This dissertation created a model to explore the effect of dominant group status on stigmatization of mental illness and on moral relativism and the interactive effect of dominant group status on stigmatization of mental illness through moral relativism. The model was conceptualized according to social dominance theory. Latent variables were created to measure moral relativism and stigmatization of mental illness. The latent measures were conceptualized according to current theories in the fields of moral relativism and stigmatization. During statistical analyses the latent measure for moral relativism was found to be unreliable. The study then became confirmatory-exploratory in nature by first comparing the fit indices of three alternate models with single-measure latent variables. The model that best fit the data was then used to conclude the exploratory research on the effect of group status on moral relativism and stigmatization of mental illness. The model was not supported by the data based on fit index and standardized residual scores.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar as repercussões de uma relação social estável sobre diferentes parâmetros de comportamento, neuroquímica e atividade imune de camundongos dominantes e submissos. Machos adultos (com aproximadamente 90 dias de idade) mantidos em duplas desde o desmame, foram determinados como dominantes ou submissos, após três avaliações consecutivas do comportamento, onde foram observadas a presença ou ausência de ataques ou fugas e posturas de submissão. Em alguns experimentos, grupos de cinco animais mantidos em uma mesma caixa foram utilizados para comparação com resultados obtidos de animais que conviveram em duplas. Foram utilizadas apenas as duplas de camundongos onde a hierarquia social foi claramente observada. Os resultados mostraram que os animais submissos apresentaram em relação aos dominantes: 1) diminuição no tempo gasto na zona central do campo aberto; 2) diminuição no número de entradas nos braços abertos e diminuição no tempo gasto na exploração dos braços abertos do labirinto em cruz elevado; 3) aumento no tempo gasto na exploração dos braços fechados do labirinto em cruz elevado; 4) diminuição no número de entradas e no tempo gasto na exploração do terço final dos braços fechados do labirinto em cruz elevado; 5) aumento na taxa de renovação de dopamina no hipotálamo; 6) diminuição da taxa de renovação de dopamina no corpo estriado; 7) maior número de metástases induzidas pelo melanoma murino experimental B16F10; 8) aumento do percentual de células T CD8+ no timo após 14 dias de inoculação do mesmo melanoma; 9) diminuição no burst oxidativo basal de neutrófilos e monócitos sangüíneos, mas não naquele induzido por bactérias; 10) menor atividade de células NK presentes no baço e no sangue. Em relação aos animais mantidos em número de cinco, os animais submissos apresentaram: menor percentual de células NK no sangue. Já os animais dominantes, apresentaram em relação aos animais mantidos em grupos: 1) aumento da taxa de renovação de noradrenalina no hipotálamo; 2) aumento na taxa de renovação de dopamina no corpo estriado; 3) menor percentual de células NK no sangue. O status social, no entanto, não provocou diferenças: 1) nos níveis absolutos de dopamina, noradrenalina e serotonina; 2); nos metabólitos de serotonina; 3) nos níveis séricos basais de corticosterona; 4) no peso e número de células do baço e timo; 5) no percentual de células T CD4+ e CD8+ no baço e 6) no percentual de linfócitos, neutrófilos e monócitos sangüíneos. Em conjunto, os presentes resultados mostraram que animais dominantes e submissos mantidos por 90 dias em uma hierarquia social estável, apresentaram diferenças comportamentais e neuroquímicas, e responderam de forma diferente a um mesmo estímulo imune, no caso, o desenvolvimento de metástases induzida nos pulmões pela administração do melanoma experimental murino B16F10. Estes resultados sugerem que diferentes mecanismos, que não a ativação do eixo HPA, estejam envolvidos com o aumento de susceptibilidade ao desenvolvimento do tumor observado nos indivíduos submissos / The objective of the present work was to investigate the repercussions of a stable social relationship on different parameters of the behavior, neurochemical and immune activity of dominant and submissives mice. Adult males (with approximately 90 days of age) kept in pairs since wean it, had been determined as dominant or submissives, after three consecutive evaluations of the behavior, where presences or absences of attacks or escapes and positions of submission had been observed. In some experiments, groups of five animals kept in one same box had been used to compare the results gotten between these and the animals coexisting in pairs. The pairs had been used only where the social hierarchy clearly was observed. The results had shown that the submissives animals in relation to the dominant ones had presented: 1) reduction in the time spent in the central zone of the open field; 2) reduction in the number of entrances in the open arms and reduction in the time spent in the exploration of the open arms of the plus maze; 3) increase in the time spent in the exploration of the closed arms of the plus maze; 4) reduction in the number of entrances and time spent in the exploration of the final third of the closed arms of the plus maze; 5) increase in the turnover of dopamine in the hypothalamus; 6) reduction in the turnover of dopamine in the corpus striatum; 7) increased number of metastasis in the lungs induced by murino melanoma experimental B16F10; 8) increase of the percentage of cells T CD8+ in the thymus after 14 days of inoculation of the same melanoma; 9) reduction in the basal oxidative burst of neutrophil and monocytes sanguine, but not in the induced by bacteria; 10) decreased NK cells activity measured in the blood and spleen. In relation to the animals kept in number of five, the submissives animals had presented: 11) reduction in the percentile of NK cells in the blood. While the dominant animals had presented in relation to the animals kept in groups: 1) increase in the turnover of norepinephrine in hypothalamus; 2) increase in the turnover of dopamine in the fluted body; 3) reduction in the percentile of NK cells in the blood. The social status, however, did not provoke differences: 1) in the absolute levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin; 2) in the metabolites of serotonin; 3) in the serum levels of corticosterone; 4) in the weight and number of cells of the spleen and thymus; 5) in the percentage of cells T CD4+ and CD8+ in the spleen and 6) in the percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophil and monocytes in the blood. Together, the results obtained had shown that dominants and submissives animals kept 90 days living in a stable social hierarchy had presented behavior and neurochemical differences, and had answered of different form to one same immune stimulation, in this case, the induced development of metastasis in the lungs for experimental melanoma murino B16F10, where the submissives had been more susceptible than the dominant ones. This results suggest that other mechanisms, different of HPA activation, may be involved with the decreased resistance of submissive mice to B16F10 tumor dissemination

Intimate partner violence (IPV) involves physical, psychological, and/or emotional violence within intimate (e.g., dating) relationships. In this thesis, I examined narcissism as a predictor of IPV. I used an offensive- and defensive-trait framework to come up with 10 potential mediator variables that often typify narcissism and underlie IPV. Correlation analyses confirmed the expected link between narcissism and IPV. Subsequent bootstrapping mediation analysis of IPV-frequency revealed significant indirect effects for 2 mediators - social dominance orientation and the hostile attribution bias-based tendency to retaliate in the face of ambiguous but potentially malevolent social interactions. Bootstrapping analysis of IPV-prevalence also revealed an additional significant indirect effect for hypercompetitiveness. In both bootstrapping analyses the mediator variables only provided partial mediation of the narcissismto- IPV link. In the discussion I focus on the implications for IPV perpetration and research, including avenues for future research and potential interventions for IPV centered on mitigating narcissism.

Higher prevalence of gender harassment has previously been identified in male dominated workforces, but not in academia. Factors such as implicit bias, male dominance, perceived gender threat, and heightened masculinity may increase the likelihood of gender harassment occurring in an academic setting. Two studies investigated this. In Study 1, one hundred seventy-one (92 male, 79 female) participants from male dominated and gender equivalent majors completed an online survey in which their explicit attitudes regarding gender and authority (GAM; see Rudman & Kilianski, 2000), and implicit associations regarding gender and careers (IAT; see Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) were measured. Additionally, female participants completed a sexual experiences questionnaire (SEQ; see Fitzgerald et al., 1988). Men from male dominated majors did not exhibit more explicit attitudes favoring men in authority than men from gender equivalent majors (p = .220, d = .26), but did exhibit more implicit bias stereotyping men as associated with careers and women with the family (p = .017, d = .51). Females from male dominated majors experienced more gender harassment than females from gender equivalent majors (p = .017, d = .55). In Study 2, one hundred fifty-four male participants self-reported their masculinity, completed a group task with a female confederate leader serving as a gender threat in half the conditions, and then had their subsequent affect, perceptions of leadership effectiveness, and behavioral aggression measured. Men from male dominated majors and men who had received a gender threat did not differ from men from gender equivalent majors and men who had not received a gender threat on affect, perceptions of leadership effectiveness, or behavioral aggression (ps > .201, ηp2s ≤ .007). However, additional analyses revealed that as masculinity increased among men from male dominated majors under gender threat, they became more behaviorally aggressive (b = 5.92, p = .003) and perceived their female's leader's leadership as being less effective (b = -0.83, p = .076). Based on these findings, it is recommended that future research on gender harassment focus on men from male dominated majors who are high on masculinity.

The current studies examined the interplay of dominance and power in their effects on various forms of prosociality, along with potential mechanisms that may account for their differential effects. Study 1 found that dominance and power had opposing effects on general prosocial tendencies, with dominance negatively relating to and power positively relating to general prosociality. Study 2 found the negative effects of dominance to be consistent both for general and relationship-specific prosociality. The effects of power were not replicated for the outcomes shared with Study 1, but other positive associations were found between power and prosocial propensities. Indirect effects in studies 1 and 2 supported the potential mediating role of other focus in explaining the differential effects of dominance and power. Study 3 utilized an experimental design to directly examine the potential mediating role of other-focus, by manipulating independent versus interdependent self-construals. Significant interactions between power and condition supported the notion that power positively affects prosociality by increasing other-focus. In the interdependent condition, power significantly predicted perspective-taking, whereas in the independent condition, the effect of power on perspective-taking was not significant. Study 4 involved collecting dyadic data from romantic partners, but did not find any significant partner effects. In line with the other studies, dominance was negatively associated with self-reported supportive tendencies as well as self-reported perceptions of a partner’s supportive behaviors. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Because there is a growing amount of contradictory evidence concerning the relationship of WISC-R subscale scores to hemispheric orientation, the present study examined the validity of the WISC-R subscale scores as indicators of individual hemispheric orientation. The present study hypothesized a significant relationship between Verbal-Performance scale score discrepancies and hemispheric orientation as assessed by conjugate lateral eye movements. This study also hypothesized that subjects with a right hemisphere orientation would score higher on t~ block design, picture completion, and object assembly subtests than would subjects with a left hemisphere orientation.

Many canids live within hierarchical social systems that could promote differences in learning or in behavior between ranked individuals. Differences in foraging and territorial behavior have been observed between ranked coyotes (Canis latrans), yet effects of learning and social status on coyote behavior are not thoroughly understood. I explored a) coyote response to an artificial scent boundary and whether response differed by status, b) how foraging coyotes tracked temporal resource change, and c) how coyotes find spatially distributed food, and the effect of dominance on foraging behavior. I used male/female pairs of captive coyotes at the National Wildlife Research Center Predator Research Facility in Utah. Prior to testing, I identified social rank within pairs by testing for food dominance. In study 1, I laid a scent boundary and monitored space use with GPS and observed behavioral responses directly. All coyotes investigated and crossed the boundary, but were repelled more by human presence. Subordinates investigated and marked the boundary more than dominants. Further investigation is needed to mimic natural boundaries for management purposes. In study 2, I gave eight individual coyotes an operant test with concurrent variable interval (VI) schedules. I varied the ratio of resources and measured the time spent on two choices, then fitted the generalized matching equation to the data. I found that all coyotes efficiently tracked changes in resource ratios and matched their relative rate of foraging time to relative rate of resources. Matching theory provides an effective methodology to explore foraging strategies and behavioral flexibility in coyotes. In study 3, I tested 16 coyotes in a spatial foraging task. Coyotes searched for food in eight potential locations, and were tested individually and in respective pairs. I recorded the area and number of locations searched, approach time, and frequency of marking by dominant and subordinate coyotes. Results showed individual subordinates increased efficiency by relocating, but their efficiency decreased when foraging in pairs. Dominant coyotes did not increase efficiency in company by following subordinates. Coyotes marked the correct feeder more than incorrect feeders. Results suggest coyotes use memory and odor (scent marks) to find food, but that social status overrules information use.

Toxic leaders are a serious problem, but shockingly, there is no standard detection tool that is both efficient and accurate. Compounding the problem are the various definitions and descriptions used to operationalize toxic leadership. This research sought to align the literature, offer a concise definition, and assess the domains indicative of toxic leadership through two conceptually compatible studies. Study 1 involved development of a toxic leader threat detection scale. Results using a variable-centered approach indicated that follower perceptions (n = 357) of leader empathy (4-item scale; α = .93) and the need for achievement recognition (4-item scale; α = .83) significantly predicted the egoistic dominance behaviors (5-item scale; α = .93) employed by toxic leaders (R2 = .647, p < .001). Using a person-centered approach, the scale scores also revealed latent clusters of distinct behavioral patterns, representing significantly different toxic leader threat levels (low, medium, and high). Study 2 assessed whether followers (n = 357), without access to behavioral information, would infer toxic characteristics simply from a leader’s physical appearance. Participants perceived images of male leaders (η2 = .131) with masculine facial structures (η2 = .596) as most likely to behave aggressively, while feminine facial structures (η2 = .400) and female images (η2 = .104) created the highest perceptions of empathy. The subjects also selected male leaders with masculine faces (η2 = .044; η2 = .015) as more likely to desire recognition, but with an inverse relationship (η2 = .073) such that feminine looking males earned the lowest scores. Overall, these results supported the idea that empathy and the need for achievement recognition create an “ego gone wild” condition and, not only can we measure the behavioral tendencies of toxic leaders, but perhaps we can “see” them as well.

La dominance entre allèles S chez les Brassicaceae est contrôlée par un ensemble de petits ARNs non codants et de leurs séquences cibles. Les relations de dominance qu'ils établissent ont un ensemble de conséquences sur l'accumulation du polymorphisme au locus S lui-même mais également dans les régions immédiatement liées. L'idée du projet a été d'étudier 1) les critères d'appariement selon lesquels les petits ARNs non-codants provoquent le silencing transcriptionnel, 2) la diversité des petits ARNs, de leurs précurseurs et de leurs cibles en populations naturelles afin de déterminer si les contraintes fonctionnelles qu'ils subissent s'apparentent à celles qui pèsent en général sur les miRNAs et enfin 3) la diversité des séquences flanquantes, afin de déterminer d'une part l'ampleur du pic de polymorphisme attendu en raison de la sélection balancée et d'autre part si on peut détecter un fardeau de mutations délétères spécifique à chaque allèle le long de la hiérarchie de dominance. / The dominance between S-alleles in the Brassicaceae is controlled by a set of small non-coding RNAs and their cognate targets. These dominance relationships have important consequences on the polymorphism accumulated at the S-locus itself but also at the flanking regions. The aim of the project was to study 1) the base-pairing criteria by which the small non-coding RNAs transcriptionally silence their target gene, 2) the diversity of these small RNAs, of their precursors and targets in natural populations in order to determine if the selective constraint they undergo is similar to what we know for other miRNAs genes in the genome, and finally, 3) the diversity of the flanking regions, to determine the size of the predicted peak of polymorphism peak caused by balancing selection, test whether genes in these regions show evidence of the predicted sheltered load and whether polymorphisms at these genes are specifically associated with S-alleles.

I examined male endocrinology and social bonds in relation to dominance status in four groups of wild white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus, in the Santa Rosa Sector of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I used noninvasive monitoring of male fecal androgen and glucocorticoid levels to examine the hormonal correlates of dominance and rank acquisition. In spite of low rates of aggression among coresident males, alpha males had higher androgen (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) levels than subordinate males. Among subordinates, adult males had higher androgen levels than subadult males. During a non-aggressive rank increase, the new alpha male’s androgen levels increased immediately after attainment of the alpha position, and continued to increase for several months thereafter, while glucocorticoid increases lagged behind. In contrast, a subordinate adult male in the group had no change in androgen or glucocorticoid levels. Female white-faced capuchins do not display behavioral estrus, and ovulation is not associated with any changes detectable to the human observer. Therefore, I inferred female reproductive status by analyzing fecal progesterone and estradiol. Alpha and subordinate males experienced androgen and glucocorticoid increases in the presence of fertile females, a period likely associated with increased sexual activity and competition among coresident males. Androgens and glucocorticoids were also higher in the dry season, when intergroup encounters were more frequent. High competition between groups may facilitate low rates of intragroup aggression and the formation of social bonds within groups. I found that coresident males formed differentiated social bonds, and formed stronger social bonds when they had fewer coresident males and when group sex ratio was male-biased. Alpha males had the weakest and least equitable bonds, while relationships among subordinate males were characterized by relatively strong and somewhat reciprocal grooming. The importance of male bonds, particularly among subadult males, may reflect the importance of coalitions of immigrant males in the ability to takeover social groups and increase dominance status. A meta-analysis of parallel dispersal – when conspecifics emigrate together or immigrate into groups containing familiar individuals - indicates that in male primates, this behavior may be linked with the propensity of males to form coalitions and the need to retain coalition partners. / acase@tulane.edu