Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms

Much research found that economic inequality - the dispersion of incomes distribution among individuals in a society - affects subjective well-being (SWB). As a meta-analysis has shown, the association between economic inequality, commonly measured by the Gini index, and individuals' SWB is weak and not significant. Psychosocial research suggests that the situational perception, rather than objective reality, has a greater impact on individuals. Our aim was to investigate whether and how objective and subjective measures of economic inequality affect the subjective individuals' well-being, both in its affective and cognitive components. A representative Italian sample (N = 1446, 51% women; average age = 42.42 years, SD = 12.87) answered an online survey. Multilevel regressions detected a negative and significant effect of the inequality perception on well-being. In contrast, the Gini index showed no effect. Two psychological mechanisms explain the association between perceived inequality and well-being: Perceived anger toward inequality and individuals' economic vulnerability. The parallel mediation models showed that the effect of perceived inequality is conveyed by cognitive (economic vulnerability) and emotional (anger) processing of inequality. Findings also highlighted the role of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

The Dirty Side of Work: Biologization of Physically Tainted Workers

The present studies aim to expand research on dehumanization in the work domain by exploring the biologization – an unexplored form of dehumanization that involves the perception of others as infected and contagious – of physically tainted workers. By integrating the literature on biologization with that of disgust and physically dirty work, we expected that the biologization of workers would be explained by their dirty work environment and by increased feelings of disgust towards them. In Study 1, we showed that focusing on a dirty work environment (vs. on the person performing the work) increased feelings of disgust towards workers and, in turn, their biologization. Coherently, in Study 2, we found that a physically tainted occupation (vs. baseline condition) increased participants’ feelings of disgust and biological dehumanization towards the worker. In contrast, a non-physically tainted occupation (vs. baseline condition) had no effects on disgust and biologization. The theoretical and practical implications are considered

Givinostat-Liposomes: Anti-Tumor Effect on 2D and 3D Glioblastoma Models and Pharmacokinetics

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor, associated with poor prognosis and survival, representing a challenging medical issue for neurooncologists. Dysregulation of histone-modifying enzymes (HDACs) is commonly identified in many tumors and has been linked to cancer proliferation, changes in metabolism, and drug resistance. These findings led to the development of HDAC inhibitors, which are limited by their narrow therapeutic index. In this work, we provide the proof of concept for a delivery system that can improve the in vivo half-life and increase the brain delivery of Givinostat, a pan-HDAC inhibitor. Here, 150-nm-sized liposomes composed of cholesterol and sphingomyelin with or without surface decoration with mApoE peptide, inhibited human glioblastoma cell growth in 2D and 3D models by inducing a time-and dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, reduction in the receptors involved in cholesterol metabolism (from −25% to −75% of protein levels), and reduction in HDAC activity (−25% within 30 min). In addition, liposome-Givinostat formulations showed a 2.5-fold increase in the drug half-life in the bloodstream and a 6-fold increase in the amount of drug entering the brain in healthy mice, without any signs of overt toxicity. These features make liposomes loaded with Givinostat valuable as potential candidates for glioblastoma therapy

Deletion of the mental retardation gene Gdi1 impairs associative memory and alters social behavior in mice

Non-specific mental retardation (NSMR) is a common human disorder characterized by mental handicap as the only clinical symptom. Among the recently identified MR genes is GDI1, which encodes αGdi, one of the proteins controlling the activity of the small GTPases of the Rab family in vesicle fusion and intracellular trafficking. We report the cognitive and behavioral characterization of mice carrying a deletion of Gdi1. The Gdi1-deficient mice are fertile and anatomically normal. They appear normal also in many tasks to assess spatial and episodic memory and emotional behavior. Gdi1-deficient mice are impaired in tasks requiring formation of short-term temporal associations, suggesting a defect in short-term memory. In addition, they show lowered aggression and altered social behavior. In mice, as in humans, lack of Gdi1 spares most central nervous system functions and preferentially impairs only a few forebrain functions required to form temporal associations. The general similarity to human mental retardation is striking, and suggests that the Gdi1 mutants may provide insights into the human defect and into the molecular mechanisms important for development of cognitive function

2. Lo studio psicosociale delle molestie sessuali

Quello delle molestie di strada è un fenomeno talmente diffuso che nessuna donna rimarrebbe sorpresa se scoprisse che, nel contesto italiano, più del 69% delle rispondenti a un’indagine sul tema ha raccontato di essere stata pedinata almeno una volta nella propria vita da un gruppo di uomini in un luogo pubblico. Su 1459 partecipanti, poi, il 79% ha dichiarato di essere stata vittima di molestie di strada da parte di uno sconosciuto prima dei 17 anni, il 57% prima dei 15 e il 9% prima dei 10 ..

1. Le molestie sessuali

Le molestie sessuali riescono in un’impresa apparentemente inconciliabile: quella di essere invisibili e, allo stesso tempo, sotto gli occhi di tutti. Invisibili perché considerate qualcosa di perfettamente normale, spesso interpretate come scherzi, battute o complimenti, invece che per quello che davvero sono. Sotto gli occhi di tutti perché costituiscono un fenomeno drammaticamente frequente, come attestato dai dati e testimoniato dalle parole di chi le subisce quotidianamente. Dati i conto..

Raccontare le molestie sessuali

Le molestie di strada e le molestie sessuali fanno parte dell’esperienza quotidiana di molte persone, eppure risultano spesso invisibili perché giudicate banali o insignificanti. Questo libro nasce dalla necessità di far luce su tali fenomeni, partendo da una ricerca condotta presso l’Università di Milano-Bicocca. Le molte partecipanti donne e i pochi partecipanti uomini hanno usato l’occasione per raccontare ogni tipo di molestie subite, fino alle violenze più gravi. I loro racconti consentono di tracciare una mappa del fenomeno, descrivendone ampiezza, tipologie, autori, conseguenze, reazioni, vissuti, emozioni. Sono testimonianze che documentano il persistere di una miseria relazionale e sociale, iscritta nel maschilismo ancora presente nel nostro paese. Vista dalla parte di chi la subisce, questa miseria si rivela potente nella sua quotidiana capacità di provocare dolore, di intralciare percorsi e frenare aspirazioni. I racconti testimoniano però anche la capacità di resistenza e riflessione di chi non ha più intenzione di subire, attestano la crescita di una coscienza civile che si ribella al dominio patriarcale e rivendica la necessità che donne e uomini sviluppino relazioni mature, capaci di fornire a tutte e a tutti sostegno, solidarietà, affetto

The impacts of COVID-19 on the relationship between perceived economic inequality and political action among socioeconomic classes

Economic inequality qualifies as a structural characteristic leading to political action, albeit this relationship manifests differently across socioeconomic classes. COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing economic inequalities in ways that increased social tensions and political unrest around the world. This research investigates the effect of COVID-19 personal impacts on the relationship between perceived economic inequality and individuals’ political actions. An online survey was administered to a representative sample of 1446 Italians of which 51% were women with a mean age of 42.42 years (SD = 12.87). The questionnaire assessed the perceived economic inequality, the personal impacts of COVID-19 (i.e., on finance, mental health, and ability to procure resources), and individuals’ involvement in political actions. Moderation analyses were conducted separately for different socioeconomic classes (i.e., lower, middle, and upper classes). Results showed that individuals who perceive greater economic inequality are more likely to take action, but only if they belong to the higher class. For lower-class individuals, perceiving greater inequality erodes political action. Interaction effects occurred mainly in the middle class and with COVID-19 impacts on resources procurement, which inhibits political action

Effects of objective and subjective indicators of economic inequality on subjective well-being: Underlying mechanisms

Much research found that economic inequality – the dispersion of incomes distribution among individuals in a society – affects subjective well-being. As a meta-analysis has shown, the association between economic inequality, commonly measured by the Gini Index, and subjective well-being is weak and not significant. Psychosocial research suggests that the perception of a situation, rather than objective reality, more impacts individuals. Our aim was to investigate whether and how objective and subjective measures of economic inequality affect the subjective well-being of individuals, both in its affective and cognitive components. A representative Italian sample (N = 1446 51% women; average age =42.42 years, SD = 12.87) answered an online survey. Multilevel regressions detected a negative and significant effect of the inequality perception on well-being. In contrast, the Gini index showed no effect. Two psychological mechanisms explain the association between perceived inequality and well-being: anger perceived toward inequality and individuals' economic vulnerability.The parallel mediation models showed that the effect of perceived inequality is conveyed by cognitive (vulnerability) and emotional (anger) processing of inequality. Findings are also discussed in the light of the ongoing pandemic, as we took into account the COVID-19 impact

Objectified conformity: working self-objectification increases conforming behavior

The present work explores whether self-objectification triggered by doing peculiar work activities would increase people’s conforming behavior. We conducted an experimental study in which participants (N = 140) were asked to perform a high objectifying activity (vs. low objectifying activity vs. baseline condition) simulating a real computer job. Afterwards, their levels of self-objectification and conforming behavior were assessed. Results revealed that participants who performed the high objectifying activity self-objectified (i.e., perceived themselves as lacking human mental states) more than the other conditions and, in turn, conformed more to the judgments of unknown similar others. Crucially, increased self-objectification mediated the effects of the high objectifying activity on enhancing conforming behavior. Theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed