All articles tagged with #social psychology
New studies confirm that most people will obey harmful orders, not due to personality, but because obedience requires less brain energy than resistance. Factors like authority taking responsibility and lack of reflection drive compliance, while role models and pauses can help people resist.
A new study challenges the prevailing view that women primarily use indirect aggression, finding that physical fights are common among co-wives in polygynous marriages across 19 cultures. The research suggests that when stakes are high, women may resort to direct confrontation.
A new 46-item survey, the Mankeeping Scale, quantifies the unpaid emotional labor women perform to manage their male partners' declining social networks. The study, published in Sex Roles, found that higher engagement in these behaviors correlates with lower relationship satisfaction, increased burnout, and higher levels of depression and anxiety. Women holding traditional gender role views reported more mankeeping behaviors. The scale was validated across US and UK samples, with an 18-item brief version also developed for practical use.
Space Daily argues that the most famous quote from Seneca’s 'Moral Letters' is incomplete. While the first half advises associating with better people, the second half, often omitted, urges readers to improve others. The article suggests this reciprocal dynamic is essential, supported by modern research on social influence and the cognitive benefits of teaching.
Three studies show that feeling disadvantaged relative to peers predicts objectifying others and viewing relationships as exchanges. A large China-based survey links deprivation to objectification; a second study identifies an exchange orientation as the mechanism; a third experiment demonstrates causality by inducing deprivation and causing participants to prioritize instrumental traits over warmth in new friendships. Limitations include self-report data and the focus on Chinese samples; researchers suggest exploring interventions to reinforce communal bonds.
Four experiments show that slower speech is associated with politeness: listeners categorize slower audio as more formal, and people report they would speak more slowly when aiming to be courteous, indicating speech pace signals social distance in everyday interactions.
Psychologists Gilovich, Savitsky, and Medvec found in the Barry Manilow shirt experiments that wearers overestimate how many people will remember what’s on their shirt (about 46–48%) while observers actually recall the face only about 23% of the time (even as low as 8% in a follow‑up). This demonstrates the spotlight effect: we obsess over how we appear because we’re most aware of our own thoughts and mistakes, and we assume others are paying attention to the same things. The illusion extends to conversations (overestimating how much our comments stand out) and is linked to the illusion of transparency (overestimating how visible our inner states are). The findings, based largely on Western undergrads, describe a reliable average tendency that most people in a room are focused on themselves rather than scrutinizing others.
A Journal of General Psychology study finds introductory psychology textbooks still misrepresent key findings and repeat myths about famous experiments (like the Stanford prison study, Kitty Genovese, and Little Albert) and controversial debates. Analyses of 2018 and 2023 editions show mixed improvements but persistent bias and, increasingly, omission of problematic topics. The research highlights that students may learn oversimplified or biased views of psychological science and calls for broader APA-driven scrutiny and more nuanced teaching of the evolving nature of science.
Research shows that some individuals endorse false claims to demonstrate symbolic strength and independence, viewing debunking as a sign of weakness. This mindset, linked to authoritarian attitudes, makes countering misinformation challenging because for these individuals, the truth is less important than the psychological power of standing by disproven statements.
The article explores why accepting compliments can be difficult for many people, highlighting how reactions to praise reflect self-esteem and impact social interactions, and emphasizes the importance of accepting kind remarks to foster positive relationships.
A global psychology study involving nearly 6,000 participants across 13 countries found that cool individuals are consistently perceived as extraverted, powerful, open-minded, adventurous, and independent, with these traits crossing cultural boundaries and evolving through media influence, serving as catalysts for cultural change.
People often overestimate the negative social consequences of rejecting an invitation, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The research found that individuals who declined invitations believed that their rejection would have more severe ramifications for their relationships than the invitees themselves. The study suggests that people tend to exaggerate how upset someone will be when an invitation is declined, even in longstanding relationships. The findings indicate that turning down invitations occasionally can help avoid burnout without major consequences.
A study from the University of Toronto suggests that using the present tense in online communication, such as reviews and pitches, can make the message more persuasive. The present tense makes the message seem more specific and concrete, allowing audiences to better visualize its meaning and feel psychologically closer to the author. The study found that reviews with more present tense verbs received higher helpfulness ratings, while reviews with past or future tense verbs received lower ratings. The impact of verb tense was particularly strong when the reader was geographically closer to the author. The study highlights the importance of using concrete language to enhance persuasiveness in online communication.
Arizona State University is offering a psychology course centered around Taylor Swift's songs and personal life. The course, titled "The Psychology of Taylor Swift," will explore various psychological phenomena such as gossip, relationships, and revenge, using Swift as a case study. Taught by Ph.D. student Alexandra Wormley, the course aims to inspire meaningful conversations and delve into advanced psychology concepts. Each week will focus on a theme from one of Swift's albums, linking it to a topic in social psychology. The course is not intended to be a fan club meeting but rather an opportunity for students to relate the material to their own lives and increase comprehension and retention.
Arizona State University is offering a course called "Psychology of Taylor Swift - Advanced Topics of Social Psychology" in the fall semester. The course will explore how Swift's lyrics relate to themes in social psychology, such as gossip, relationships, and revenge. The instructor, Alexandra Wormley, aims to use Swift as a teaching tool to spark meaningful conversations and deepen students' understanding of social psychology concepts. The course is not focused on analyzing Taylor Swift herself, but rather on using her work, life, and fans as examples.