological needs satisfaction. A survey research approach was used, and 746 complete, usable responses were collected in multiple cities in China. The results revealed that the direct impact of TTI quality on tourist loyalty is mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction. Furthermore, sociability positively moderates the influence of TTI quality on tourist loyalty. This study extends the TTI literature by demonstrating the mechanism of basic psychological needs satisfaction and tourists' sociability in the relationship between TTI quality and tourist loyalty. Managerial suggestions are provided for industry practitioners to improve tourist relationship management and the sustainability of destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal personalities are characterized by intra‐individual consistency and consistent inter‐individual variability in behaviour across time and contexts. Personalities abound in animals, ranging from sea anemones to insects, arachnids, birds, fish and primates, yet the pathways mediating personality formation and expression remain elusive. Social conditions during the early postnatal period are known determinants of mean behavioural trait expressions later in life, but their relevance in shaping personality trajectories is unknown. Here, we investigated the consequences of early social isolation on adult personality expression in plant‐inhabiting predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis. These mites are adapted to live in groups. We hypothesized that transient experience of social isolation early in life, that is, deprivation of any social contact during a sensitive window in the post‐hatching phase, has enduring adverse effects on adult personality expression. Newly hatched mites were transiently reared in isolation or in groups and tested as adults for repeatability of various within‐group behaviours, such as movement patterns and mutual interactions including sociability, defined as the propensity to associate and interact benignly with conspecifics, and activity patterns when alone. Groups composed of individuals with the same or different early‐life experiences were repeatedly videotaped and individual behaviours were automatically analysed using AnimalTA. Social experiences early in life had persistent effects on mean behavioural traits as well as adult personality expression, as measured by intraclass correlation coefficients (indicating repeatability). On average, isolation‐reared females moved at higher speeds, meandered less, kept greater distances from others and had fewer immediate neighbours than group‐reared females. Group‐reared females were highly repeatable in inter‐individual distance, moving speed, meandering and area explored, whereas isolation‐reared females were repeatable only in the number of immediate neighbours. Activity, quantified as the proportion of time spent moving within groups, was only repeatable in group‐reared females, whereas activity, quantified as the proportion of time spent moving when alone, was only repeatable in females reared in isolation. Strikingly, also the early‐life experiences of male mates influenced personality expression of mated females, with isolation‐reared males boosting the repeatability of behavioural traits of group‐reared females. Overall, our study provides evidence that a transient phase of social isolation during a critical period early in life has lasting effects that extend into adulthood, impairing adult personality expression. These effects should cascade upward, changing the phenotypic composition and diversity within populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is evidence that suggests that affective dimensions, personality traits, as well as students' cooperative interpersonal interactions, are an important element in the students learning process. In this work we propose a theoretical model, based on evidence, that shows the direct and indirect relationships between these factors and academic performance in mathematics courses, in undergraduate and school students. Methods: To understand the type of relationships between these variables, the PANAS psychometric test of positive and negative affect, the BIG FIVE personality test and the economic decision game DUPLES GAME were applied. The study sample was 130 students between 17 and 22 years of age from undergraduate and school (M ± SD = 20.1 ± 3.99). Results: From a path analysis, statistically significant relationships were found, for example, a direct relationship between neuroticism and positive affect, which in turn is related to academic performance. We also found a direct relationship between neuroticism and negative affect, extraversion and positive affect. This allows us to propose that some of the independent variables of the model directly and indirectly influence the academic performance of students in the subject of mathematics. Conclusion: Positive affect and negative affect directly affect academic performance in mathematics, neuroticism has a direct impact on negative affect and extraversion direct impact on positive affect. Consequently, there are direct and indirect relationships between personality traits and affective dimensions, which affect the academic performance of mathematics students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile sensing-based depression severity assessment could complement the subjective questionnaires-based assessment currently used in practice. However, previous studies on mobile sensing for depression severity assessment were conducted on homogeneous mental health condition participants; evaluation of possible generalization across heterogeneous groups has been limited. Similarly, previous studies have not investigated the potential of free-living audio data for depression severity assessment. Audio recordings from free-living could provide rich sociability features to characterize depressive states. We conducted a study with 11 healthy individuals, 13 individuals with major depressive disorder, and eight individuals with schizoaffective disorders. Communication logs and location data from the participants' smartphones and continuous audio recordings of free-living from a wearable audioband were obtained over a week for each participant. The depression severity prediction model trained using communication log and location data features had a root mean squared error (rmse) of 6.80. Audio-based sociability features further reduced the rmse to 6.07 (normalized rmse of 0.22). Audio-based sociability features also improved the F1 score in the five-class depression category classification model from 0.34 to 0.46. Thus, free-living audio-based sociability features complement the commonly used mobile sensing features to improve depression severity assessment. The prediction results obtained with mobile sensing-based features are better than the rmse of 9.83 (normalized rmse of 0.36) and the F1 score of 0.25 obtained with a baseline model. Additionally, the predicted depression severity had a significant correlation with reported depression severity (correlation coefficient of 0.76, p < 0.001). Thus, our work shows that mobile sensing could model depression severity across participants with heterogeneous mental health conditions, potentially offering a screening tool for depressive symptoms monitoring in the broader population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioural traits are key to promote invasion success because they are easier to adjust to changing environmental conditions than morphological or life history traits. Often, research has overlooked variance in behavioural traits within populations or has assumed it to be mere noise. However, a recent focus towards individual variation of behaviour of successful invaders has revealed new and more profound insights into the invasion process. Behavioural variation within a population could lead to more successful invasions, as they include individuals with diverse behaviours, which ensures at least some individuals could be able to cope with changing conditions. The aim of this research was to examine if invasive guppies (Poecilia reticulata) present within‐population differences in their sociability (time spent associating with a shoal) when interacting with conspecifics or heterospecifics. Guppies presented significant differences in their individual tendencies to associate with conspecific or heterospecific shoals. There were among‐individual differences in the time spent shoaling with conspecifics versus heterospecifics, where most individuals did not differ in their sociability with conspecifics or heterospecifics, and only 22% of individuals presented a higher tendency to associate with conspecifics. Our results are the first to show individual differences in fish' tendencies to associate with heterospecifics among individuals of the same population and rearing conditions. Given that associations with heterospecific natives have been found to be as beneficial as associations with conspecifics for invaders, our results contribute to the understanding of mechanisms behind heterospecific sociability between natives and invaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphisms in the gene encoding for metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGlu 3) are associated with an increased likelihood of schizophrenia diagnosis and can predict improvements in negative symptoms following treatment with antipsychotics. However, the mechanisms by which mGlu 3 can regulate brain circuits involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology are not clear. We employed selective pharmacological tools and a variety of approaches including whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, slice optogenetics, and fiber photometry to investigate the effects of mGlu 3 activation on phencyclidine (PCP)-induced impairments in thalamo-accumbal transmission and sociability deficits. A chemogenetic approach was used to evaluate the role of thalamo-accumbal transmission in PCP-induced sociability deficits. We first established that PCP treatment augmented excitatory transmission onto dopamine D 1 receptor–expressing medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and induced sociability deficits. Our studies revealed a selective increase in glutamatergic synaptic transmission from thalamic afferents to D1-MSNs in the NAc shell. Chemogenetic silencing of thalamo-accumbal inputs rescued PCP-induced sociability deficits. Pharmacological activation of mGlu 3 normalized PCP-induced impairments in thalamo-accumbal transmission and sociability deficits. Mechanistic studies revealed that mGlu 3 activation induced robust long-term depression at synapses from the thalamic projections onto D1-MSNs in the NAc shell. These data demonstrate that activation of mGlu 3 decreases thalamo-accumbal transmission and thereby rescues sociability deficits in mouse modeling schizophrenia-like symptoms. These findings provide novel insights into the NAc-specific mechanisms and suggest that agents modulating glutamatergic signaling in the NAc may provide a promising approach for treating negative symptoms in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Play is thought to serve different purposes at different times during ontogeny. The nature and frequency of play are expected to change accordingly over the developmental trajectory and with socio-ecological context. Orangutans offer the opportunity to disentangle the ontogenetic trajectories of solitary and social play with their extended immature phase, and socio-ecological variation among populations and species. We evaluated the frequency of play in 39 immature individuals across two populations (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii, at Tuanan, Borneo, and P. abelii at Suaq, Sumatra), age (0–11 years), sex, and social context, using more than 11 500 h of full-day focal observation data. We found independent age trajectories of different play types, with solitary object and solitary locomotor peaking before social play. Social play partners changed during ontogeny, and male immatures were more likely to engage in non-mother social play than females. Overall, social play was more frequent at Suaq than Tuanan, linked to the more frequent availability of partners. Furthermore, per time in association with conspecifics, Tuanan immatures were as likely to engage in social play as their peers at Suaq, suggesting similar intrinsic motivation. Increasing fruit availability correlated with both longer associations and increased social play frequency in the less sociable population of Tuanan, but not at Suaq. Our findings on orangutans support evidence from other species that different play types follow different developmental trajectories, vary with sex, social opportunities, and ecological context. Although drawing functional inferences is challenging, the distinct developmental trajectories reflecting adult sociability and behavioral repertoires may indicate that play serves several, non-mutually exclusive functions during ontogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios sobre Cuerpos, Emociones y Sociedad is the property of Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios sobre Cuerpos, Emociones y Sociedad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to model a pathway using affective variables to predict academic achievement in mathematics among students. Causal--comparative research design with a total of 739 students were used for the study. Multivariate statistical techniques- multiple regression and path analysis procedures were used for data analysis. The result showed that all the variables combined had a strong effect in predicting achievement in mathematics. The result indicated that the most meaningful causal model had thirteen significant pathways and that 68.22% of the total effect of the affective variables in predicting achievement in mathematics were direct while 31.69% were indirect. It was also revealed that all the six affective variables directly impacted students 'achievement in mathematics. Learners' sociability and academic optimism were found to contribute most significantly to the prediction of students' achievement in mathematics. The implications of the study were discussed, and policy suggestions made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to study the neighborhood social cohesion of the inhabitants of the Metropolitan Area of Santiago, Chile (MAS), considering its recent urban transformations driven by neoliberal urban policies. Using multilevel logistic regressions based on a survey of 401 inhabitants, we identify a symbolic cohesion among residents with higher incomes, which combines a high sense of belonging with low neighborhood sociability, and a relational cohesion among the vulnerable population, based on a stronger neighborhood sociability and a low sense of belonging. These results show an influence of the geographical divide between high and low income inhabitants, accentuated by the socio-spatial segregation of the metropolis in the past decades, in addition to identifying a certain relationship between neighborhood cohesion and two of its major neoliberal trends of urban growth: the densification of its center and the development of peripheral social housing. We argue that a deeper understanding of the distinction between relational and symbolic forms of neighborhood social cohesion is relevant because, as well as allowing us to analyze the MAS case by addressing its current complexity, it provides an opportunity to discuss the way in which the concept is defined and conceived in recent literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delved into the sensory experiences of autistic adults, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in British Columbia, Canada. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed how unusual perceptual sensitivities impact the emotional well-being of autistic people, complicating their social interactions and relationships and contributing to social isolation. However, autistic individuals adopt diverse sensory and social coping strategies, and constantly adapt their previous sensory and social experiences to particular social and physical environments. This enables them to deal with their sensory challenges while interacting and socializing with others and engaging in social relationships. These ongoing adaptative processes also produce distinctive sociability patterns and perceptions among autistic people, reflecting both the stress associated with social interaction and the intense desire for it. Accordingly, this study highlighted the need for greater awareness of sensory phenomena and of social and physical environments to understand the daily and life experiences of autistics individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scototaxis test is an anxiety-like test used by behavioural neuroscientists consisting in the assessment of dark/light preference of laboratory animals. This test has been widely used in fish. Most of the species have been shown to express a preference for the dark environment. However, the majority of the investigated species has a dark body colour, thus making a clear contrast with a white/bright background. Also, while in nature fish tend to be highly social, studies in the scototaxis literature tested single fish. Yet, individual vs. group behaviour might interact with scototaxis response. In experiment 1, we assessed the individual response to test the hypothesis that the different colours of the body might modulate the dark/light preference. We found that species with a dark body colour (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) and a largely transparent body colour (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) strongly preferred the darker environment. Instead, the preference for darkness of a species with a luminescent part of the body (Paracheirodon axelrodi) was less pronounced. Lastly, a species with a white body colour (Corydoras albini) did not prefer either a bright or a dark sector. In experiment 2, we explored the behaviour of these species when inserted in shoals of 20 individuals in the experimental apparatus. While H. megalopterus and K. bichirrhis confirmed their robust preference for darker environments, the other two species changed their preference. Taken together, these results suggest that scototaxis response is context-dependent, as it appears to be modulated by the body colour and the presence/absence of other conspecifics in the surrounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial explores the concept of intersectionality as a tool to understand inequalities in social and economic life. It emphasizes the need for further research on intersectional inequalities in the context of work and employment. The editorial introduces five papers, including one titled "It made me feel like a shit parent: an intersectional analysis of pandemic mothering" by Thorpe et al. This paper examines the experiences of Māori, Pacific, Asian, and migrant mothers in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that these mothers faced challenges based on their diverse backgrounds, which were sometimes worsened by isolation, judgment, and discrimination. The paper highlights the importance of intersectional and gender-responsive policies to address the complex issues faced by mothers. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we examined cross‐cultural differences in sociability, a core personality facet of the higher order extraversion trait, which has been reported at lower levels in Eastern versus Western cultures several decades ago. Up until now, however, East–West cultural comparisons on the Western‐defined construct of sociability have been limited, despite the extensive research published on extraversion indicating that this personality dimension is globally relevant across cultures. Following current practices, we first assessed for measurement invariance (MI) on the Cheek and Buss sociability scale between Chinese (n = 816, 47.2% male, M = 18.51 years, SD = 1.26 years) and Canadian (n = 995, 30.8% male, M = 19.62 years, SD = 1.25 years) young adult samples to ensure any comparisons would be valid and meaningful. Results from a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (exact invariance) showed that there was measurement non‐invariance at the scalar level in the sociability construct across country and country by sex, and the newer alignment method (approximate invariance) confirmed these results, suggesting that mean level comparisons of sociability were biased and noninformative. Our findings indicated that although a few of the higher‐level personality dimensions such as extraversion are considered universal, the facets underlying their meaning, like sociability, are not as clearly delineated between cultures. Alongside the present‐day pursuit of understanding personality across cultures through an indigenous measurement lens in tandem with the notion of universality, researchers should also consider narrowing their focus onto lower‐level facets, each of which is likely to be uniquely embedded into a cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal personalities are differences in behaviour among individuals of the same species that are consistent over time and contexts. The integration of animal personality into conservation actions is hampered by limited understanding of personality traits in non‐model organisms. We estimated repeatabilities and correlations between behaviours in Nannoperca vittata (western pygmy perch), a threatened freshwater fish species endemic to south‐western Australia, and, for comparative purposes, in Poecilia reticulata (guppy), a species frequently used in personality research. Each fish was measured four times for each of seven behavioural variables, presumed to reflect five underlying personality traits. Track length (TL) was used as a measure of activity; time spent in a risky zone (RZ) and time to emergence (ET) for boldness; latency to approach a novel object (LA) and time spent close to the object (TS) for exploration; time spent close to a mirror (CV) for sociability and number of attacks at the mirror (AT) for aggression. Four behavioural variables (TL, RZ, ET and CV) were significantly repeatable in N. vittata and also in P. reticulata. There was a lack of concordance in phenotypic and among‐individual correlations between variables in both species, emphasising the importance of partitioning trait covariances to infer behavioural syndromes. Significant among‐individual correlations were found between activity, boldness and sociability variables in N. vittata, consistent with a proactive‐reactive personality axis, but not in P. reticulata. Personality variation should be considered in conservation actions for N. vittata, particularly with respect to unintended consequences of domestication selection in captive breeding and release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a response to a symposium on Mandeville's Fable, written by Robin Douglass from King's College London. The author addresses objections raised by participants in the symposium, focusing on two main points. First, the author discusses the origins of society and moral virtue according to Mandeville, highlighting the role of laws and politics in moderating self-centered passions. Second, the author responds to criticism regarding Mandeville's use of satire and his intentions in writing. The author acknowledges the complexity of Mandeville's literary choices and suggests that his analysis can be compatible with a range of political and social perspectives. The text also explores various perspectives on Bernard Mandeville's understanding of pride and hypocrisy, addressing questions raised by other scholars. It examines the distinctions between well-regulated self-liking and pride, as well as the social consequences of displays of self-esteem. The text acknowledges that Mandeville's analysis may be overstated but argues that his theory of sociability centered around pride offers valuable insights. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the ideas of Bernard Mandeville, a social and political philosopher who is often overlooked. It focuses on his theory of sociability, which suggests that our pride drives us to associate with others and seek recognition. The article delves into the concepts of recognition and hypocrisy in Mandeville's theory, discussing their role in human sociability. It concludes by acknowledging the value of Mandeville's writings in understanding pride and honor in society, while also recognizing the potential limitations of his ideas. [Extracted from the article]

The variability in behavioural syndromes at different scale levels (e.g., within population or among species) is relevant in ecological and evolutionary patterns. It provides the basis on which natural selection can act to promote evolutionary processes. Additionally, behavioural syndromes can be seen as a form of pre-adaptation, favouring a species' ability to cope with novel selective pressures, establish in new habitats, enhancing population stability, and dealing with deseases and parasites. We assessed repeatability (two replicates for individual) for five behavioural traits (activity, boldness including components of exploration and escape, sociability, and foraging activity) and tested the occurrence of behavioural syndromes in both sexes of three taxa of lacertid lizards: two clades of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis maculiventris and P. m. nigriventris), and the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). All behavioural traits except sociability were repeatable in all the three taxa. Our findings clearly reveal the occurrence of a behavioural syndrome related to the propensity to move through and explore new enviroments, escape from predation risk, and successfully capture prey. We also provide empirical evidence for higher repeatability of behaviours in males compared to females, as well as differences in behavioural syndromes at the taxon-level. These results support the occurrence of personality in both common and Italian wall lizards, highlighting marked variability in personality across different scales. This variability could ultimately reflect the interaction between the specific needs inherent in both sexes within each species, and the environmental/competitive context in which these needs are fulfilled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research uses a qualitative, descriptive approach to understand how a group of male sex workers builds emotional ties with people outside their kinship network--family of origin/blood relatives--through their life stories. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted, yielding five life stories. It becomes evident that the relationships built with peers delimit the parameters of the subject's sociability in context. This is how affinity constitutes the axis of linkage between the subject and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay I focus on the phenomenon of 'sitting down' in Keats's letters and poems. Sitting down, in Keats's personal interactions and poetics, has a range of connotations: these range from exercising individual, focused concentration on the task ahead, to enjoying companionable, shared creativity; from maintaining a certain bedside manner, to establishing a long-distance relationship with siblings; from reluctantly resigning oneself to an invalid existence, to summoning the resourceful energy to compose poetry. For Keats, the expression of sitting down points to the required stillness for the imagination to take flight in poetry, but it also features prominently in self-portrayals throughout his correspondence. This essay demonstrates how sitting down, for Keats, is a transformative act with far more dynamic connotations than is usually assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Most research on suicide attempts among U.S. service members has been focused on risk factors that occur during service. There is an important gap in our understanding of premilitary factors, such as personality characteristics, that may be associated with future suicide attempt risk during service. Of particular importance is identifying risk factors for the 1/3 of suicide attempters who never receive a mental health diagnosis (MH-Dx)–and therefore are not identified as having a mental health problem in the military healthcare system–prior to their suicide attempt. Materials and Methods Using two components of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers, we examined the association of personality facets from the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System, a computerized instrument administered prior to entering service, with medically documented suicide attempts during service. A 2010–2016 sample of historical administrative records from U.S. Regular Army enlisted soldiers with complete data on 11 commonly administered Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System facets was examined using a series of logistic regression analyses to identify the facets associated with future suicide attempt. Significant facets were then applied to data from a longitudinal cohort study of 11,288 soldiers surveyed upon entering basic combat training and followed via administrative records for their first 48 months of service. This research was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the collaborating institutions. Results Analysis of the historical administrative data (87.0% male, 61.6% White non-Hispanic), found that low Optimism (odds ratio (OR) = 1.2 [95% CI = 1.0-1.4]) and high/low (vs. moderate) Sociability (OR = 1.3 [95%CI = 1.1-1.6]) were associated with suicide attempt after adjusting for other univariable-significant facets and socio-demographic and service-related variables. When examined in the longitudinal survey cohort, low Optimism (OR = 1.7 [95% CI = 1.1-2.4]) and high/low (vs. moderate) Sociability (OR = 1.7 [95% CI = 1.1-2.5]) were still associated with increased odds of documented suicide attempt during service, even after adjusting for each other, socio-demographic and service-related variables, and medically documented MH-Dx. Mental health diagnosis had a significant two-way interaction with Optimism (F  = 5.27, p  = 0.0236) but not Sociability. Stratified analyses indicated that low Optimism was associated with suicide attempt among soldiers without, but not among those with, a MH-Dx. Interactions of Optimism and Sociability with gender were nonsignificant. In the full model, population attributable risk proportions for Optimism and Sociability were 15.0% and 18.9%, respectively. Optimism and Sociability were differentially associated with suicide attempt risk across time in service. Conclusions Optimism and Sociability, assessed prior to entering U.S. Army service, are consistently associated with future suicide attempt during service, even after adjusting for other important risk factors. While Sociability is equally associated with suicide attempt among those with and without a MH-Dx, Optimism is specifically associated with suicide attempt among soldiers not identified in the mental healthcare system. Risk differences across time in service suggest that Optimism and Sociability interact with stressors and contextual factors in particular developmental and Army career phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public urban spaces are vital settings for fostering social interaction among people. However, understanding how spatial layouts can promote positive social behaviors remains a critical and debated challenge for urban designers and planners aiming to create socially sustainable environments. Space syntax, a well-established theory and research method, explores the influence of spatial configurations on social aspects. Despite its significant contributions, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews evaluating its effectiveness in enhancing social interaction within urban public spaces. This study aims to identify the existing scientific gaps in the domain of space syntax studies, with a primary focus on sociability in public urban spaces. Following the PRISMA framework, a thorough literature search was conducted in the Scopus database, yielding 1107 relevant articles. After applying screening and eligibility criteria, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. This review adopted a novel approach to synthesizing and analyzing the findings for identifying underexplored scientific gaps. The findings suggested a wide variety of research gaps to address, encompassing evidence, knowledge, practical, methodological, empirical, theoretical, and target populations to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge in this field. In conclusion, by exploring the interplay between space syntax and design elements such as the urban infrastructure, landscaping, and microclimate in these areas, future research can bridge this gap, particularly when considering a cross-cultural lens. This study underscores the importance of space syntax in promoting social interaction in urban public spaces, offering a robust foundation for future research and practical applications to create more socially engaging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is a growing body of evidence showing the potential of animal-assisted (AAT) therapy use with various populations, there is still a limited amount of such studies in Lithuania. This article continues the construction of the scientific discourse of animal-assisted therapy in Lithuania. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of animal-assisted therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of animal-assisted therapy not only from the therapist’s viewpoint but also from the parents’ perspective. Specific objectives included: 1) to evaluate parents’ perception of their children’s performance and satisfaction level in the areas selected by parents of self-care, productivity and leisure before and after animal-assisted therapy sessions; 2) to measure the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy sessions in language/ communication, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness, and health/behaviour perceived by the parents; 3) to evaluate and compare parents’ perceived behavioural-emotional difficulties before and after animal-assisted therapy sessions; and 4) to monitor and compare behavioural changes in children during and after animal-assisted therapy sessions .The sample consisted of nine children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The results from two measurement methods provide support for the efficacy of animal-assisted therapy. The average scores of performance and satisfaction in targeted problem areas are higher in both groups of participants after animal-assisted therapy sessions as indicated by the parents. The parents of all participants indicated lower scores in speech/language, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness and healthy/physical behaviour, which indicate fewer problems in these areas. Parents evaluate children’s aggressive behaviour and externalising problems as significantly lower after animal-assisted therapy sessions. The scores of emotional problem scales are slightly higher after therapy, but the difference is not statistically significant. Parents tend to notice changes in behavioural problems more than emotional. The behavioural changes monitored by therapists varied in each session. The monitoring of behavioural changes in each session cannot indicate stable qualitative growth or decline as the results are sensitive to the inner states of children. Change of behaviour scores in each session showed that animal-assisted therapy sessions were beneficial to older as well as to younger participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterospecific sociability could enhance invasion success in social species since social non‐natives usually belong to small founding populations during the early stages of invasion. The twospot livebearer (Pseudoxiphophorus bimaculatus) is native to Central America and southern Mexico and is recently recognised as invasive in the Mexican Central Plateau, where it poses a threat to native species. Here, we evaluated twospot livebearer sociability towards either a conspecific pair or a shoal of four fish with one of four possible compositions, all conspecifics or two conspecifics combined with either two guppies, two porthole livebearers or two twoline skiffias. In a second experiment, foraging time, latency to feed, first fish to begin foraging and aggressive interactions were recorded under the same social conditions used in the sociability experiment, with body size included as a covariate in both experiments. All focal twospot livebearers spent significantly more time with the given shoals rather than with the available space in the aquarium. They showed a higher tendency to associate with small shoals of conspecifics than with pairs. Larger twospot livebearers associated more, regardless of the social condition. Twospot livebearer fed more with porthole livebearers, less with guppies and similarly with twoline skiffias. Latency to forage did not vary significantly between social conditions. Twospot livebearers were involved in more aggressive interactions when with guppies or porthole livebearers than when with native twoline skiffias or conspecifics. Twospot livebearers could gain benefits from associating with natives and conspecifics, but not with other invasive poeciliids. Heterospecific shoaling behaviour with natives may enhance invasion success during early stages when conspecifics are scarce while associating with other invasive poeciliids could lead to increased competition. Further research is needed on heterospecific interactions of non‐natives to better understand their behavioural role in invasion likelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a contribution to ongoing discussions about the implications of social presence for online instruction technology, this study evaluated the reliability and validity of a composite social presence construct in online computer science programmes using archival data from the Computing Research Association's (CRA) Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) Data Buddies Survey. Questions from the survey were aligned to three interdependent subconstructs of social presence proposed by Kreijns et al (2021). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationships between the subconstructs. Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate the internal consistency and reliability of the subconstructs of social presence, sociability, and social space, as well as the composite construct of social presence. The findings indicate that the social presence construct and its subconstructs are internally consistent and highly reliable, aligned with the CERP survey. Results indicated that the subconstructs are interrelated indicators of the perception of social presence in online computer science programmes. This study contributes to the literature concerning measuring social presence in online learning by providing a reliable and valid construct that can be used to assess the construct using different permutations of analysis on the CERP dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, more and more firm chief executive officers (CEOs) are using social media to join online conversations and interact with stakeholders. As this social media presence shows their social participation tendencies, such CEOs have been described as 'social CEOs'. Building on an upper‐echelon perspective of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this study examines whether social CEOs and the implications of their social media engagement have an impact on corporate social performance by developing a needs–affordances–consequences approach. Our approach explores the motives and ability of social CEOs, suggesting the positive influence of CEO sociability on CSR and also the moderating effect of CEOs' social evaluation. Using data on Chinese publicly listed firms from 2009 to 2020, we find that firms with social CEOs have a higher level of social performance than firms without, and higher CEO status or better CEO reputation can further amplify the positive impact of CEO sociability on corporate social performance. This work makes important contributions to research on the determinants of CSR, as well as the social media and leadership literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory alteration of the feature of gut microbiota is one of causative factors for depressive disorders. Here, we examined whether ingestion of magnesium-rich (212 ppm) mineral hard water (mineral water), which prevents gut inflammation, had prophylactic effect on development of depressive-like phenotypes in 10-days social defeat stress (SDS)-subjected C57BL/6J mice. SDS-susceptible mice with social disability exhibited increased body weight gain, and ingestion of mineral water ameliorated the increased body weight gain without any effects on daily food consumption or water intake. Relative abundance of Bacteroides spp. in colonic microbiota was decreased in water- and mineral water-ingesting SDS-susceptible mice, the level of reduction in the former being greater than in the latter, and was correlated inversely with body weight gain, and positively with sociability of mice. Overall, it is suggested that ad libitum magnesium-rich mineral water ingestion ameliorates development of psychosocial stress-induced depressive-like phenotypes partially via preventing decrease of colonic Bacteroides spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-weaning social isolation (SI) reduces sociability, gene expressions including myelin genes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and alters microbiome compositions in rodent models. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) and its major ginsenoside Rb1 have been reported to affect myelin formation and gut metabolites. However, their effects under post-weaning SI have not been investigated. This study investigated the effects of KRG and Rb1 on sociability, gene expressions in the mPFC, and gut metabolites under post-weaning SI. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered with water or KRG (150, 400 mg/kg) or Rb1 (0.1 mg/kg) under SI or regular environment (RE) for 2 weeks during the post-weaning period (P21–P35). After this period, mice underwent a sociability test, and then brains and ceca were collected for qPCR/immunohistochemistry and non-targeted metabolomics, respectively. Results: SI reduced sociability compared to RE; however, KRG (400 mg/kg) and Rb1 significantly restored sociability under SI. In the mPFC, expressions of genes related to myelin, neurotransmitter, and oxidative stress were significantly reduced in mice under SI compared to RE conditions. Under SI, KRG and Rb1 recovered the altered expressions of several genes in the mPFC. In gut metabolomics, 313 metabolites were identified as significant among 3027 detected metabolites. Among the significantly changed metabolites in SI, some were recovered by KRG or Rb1, including metabolites related to stress axis, inflammation, and DNA damage. Conclusion: Altered sociability, gene expression levels in the mPFC, and gut metabolites induced by two weeks of post-weaning SI were at least partially recovered by KRG and Rb1.

Abstract Mobile sensing-based depression severity assessment could complement the subjective questionnaires-based assessment currently used in practice. However, previous studies on mobile sensing for depression severity assessment were conducted on homogeneous mental health condition participants; evaluation of possible generalization across heterogeneous groups has been limited. Similarly, previous studies have not investigated the potential of free-living audio data for depression severity assessment. Audio recordings from free-living could provide rich sociability features to characterize depressive states. We conducted a study with 11 healthy individuals, 13 individuals with major depressive disorder, and eight individuals with schizoaffective disorders. Communication logs and location data from the participants’ smartphones and continuous audio recordings of free-living from a wearable audioband were obtained over a week for each participant. The depression severity prediction model trained using communication log and location data features had a root mean squared error (rmse) of 6.80. Audio-based sociability features further reduced the rmse to 6.07 (normalized rmse of 0.22). Audio-based sociability features also improved the F1 score in the five-class depression category classification model from 0.34 to 0.46. Thus, free-living audio-based sociability features complement the commonly used mobile sensing features to improve depression severity assessment. The prediction results obtained with mobile sensing-based features are better than the rmse of 9.83 (normalized rmse of 0.36) and the F1 score of 0.25 obtained with a baseline model. Additionally, the predicted depression severity had a significant correlation with reported depression severity (correlation coefficient of 0.76, $$p

During Australia's “White Australia” policy (1901-1973), Chinese women in Sydney defied limitations through voluntary work. Starting with social clubs and local relief funds, their efforts culminated in the 1954 Chinese Women's Association of Australia (CWAA). This study explores how these women navigated inclusion and exclusion by leveraging their voluntary efforts. Fundraising, cultural events, and community activities became platforms for them to express their evolving identities and reshape social dynamics. The paper argues that cultural practices empowered women-led Chinese voluntary organizations in the diaspora. It introduces the concept of a “cosmopolitan minority,” where “Chineseness” is performed identities transcending race or ethnicity alone. Cosmopolitan life allowed these women to leverage intercultural understanding for navigating their complex situation and fostering resilience. Through collaboration and community building, they strategically performed their heritage, ultimately shaping associations and spaces to assert agency and define their ideal lives within the diaspora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How animals move and associate with conspecifics is rarely random, with a population's spatial structure forming the foundation on which the social behaviours of individuals form. Studies examining the spatial–social interface typically measure averaged behavioural differences between individuals; however, this neglects the inherent variation present within individuals and how it may impact the spatial–social interface. Here, we investigated differences in among-individual (co)variance in sociability, activity and site fidelity in a population of wild estuarine crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, across a 10-year period. By monitoring 118 crocodiles using coded acoustic transmitters and an array of fixed underwater receivers, we discovered that not only did individual crocodiles repeatably differ (among-individual variation) in each behaviour measured but also in how consistently they expressed these behaviours through time (within-individual variation). As expected, crocodile activity and sociability formed a behavioural syndrome, with more active individuals being less sociable. Interestingly, we also found that individuals that were either more sociable or displayed greater site fidelity were also more specialized (lower within-individual variation) in these behaviours. Together, our results provide important empirical evidence for the interplay between spatial, temporal and social individual-level behavioural variation and how these contribute to forming behavioural niches. This article is part of the theme issue 'The spatial–social interface: a theoretical and empirical integration'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the convergence of virtual reality (VR), metaverses and immersive advertising (IP), employing discourse analysis, case studies and a documentary review to generate a taxonomy. It elucidates the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in advertising today, with a particular focus on metaverses. It also highlights how new generations are adopting immersive narratives and how transmedia advertising and advertainment are effective. It is proposed that IP can enhance transmedia strategies, with particular emphasis on the immersion afforded by VR, the sociability of metaverses, and the advantages of engagement and personalisation. However, technical obstacles such as ergonomics and market fragmentation are also identified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the significance of laughter in Thomas Mann's Der Zauberberg. While laughter is a prominent feature in the novel, it has not received sufficient critical consideration either in Mann scholarship or, more generally, in studies of modernism. Through close examination of selected episodes of laughter, this study establishes the importance of laughter in the novel, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysis examines the extent to which the representation of laughter in the novel conforms to or deviates from recent characterisations of laughter in modernist texts. While certain interpretations of modernist laughter as disruptive and/or pathological can be applied to this text, this is not entirely true of its use in Der Zauberberg. Rather, the significance of laughter shifts constantly throughout the novel, culminating in a crisis of laughter that is part of a larger crisis of sociability and 'Bildung'. The novel suggests that laughter formerly played a critical role in fostering communication, sociability, self‐awareness, and civility. In contrast, the crisis of laughter towards the end of the novel invites reflection on the loss of these social and humane functions. The crisis of laughter in Der Zauberberg, I argue, is of particular relevance to the interpretation of laughter in other modernist novels which engage in critical dialogue with the 'Bildungsroman' tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains protein 3 (SHANK3) monogenic mutations or deficiency leads to excessive stereotypic behavior and impaired sociability, which frequently occur in autism cases. To date, the underlying mechanisms by which Shank3 mutation or deletion causes autism and the part of the brain in which Shank3 mutation leads to the autistic phenotypes are understudied. The hypothalamus is associated with stereotypic behavior and sociability. p38α, a mediator of inflammatory responses in the brain, has been postulated as a potential gene for certain cases of autism occurrence. However, it is unclear whether hypothalamus and p38α are involved in the development of autism caused by Shank3 mutations or deficiency. Methods Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and immunoblotting were used to assess alternated signaling pathways in the hypothalamus of Shank3 knockout (Shank3 −/− ) mice. Home-Cage real-time monitoring test was performed to record stereotypic behavior and three-chamber test was used to monitor the sociability of mice. Adeno-associated viruses 9 (AAV9) were used to express p38α in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) or agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons. D176A and F327S mutations expressed constitutively active p38α. T180A and Y182F mutations expressed inactive p38α. Results We found that Shank3 controls stereotypic behavior and sociability by regulating p38α activity in AgRP neurons. Phosphorylated p38 level in hypothalamus is significantly enhanced in Shank3 −/− mice. Consistently, overexpression of p38α in ARC or AgRP neurons elicits excessive stereotypic behavior and impairs sociability in wild-type (WT) mice. Notably, activated p38α in AgRP neurons increases stereotypic behavior and impairs sociability. Conversely, inactivated p38α in AgRP neurons significantly ameliorates autistic behaviors of Shank3 −/− mice. In contrast, activated p38α in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons does not affect stereotypic behavior and sociability in mice. Limitations We demonstrated that SHANK3 regulates the phosphorylated p38 level in the hypothalamus and inactivated p38α in AgRP neurons significantly ameliorates autistic behaviors of Shank3 −/− mice. However, we did not clarify the biochemical mechanism of SHANK3 inhibiting p38α in AgRP neurons. Conclusions These results demonstrate that the Shank3 deficiency caused autistic-like behaviors by activating p38α signaling in AgRP neurons, suggesting that p38α signaling in AgRP neurons is a potential therapeutic target for Shank3 mutant-related autism.

ABSTRACT Group‐living in animals comes with a number of benefits associated with predator avoidance, foraging, and reproduction. A large proportion of fish species display grouping behaviour. Fish may also be particularly vulnerable to climate‐related stressors including thermal variation, hypoxia, and acidification. As climate‐related stressors are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency, any effects on fish behaviour may be increased and affect the ability of fish species to cope with changing conditions. Here we conduct a systematic review of the effects of temperature, hypoxia, and acidification on individual sociability and group cohesion in shoaling and schooling fishes. Searches of the published and grey literature were carried out, and studies were included or excluded based on selection criteria. Data from studies were then included in a meta‐analysis to examine broad patterns of effects of climate‐related stressors in the literature. Evidence was found for a reduction in group cohesion at low oxygen levels, which was stronger in smaller groups. While several studies reported effects of temperature and acidification, there was no consistent effect of either stressor on sociability or cohesion. There was some evidence that marine fishes are more strongly negatively affected by acidification compared with freshwater species, but results are similarly inconsistent and more studies are required. Additional studies of two or more stressors in combination are also needed, although one study found reduced sociability following exposure to acidification and high temperatures. Overall, there is some evidence that hypoxia, and potentially other climate‐related environmental changes, impact sociability and group cohesion in fishes. This may reduce survival and adaptability in shoaling and schooling species and have further ecological implications for aquatic systems. However, this synthesis mainly highlights the need for more empirical studies examining the effects of climate‐related factors on social behaviour in fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with higher incidence in males and is characterized by atypical verbal/nonverbal communication, restricted interests that can be accompanied by repetitive behavior, and disturbances in social behavior. This study investigated brain mechanisms that contribute to sociability deficits and sex differences in an ASD animal model. Methods: Sociability was measured in C58/J and C57BL/6J mice using the 3-chamber social choice test. Bulk RNA-Seq and snRNA-Seq identified transcriptional changes in C58/J and C57BL/6J amygdala within which DMRseq was used to measure differentially methylated regions in amygdala. Results: C58/J mice displayed divergent social strata in the 3-chamber test. Transcriptional and pathway signatures revealed immune-related biological processes differ between C58/J and C57BL/6J amygdala. Hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes were identified in C58/J versus C57BL/6J amygdala. snRNA-Seq data in C58/J amygdala identified differential transcriptional signatures within oligodendrocytes and microglia characterized by increased ASD risk gene expression and predicted impaired myelination that was dependent on sex and sociability. RNA velocity, gene regulatory network, and cell communication analysis showed diminished oligodendrocyte/microglia differentiation. Findings were verified using Bulk RNA-Seq and demonstrated oxytocin's beneficial effects on myelin gene expression. Limitations: Our findings are significant. However, limitations can be noted. The cellular mechanisms linking reduced oligodendrocyte differentiation and reduced myelination to an ASD phenotype in C58/J mice need further investigation. Additional snRNA-Seq and spatial studies would determine if effects in oligodendrocytes/microglia are unique to amygdala or if this occurs in other brain regions. Oxytocin's effects need further examination to understand its' potential as an ASD therapeutic. Conclusions: Our work demonstrates the C58/J mouse model's utility in evaluating the influence of sex and sociability on the transcriptome in concomitant brain regions involved in ASD. Our single-nucleus transcriptome analysis elucidates potential pathological roles of oligodendrocytes and microglia in ASD. This investigation provides details regarding regulatory features disrupted in these cell types, including transcriptional gene dysregulation, aberrant cell differentiation, altered gene regulatory networks, and changes to key pathways that promote microglia/oligodendrocyte differentiation. Our studies provide insight into interactions between genetic risk and epigenetic processes associated with divergent affiliative behavior and lack of positive sociability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]