Social Psychology

A new study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reveals that jokes, memes, and punchlines are significantly funnier when they are easy to process. This cognitive fluency helps our brains quickly make sense of unexpected humour.

Singles and people unhappy in their romantic relationships are more likely to develop strong emotional and physical attractions to fictional characters, suggesting one-sided media crushes can serve as a substitute for unfulfilled real-world needs.

"Single positivity" encourages young women to embrace independence, but this cultural approval comes with an expiration date. A new study reveals that as single women age, they face renewed societal pressure to settle down and find a partner.

Your willingness to sacrifice immediate joy for long-term rewards isn't just a personality trait. New research shows that living in a society where it’s easy to make new friends boosts your optimism and willingness to delay happiness.

A new computational model reveals that simply increasing the number of close social connections past a certain threshold naturally forces society to splinter into deeply divided, polarized echo chambers.

A new study finds that when men and women focus on their physical appearance, they become more likely to endorse benevolent sexism. These seemingly positive but restrictive beliefs may act as a coping mechanism for appearance-related discomfort.

A new psychological study reveals that women's competitive reactions toward romantic and social rivals are driven by their baseline personality traits. Hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle did not predict how women responded to hypothetical threats.

A new study of the Israeli Knesset reveals that politicians who use care-based language propose more constructive policies. While women express care more consistently, male lawmakers show a surprising spike in empathy during peak periods of war.

A new study reveals a surprising disconnect: while people with dark personality traits claim to engage in more toxic online behavior, an analysis of their actual Reddit comments shows no measurable link between their personalities and digital footprints.

A recent study found that U.S. counties with a higher proportion of enslaved people in 1860 have wider mortality gaps between Black and White residents today. This historical legacy is maintained through modern economic and educational disparities.

Are men and women becoming more alike? New research analyzing global survey data finds that differences in key economic preferences, such as trust and risk tolerance, are significantly smaller among younger generations than older ones.

New research reveals that living in a democracy is linked to better mental health, primarily because it fulfills a basic psychological need for autonomy. The subjective experience of political freedom matters more than official institutional metrics.

People often overestimate how much their political opponents despise them. But new research suggests that tweaking your daily news diet could help correct these toxic assumptions and unexpectedly foster a sense of connection with the other side.

Young adults drawn to social causes by deep moral convictions are more likely to stay engaged than those seeking social approval. New research reveals how political ideology and specific emotions shape whether a person’s activism lasts.

A recent study suggests that developing a crush outside your relationship isn't just about having "dark" personality traits. Instead, emotional infidelity is linked to a mix of emotional sensitivity, impulsive tendencies, and relationship dissatisfaction.