Articles tagged with Social Psychology
Research by Minjung Koo and Ayelet Fishbach found that giving something personal, such as blood or a signature, increases people's self-perception of generosity and commitment. This change in self-perception leads to increased likelihood of future donations.
Researchers found that thinking about how life might be worse if an event hadn't occurred led to increased faith and a stronger belief in God. This suggests that counterfactual thinking can play a role in shaping religious convictions, even for those who do not believe in a deity.
Researchers found that 'carefree' teams with few family responsibilities experience higher cohesion and lower social loafing. Mixed teams where the majority of teammates are 'carefree' can also benefit from increased virtuality, as 'busy' teammates learn from their peers.
A new study suggests that hearing messages of hope from Palestinians, regardless of their affiliation, can instill greater sense of hope among Jewish Israelis. In contrast, similar hopeful messages from outside experts had no effect. The findings have implications for protracted intergroup conflicts beyond the Israeli-Palestinian confl...
A special issue of Pediatric Blood & Cancer establishes evidence-based standards for pediatric psychosocial care, addressing topics like monitoring psychosocial health and supporting siblings. The standards aim to improve quality of life outcomes for children with cancer and their family members.
Childhood socioeconomic status may influence people's food choices as adults, with those from lower SES environments more vulnerable to unhealthy weight gain. Serving order and labels also play a role in convincing people to make healthier food choices.
Researchers found that people living in self-oriented cultures are less emotionally complex than those in other-oriented cultures, which prioritize feelings of duty and familial bonds. People in various parts of Asia and Russia showed more emotional complexity.
A new study from the University of Toronto found that nearly 40% of formerly suicidal Canadians reach complete mental health. Social support was identified as a crucial factor in achieving this state, with those having someone to confide in seven times more likely to succeed.
Researchers found that both Blacks and Whites prefer lighter-skinned candidates when the government is unstable, but show stronger interest in voting for a darker-skinned candidate when it's stable. The study used photographs of a hypothetical candidate to measure mental images and voting intentions.
A new study by UTSA professor Max Kilger delves into the human component of cybersecurity, highlighting the unique motivations of cyberterrorists. The research reveals that financial gain is a primary motivator for these attacks, making them a significant and growing threat.
A new meta-analysis of e-excellence reveals that online businesses need to adjust almost every aspect to local culture, regulatory environment, and industry-specific factors. The study found that the relative importance of quality dimensions varied according to cultural attributes, regulatory environments, and industry contexts.
A recent study found that cities fared better during the 2008-09 recession in regions with stronger emotional stability and entrepreneurial personality profiles. Cities like San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif., and Jackson, Tenn., exhibited higher scores for entrepreneurial personality and emotional stability, while others struggled.
A Rutgers study found that people tend to allocate scarce transplant organs across groups instead of prioritizing individuals with the best chance of a successful transplant. When presented with individual-level information, participants were more likely to make efficient decisions, but when grouped, they allocated resources based on p...
A new study by UC San Francisco researchers found that people who sleep six hours a night or less are four times more likely to catch a cold compared to those who spend more than seven hours in slumber. The study used objective sleep measures and found that short sleep was the most significant factor in predicting illness.
Researchers aim to identify morally exceptional individuals through competitions, conferences, and research projects to foster moral attributes. The project's goal is to understand the psychological, cultural, and spiritual factors that contribute to moral excellence.
A new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science finds that patients who require immediate medical attention tend to view their doctors as 'empty vessels,' lacking emotions. These patients expect their physicians to empathize with them and contain their emotions, which can lead to better care if acknowledged.
A new study finds that perfectionistic concerns can lead to stress, burnout, and health problems. In contrast, perfectionistic strivings, which involve setting high standards and working towards goals, may help maintain a sense of accomplishment and delay burnout.
Research reveals that schools with more black and minority students tend to prioritize punishment over medical or psychological interventions, leading to higher rates of expulsions, suspensions, and referrals to law enforcement. This trend is linked to centralized governance and zero-tolerance policies in disadvantaged districts.
Research from University of Toronto psychologists explores how self-other overlap affects relationships, finding those with high overlap protect their partner from comparisons and maintain positive perceptions.
A recent CDC report challenges the notion that Black fathers are more absent in their children's lives than White fathers. Researchers found that messages of individual blame for Black Americans perpetuate structural racial inequalities and reinforce the idea that Blacks are ultimately responsible for their own disadvantage.
A new study found that attributing a natural disaster to climate change leads to skepticism, causing individuals to justify withholding aid from victims. This phenomenon highlights the importance of separating discussions on climate change and humanitarian aid.
A UNSW Australia-led study found that people eat less when their companion consumes a small amount of food, due to the social modelling effect. This psychological influence leads individuals to rely on external cues rather than internal hunger and fullness signals.
A study by Dr Pam Ramsden found that nearly a quarter of participants who viewed violent news events on social media scored high on clinical measures of PTSD. Those with outgoing personalities were also more at risk. The study highlights the need for support and awareness about the risks of viewing traumatic content online.
A University of Oregon study found that Spanish-speaking residents responded at a 32-percent higher rate than English-speaking residents when receiving letters written in their primary language. The study suggests that communicating with supporters in a culturally competent way can lead to increased response rates and potentially more ...
A study by Rutgers University-Newark researchers found that emotional disclosure reduces victim blaming, with witnesses who express disturbing thoughts and feelings blaming victims less than those who suppress their emotions. The research suggests people can best help victims by addressing their own emotional needs.
A recent study by Leuphana University and Saarland University found that using wording that emphasizes the benefits of a proposal can lead to better outcomes. Researchers investigated this effect in eight studies involving over 650 subjects and discovered that parties who focus on their own gains are less willing to make concessions. B...
A new study from Columbia Business School suggests that using range offers in negotiations can lead to better settlements for the offer-maker without harming their relationship with the other party. Bolstering and bracketing range offers were found to be effective strategies, while backdown range offers were less successful.
A study found that publicly tweeting about sexism can increase women's wellbeing by allowing them to express themselves and feel like they're making a difference. The study, published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, involved 93 female undergraduate students who tweeted about sexism for three days.
A Yale University study reveals that strong neighborhood ties can shield community members from gun violence, reducing chronic trauma and stress. Community-based participatory research empowered 17 community members to gather data, showing a connection between social bonds and reduced exposure to gun violence.
Thomas Scheff's research aims to define basic emotions, particularly shame, using historical and linguistic analysis. He identifies two types of shame: overt and bypassed, which are often hidden or misnamed in modern societies.
A novel silver lining theory establishes that believing a weakness can be a strength leads to increased productivity in that domain. In experiments, impulsivity was found to be related to creativity when participants believed it, but not when they disbelieved it.
A new Duke University study finds that people evaluate scientific evidence based on its policy implications, leading to denial of problems even when faced with strong evidence. The study sheds light on why conservatives and liberals disagree so vehemently over issues like climate change.
Researchers found that runners who had rivals in local races ran faster and trained harder, motivated by the desire to outperform their rivals. The study identified factors like similarity, repeated competition, and closely-decided contests as key characteristics of rivalries.
Research from Columbia Business School finds most people misjudge their assertiveness, often thinking they're seen as appropriate when others see them as too hot or too cold. The study also reveals that those who get assertiveness right often mistakenly think they've gotten it wrong, leading to costly repairs and missed deals.
Researchers from University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that humans have a general tendency to fear things approaching, regardless of their threat level. This 'approach avoidance' phenomenon is rooted in our survival instincts and can be observed in various daily situations.
A recent study by Clayton Critcher and Jane L. Risen found that exposure to African-American success stories can lead to a misguided perception that these individuals simply need to work harder to achieve their goals. This misinterpretation can have significant implications for perceptions of race relations in America. The study's find...
A study from the University of Toronto suggests that exposure to fast food can undermine one's ability to savor pleasurable activities. Participants who were shown pictures of meals on regular ceramic tableware showed higher levels of enjoyment when experiencing savoring activities, whereas those shown pictorial reminders of fast food ...
A new study found that when consumers focus on internal feelings of power, they are less likely to purchase luxury items like BMWs. However, when focused on expected behavior, people in powerful roles are more likely to buy status-signaling products.
Researchers Ayelet Gneezy and Nicholas Epley found that keeping a promise is valued highly, while exceeding it confers little benefit. Exceeding a promise may not be worth the effort as long as the initial promise is kept.
Research from Duke University shows that interest in pursuing goals enhances performance while reducing mental exhaustion. The study found that individuals who experienced activities as enjoyable and personally significant performed better and were less exhausted than those who did not.
Researchers found that exposure to life-threatening experiences led to increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger among US military civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilians faced frequent threats, including IEDs and rocket attacks, which took a toll on their mental health.
A diet rich in animal protein has been linked to lower odds of functional decline in elderly individuals. Men who consumed the most animal protein had a 39% reduced risk of experiencing declines in activities of daily living and higher-level cognitive functions.
Research by Eyal Pe'er and colleagues found that people who partially confessed their wrongdoing experienced more negative emotions like fear, shame, and guilt compared to those who fully confessed or made no confession. Partially confessing also led to increased feelings of regret.
Research from the University of Southampton shows that prisoners rate themselves similarly to community members on pro-social traits, despite being incarcerated. Prisoners also overestimate their law-abidigness and underestimate their propensity for future crime.
A study found that blacks experience more positive emotions in the workplace than whites, contrary to expectations. The percentage of minority workers in a workplace affects the friendships of whites, with more minorities leading to fewer close white friends.
A University of Toronto study reveals that fear of being single is a predictor of settling for less in relationships among both men and women. People with stronger fears about being single are more likely to stay in unhappy relationships or date individuals who aren't good for them.
A UC Berkeley study found that shoppers spend more money when engaged in a 'pay-it-forward' chain of goodwill than when they can name their own price. The results shed light on the psychological and social forces guiding consumer decisions beyond getting the best deal.
Research from University of Southampton reveals that nostalgic thoughts increase optimism and self-esteem, providing a positive outlook on the future. The studies also highlight music's role in evoking nostalgia, further supporting its capacity to promote psychological comfort.
UC Riverside researchers found that recipients prefer to hear bad news first, while news-givers prefer good news. However, the timing of good news can impact behavior change, with a good-bad-good delivery strategy potentially undermining its effectiveness. The study suggests a good-then-bad news order may be more beneficial for recipie...
A study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that more child-centric parents experience higher happiness and a sense of purpose from having children. This contradicts popular media claims, suggesting that prioritizing children's well-being can actually improve parental well-being.
A study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that second-generation Holocaust survivors had consistently lower levels of post-traumatic growth than non-second generation survivors, contrary to expectations. The researchers suggest that this may be due to inherited trauma and guilt from their parents' experience.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that psychological and health promotion interventions by non-mental health specialists improved symptoms in women during the perinatal period. The study, conducted in middle-income countries, suggests promise for psychosocial interventions in low- and middle-income settings.
A new study found that higher-ranking group members manipulate perceived threats to preserve their rank, while average individuals may underestimate real threats. This study highlights the dark side of cooperation and self-sacrifice in groups.
A University of Cologne study found that washing hands after a task increases optimism after failure, but hampers future performance in the same task domain. The subjects who washed their hands were more optimistic initially, but performed similarly to those who didn't wash their hands when faced with the same challenge again.
Researchers from the UMass Amherst Psychology of Peace and Violence program argue that social psychology can be used to promote nonviolence and peace. They emphasize the importance of increasing empathy and understanding of others in reducing conflict, and highlight the need for more research on constructive approaches to violence.
A new study by the American Psychological Association finds that people who cheat without causing harm experience an emotional boost, contrary to expectations. The research involved over 1,000 participants and revealed that cheating can lead to feelings of satisfaction, even when the payoff is small.
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that men subconsciously feel worse about themselves when their female partner succeeds, regardless of whether they excel or fail in a specific area. Women's self-esteem, however, is not affected by their male partners' successes or failures.
Researchers found that considering the larger picture helps diffuse negative emotions and provides a sense of direction for action. Participants who perceived the event as farther away in time were more confident in their understanding about why it happened.
Researchers found that distracting similarities in testimonials can result in less medically appropriate treatment recommendations. They suggest consumers recognize the potential for 'gut feel' decisions based on credibility rather than accurate data.
A study by Boston College researchers found that grandparents and adult grandchildren have a measurable impact on each other's psychological well-being. An emotionally close relationship is associated with fewer symptoms of depression for both, while tangible support affects grandparents' psychological health.