Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
A recent study found that people globally perceive themselves as less at risk of climate change than others, with the effect most pronounced among Europeans. This 'self-other' discrepancy may delay necessary action and hinder climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals that participants consistently preferred options with more positive facial expression mimicry during conversations. Facial mimicry is found to predict choices even when personal taste is not explicitly stated.
Children with adverse prenatal exposures showed higher rates of behavior problems, faster cortical thinning, and more depressive symptoms than children with fewer APEs. Researchers found a persistent association between multiple APEs and increased odds of mental health problems as kids grew older.
A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers uncovers the psychology behind seeking or avoiding information, revealing a common emotional mechanism. The findings suggest that both behaviors stem from regulating emotions and managing psychological overload, rather than moral responsibility.
Compulsive behaviours are common across many mental health conditions, where people repeat actions despite negative consequences. New research in rats suggests that triggering inflammation in the striatum may shift behaviour toward more deliberate decision-making, rather than habit.
Researchers study topics most frequently discussed with grandchildren, revealing cultural and gender differences. The study highlights the importance of investing in well-being for both grandparents and grandchildren, showing that digital communication is a valuable way to maintain relationships.
Research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that swearing can improve physical performance by helping individuals feel focused, confident, and less distracted. Participants who swore during a chair pushup task were able to support their body weight significantly longer than those who repeated a neutral word.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma and West Virginia University are studying concept flavored cigarillos to determine their potential for addiction. The study aims to inform the FDA's impending flavor ban on cigar products, which could have wider-reaching implications for e-cigarettes and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
A research team at the University of Göttingen investigated how laughter can be regulated and found that social cues can strongly interfere with these efforts. The results showed that suppression and distraction were effective strategies to hold back laughter, while cognitive reappraisal could reduce how funny the jokes felt.
A recent study by Jeonbuk National University researchers found that positive parenting styles can significantly reduce the risk of self-harm in adolescents. The study analyzed data from over 3,900 participants and identified three distinct parenting styles: negative, average, and positive, with positive parenting being the most protec...
A risk evaluation tool aimed at protecting women from domestic violence has been found to be an effective predictor of deadly domestic abuse. However, the researchers emphasize that no scheme can perfectly predict the future and that continued improvement is necessary to safeguard victims.
A major new study from University of Limerick analysing almost six million person-years of data has revealed that personality traits are linked to longevity and risk of death. The research highlights that personality is likely associated with risk of death through an influence on a range of health behaviours and biological processes.
A single 20-30 minute online course can improve young adults' tolerance of uncertainty, leading to reduced anxiety and depression. The course, which took less than half an hour to complete, showed lasting effects on mental health even a month after completion.
A study by Linköping University found that right-leaning people are more susceptible to conspiracy theories and misinformation, while those on the left are less affected. The researchers suggest exposure, psychological factors, and anti-democratic values may contribute to this phenomenon.
Residents at a Japanese squat sustain autonomy through collaborative maintenance, fostering safety and inclusion. Simple spatial interventions enable diverse residents to coexist, challenging common assumptions on urban planning.
A study analyzing resharing behavior on X (formerly Twitter) shows that different expressed emotions unfold in the aftermath of celebrity suicides, with disgust being the most contagious emotion. The findings emphasize the need for emotion-specific approaches to both theoretical modeling and practical intervention in online environments.
A University of Stirling-led study aims to improve care for vulvodynia patients by prioritizing patient-centered treatment and addressing knowledge gaps. The research found that education for healthcare providers, improved care pathways, and multidisciplinary support are top priorities.
Researchers at Stockholm School of Economics and Harvard University found that localized messaging can boost climate resilience in vulnerable communities. Homeowners who received emails mentioning their suburbs were twice as likely to seek more information on protective measures compared to those who received generic communications.
Researchers found that people perceive dogs as happier when they are in a sad mood and vice versa. The study suggests that there is a significant gap in understanding canine emotions, which can impact human-animal interaction and animal care.
A new systematic review examines nearly 200 scientific articles to gather knowledge on biophobia, a negative relationship with nature. The study reveals that both external and internal factors contribute to negative emotions towards nature, threatening conservation efforts.
Research finds certain psychological disorders are associated with positive attributes like heightened creativity, empathy and resilience. People with mental illnesses may grow and develop unique strengths despite their struggles.
A study found that adults desiring children prefer older faces over younger ones, regardless of wealth or perceived parenting skills. The researchers explored factors such as age and cultural differences to explain this phenomenon.
Research defines employee delight as a strong emotion in response to surprising events that surpass expectations. It has lasting consequences for workers and companies, fostering high-quality experiences, collaboration, and personal growth.
A new study of 500 combat soldiers found that computerized attention training significantly reduces the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The training involves identifying neutral and threatening images, gradually training soldiers to direct more attention towards potential threats.
Research found that companies with strong corporate social responsibility are more likely to be forgiven by employees for breaches, as they are seen as conscientious and socially responsible. This can help mitigate the negative consequences of psychological contract breach during times of crisis.
Researchers found a significant link between longer screen time and increased ADHD symptoms, as well as developmental abnormalities in brain structure. The study suggests that excessive screen exposure may contribute to delayed brain maturation patterns in children with ADHD.
A recent study published by the American Psychological Association found that about a quarter of U.S. service members and veterans who start psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) quit before finishing treatment. The study analyzed 181 studies covering over 124,000 military participants and discovered significant diffe...
Strong social support from family and friends leads to a reduction in unsafe firearm behaviors, such as frequent public carrying, according to Rutgers Health researchers. They found individuals with increased social support had lower odds of frequently carrying firearms and storing them unsafely.
Researchers surveyed over 4,380 participants to gather data on everyday risky choices, including job-quitting and health-related decisions. The study found that occupational risky choices are consistently the most cited, followed by health-related and financial choices.
A new book by experts highlights how the prevalence of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder has increased, but suggests it may not be due to a genuine increase in cases. The authors argue that 'typical' behavior can vary greatly among children, and that acceptance and understanding of individuality is key.
Research from Colorado State University shows that faculty sharing internal sense of unease and inadequacy can shape students' perception of professors' overall competence, likeability, and effectiveness. Students found a hypothetical professor who publicly acknowledged feelings of being an impostor to be less hirable than an equally a...
Researchers found that humans have an evolutionary tendency to bias behavior against rare but mass mortality events, leading to intense dread and avoidance. This response is favored by evolution as it protects familial structures and genetic lineage.
A new study found that individuals with narcissistic rivalry tendencies are more likely to damage team dynamics, leading to lower cohesion and poorer performance. In contrast, narcissistic admiration didn't seem to impact performance, but those individuals were increasingly viewed as less hardworking and arrogant by their teammates.
A global study of participants from six countries found that addressing psychological distance and the threat to one's way of life are most effective interventions in boosting motivation for environmental efforts. The study suggests that making climate action a patriotic duty can increase willingness to exert physical effort.
A new study reveals a connection between parents' attachment styles and the likelihood of experiencing parental burnout. The research suggests that difficulty in recognizing and understanding one's own emotions can increase the risk of burnout.
West Virginia University researchers are working with local partners to stop drug use in youth before it starts. They will expand an existing pilot project to encompass 140 schools in 36 rural counties, tailored to individual community needs.
Researchers at UTA will develop and test SJT training effectiveness with soldiers to enhance ingenuity in resource-constrained scenarios. The two-year project aims to improve a more effective force, benefiting not only military personnel but also other high-stakes professions like firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
A new empirical study by computer scientists reveals that software developers tend to scrutinize AI-generated code less critically and learn less from it. In contrast, human pairs are more likely to engage in broader discussions and critically examine each other's contributions. The study highlights the limitations of AI assistants in ...
Vrantsidis' study explores how people tend to focus on apparent causes and overlook absent ones, leading to oversimplified reasoning. Her findings highlight the importance of considering multiple factors in real-world situations.
A two-week gratitude journaling practice increased work engagement in Japanese employees, particularly in absorption and awareness of workplace resources. Journaling also showed benefits for overall well-being, life satisfaction, and competitive motivation.
Researchers found that L-DOPA increased participants' willingness to wait for larger delayed rewards by 20%, decreasing impulsivity. The study also suggests that dopamine's effect on waiting may not stem from changes in basic decision processes, but rather from future reward valuation.
A systematic review synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence on psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviours, revealing consistent anti-compulsive effects in human patients and validated animal models. Single doses of psilocybin led to rapid symptom reductions in clinical populations.
Researchers found that voluntary running exercise mitigates cafeteria diet-induced behavioral changes via hormonal and microbial pathways. The study revealed specific metabolites, such as anserine and indole-3-carboxylate, were decreased by the cafeteria diet but partially restored by exercise.
A recent study found that most users cannot identify AI bias in training data, unless it affects their own group. Researchers created 12 versions of a prototype AI system to detect facial expressions and tested how users might detect bias in different scenarios.
Recent psychological research from Washington University in St. Louis found that anger, not fear, contributes to shifts in political attitudes. Anger causes people to lash out and seek retribution, leading to a shift towards conservative views on issues related to the threat. However, this effect is narrow, with no impact on unrelated ...
A new study published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues found that nearly half of Australians are unfamiliar with the term 'coercive control' or its meaning. The research highlights a critical need to increase public awareness, particularly among younger adults and those with lower educational attainment.
Researchers have identified a rapid physiological marker that predicts which patients with major depression will respond to magnetic brain stimulation therapy. Patients whose heart rates slowed within 45 seconds of starting treatment showed significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms six weeks later.
New University of Virginia research explores the most common and effective types of counseling and support for people who have had a near-death experience. The study found that acceptance and validation, as well as support from groups or online sources knowledgeable about NDEs, are key to successful support.
A new study found that implicit biases impact how much effort individuals, both autistic and non-autistic, put into charitable behaviors. While explicit biases were not a factor, participants showed self-bias in decisions, prioritizing their own efforts over others.
A UBC study found that young adults identifying as 2SLGBTQIA+ receive less affirming and inclusive sexual health education than their peers. Despite this, they demonstrate higher levels of sexual health literacy. The research highlights a gap in educational content and a wider public health issue.
A new survey of over 6,000 Europeans reveals that trusting politicians is crucial for accepting climate policies, especially those involving taxes. Regulations and subsidies tend to receive more support than environmental taxes or bans.
A new study at Bournemouth University found that people with horse experience were more accurate at recognizing pain in horse faces, while those with social anxiety were better at detecting pain in human faces. The findings aim to improve animal welfare by helping owners recognize changes indicating pain in horses.
A study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that pairs outperformed individuals in a robotic arm-transporting task when roles naturally emerged. Role specialization was key to superior performance, rather than paired interaction. The research has implications for human-robot collaboration and rehabilitation settings.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine conducted a scoping review on AI-driven systems designed to deliver motivational interviewing. The study found that most used AI tools were chatbots, with varying levels of fidelity to core principles like empathy and autonomy.
A recent study published in Social Development found that firstborn behavioral problems can predict the quality of their sibling relationship over time. Maternal reflective functioning plays a crucial role in mitigating negative outcomes, particularly for children exhibiting internalizing behavioral problems. The researchers suggest th...
The American Counseling Association has launched the Counseling Compact, enabling thousands of professional counselors to practice across state lines. This mutual recognition model allows counselors to work in person or via telehealth, providing access to mental health services for millions of Americans.
A new strategy to increase low-emission food consumption has been found effective in controlled choice experiments with 3,000 participants. The 'nudge by proxy' approach highlights consumer motivations rather than environmental impacts, significantly outperforming traditional carbon footprint labelling.
A University of Bath study shows many parents are deeply worried about the climate crisis and their children's future, but struggle to live low-carbon lives. Despite feeling a strong responsibility to safeguard their children's future, most parents find it difficult to consistently model low-carbon behaviors at home.
Research by Mass General Brigham reveals association between witnessing neighborhood violence and insufficient sleep in adolescents, leading to increased violent behaviors such as carrying a weapon. The study analyzed data from over 40,000 teenagers, finding strong links between sleep loss and exposure to violence.
A new study published in Psychology & Health found that two-thirds of our daily behaviors are initiated by habit, rather than conscious choice. The research suggests that people often form habits to support their personal goals, but may also disrupt habits that conflict with them.