Topic
Social system
About: Social system is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2974 publications have been published within this topic receiving 92395 citations.
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TL;DR: The diversity and complexity of reptile social systems are highlighted, reasons for their historical neglect in research are reviewed, and how reptiles can contribute to the understanding of the evolution of vertebrate social behavior are indicated.
Abstract: Although social behavior in vertebrates spans a continuum from solitary to highly social, taxa are often dichotomized as either ‘social’ or ‘non-social’. We argue that this social dichotomy is overly simplistic, neglects the diversity of vertebrate social systems, impedes our understanding of the evolution of social behavior, and perpetuates the erroneous belief that one group—the reptiles— is primarily ‘non-social’. This perspective essay highlights the diversity and complexity of reptile social systems, briefly reviews reasons for their historical neglect in research, and indicates how reptiles can contribute to our understanding of the evolution of vertebrate social behavior. Although a robust review of social behavior across vertebrates is lacking, the repeated evolution of social systems in multiple independent lineages enables investigation of the factors that promote shifts in vertebrate social behavior and the paraphyly of reptiles reinforces the need to understand reptile social behavior. Social behavior broadly refers to any interaction
106 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define the concept of emotion in animals and provide evidence for measuring relevant emotions in non-human primates and present four examples obtained by combining findings from multiple studies.
Abstract: Social relationship is a concept that links the observable social interactions between group members to the inferred group social system. Social relationships allow animals (as well as the human observers) to predict the actions and responses of their partners and therefore guide their own. Social relationships can also be described as investments that benefit the individuals involved in them. Some benefits simply require stable association and some level of mutual tolerance, whereas others depend on the establishment of more fully developed social relationships. The variation in the quality of social relationships leads to a great flexibility in the frequency and quality of interaction with various group members and with the same individual over time. A key issue is therefore to understand the proximate mechanisms underlying such flexibility since individuals need to be able to assess relationship quality in order to maximise the benefits that social relationships provide. Assessment of social relationships should be based on the information contained in the various interactions that the partners exchange. Assessment should therefore require bookkeeping of the various interactions, computation of their relative frequencies, and conversion of their quality and information associated with them into common currencies. We propose emotional mediation as a possible mechanism that fulfils such requirements and provides the individual with a timely assessment to guide its social decision. Emotions are viewed as intervening variables that result from the integration of the information contained in the various interactions between two partners. Before presenting evidence for relationship assessment through emotional mediation, we define the concept of emotion in animals and provide evidence for measuring relevant emotions in non-human primates. Then, we present four examples obtained by combining findings from multiple studies. The examples provide evidence for emotion resulting from information contained in the interactions exchanged by the partners and for emotional differences being at the basis of the variation in social interactions. Thus, animals may appreciate variation in their social relationships through emotional mediation. This is a promising avenue to disclose the proximate mechanisms of relationship assessment and we suggest new lines of research to gather further evidence for the role of emotional mediation.
105 citations
Book•
12 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a theory toolbox for the study of modernity and post-modernity in the context of classical theory, focusing on the evolution of the universe at a Glance.
Abstract: Prelude Chapter 1 - Imagining Society Foundations of Theory The Sociological Perspective Assumptions Concerning Society Assumptions Concerning Values The Beginnings of Theory and Learning to Theorize Themes in Classical Theory Chapter 2: Organic Evolution-Herbert Spencer (British 1820 - 1903) The Perspective: The Evolution of the Universe at a Glance Social Evolution Social Institutions Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 3: Engines of Change-Karl Marx (German, 1818 - 1883) Chapter 3: Engines of Change-Karl Marx (German, 1818 - 1883) The Basic Features of Capitalism Ramifications of Capitalism Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 4: Cultural Consensus-Aemile Durkheim (French, 1885 - 1917) The Perspective: Social Facts and the Law of Culture Religious Roots of Society Social Diversity and Morality Individualism Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 5: Authority and Rationality-Max Weber (German, 1864 -1920) The Perspective: Complex Sociology The Evolution of Religion The Rise of Capitalism: Religion and States Class, Authority, and Social Change Rationality In Action Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 6: Society and the Individual-Georg Simmel (German, 1858 - 1918) The Perspective: The Individual and Objective Culture Social Forms Objectifying Culture Two Objective Institutions: Religion & Gender Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 7: Self Consciousness-George Herbert Mead (American, 1863 -1931) The Perspective: Society Inside Basic Human Tools: Symbols and Minds Living Outside the Moment-The Self The Emergent Big Brother Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 8: A Society of Difference - Harriet Martineau, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and W.E.B. Du Bois Chapter 9: The Problem of Meaning and Reality-Alfred Schutz (Austrian, 1899 - 1959) The Perspective: Social Phenomenology-Seeing Realty from a Human Viewpoint Being Conscious in the Lifeworld Ordering the Lifeworld-Creating Human Reality Connecting With Others Thinking About Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 10: The Social System-Talcott Parsons (American, 1902 - 1979) The Perspective: Abstract Social Systems The Making of the Social System System Functions and Control Social Change Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Chapter 11: Theorizing Society What to See-Provocative Possibilities How to See-Tools of the Trade References References
103 citations
13 Nov 2011
TL;DR: System justification is a social psychology term of art that designates any motivational tendency to defend, bolster, or rationalize existing social, economic, and political arrangements as discussed by the authors ; it is conceptualized as a response tendency possessed by many, or perhaps most, members of society to see aspects of the overarching social system as good, fair, and legitimate.
Abstract: System justification is a social psychology term of art that designates any motivational tendency to defend, bolster, or rationalize existing social, economic, and political arrangements. It is conceptualized as a response tendency possessed by many, or perhaps most, members of society to see aspects of the overarching social system as good, fair, and legitimate. Consequently, alternatives to the status quo are often derogated or avoided for ideologically defensive reasons. In other words, system justification is an inherently conservative inclination to preserve “the way things are,” sometimes even at the expense of objective social interests (Jost, Banaji, & Nosek, 2004).
Keywords:
cognitive dissonance theory;
protestant work ethic;
american dream ideology;
belief in a just world;
free-market fundamentalism;
political conservatism;
epistemic needs;
existential needs;
relational needs;
social identity theory;
system-serving beliefs
103 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1971
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyse the relationship between social structure and economic performance in India and Pakistan and establish whether the social system had a significant dysfunctional role in hindering growth in the past, and whether the situation has changed since independence.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship between social structure and economic performance in India and Pakistan. It seeks to establish whether the social system had a significant dysfunctional role in hindering growth in the past, and whether the situation has changed since independence. It analyses the extent to which governments in office really tried to change the social structure and the degree to which their rhetorical commitments were constrained by the inertia of tradition and by the vested interests which inherited economic and social power.
103 citations