News

Genetics

Genetics and Addiction: What We've Learned

Mark S. Gold M.D. on April 18, 2024 in Addiction Outlook

The latest findings on genetics reveals how genes may affect the risk for substance use disorders, and how they can help predict which treatment will work.

The latest findings on genetics reveals how genes may affect the risk for substance use disorders, and how they can help predict which treatment will work.

Media

Fake News Cleaner and the Growth of Media Literacy Training

Susan A. Nolan, Ph.D., and Michael Kimball on April 18, 2024 in Misinformation Desk

A small nonprofit, Fake News Cleaner, fights misinformation in Taiwan among people of all ages, while the United States increasingly mandates media literacy training in schools.

A small nonprofit, Fake News Cleaner, fights misinformation in Taiwan among people of all ages, while the United States increasingly mandates media literacy training in schools.

Health

Doctor Still Knows Best

Alexandra Brewis and Emily Mendenhall Ph.D. on April 17, 2024 in Diagnosis: Human

What happens when patients resist their doctors' diagnoses? Less than you might expect.

What happens when patients resist their doctors' diagnoses? Less than you might expect.

Depression

What You Should Be Feeding Your Depressed Brain

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on April 17, 2024 in Your Brain on Food

A recent study focused on how the contents of the diet and the timing of eating can influence the risk of depression and anxiety.

A recent study focused on how the contents of the diet and the timing of eating can influence the risk of depression and anxiety.

Relationships

When Partners Argue About Money

Johanna Peetz Ph.D. on April 17, 2024 in Financial Matters

What do couples fight about when they disagree about money and financial decisions? Here are the themes of conflict in social media and in the arguments couples remember.

What do couples fight about when they disagree about money and financial decisions? Here are the themes of conflict in social media and in the arguments couples remember.

Workplace Dynamics

Surprising Ways Different Cultures Want to Be Appreciated

Llewellyn E. van Zyl Ph.D. on April 17, 2024 in HappyBytes

New research uncovers the cultural differences in how employees want to be appreciated. Discover the secrets to tailoring your recognition strategy for diverse populations.

New research uncovers the cultural differences in how employees want to be appreciated. Discover the secrets to tailoring your recognition strategy for diverse populations.

Evolutionary Psychology

Why Do Most Dogs Have Brown Eyes While Wolves Do Not?

Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC on April 17, 2024 in Canine Corner

Dark-eyed dogs are rated as friendlier and more puppy-like. Brown eyes may have been specifically selected for during the domestication of dogs.

Dark-eyed dogs are rated as friendlier and more puppy-like. Brown eyes may have been specifically selected for during the domestication of dogs.

Motivation

Remembering Your Sacrifices Helps You Achieve Your Goals

Hye-Young Kim Ph.D. on April 16, 2024 in Consumer Behaviour

Why it helps for dieters to be reminded that they refused that slice of cake.

Why it helps for dieters to be reminded that they refused that slice of cake.

Sex

Virginity Loss: Not a Single Event, a Multi-Year Process

Michael Castleman M.A. on April 16, 2024 in All About Sex

Virginity loss is a milestone of sexual maturation. Many people equate it with first intercourse. Actually, it's usually a multi-year process that culminates in first intercourse.

Virginity loss is a milestone of sexual maturation. Many people equate it with first intercourse. Actually, it's usually a multi-year process that culminates in first intercourse.

Relationships

5 Ways to Tell if You, and Your Relationship, Will Grow Over Time

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on April 16, 2024 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Couples in long-term relationships may feel that they’re in a rut. New research provides 5 ways to tell if it’s time to become unstuck.

Couples in long-term relationships may feel that they’re in a rut. New research provides 5 ways to tell if it’s time to become unstuck.

Diet

Your Favorite Snacks May Be Harming Your Mental Health

Lantie Elisabeth Jorandby M.D. on April 15, 2024 in Use Your Brain

A recent study of ultra-processed foods paints a grim picture. Here’s the latest.

A recent study of ultra-processed foods paints a grim picture. Here’s the latest.

Stress

Stress Contagion: Does Observing Others’ Anxiety Affect You?

William A. Haseltine Ph.D. on April 14, 2024 in Best Practices in Health

Observing stress in others elevates our stress levels, impacting physiology and behavior.

Observing stress in others elevates our stress levels, impacting physiology and behavior.

Stress

The Healing Power of Touch: New Scientific Insights

Sebastian Ocklenburg, Ph.D. on April 14, 2024 in The Asymmetric Brain

Many people feel better if a loved one hugs them when they feel down. A new study investigated how touch benefits physical and mental health.

Many people feel better if a loved one hugs them when they feel down. A new study investigated how touch benefits physical and mental health.

Aging

How Others View Your Attempts to Look Younger

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D. on April 13, 2024 in Why Bad Looks Good

Want to look younger? Why does the answer matter to you, and how does it impact how others see you?

Want to look younger? Why does the answer matter to you, and how does it impact how others see you?

ADHD

ADHD: An 18th-Century Condition in the 21st-Century World

Russell Ramsay, Ph.D., ABPP on April 12, 2024 in Rethinking Adult ADHD

So you think that ADHD is the result of the 21st century lifestyle in the United States? Maybe not.

So you think that ADHD is the result of the 21st century lifestyle in the United States? Maybe not.

Addiction

Are There Racial Differences in Opioid Misuse Among Seniors?

Khary Rigg Ph.D. on April 12, 2024 in Drugs and the People Who Use Them

Prescription opioid misuse among older adults is a serious issue. New data tells us whether misuse is more common among White or Black older adults.

Prescription opioid misuse among older adults is a serious issue. New data tells us whether misuse is more common among White or Black older adults.

Low Sexual Desire

2 Ways to Avoid the Post-Partum Sex Slump as New Parents

Mark Travers Ph.D. on April 12, 2024 in Social Instincts

Keeping the bedroom alive after becoming a parent doesn't have to be difficult.

Keeping the bedroom alive after becoming a parent doesn't have to be difficult.

Aging

Keeping Things the Same Requires Making Changes

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 12, 2024 in Black Belt Brain

Your aging brain knows how to match the function of the other bits of your body. We just have to alter how we do things to match the conditions across the lifespan.

Your aging brain knows how to match the function of the other bits of your body. We just have to alter how we do things to match the conditions across the lifespan.

Alcoholism

Why Findings on Alcohol and Health Are So Confusing

Quinn Kennedy Ph.D. on April 11, 2024 in Aging and Cognition

Does your head spin when trying to understand recent findings on alcohol and health? How scientists classify abstainers and drinkers plays a big role.

Does your head spin when trying to understand recent findings on alcohol and health? How scientists classify abstainers and drinkers plays a big role.

Animal Behavior

Snakes, Self-Recognition, and Sociality

Mary Bates Ph.D. on April 11, 2024 in Animal Minds

What does it mean if snakes pass a self-recognition test, and how might that ability relate to their social lives?

What does it mean if snakes pass a self-recognition test, and how might that ability relate to their social lives?

Career

The Many Reasons for Hope in Long Covid

Alison Escalante M.D. on April 11, 2024 in Shouldstorm

CNN Reporter Ryan Prior shares a story of community, advocacy, and democracy in "The Long Haul: How Long Covid Survivors Are Revolutionizing Health Care."

CNN Reporter Ryan Prior shares a story of community, advocacy, and democracy in "The Long Haul: How Long Covid Survivors Are Revolutionizing Health Care."

Sex

New Research on the Power of Synchronicity During Sex

Emily Jamea Ph.D., LMFT, LPC on April 11, 2024 in Extraordinary Relationships

A new study finds a high degree of physiological synchrony during sex, which has exciting implications for improving relationships and sexual arousal.

A new study finds a high degree of physiological synchrony during sex, which has exciting implications for improving relationships and sexual arousal.

Consumer Behavior

How Temu Uses Psychological Hacks to Encourage Overspending

Janina Steinmetz Ph.D. on April 11, 2024 in The Social Consumer

Temu has become one of consumers’ most popular apps. Its secrets are unbelievably low prices and psychology hacks that get consumers to keep shopping.

Temu has become one of consumers’ most popular apps. Its secrets are unbelievably low prices and psychology hacks that get consumers to keep shopping.

Friends

How Our Culture and Personality Shape Our Friend Circles

Omri Gillath Ph.D. on April 10, 2024 in All We Need Is Love

Unlock the secrets of your social circle: Discover how cultural values and personal traits influence everything from size to the strength of social ties.

Unlock the secrets of your social circle: Discover how cultural values and personal traits influence everything from size to the strength of social ties.

Artificial Intelligence

4 Surprising Ways AI Poses a Threat to Humanity

Berit Brogaard D.M.Sci., Ph.D on April 10, 2024 in The Superhuman Mind

AI can become capable of waging psychological warfare, sabotaging companies, and changing world power.

AI can become capable of waging psychological warfare, sabotaging companies, and changing world power.

Conspiracy Theories

How Stable Are Conspiracy Theory Beliefs?

Sara Gorman, Ph.D., MPH, and Jack M. Gorman, MD on April 10, 2024 in Denying to the Grave

Are conspiracy theory beliefs permanent? A new study suggests that belief in these ideas can change, offering possibilities of more intervention.

Are conspiracy theory beliefs permanent? A new study suggests that belief in these ideas can change, offering possibilities of more intervention.

Cognition

Thinking About Kahneman’s Contribution to Critical Thinking

Christopher Dwyer Ph.D. on April 10, 2024 in Thoughts on Thinking

The field of critical thinking research owes Kahneman a debt of gratitude for his contributions in helping shine a light on the importance of ‘thinking slow.’

The field of critical thinking research owes Kahneman a debt of gratitude for his contributions in helping shine a light on the importance of ‘thinking slow.’

Grief

Have You Ever Encountered the Ghost of a Deceased Pet?

Hal Herzog Ph.D. on April 9, 2024 in Animals and Us

Subjective encounters with deceased family members are common across cultures. Supernatural experiences with dead pets may help bereaved dog lovers cope with extended grief.

Subjective encounters with deceased family members are common across cultures. Supernatural experiences with dead pets may help bereaved dog lovers cope with extended grief.

Narcissism

A New Way to Spot the Hidden Narcissist

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on April 9, 2024 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Being able to spot a narcissist should be relatively easy—or is it? New research on counterproductive behavior shows how to look below the surface for clues you might be missing.

Being able to spot a narcissist should be relatively easy—or is it? New research on counterproductive behavior shows how to look below the surface for clues you might be missing.

Consumer Behavior

Are Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads Becoming Fair and Balanced?

Briana Mezuk Ph.D. on April 9, 2024 in Ask an Epidemiologist

A deep dive into pharmaceutical advertising and what a new FDA ruling could mean for the industry and the consumer.

A deep dive into pharmaceutical advertising and what a new FDA ruling could mean for the industry and the consumer.