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New research shows how friends’ support protects intercultural couples

A new study examines the role of social approval in intercultural relationships, finding that supportive friends are a powerful protective factor. The research highlights the unique challenges faced by these couples and emphasizes the importance of building strong social networks to understand and respect their relationship.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 17, 2025

When helping hurts: Why acts of goodwill can stall peace

A new study reveals that even seemingly well-intentioned initiatives to help the disadvantaged side of a conflict can produce negative consequences. When humanitarian aid is not coupled with genuine political change, it may lead to moral satisfaction and decreased support for meaningful concessions for peace.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPeace and Conflict Journal of Peace Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 16, 2025

Admitting imposter feelings may undermine professors’ perceived competence, study finds

Research from Colorado State University shows that faculty sharing internal sense of unease and inadequacy can shape students' perception of professors' overall competence, likeability, and effectiveness. Students found a hypothetical professor who publicly acknowledged feelings of being an impostor to be less hirable than an equally a...

SourceColorado State University·JournalScholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology·DateNov 12, 2025

The escape room challenge: How one person’s narcissism can undermine a whole team

A new study found that individuals with narcissistic rivalry tendencies are more likely to damage team dynamics, leading to lower cohesion and poorer performance. In contrast, narcissistic admiration didn't seem to impact performance, but those individuals were increasingly viewed as less hardworking and arrogant by their teammates.

SourceBournemouth University·JournalBehavioral Science·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2025

The amount of time students spend on the school bus affects their academic engagement with the school, their classmates and their teachers

A study by Universitat Jaume I researchers found that long bus rides can lead to lower academic engagement among secondary and upper secondary students. The study, published in Revista de Educación, suggests that teachers can develop strategies to prevent disengagement by promoting positive attitudes and self-confidence.

SourceUniversitat Jaume I·TypeSurvey·DateNov 3, 2025

Stress caused by family structure changes in infancy can triple psoriasis risk later in life, new research shows

Longitudinal research found that severe stress caused by family structure changes like divorce or separation during infancy triples the risk of developing psoriasis. The study, published in Journal of Investigative Dermatology, emphasizes the need to protect young children from stressful life factors.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2025

Neighborhood trust benefits some more than others

A new study from Karolinska Institutet and UCL found that living in a safe neighborhood with high personal trust reduces psychosis risk among Swedish or European origin residents, but increases it for North African or Middle Eastern origin individuals. The researchers emphasize the need for inclusive environments to promote mental heal...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Mental Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 20, 2025

Research shows anger, not fear, shifts political beliefs

Recent psychological research from Washington University in St. Louis found that anger, not fear, contributes to shifts in political attitudes. Anger causes people to lash out and seek retribution, leading to a shift towards conservative views on issues related to the threat. However, this effect is narrow, with no impact on unrelated ...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology General·DateOct 16, 2025

Researchers develop new indicators to detect loneliness risk in remote work

Researchers developed two new indices to analyze workplace chat data and identify employees at risk of loneliness. The study found a potential link between active online communication and stronger in-person social connections, but also noted that private messages may not accurately reflect feelings of loneliness.

SourceKyushu University·JournalJournal of Information Processing·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 15, 2025

Life after near death: Research reveals how to improve support for near-death experiencers

New University of Virginia research explores the most common and effective types of counseling and support for people who have had a near-death experience. The study found that acceptance and validation, as well as support from groups or online sources knowledgeable about NDEs, are key to successful support.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalPsychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice·DateOct 13, 2025

Women portrayed as younger than men online, and AI amplifies the bias

Researchers analyzed 1.4 million online images and videos, finding that women are systematically presented as younger than men across various occupational and social categories. The study also found that mainstream algorithms amplify age-related gender bias in resume evaluations, rating older male applicants as more qualified.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2025

When a machine makes a mistake – how do we forgive it?

A study by Israeli researchers found that people apply mechanisms of forgiveness towards technology, similar to human relationships. Participants described their experiences with technological malfunctions in emotional terms, describing paths to forgiveness such as cost-benefit calculation, placing responsibility on humans, and accepti...

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalFrontiers in Computer Science·TypeSurvey·DateSep 30, 2025

Is experiencing extreme weather events linked to climate action?

A recent study found that people who attribute extreme weather events to climate change are more likely to support climate regulations. The study analyzed data from 68 countries and found significant differences in public support depending on the type of climate action. Protecting forested and land areas was a popular policy option, su...

SourceSWPS University·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeSurvey·DateSep 26, 2025

How the brain responds to bullying

Researchers found that bullying activates social and emotional brain networks, as well as autonomic threat response systems, leading to increased risk of mental and somatic health issues. Viewers with previous bullying experiences show stronger neural responses to bullied individuals, highlighting the long-term effects of bullying.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournalJNeurosci·DateSep 22, 2025

Why teens defy—and how parents can help

Research shows that when parents model their own values and show understanding, teens are more likely to heed warnings about risky behavior. However, authentic parental values do not alone lead teens to stop their risky behaviors, but rather reduce defiance. When parents demonstrate their values in daily life, teens experience their wa...

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence·TypeSurvey·DateSep 10, 2025

Loneliness is bad for health and wealth in the U.K.

A study found that loneliness incurs an extra £850 in annual healthcare costs to the NHS, as well as experiencing worse mental and physical health. Loneliness affects health more significantly in younger adulthood and later life.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeSurvey·DateSep 3, 2025

One in three people avoid information about their own health

A meta-analysis of 92 studies worldwide found that nearly one in three people avoid or are likely to avoid medical information. The strongest predictors of this behavior were not related to demographic factors but rather social and structural environment. Restoring trust in the medical system could lead to greater engagement with medic...

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Development·JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 26, 2025

Trump shooting and Biden exit flipped social media from hostility to solidarity – study

A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that social media engagement flips from hostility to solidarity after a major crisis, such as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and Joe Biden's suspension of his re-election campaign. This 'ingroup love' effect is seen in Republican and Democrat posts expressing unity a...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2025

New study on hope among U.S. youth reveals key to safer schools this fall

A new study shows that higher levels of hope are linked to reduced bullying and cyberbullying, with students with more hope being less likely to engage in these behaviors. Strengthening hope could be a powerful strategy in preventing bullying by helping young people build resilience and invest in their futures.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalFrontiers in Sociology·TypeData/statistical analysis·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

Employees who spot problems help the bottom line, so why do leaders give more power to bootlickers?

Studies found that leaders are less likely to empower employees who raise concerns about workplace decisions, instead favoring those who praise the status quo. Employees who exhibit challenging voice are seen as threats to leadership, while supportive voice is viewed as an indicator of shared goals.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2025

New study highlights how perceived economic inequality undermines individual well-being across 71 countries

A comprehensive new study examining data from 71 countries suggests that perceiving high levels of economic inequality significantly undermines individual well-being. The research demonstrates that awareness of economic disparity negatively affects overall well-being and widens the gap between current and desired feelings.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2025