A recent study has uncovered a striking connection between cognitive ability and the tendency to have unrealistic financial expectations. The findings, published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, provide evidence that individuals with higher cognitive abilities tend to have more realistic, or even pessimistic, views about their financial future. Humans often exhibit unrealistic optimism, particularly in their financial decisions. This optimism bias – the inclination to overestimate positive outcomes while underestimating negative ones – has been extensively documented. Previous st ..read more

In a recent Belgian study, researchers found that teenagers who frequently watched TV series and social media posts featuring women in traditionally male-dominated professions, such as CEOs or scientists, had less stereotypical views about gender and professions. However, this correlation did not strongly translate into a change within individuals over time. The findings have been published in the journal Sex Roles. Historically, the representation of women in media has been skewed towards traditional roles. Recent efforts to balance this portrayal, especially in male-dominated fields like STE ..read more

In a new study published in Emotion, researchers have found that the more negative emotion words that spouses use during marital conversations, the higher their cardiovascular reactivity. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding the interplay between emotional expression and physical health in close relationships. Previous research has long established the importance of close relationships on our health and well-being. Romantic relationships, in particular, hold considerable sway over our emotional and physical health. Studies have shown that how couples navigate co ..read more

New research published in the British Journal of Psychology shows that Jewish individuals who believe antisemitic conspiracy theories are prevalent in society experience increased feelings of threat and a tendency to avoid those outside their group. This study, one of the first of its kind, sheds light on the often-overlooked consequences of conspiracy theories on the groups they target. While a significant amount of research has been done on why people believe in conspiracy theories, there has been little focus on how these theories affect the groups they target. Conspiracy theories can be ha ..read more

New research in Psychological Science reveals that individuals swiftly develop familiarity and preference for musical melodies, particularly when they can anticipate their endings. This process, closely linked to the brain’s auditory and reward systems, varies among individuals based on their sensitivity to musical rewards. These findings provide a potential explanation for how music evolves from a novel stimulus to a rewarding experience. Music has a unique place in human culture – it’s a source of enjoyment across the world, yet its allure has long puzzled scientists. Unlike food or shelter ..read more

In a compelling revival of a classic social psychology experiment, a new study has found that group pressure significantly influences individual decisions, not just in simple tasks but also in expressing political opinions. This modern replication and extension of Solomon Asch’s famed experiments of the 1950s provides new insights into human behavior. The findings appear in the journal PLOS One. Over 70 years ago, Solomon Asch conducted a series of groundbreaking experiments that fundamentally changed our understanding of conformity. Asch’s experiment was straightforward but powerful. He invit ..read more

New research has found that preschool children primarily categorize individuals based on their weight or body shape, rather than race or skin color. Additionally, these children use weight or body shape, rather than race, to infer internal characteristics (imaginary substances within the body, in this context) of people depicted in drawings. The study was published in Developmental Science. Preschool children categorize objects by relying on concrete and observable characteristics, such as color, shape, size, and texture. Their early classification abilities are driven by perceptual features t ..read more

In a significant shift from previous trends, recent research has uncovered a sharp rise in negative language use by politicians in the United States, particularly aligning with Donald Trump’s entry into the political scene in 2015. The new study is unprecedented in its comprehensive analysis of millions of quotes from politicians over 12 years, using advanced linguistic tools to assess the escalation of negative language. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, provide evidence that this shift towards negativity has persisted beyond election campaigns, indicating a lasting change in the ..read more

New research has uncovered a significant connection between the belief in Christian nationalism and negative attitudes toward atheists in the United States. Intriguingly, this connection tends to be weaker among Black Americans who live in states with higher levels of Christian nationalism. The findings, published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, provide insights into the complex relationship between race and ideology in shaping societal attitudes. “Despite being one of the fastest-growing groups in the U.S. religious landscape, atheists are still confronted with more negat ..read more

In a new study published in Sex Roles, researchers have found evidence that parental acceptance of gender atypicality plays a crucial role in buffering social anxiety in younger children. This study, one of the first of its kind, offers significant insights into how children’s gender expression relates to their mental well-being. The research, prompted by increasing societal awareness of gender atypicality, was designed to investigate the impact of gender expression on children’s social anxiety. Gender atypicality refers to how a person’s behavior, interests, or appearance align with or diverg ..read more