All articles tagged with #psychology
Toxic leaders can make excellent first impressions, which makes them hard to detect during traditional interviews. The article argues for using psychology-backed assessment methods and structured hiring practices to spot red flags early and reduce costly mis-hires, illustrated by a real-world example of a candidate who seemed perfect but proved toxic.
New research summarized in The Conversation finds that doom-laden climate headlines can dampen action by triggering hopelessness and perceived manipulation, but preemptive inoculation—exposing a weakened doom narrative and testing understanding—helps people recognize manipulation, reduces sharing of doom content, and can sustain or increase pro-climate intentions; experts urge solution-focused climate journalism to engage skeptical audiences.
Two psychologists critique the modern revival of ‘repressed memories’ and dissociative amnesia, arguing that trauma memories are not uniquely fragmented, recovered memories often reflect suggestion and misattribution, and that popular therapies lack robust evidence; they trace the memory-war’s history, critique van der Kolk’s claims, and highlight science-based counterpoints such as Michael Scheeringa’s work.
Researchers describe precrastination: people often rush to complete a subtask to reduce the mental load of keeping it in mind, even if it costs extra physical effort. The classic bucket study showed participants grab the nearer bucket and carry more distance to free working memory sooner, a trade-off that fits the cognitive-load-reduction idea and has been seen in follow-up work across humans and even pigeons (though results vary). It’s a common, non-flawed trade-off: finishing early can save mental bandwidth, but waiting can be optimal in some situations.
The piece argues that thriving with age comes from actively renegotiating life's terms rather than passive acceptance. It contrasts disengagement theory with Baltes’ select–optimize–compensate approach, showing how flexible goal adjustment and tenacious pursuit can coexist to sustain purpose and happiness; examples include an elderly badminton player who improves by changing format, and research linking ongoing 'mattering' and optimism to longer, more satisfying lives.
Confidence expert Dr. Shadé Zahrai suggests that the distance between chin and chest—neck flexion—can signal confidence and boost how others respond, with elongation of this distance described as a natural way to feel more empowered. The piece notes a 2025 Psychophysiology study linking neck flexion to lower feelings of power and mood, though Zahrai argues a simple posture adjustment can create a positive feedback loop in social interactions. It also highlights APA-backed confidence tips like self-affirmations, celebrating small wins, and building resilience through connection, wellness, healthy thinking, and meaning.
New research in the Journal of Clinical Psychology shows that psychological inflexibility — the tendency to rigidly avoid distress — predicts lifetime anxiety disorders independently of how severe anxiety is. In two samples (265 adults and 853 undergraduates), each one-point rise on the inflexibility scale nearly triples the odds of reporting at least one anxiety diagnosis, suggesting how we react to anxiety may shape risk as much as the anxiety itself. The findings support flexible coping approaches (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) but are limited by cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported diagnoses, and they highlight demographic factors that may influence diagnosis rates.
A Canadian-led study published in the British Journal of Psychology finds that desk posture affects more than comfort: sitting upright can boost self-confidence and promote more deliberate risk-taking strategies, while slouching may dampen mood and alter decision styles. Using adjustable desks and a balloon-risk task with around 200 volunteers, researchers observed that upright posture increased pride and led to more effective choices. The piece also notes standing desks aren’t a cure-all for health, though prolonged sitting can impact blood flow and muscle tension.
Researchers dressed as Batman on Milan's Metro observed nearly 140 rides to test whether the Caped Crusader influences seating behavior toward a pregnant woman; when Batman appeared, about 67% of passengers offered their seats versus 44% when he wasn't present, suggesting Batman can prime altruism. The piece also highlights the broader 'Batman Effect'—adopting a superhero persona can boost confidence and reduce stress—illustrating how identities can shape behavior.
A long-running Mills College study of women photographed in the 1960 yearbook found that those with genuine Duchenne smiles (eye crinkles) reported more stable marriages and higher well-being about 30 years later. The finding is correlational and specific to a narrow cohort, not causal proof that smiling causes a better life. It likely reflects underlying dispositions and social dynamics—how being seen and met with warmth shapes relationships—rather than a universal life hack, and may not generalize to other eras or populations.
Your bathroom mirror shows a left-right flipped face you’ve spent years learning to like; due to the mere-exposure effect, most people prefer this mirrored image, while the true, non-flipped image—the face others see—feels less familiar. Photos often look off because you’re seeing the version the world recognizes, not the one you’ve grown attached to, effectively creating two parallel selves that rarely meet in your own view.
Yale psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos argues happiness is a trainable skill, not a natural outcome, and outlines five habits to rewire the brain: strengthen social connections, be more other-oriented, cultivate gratitude, savor everyday moments, and get consistent exercise. These practices counter intuitive mind traps and diminishing returns on pleasure, offering a practical path to lasting well-being.
A Brazilian survey of over 5,000 adults finds that nonordinary experiences (hearing voices, sensing a presence, awe) are surprisingly common and often linked to positive long-term effects; about 20% report immediate distress, 25% some suffering, but roughly 51% say the experience improved them in the long run. The study used the Inventory of Nonordinary Experiences to separate raw experiences from spiritual/clinical labels, highlighting that culture shapes interpretation. Most participants were awake, sober, and not under substances. Limitations include single-event reporting and Brazil-only sampling; the findings are published in PLOS One.
A large Brazilian study (5,117 participants) used the Inventory of Nonordinary Experiences (INOE) to catalog 38 uncanny events and analyze their contexts, durations, and aftermath. Findings show most experiences occur while awake, are often neutral or positive, and many people attribute them to random chance or meaningful signals rather than clear causes. The study suggests such experiences can be meaningful or even beneficial for personal growth and aims to reduce stigma while highlighting the need for further research to support those who report them, with results published in PLOS One.
A Villanova University-led study (published via Cambridge University Press) compared three human-authored short stories with three AI-generated ones. In multiple experiments involving over 1,600 participants (plus groups of 424 and 481), readers often couldn’t reliably distinguish AI from human writing and frequently rated AI-generated stories highly when they were told they were human, revealing a bias that AI creativity is now harder to separate from human craft. Participants with higher AI literacy were better at spotting AI text, while general literary expertise didn’t help as much; AI prose tended to be clearer and more direct, whereas human writing remained subtler and more complex.