Relationships and Sexual Health

Darker hair and black backgrounds can make facial skin appear more even, according to new research in Perception. The skin itself was never altered, suggesting contrast around the face shapes how others perceive it.

When war broke out in October 2023, an Israeli brain-imaging study was already underway. Comparing children scanned before and during the war, researchers found that attachment-related characteristics were tied to different patterns of emotional brain connectivity.

A recent study shows that a person's facial and bodily attractiveness are closely linked in the eyes of observers. However, the human voice operates independently, sending a separate biological message to potential partners.

We often assume parental divorce causes lasting psychological damage. But new findings indicate the true driver of adult depression is the parental mental illness and addiction that frequently accompany family breakups.

While honesty is considered the foundation of a healthy relationship, a new study shows that couples experiencing dissatisfaction are significantly more likely to want their partners to tell them well-intentioned lies to keep the peace.

New research explores how our brains react to seeing others in pain. The findings reveal that a person's physical attractiveness and moral history alter our empathy levels, shifting how our minds process compassion in fractions of a second.

A large review of past research has identified several personality traits, including impulsivity and neuroticism, that correlate with problematic internet pornography use. Conversely, traits like self-control and conscientiousness correspond with lower viewing rates overall.

People who sell explicit digital content online are heavily sexually objectified by observers, yet they are still viewed as capable individuals with free will. These findings challenge traditional psychological assumptions about objectification and dehumanization.

While relationship equality is linked to partnered sexual desire in women, a new study finds this isn't true for men. Instead, a man’s desire for sex with a partner is strongly associated with traditional masculine beliefs.

New research indicates that people with clinical love addiction experience much more severe relationship anxiety than those simply at risk. However, both groups share similar struggles with regulating their emotions.

A new study reveals how a woman's religious beliefs shape her swiping behavior on dating apps. Surprisingly, more religious women cast a wider net, while women overall prefer men with softer facial features but exaggerated, boastful biographies.

Established couples seeking a third person for sexual or romantic relationships often focus on their own pleasure while ignoring the newcomer's desires. A new study explores how the search affects the original relationship and the people pursued.

A recent study suggests that romantic couples share musical tastes much more than personality traits or personal values. Additionally, having similar music preferences is modestly linked to better relationship quality and increased tenderness.