Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology

Previous research has provided theoretical frameworks for building inter-disciplinary bridges between sociology and the neurosciences; yet, more anatomically, or functionally focused perspectives offering detailed information to sociologists are largely missing from the literature. This manuscript addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive review of the functions of the frontal lobes, arguably the most important brain region involved in various “human” skills ranging from abstract thinking to language. The paper proposes that the functions of the frontal lobe sub-regions can be divided into three inter-related hierarchical systems with varying degrees of causal proximity in regulating human behavior and social connectedness: (a) the most proximate, voluntary, controlled behavior—including motor functions underlying action-perception and mirror neurons, (b) more abstract motivation and emotional regulation—such as Theory of Mind and empathy, and (c) the higher-order executive functioning—e.g., inhibition of racial bias. The paper offers insights from the social neuroscience literature on phenomena that lie at the core of social theory and research including moral cognition and behavior, and empathy and inter-group attitudes and provides future research questions for interdisciplinary research

A Novel Measure of Moral Boundaries: Testing Perceived In-Group/Out-Group Value Differences in a Midwestern Sample

The literature on group differences and social identities has long assumed that value judgments about groups constitute a basic form of social categorization. However, little research has empirically investigated how values unite or divide social groups. The authors seek to address this gap by developing a novel measure of group values: third-order beliefs about in- and out-group members, building on Schwartz value theory. The authors demonstrate that their new measure is a promising empirical tool for quantifying previously abstract social boundaries. Results from a midwestern sample show an important dichotomy such that in-groups were attributed the more positive and altruistic transcendence and openness values, while out-groups were associated conservation and enhancement, the value domains revolving around a self-focus and social restraint. Furthermore, religious attendance and political ideology also emerged as strong predictors of value boundaries, whereas socioeconomic indicators were less influential. Significance and implications are discussed.</div

Neurosociology

Rengin Firat (UC Riverside) discusses how human neurology shapes the social phenomena that sociologists study

sj-docx-1-hsb-10.1177_00221465241232658 – Supplemental material for Socioeconomic-Status-Based Disrespect, Discrimination, Exclusion, and Shaming: A Potential Source of Health Inequalities?

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-hsb-10.1177_00221465241232658 for Socioeconomic-Status-Based Disrespect, Discrimination, Exclusion, and Shaming: A Potential Source of Health Inequalities? by Bruce G. Link, San Juanita García, Rengin Firat, Shayna La Scalla and Jo C. Phelan in Journal of Health and Social Behavior</p

Os Contornos e o Entorno da Nova Sociologia da Moral

Neste ensaio vou expor brevemente como vejo o desenvolvimento do campo da Sociologia da Moral, com foco em seu potencial fundamentalmente interdisciplinar, destacando os estudos e tradições que merecem ser incorporados à sociologia. A moral, como tema de investigação da ciência social, perpassa os campos da psicologia (social e do desenvolvimento), sociologia, antropologia, neurociências e economia. Aqueles entre nós implicados no seu desenvolvimento afirmam que ela serve de fundamento para toda a organização e interação social. Assumo, implicitamente, a posição do filósofo Charles Taylor e do sociólogo Christian Smith de que os seres humanos vivem envolvidos em teias de significados, pelas quais são moldados, conforme versões de "certo" e de "bem". Os seres humanos são fundamentalmente morais, não no sentido de serem convencionalmente altruístas ou de se preocuparem com os outros, mas de que as pessoas humanas, por serem seres sociais habitando um espaço social, devem assumir posições sobre temas relevantes nessas sociedades e grupos. As pessoas, de um modo geral, nesse meu paradigma, ancoram seus sentidos de si em posicionamentos morais, padrões que oferecem um solo a partir do qual dão sentido ao mundo através de lentes morais. Uma sociologia da moral compreende a formação dessas crenças, sua relativa imutabilidade ou as circunstâncias pelas quais elas mudam, sua influência sobre a ação e sua reconstrução retrospectiva diante de efeitos desajustados ou de pressões sociais