All posts tagged: influences

Laz Alonso Pitches ‘The Boys’ Spinoff, MM Influence’s on Spinoff

Laz Alonso Pitches ‘The Boys’ Spinoff, MM Influence’s on Spinoff

Published by Daniella Wilson

[This story contains spoilers from the fifth and final season finale of The Boys.] Laz Alonso’s character Mother’s Milk was one of the few characters that got out of The Boys unscathed (if unscathed meant not dying by the series finale). After saying goodbye to the rest of his fellow supe fighters after Billy Butcher’s funeral, Mother’s Milk returns home to life with his wife and daughter. But he doesn’t leave the group alone, as it’s revealed that Ryan, the son to supervillain Homelander and Billy Butcher’s late wife Becca, has gone with him. Alonso tells The Hollywood Reporter the decision for Mother’s Milk to take Ryan under his wing “was a symbol of breaking generational curses.”  “If we understand who Ryan is to MM, he’s very close to MM’s story, because he’s the grandson of Soldier Boy, the man that killed MM’s grandfather and sent him down this completely different life of spiraling out of control,” he says. “When [series creator Eric] Kripke explained to me the whole arc of the character, it just …

Class background influences whether genetic predisposition for intelligence drives you left or right

Class background influences whether genetic predisposition for intelligence drives you left or right

Published by José Betancourt

A person’s economic political views are shaped by their genetic predisposition for cognitive performance interacting with their childhood social class. People with a higher genetic likelihood for cognitive performance tend to adopt left-wing policies if they grew up poor, and right-wing policies if they grew up wealthy. The research was published in Political Psychology. Understanding differences in economic policy preferences is a primary goal of political science. Traditional models in political economics assume that individuals will support policies that benefit them financially. In a strictly theoretical system where flat taxes are redistributed equally, anyone earning below the average income should want complete redistribution, while anyone earning above the average should oppose it. While real political systems are messier, the fundamental dynamic generally holds. Low-income earners tend to benefit from proportional taxation and redistribution, while high-income earners bear the costs. In recent years, researchers have found that genetics also influence political behavior. Studies using various methods have documented genetic overlaps with political preferences. This overlap means that ideological preferences partially share the same genetic architecture as …

New study shows how Nazi-era propaganda influences present-day attitudes

New study shows how Nazi-era propaganda influences present-day attitudes

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology suggests that viewing historical propaganda that glorifies dictators tends to soften the negative emotions people feel about past atrocities. Scientists found that mixing images of a smiling, approachable Adolf Hitler with photographs of Holocaust atrocities lessened feelings of guilt and increased positive emotions among modern German viewers. These findings provide evidence that historical propaganda can still manipulate human emotions decades after its creation. Museums and educators often struggle with how to present historical artifacts from dark periods of history. Some experts worry that displaying positive, everyday photographs of dictators might communicate distorted images of the past to younger generations. Other people argue that these materials are simply historical evidence without the power to influence modern minds. Historically, the Nazi party relied heavily on propaganda to secure public support. A large portion of this propaganda focused on glorifying Adolf Hitler. He was frequently depicted as a relatable man of the people as well as a revered savior. Scientists have extensively studied derogatory propaganda, which dehumanizes …

Social context influences dating preferences just as much as biological sex

Social context influences dating preferences just as much as biological sex

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in Evolution and Human Behavior suggests that a person’s socioeconomic background plays a massive role in shaping what they look for in a romantic partner. The findings provide evidence that the surrounding environment and access to resources often influence dating preferences just as much as biological sex. Ultimately, this research challenges rigid stereotypes about male and female behavior, showing that human mating strategies adapt fluidly to social conditions. Historically, evolutionary psychology has focused heavily on the biological differences between men and women when it comes to choosing a partner. The standard framework suggests that men tend to prioritize physical attractiveness to maximize reproductive success, while women tend to prioritize resources to ensure stability for offspring. However, human dating behavior is highly complex and responsive to environmental pressures. The authors of the new study wanted to better understand how resource availability and social standing interact with these biological predispositions. They wanted to see if people from different socioeconomic backgrounds adjusted their romantic preferences and their self-esteem to fit their specific life circumstances. …

Biological sex influences how blood markers reflect Alzheimer’s severity

Biological sex influences how blood markers reflect Alzheimer’s severity

Published by José Betancourt

A new study suggests that a promising blood test for Alzheimer’s disease may need to be interpreted differently depending on whether the patient is male or female. The researchers found that for the same concentration of a specific protein in the blood, men exhibited more severe brain damage and cognitive decline than women. These findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease has historically been a difficult and expensive process. Physicians currently rely on a combination of subjective memory tests and invasive or costly biological measures. The most accurate biological tools available today involve positron emission tomography, known as PET scans, or lumbar punctures to analyze cerebrospinal fluid. PET scans use radioactive tracers to visualize plaques and tangles in the brain, while lumbar punctures require inserting a needle into the lower back to collect fluid for analysis. Because these methods are not easily scalable for routine screening, the medical community has sought a blood-based biomarker that could indicate the presence and severity of neurodegeneration without the need for specialized equipment or invasive …

Zebrafish reveal how environment influences social behavior in autism

Zebrafish reveal how environment influences social behavior in autism

Published by Jenni Sidey

Your surroundings may influence your social behavior more than you realize. New research from the Brain Research Institute at Niigata University in Japan suggests that environmental context can directly alter how individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like traits interact socially. Using zebrafish as a model, scientists have revealed that even small changes in surroundings can either heighten anxiety or encourage social engagement. The study focused on a gene called ube3a, which is linked to Angelman syndrome and ASD in humans. Mutations in this gene affect neural development, behavior, and sensory processing. Researchers wanted to understand how environmental factors interact with these genetic predispositions to shape social behaviors. While genetics clearly play a role in conditions like ASD, environmental influences are gaining recognition as critical contributors to behavior. Until now, however, little was known about how sensory experiences and surroundings might modify behaviors in genetically vulnerable individuals. This new study provides strong evidence that context can dramatically alter social responses, even when genetic mutations are present. Stressful vs Safe Environments: How Context Changes Behavior To explore …

‘Whoever controls Greenland influences a key area of European security policy’

‘Whoever controls Greenland influences a key area of European security policy’

Published by Sam Flores

Following the US attack on Venezuela and abduction of dictator Nicolas Maduro on January 3, one seemingly innocuous message drew particular attention. Katie Miller, the wife of Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, posted a map of Greenland, covered with the American flag, on the social media platform X, with the word “SOON.” Shortly afterward, Trump stated that the United States needed Greenland for national security reasons, arguing that Denmark could not defend the island on its own. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected this claim, emphasizing both Denmark’s and Greenland’s sovereignty. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also asserted Greenland’s sovereignty. Read more Subscribers only ‘If tomorrow, the US decides to seize Greenland, neither Denmark nor the EU has the means to stop it’ Greenland is not a distant outpost, but a territory that holds great significance for all of Europe. The island holds both the status of a country and an overseas European Union territory, with special rights. Greenlanders are citizens of the Kingdom of Denmark and, therefore, EU citizens with freedom …

It’s fair to question how religion influences politicians

It’s fair to question how religion influences politicians

Published by Sam Flores

Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan has been barred from communion by his parish priest after he voted for the assisted dying bill last month. According to Coghlan, Father Ian Vane wrote to him before the vote warning this would be the consequence of supporting the bill. After the vote, Vane publicly announced his decision to the congregation even though Coghlan was not present. Coghlan has condemned Vane’s actions as a “completely inappropriate interference in democracy”. It is certainly rare for religious pressure on MPs to be so openly applied. The Times has since reported that senior figures in the Church “are understood to have ruled that the priest was within his rights to make the decision, but they are unhappy that the issue was not dealt with in private”. This raises the question of how often such pressure is covertly applied. Coghlan’s case presents an interesting question for secularists. When the Church of England tries to influence the democratic process, such as via its automatic seats for bishops in the House of Lords, the secularist …