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Thinking ourselves into eating more, reinforcing female math stereotypes, and more

Research in Personality and Social Psychology Review sheds light on the psychological barriers to healthy eating, including how thinking before eating can undermine dieting goals. Meanwhile, studies on terror-management theory and violent video games reveal the complex relationships between death awareness, celebrity endorsements, and ...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Review·DateNov 21, 2013

Women, STEM and stereotypes

Researcher Chad Forbes aims to understand how stereotype threat impacts women in STEM fields, leading to job dissatisfaction and decreased performance. He's using a combination of neuroscience and social psychology to develop strategies to reverse this trend.

When women sell themselves short on team projects

A new study highlights how women credit themselves in joint success, finding that they undervalue their contributions when working with men but not with other women. The research contributes to a body of work on stereotypes affecting women in the workplace and underscores how gender influences individual performance expectations.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMay 7, 2013

Fighting the 'dumb jock' stereotype

A Michigan State University study found that student-athletes who believed their coaches expected high academic performance were more confident in the classroom. Researchers also highlighted the role of professors, academic advisers and classmates in boosting confidence

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of College Student Development·DateApr 22, 2013

Calling Miss Congeniality -- do attractive people have attractive traits and values?

A recent study published in Psychological Science found that attractive women are perceived as having more socially desirable personality traits, such as extraversion and conscientiousness. However, the researchers also discovered that attractive women's actual self-reported values differ from those of less attractive women, with attra...

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 15, 2012

Dominant East Asians face workplace harassment says study from Rotman School

A recent study from the Rotman School of Management found that dominant East Asians face workplace harassment and are often stereotyped as being non-dominant. The research highlights the importance of recognizing and challenging these prescriptive racial stereotypes to create a more inclusive work environment.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalCultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology·DateMay 8, 2012

Study finds minority consumers will voluntarily pay more for goods and services to assert status

A recent study from USC and University of San Diego professors found that African-American consumers are more likely to pay more for products and services when they feel their status is threatened due to race. In contrast, those who strongly identify with their race have lower willingness to pay. The researchers also discovered that po...

SourceUSC Marshall School of Business·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 20, 2011

Women, men and the bedroom

A recent review article examines how gender roles and stereotypes have shaped our understanding of sex and relationships, concluding that many assumptions are unfounded. The study aims to debunk myths and highlight the social factors driving human behavior in intimate settings.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateOct 17, 2011

Changing race by changing clothes

A study from Tufts University found that social status cues can alter the perception of race, revealing a complex process influenced by context and pre-existing stereotypes. The researchers used computer simulations to demonstrate how subtle effects of status cues emerge in a system similar to the human brain.

SourceTufts University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 26, 2011

Do women have what it takes?

A Northwestern University meta-analysis reveals that leadership continues to be viewed as culturally masculine, perpetuating barriers to women's advancement. The study finds that women are seen as less qualified or natural in leadership roles, and adopting masculine behaviors can lead to being viewed as inappropriate.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPsychological Bulletin·DateJul 13, 2011

Couples report gender differences in relationship, sexual satisfaction over time

A study of over 1,000 couples from the US, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and Spain found that men reported higher relationship happiness and women reported higher sexual satisfaction with age. Frequent kissing and cuddling predicted happiness in men, while higher sexual functioning and more frequent sex were linked to sexual satisfaction for...

SourceIndiana University·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateJul 5, 2011

Dude, you throw like a crybaby!

A UCLA study found that body language is more likely to be judged as masculine when it conveys anger and as feminine when it conveys sadness during baseball tosses. Researchers used technology to disguise the actors' sex and presented videos to observers, who made judgments about their emotions and gender.

Racial stereotyping found in US death certificates

A study found that US death certificates exhibit racial stereotyping, with discrepancies in racial classifications varying across the population. The researchers' review of 22,905 death certificates revealed patterns reflecting long-running stereotypes about violence and alcoholism.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 26, 2011

Being faced with gender stereotypes makes women less likely to take financial risks

A new study published in Psychological Science found that negative gender stereotypes can influence women's financial decision-making, making them more wary of risk. The researchers discovered that when participants were exposed to these stereotypes, women became less likely to take calculated risks and more cautious in their decisions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 17, 2010

'Training away stereotypes'

A study by Saleem Alhabash and colleagues found that individuals conditioned to reject racial stereotypes showed increased attention to commercials with black actors, while those in the affirmation condition decreased their attention. This paradigm demonstrates the power of media training in shaping audience responses.