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New research turns the Dunning-Kruger effect on its head: Rethinking the confident incompetent

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.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalPsychological Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 27, 2026

Beyond the 24-hour day: How employee biological clocks and beliefs drive workplace cooperation

A groundbreaking new study introduces the concept of Time-Extension Self-Efficacy (TESE), which predicts an employee's willingness to go the extra mile at work. The research found that organizations can influence these beliefs through simple recall exercises, boosting TESE and encouraging greater collaboration and flexibility.

SourcePortland State University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateJul 2, 2026

Science of fitting in: Do best friends or popular peers shape teen behavior?

A groundbreaking longitudinal study reveals that peer influence is specialized, with best friends primarily shaping internal emotional states and academic behaviors, while popular peers set the standard for public image and social media engagement. The findings suggest that adolescents use different mental calculations to navigate thei...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 2, 2026

Neural activity linked to self-preoccupied thinking

A neural pattern predicting self-focused thinking has been identified in people with a tendency to internalize. Fluctuating brain activity during rest is associated with maladaptive self-interest, which can lead to depression and anxiety. Researchers hope their findings will help predict the onset of mental health conditions.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournalJNeurosci·DateAug 25, 2025

Why forgiving yourself is harder than it sounds

A new study from Flinders University explores why self-forgiveness can be difficult for some, even when it may benefit mental health. Researchers found that people who struggled to forgive themselves often replayed the moment, felt stuck in the past, and experienced intense emotions like guilt and regret.

SourceFlinders University·JournalSelf and Identity·TypeSurvey·DateAug 6, 2025

Most women in STEM feel like frauds, new study shows

A new study by Binghamton University reveals that 97.5% of women in STEM graduate programs experience moderate to severe impostor feelings, which can lead to poorer mental health and increased burnout. Strategies such as shifting mindset and social support may help alleviate these feelings.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalSocial Psychology of Education·TypeSurvey·DateJul 28, 2025

Can one video change a teen's mindset? New study says yes - but there’s a catch

A new study published in JCPP Advances found that watching a ten-minute video can shift how teenagers view themselves by promoting mental well-being. The intervention appeared to have little immediate effect on symptoms of anxiety or depression, but may work best as part of a broader toolkit of services.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalJCPP Advances·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 8, 2025

New UK population-based study highlights the strengths of LGBT adolescents

A new UK population-based study reveals that LGBT adolescents exhibit unique strengths, particularly in social connections and caring attributes. The study applies the 5Cs model to compare experiences across different gender and sexuality groups, highlighting the importance of emphasizing challenges faced by minoritised groups.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 3, 2025

Fact or fiction? The ADHD info dilemma

A study found that exposure to inaccurate ADHD-related content on TikTok significantly reduced students' accurate understanding of the disorder. Participants who viewed factually incorrect content showed lower accuracy in their ADHD knowledge but reported greater confidence in it afterwards, leading to increased motivation for treatment.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalEuropean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJun 30, 2025

Stress for success

A Griffith University study reveals that reframing stress as a motivator can lead to improved problem-solving skills and personal growth. Participants who underwent a 15-minute online stress mindset intervention showed no negative impact on their willingness to support others.

SourceGriffith University·JournalInternational Journal of Stress Management·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 8, 2025

Who is most likely to fall for fake news?

A global study of over 66,000 participants reveals that younger digital natives, conservatives, and those with lower education levels are more likely to fall for misinformation. The research underscores the importance of understanding who is most at risk to develop effective strategies for counteracting fake news.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·TypeSurvey·DateApr 8, 2025

An app can change how you see yourself at work

A study from the University of California, Riverside, found that a smartphone app can subtly reshape a person's self-image at work. The app, called MindTAPP, uses associative conditioning to pair users with positive affirmations, leading to more favorable views of their workplace abilities and a heightened sense of self-efficacy.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalComputers in Human Behavior Reports·DateApr 2, 2025

People select feedback to flatter others, except when they dislike them

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.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2025

Support at work does not make ‘stuck’ employees less likely to retaliate – study

A new study by The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Birmingham found that organizational support policies do not reduce retaliation intentions among 'stuck' employees. Stuck employees, who want to leave their jobs but cannot due to barriers, are more likely to retaliate against perceived organizational injustice.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of Business and Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 19, 2024

Black employees more likely to experience depression after workplace mistreatment

A study by Indiana University Kelley School of Business found that Black employees are more likely to attribute workplace mistreatment to racial prejudice and make a pessimistic attribution. This leads to higher rates of depression compared to white employees. Organisations must create an inclusive workplace to reduce workplace mistrea...

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 9, 2024

Optimism wards off procrastination

A study published in Scientific Reports found that people with an optimistic outlook on the future are less likely to be severe procrastinators. The researchers surveyed nearly 300 young people and discovered that those who believed their stress levels would decrease in the future were more likely to overcome procrastination.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeSurvey·DateJun 10, 2024

Researchers explain social media’s role in rapidly shifting social norms on gender and sexuality

New research reveals how social media has supported an explosion of diversity in gender and sexuality in America, enabling self-expression and authenticity. Online platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, and Twitter have created new cultural narratives around gender identity, bisexuality, asexuality, and intersectionality.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateMay 29, 2024

Prolonged eye patching does not have negative impact on family stress levels or child’s development according to first if its kind study

Extended periods of patching for children with unilateral congenital cataracts do not negatively impact parenting stress, child motor development, behavior, or self-perception. A new study found that continuing to patch throughout preschool years is crucial in preventing blindness and promoting healthy vision.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateApr 18, 2024

People who use willpower alone to achieve goals, resist temptation, deemed more trustworthy

Research published by the American Psychological Association found that individuals who use willpower to achieve goals are perceived as more trustworthy. Those who rely on external strategies, such as commitment strategies, are viewed as less capable of self-control and therefore less trustworthy.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2024

Why we hate to wait

A study by Annabelle Roberts explores the internal negotiations that occur when people feel impatient, including the desire for closure. The research finds that people become more impatient as their wait nears an end and offers lessons for marketers to make waiting less annoying.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 15, 2024

Early study shows health benefits of creative arts therapies and nutrition education for postmenopausal women

A recent study from Drexel University explored an art therapy intervention to address the health needs of overweight, postmenopausal women. The integrated approach showed significant improvements in psychosocial wellbeing, quality of life, and body image, with participants also experiencing decreases in BMI and blood pressure.

SourceDrexel University·JournalArt Therapy·DateJan 11, 2024

Canine cuddles can comfort equally across all genders

A recent UBC Okanagan study found that canine cuddles have a comparable positive wellness effect across all genders, contradicting previous studies with predominantly female participants. The research suggests that canine-assisted interventions can be an inclusive option for post-secondary mental health and wellness programs.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalHuman-Animal Interactions·TypeObservational study·DateOct 30, 2023

Psychedelics may help people reinvent themselves

Researchers found that psychedelics combined with talk therapy can help people see themselves as nonsmokers, leading to a higher success rate in quitting smoking. The study suggests that psychedelics can reshape self-perceptions to help break free from old habits and addictions.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalKennedy Institute of Ethics Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2023

The real benefits of walking in a winter wonderland

Research from Anglia Ruskin University reveals that spending time in snowy environments can improve body image and self-compassion. The study found that participants who scored highly in self-compassion displayed greater improvement in body appreciation after walking in a snow-covered woodland.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateNov 29, 2022