Articles tagged with Social Attitudes
New research finds that believing COVID-19 is a hoax can lead to increased belief in conspiracy theories and even suspect the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. The study proposes the 'gateway conspiracy' hypothesis, suggesting that one conspiracy theory triggers distrust in institutions.
A new study from The Primals Project at the University of Pennsylvania challenges the long-held assumption that conservatives see the world as more dangerous than liberals. Instead, researchers found that both conservatives and liberals view the world as similarly dangerous, with a hierarchical worldview playing a significant role in s...
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant shift in Americans' opinions toward government and markets, with increased support for bigger government and redistribution. Despite this, the authors found no evidence that this shift will lead to specific policies or government functions.
A new free guide, 'Cultivating Contact', offers insights on how people from different groups experience contact with each other and how social attitudes and behaviors can be transformed through these experiences. The 24-page booklet describes how to foster greater trust and belonging between people from different backgrounds.
A new study from the University of Kansas suggests that fostering positive attitudes toward math and science early in students' lives can address gender and socioeconomic gaps in STEM. The study analyzed data from over 21,000 students and found that having a science or math identity in ninth grade can increase the likelihood of enrolli...
A new report reveals that both Democrats and Republicans personally value core democratic principles, but severely underestimate opposing party members' support for those same characteristics. This biased underestimation leads to a willingness to subvert democratic principles, particularly among Republicans.
Researchers found that mixed-gender coalitions perform better than single-gender groups in advocating for gender equity issues. Adding men to the coalition makes the message appear more legitimate and signals that it matters to a wider range of stakeholders.
A new study analyzing YouTube comments found that fans of a celebrity will often continue to support them despite immoral acts. The study used language-processing algorithms to analyze comments on Logan Paul's videos before and after a scandalous incident in which he shared a video of a dead body.
A study of 3,192 participants found that both psychedelic drugs and near-death experiences can decrease fear of death and increase feelings of spirituality. However, those with non-drug near-death experiences reported a more meaningful experience overall.
Research finds that feelings of guilt from keeping everyday consumer behaviors a secret can lead to greater relationship investment. Participants reported engaging in mundane secrets like sneaking pizza or watching ahead on a TV show, which drove them to invest more in their relationships.
A new study from the University of Florida finds that smartphones encourage consumers to prefer customized options, leading to increased self-expression and altered behaviors. The researchers suggest that companies should adapt their offerings based on device usage to tap into this trend.
Researchers urge healthcare professionals to acknowledge changes in society around anal sex and have open conversations with young women to ensure they make informed choices about sex. Young women cite pleasure, curiosity, and coercion as factors for engaging in anal sex, which is associated with specific health concerns, including fae...
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior reveals that education with goal-oriented activities can motivate college students to make healthier choices. The intervention, which included food challenges and cooking videos, increased confidence in using fruits and vegetables in cooking and consumption outcomes.
Researchers examine voting decisions when favored candidates commit moral transgressions, identifying key factors affecting support. Strong ideological identity and severity of transgression influence voter loyalty, with significant differences between conservatives and liberals.
A recent study by Leiden University researchers explores the cultural significance of Black Pete in the Netherlands. The findings indicate that acceptance of minority groups' unequal treatment is linked to resistance against changing Black Pete's appearance, highlighting a complex social hierarchy.
Researchers developed a new scale to capture heterogeneity among violent extremists, revealing distinct archetype dimensions such as 'adventurer' and 'drifter'. The tool has been validated across diverse groups, providing insights into personality traits and behavioral profiles of extremist individuals.
Researchers identify four bases of anti-science beliefs: distrust in scientific sources, group identity, conflicting messages, and cognitive style. Politicization and social media amplify these factors, making it harder for people to accept scientific evidence. Strategies like acknowledging valid concerns and finding common ground can ...
Theatre productions have been shown to promote positive body image in young children by improving body appreciation scores and increasing unique qualities perception. The study evaluated the impact of a body-positive production on 99 children aged 5-9, finding significant improvements in both boys' and girls' body image attitudes.
New research suggests that people who become wealthy from humble origins are less likely to support social welfare and have reduced sympathy for the poor compared to those who were born into wealth. The study of 736 participants found a positive view of upwardly mobile individuals, but also discovered that they perceived improving thei...
A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that social ties can have a bipolar effect on relationships, with positive interactions strengthened by negative ones. Cognitive flexibility may help mitigate the dark side of social ties, such as empathic distress and stigma-related anxiety.
A new study suggests that science reporting on climate change can lead to more accurate beliefs and support government action, but these effects are short-lived. Researchers found that factually accurate science reporting changed people's factual understanding and moved their political preferences towards supporting climate action.
A recent study by ICTA-UAB researchers found that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shift in public expectations, with many citizens becoming more pessimistic about future climate action. However, some respondents expressed positive views on the impact of COVID-19 on consumption habits and environmental awareness.
A recent study published in the journal Body Image found that young Black girls experience high levels of verbal teasing and unwanted hair touching due to their natural hair. The research highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of these issues to promote positive body image and self-acceptance among young Black girls.
A team of researchers at Singapore Management University is working on a project to identify polarizing topics and measure attitude strength using machine learning algorithms. The study aims to understand how opinion-based division can undermine social resilience, particularly in the digital age.
A Rutgers study suggests that individual attitudes towards heavy alcohol use are a key predictor of college student drinking. The research found that students' own attitudes towards heavy drinking, rather than peer pressure or societal norms, were more closely linked to binge-drinking frequency and alcohol-related problems.
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.
A new study by NYU researchers found that neoliberal policies and institutions are associated with a preference for greater income inequality across over 160 countries. The analysis, which spanned 25 years (1995-2019), suggests that economic systems can shape human psychology to favor higher levels of income inequality.
A new study found that individuals high in grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are less likely to wear masks or get vaccinated. However, those who do choose to participate may be more likely to encourage others to do so. Researchers suggest using unique messaging strategies to tap into these personalities.
A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that parents' beliefs about languages have a stronger impact on their children's attitudes than teachers or friends. This implies that efforts to reverse the national decline in language-learning should also target families, alongside schools.
A recent study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found little evidence to suggest that diversity or antipathy towards ethnic others affects attitudes towards equity or public action aimed at reducing inequalities. People who are already skeptical of immigrants do not increase in skepticism about welfare schemes, but rat...
A study from the University of Illinois Chicago explores key themes and topics from COVID-19 vaccine-related tweets, identifying changes in public attitudes towards vaccination and concerns about effectiveness. The research provides insights for policymakers to frame policies and programs to accelerate vaccine uptake.
A UTD professor's study found that men's rudeness toward others, including women, can obscure the recognition of sexism. The study suggests that a perception of gender blindness can lead observers to view the perpetrator as not sexist, even when they are displaying sexist behavior.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association found that people are more likely to forgive and spread misinformation if they believe it might become true in the future. Participants imagined how false statements could eventually become true, making them less likely to rate the statement as unethical.
Research shows that children aged 9-11 believe farm animals should be treated like pets and think eating animals is less morally acceptable than adults. The study suggests that speciesism - a moral hierarchy giving different value to different animals - is learned during adolescence.
A new study from Brown University's Policy Lab found that text-message vaccination campaigns work better when sent early, as all state residents ages 16 and up had been eligible for a shot four weeks before the campaign. Despite this, the messages' ineffectiveness was due to poor timing rather than the content.
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.
People with positive past attitudes and long-term planning skills are less depressed, sleep better, and handle isolation more easily. Those who focus on short-term plans and have negative past attitudes show signs of depression, poor sleep quality, and mental disorders.
A new study by Santa Fe Institute researchers Katrin Schmelz and Samuel Bowles found that people's opposition to vaccines quadrupled when mandated, but many switched to pro-vaccination as they became more convinced of the vaccines' effectiveness. To increase vaccination rates, policymakers need to focus on building trust and changing h...
A UK-based study surveyed 425 doctors, finding that both male and female overestimated the proportion of women in various roles. However, men who made this mistake showed significantly lower support for gender-equality initiatives. The research highlights the need to address these misconceptions to achieve progress toward gender equali...
A new study reveals that corrections staff in Kentucky view incarcerated individuals as 'monsters' or 'evils', dehumanizing them to justify violent behavior. This us-them ideology can lead to abuse and harm, and has implications for prison management and the carceral system.
A UCI-led study found that using peer-led online communities increased HIV self-testing and reduced alcohol consumption among Latinx and African American MSM. The HOPE intervention program was successful in reaching diverse audiences, particularly those with high rates of HIV cases and new diagnoses.
A special issue of Criminology & Public Policy examines the effects of the George Floyd protests on the criminal justice system. Studies focus on policy changes, police institutional change, and public attitudes surrounding defunding the police.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated humanity's transition to a new technological stage, particularly in fields like medicine, biotech, and robotics. This shift is expected to bring about significant socio-political changes, including the development of an e-state and the increasing role of sociotechnical systems in managing society.
Researchers argue that a lack of empathy for offenders' incidental harms can hinder criminal justice reform. The study suggests that efforts to reduce character-based judgments could lead to more effective rehabilitation, ultimately reducing recidivism rates.
A recent study from the University of Kansas found that college students' self-reported attitudes towards sex on dates do not match their actual behavior. When men initiated dates, sex was more restricted than when women asked for a date. In contrast, female-initiated dates saw genital contact occurring on 63% of occasions, while tradi...
A new study from Oregon State University found that people with disabilities have been experiencing high levels of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation was a major predictor for both conditions, exacerbated by limited access to healthcare, including delayed or canceled medical appointments.
A UOC study analyzed 28,000 European citizens' perceptions of robot-assisted surgery, finding that experience and user-friendliness are key factors in trust. The study highlights the need for a patient-aligned robotic strategy to develop effective healthcare policies.
A new Penn State study found that Black youth with high BMIs reported fewer weight concerns when they had a strong sense of racial identity. Fathers also played a role in shaping their daughters' body image, particularly when involved in teaching about Black culture. The findings suggest that services promoting youth racial identity an...
A University of Ottawa study found that trying to suppress emotions with a poker face or smile has little impact on mood and memory, contradicting past research. Instead, participants used alternative strategies like changing their perspective to cope with distressing moments.
A study of UK football fan message boards found openly misogynistic attitudes towards women's sport, despite progressive attitudes also being present. The researchers suggest that the dominant negative attitudes may be a response to advances in gender equality.
Surveys involving 100,000 participants in 26 countries found a correlation between belief in conspiracies and identification as far-left or far-right. The research suggests that conspiracy theories are more pronounced among those who feel disenfranchised and lack political control.
Research among 2,783 Western Europeans found that mosque attendance and country of origin impact attitudes on homosexuality. Second-generation migrants adopt more local values, while first-generation migrants are shaped by their origins.
A study by Dr. Felix Hagemeister found a significant link between right-wing populist party victories and an increase in far-right protests, particularly in areas with relatively liberal attitudes.
A new analysis of public opinion data found that Americans' attitudes and behaviors have become more liberal overall in the past 50 years, particularly on issues like gay rights and civil liberties. However, views on polarizing issues such as abortion, guns, and taxes remain unchanged.
A new study found that people who see artists as collaborators in their local communities are more likely to support public funding for artists. The researchers also discovered that individuals with liberal views, blacks, Hispanics, and those with a college education are more supportive of public funding.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona found that spending revenues on climate projects increases social acceptability of carbon taxes. The research also revealed that providing information on carbon taxes can increase acceptability, while the perception of fairness is a stronger factor in acceptability than effectiveness.
Conservatives believe bodily markets violate human body sanctity, while liberals see them as exploitative. This study found liberals support laws punishing buyers over sellers, whereas conservatives back laws punishing both parties.
A new study by the American Psychological Association found that gay and bisexual men who move from high-stigma to low-stigma countries experience a significantly lower risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. The research analyzed data from over 123,000 participants across 48 countries.
A new study by McGill University researchers found that COVID-19 lockdowns disproportionately affected graduate students' mental health, particularly among women. Women reported more stress related to remote teaching and caregiving responsibilities, leading to increased depressive symptoms.
A Boston University researcher found that while many climate deniers are receptive to disinformation, some are also open to the science. Her study suggests that engaging with individuals most vulnerable to climate disinformation is crucial in stopping its spread.