Although individuals in some species refuse foods they normally accept if their partner receives a more preferred one, this is not true across all species: Western lowland gorillas do not show an aversion to inequity in a token exchange task

Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) do not show an aversion to inequity in a token exchange task. Meghan J. Sosnowski, Lindsey A. Drayton, Laurent Prétôt, Jodi Carrigan, Tara S. Stoinski, Sarah F. Brosnan. American Journal of Primatology, September 3 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23326

Abstract: Although individuals in some species refuse foods they normally accept if their partner receives a more preferred one, this is not true across all species. The cooperation hypothesis proposes that this species-level variability evolved because inequity aversion is a mechanism to identify situations in which cooperation is not paying off, and that species regularly observed cooperating should be more likely to be averse to inequity. To rule out other potential explanations of inequity aversion, we need to test the converse as well: species rarely observed cooperating, especially those phylogenetically close to more cooperative species, should be less likely to be inequity averse. To this end, we tested eight zoo-housed Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) on a token exchange task in which subjects received either the same food reward or a less-preferred reward for the same or more effort than their partner, recording both refusals to participate in the exchange and refusals to accept the reward. Supporting the cooperation hypothesis, even with procedural differences across sessions, gorillas were significantly more likely to refuse in all conditions in which they received a low-value food reward after completing an exchange, regardless of what their partner received, suggesting that gorillas were not inequity averse, but instead would not work for a low-value reward. Additionally, gorillas were more likely to refuse later in the session; while the pattern of refusals remained unchanged after accounting for this, this suggests that species should be tested on as many trials as is practical.

Research Highlights

We tested Western lowland gorillas, a species that is rarely observed cooperating in the wild, on a token exchange paradigm in which reward and effort differed between the subject and the conspecific partner.

Gorillas did not respond negatively to inequitable outcomes, but instead refused to participate in all conditions where they must put in effort to receive a low-value reward. We also found that gorillas were more likely to refuse to participate later in a session.

We discuss the implications for the cooperation hypothesis of the evolution of inequity aversion, as well as interesting future directions for research in responses to inequity.

Assignment to orientation week groups with high levels of peer ability is associated with lower performance during the first year at college & a higher probability of early dropout, effects driven entirely by the exposure of low-ability students to high-ability peers

The Persistent Effects of Short-Term Peer Groups on Performance: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Higher Education. Petra Thiemann. , Sep 2 2021. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.3993

Abstract: This paper studies the persistent effects of short-term peer exposure on long-run performance in a college setting. I exploit the random assignment of undergraduates to peer groups during a mandatory orientation week and track the students’ performance over four years (until graduation). Assignment to orientation week groups with high levels of peer ability is associated with lower performance during the first year at college and a higher probability of early dropout. These adverse effects are driven entirely by the exposure of low-ability students to high-ability peers. Beyond the first year, exposure to higher peer ability during the orientation week negatively affects selection into the college’s most popular major (business administration) and final grade point average. Taken together, the findings suggest that the composition of short-term peer groups matters for individual choices and long-run performance outcomes.

Zoomication: The absence of physical presence in communication processes leads to not only an objectification of verbal interaction as well as a lack of trust and social connection, but also an inordinate focus on appearance

Zoomication: The New Normal? Observations and experiences in the light of Covid in 2020. Anette Bickmeyer . Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation (GIO) volume 52, pages459–466. July 21 2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11612-021-00587-5

Abstract

This article published in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) considers the possible impact of video conferences on communication processes in non-profit organizations and commercial companies, as well as the potential of related psychological effects on individual staff members.

The author’s reflections and conclusions are based on the underlying assumption that the increasing use of communication tools such as Zoom (a phenomenon labeled Zoomication) is leading to changes in the social behavior of staff members—changes that affect not only the communication patterns but also the self-perception of individuals.

The absence of physical presence in communication processes leads to not only an objectification of verbal interaction as well as a lack of trust and social connection, but also an inordinate focus on appearance, due to extensive (self)-observation in the computer screen during video meetings.

Moreover, hierarchical traditions, traditionally signaled by dress codes and non-verbal behavior, are challenged by the new format.

Drawing on a data corpus grounded in informal research and interviews with informants from commercial organizations and non-profits, the article evaluates the benefits and risks Zoom-style conferences as a new main medium of communication from the perspective of employees and project leaders.