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Topic Review
Social Bonding and Nurture Kinship
Social Bonding and Nurture Kinship: Compatibility between Cultural and Biological Approaches is a book on human kinship and social behavior by Maximilian Holland, published in 2012. The work synthesizes the perspectives of evolutionary biology, psychology and sociocultural anthropology towards understanding human social bonding and cooperative behavior. It presents a theoretical treatment that many consider to have resolved longstanding questions about the proper place of genetic (or 'blood') connections in human kinship and social relations, and a synthesis that "should inspire more nuanced ventures in applying Darwinian approaches to sociocultural anthropology". The book has been called "A landmark in the field of evolutionary biology" which "gets to the heart of the matter concerning the contentious relationship between kinship categories, genetic relatedness and the prediction of behavior", "places genetic determinism in the correct perspective" and serves as "a shining example of what can be achieved when excellent scholars engage fully across disciplinary boundaries." The aim of the book is to show that "properly interpreted, cultural anthropology approaches (and ethnographic data) and biological approaches are perfectly compatible regarding processes of social bonding in humans." Holland's position is based on demonstrating that the dominant biological theory of social behavior (inclusive fitness theory) is typically misunderstood to predict that genetic ties are necessary for the expression of social behaviors, whereas in fact the theory only implicates genetic associations as necessary for the evolution of social behaviors. Whilst rigorous evolutionary biologists have long understood the distinction between these levels of analysis (see Tinbergen's four questions), past attempts to apply inclusive fitness theory to humans have often overlooked the distinction between evolution and expression. Beyond its central argument, the broader philosophical implications of Holland's work are considered by commentators to be that it both "helps to untangle a long-standing disciplinary muddle" and "clarifies the relationship between biological and sociocultural approaches to human kinship." It is claimed that the book "demonstrates that an alternative non-deterministic interpretation of evolutionary biology is more compatible with actual human social behavior and with the frameworks that sociocultural anthropology employs" and as a consequence, delivers "a convincing, solid and informed blow to the residual genetic determinism that still influences the interpretation of social behaviour."
  • 489
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Heterosociality
Heterosociality refers to the tendency for individuals to form social bonds and affiliations primarily with others of the opposite gender. This phenomenon is characterized by the preference for cross-gender relationships in social interaction, affiliation, and bonding, often resulting in the formation of mixed-gender social networks and communities. 
  • 487
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Older Adults COVID-19 Social Isolation
Risk of COVID-19 exposure and more severe illness are serious concerns for older adults. Social distancing has worsened existing social isolation, with severe impacts on connectedness among seniors. The pandemic is threatening to cause an extended health crisis, with impacts including serious health consequences. The pandemic has worsened social isolation among older adults. Social isolation has become urgent, as seniors have lost their usual connections due to social distancing. While safety measures are critical to prevent virus exposure, this approach must be balanced with maintaining social connectedness. The pandemic highlights the importance of social connections, with significant impacts on both community-living older adults and those in nursing facilities.
  • 486
  • 03 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Homosociality
Homosociality refers to the tendency for individuals to form social bonds and affiliations primarily with others of the same gender. This phenomenon is characterized by the preference for same-gender relationships in social interaction, affiliation, and bonding, often resulting in the formation of gender-segregated social networks and communities. Homosociality plays a significant role in shaping interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and socialization processes within various contexts, including workplaces, educational settings, and leisure activities.
  • 479
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
The Conflict Between Humans and Urban Coyotes
Coyotes live in most major cities across North and Central America. As their habitat shrinks, human–coyote interactions increase, spurring debate about how to respond. Residents often fear coyotes and want extermination, but scientists argue they are a permanent fixture that play a vital ecosystem role and that eradicating them does not work and has negative impacts. Instead, ecologists argue that residents need to change their behavior to coexist with coyotes. Human–coyote sightings and interactions are becoming more frequent in urban areas across North and Central America. While many species have lost territory, the coyote range has expanded. Relatively recently, ecologists have coalesced around the idea that coexistence is the most promising avenue to reduce human–coyote conflict in urban areas. Despite this, calls for the eradication of coyotes continue. 
  • 477
  • 18 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Meta-Power
Meta-Power is a concept of having control not simply of individuals, but of the social structures themselves. The idea has stemmed from work by sociologists such as Tom R. Burns and Peter Hall, the economist Thomas Baumgartner, as well as by political scientists such as James Rosenau and Stephen D. Krasner. Its study often uses the language of game theory since at some level, having meta-power over a group of people means that one can control the form of the game, thereby controlling the outcome.
  • 473
  • 11 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Discrimination
Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups based on certain characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or other distinguishing features. It involves the act of making distinctions or differentiating between people in a way that results in unequal opportunities, privileges, or access to resources. Discrimination can manifest in various forms, including direct actions, policies, or practices that may intentionally or unintentionally disadvantage certain individuals or communities based on perceived differences. It is a social issue that contributes to systemic inequalities and can have significant consequences for the well-being, opportunities, and overall experiences of those who are targeted. Legal frameworks and human rights initiatives aim to address and prevent discrimination, promoting principles of equality, justice, and inclusivity in societies around the world.
  • 467
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Causation
Causation refers to the relationship between cause and effect, where one event or factor (the cause) brings about or influences another event or outcome (the effect). In scientific inquiry, establishing causation involves demonstrating that changes in one variable directly result in changes in another variable, often through empirical observation, experimentation, and statistical analysis, while considering alternative explanations and potential confounding factors. This concept underpins our understanding of causal mechanisms and the interconnectedness of phenomena in various fields of study, from natural sciences to social sciences.
  • 463
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Family Social Support and Children’s Mental Health Resilience
The role of the parents or guardians is crucial in caring for children and seeing to it that their requirements for food, clothes, education, shelter, and protection are addressed, particularly in times of crisis. In addition to these responsibilities, if the children suffer chronic psychological disorders or mental illness, this requires additional work and duties. 
  • 458
  • 07 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Justice
Justice is a foundational concept in moral and ethical philosophy that revolves around the fair and impartial treatment of individuals within a society. It encompasses the distribution of rewards and punishments based on merit and adherence to established laws, fostering a sense of equity and societal order. The pursuit of justice is often guided by principles such as equality, impartiality, and the protection of individual rights, serving as a fundamental pillar in the construction of a just and harmonious social framework.
  • 456
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Australian Archaeology
Australian archaeology is a large sub-field in the discipline of archaeology. Archaeology in Australia takes three main forms, Aboriginal archaeology (the archaeology of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before and after European settlement), historical archaeology (the archaeology of Australia after European settlement) and maritime archaeology. Bridging these sub-disciplines is the important concept of cultural heritage management which encompasses Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites, historical sites and maritime sites.
  • 453
  • 02 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Civil Rights
Civil rights refer to the rights and liberties guaranteed to individuals by law, particularly in the context of protecting them from discrimination and ensuring their equal participation in society. These rights are essential for promoting fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for all citizens. Civil rights encompass a wide range of protections, often focusing on issues related to freedom, equality, and nondiscrimination.
  • 451
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Institution
In the realm of social sciences, an institution refers to a formal and enduring structure or mechanism within a society that organizes, regulates, and shapes various aspects of human behavior, interactions, and activities. Institutions can encompass a broad spectrum, including legal systems, educational establishments, economic frameworks, and cultural norms, serving as fundamental pillars that contribute to the stability and functioning of a society.
  • 448
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
“Pseudo-Contracted” Workers in Greece
Non-standard forms of employment, also called “flexible” or “new forms” of employment, such as temporary employment, part-time employment, seasonal employment, project agreement, leasing through TWAs, and outsourcing are a worldwide rapidly expanding phenomenon that affects more than one-third of the worldwide workforce. Flexible or new forms of employment emerged in the 1980s and gained popularity during the acute financial crisis (2007), as well as during the recent pandemic COVID-19 that also hugely affected Europe and the USA. More specifically, in 2022, the EU-27 marked rates of 12.1% of temporary employment and 17.6% of part-time employment over total employment. Enterprises turn to flexible forms of employment when aiming to reduce labour costs and to increase their productivity and competitiveness. More specifically, enterprises reduce their internally allocated range of tasks and assign part of or entire activities to external undertakings, thus expanding labour market segmentation and amplifying social inequalities among the employees.
  • 439
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Society
Society is a complex and organized group of individuals who share a common culture, norms, and interactions within a defined geographical or social space. It encompasses a network of relationships and institutions that shape the collective behavior, values, and structures through which individuals coexist and interact.
  • 432
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Moments (Social Networking)
Moments (Chinese: 朋友圈 pinyin: péngyǒu quān) is a function of the smartphone app WeChat, launched on 19 April 2012 in the WeChat version 4.0. It serves new social-networking functions for Wechat users. The Chinese translation of Moment is known as “Friends' circle”, which means users can share and get access to accepted WeChat friends' information, creating an intimate and private communicating circle within the users' choice of close friends. Moments mainly focuses on sharing pictures with captions, while sharing statuses and sharing websites are also permitted.
  • 428
  • 25 Oct 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Pesticide: A Contemporary Cultural Object
The article provides a narrative review of the social and cultural interpretation of pesticides in contemporary society. In so doing, it highlights the main fields of exploration investigated by social scientists concerning the perception and role played by these products among farmers and consumers. Following the WHO definition, pesticides are chemical compounds used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants. They are contemporary cultural artefacts that social sciences explore in synergy with other disciplines to highlight their socio-cultural connections at both local and global levels. Specifically, the use of these products is connected with power relations, which are embedded in and reflect imbalances and inequalities in access to rights and resources, as well as specific articulation of the perception of risk arising from environmental contamination in terms of individual and collective psychophysical health. Furthermore, pesticides fit into various environmental conceptions and multiple local knowledge systems, representing the intersection of different cultural heritages, worldviews, and rationales that make the tradition–modernity dichotomy complex and dynamic. In this respect, therefore, pesticides can be understood not just as mere tools for agricultural practice but as vital windows through which to investigate multiple layers of meaning to support transitions towards sustainable pest management systems, both environmentally and socio-culturally.
  • 428
  • 29 Apr 2024
Topic Review
Effect of Health Change on Long-Term Settlement Intentions
Settlement intention refers to immigrants’ willingness to reside permanently in the society to which they move, and a great deal of research has considered the factors that influence the settlement intentions of immigrants. The research objects include not only migrants from rural areas to cities in the process of urbanization, but also international immigrants in the process of globalization. How to design and formulate relevant policies to promote the settlement and integration of immigrants is a common problem that is faced by societies in places that receive immigrants. Therefore, the issue is also a common focus of researchers. Strictly speaking, investigating the actual settlement behavior of immigrants must rely on large-scale and longitudinal survey data. However, such data are very difficult to obtain, and especially in developing countries. Thus, an alternative approach is to understand the motivations of potential settlers and returnees by analyzing the settlement intentions of immigrants. A large number of studies have examined the determinants of immigrants’ permanent settlement.
  • 421
  • 13 Jul 2022
Topic Review
SkillPages
SkillPages was a social platform for finding skilled people and had over 20 million users on the platform from over 160 countries. The CEO was Laura Shesgreen who was appointed after the company's co-founder and former CEO Iain Mac Donald stepped down unexpectedly in 2013 due to sudden illness. In December 2014, the Directors of the company sought the appointment of a provisional liquidator and said the company was for sale. On 2 February 2015, SkillPages announced that they had been purchased by London-based Bark.com. The website was available in English and Spanish. It now redirects to Bark.com. The company was based in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Palo Alto, CA, USA, and in Singapore.
  • 418
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Social Norm
Social norms are societal expectations and guidelines regarding acceptable behavior, beliefs, and values within a given culture or community. These norms dictate appropriate conduct in various social contexts, shaping individuals' interactions, attitudes, and decisions. Social norms are enforced through informal mechanisms, such as social approval, peer pressure, and conformity, and serve to maintain social order, cohesion, and stability within societies.
  • 414
  • 26 Jan 2024
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