"In x Out": reviewing the group bias through the biological perspective

The factors underlying to the ingroup favoritism and outgroup indifference/hostility are broadly studied by social psychology, where studies report that, for example, individuals trust more and associate positive words to members of the same group. The study of these factors can help in understand phenomena such as prejudice and ethonocentrism. However, a systematic search in the databases Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scielo, and Lilacs for the keywords related to group bias showed a studies shortage for this topic in Brazil. Besides, in the studies retrieved, just one fi tted into evolutionary perspective and no study has approached the neuroendocrine mechanisms of the group bias. Therefore, the objective of this study was to discuss the group bias through the biological perspective, explaining the evolutionary hypothesis to the evolution of these behaviors, the methods applied to study this topic, and the neuroendocrine basis and neural substrates mediating them

What Does Women's Facial Attractiveness Signal? Implications for an Evolutionary Perspective on Appearance Enhancement.

In their Target Article, Davis and Arnocky (2020) suggest that evolutionary theories of mate preferences can contribute to our understanding of why appearance-enhancement behaviors are seemingly ubiquitous. We support their argument that an interdisciplinary approach, in which evolutionary and other perspectives are fully integrated, will give us a more complete understanding of appearance-enhancement behaviors. We also agree that evolutionary theories of mate preferences have the potential to provide new insights into why such behaviors are so common. Here, we use the literature on women’s facial attractiveness to highlight an important limitation of this argument: uncertainty about precisely what is signalled by physical attractiveness

No evidence that partnered and unpartnered gay men differ in their preferences for male facial masculinity

Women's preferences for masculine characteristics in men's faces have been extensively studied. By contrast, little is known about how gay men respond to masculine facial characteristics. One area of disagreement in the emerging literature on this topic is the association between gay men's partnership status and masculinity preference. One study found that partnered gay men showed stronger preferences for masculine faces than did single gay men, while another study found that partnered gay men showed weaker preferences for masculine faces than did single gay men. We re-examined this issue in a sample of 618 gay men, finding no significant difference between partnered and single gay men's masculinity preferences. Together with the mixed previous findings, our null result suggests that the effect of partnership status on gay men's face preferences is not robust

An attachment measure: Brazilian version of Experiences in Close Relationship Scale - Short Form = Uma medida de apego: Versão brasileira da Experiences in Close Relationship Scale - Reduzida (ECR-R-Brasil)

The aim of this study was to adapt and seek validity evidence for the Brazilian population of the short version of the Experience in Close Relationship Scale. After translation procedures of the 12 items, 4,879 adults from all regions of the country answered the instrument, being 66% women. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses showed a suitable two-factor structure, in line with the original study. The reliability coefficients of "anxiety" and "avoidance" factors were adequate. We found results of sex differences and correlations with length of relationship and sociosexuality according to the theoretical assumptions and very similar to those found in the Brazilian long-version of the measure. Also, the scale was able to discriminate participants who were in a committed relationship of those in non-committed relationships. We consider that our Brazilian adapted version of the instrument displayed satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability

Uma medida de apego: versão brasileira da Experiences in Close Relationship Scale - Reduzida (ECR-R-Brasil)

Les objectifs de cette étude étaient d'adapter et de trouver des preuves de validité pour la population brésilienne de la version réduite de l'échelle Experience in Close Relationship. Après la traduction de ses 12 questions, l'instrument a été répondu par 4,879 adultes de toutes les régions du pays, dont 66% femmes. Analyses factorielles exploratoires et confirmatoires ont montré la pertinence de la structure de deux facteurs, conformément l'étude originale. La fiabilité de les facteurs " anxiété " et " evitement " étaient appropriées. Les résultats pour les différences de sexe et corrélations avec la durée de la relation et socioséxualité ont respecté les hypothèses théoriques et ont été très semblables à celles trouvées par la version brésilienne étendue de la mesure. L'échelle a été capable de distinguer les participants qui étaient dans une relation engagée de ceux qui étaient dans relations sans engagement. On considère que cette version brésilienne adaptée de l'instrument a montré preuves satisfaisantes de validité et fiabilité.The aim of this study was to adapt and seek validity evidence for the Brazilian population of the short version of the Experience in Close Relationship Scale. After translation procedures of the 12 items, 4,879 adults from all regions of the country answered the instrument, being 66% women. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses showed a suitable two-factor structure, in line with the original study. The reliability coefficients of "anxiety" and "avoidance" factors were adequate. We found results of sex differences and correlations with length of relationship and sociosexuality according to the theoretical assumptions and very similar to those found in the Brazilian long-version of the measure. Also, the scale was able to discriminate participants who were in a committed relationship of those in non-committed relationships. We consider that our Brazilian adapted version of the instrument displayed satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability.Los objetivos de esta pesquisa fueron adaptar y buscar pruebas de validez para la población brasileña de la versión reducida de la escala Experience in Close Relationship. Después de procedimientos de traducción de los 12 ítems, el instrumento fue contestado por 4.879 adultos de todas las regiones del país, y 66% de ellos eran mujeres. Análisis factoriales exploratorias y confirmatorias demostraron la adecuación de la estructura de dos factores, en conformidad con el estudio original. Los índices de consistencia interna de los factores "ansiedad" y "evitación" se mostraron satisfactorios. Encontramos resultados de diferencias sexuales y correlaciones con el tiempo de relación y niveles de sociosexualidad de acuerdo con las hipótesis teóricas y muy similares a los encontrados para la versión brasileña de la medida extendida. La escala fue capaz de distinguir los participantes que se encontraban en relaciones comprometidas de aquellos en relaciones sin compromiso. Se consideran satisfactorias las pruebas de validez y confiabilidad encontradas para la ECR-R-Brasil.Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram adaptar e buscar evidências de validade para a população brasileira da versão reduzida da Experience in Close Relationship. Após procedimentos de tradução dos 12 itens, o instrumento foi respondido por 4.879 adultos de todas as regiões do país, 66% mulheres. Análises fatoriais exploratórias e confirmatórias evidenciaram a adequação da estrutura de dois fatores, em consonância com o estudo original. Os índices de consistência interna dos fatores "ansiedade" e "evitação" mostraram-se satisfatórios. Encontraram-se resultados de diferenças sexuais e correlações com tempo de relacionamento e níveis de sociossexualidade de acordo com as hipóteses teóricas e muito semelhantes aos encontrados para a versão brasileira da medida estendida. Ainda, a escala foi capaz de diferenciar participantes que estavam em relacionamento compromissado daqueles em relacionamento sem compromisso. Considera-se que as evidências de validade e fidedignidade encontradas para a ECR-R-Brasil mostraram-se satisfatórias

Mapping physical characteristics in face images to social judgements

Sutherland and Young (Br. J. Psychol., 113, 2022, 1056) provide a comprehensive and timely overview of recent developments in research on social judgements of faces, emphasizing the utility of data-driven approaches. Here, we expand on this theme, focusing on how data-driven approaches can provide new insights into the physical characteristics in face images that best predict social judgements

The impact of symptom clusters on endocrine therapy adherence in patients with breast cancer

Background: When taken as prescribed, endocrine therapy is effective in reducing risk of recurrence and mortality in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. However, treatment side effects can act as a barrier to medication adherence. Existing research has not identified any specific side effects as consistent predictors of nonadherence. Our aim was to explore the influence of symptom clusters on self-reported adherence in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted, including patients with breast cancer currently or previously prescribed endocrine therapy (N=1051). This included measures of self-reported endocrine therapy adherence and common symptoms among this population (insomnia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, musculoskeletal, and vasomotor symptoms). Results: Unintentional nonadherence was higher than intentional nonadherence (50.8% vs 31.01%). The most troublesome symptom was insomnia (73.83% displayed probable insomnia disorder). K-means cluster analysis identified 2 symptom clusters: overall High symptoms, and overall Low symptoms. Participants in the Low symptoms cluster were significantly more likely to be classed as adherent based on unintentional and intentional items. Conclusions: Nonadherence was high in the current sample, and significantly more likely in participants reporting overall severe symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of the scale of common side effects and facilitate open conversation about potential barriers to adherence. Follow-up care should include assessment of common symptoms and signpost patients to appropriate support or treatment when required. Future research should explore potential for a central symptom to act as a target for intervention, to relieve overall side effect burden and facilitate better medication adherence

Sexual orientation predicts men's preferences for sexually dimorphic face-shape characteristics: a replication study

Many researchers have proposed that straight men prefer women’s faces displaying feminine shape characteristics at least partly because mating with such women will produce healthier offspring. Although a prediction of this adaptation-for-mate-choice hypothesis is that straight men will show stronger preferences for feminized versus masculinized versions of women’s faces than will gay men, only one previous study has directly tested this prediction. Here we directly replicated that study by comparing 623 gay and 3163 straight men’s preferences for feminized versus masculinized versions of faces. Consistent with the adaptation-for-mate-choice hypothesis of straight men’s femininity preferences, we found that straight men showed significantly stronger preferences for feminized female faces than did gay men. Consistent with previous research suggesting that gay men place a premium on masculinity in potential romantic partners, we also found that gay men showed significantly stronger preferences for masculinized versions of male faces than did straight men. Together, these findings indicate the sexual orientation contributes to individual differences in men’s face preferences

The impact of symptom clusters on endocrine therapy adherence in patients with breast cancer

Background: When taken as prescribed, endocrine therapy is effective in reducing risk of recurrence and mortality in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. However, treatment side effects can act as a barrier to medication adherence. Existing research has not identified any specific side effects as consistent predictors of nonadherence. Our aim was to explore the influence of symptom clusters on self-reported adherence in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted, including patients with breast cancer currently or previously prescribed endocrine therapy (N=1051). This included measures of self-reported endocrine therapy adherence and common symptoms among this population (insomnia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, musculoskeletal, and vasomotor symptoms). Results: Unintentional nonadherence was higher than intentional nonadherence (50.8% vs 31.01%). The most troublesome symptom was insomnia (73.83% displayed probable insomnia disorder). K-means cluster analysis identified 2 symptom clusters: overall High symptoms, and overall Low symptoms. Participants in the Low symptoms cluster were significantly more likely to be classed as adherent based on unintentional and intentional items. Conclusions: Nonadherence was high in the current sample, and significantly more likely in participants reporting overall severe symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of the scale of common side effects and facilitate open conversation about potential barriers to adherence. Follow-up care should include assessment of common symptoms and signpost patients to appropriate support or treatment when required. Future research should explore potential for a central symptom to act as a target for intervention, to relieve overall side effect burden and facilitate better medication adherence

Are dark triad cues really visible in faces?

The ‘dark triad’ refers to the personality traits narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Previous research found that participants could distinguish dark triad faces when judging images with average facial characteristics of people who scored either high or low on these traits. These results suggest that faces contain valid cues to dark triad personality traits and that the dark triad is a set of physical-morphological characteristics, as well as a set of psycho-social characteristics. Because putative links between personality traits and facial appearance have often not replicated well across studies, we attempted to replicate these results with a new set of face images. Participants correctly identified the high-narcissism male and female prototypes and the high-psychopathy male prototype significantly more often than would be expected by chance. By contrast, our analyses showed no evidence that participants could discriminate between the high-and low-Machiavellianism prototypes for either sex. Surprisingly, participants correctly identified the high-psychopathy female prototype significantly less often than would be expected by chance alone. Together our results suggest that male and female faces contain valid cues of narcissism, but do not necessarily contain valid cues of psychopathy or Machiavellianism