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New research sheds light on factors influencing trust and bias in societies

Researchers found that people with positive perceptions of their nation's institutions show more favoritism toward fellow citizens. Conversely, a strong identification with one's own nation aligns with previous studies. The study suggests support for national institutions can pose challenges to establishing trust across borders.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2023

Baby opera: Study finds babies get a kick out of live music

A study found that babies watching live music had higher heart rates and were more engaged than those watching recordings, even with identical audio. The researchers tracked the babies' responses using heart monitors and tablets, and noted that the live performance captured their attention for 72% of the show.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPsychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2023

Controlled cruelty: New study from VCU finds aggression can arise from successful self-control

A new study by VCU researcher David Chester found that aggression is not always the product of poor self-control, but rather can be the result of successful self-control to inflict greater retribution. The study argues for a more nuanced view of aggression and challenges common interventions aimed at reducing violence.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalSocial and Personality Psychology Compass·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 13, 2023

People in power who are guilt-prone are less likely to be corrupt

A study by UC Santa Barbara psychology professor Hongbo Yu found that individuals prone to guilt in their everyday lives are less likely to take bribes. The research suggests that anticipatory guilt may make people think twice before engaging in corrupt behavior, particularly when they can see the potential harm to others.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJun 26, 2023

Walkable neighborhoods help adults socialize, increase community

A study published in Health & Place found that walkable neighborhoods foster social interactions with neighbors, promoting a sense of community. Researchers analyzed data from 1,745 adults living in Seattle, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., revealing that these environments encourage active behaviors like walking and socializing.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalHealth & Place·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 20, 2023

What your likes, posts really say about you

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis offers a fine-grained scale to understand how people use social media, revealing four categories: belief-based, consumption-based, image-based and comparison-based. Each category is associated with unique personality traits and behavioral characteristics.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalAssessment·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2023

Monkey see, monkey do: observing macaques to better understand movement synchronization

Researchers observe 'social motor entrainment' in macaques, where movements synchronize with others, and find it varies by animal pairs, social hierarchy, and stimulus type. This study provides insights into the neural underpinnings of social cohesion and has implications for understanding human conditions like autism spectrum disorder.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2023

The science of attraction: why do we fall for certain people?

A Boston University-led study discovered that self-essentialist reasoning plays a crucial role in attraction. When individuals assume others share an underlying essence, they're more likely to form connections with them. However, this flawed thinking can restrict who we find attractive, as it's based on superficial similarities.

SourceBoston University·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 11, 2023

Cooperation benefits from peer-punishment

A multi-lab replication of a 2006 study confirms that peer sanctions enhance cooperation by making investors feel more secure. In groups with sanctioning institutions, participants cooperate and profit more than those without such institutions.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 2, 2023

Recent study on how to get people to share a corporate post

A recent study by Sara Valentini and colleagues at Bocconi University found that consistency between online content and the values associated with a brand increases rebroadcasting frequency. Posts containing price promotions also perform well when aligned with the brand's identity, with followers being 109% more likely to share them.

SourceBocconi University·JournalJournal of Interactive Marketing·DateApr 26, 2023

Machine learning can help to flag risky messages on Instagram while preserving users’ privacy

A machine learning program can spot risky conversations on Instagram by analyzing metadata clues, such as conversation length and participant engagement. The system was 87% accurate in identifying risky chats using sparse and anonymous details from over 17,000 private chats.

SourceDrexel University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 17, 2023

Attending live sport improves wellbeing – study

New research by Anglia Ruskin University found that attending live sporting events boosts life satisfaction and sense of life being worthwhile, while reducing loneliness. The study used data from over 7,200 adults living in England and suggests that watching live sport can be an effective public health tool.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateMar 17, 2023

On pandemic’s third anniversary, loneliness and isolation are down, but still high, among older adults

A new poll shows a decline in loneliness and isolation among older adults, but one-third still experience these feelings, especially those with poor health or disabilities. The study highlights the importance of social interaction for overall mental and physical health, and the need for a concerted effort to address these issues.

What distinguishes fans from celebrity stalkers?

A survey study of U.S. college students found that individuals who frequently think about their favorite celebrities, feel compelled to learn more about them, and are prone to boredom are more likely to engage in celebrity stalking behaviors. These factors were not associated with anger or thrill seeking.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateMar 1, 2023

New study showed how people interacted with chatbots during COVID-19 pandemic

A new study analyzed nearly 20,000 conversations between online users and a chatbot called SimSimi to understand user interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers found that daily chats with the chatbot mostly led to positive emotions and reduced negative moods during lockdowns.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 18, 2023

Support from others in stressful times can ease impact of genetic depression risk, study suggests

A recent study found that social support has a significant impact on depression risk, particularly in individuals with high genetic risk scores. The research used data from two groups: first-year doctors and recently widowed older adults, showing that those who gained social support during stressful times had lower depressive symptoms.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2023

Aggressiveness of pet dogs is influenced by life history and owner’s characteristics, study suggests

A study of 665 pet dogs found that life history, owner gender, and breed can influence canine behavior. The results highlight the importance of environmental interactions in shaping animal behavior, suggesting that traits like weight, height, and cranial morphology impact the dog-owner relationship.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalApplied Animal Behaviour Science·TypeSurvey·DateJan 12, 2023

Pandemic-forced shift to online education can be boon for future social workers

A University of Kansas professor argues that social work educators can adapt their teaching practices to best prepare students for in-person and virtual interactions with clients. The study provides a framework for teaching practice courses across modalities, emphasizing the importance of interactivity, empathy, and experiential learning.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Teaching in Social Work·TypeObservational study·DateJan 10, 2023

Do the negative ways that others treat us contribute to later self-harm?

A new longitudinal study examines neural-based correlates and risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents. The study found that greater amygdala reactivity during anticipation of social punishment predicted NSSI engagement one year later, particularly in those with lower peer-nominated social preference.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJan 5, 2023

The science of supermoms

Researchers found that dopamine-releasing neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain drive maternal instincts through reinforcement learning. This process creates an expectation of future rewards, influencing mothers to pick up their crying children again.

Lonely heart-failure patients face worse outcomes than sociable peers

A new study found that older heart failure patients who feel they have lost their social role amongst friends and family are more likely to suffer poor clinical outcomes. The study highlights the need for a management program that includes a social approach to care, as social frailty is linked to worse outcomes.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 20, 2022