Articles tagged with Evolutionary Psychology
Researchers found that queen pheromones inhibit daughters' ovarian development during a critical stage of development, while also indicating the queen's reproductive health, leading to more likely retention of helpers. This study provides new insights into how cooperation evolved in insect societies.
A new study reverses the classic Dunning-Kruger effect, suggesting that high-ability people are more overconfident than low performers. The researchers argue that flawed statistical analysis led to the original finding, and when corrected, it reveals a universal human trait of overconfidence among the most capable.
A new study found that mental health clinicians prefer evolutionary explanations of anxiety over genetic approaches, believing they provide a more positive outlook and can improve patient willingness to seek help. This shift could lead to more hopeful and therapeutically empowering attitudes towards anxiety treatment.
A recent study published in Science found that humans and animals have overlapping preferences for certain qualities of an animal's call, with agreement strongest for lower-frequency sounds. The study used a gamified citizen science experiment involving over 4,000 human participants from around the world.
This study investigates how environmental variability and human migration influence the evolution of cooperation among humans. Simulation results reveal that cooperation is more likely to evolve when these factors are sufficiently high, hindering non-cooperative groups and encouraging cooperative groups.
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.
A global study of over 5,000 participants from 11 countries reveals that the timing of past encounters significantly shapes perceptions of relationship risk. Those with less frequent past partners are more open to commitment.
A new study suggests that chimpanzees and young children prefer watching videos of social interactions compared to videos of a single individual. This strong interest in others' actions and relationships may have deep evolutionary roots.
A majority of respondents ascribed emotions to most non-human primates, mammals, birds, cephalopods, and fish. The survey also explored the risks of anthropomorphism and anthropodenial in animal behavioral research.
Researchers found that adults prioritize cognitive cues over vocal signals when evaluating a child's intelligence or negative emotions, while vocal cues dominate for assessing happiness or helplessness. This study provides insights into the complex dynamics of caregiver-child interactions and their evolutionary roots.
A cross-cultural study found that lower voice pitch makes women and men sound more attractive for long-term relationships and more formidable among other men. Lower male voice pitch also confers formidability and high social status in societies with higher relational mobility, suggesting evolutionary origins.
Research with contemporary hunter-gatherer societies found infants receive attentive care from up to 15 different caregivers for about nine hours a day. High levels of sensitive care and personal attention are crucial for mother and child wellbeing, supporting maternal care and reducing risks of neglect and abuse.
A group of researchers propose that social influence plays a key role in breaking conservation rules, leading to harm for species and ecosystems. They argue that understanding how people are influenced by their environment and social dynamics can help improve conservation efforts.
The study found that oral transmission has profound effects on music evolution, shaping vocal music towards structures that are easier to learn and transmit. Human transmission biases also play a significant role in evolving musical systems.
A study of 16 cats found they can differentiate their owner's voice from a stranger's, even when tone is changed. This suggests that cats form strong bonds with their owners based on experience of the speaker's voice.
A new study found that dogs can differentiate between breath and sweat samples from people before and after a stress-inducing task with an accuracy of 93.75%. The researchers believe that dogs are able to detect changes in volatile organic compounds produced by humans in response to stress.
A meta-analysis of 64 longitudinal studies found that mental health problems remained elevated globally during the pandemic, with North Americans suffering from increased anxiety and depression. In contrast, Latin America and Europe experienced higher rates of insomnia.
Researchers argue that people with dyslexia have specific strengths in exploring the unknown, which has contributed to their successful adaptation and survival as a species. This 'explorative bias' plays a crucial role in our ability to adapt to changing environments.
A study found that liberals and conservatives read dominance signals differently in the faces of men and women, with conservative biases against women's faces. The researchers suggest that this perception may be rooted in evolutionary psychology and traditional social hierarchies.
A study published in the Futures journal found that people attending mass 'raves' during the Covid-19 lockdown broke fewer pandemic guidelines than single vaccinated 80-year-olds. The researchers suggest this is linked to the outlook of ravers, who tend to have a slower-life history strategy and are more future-oriented.
A study by SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities found that people become more sensitive to feelings of disgust when they perceive their lives as being in danger. As a result, they tend to avoid foreigners, which is linked to an evolutionary response known as the behavioral immune system.
Research at NTNU found that gender differences in jealousy start as early as the early 20s, but this study revealed they appear even earlier, around age 16. The results showed men reacting more negatively to sex, while women react to love and feelings.
A Norwegian University of Science and Technology study found that regret does not contribute to changes in sexual behavior. Women tend to regret casual sex more than men, while men regret missing opportunities more. The researchers suggest that personality plays a significant role in shaping behavior, rather than emotions like regret.
The study explores how technological innovations like digitization and platform markets are eroding psychological ownership, leading to negative consequences for consumers and firms. However, it also highlights opportunities for firms to preserve and recapture psychological ownership through strategic marketing efforts.
A recent study by Aarhus University researchers reveals that citizens contribute significantly to the spread of negative information about politicians, leading to increased mistrust. This phenomenon is rooted in humans' innate psychological tendency to prioritize self-interest over political substance.
A recent review in the Journal of Intelligence identifies two main problems hindering research in comparative psychology: anthropocentrism and a narrow view of cognition. The authors argue that studies should take a biocentric approach, considering each species in its own right, and focus on cognitive abilities unique to each species.
A study by evolutionary psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin identified universal qualities like intelligence, honesty, and bravery that increase a person's social value. The findings also revealed cultural differences in what influences social status, with certain traits being more valuable in some societies than others.
Researchers attribute unique human cooperation to cultivating a shared social identity among group members, enabled by reflective self-consciousness. This fosters feelings of obligation toward cultural kin, sustaining cooperative behavior within the group.
Two female chimpanzees exhibit synchronized bipedalism, displaying near-perfect precision in whole-body tempo synchronization. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of human dance and highlights conjoined full-body rhythmic entrainment in great apes.
Researchers found that Tinder users had limited success in achieving one-night stands, with most gains coming from traditional dating methods. The study suggests that using Tinder does not lead to an increase in short-term sexual relationships.
A global survey of over 7,000 people from 27 countries reveals that kin care and long-term relationships are the most important motivations in life, surpassing mate seeking. People who prioritize family values tend to be more satisfied with their lives and have better well-being.
Psychologist Lisa Damour presents a counterintuitive view of stress and anxiety as unavoidable and potentially helpful. She argues that moderate levels of stress can build resilience and that anxiety serves as an internal alarm system to alert us to threats.
A study by University of Turku researchers found that women are more likely to volunteer for all-female paramilitary organizations if they have brothers or husbands serving in the military. The study suggests that bonding with larger communities, such as the nation state or religious groups, can arise from psychology mechanisms designe...
Passion in a relationship is crucial for intercourse frequency, according to a study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Women's attitudes to casual sex also play a major role, with those who differentiate between sex and relational aspects being more willing to compromise.
Researchers found that male serial killers tend to 'hunt' strangers, while female serial killers target people they already know for financial gain. This study, published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, may inform murder investigations and prevention programs.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has selected 126 U.S. and Canadian researchers as the recipients of the 2019 Sloan Research Fellowships. These fellowships recognize early-career scholars whose achievements mark them as among the most promising researchers in their fields.
A study by University of Göttingen researchers found that physical attractiveness does not correlate with extraversion in women. In contrast, more muscular men were indeed more extraverted and aggressive.
A study on Reddit comments reveals that most single men wanted a relationship, but struggled with social skills such as flirting and confidence. The analysis identified 43 reasons, including poor looks, lack of effort, and mental health issues.
Research suggests that men will purchase more expensive engagement rings when imagining themselves with an attractive woman, while women prioritize larger rings with their less attractive partner. Women who rate themselves as physically attractive also opt for pricier rings.
A group of national leaders in quality and safety have developed a consensus statement to embrace an expanded definition of patient harm that includes non-physical harm. The document provides six high-level recommendations for health care organizations to engage in the practice of respect, aiming to improve the patient-family experience.
A study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that women prioritize practical qualities over flashy displays of wealth when evaluating potential partners. Men who conspicuously display their wealth are perceived as less committed to long-term relationships and more interested in short-term sex.
A recent study published in BioScience found that knowing more about evolutionary theory is key to accepting it, even when considering religious and political beliefs. In a representative sample of over 1,100 people, researchers discovered that those with better knowledge of evolution were more likely to accept it.
Researchers found that resource-rich environments cause people to favor short-term relationships, leading to a 16% increase in preferences for short-term partnerships. Human behavior is influenced by environmental cues, and this study demonstrates the adaptability of relationship preferences in response to changing circumstances.
UK schoolchildren's evolution acceptance is linked to their scientific aptitude, not psychological conflicts with belief systems. The study found that lower-aptitude students struggled to understand science concepts and responded poorly to teaching on both evolution and genetics.
A study by Provenzano found that adolescents with lower 'Honesty-Humility' scores tend to use bullying tactics to pursue more sexual partners. They may strategically manipulate others to display traits like strength and dominance, attracting the opposite sex and gaining an advantage in intra-sexual competition.
A study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that small changes in a woman's back angle influence attractiveness ratings. The results suggest an arching of the back signals female receptivity, which may explain why high heels are considered attractive.
A new study reveals that forgiveness for infidelity comes at a considerable cost, including mistrust and overcompensation. Men tend to forgive emotional infidelity more easily than women, who are more affected by the loss of trust. This study highlights the importance of communication and understanding in relationships.
A study found that women tend to gossip more about their rivals' physical appearance and enjoy it more than men. Men, on the other hand, often gossip about others' achievements, demonstrating sex differences in gossiping behavior.
Support for economic redistribution is linked to compassion, self-interest and envy, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers found that individuals who feel more compassionate are more likely to support redistribution, while those with high levels of envy tend to oppose it.
Men feel more distressed by sexual infidelity, while women are upset by emotional messages, with women generally more upset than men regardless of message content. The study supports evolutionarily derived theories that suggest differences in what triggers jealousy among men and women.
A study found that men prioritize sexual favors as an apology, while women value spending quality time together and emotional commitment. Women also rate tears and apologizing as effective reconciliation tactics, showcasing their partner's willingness to invest effort and provide emotional support.
A large-scale study found that the evolution of word meanings in English metaphors follows a systematic and predictable pattern over the past 1100 years. The researchers identified key domains where word senses transitioned from literal to metaphorical meaning, including emotionality and embodiment.
Research highlights the importance of non-visual factors like voice and scent in social perception, which can influence attractiveness. Studies have shown that people can accurately guess characteristics like gender, age, and body size from a voice or scent.
Researchers propose that religion is an evolved domain or instinct, while intelligence allows people to rise above instincts. This association is supported by historical evidence and recent survey data across different countries and groupings.
A Norwegian study finds that women regret casual sex encounters more frequently than men, contradicting earlier American research. Women are also less likely to be happy with the experience and more concerned about potential consequences such as pregnancy or STD infections. The researchers suggest that evolutionary differences in repro...
Research by Dr René Proyer found that playful adults can reinterpret situations, reducing stress levels and improving relationships. The study identified four types of playful adults: other-directed, intellectual, and whimsical playfulness.
A new paper from Northwestern University researcher Adam Safron suggests that orgasm is linked to synchronized brain activity and neural entrainment, producing a sensory absorption and trance-like state. This understanding could change the way people view their sexuality, emphasizing the role of rhythmic aspects in sexual experiences.
Three-year-olds quickly grasp social norms and infer them from observation, even without direct instruction. They expect others to follow these norms, protesting when they are broken.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara psychologists found that men prioritize traits associated with productivity and material benefit in nonfamily members, rather than solely generosity and trustworthiness. In contrast, women place more emphasis on reciprocity and demand more from attractive partners.
Researchers found that wealthy men prioritize physical attractiveness and engage in short-term mating, while committed women may adopt more consistent strategies due to reproductive costs. The study suggests evolutionary psychology principles influence mate selection across cultures.