A UCLA study found that female politicians with stereotypically feminine facial features are more likely to be Republican, while those with less feminine features are more likely to be Democrat. The researchers used a computer model to analyze the faces of 434 House Representatives and found a strong correlation between facial features...
Researchers at UCSB's Center for Evolutionary Psychology report new findings on human behaviors, supporting the individual cooperation account over group cooperation theory. The studies involved structured social interactions with over 200 participants, who showed a preference for trusting individuals likely to cooperate, not those who...
A new article explores the link between chronic laminitis and inflammation, identifying an anti-inflammatory protein APOA-IV as a key factor. The psychology of equine performance also plays a crucial role in enhancing horse's mood, emotion, and temperament to improve performance.
Researchers found that people's home cities shape their moral character, with quicker decisions indicating a more positive moral evaluation. A glucose mouth rinse was also shown to refuel willpower, suggesting a simple yet effective way to overcome self-control depletion.
A new UCLA psychology study found that pre-wedding uncertainty, especially among women, predicts higher divorce rates and less marital satisfaction years later. Women with doubts were two-and-a-half times more likely to divorce than those without doubts.
A recent study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that judges' reliance on stereotyped portrayals of battered women who fight back leads to harsher sentencing. The study analyzed 26 domestic homicide and abuse cases from Canada and identified one judge who resisted these stereotypes.
A new UCLA psychology study found that labeling emotions at the precise moment of confrontation can reduce fear and anxiety. The researchers asked participants with a fear of spiders to approach and touch a large tarantula, with results showing those who described their emotions were able to get closer and experience less distress.
A study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that women who read sex-related magazine articles viewed premarital sex as less risky and were more supportive of female sexual assertiveness. The researchers also discovered a racial disparity in attitudes, with white women viewing premarital sex as less risky than women of color.
A new psychology study from the University of Texas at Austin found that reliance on supernatural explanations for major life events increases with age. People of all ages tend to endorse biological explanations for certain events but also frequently support supernatural explanations, especially among children and adults.
A University of Miami study found that shy preschool children start with lower academic skills and show slower gains than their peers. Children displaying shy behavior early on are at a greater risk of academic struggles, whereas loud and disruptive kids may benefit from specific educational strategies.
Christiane A. Hoppmann has received the 2012 Baltes Foundation Award from the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) for her groundbreaking research on lifespan human development and health psychology. Her work focuses on understanding the mechanisms linking social interrelations to long-term developmental outcomes.
Research shows adolescents' brains mature intellectually before they mature socially or emotionally, influencing how policymakers and courts treat teenagers. The findings could impact policies on medical decision-making, autonomy, and punishment for juveniles.
A recent study by Ellen Langer found that first-time mothers who practice mindfulness during pregnancy report better well-being, positive feelings, and lower emotional distress. The research suggests that mindfulness can have a positive impact on health and happiness beyond just the mother's own well-being.
A new study examines the costs of forgiveness in marriage, suggesting that temporary expressions of anger can benefit long-term relationship health. The research also highlights the importance of attachment styles in close relationships, finding that anxious attachment can predict depression and anxiety over time.
Dr. John DeLuca, VP of Research at Kessler Foundation, received the 2012 Roger G. Barker Distinguished Research Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association for his groundbreaking research on cognitive effects of brain injury and multiple sclerosis. The award recognizes his lifelong contributions to rehabilitation psy...
Recent studies examine the costs of forgiveness in marriage, attachment processes affecting health, racial bias in perceiving pain, and how individuals choose to remain ignorant about potentially upsetting information. Researchers also investigate the role of race in shaping attitudes toward Barack Obama's election.
A growing field of study, ecopsychology examines the psychological, spiritual, and therapeutic aspects of human-nature relationships. It highlights various approaches to integrate psychology and environmental content in education, promoting students' appreciation for the link between their well-being and the natural world.
New studies examine the role of flirtation in negotiations, finding it signals self-interest and competitiveness; individuals concerned with future consequences exercise more and adopt healthier habits; shooter biases may be driven by interpersonal threats rather than culture or race; husbands and wives express love differently in marr...
A Baylor University study suggests that providing restitution can facilitate forgiveness, but pairing it with an apology is crucial. The research found that participants were more likely to show forgiving behavior if they received restitution, whereas self-reported apologies led to a higher rate of reported forgiveness.
A new study found that long-term treatment with estrogen and MPA increased levels of a protein marker for synapses in the prefrontal cortex of aged rats. This contradicts previous research on human hormone therapy, which linked hormone replacement to an increased risk of stroke and dementia.
Researchers found that adopting a self-distanced perspective can reduce angry feelings and aggressive thoughts in provoked individuals. By viewing the situation from a distant point, people can better regulate their emotions and respond less aggressively.
A new study published in the Journal of School Psychology found that students with behavioral disorders and observable disabilities are at a higher risk of being bullied and bullying others. The study, which followed over 800 students, suggests that anti-bullying interventions emphasizing prosocial skills could help address this issue.
Research explores how parents pass on values, perceived sexism affects women's attitudes toward racial minorities, and the role of will in past and future success. Additionally, studies investigate the impact of death reminders on supernatural beliefs and brand identification.
A Baylor University study reveals that juvenile rats build up a physical tolerance to alcohol but not cognitive impairment. This finding has significant implications for understanding adolescent behavior and the development of alcoholism.
Research reveals that fatherly love is critical to a person's development, with rejection having a significant impact on anxiety, insecurity, and relationships. The study suggests that the influence of one parent's rejection can be greater than the other's, highlighting the importance of fathers in child care.
A new study from Rice University and others found that hiding one's true identity at work can lead to decreased job satisfaction and increased turnover. Expressing one's true identity in the workplace, on the other hand, can have a positive impact on interpersonal relationships and create a more inclusive environment.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that parents are happier overall than their childless peers, with fathers expressing greater levels of happiness. The research suggests that parenthood is associated with feelings of joy and meaning, rather than misery.
Researchers found that attachment to mom predicts ability to cope with loss, while smaller family size is linked to higher intelligence. Additionally, tracking happiness daily has no impact on overall happiness levels, but increased symptoms of depression may lead to decreased happiness.
Researchers found that people who experienced childhood emotional maltreatment tend to have unstable and unsatisfying romantic relationships. This is due to self-criticism stemming from the abuse, which can lead to internalized behaviors and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
A new UBC study reveals that engaging in analytical thinking can lead to decreased religious belief, even among devout individuals. The research, published in the journal Science, sheds light on the psychology of religious belief and suggests that cognitive systems play a crucial role in shaping spiritual convictions.
A new study found that broad generalizations about social groups can undermine both boys' and girls' performance on challenging activities. Researchers tested how sweeping pronouncements about skills or likely success of social groups influence children's performance.
Research suggests that thinking about death can motivate positive changes and promote tolerance, egalitarianism, compassion, empathy, and pacifism. Additionally, increased awareness of mortality can lead to better health choices, such as using more sunscreen or increasing levels of exercise.
A new University of British Columbia study reveals that pride directly influences racist and homophobic attitudes. Authentic pride boosts empathy, while hubristic pride exacerbates prejudice. The findings offer insights into the attitudes of leaders and shed light on human psychology.
The study explores the relationship between distress tolerance, excessive worry, and anxiety symptoms in college students. Researchers found that distress tolerance plays a unique role in excessive worry, suggesting it could be a useful intervention in therapy.
Researchers discovered that individuals with unacknowledged attraction to the same sex and authoritarian parents are more likely to exhibit homophobic attitudes. The study suggests that homophobia can be a manifestation of internal conflict and repression, particularly in those who deny their own sexual orientation.
A study by neuroscientists at the University at Buffalo proposes that ingesting placenta components may provide benefits to human mothers and potentially to non-human mammals. The research highlights the importance of further studying placentophagia, a practice observed in many non-human mammalian species.
A Case Western Reserve University psychology study found that being assertive with God can strengthen one's faith. The researchers discovered that if a person views God as cruel, protest towards God is seen as more acceptable.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding animal metacognition, finding that macaques exhibit uncertainty-monitoring capacities similar to those in humans. This consensus suggests that animals may share a form of self-reflective, metacognitive capacity with humans.
A new study by Iowa State University researchers found that watching mean screens can activate aggressive scripts in the brain, leading to increased aggression. The study showed that both physical and relational aggression on screen can prime the brain for aggressive behavior, which has significant implications for today's societal norms.
A study by San Francisco State University found that people who prefer experiences over possessions tend to be extraverted and open to new experiences. These 'experiential shoppers' reported greater life satisfaction due to their spending habits.
A new article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science reveals that Norman Triplett's 1889 experiment was incorrect, with children reeling a reel rather than reeling in a fishing line. The study also shows that Triplett was not the first psychologist to investigate social influence.
A Baylor University study reveals that humility is a positive quality with potential benefits, predicting greater helpfulness in aiding someone in need. Researchers found that humble individuals offered more time to help compared to less humble ones, especially when personal or situational factors were controlled.
A new study found that individuals with a present-focused personality are more aggressive when intoxicated, while those who consider future consequences show minimal increase in aggression. The study involved 495 adults and used a computer-based speed reaction test to measure aggression.
A Florida State University study reveals that maximizing, or second-guessing, decision-making leads to reduced satisfaction with choices. Maximizers tend to obsess over decisions and then fret about their choices later, resulting in less commitment and happiness.
A new UCLA psychology study finds that the senses of hearing and vision interact at a basic level before producing estimates, influencing the way we perceive the world. Even when sound is irrelevant to the task, it still affects our visual perception.
Researchers found that infants' cortisol levels remain stable upon waking and after naps, unlike adults. This discovery may influence how infants handle stress and react to care from their mothers later in life.
A study by Hebrew University researchers found that integration of input parts occurs even without conscious awareness, but awareness is needed when results are incompatible with expectations or prior knowledge. Conscious awareness plays a crucial role in dealing with novel situations.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that female students who were more optimistic achieved significantly higher grades than their less optimistic peers. In contrast, male students who were too optimistic struggled with overconfidence and lower grades due to a lack of conscientiousness.
Preschool children who hear their parents describe objects and use those words perform better on spatial tests. The study found that learning to use a wide range of spatial words predicts later spatial thinking, which is important in mathematics, science, and technology.
A new brain-imaging study by UCLA life scientists reveals that providing support to a loved one offers health benefits to the giver. The study found that women who gave support to their boyfriends in pain showed increased activity in reward-related regions of the brain, including the ventral striatum and septal area.
A team of researchers from Aalto University and international partners found a genuine hypnotic state through studying the 'trance stare' associated with hypnosis. The study showed a dramatic reduction in eye movements beyond volitional control, confirming an altered mental state.
A recent MU study found that religious and spiritual support is associated with better mental health outcomes for women and physical and mental health for men. Both genders benefit from social support provided by fellow congregants and involvement in religious organizations.
In the study, men edged out women by 0.11 points on a theoretically perfect score of 5.0, but only excelled with other male raters, highlighting that men's humor prowess is largely driven by social dynamics rather than inherent traits.
A new field is taking shape, studying scientific thought and behavior, with applications in education and understanding human interest in science. Researchers examine brain correlations, cognitive processes, and developmental aspects of scientific inquiry.
The Hogg Foundation has awarded Scott & White Healthcare a $638,853 five-year grant to establish an internship program for doctoral psychology students. Thirteen interns will receive supervised training and experience, expanding the healthcare system's mental health services.
Research by University of Kansas social psychology professor Omri Gillath suggests that economic hardship can lead men to adopt short-term mating strategies, increasing their chances of reproduction. In low survivability conditions, men become more interested in sex and are more likely to pursue multiple partners.
Children tend to dislike peers with undesirable characteristics more if they attribute fault for the trait rather than assuming they've tried to change it. However, when a peer has attempted to overcome an issue, kids are more accepting and even positive towards them.
A study published in Neuron found that brain regions beyond the reward centers engage when playing games, suggesting a more widespread role for reward processing in the brain. The research used multi-voxel pattern analysis to identify patterns of brain activity associated with wins and losses.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology suggests that racism and prejudices are often learned through cultural exposure. Participants responded faster to word pairs found together in literature, indicating a potential link between cultural stereotypes and individual gut reactions.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that embarrassment can be a positive trait, fostering trust and cooperation in everyday life. Subjects who were more easily embarrassed reported higher levels of monogamy and generosity, indicating a stronger tendency to affiliate with others.