Naked mole-rats are eusocial rodents that live in subterranean colonies with a strict reproductive and social hierarchy. Breeders are socially dominant and other colony members are non-reproductive subordinates. The effects of manipulating the serotonergic system on aggression are well studied in many species, but not in eusocial rodents like the naked mole-rat. For the current study, the effects of fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLX) on status-specific behaviours of subordinates (Experiment 1) and queens (Experiment 2) were evaluated both in-colony and in a social-pairing paradigm to investigate how the serotonergic system influences aggression in this species. In accordance with our main hypothesis, chronic treatment of FLX attenuated the frequency and duration of aggression in queens, but not subordinates, when paired with an unfamiliar conspecific. Further exploration of pharmacological manipulation on status-specific behaviours of this eusocial species may elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying their unique and rigid social hierarchy.

Socioeconomic positions of individuals are clearly associated with the chances of living a healthy long life. In four empirical studies based on Swedish population registers, two topics are examined in this thesis: The relationships between different indicators of social position and mortality, and the importance of family members’ socioeconomic resources for the survival of the individual. The overall conclusion from the separate studies is that no single individual socioeconomic factor gives a complete picture of mortality inequalities. Further, the socioeconomic resources of partners and adult children are important in addition to the individual ones. The specific results from each study include that: I education, social class, social status and income are, to various extent, independently associated with mortality risk. Education and social status are related to women’s mortality, and education, social class, and income to men’s mortality. II one partner’s social position is related to the other partner’s survival, also when individual socioeconomic factors are statistically controlled for. In particular, men’s mortality is linked to their wives’ education and women’s mortality to their husbands’ social class. III adult children’s education is related to their parents’ risk of dying, also when both parents’ socioeconomic resources are taken into consideration. Further, the association between the offspring’s level of education and parental mortality cannot be explained by charac­teristics that parents share with their siblings. IV children’s social class and income are related to parental mortality, but not as strongly as the education of the children. There is no relationship between a mother’s own education and breast cancer mortality, while mothers seem to have better chances of surviving breast cancer if they have well-educated children. / <p>At the time of doctoral defence the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript</p>

This thesis asks the question: how can one describe the development of gated communities in Guatemala City? It collects and analyzes data on gated communities in Guatemala City in order to explore the nature of their development in a violent geographical region, which has also been neglected by the academic community. It argues that the development of gated communities in Guatemala City does not fit the mutually exclusive ‘security’ argument as scholars have made. Instead, a mixture of economic factors, social status, weak governance, and security concerns are involved as large private corporations draw upon security-related fears, unregulated development of real estate and weak governance, resulting in a disorganized model of spatial organization. This study adds to the growing body of literature on gated communities by laying the groundwork needed to fill the gap that currently exists in Central America.

Theoretical models, based on cognitive-behavioural and perceptual psychology tenets, were proposed in an attempt to understand direct and indirect effects of self-concept, test anxiety, and family social status on the verbal academic achievement of 260 primary student teachers and 159 secondary student teachers.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of History, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

We study the role of performance differences in a task requiring cognitive effort on in-group bias. We show that the in-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members, and it is weak in low-performing groups. This holds although high-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias as members of minimal groups, whereas low-performing subjects strongly do. We also observe instances of low-performing subjects punishing the in-group favoritism of low-performing peers. The same does not occur in high-performing or minimal groups where subjects generally accept that decisions are in-group biased. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

L’alcoolisation ponctuelle importante (API) est un phénomène mondial et à multiples facettes généralement défini comme une consommation de 4 boissons alcoolisées ou plus par occasion pour les femmes ou 5 verres ou plus par occasion pour les hommes. Les consommations excessives sous-tendent également de nombreux autres comportements à risque (violence inter et intra-personnelle, conduite en état d’ébriété, risques sexuels, etc.) et ont des effets nocifs avérés sur la santé (cancers, maladies cardiovasculaires, etc.). La triple nature de la consommation excessive d'alcool (biologique, psychologique et sociologique) englobe une grande variété de domaines allant de l'endocrinologie à la psychologie sociale et cognitive. Obtenir une vue d'ensemble du problème, cependant, est rendu difficile par le fait même que peu d'analyses évolutionnaires ont été suggérées. Ici, nous proposons d’aborder le problème sous l’angle de la théorie du signal coûteux.Quels types de signaux les buveurs excessifs envoient-ils ? À qui le signal est-il destiné ? Ces signaux sont-ils des parades nuptiales ou des menaces pour les compétiteurs afin d'assurer le succès reproductif ou maintenir un certain statut social ? Comment les facteurs contextuels peuvent-ils influencer les taux de consommation ? Explorer les causes, les corrélats et les prédicteurs de la consommation excessive d'alcool et sa nature interdisciplinaire devrait servir de point de départ pertinent pour ensuite révéler la nécessité d'un cadre évolutionnaire.Pour répondre à ces questions, j'ai commencé par élaborer une approche évolutionnaire de la consommation excessive d'alcool en tenant compte des données et des théories actuelles (Chapitre 1). J'ai ensuite mené plusieurs études de laboratoire (oculométrique notamment) et des expériences en ligne visant à évaluer les signaux inter- et intra-sexuels que les « binge drinkers » envoient aux autres (Chapitres 2 et 3). Sur la base de ces résultats, j'ai mis en place un programme de prévention sur le terrain visant à réduire l'attitude et les attentes positives de l'alcool chez les lycéens français ainsi qu'une réplication en ligne (Chapitre 4). Parallèlement, j'ai réalisé une large méta-analyse des comportements de consommation d'alcool chez les femmes et d'autres risques au cours du cycle menstruel pour comprendre les influences endocriniennes en jeu (Chapitre 5). Enfin, j’ai analysé la théorie d’histoire de vie de la consommation à risque au niveau populationnel à l'aide d'une modélisation multi-niveaux de la fréquence et de l'intensité des consommations excessives de 1997 à 2006 aux États-Unis (Chapitre 6). Dans leur ensemble, ces résultats s’inscrivent dans la perspective d’une approche évolutionnaire de la consommation excessive d'alcool et permettent d’envisager de créer des programmes de prévention micro-ciblés. / Binge drinking is a worldwide and multi-faceted phenomenon usually defined as having 4 or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or 5 or more drinks per occasion for men. Binge drinking also underlies many other risky behaviors (inter- and intra-personal violence, drunk driving, sexual risks, etc.) as well as negative health consequences (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). The three-fold nature of binge drinking (biological, psychological and sociological) encompasses a wide variety of areas ranging from endocrinology to social and cognitive psychology. Getting an overview of the problem, however, is made difficult by the very fact that few evolutionary analysis have been suggested. Here, we propose to frame the problem from a costly signaling perspective. What type of signals do the binge drinkers send? To whom is the signal directed? Are those signals courtship displays or threats to competitors in order to assure reproductive success or maintain social status? How can contextual factors influence drinking rates? Exploring causes, correlates and predictors of binge drinking and its interdisciplinary nature should serve as a relevant starting point to then reveal the necessity of an evolutionary framework.To address these questions, I first started by shaping an evolutionary-based approach to binge drinking taking into account current data and theories (Chapter 1). I then ran various laboratory studies (eye-tracking) and online experiments aiming at evaluating the mating and intra-sexual signals that binge drinkers send to others (Chapter 2 and 3). Based on those results, I implemented a field prevention program intended at reducing alcohol’s attitude and expectancies among French high school students as well as an online replication (Chapter 4). In parallel, I conducted an extensive meta-analysis of women’s drinking behaviors and other risks across the menstrual cycle to understand the endocrine influences at play (Chapter 5). Finally, I analyzed the life-history theory of risky drinking at a population level through a hierarchical modeling of binge drinking frequency and intensity from 1997 to 2006 across the United States (Chapter 6). Taken together, those findings can help to build the foundations for an inter-disciplinary approach to binge drinking and create specific micro-targeted prevention programs.

This paper about the children born to Chilean men and Peruvian women during the occupation of Lima (1881-1883) provides general information about their social standing in late 19th century Lima. It suggests that the social status of these «children of war» was defined mainly by the social status of their parents and their relationship (marriage or cohabitation). The research confirms that conditions in post-war society were adverse for most of these children, as they were usually born out of wedlock and therefore carried the stigma of illegitimacy. In addition, the crisis caused by war affected the social status of their parents. The nationality of these children depended on their relationship with their parents, the fate of their families—whether they remained in Peru or moved to Chile—and their own will. / El artículo tiene como objetivo presentar una investigación sobre los hijos de hombres chilenos y mujeres peruanas concebidos y nacidos durante la ocupación de Lima (1881-1883), y brindar algunos alcances generales acerca de la situación social de aquellos niños en la Lima de finales del siglo XIX. Proponemos que la situación social de estos «hijos de la guerra» se define principalmente a través del status social de sus padres y el tipo de relación que sostuvieron (matrimonio o amancebamiento). Ante ello, en el proceso de la investigación, comprobamos que la condición de la mayoría de estos infantes en la sociedad, especialmente después de la guerra, fue adversa, ya que generalmente fueron producto de relaciones de convivencia, lo que les llevó a cargar con el estigma de ilegítimos. Además, la crisis generada por la guerra se reflejó en el status social bajo de la mayoría de sus padres. La nacionalidad que adquirieron estos niños dependió de la relación con sus padres, el destino de las familias que formaron —si permanecieron en Perú o se trasladaron a Chile— o incluso de ellos mismos.