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Women in space analogues demonstrate more sustainable leadership

A study by Inga Popovaitė suggests that women may be better suited for long-term space missions due to their positive and supportive leadership style. Women tend to focus on mutual support, motivation, and a positive environment, which can be beneficial in extreme situations where interpersonal conflicts can jeopardize team success.

SourceKaunas University of Technology·JournalActa Astronautica·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 10, 2022

Are we born with a moral compass?

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.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 9, 2022

Graphic warnings on cigarette labels led smokers to hide packs

A randomized clinical trial found that smokers who received cigarette packs with graphic warning labels hid their packs 38% more often. However, when they returned to regular packs without the labels, hiding behavior returned to baseline levels. The study suggests that graphic warnings may not be effective in reducing smoking behavior.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 2, 2022

NBA sees rise in acts of symbolic violence

A new analysis reveals a decline in physical violence and a rise in symbolic violence among NBA players. Symbolic violence is framed as harmless by commentators, contributing to its increasing prevalence.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 18, 2022

Demographics, not bias, best predict traffic stops

Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that counties with a higher proportion of white residents have stronger anti-Black/pro-white attitudes, leading to larger disparities in traffic stops. The study suggests that racial demographics are a more reliable predictor of traffic stop discrepancies than racial biases.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalPsychological Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 13, 2022

This kind of flirting works best

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...

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalEvolutionary Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 5, 2022

Studying wealth inequality in animals can reveal clues about how their societies evolved

A new framework for understanding animal societies emerges from a review of wealth inequality research in humans and animals. Wealth is found to be distributed equally or unequally across species, with material goods, individual attributes, and social connections being critical sources.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 3, 2022

Dopamine involved in recognizing emotions

Research suggests dopamine is involved in emotion recognition, particularly in low-dose individuals. Dopamine levels influence emotional perception, with lower levels improving emotional recognition while higher levels impairing it. This finding has implications for understanding social cognition impairments in neurological disorders.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2022

How to assess a community's resilience

Researchers developed an interdisciplinary resilience framework to understand the connection between social and water systems in communities like the Choyeros. The framework explores how social systems impact water supply resilience and vice versa, providing a tool to generate conversations and coordinate responses.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalSustainability Science·TypeObservational study·DateApr 25, 2022

Study finds empowering workers can backfire

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.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2022

Disbelief in human evolution linked to greater prejudice and racism

Research from UMass Amherst found that disbelief in human evolution is associated with higher levels of prejudice and racist attitudes. The study, conducted across 19 Eastern European countries, 25 Muslim countries, and Israel, linked low belief in evolution to biased attitudes towards outgroups and support for discriminatory behavior.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 4, 2022

Those who ogle also more likely to have harmful attitudes

A new study from Edith Cowan University found that excessive body gaze is linked with harmful attitudes towards sexual assault. Men who showed strong preferences for gazing at women's bodies were more likely to assume women invite or tolerate rough sexual conduct, while women did not show body gaze preferences.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateMar 30, 2022

Our sleep shows how risk-seeking we are

Studies of 54 'good sleepers' revealed that lower slow-wave activity over the right prefrontal cortex is linked to a greater propensity for risk. The findings suggest that targeted interventions could modulate slow waves to influence risk-taking behavior.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 22, 2022

A text-reading robot with heart

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba created a handheld social robot, OMOY, that can appear to convey emotions by shifting an internal weight while reading out text messages. The robot was tested with 94 people and found to reduce negative emotions such as anger, revenge, and avoidance motivation.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·DateMar 9, 2022

Study results may help improve firearm safety messaging to prevent suicides

A study published in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior reveals subgroups of firearm owners in the United States who can be trusted to discuss safe storage. The study found that certain groups, such as those owning multiple firearms or shotguns and rifles, may require more individualized conversations about safe storage.

SourceWiley·JournalSuicide and Life-Threatening Behavior·DateMar 9, 2022

The language of the eyes

A study by Dr. Fuhimiro Kano and colleagues found that humans can distinguish gaze directions from each other more accurately than chimpanzees, particularly in challenging conditions. The researchers used computerized tasks to present images of human and chimpanzee eyes to both species, with white sclera in the chimpanzee eye improving...

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournaleLife·DateMar 8, 2022

COVID-19 restrictions linked to nearly 750,000 fewer dengue cases in 2020

A new study found a strong association between school closures and declines in non-residential trips during COVID-19, leading to reduced risk of dengue transmission. Reduced time spent in public areas was closely associated with reduced dengue risk in countries where COVID-19 restriction measures began at the peak of dengue season.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateMar 2, 2022

Human choices in a simulated pandemic: New study tests interventions to foster safer behaviour

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.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2022

Physicists unify sociological theories that explain social stability

Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna propose that homophily, or interacting with like-minded individuals, automatically leads to social balance and stability. They demonstrate this using data from the Massive Multiplayer Online Game Pardus, where players tend to form friendships with those who share similar characteristics.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022

Increase in home delivery service usage during COVID-19 pandemic unlikely to last

Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute finds that over 90% of people who use online delivery services would likely revert back to their original way of shopping. Delivery service users access products in four categories: groceries, food, home goods, and other items, with grocery deliveries having the highest proportion of new ado...

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalTransportation Research Part A Policy and Practice·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 3, 2022

Genetic study suggests more sensitive people respond better to couple’s therapy

A genetic study published at Queen Mary University of London found that individuals with higher genetic sensitivity benefit more from couple's therapy, particularly in the long-term. The researchers used genome-wide data to assess genetic sensitivity and found that it had a significant impact on marital satisfaction over time.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2022

Perceived fragile masculinity stifles sexual satisfaction and honest communication, study finds

A new study finds that when women perceive their partner's sense of masculinity as fragile, they are more likely to fake orgasms and experience lower sexual satisfaction. This phenomenon is linked to anxiety and poorer communication in relationships. Women may prioritize protecting their partners' manhood over their own needs.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022