Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
A new study found that providing households with simple, low-cost information about their drinking water quality increased the use of safe water practices by 26-48% in areas where many families rely on unsafe supplies. This approach has the potential to save lives at a lower cost than other public health programs.
A study by Bayes Business School found that people are more concerned about violating the norm of waiting for others to be served than they are about others doing so. The research suggests that restaurants and dinner hosts could improve dining experiences by serving guests at the same time, reducing social awkwardness.
A study of 403 Italian adolescents suggests that low social support and a tendency to compare oneself to others are associated with an increased risk of problematic social media use. The longitudinal study found that these factors predict trajectories of adolescent social media use over time.
A new study found that people recycle 47% more bottles when offered a lottery-style refund, rather than the traditional 10-cent deposit return. This approach increases the thrill of possibly winning a big prize, making recycling more enjoyable and motivating.
The Brief Emotional Experience Scale (BEES) is a simple, short questionnaire designed to assess emotional health. It has been validated in a large-scale study involving over 7,000 participants and shows high accuracy and low stress for users.
Dr. John Oldham's contributions have fundamentally reshaped personality disorder classification, moving from rigid categories to a more nuanced dimensional system. His Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) has marked the most significant epistemological shift in psychiatric diagnosis for decades.
A new study reveals that fatal school shootings have far-reaching consequences, altering daily life and disrupting economies in affected communities for months. Anxiety about public safety drives a measurable decline in consumer activity, particularly in grocery stores and restaurants.
A study found that psilocybin increased overall psychological well-being, including positive changes in religious practices and attitudes. Clergy who received psilocybin reported sustained improvements in their behavior and attitudes up to 16 months after treatment.
A new study found that multitasking involves both general abilities applicable across different situations and specific skills unique to each type of task. This explains the conflicting results in past studies on gender differences in multitasking.
A new online tool, Tango, pairs Democrats and Republicans on common teams, reducing negative partisanship and increasing warmth and financial generosity. The results showed comparable effects to rolling back rising polarization in American political life, lasting at least a month and often up to four months from gameplay.
A major new study provides unprecedented insights into the incel community, revealing a diverse group marked by poor mental health, loneliness, and neurodiversity. The research challenges common stereotypes and highlights two key factors that contribute to the development of harmful attitudes and beliefs among incels.
A new study by University of Cologne researchers found that digital games can effectively teach people about depression, reducing stigma and increasing empathy. The study showed that participants who watched gaming videos on the topic reported improved knowledge, emotional responses, and motivation to learn more about depression.
A study found that adolescents with self-reported evening preference, or 'night owl' tendencies, reported greater negative urgency and lack of perseverance, which are two aspects of impulsivity. The study suggests that unmeasured psychological or behavioral factors may be influencing both impulsivity and circadian preference.
A new study by the University of Toronto finds Afghans' life satisfaction and hope at an all-time, global low. The research highlights profound distress and despair within the country due to structural factors like war and political unrest.
New research finds that compassionate employees are more resilient to workplace broken promises, experiencing lower emotional exhaustion and higher job performance. Self-compassion and other-compassion play different roles in coping with these negative emotions.
Researchers analyzed 12 videos of bystanders' attempts to intervene during the 2020 George Floyd killing. They found that bystanders made over 205 direct verbal interventions, with most focused on checking George Floyd's well-being. However, police mostly ignored or rejected these interventions, leading to his tragic death.
A new scientific study sheds light on the social dynamics driving demand for bear bile in Vietnam, highlighting the role of gift-giving among close social networks. The findings suggest that targeting key individuals within influential groups could reduce demand and support conservation efforts.
Researchers developed a novel approach called choice engineering, which uses computational models and optimization techniques to influence human decisions. The study found that this approach outperformed traditional psychology-based methods in shaping behavior, paving the way for smarter decision-making tools.
A national study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that cyberbullying, including exclusion and rejection, can lead to significant trauma in youth. The study found that almost 9 in 10 students experienced at least one form of victimization, highlighting the increasing ubiquity of digital aggression.
Researchers tested 17 behavioral strategies to overcome barriers to climate action, finding that emphasizing relevance and future thinking are most effective. Interventions like letter-writing and brainstorming short-term benefits increased intentions to act on both individual and collective levels.
A VR flight experience has been shown to reduce both physiological and subjective fear responses to heights. The degree of fear reduction correlates with the extent to which participants felt they could transition to a safe state through self-initiated actions.
A study published in Behavior Therapy shows that a peer support program provides 'rapid relief of symptoms' and 'significant clinical improvement' to new moms struggling with postpartum depression. The program, Alma, pairs new and expectant moms with trained peers who have experienced similar mental health challenges.
A study by Technical University of Munich and University of Vienna found that resistance to restrictive measures is often less robust than feared by policymakers. Once the new rules come into force, people's attitudes towards them decline significantly, revealing a psychological mechanism behind this phenomenon.
A recent study found that narcissistic individuals tend to prefer negative gossip, while those who are not narcissistic may be uncomfortable with either positive or negative gossip. Gossip can serve social functions when done with good intentions and without lies.
A study published in PLOS One suggests that curiosity and interest in lifelong learning can help offset or prevent Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that state curiosity, which is a momentary feeling of curiosity when asked about specific topics, increased sharply after middle age and continued well into old age. This contrasts wi...
A study found that Reddit is being used by people with second thoughts to openly share and seek advice before getting married. Researchers discovered that users are more comfortable expressing their unease on the platform than with family or friends, sharing topics from major red flags to smaller frustrations.
Research led by VCU and Rutgers University found that romantic partners' substance use habits, personality traits, and mental health status can enhance or diminish a person's genetic predisposition to binge drinking. The study suggests that couple-based interventions could be more effective when addressing environmental influences.
Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio discovered a significant link between REM sleep disturbances and increased PTSD severity. The study suggests that targeting REM sleep could be a promising approach for improving PTSD treatment outcomes.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that adolescents with mental health conditions spend an average of 50 minutes extra on social media each day compared to their peers. They also report higher levels of social comparison, mood changes due to online feedback, and lower self-control over time spent on platforms.
Researchers analyzed 29 studies involving over 90,000 participants to examine the links between Big Five personality traits and prosocial behavior. Extraverts are more likely to engage in volunteer work, while agreeable individuals tend to be more generous with their finances.
Researchers found that most people are open to their friends asking to join plans, but hesitate to self-invite due to concerns about offending others. The study's findings suggest that people tend to underestimate the likelihood of getting invited and overestimate how much others consider them.
A study on heterosexual women found that personal scent preferences predicted how much they liked their interaction partners after four-minute chats. The researchers discovered that the quality of the in-person interaction influenced how participants perceived someone's smell.
A study published in Food Quality and Preference found that individuals from higher socio-economic backgrounds exhibit a stronger link between their vagal tone and chocolate consumption. In contrast, those from lower socio-economic groups show less correlation between physiological signals and food intake.
A new study from the University of Bath found that combining step tracking with mindfulness training boosts people's desire to exercise. Participants who used a mobile app for daily mindfulness practices increased their activity by 373 minutes per week compared to those who only stepped tracked.
A new study reveals that resilient entrepreneurs ride a smoother emotional rollercoaster, with less fluctuation in emotions over time. This emotional steadiness is linked to consistent efforts toward achieving business goals and conserves self-regulatory energy.
A Northwestern University study found that justice-involved youth with higher doses of incarceration had poorer outcomes, including lower education and employment rates. The study suggests that early interventions are crucial to reducing recidivism and promoting positive outcomes for these young individuals.
A new study by the University of California, Berkeley, found that self-harm rates among California teens have increased significantly, particularly among multiracial girls. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, analyzed data from 2005 to 2021 and revealed a nearly 75% increase in self-harm rates among multiracial adolescents since 2...
Researchers found that individuals with basolateral amygdala (BLA) damage were more generous to those they were emotionally connected to, but less so to strangers. This suggests the BLA regulates generosity based on social distance.
Research found that conservative Americans exhibit lower trust in science across various fields, including climate change and medical research. Despite short interventions aimed at strengthening trust, results showed little effect on conservatives' attitudes towards scientists.
Research found that people taking GLP-1s consume less processed foods, soda, refined grains, and beef, but still desire them. The study also showed an increase in consumption of fruits, leafy greens, and whole grains among GLP-1 users.
New research suggests that White Americans living in counties with higher Black poverty rates are more likely to believe racial equality exists and attribute Black poverty to a lack of effort. This paradoxical belief has significant consequences, predicting reduced support for policies addressing racial disparities.
Researchers found that medical imaging experts can solve common optical illusions, including judging the size of objects. Training to improve visual perception can also make experts less susceptible to these illusions. This study has implications for training medical image analysts.
A new study by Aston University found that self-efficacy significantly influences both positive and counterproductive workplace behaviors. Employees with higher self-efficacy are more likely to engage in citizenship performance and resist unethical actions.
Recent studies published in Behavioral Medicine and Alcohol explore the link between pain and substance use among emerging adults. Individuals with moderate to severe pain are more likely to start using cannabis over a four-year period, often taking it up earlier, and are also at higher risk of mixing it with alcohol.
Researchers found that relationship satisfaction declines over time, leading to a terminal phase with a rapid deterioration in satisfaction. The transition point marks the beginning of this phase, which lasts 7-28 months and is characterized by accelerated decline.
Researchers found that people prefer to share information that enhances others' positive self-views, especially if the other person has a likable or neutral personality. However, this tendency disappears when the other person is perceived as dislikable or when the goal of providing accurate information is emphasized.
Researchers at Annenberg Public Policy Center found that using 'I Will Vote' stickers significantly enhances voting intentions and attitudes towards voting. The study suggests that a future-oriented perspective promotes thoughts about outcomes and planning, strengthening citizens' capacity to successfully perform the intended behavior.
New research reveals that second-screening can create a sense of social connection, increasing engagement and repeat viewing intentions. When viewers are alone, reaching for their phone can deepen the experience by connecting with others in real-time. In contrast, second-screen use creates a disconnect when shared with others.
The UK's top earners contribute disproportionately to carbon emissions, yet they can drive systemic change through their purchasing power and influence. Wealthy individuals are more likely to adopt green technologies, but their lifestyles remain high-emission due to frequent flying and luxury consumption.
A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that individuals with minority viewpoints may self-silence themselves in conversation, leading to changed behavior that contradicts their true opinions. The study, led by Kristin Hurst, involved 248 undergraduate students and showed that participants who felt the...
Research reveals nearly 10% of individuals with disabilities misused prescription drugs in the past year, compared to 4.4% without disabilities. Young adults and those with cognitive disabilities are particularly vulnerable to prescription drug misuse.
A new study from the University of Surrey found that positive hands-on experiences with EVs significantly boost purchase intentions, while negative experiences can deter potential buyers. The researchers advocate for increased investment in public test-driving events and educational campaigns to address consumer adoption.
New research by psychologists from Staffordshire University and the University of Birmingham identifies spite as a key factor that underlies conspiracy theory belief. Higher levels of spite are associated with a stronger belief in conspiracy theories, and it mediates the relationship between conspiracy theory belief and established pre...
A two-month intervention targeting ultra-processed foods resulted in a significant reduction of UPF intake, with participants consuming almost half the amount initially. Participants also experienced weight loss, improved mood, and reduced sugar, saturated fat, and sodium consumption.
A new review of clinical trials found that single-session interventions can significantly improve mental health outcomes for both youth and adults, with 83% reporting positive effects. The approach is poised to fill gaps in the mental health care system, particularly for digital, self-guided therapies.
A systematic review of 38 studies found that frequent use of health and fitness apps is associated with problematic habits related to food and exercise. The research highlights the need for app developers to consider the psychological impacts of these tools on users' mental health.
A study by researchers from Florida Atlantic University and Hanyang University explores how AI service quality affects retail employees' innovation, job fit, and job satisfaction. The results suggest that employees are more likely to engage in innovative behaviors when they perceive benefits from AI interactions.
Researchers found that textisms like adding periods after each word or putting words in individual bubbles can add emotional intensity to messages. The study suggests that readers interpret these textisms as conveying emotion, assuming they were included deliberately.
Understanding how dominance and tribal instincts fuel division is critical to addressing global conflicts and economic inequality. Professor Jorge A. Colombo argues that fundamental behavioural drives are hardwired into our species and continue to shape human behaviour today.
A study led by Dr Eliane Deschrijver found people tend to discriminate in favour of individuals who show a similarity to them, regardless of group affiliation. The research used a simple coin toss as a trigger for discriminatory tendencies, suggesting individual processes may play a role in discrimination.