Summary

Sociology, as a discipline, delves into the complexities of social interactions, institutions, and the dynamics that mold societies. From the microcosm of individual interactions to the macrocosm of global systems, these sociological concepts will unravel the threads that weave together the fabric of human society.

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AIDMT (AI-Designed Meditative Technique)
AIDMT (AI-Designed Meditative Technique) refers to meditation methods generated and adjusted by artificial intelligence systems, typically within mindfulness applications. The concept was developed to describe how digital technologies personalize and automate contemplative practices. AIDMTs are characterized by real-time data collection and algorithmic feedback that replaces human instruction. With an emphasis on the adaptation and mediation of Buddhist meditation within Western societies, the research explores the transformative interaction of traditional contemplative practices and modern technologies. By means of an extensive ethnographic investigation carried out in multiple European locations, the research sheds light on the significant influence that digital devices—specifically, smartphone applications—have on the accessibility, practice, and conception of meditation. These digital tools become guides that not only democratize access to meditation but also fundamentally change its nature, making it more individualized, commodified, and integrated into the field of self-care and therapeutic modalities from a deeply philosophical and communal practice. This inquiry critically looks at the two outcomes of this shift: the good that meditation is now more widely available and the bad that it is losing its conventional discipline and philosophical profundity. 
  • 58
  • 27 Oct 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Cuteness and Its Emotional Responses
Cuteness is commonly associated with visual features such as large eyes, a disproportionately large head, round body shapes, and small size. While these traits are most often observed in infants and young animals, they also appear in inanimate objects and digital representations intentionally designed to evoke emotional appeal. Drawing on developmental psychology, behavioral science, neuroscience, and cultural studies, this paper examines five core emotional responses to cute stimuli: caretaking, socializing, whimsical, cute aggression, and kama muta (the feeling of being emotionally moved). These responses emerge from an interplay between evolutionary mechanisms, such as caregiving instincts, and cultural frameworks that shape how cuteness is perceived, expressed, and valued. The analysis highlights not only biological foundations but also cultural moderators, with particular attention to gender differences and the pervasive role of kawaii aesthetics in Japan’s popular culture, communication, and everyday life. This paper provides an overview of these emotional responses, situates them within their theoretical foundations and broader psychological and social implications, and proposes a framework for future research.
  • 6.5K
  • 17 Sep 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Behaviorally Stretched Microeconomics
A common misconception is that behavioral economics rejects microeconomics. This entry explains how behavioral economics, despite challenging core assumptions of rationality, remains fundamentally aligned with the structure of microeconomics. Anchored in the insight that rational market outcomes can emerge even when individual behavior is non-rational, it revisits the explanatory role of constraints in economic theory. Rather than displacing microeconomics, behavioral economics extends it by incorporating bounded rationality while preserving key structural principles. Central to this integration is Say’s law, the macro-level notion that production generates income and thus the capacity for demand. This connection makes microeconomic constraints reflect deeper macroeconomic principles. Even when market behavior is distorted by correlated cognitive biases and their associated positive feedback dynamics—such as herding or bubbles—the fundamental identity that supply generates the income necessary for demand remains intact, provided that adjustments occur over the long run. The analysis also considers how behavioral deviations affect aggregate outcomes. Ultimately, this entry shows that behavioral economics is not a departure from microeconomics but its natural extension: by embedding bounded rationality within the framework of economic constraints, it preserves the structural coherence of microeconomics while adding psychological depth.
  • 4.9K
  • 17 Sep 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
The Sociology of Hope
This paper attempts to clarify some of the aspects and dynamics that appear particularly significant when embarking on a path that can lay the foundation for a broader reflection on the “sociology of hope”. This path will be outlined starting from the development of the concept of hope in the social sciences through an analysis of the existing literature within a specific field of study. It will continue with a systematic synthesis of those sociological studies that have led to a “dialogue” with the concept of hope and that, most often directly or indirectly, have considered hope as a force that mobilizes individuals and social groups to action. The final stage of this path will be reserved for presenting the debate that has opened in recent years around the sociology of hope, both critically and constructively, to provide recommendations for future research that, in line with this perspective, aims to study how to improve the world.
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Aug 2025
Topic Review
Highest IQ: Measurement, Claims, and Evidence
Claims about the “highest IQ” emerge where measurement science meets extreme statistical rarity. Within their validated ranges, modern IQ tests are robust predictors of consequential outcomes; however, ceiling effects, norm scarcity in the far right tail, and possible ability differentiation at high levels complicate any ordinal ranking of individuals. This entry explains how deviation IQ is constructed; why widely used instruments saturate at the top; and how item response theory (IRT), high-difficulty item banks, and conservative linking/extrapolation can, in principle, extend assessable range. Taking the publicly attributed figure “IQ 276 (SD=24; ≈210 on SD=15, z≈7.33)” to YoungHoon Kim as a didactic contemporary illustration, we argue a good-faith, science-forward pathway exists by which extreme estimates might be modeled—provided multiple independent, supervised datapoints and transparent IRT calibration support such inference. We do not adjudicate any individual’s exact score here; rather, we clarify why, under mainstream psychometric theory, extraordinary values are methodologically approachable though demanding, and why evaluations should emphasize multi-method evidence, uncertainty, and reproducibility.
  • 2.3K
  • 25 Aug 2025
Topic Review
Ceiling Effects: The Example of IQ 276
The ceiling effect in psychometrics refers to loss of score differentiation at the upper end of a test’s range. In intelligence testing, ceiling effects hinder valid assessment of profoundly gifted individuals because scores cluster at or near the maximums of widely used instruments (e.g., WAIS, Stanford–Binet). This entry defines the ceiling effect in IQ measurement, summarizes common upper limits and the development of extended norms, and outlines methodological responses such as high-range instruments, item response theory (IRT), and model-based statistical extrapolation. Using the debated “IQ 276” (SD = 24; ≈ 210 on SD = 15, z ≈ +7.33) purely as an illustrative case, it reviews promises and pitfalls of inferring extreme ability beyond a test’s empirical range. The goal is not to adjudicate any individual claim but to clarify the psychometric challenges of measuring extreme intelligence and to sketch directions for building valid, higher-ceiling assessments.
  • 2.0K
  • 25 Aug 2025
Topic Review
Ethical Dialogue through Reflexive Autoethnography
This review outlines the mechanisms of social interaction, focusing on how individuals and groups construct identity and regulate behavior within society. It examines the role of social structures, norms, and cultural narratives in shaping personal and collective storytelling, drawing on insights from sociology, psychology, and cultural studies. Key developments, current applications, and future research directions are presented objectively to support interdisciplinary understanding.
  • 308
  • 29 Jul 2025
Topic Review
Understanding the Nature of the Transnational Scam-Related Fraud
Regional communities in Southeast Asia face challenges from scam-related fraud during and after COVID-19, particularly with rising pig-butchering operations linked to organized crime and increased digital transactions. This first study in Vietnam combines primary and secondary data to reveal the nature of transnational scam fraud. Scammers employ advanced tactics like phishing, fraudulent investments, and identity theft. Organized crime rings operate in Vietnam and Cambodia, with Chinese groups playing a key role. Social media platforms facilitate these crimes. The study recommends tackling these challenges with strong policies, community education campaigns, enhanced cooperation among law enforcement, and supporting evidence-based research. Addressing pig-butchering and scam fraud requires coordinated responses tailored to each country’s unique situation.
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Mar 2025
Topic Review
Sociology of Culture
The sociology of culture is a subfield of sociology that examines how culture—defined as shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and practices—shapes and is shaped by social structures, power dynamics, and human interactions. It explores how cultural meanings are created, transmitted, and transformed across societies and historical periods. The field intersects with anthropology, media studies, political science, and philosophy, drawing upon both macro-sociological perspectives (structuralism, functionalism, Marxism) and micro-sociological approaches (symbolic interactionism, phenomenology). Cultural sociologists analyze topics such as ideology, mass media, identity formation, cultural consumption, globalization, and the role of institutions (such as religion, education, and the arts) in shaping cultural life. The field also investigates how culture influences social stratification, political ideologies, and economic systems.
  • 1.0K
  • 04 Mar 2025
Topic Review
Nomos
Nomos, within the field of sociology, denotes the intricate framework of norms, rules, and cultural conventions that govern and regulate social behavior within a given society. It encompasses both formal and informal mechanisms of social control, reflecting the collective values, beliefs, and customs of a community. Nomos is dynamic, evolving over time in response to societal changes, yet integral to the maintenance of social order and the perpetuation of cultural continuity.
  • 2.1K
  • 08 Feb 2024
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