A study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that people who break social rules are perceived as having more power and being more in control. The researchers suggest that this is because breaking rules makes others think you're powerful, rather than corrupting behavior itself.
Researchers found that people do reasonably well at judging their own first impressions, with accuracy tied to moderate levels of confidence. The study suggests that most people are like most people, and that recognizing this similarity leads to more accurate perceptions.
A recent study from the University of Texas at Austin found that men are more than twice as likely to continue dating a girlfriend who has cheated on them with another woman. In contrast, women show the opposite pattern and are more likely to stay in relationships following a man's infidelity. The researchers suggest that this disparit...
Researchers found that individuals with multiple group memberships recover faster from physical challenges and are more resilient in the face of stress. This suggests that belonging to several groups can provide psychological strength and promote overall well-being.
A study found that people open to new experiences, particularly those high in openness, tend to feel chills while listening to music. They are also more likely to play musical instruments and rate music as important in their lives.
SourceSAGE·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateDec 7, 2010
A study found that law firms led by managing partners with powerful faces in college are more profitable. The researchers judged photos of 73 managing partners for dominance, maturity, attractiveness, likeability, and trustworthiness, and found that facial power was a strong predictor of law firm profitability.
A recent study found that violent video games can stimulate aggression for an extended period of time, with effects lasting up to 24 hours. The researchers also discovered that women who played violent games did not experience increased aggression in the long term.
Researchers validate sentiment that a single death is more tragic than a million, as people form vivid mental representations of individual victims. The scope-severity paradox exists in judgments of harm, leading to harsher punishments for crimes with identifiable victims.
SourceSAGE·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateSep 9, 2010
Researchers discovered that trusting people are more accurate at detecting lies and make better hiring decisions. They were also less likely to be deceived themselves. High trust individuals formed a more accurate impression of interviewees and chose honest candidates over dishonest ones.
A study by psychologists at the University of Leicester identified characteristics of people prone to shoplifting, including males, unpleasant and antisocial individuals, and those with disorganized and unreliable personalities. Younger and outgoing individuals were more likely to engage in minor fraud.
A study in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that young men took greater physical risks and had higher testosterone levels when attempting tricks in front of an attractive female. This suggests that the presence of a beautiful woman can lead to increased risk-taking behavior and elevated testosterone levels in men.
A new study by Wake Forest University psychologist Dustin Wood found that men agree more than women on who they find attractive. The study analyzed over 4,000 participant ratings of men and women's photographs for attractiveness, revealing significant differences in consensus between men and women.
Psychologists at U of T create a bias-resistant personality inventory that predicts real-world performance even when respondents are trying to fake their answers. The study shows that traditional personality questionnaires fail to predict outcomes when respondents have strong incentive to distort the results.
Research suggests that men tend to look at their partners in a more negative light after meeting a single, attractive woman, while women are more likely to strengthen their current relationships after being approached by an available, attractive man. Men can learn to resist temptation with training and strategy.
Research suggests that disengaging from impossible goals can lower bodily inflammation levels, a potential risk factor for diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Setting new goals after giving up on an important one can also improve mental health by increasing purpose and mastery.
A study by Daniel Ames and Francis Flynn found that assertiveness is the most common weakness among aspiring leaders, with 48% suggesting too much or too little. The researchers suggest that leaders who exhibit moderate assertiveness may be better able to balance their responses.
Researchers found that groups of three, four, and five members perform better than the best individual on complex problems requiring verbal, quantitative, or logical conceptual skills. This suggests that group work may be beneficial for students in school and for scientific research teams.
A new study published in Schizophrenia Research found that individuals with schizotypal personalities are more creative than normal or fully schizophrenic people. They also use the right side of their brains more heavily to access creativity. This is supported by research showing a disproportionate number of schizotypes and schizophren...
A sense of entitlement is a substantial barrier to forgiveness, according to researchers. Narcissists are likely to insist on full repayment before forgiving and may hold grudges due to their inflated self-interest.
A study found that having an imaginary companion is common among school-age children, with 31% playing with one at age 7. The companions varied widely in form and function, including invisible humans and animals. Imaginary play appears to be an ongoing process that helps children develop social understanding and emotional regulation.