Vast supercolonies of interconnected nests formed by unicolonial ant species are the largest cooperative groups of animals known. Research published recently in BMC Evolutionary Biology reveals that a supercolony can be more genetically structured than previously thought, comprising several extended families. Surprisingly, the families coexist peacefully, even though they seem to recognize each...

The purpose was to show that when a favor reduces a person's freedom, it arouses "psychological reactance," a motivational state aimed at restoration of this freedom. Ss, run individually, learned they were to make Ist-imprcssion ratings of another S (confederate) and then were given a soft drink by this S, prior to making the ratings. In a 2 X 2 design, the Ist-imprcssion ratings were given lo...

People favor the existing and longstanding states of the world. Rational explanations for status quo maintenance are complemented by a number of non-rational mechanisms; loss aversion, regret avoidance, repeated exposure, and rationalization create a preference for existing states. We show that the status quo also benefits from a simple assumption of goodness due to mere existence and longevity...