Social Psychology

Love may grow through shared moments of joy. A new psychology study of long-term couples finds that when partners emotionally sync up—through warmth, smiles, and affection—they tend to show stronger, more enduring feelings of love across time.

People who strongly admire celebrities tend to score higher in materialism and vulnerable narcissism, according to a new study. The findings also suggest that feeling similar to a celebrity may play a key role in developing intense admiration.

A nationwide Swedish study finds most women who commit lethal violence act in emotionally charged situations, with low psychopathy scores and little planning. Severe mental disorders were linked to a more complex blend of reactive and instrumental features.

A new study suggests that women who express anger about gender inequality tend to be judged less warmly and receive less public support, but framing their anger as concern for others can partially reduce this backlash.

A study of U.S. adults finds that loneliness is linked to feeling like a burden in close relationships. The research also highlights how internal physiological states—such as heart rate variability—may shape how individuals cope with loneliness and self-doubt.

Why do so many people fail to achieve the goals they set for themselves? New research spanning multiple cultures and contexts offers a surprising explanation—and points to a way forward that most people never consider.

A large online study indicates that intellectual humility is linked to less hostility toward political and religious opponents. The effect was seen across political parties and belief systems, and persisted even after controlling for the strength of participants’ convictions.

A sweeping new study reveals that narcissistic traits—especially antagonistic rivalry—are linked to more frequent experiences of social exclusion, shaped by how narcissists perceive ambiguous interactions, how they behave toward others, and how exclusion can reinforce narcissism over time.

Long-term data from Britain and the Netherlands reveal that citizens’ populist beliefs rise and fall alongside changes in democratic satisfaction. The research challenges the idea that populist attitudes are static traits and highlights their potential responsiveness to political reforms.

Psychologists are learning that psychopathic traits can be subtle, widespread, and surprisingly influential. These 11 studies offer a science-backed glimpse into how callousness, impulsivity, and emotional detachment shape everything from romantic behavior to mortality risk and facial emotion processing.

A new study finds that safe space statements can make students feel more comfortable and open in the classroom—but also make instructors seem more liberal and authoritarian. Trigger warnings, by contrast, had no meaningful impact on students’ perceptions.

Belief in anti-immigrant conspiracies may be fueled by financial hardship and a sense of societal breakdown, according to new research. Across six studies, economic stress predicted support for discriminatory policies and even violent actions against non-European immigrants.

Researchers found that narcissists and psychopaths score lower on emotional intelligence—if measured with objective tasks. But when asked to self-rate their emotional skills, narcissists gave themselves higher marks. The findings highlight key differences in how personality shapes self-perception.

Despite growing media focus on demographic anxiety and ethnonationalism, a new study finds most Americans envision a future United States that is more ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse. Very few support the idea of a homogenous national identity.

What if coolness had a formula? Psychologists surveyed nearly 6,000 people across 12 countries and discovered six traits that consistently define the coolest people on the planet.