A recent study by Cynthia Levine suggests that people who fit better with their culture have healthier eating habits. In the US, independent behavior predicts a healthy diet, while in Japan, interdependence is linked to healthier eating.
A recent study found that cognitive ability is not a consistent predictor of prejudice, and that low ability only predicts prejudice towards specific liberal and unconventional groups. High ability instead tends to predict prejudice against conservative and conventional groups.
A study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that agreeableness is a key predictor of prosocial behavior, including helping others. People with high agreeableness are more likely to exhibit empathic concern and volunteer their time to help those in need.
Researchers found that non-fit messaging can reduce certain biases in patient decision-making, leading to more thoughtful and informed choices. The intervention strategy is based on motivational theory and has shown promise in improving patient outcomes.
Researchers found that diminishing free will leads to increased self-alienation and decreased authentic feelings. In contrast, high-free-will groups showed greater self-awareness and authentic decision-making.
A recent study by Dr. Shana Cole, Dr. Yaacov Trope, and Dr. Emily Balcetis found that people in relationships perceive tempting individuals as less attractive, helping them resist temptation and stay committed to their partners.
A recent study suggests that activating prescriptive expectations in powerful individuals can lead them to behave more ethically and cheat less than those with low power. This finding offers new insights into curbing unethical behavior by those with power.
Researchers found that US candidates' faces were more associated with competence, while those from Taiwan were linked to social competence. In the study, Taiwanese participants voted for candidates judged high in social competence and trustworthiness, whereas US participants preferred faces deemed competent.
Researchers found that over 70% of mentioned exemplars represented practical wisdom, which includes insight into real-life issues and strategic problem-solving. The study identified three prototypes: practical, philosophical, and benevolent, with practical wisdom being the most frequently mentioned.
Research by Minjung Koo and Ayelet Fishbach found that giving something personal, such as blood or a signature, increases people's self-perception of generosity and commitment. This change in self-perception leads to increased likelihood of future donations.
Researchers found that thinking about how life might be worse if an event hadn't occurred led to increased faith and a stronger belief in God. This suggests that counterfactual thinking can play a role in shaping religious convictions, even for those who do not believe in a deity.
A recent study found that high standards in marriage improve satisfaction only in strong marriages, while eroding relationships in less strong marriages. Couples who work well together are better able to meet higher standards and show high satisfaction, whereas those who don't work well together do poorly on both fronts.
A recent study found that parents' attempts to regulate their emotional expressions can detract from their well-being and high-quality parent-child bonds. Parents reported feeling less authentic and experiencing lower emotional well-being when suppressing negative emotions and amplifying positive emotions during childcare. The study su...
A new study suggests that hearing messages of hope from Palestinians, regardless of their affiliation, can instill greater sense of hope among Jewish Israelis. In contrast, similar hopeful messages from outside experts had no effect. The findings have implications for protracted intergroup conflicts beyond the Israeli-Palestinian confl...
A study by Lucy Hunt found that certain evaluative contexts elicit similar first impressions, such as face-to-face and video, but not face-to-face and photo. Meanwhile, Dr. Kristina Durante's research on mate choice suggests that encountering a potential partner serendipitously enhances perceptions of future love and satisfaction. Thes...
Childhood socioeconomic status may influence people's food choices as adults, with those from lower SES environments more vulnerable to unhealthy weight gain. Serving order and labels also play a role in convincing people to make healthier food choices.
Research from several personality and social psychologists show that positive entertainment media can contribute to positive relationships between different ethnic groups and genders. Sohad Murrar's studies found reduced prejudice when participants watched a sitcom with relatable Arab/Muslim characters, while Yeshim Iqbal's work demons...
Recent studies suggest that technology can have positive effects on social connections and mental well-being, but these benefits often fall short of those provided by in-person interactions. Research has shown that face-to-face communication is more effective at creating a positive mood and reducing stress than text messaging.
New research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found an almost even split between people who value their time or money, with prioritizing time associated with greater happiness. The study, which included over 4,600 participants, also found that older people were more likely to prioritize their time.
A recent study shows that material purchases provide repeated doses of happiness over time, whereas experiential purchases offer a more intense but fleeting experience. Researchers found that people felt more satisfaction with experiential purchases six weeks after Christmas.
An experimental study found that an imbalanced gender ratio affects views about casual sex, with women more willing to engage in casual sex when they outnumber men. Men, on the other hand, tend to place less importance on casual sex and be more open to long-term commitment when there are more women than men.
Research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found no significant link between frequent sex and happiness after one sexual encounter per week. Instead, maintaining an intimate connection with a partner is key to overall happiness.
New research suggests that jurors may support an insanity defense if they believe a defendant has a genetic explanation for their actions, but also view them as a persistent threat. The study found that participants were more likely to support a diminished capacity defense and believed the defendant had less control over their actions.
A recent study found that cities fared better during the 2008-09 recession in regions with stronger emotional stability and entrepreneurial personality profiles. Cities like San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif., and Jackson, Tenn., exhibited higher scores for entrepreneurial personality and emotional stability, while others struggled.
Research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that single people with high 'avoidance social goals' were equally happy whether single or in a relationship. In contrast, those with low avoidance goals who prioritized relationships experienced lower happiness when single. The study analyzed over 4,000 New ...
A new study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that white American citizens who believe in a common group identity are less racist toward immigrants and more likely to donate their time and money to help them integrate. This research suggests that acceptance of immigrants as equal members of society hi...
A new study finds that perfectionistic concerns can lead to stress, burnout, and health problems. In contrast, perfectionistic strivings, which involve setting high standards and working towards goals, may help maintain a sense of accomplishment and delay burnout.
Research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology finds that men may feel threatened by female supervisors, acting more assertively towards them. This could disrupt workplace dynamics, stifle team cohesiveness, and negatively affect team performance if not addressed.
Research finds that powerful individuals respond faster to unfair treatment when they're the victims, but slower to notice when others are victimized. This disparity suggests that the powerful are more empathetic towards their own experiences and less so towards others.
A study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology suggests that anticipating ethical temptations can decrease the likelihood of unethical behavior. Participants who anticipated temptation were less likely to engage in dishonest behavior and more likely to maintain consistency with their long-term goals and moral se...
Researchers found that people are more likely to accept criticism and make changes if they take a broad, high-level construal view. This involves considering the big picture and believing change is possible. The study's findings have practical implications for delivering negative feedback in the workplace and health education campaigns.
Self-affirmations help level the playing field, reducing power differences in high-stakes situations. Writing down a self-affirmation can be more effective than just thinking it, boosting confidence and performance.
A new study found that gender differences in moral decisions are caused by stronger emotional responses among women, not rational thinking. Women were more likely to reject harmful actions, even if they would ultimately save lives, while men showed less emotional aversion.
Studies examine how subjective attitudes toward inequality influence ideological positions, with findings suggesting that low-status individuals may withdraw from the political system due to self-evaluative processes. Additionally, research reveals that lack of awareness of income inequality can lead to punishment of poorer individuals.
Researchers explore alternative methods to encourage healthy eating in children and teens, such as providing vegetables before other food options. Studies also investigate the impact of weight stigma, calorie counting, and food marketing on behavior, finding that weight stigma can lead to increased high-calorie snack consumption.
Research highlights the benefits of experiential purchases, finding that anticipating experiences brings more happiness than waiting for material goods. In contrast, wealth and abundance may undermine appreciation for everyday moments, while temporarily giving something up can provide a route to happiness.
Researchers are using social media to study personality, mental health, and cross-cultural differences. Studies have found that language patterns on Twitter and Facebook can predict heart disease risk and emotional stability, while open-vocabulary analysis reveals connections between words and personality traits.
Research reveals spatial clusters of personality traits within cities, states, and countries, with associations between life satisfaction, terrain preference, and self-esteem. Studies also explore the role of geography in shaping individual behavior and well-being.
A study by Hamerman and Morewedge found that people rely on superstitious behavior to achieve performance goals, such as winning a game or getting good grades. However, this behavior does not affect learning goals, like mastering a musical piece.
A study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that some personality traits are more accurately communicated through online avatars than others. Outgoing individuals tend to create avatars that convey their personality, while those high in neuroticism struggle to express themselves accurately. Customizing an avat...
Researchers studied gift-giving, focusing on picky recipients, who are less motivated to shop for. Gift cards hit a sweet spot as a flexible alternative to cash. Personalized gifts can be problematic if they're not versatile; givers should focus on recipient preferences rather than traits.
The SAGE Young Scholars Awards recognize exceptional contributions by young scholars in social-personality psychology. This year's winners, Clayton Critcher, Emily Impett, Nicholas Rule, Jenessa Shapiro, and Jay Van Bavel, will receive $5,000 awards to support their research or travel-related endeavors.
A study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that loneliness has declined among high school and college students in the US. High school students reported a decline in subjective isolation, but an increase in social network isolation, suggesting they perceive less loneliness but poorer social networks.
A study found that emotions have a greater influence on leftists' positions than on rightists', even with induced negative emotions. Real-world scenarios showed Jewish-Israeli leftists' policy support was more related to empathy and anger than rightists'. Future research aims to investigate how emotions motivate changes in rightists' p...
Researchers found that receiving positive gossip increases self-improvement value, while negative gossip boosts self-promotion value and raises self-protection concerns. Gossip provides valuable indirect social comparison information, essential for self-evaluation.
Researchers explored connection between empathy, neurohormones and aggression. Empathy can motivate aggression on behalf of vulnerable others, even without provocation. Neurohormone gene variants, such as vasopressin and oxytocin, interact to predict aggression in these situations.
A meta-analysis of 58 studies found that adolescents' perceptions of peers' sexual activity, approval, and pressure are associated with their own sexual behavior. The study suggests that role modeling by peers is the most influential factor, while peer pressure has a smaller effect.
Research highlights two types of support in meaningful relationships: source of strength (SOS) support, which helps individuals thrive through adversity, and relational catalyst (RC) support, which fosters full participation in life opportunities. Effective support requires responsiveness and sensitivity.
Research suggests that exposure to narrative fiction can enhance our ability to understand mental states and empathize with others. Studies have shown that children who read fiction regularly develop better theory-of-mind skills, while adults who engage deeply with stories report higher levels of empathy.
A study published in PSPB found that racial minority groups approach diversity differently, with African Americans prioritizing in-group representation and Asian Americans considering national statistics on discrimination. Understanding these differences is crucial for creating diverse teams and organizations.