Almost all unmarried pregant women say that the fetus resembles the father, study finds
A new study suggests that pregnant women are more likely to claim their fetus resembles the father, even during early ultrasounds when no real resemblance is visible. The behavior may be an evolved strategy to reduce paternity uncertainty and secure...
Menstrual cycle hormone levels influence women’s attention to female faces, brain imaging study finds
Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle appear to influence how women process social information. A new fMRI study shows that progesterone enhances attentional control toward female faces by modulating brain activity in key cognitive regions.
People’s dissatisfaction with their height predicts jealousy and competitiveness, new study finds
A new study finds that people who are dissatisfied with their height tend to feel more envious, jealous, and competitive toward same-sex peers—suggesting that how we feel about our height may influence social rivalry more than actual stature.
Major study points to evolved psychology behind support for strongmen
A new cross-cultural study finds that people across 25 countries are more likely to support dominant, authoritarian leaders when facing intergroup conflict. The results suggest that humans may have evolved psychological instincts that favor forceful leadership during times of threat.
Sex differences in disgust sensitivity fade with age, large-scale study finds
A new study finds that women are more sensitive to disgust and contamination than men—but only when they’re younger. By older adulthood, those sex differences disappear, suggesting age plays a key role in how people respond to health threats.
Narcissistic personality traits appear to reduce reproductive success
Narcissism might not be evolutionarily adaptive after all. A Serbian study found that individuals high in narcissism, particularly the vulnerable form, tend to have fewer children and less interest in parenting, partly due to relationship instability and emotional insecurity.
Fathers with more dominant-looking faces are more likely to have sons
New research finds a connection between fathers’ facial dominance and the likelihood of having a son. While other factors like self-reported dominance and facial structure showed no effect, dominant-looking faces stood out as a potential predictor of offspring sex.
People with Dark Triad traits gain others’ trust through facial attractiveness
New research reveals that individuals high in narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy are often seen as more trustworthy based on facial appearance alone—leading to increased trust and financial investment from others in short-term interactions, despite their antisocial tendencies.
New research challenges idea that female breasts are sexualized due to modesty norms
A new study of indigenous men in Papua, Indonesia, found that exposure to topless women during youth did not reduce sexual interest in female breasts—suggesting male attraction to breasts may stem from evolved biology rather than cultural taboos.
Left-wing authoritarians are less likely to support physically strong men as leaders
Do muscles make a man a better leader? That depends on your politics. A new study finds conservatives are drawn to strong men in leadership roles, while left-wing authoritarians are more likely to shy away from physical dominance.
Scientists use economic game to reveal sex differences in jealousy triggers
A lab-based economic game revealed that women report more jealousy than men when their partners give money to a romantic rival. The findings offer new support for theories that jealousy evolved to protect key social bonds from potential threats.
Women also prefer younger romantic partners, according to a major new psychology study
A new study finds that both men and women are slightly more attracted to younger partners during blind dates, challenging the common belief that only men prioritize youth. These real-world findings reveal a mismatch between people’s stated preferences and actual...
More intelligent people hit puberty earlier but tend to reproduce later, study finds
People with higher intelligence mature sexually at a younger age but tend to reproduce less overall, according to a new study. The findings offer insight into how biological readiness and personal choices shaped by intelligence can lead to unexpected reproductive...
Men show stronger aversion to economic inequality than women when mating is at stake, study finds
In a series of studies, men showed stronger aversion than women to high inequality when thinking about finding a life partner. The results suggest that inequality shapes mating prospects differently for each sex.
Age, education, and income are surprisingly weak predictors of mate preferences
Think success shapes your dating standards? A new study finds that factors like income, education, and age barely predict romantic expectations, while self-image matters more.
