The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Mark Nielsen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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failure to demonstrate that playing violent video games diminishes Prosocial Behavior
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Morgan J Tear, Mark NielsenAbstract:BACKGROUND: Past research has found that playing a classic Prosocial video game resulted in heightened Prosocial Behavior when compared to a control group, whereas playing a classic violent video game had no effect. Given purported links between violent video games and poor social Behavior, this result is surprising. Here our aim was to assess whether this finding may be due to the specific games used. That is, modern games are experienced differently from classic games (more immersion in virtual environments, more connection with characters, etc.) and it may be that playing violent video games impacts Prosocial Behavior only when contemporary versions are used. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Experiments 1 and 2 explored the effects of playing contemporary violent, non-violent, and Prosocial video games on Prosocial Behavior, as measured by the pen-drop task. We found that slight contextual changes in the delivery of the pen-drop task led to different rates of helping but that the type of game played had little effect. Experiment 3 explored this further by using classic games. Again, we found no effect. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to find evidence that playing video games affects Prosocial Behavior. Research on the effects of video game play is of significant public interest. It is therefore important that speculation be rigorously tested and findings replicated. Here we fail to substantiate conjecture that playing contemporary violent video games will lead to diminished Prosocial Behavior. Language: en
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failure to demonstrate that playing violent video games diminishes Prosocial Behavior
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Morgan J Tear, Mark NielsenAbstract:BACKGROUND: Past research has found that playing a classic Prosocial video game resulted in heightened Prosocial Behavior when compared to a control group, whereas playing a classic violent video game had no effect. Given purported links between violent video games and poor social Behavior, this result is surprising. Here our aim was to assess whether this finding may be due to the specific games used. That is, modern games are experienced differently from classic games (more immersion in virtual environments, more connection with characters, etc.) and it may be that playing violent video games impacts Prosocial Behavior only when contemporary versions are used. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Experiments 1 and 2 explored the effects of playing contemporary violent, non-violent, and Prosocial video games on Prosocial Behavior, as measured by the pen-drop task. We found that slight contextual changes in the delivery of the pen-drop task led to different rates of helping but that the type of game played had little effect. Experiment 3 explored this further by using classic games. Again, we found no effect. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to find evidence that playing video games affects Prosocial Behavior. Research on the effects of video game play is of significant public interest. It is therefore important that speculation be rigorously tested and findings replicated. Here we fail to substantiate conjecture that playing contemporary violent video games will lead to diminished Prosocial Behavior. Language: en
Lucas A Stetzik - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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inhibiting erα expression in the medial amygdala increases Prosocial Behavior in male meadow voles microtus pennsylvanicus
Behavioural Brain Research, 2018Co-Authors: Lucas A Stetzik, Denis Ganshevsky, Michelle N Lende, Laura E Roache, Sergei Musatov, Bruce S CushingAbstract:Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that site-specific estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression is a critical factor in the expression of male Prosocial Behavior and aggression. Previous studies have shown that in the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) low levels of ERα expression, in the medial amygdala (MeA), play an essential role in the expression of high levels of male Prosocial Behavior and that increasing ERα expression reduced male Prosocial Behavior. We used an shRNA adeno-associated viral vector to knock down/inhibit ERα in the MeA of the polygynous male meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), which displays significantly higher levels of ERα in the MeA than its monogamous relative. Control males were transfected with a luciferase expressing AAV vector. After treatment males participated in three social Behavior tests, a same-sex dyadic encounter, an opposite-sex social preference test and an alloparental test. We predicted that decreasing MeA ERα would increase male meadow vole’s Prosocial Behavior and reduce aggression. The results generally supported the hypothesis. Specifically, MeA knockdown males displayed lower levels of defensive aggression during dyadic encounters and increased levels of overall side-x-side physical contact with females during the social preference test, eliminating the partner preference observed in controls. There was no effect on pup interactions, with both treatments expressing low levels of alloparental Behavior. Behaviors affected were similar to those in male prairie voles with increased ERα in the BST rather than the MeA, suggesting that relative changes of expression within these nuclei may play a critical role in regulating Prosocial Behavior.
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Novel unconditioned Prosocial Behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) as a model for empathy
BMC, 2018Co-Authors: Lucas A Stetzik, Alana W. Sullivan, Heather B. Patisaul, Bruce S CushingAbstract:Abstract Objective In this study, empathy is quantified using a novel social test. Empathy and Prosocial Behavior are linked to the expression of oxytocin in humans and rodent models. Specifically, Prosocial Behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) has been linked to the expression of oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The animal’s Behavior was considered empathic if it spends significantly more time attempting to remove a loos fitting restraint (tether) from the stimulus animal than time in contact with a, simultaneously presented, non-social object similar to the tether. The Behavioral data was cross-referenced with the number of neurons expressing oxytocin and arginine vasopressin, as well as the density of dopaminergic neurons (identified by the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase), in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These proteins influence empathic Behavior in humans, non-human primates, rats, mice, and prairie voles. Results The consistency between neuroanatomical mechanisms linked to empathy, and the durations of time spent engaging in empathic contact, support the prediction that the empathic contact in this test is a distinct Prosocial Behavior, lacking prior Behavioral training or the naturally occurring ethological relevance of other Prosocial Behaviors, and is a measure of empathy
Concetta Pastorelli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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positive youth development parental warmth values and Prosocial Behavior in 11 cultural groups
Journal of Youth Development, 2021Co-Authors: Concetta Pastorelli, Antonio Zuffiano, Jennifer E Lansford, Laura Di Giunta, Marc H Bornstein, Eriona Thartori, Lei Chang, Kirby Deaterdeckard, Kenneth A Dodge, Sevtap GurdalAbstract:The current cross-cultural study aimed to extend research on parenting and children’s Prosocial Behavior by examining relations among parental warmth, values related to family obligations (i.e., children’s support to and respect for their parents, siblings, and extended family), and Prosocial Behavior during the transition to adolescence (from ages 9 to 12). Mothers, fathers, and their children ( N = 1107 families) from 8 countries including 11 cultural groups (Colombia; Rome and Naples, Italy; Jordan; Kenya; the Philippines; Sweden; Thailand; and African Americans, European Americans, and Latin Americans in the United States) provided data over 3 years in 3 waves ( M age of child in wave 1 = 9.34 years, SD = 0.75; 50.5% female). Overall, across all 11 cultural groups, multivariate change score analysis revealed positive associations among the change rates of parental warmth, values related to family obligations, and Prosocial Behavior during late childhood (from age 9 to 10) and early-adolescence (from age 10 to 12). In most cultural groups, more parental warmth at ages 9 and 10 predicted steeper mean-level increases in Prosocial Behavior in subsequent years. The findings highlight the prominent role of positive family context, characterized by warm relationships and shared Prosocial values, in fostering children’s positive development in the transition to adolescence. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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parental acceptance rejection and child Prosocial Behavior developmental transactions across the transition to adolescence in nine countries mothers and fathers and girls and boys
Developmental Psychology, 2018Co-Authors: Diane L Putnick, Jennifer E Lansford, Patrick S Malone, Laura Di Giunta, Marc H Bornstein, Lei Chang, Kirby Deaterdeckard, Kenneth A Dodge, Paul Oburu, Concetta PastorelliAbstract:Promoting children’s Prosocial Behavior is a goal for parents, healthcare professionals, and nations. Does positive parenting promote later child Prosocial Behavior, or do children who are more pro ...
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positive parenting and children s Prosocial Behavior in eight countries
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2016Co-Authors: Concetta Pastorelli, Bernadette Paula Luengo Kanacri, Jennifer E Lansford, Patrick S Malone, Laura Di Giunta, Dario Bacchini, Anna Silvia Bombi, Arnaldo Zelli, Maria Concetta Miranda, Marc H BornsteinAbstract:Background Research supports the beneficial role of Prosocial Behaviors on children's adjustment and successful youth development. Empirical studies point to reciprocal relations between negative parenting and children's maladjustment, but reciprocal relations between positive parenting and children's Prosocial Behavior are understudied. In this study reciprocal relations between two different dimensions of positive parenting (quality of the mother–child relationship and the use of balanced positive discipline) and children's Prosocial Behavior were examined in Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. Methods Mother–child dyads (N = 1105) provided data over 2 years in two waves (Mage of child in wave 1 = 9.31 years, SD = 0.73; 50% female). Results A model of reciprocal relations between parenting dimensions, but not among parenting and children's Prosocial Behavior, emerged. In particular, children with higher levels of Prosocial Behavior at age 9 elicited higher levels of mother–child relationship quality in the following year. Conclusions Findings yielded similar relations across countries, evidencing that being Prosocial in late childhood contributes to some degree to the enhancement of a nurturing and involved mother–child relationship in countries that vary widely on sociodemographic profiles and psychological characteristics. Policy and intervention implications of this study are discussed.
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trajectories of Prosocial Behavior from adolescence to early adulthood associations with personality change
Journal of Adolescence, 2014Co-Authors: Bernadette Paula Luengo Kanacri, Nancy Eisenberg, Concetta Pastorelli, Antonio Zuffiano, Valeria Castellani, Gian Vittorio CapraraAbstract:The goal of this study was to identify heterogenic longitudinal patterns of change in Prosocial Behavior from adolescence to early adulthood and their association with change in Big Five Factor (BFF) personality traits from adolescence until early adulthood. Participants were 573 Italian adolescents aged approximately 13 at the first assessment and 21 at the last assessment. Using growth mixture modeling, low increasing (LI; 18%), medium quadratic (MQ; 26%), and high quadratic (HQ; 54%) trajectories of Prosocial Behavior were distinguished. Generally, the LI trajectory group predicted an increase in Conscientiousness over time, whereas the HQ trajectory group predicted greater change in Agreeableness and Openness. In addition, positive changes in Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness between ages 13 and 21 predicted a higher probability of belonging to the HQ Prosocial group. Findings support a malleable perspective on personality and identify longterm positive pathways for youths' Prosocial development.
Morgan J Tear - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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failure to demonstrate that playing violent video games diminishes Prosocial Behavior
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Morgan J Tear, Mark NielsenAbstract:BACKGROUND: Past research has found that playing a classic Prosocial video game resulted in heightened Prosocial Behavior when compared to a control group, whereas playing a classic violent video game had no effect. Given purported links between violent video games and poor social Behavior, this result is surprising. Here our aim was to assess whether this finding may be due to the specific games used. That is, modern games are experienced differently from classic games (more immersion in virtual environments, more connection with characters, etc.) and it may be that playing violent video games impacts Prosocial Behavior only when contemporary versions are used. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Experiments 1 and 2 explored the effects of playing contemporary violent, non-violent, and Prosocial video games on Prosocial Behavior, as measured by the pen-drop task. We found that slight contextual changes in the delivery of the pen-drop task led to different rates of helping but that the type of game played had little effect. Experiment 3 explored this further by using classic games. Again, we found no effect. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to find evidence that playing video games affects Prosocial Behavior. Research on the effects of video game play is of significant public interest. It is therefore important that speculation be rigorously tested and findings replicated. Here we fail to substantiate conjecture that playing contemporary violent video games will lead to diminished Prosocial Behavior. Language: en
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failure to demonstrate that playing violent video games diminishes Prosocial Behavior
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Morgan J Tear, Mark NielsenAbstract:BACKGROUND: Past research has found that playing a classic Prosocial video game resulted in heightened Prosocial Behavior when compared to a control group, whereas playing a classic violent video game had no effect. Given purported links between violent video games and poor social Behavior, this result is surprising. Here our aim was to assess whether this finding may be due to the specific games used. That is, modern games are experienced differently from classic games (more immersion in virtual environments, more connection with characters, etc.) and it may be that playing violent video games impacts Prosocial Behavior only when contemporary versions are used. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Experiments 1 and 2 explored the effects of playing contemporary violent, non-violent, and Prosocial video games on Prosocial Behavior, as measured by the pen-drop task. We found that slight contextual changes in the delivery of the pen-drop task led to different rates of helping but that the type of game played had little effect. Experiment 3 explored this further by using classic games. Again, we found no effect. CONCLUSIONS: We failed to find evidence that playing video games affects Prosocial Behavior. Research on the effects of video game play is of significant public interest. It is therefore important that speculation be rigorously tested and findings replicated. Here we fail to substantiate conjecture that playing contemporary violent video games will lead to diminished Prosocial Behavior. Language: en
Bruce S Cushing - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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inhibiting erα expression in the medial amygdala increases Prosocial Behavior in male meadow voles microtus pennsylvanicus
Behavioural Brain Research, 2018Co-Authors: Lucas A Stetzik, Denis Ganshevsky, Michelle N Lende, Laura E Roache, Sergei Musatov, Bruce S CushingAbstract:Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that site-specific estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression is a critical factor in the expression of male Prosocial Behavior and aggression. Previous studies have shown that in the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) low levels of ERα expression, in the medial amygdala (MeA), play an essential role in the expression of high levels of male Prosocial Behavior and that increasing ERα expression reduced male Prosocial Behavior. We used an shRNA adeno-associated viral vector to knock down/inhibit ERα in the MeA of the polygynous male meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), which displays significantly higher levels of ERα in the MeA than its monogamous relative. Control males were transfected with a luciferase expressing AAV vector. After treatment males participated in three social Behavior tests, a same-sex dyadic encounter, an opposite-sex social preference test and an alloparental test. We predicted that decreasing MeA ERα would increase male meadow vole’s Prosocial Behavior and reduce aggression. The results generally supported the hypothesis. Specifically, MeA knockdown males displayed lower levels of defensive aggression during dyadic encounters and increased levels of overall side-x-side physical contact with females during the social preference test, eliminating the partner preference observed in controls. There was no effect on pup interactions, with both treatments expressing low levels of alloparental Behavior. Behaviors affected were similar to those in male prairie voles with increased ERα in the BST rather than the MeA, suggesting that relative changes of expression within these nuclei may play a critical role in regulating Prosocial Behavior.
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Novel unconditioned Prosocial Behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) as a model for empathy
BMC, 2018Co-Authors: Lucas A Stetzik, Alana W. Sullivan, Heather B. Patisaul, Bruce S CushingAbstract:Abstract Objective In this study, empathy is quantified using a novel social test. Empathy and Prosocial Behavior are linked to the expression of oxytocin in humans and rodent models. Specifically, Prosocial Behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) has been linked to the expression of oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The animal’s Behavior was considered empathic if it spends significantly more time attempting to remove a loos fitting restraint (tether) from the stimulus animal than time in contact with a, simultaneously presented, non-social object similar to the tether. The Behavioral data was cross-referenced with the number of neurons expressing oxytocin and arginine vasopressin, as well as the density of dopaminergic neurons (identified by the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase), in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These proteins influence empathic Behavior in humans, non-human primates, rats, mice, and prairie voles. Results The consistency between neuroanatomical mechanisms linked to empathy, and the durations of time spent engaging in empathic contact, support the prediction that the empathic contact in this test is a distinct Prosocial Behavior, lacking prior Behavioral training or the naturally occurring ethological relevance of other Prosocial Behaviors, and is a measure of empathy
