A longitudinal study of over 500,000 UK participants found that higher neuroticism reduces the risk of death for those in fair or poor health. A specific aspect of neuroticism related to worry and vulnerability was associated with lower mortality, regardless of self-reported health.
Research suggests that global individualism is increasing, with socioeconomic development being a key driver. Studies examining 78 countries over 51 years reveal a significant shift towards greater individualism, prioritizing independence and uniqueness as cultural values.
Researchers found that exposure to a common visual illusion enhances ability to read fine print by improving visual acuity. Participants who saw clockwise spirals showed improved performance in reading letters at smaller font sizes.
Researchers explored the impact of money primes on self-sufficient thinking and behavior across three experiments involving diverse participant groups. The results show weak and inconsistent effects of money primes on various measures of self-sufficiency.
Research published in Psychological Science shows that people are highly sensitive to the acceleration of scores, not just their actual value. This finding suggests that meaningless accelerating scores can be an effective motivator, as long as they increase at a fast rate.
Adults with autism spectrum conditions show reduced sensitivity to contextual information but may actually lead to more consistent choices. Participants with ASC made fewer switches and consistently chose the same option, suggesting less susceptibility to cognitive biases.
New research finds that taking photos of experiences enhances visual memory, but hinders auditory memory. Participants who took photos recalled more visual details than those who didn't have a camera, while their auditory recall suffered compared to their non-photographing peers.
In experiments, White participants were more likely to identify Black students in videos as truth-tellers compared to White students. Their spontaneous behavior, however, indicated the reverse bias. The study suggests that White people are prone to over-correcting for their anticipated racial bias.
New research finds that strategic students can adapt to study conditions and recall important information despite distractions. Learners compensate for limitations by prioritizing key information.
Researchers found that people tend to perceive familiar faces as happier, even when the faces objectively express the same emotion. The study suggests that familiarity influences 'deeper' perceptions of a person's emotion and makes faces on the happy side appear more positive.
New research suggests that people over-worry about waiting for a 'right time' to enjoy themselves, continually postponing fun. In contrast, studies found that leisure activities tend to be enjoyable regardless of when experienced, with some tasks even enhancing enjoyment when completed before work.
Researchers found that couples who viewed positive images of their spouses paired with cute animals showed improved marriage quality. The intervention used evaluative conditioning to create automatic associations between the spouse's face and positive feelings.
A study published in Psychological Science found that inhibiting the lateral prefrontal cortex using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) increases emotional spillover, while preserving its integrity eliminates it. The research suggests a causal relationship between the prefrontal cortex and emotion regulation.
Researchers investigate face perception's impact on human behavior, including recognizing emotions, forming impressions, and making judgments. The study reveals the complexities of face processing and its role in shaping our interactions with others.
A new study found that spouses' empathic responses to their partners' pain improve the partner's physical functioning over time. Patients with spouses who provided emotional support and attention showed better balance, gait speed, and ability to rise from a chair compared to those with less responsive spouses.
A new study found that behavioral 'nudges' are highly cost-effective in boosting retirement savings, college enrollment and vaccination rates, often yielding more returns than traditional interventions. Nudges encourage certain behaviors without restricting options or exacting financial penalties.
Researchers found that framing choices as a sequence of events increases imagination and its role in decision-making, leading to increased patience. This approach may be particularly useful when circumstances are less than ideal, such as when multitasking or stressed.
A recent study found that terminally ill patients and inmates facing execution expressed more positive emotions in their writings near death, with a focus on finding meaning and connection. The researchers suggest that this positivity may be a result of people focusing on the aspects of life that bring them joy and love.
Researchers found that transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) did not produce any additional benefit to working memory training, contradicting previous hype. The study suggests that tDCS may be more effective in specific areas of the brain and that its effects on cognitive abilities are still unclear.
A new study reveals that people can be altruistic and intentionally induce negative emotions in others to help them achieve a specific goal. The study found that empathy played a key role in this process, with participants who took another person's perspective choosing specific negative emotional experiences.
A field study in Malawi reveals that intrinsic excitement about learning is a stronger predictor of school attendance than extrinsic motivation. Stimulating girls' sense of competence and autonomy may be as effective as economic approaches in achieving behavioral change.
A study found that participants reported changes in all five major personality factors when intoxicated, but observers noted only reliable differences in extraversion. The discrepancy may be due to inherent differences in point of view, with participants experiencing internal changes that were imperceptible to observers.
A study of over 300 American men found that childhood bullies were more likely to experience stress, aggression, and financial difficulties, while bullied boys had lower incomes and felt unfairly treated. These outcomes increased their risk for poor physical health, including cardiovascular disease.
A series of experiments found that people trust others who did not engage in the same ritual less than those who did. The study's lead author explains that even minimal rituals can lead to bias against people from other groups.
College students who participated in a self-administered intervention prompting them to reflect about their use of classroom resources had final grades significantly higher than their peers. The intervention involved reflecting on how to use learning resources effectively, leading to better performance and reduced negative emotion.
Researchers found significant cultural differences in cognitive skills among adolescent participants but not their parents, highlighting the importance of considering developmental and cultural perspectives. The study suggests that cultural contrasts may differ in nature as well as magnitude at different points along the life span.
New research reveals that limiting sugary drinks through portion limits can backfire when businesses offer smaller cup sizes with free refills, leading to increased overall consumption. In contrast, bundling large drinks in smaller portions appears to decrease interest in purchasing the larger option.
Researchers find that eyewitness confidence can reliably indicate accurate identifications when made under specific, 'pristine' conditions. Low confidence, however, always signifies a high risk of error.
A study of newlywed couples found that partners experience a lingering sexual satisfaction after sex, linked with relationship quality over the long term. This association held even after controlling for various factors, suggesting that sex may play a crucial role in pair bonding.
A new study found that students who engaged in a dialogue about two mayoral candidates created better-written persuasive essays and TV scripts. They also showed a more sophisticated understanding of knowledge, constructing opposing views leads to a richer representation of each and the differences between them.
A new multilab replication project partially replicated a 2012 study on cooperation under time pressure. When noncompliant participants were included in the analysis, time pressure had little or no effect on cooperation. The findings raise concerns about the best approach to measuring this relationship.
New research published in Psychological Science found that simulating someone else's experience leads to greater accuracy in understanding their emotional state, not just observing their behavior. This challenge highlights the importance of empathy and strategies for better understanding others.
Research shows teens exhibit safer driving behavior after involvement in a severe collision, with risk levels decreasing by up to 34% in two months. The study tracked data from over 250 teens and found that elevated acceleration events, such as rapid turns or stops, were higher among those who later crashed compared to those who did not.
Researchers found that narrowed eyes are associated with discrimination-related emotions like disgust and suspicion, while widened eyes convey information sensitivity. The study suggests our facial expressions communicate complex emotions through emotional embodiment.
A series of experiments found that women tend to believe that someone who espouses racist beliefs would also show sexist beliefs and behavior, while men of color believe that someone with sexist attitudes is likely to show racist tendencies. This perceived prejudice affects how people expect others to behave.
A series of studies published in Psychological Science found that listeners respond positively to familiar stories more than expected by speakers. The researchers attribute this to listeners' ability to fill in gaps in the speaker's story, making it more enjoyable to hear.
A new study using behavioral data from social media found that people are more like their friends and partners than previously thought. Using Facebook data, researchers trained statistical models to infer personality traits from likes and status updates, revealing a substantial similarity in personality between couples and friends.
A new study found that people unconsciously map sounds to shapes, influencing awareness before conscious recognition. The 'bouba-kiki' effect, observed across cultures and age groups, shows that soft-sounding words pair with round shapes and sharp-sounding words with angular shapes.
Research shows people prefer those who openly admit bad behavior over hypocrites who condemn it, as the former provides genuine moral insight. Participants viewed hypocritical characters more positively when they condemned bad behavior without direct information about their moral behavior.
A new study suggests that corrupt behavior can emerge from a sudden 'golden opportunity' rather than gradual processes. Researchers found participants were more likely to bribe when presented with an abrupt steep-cliff option compared to a gradual slippery-slope option.
A new study of over 120,000 UK teens found that moderate digital screen use is not linked to negative effects on well-being. The researchers suggest a 'digital sweet spot' where screen time benefits teens by providing opportunities for social connections and skills. However, excessive engagement may displace important activities.
A study found that children perceived as 'overweight' by parents tend to gain more weight over time, possibly due to negative self-image and attempts to lose weight. The association was seen in both Australian and Irish families, with the link not explained by other factors.
Research published in Psychological Science found that people who notice inconsistent misinformation have better memory for the event compared to those who don't see it. This suggests that detecting and remembering misinformation can actually enhance memory recognition.
New study published in Psychological Science suggests that a person's character is more important than their actions in determining our sense of moral disgust. Researchers found that participants rated individuals with worse characters as more disgusting, regardless of the action taken.
A study published in Psychological Science found that judges in the US tend to give defendants longer sentences on Mondays following daylight saving time transitions. The researchers analyzed data from 1992-2003 and discovered a consistent trend of harsher sentencing, suggesting that sleep deprivation may influence legal decisions.
A study published in Psychological Science found that allowing children to gesture naturally increased the number of creative ideas they came up with. The researchers also discovered that instructing children to gesture specifically boosted creativity even further.
Researchers found that Americans tend to imagine a Black person when thinking about welfare recipients, associating them with negative traits like laziness and incompetence. This mental image influences people's judgments about who deserves government assistance.
Researchers found that the brain fills in missing details in peripheral vision, creating a visual illusion. The study suggests that this 'filling in' is a general perceptual mechanism that affects many basic visual features.
Researchers found that gift givers prioritize 'wow' moments over practical attributes, leading to mismatched expectations. To choose better gifts, consider the recipient's long-term needs and values.
Learning to grasp an object with the backs of the hands increased sensitivity to motion near the hands, while finger-tips precision grasp enhanced spatial detail perception near the hands. These findings suggest that vision is tuned for action and visual biases adapt to recent experiences.