Articles tagged with Social Psychology
Melinda Adams' research highlights the benefits of pyromantic or 'good fire' in reducing environmental dread, fostering control, and promoting carbon storage. Her work, co-authored with Erica Tom and Ron W. Goode, aims to educate students and community members about Indigenous land stewardship and climate solutions.
A systematic review of 41 studies involving 7,800 participants found that psychosocial interventions led to decreased healthcare utilization in most services. The greatest reductions were seen among caregivers and individuals with mental illnesses, particularly when interventions were delivered one-on-one by health professionals.
Researchers developed a validated test to measure misinformation susceptibility, finding younger adults and those spending more time online are worse at identifying false headlines. The study used AI-generated fake headlines and found that social media and political affiliation were significant factors in susceptibility.
Researchers with 'victim sensitivity' are more likely to hide knowledge from peers due to fear of exploitation. However, reminding participants of their identity as researchers actually increases suspicion and knowledge hiding.
A nationwide study found that social and organizational factors play a critical role in shaping sustainable behaviors among employees. Employees are more likely to act sustainably at work if they feel supported by their company and coworkers. The study also uncovered a link between eco-friendly behaviors and higher job satisfaction, su...
A new UK survey study led by Lancaster University found that 6.6% of the population aged 16 and over changed their reported sexual identity over a six-year period. The research challenges the assumption that sexual identity mobility declines with age, revealing that it is as prevalent among over-65s as young people.
A new experimental study suggests that adding 'trust' and 'distrust' buttons to social media platforms could significantly reduce the spread of misinformation. Incentivizing accuracy led to a large reduction in the amount of false posts being shared, with users more likely to share true information to gain trust reactions.
Researchers found that after learning about a couple's break-up, participants perceived the relationship as more obvious and negative. They also reported reinterpreting positive qualities as signs of an impending break-up.
A nationwide VR research project is working to create diverse groups of participants to reflect real-world social dynamics. The Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA) aims to provide researchers with access to large, reliable, and diverse groups for various VR research projects.
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.
A mobile app called SCI Step Together encourages people with partial spinal cord injuries to get active by setting goals, tracking activities, and connecting with others. The study found that participants who used the app had greater fulfillment of basic psychological needs, including independence, competence, and belonging.
New research suggests that people take different types of photos depending on their goal, with first-person photos capturing physical experiences and third-person photos revealing the bigger meaning. Researchers found that taking and posting pictures can help people reconnect to past experiences and build self-narratives.
A new study by Dartmouth College researchers found that biased prior beliefs played a significant role in how people from both political parties updated their fraud beliefs after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The study used a probability-based computational model to analyze survey data and found that Democrats and Republicans te...
A new study found that people of diverse cultures, including those from England, Italy, Poland, and Russia, tend to help others in everyday life. The researchers analyzed video recordings of social interactions in 350 individuals from eight languages and cultures and found that the human tendency to help others is a universal principle.
West Virginia University is launching an innovative in-school mental health program to address a critical provider shortage and youth mental health crisis. The program, called the Mountaineer School-Based Mental Health Fellows Program, will place six advanced counseling graduate students in Harrison County schools each year.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences documents the dynamic nature of student discipline during an academic year. Schools with high racial disparity see discipline rates for Black students increase faster as the semester continues.
A Rutgers study finds that individuals who avoid COVID-19 precautions are more likely to buy firearms, especially those with liberal or moderate political views. These groups also tend to trust less scientific information and have concerns about physical attacks, leading them to prioritize firearm ownership as a means of self-protection.
Research suggests that lonely people process information in unique ways, differing from their peers, even with large social networks. This difference may lead to a reduced sense of understanding and further challenges in achieving social connection.
A recent study found that conservatives are not easily persuaded by traditional pro-environmental messages, even when framed in terms of their own moral values. Instead, messages emphasizing loyalty, authority, or purity were equally effective in promoting pro-environmental behavior among conservatives.
A new UC study reveals that participating in a civic leadership program empowered refugees and immigrants, increasing their perception of civic engagement. The program, designed by the refugee community, improved participants' consciousness about power, rights, and opportunities.
Researchers found that people who ranked high in JOMO also reported high levels of social anxiety, but with mixed results on the nature of JOMO. High JOMO scorers were more likely to report moderate feelings of loneliness despite not being socially anxious.
A new study found that managers target loyal workers for exploitative practices, such as unpaid work and extra job tasks. The study suggests that loyalty can lead to a vicious cycle where loyal workers are more likely to be exploited and then become even more loyal, making them more susceptible to exploitation in the future.
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.
A University of Houston study found rural Americans are more anxious and depressed, with reduced openness and neuroticism compared to urban residents. Access to mental health services is believed to be a contributing factor.
Researchers find that fact-based appeals are more effective when the goal is near completion, while affect-based appeals match people's feelings-oriented psychological state and are better suited for shorter-term goals. The study advances understanding of persuasive messages in collective goals and provides key insights for marketers.
A Rutgers-led study reveals that women who believe they have more time for an encounter are more likely to pursue orgasms, while those who think their partner prioritizes his own pleasure are less likely. Women use cues and adjust their pursuit of orgasm depending on the situation, with the goal of achieving orgasm being a key factor i...
Experts warn that clearer messaging on gambling harm is needed, citing the lack of impact from the widely used 'Take Time to Think' slogan. A study found no significant change in people's betting behavior, including time spent gambling and amounts bet.
A recent study found that diversity trainings for police officers are ineffective in changing behavior, as intentions to use strategies decrease over time. The researchers recommend embedding lessons with other organizational initiatives and providing 'super-tailored strategies' to address specific daily work activities.
A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that offering tiny cash rewards for accuracy can increase people's ability to distinguish between misinformation and the truth. The study suggests that fake news thrives due to a motivational imbalance, where users have more incentive to get clicks than to spread accurate content.
A PSU study found that high school students who perceive their math teacher as equitable are more likely to develop a positive math identity. This effect is strongest in racially diverse schools, where students may be more aware of racial biases and stereotypes about math. Equitable teaching can help counteract these biases and promote...
Researchers found broad similarities in how deaf homesigners and hearing adults describe tool-related events, suggesting universal aspects of human thinking. The study suggests that these similarities reflect the extent to which a tool shapes the object it is being used on.
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.
A Rutgers study found no statistically significant improvements in patient or caregiver anxiety, depression, or psychological distress in palliative care interventions. The researchers identified conceptual and methodological problems in the literature, including excluding patients with existing mental health conditions from studies.
A recent study found that Black bots were perceived as more competent and human than their White and Asian counterparts in digital interactions. This challenges past research on human-to-human interactions and highlights the importance of understanding how racial stereotypes interact with artificial intelligence.
A study of 232 healthy adults found that hypnosis and mindfulness meditation reduced pain intensity and tolerance, while prayer did not. The results suggest that brief sessions of these techniques may be useful for acute pain self-management.
A team of Illinois Tech associate professors and an alumnus surveyed over 1,400 British police officers and found that autonomy-supportive communication practices reduced antagonism towards diversity initiatives. The study's lead researcher hopes that this approach will increase cooperation in professions where prejudice is high.
A new study finds that women and young people are more influential than older men in influencing others to implement sustainable practices. Women's recommendations often led to real action, despite being less likely to be identified as opinion leaders.
This project aims to identify conditions necessary for abandoning climate-damaging social norms and test their effectiveness on representative samples in different countries. The goal is to find solutions for large-scale sustainable changes in individual and social behavior.
A new study found that online forums provide a sense of community and hope for people with dementia, filling an important gap in their support after diagnosis. The forums allow users to share experiences and receive emotional support from others going through similar experiences, helping to alleviate feelings of isolation.
Researchers identified geographic, racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics as key contributors to the elevated suicide risk among cancer patients. Timely symptom management and targeted psychosocial interventions are crucial for preventing suicide in individuals diagnosed with cancer.
A new study found that sunrise and sunset trigger significant boosts in people's feelings of awe, improving mood and positive social behavior. Participants were willing to pay a premium to experience these phenomena, highlighting their potential value in boosting wellbeing.
Professor Klaus Boehnke sheds light on how uncritically transferring Western procedures to other regions distorts reality, leading to false assumptions about cultural differences.
The UCF project, Project CENTRAL, aims to enhance collaboration between special education and school psychology using research-based practices. Scholars will receive enhanced education and preparation in a two-year program, addressing the state's critical shortage of high-quality professionals.
Researchers found that individuals who strongly agree with government restrictions on individual behavior during public emergencies are more likely to believe in just deserts. Men are also slightly more likely to hold this belief than women, while those who think it's unlikely they'll get infected have lower levels of just deserts.
New research reveals that people in CNM relationships report experiencing a negative stigma that takes a toll on their psychological distress. A thematic analysis of survey responses identified four themes: discomfort/disapproval, loss of resources/threatening behavior, devaluation/diminishing of character/relationship.
Research suggests that considering values and beliefs during life-or-death decisions can lead to more effective outcomes. Participants who thoughtfully weighed factors like saving lives were more likely to prioritize it in their choices.
A new study from Ritsumeikan University reveals the essential role of relational values in people's readiness to participate in and support sustainable social-ecological system (SES) management. The research shows that integrating relational values into SES management plans can promote pro-SES behavior among people.
A recent study suggests that taking pride in one's identity can help protect mental health from online hate, with Asian Americans showing increased resilience. The research found that those who affirmed their identities were more likely to experience better psychological and physical health, as well as stronger personal relationships.
Researchers found that secondary selling, a salesperson's considerate behavior with secondary entities like customers and company property, increases sales revenues and customer satisfaction. The study suggests training initiatives and making secondary selling behaviors visible to customers.
A recent study found that exposing Republicans to information about a common enemy increases their distrust of Democrats, while Democrats show little change. The research suggests that real-world threats can exacerbate partisanship.
Professor Jan Grabowski's research on the Holocaust reveals untold stories of average citizens' roles in persecution. His work shows that rural counties contributed to terror, and non-Jews took initiative against Jewish communities.
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.
Research on over 11,000 UK students reveals a sharp decline in well-being and self-esteem between ages 11 and 14, linked to the transition to secondary school. Students with higher self-esteem at age 11 experienced less significant drops in well-being.
A study by University of Cologne scientists found that colleagues' encouragement and own healthy behaviors positively correlate with employees' fruit and vegetable consumption. However, explicit encouragement has a positive effect on physical exercise, while colleagues' behavior does not typically influence others' physical activity.
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that employees who perceive managerial controls as restrictive and punitive may develop dysfunctional responses, including workplace deviance and deliberate ignorance. The study suggests that threatening managerial controls have different effects on skilled and non-skilled workers, w...
A new study found that people with a higher sense of purpose in life have a lower risk of death from any cause, regardless of race or gender. The association was strongest among women, who may benefit more from the health-protective effects of purpose.
A study from University of Cambridge found that young people who feel poorer than their friends have lower self-esteem and are more likely to be bullied. Feeling economically equal among peers had the best outcomes for mental health and social behavior.
A new study found that people's favourite songs about relationships reflect their attachment style, with anxious themes dominating. On the other hand, secure and avoidant styles are represented in lyrics, indicating a strong connection between music and relationship experiences.
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 reveals that middle-aged women are held back in their careers due to a perceived lack of 'niceness', with evaluations decreasing after the age of 40. The research, led by UC Berkeley's Jennifer Chatman, found that both men and women become more capable with age but only women are seen as less warm, leading to harsher judgme...