What factors attract people to play romantic video games?

People in romantic relationships often benefit from improved mental and physical health and well-being. Today, these relationships can be recreated using virtual agents. For instance, some people anthropomorphize and fall in love with a virtual partner in a romantic video game. Although previous psychological research has examined anthropomorphized agents, it has neglected virtual romantic relationships. This study aims to examine the desire to play underlying playing romantic video games (RVGs). In Study 1, 43 Japanese participants completed a survey about their desire to play RVGs and their current romantic relationship status. The research revealed that a human-like voice and the use of touch were perceived as important factors in anthropomorphized relationships. In Study 2, an independent sample of 281 Japanese participants replicated the results of Study 1 regarding the importance of voice and touch in RVGs. Moreover, we found that a desire to develop social skills and alleviate negative emotions independently desire to play RVG use. As an important first step, these findings reveal several factors which might contribute to developing a romantic relationship with a virtual agent

Past and Future of Conformity Research: The Need to Focus on Motivation

Conformity has been studied in social and evolutionary psychology for over half a century. These studies have led to the development of a number of theories that explain why conformity occurs. One such study, which has received particular attention in educational and developmental psychology, claims that conformity occurs because of adjustment. This study explains why adolescents conform to their peers more than to adults. However, the results of studies examining the relationship between conformity and adjustment have been inconsistent, and the validity of the theory has not been empirically demonstrated. The relationship between conformity and adjustment has been one of the sources of evidence for clinical interventions for problem behaviors, such as risk-taking, bullying, and sexual deviance in adolescents. Nevertheless, the validity of those interventions is questionable because the theory has not been proven. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to examine and demonstrate the relationship between conformity and adjustment from a new perspective. This process is the first step in providing more valid and accurate clinical support for adjustment. In this paper, we examine in detail what perspectives should be considered in future conformity research

Shift-and-Persist strategy research: recent findings, current challenges, and future directions

The purpose of this article is to clarify the findings of previous studies on the Shift-and-Persist strategy (S-P strategy) in a low socioeconomic status context, to introduce its theoretical models, and to make suggestions concerning the future direction of this research. First, we describe the relevant aspects of socioeconomic status and the harmful effects of low levels of socioeconomic status. Second, we describe the S-P strategy, which is a protective factor against the negative effects of socioeconomic status, and then review the findings of previous empirical studies. Third, we discuss three unconsidered issues regarding the S-P strategy in order to elaborate its theoretical model: 1) the external validity of the S-P strategy in Japan, 2) the impact of a stable and positive role model, and 3) how the S-P strategy effects the psychological benefits of low socioeconomic status during a threat. Finally, we offer suggestions for future research. It is highly possible that the S-P strategy will be a useful approach in various fields, so these issues should be clarified in future research

Effects of cognitive strategies on behavioral intentions towards strangers: A replication study in the United Kingdom

Previous studies have examined the effects of four cognitive strategies (defensive pessimism (DP), strategic optimism (SO), realistic pessimism (RP), and unjustified optimism (UO)) on cognitive and behavioral patterns in task-related situations. In this context, Shimizu, Nakashima, & Morinaga (2016) found that a tendency toward DP was associated with considerate and respectful behavioral intentions and provided insights into the functions of cognitive strategies in interpersonal contexts. This finding was replicated by Shimizu, Abe, & Nakashima (2020), who showed that UOs had less considerate and respectful behavioral intentions than RPs and SOs. In the present study, we attempted to examine whether the findings of Shimizu et al. (2020) could be replicated in a British adult population (N = 186) who participated in an online survey. Path analysis showed that the association between cognitive strategies and behavioral intentions was not replicated, although the model presented in Shimizu et al. (2020) was fitted (CFI = .99，RMSEA = .05，SRMR = .03). Differences in the functioning of cognitive strategies among participant age groups and cultures are discussed.本研究は，JSPS科研費（17J04187）の補助を受けて行われた

The whole blood transcriptional regulation landscape in 465 COVID-19 infected samples from Japan COVID-19 Task Force

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19患者由来の血液細胞における遺伝子発現の網羅的解析 --重症度に応じた遺伝子発現の変化には、ヒトゲノム配列の個人差が影響する--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-23.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recently-emerged infectious disease that has caused millions of deaths, where comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms is still unestablished. In particular, studies of gene expression dynamics and regulation landscape in COVID-19 infected individuals are limited. Here, we report on a thorough analysis of whole blood RNA-seq data from 465 genotyped samples from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force, including 359 severe and 106 non-severe COVID-19 cases. We discover 1169 putative causal expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) including 34 possible colocalizations with biobank fine-mapping results of hematopoietic traits in a Japanese population, 1549 putative causal splice QTLs (sQTLs; e.g. two independent sQTLs at TOR1AIP1), as well as biologically interpretable trans-eQTL examples (e.g., REST and STING1), all fine-mapped at single variant resolution. We perform differential gene expression analysis to elucidate 198 genes with increased expression in severe COVID-19 cases and enriched for innate immune-related functions. Finally, we evaluate the limited but non-zero effect of COVID-19 phenotype on eQTL discovery, and highlight the presence of COVID-19 severity-interaction eQTLs (ieQTLs; e.g., CLEC4C and MYBL2). Our study provides a comprehensive catalog of whole blood regulatory variants in Japanese, as well as a reference for transcriptional landscapes in response to COVID-19 infection

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Virtually in love: the role of romantic anthropomorphism in the digital age

Introduction: Romantic relationships are a cornerstone of human nature. Today, the needs and benefits of romantic relationships have the potential to be fulfilled by virtual agents (VAs). Although previous psychological research has examined how human needs can be met by anthropomorphised agents, this research has not much considered virtual romantic relationships. Aims: This thesis therefore aims to introduce the concept of romantic anthropomorphism (i.e. giving a non-human agent human-like characteristics in a romantic context) to help understand virtual romance. Specifically, we explored the factors that might contribute to developing a romantic relationship with a VA. To examine virtual romance, we use romantic video games (RVGs) for our two online-based and three laboratory-based studies. RVGs provide people with the opportunity to select, build and enjoy a romantic relationship with a VA. Depending on the player’s answers, the agent’s responses and behaviours towards the player will change. Some people anthropomorphise and fall in love with virtual romantic partners in RVGs. This thesis sets out three major parts. First, this thesis employs social psychological research and theory to review anthropomorphism and romantic relationships. Specifically, we focus on how, why and when people come to anthropomorphise in the digital age. The definition of digital age is the era where computer and technology is largely and widely available to humans. Moving beyond static representations of VAs, we examine the dynamics of human-VA relationships and how they encroach on the closest of human relationships; virtual romance. Secondly, it explores what factors attract people to play RVGs (Study 1 and 2). Finally, it aimed to investigate how romantic anthropomorphism predicts relationship authenticity, desire for real-world relationships, mood and real-world behaviour (Study 3,4 and 5). Method: In Study 1, 43 Japanese participants completed the online survey about their desire to play RVGs and the importance of voice and touch in RVGs. In Study 2, 281 Japanese participants replicated the results of Study 1 regarding the importance of voice and touch in RVGs. The study also examined the anticipated benefits of playing RVGs. In Study 3, 4 and 5, female participants (Study 5: heterosexual female participants) completed the survey before and after playing an RVG for 30 minutes in the laboratory. In Study 5, participants also participated in an interview with an attractive male confederate at the end of the experiment. Results: Two online studies (Study 1 and 2) revealed that a human-like voice and the use of touch were perceived as important factors in anthropomorphised relationships. Moreover, the subsequent studies found that a desire to develop social skills and alleviate negative emotions increases the desire to play RVGs. Three experimental results (Study 3,4, and 5) and internal meta-analysis revealed and successfully replicated that the romantic anthropomorphism of a VA predicted the desire for a real-world virtual relationship, and that greater positive affect via feeling that the relationship built with the VA was authentic. However, playing RVGs did not predict real-world behaviour in a subsequent interaction with a human confederate. Discussion: The most important contribution of this thesis is to cultivate the new concept of ‘romantic anthropomorphism’ and provide the foundations to understand the psychological mechanism of building authentic relationships with a VA. Moreover, this thesis displays a new direction for the field of anthropomorphism for romance in the digital age

The preliminary study for the process from attachment anxiety to physical aggression: The escalation theory of domestic violence

This study aims to provide preliminary evidence of the process by which high attachment anxiety leads to physical attacks from the perspective of the escalation theory of domestic violence (DV). A scenario of a romantic conflict was presented to survey respondents, and the respondents’ jealousy and their coping behaviors were measured. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that not only did a pattern emerge of relationships in which a high degree of attachment anxiety enhanced physical aggression through high psychological aggression toward partners, but also that the relationship between attachment anxiety and psychological aggression was mediated by the intensity of the emotional and cognitive aspects of jealousy and by coping behaviors with conflict in a romantic relationship. The results suggest the need to elaborate on the process by which high attachment anxiety leads to physical attacks from the lens of the escalation theory of DV

From attachment anxiety to physical aggression: A replication study on married couples

This study aimed to accumulate evidence of the additional verification of a model that shows the relationship between attachment anxiety and physical aggression and those related variables adopted in the study by Xie et al. (2022) in married couples. A romantic conflict scenario was presented to married survey respondents. The respondents’ jealousy and coping behaviors were measured. Although structural equation modeling did not reproduce the factor structure of coping behaviors with conflict, it provided evidence for the model’s external validity. These results suggest the need to clarify the causal relationship between physical aggression and high levels of attachment anxiety