Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
A novel study found that vaccine-related fears significantly impact flu shot outcomes, reducing vaccination rates and increasing symptoms of dizziness. Researchers recommend interventions to address fear and potential dizziness, such as applied muscle tension techniques.
Research from the University of Georgia found that feminist mothers and daughters have more positive body images, with less shame about their bodies. The study also shows how mothers' negative body talk affects daughters' body image.
The study found that TV ad content drives zapping through irritation, while creativity mitigates zapping by reducing it. Researchers recommend investing in creativity and refraining from too much information to discourage zapping behavior.
A study by University of Sydney neuroscientists found that people's brains can detect AI-generated fake faces with a 54% accuracy rate. However, verbal identification was only successful 37% of the time, highlighting the potential for using brain activity to flag deepfakes on digital platforms.
Researchers found young adults living alone experienced negative mental and physical health impacts from job loss, while those with parents fared better. Fathers' job losses also led to worse outcomes for young adults living at home.
A University of Alberta study reveals that stressful childhood environments can lead to a desire for high-energy-dense foods throughout life, contributing to higher obesity rates. Adults raised in harsh socioeconomic conditions were more food-motivated and preferred energy-dense foods.
A new study teaches teenagers to reframe their stress responses from negative to positive driving forces. The intervention improves stress-linked health outcomes, including biological responses, psychological well-being, anxiety symptoms, and academic performance in high-stress environments.
Research found that hunger is strongly associated with feelings of anger, irritability, and lower levels of pleasure. The study tracked participants' emotions and hunger levels over 21 days, finding a significant link between hunger and negative emotional states.
A longitudinal study found that supervisors perceived as engaged leaders enhanced employee engagement via boosted personal psychological resources and team effectiveness. Engaged leaders also fostered a shared perception of available resources, leading to improved job performance.
A new study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that romantic partners can significantly influence each other's views on climate change, with only 38% alignment in climate beliefs and 31% alignment in behaviors. The study suggests that conversations about climate change can help shift public support and increase e...
A new study from the University at Buffalo found that women in their first year of college can use friends-based strategies to reduce the risk of nonconsensual sexual acts. The most widely reported protective strategies included sticking together, checking on each other, and leaving social gatherings together.
A decade-long analysis of hockey penalties reveals no evidence that in-game fighting reduces undesirable violence. The study challenges claims suggesting fighting serves as a deterrent, instead indicating it may contribute to more aggressive behavior.
A new PLOS study found that heterosexual couples who meet each other's love language preferences experience higher levels of relationship and sexual satisfaction. The study, which surveyed 100 couples over 6 months to 24 years, suggests that focusing on partners' love-language needs could be effective in relationship counseling.
Researchers found that people with higher grit scores showed different patterns of cognitive performance, characterized as cautious control, but not necessarily enhanced cognitive ability. Grit was linked to low impulsivity and high mindfulness, related to self-regulation.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that Himba pastoralists in Namibia are more likely to form long-lasting relationships with others who share similar desirable traits. This suggests that people's actual preferences may differ from their stated desires, and that similarity in desirability is key to successful relationships.
Children who excel at playing well with others in pre-school tend to enjoy better mental health as adults. Research analyzing data from over 1,700 children found a clear link between peer play ability and reduced signs of poor mental health.
Researchers found that infants can punish antisocial behavior exhibited by a third party, indicating an intrinsic motivation for morality. The study's findings suggest that humans may have acquired behavioral tendencies toward moral behavior during evolution.
Researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg found that people with the Impostor Phenomenon devalue their objectively measured performance and attribute positive results to external causes. The study showed no relation between actual intelligence or performance and self-reported degree of Impostor Phenomenon.
Babies born to mothers infected with COVID-19 show differences in motor function and relaxation, especially when held. Preliminary analysis suggests increased risk of neurodevelopmental changes compared to uninfected babies.
Research found that decisive people are more confident in their judgments than those who second-guess themselves. The study discovered a link between action control and post-decisional metacognitive bias, suggesting that individual differences play a crucial role in decision-making.
Researchers found conversion messages to be more effective than one-sided messages in convincing vaccine-hesitant individuals to get vaccinated. The study showed that messages sharing a personal story of someone changing their mind about vaccines increased pro-vaccine attitudes and behavioral intentions among high hesitancy participants.
A decade-long effort to reduce medication risks for nursing home residents with dementia has shown some positive results, but also unintended consequences. Fewer people are receiving antipsychotic and anti-anxiety drugs, which can raise the risk of falling or dying, but more are receiving alternative behavior-changing medications with ...
Wealthy individuals are more likely to purchase unsustainable products with higher price tags, feeling entitled to the benefits despite environmental costs. However, when encouraged to think about equality, this effect is diminished.
A team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found no significant differences in structural brain changes between participants who received short-term mindfulness training and those who did not. Despite this, participants reported increased mindfulness, suggesting that benefits may be related to wellness interventions more broadly.
A recent study by Dickinson College researcher Marie Helweg-Larsen found that people who worried more about COVID-19 took more precautions against catching the disease. The study analyzed data from 738 participants and found that worrying was a stronger predictor of precautionary behavior than perceived risk.
A meta-analysis of 130 experiments involving 10,000 participants found a connection between upright postures and power posing with improved self-perception. However, the effects on behavior and hormone levels were less robust and not supported by the findings.
Researchers found that people who showed more signs of stress were perceived as being more stressed and also more likeable by others. This suggests that humans have evolved to display stress signals to evoke positive social interactions.
A study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology found that people with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression, may display behaviors that are commonly associated with deception. These behaviors, including gaze aversion and flat affect, can lead to unfair judgments in the criminal justice system...
A study exploring restaurant menu design found that adding carbon labels and setting default options to low-emission dishes encourages diners to choose more environmentally friendly options. The findings suggest a promising strategy for reducing the carbon footprint of dining, but further research is needed to inform such strategies.
Scientists found that colour-coded CO2 labels and changed default options on restaurant menus nudged guests to more climate-friendly dish choices, resulting in an average of 300g less CO2 per meal. Participants chose veggie burgers more often when presented as standard options.
A new study found that individuals high in grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are less likely to wear masks or get vaccinated. However, those who do choose to participate may be more likely to encourage others to do so. Researchers suggest using unique messaging strategies to tap into these personalities.
A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that humour is an effective flirtation tactic for both sexes, especially for men seeking long-term relationships. Women who want a short-lived fling should signal their intentions clearly. The research also highlights the importance of smiling, eye contact, and showing pot...
A new study by New York University researchers found that individuals with certainty about the future of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to disregard medical expertise and adhere to conspiracy theories. Similar findings were observed in relation to the 2020 presidential election, where those certain about their candidate's win w...
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science identify brain regions and signaling pathways involved in fear extinction via delta receptor activation. The study suggests a potential therapeutic agent for post-traumatic stress disorders by suppressing fearful memories.
A UTD professor's study found that men's rudeness toward others, including women, can obscure the recognition of sexism. The study suggests that a perception of gender blindness can lead observers to view the perpetrator as not sexist, even when they are displaying sexist behavior.
Research found that people are less likely to collaborate with those who signal their wealth and social status. In contrast, modesty can be a strategic advantage in cooperation-based social situations.
Researchers created two scales to measure factors related to time spent in nature, finding correlations between TSN and self-efficacy, intentions, and age. The study aims to inform future interventions to increase outdoor activities among adults.
Researchers found high levels of mood disturbances and sleep disorders among COVID-19 patients, with increased fatigue increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health issues in COVID-19 recovery.
Researchers found that neuronal ensembles in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex existed before memory acquisition, but developed through experience in the hippocampus. The study also revealed that ensemble synchrony across brain regions was particularly strong during transient bursts of activity, suggesting a role in memory consolidation.
A study from the University of Georgia suggests that middle-aged men are commonly perceived as manipulative, aggressive and entitled targets of insults. The research also found that most people believe these individuals are aware of their behavior's impact but don't care enough to change.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that engaging in meaningful and challenging activities during free time can significantly reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings. The researchers identified that flow, a state of being fully engaged and focused on an activity, is crucial to reducing loneliness.
A new Penn State study found that people are more likely to choose empathy for an animal over a human, but only when the choices are not in competition. When context matters, people's willingness to engage in human empathy decreases, while their interest in animal empathy increases.
A new study found that empowering workers can lead to better job performance and creativity, but only if institutional obstacles are removed. However, when empowered employees face hindrance stressors, they may become morally disengaged and engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior.
People with positive past attitudes and long-term planning skills are less depressed, sleep better, and handle isolation more easily. Those who focus on short-term plans and have negative past attitudes show signs of depression, poor sleep quality, and mental disorders.
Research finds that increased parental expectations and criticism are associated with higher levels of perfectionism among college students, which can lead to negative mental health consequences. Parents' anxious expectations can perpetuate a lifelong trait, with perfectionist parents raising perfectionist children.
A new study measures the happiness benefits of US city parks in the 25 largest cities, finding a powerful effect from urban nature on users. Park size and accessibility emerged as key predictors of happiness.
A recent study found that child abuse investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) do not necessarily prevent poor sexual health outcomes in adolescent girls. In fact, the researchers discovered that girls who underwent investigation were more likely to experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including STIs and pregnancy, befor...
A large cohort study found that babies born to men who took metformin during sperm development were at increased risk for genital defects in boys. Diabetes control affects sperm quality, so men should discuss alternative treatments with their doctors before conception. The findings suggest a need for further study on treatment of prosp...
A study found that people in Germany and the US prioritize equal access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. In contrast, vaccine distribution according to a country's production capacity or free market regulation received little support. The research highlights the public's willingness to share vaccines despite logistical challenges.
Research finds that people from different countries and backgrounds prefer original color compositions in paintings, even those they've never seen before. The study suggests a common biological basis for beauty perception, contradicting cultural background and education.
A pilot study by UC San Diego School of Medicine found that eight weeks of mindfulness training significantly reduced symptoms of trauma and depression in individuals grieving from gun violence. Participants showed notable improvements in life satisfaction, with benefits lasting after the program concluded.
A new study published in Social Psychological Bulletin found that people infer dominance from the utterance of challenging and offensive statements, regardless of audience reaction. This suggests that individuals who seek status through dominance are more likely to engage in such behavior.
A study found that natural disasters, such as floods, can lead to increased discrimination against women and other cultural changes in the affected region. The research also shows a preference for sons over daughters and lower female employment rates in the area.
New research from the University of Notre Dame finds that donors prefer to give their time rather than money, but this preference can be eliminated when they have a choice about how their donation is used. Charities can increase donations by giving people more control over their donations.
A study by researchers at the University of Quebec in Montreal found that mindfulness meditation can help people cope with internal conflicts. The experiment involved 121 volunteers who underwent either a mindfulness body scan or read magazines for 15 minutes, then completed a questionnaire about their emotional state.
A Washington State University survey found that 16% of couples in the US are divided on COVID-19 vaccination, with discordant relationships accounting for 15.63% of respondents. The study reveals varying reasons for vaccine refusal, including religious and personal objections.
New research at MU shows that women's use of humor is perceived differently than men's, with factors like status and target influencing judgments. Women who use humor directed towards a man are seen as positive, but those targeting a lower-status woman are viewed negatively.
Research suggests that frequent external childcare can lead to behavioral issues in children, including aggression, ADHD symptoms, and anxiety. However, these problems typically disappear by the age of 13. The study also found no strong link between external childcare and substance use or delinquency in adolescents.
Researchers found that showing total case counts makes people view the pandemic as more serious, leading to increased caution and reduced risk-taking behavior. Conversely, presenting new daily cases can make the data seem less impactful.
A new study found that clear and consistent messaging is key to reducing risk-taking behavior, while personality-based approaches are less effective. The research used a simulated pandemic game to test different interventions and demonstrates the potential for behavioral sciences to inform public health policy.